Selling the Couch

ENCORE: Writing A Children's Book

12.21.2023 - By Melvin Varghese, PhDPlay

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Have you ever considered writing a children’s book? I’ll admit that I’ve thought about it, and it might be a new endeavor in my future. Writing a children’s book takes creativity and planning, and much perseverance is required to navigate the publishing process. Join me as I talk to a longtime friend who has been through the process and published two children’s books. Our Featured Guest Amy Jivani Amy is a childhood friend of mine who has become a children’s book author. Her latest book, Meera’s Flowers, tells the story of a young girl celebrating an Indian holiday while living in America. She also wrote More Than Words: A Book About Body Language, a story about body language and feelings. Amy is a former first-grade teacher who is inspired by her students and her cultural background to write children’s books with ethnically diverse characters. Amy shares with us where she gets ideas for books and how the creative process works. We also discuss the concept of self-publishing compared to the traditional publishing route. We wrap up with Amy’s insights into the hardest part about writing and releasing a book during a pandemic. www.amyjivani.com  You’ll Learn:Where Amy’s inspiration came from for Meera’s FlowersAmy’s advice for other aspiring writers:Write something you can champion.Storyboard your ideas as you begin.How the traditional publishing route requires resilience and seems like a “closed club”Why Amy decided not to self-publish her first bookHow Amy realized that creative stories could teach and reinforce important concepts to children in more memorable waysHow Amy gives herself creative space to think and produce rather than setting aside a disciplined time slotThe hardest part of what Amy has accomplished: getting publishers to see the quality of what she wrote and releasing a book during a pandemic when typical book promotion is a no-goHow Amy handles the newfound attention of being a published author with humility

Resources: Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists Looking to launch a successful podcast? Please check out our free "Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business" workshop for therapists. Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa.

More episodes from Selling the Couch