TRANSCRIPT

Hi… I wanted to end this video series on an example of what all aspiring picture book authors are working towards.

On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, I received the following email:

Hi Howard,

I manage the children's list at Marshall Cavendish. Thanks for submitting your manuscript for Orange Porange. Orange Porange makes a really fun read, and it would be a lovely addition to our children's list.

I wasn’t exactly sure what this email meant. I ran upstairs to my wife and said I think this company wants to publish my story. And sure enough, they did. In March of 2020, Orange Porange, my very first picture book, was released… at about the exact same time the pandemic took hold in the U.S.

So while the debut of my book was overshadowed by this other news, nothing could take away from the thrill and excitement of seeing my name on the cover of a real book.

The funny thing is though that thrill didn't last long. And don’t get me wrong. Seeing your book published is always exciting and always positive. But as soon as that initial thrill wore off, I immediately began thinking, “What’s next?” Luckily, I’ve been able to recreate that moment 11 more times. But it would not have been possible without following everything laid out in these videos.

To reach the goal of becoming a published picture book author, you cannot rely on talent alone. JK Rowling said that Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was rejected by 12 publishers… and I just heard on a podcast the other day that her advance was only 2,500 dollars... or pounds.

Anyway, no matter how amazing your manuscript, chances are you're going to get rejected. And this overload can really make you feel like quitting. The only difference between reaching your goal of becoming published or not reaching your goal is to keep going. There's a Japanese proverb that says, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

But determination alone isn’t enough.

The videos here and my book, The Unstoppable Picture Author, outline the framework of how to always keep moving towards your goal. How to make you unstoppable. And here are the steps…

• First, find your why.

• Then, invest in yourself by following the Unstoppable Author Framework, which has four components:

o Health: Focus on your wellbeing.

o Heart: Focus on your relationships.

o Harmony: Focus on your mindset.

o Hunger: Focus on your writing.

• Then, write every single day, no excuses.

• Continue to learn.

• Follow the Rule of 3, which is always be working on one manuscript, always have one manuscript on submission to agents and always have one manuscript on submission to publishers.

• Finally write and have on submission 6 manuscripts every year.

All of this may sound difficult or that it will take up too much time. But meaningful pursuits in life are difficult. They do take time. But the end results are worth your commitment.

No matter how many rejections you’ve received, no matter how dejected you’ve become, no matter how many times you’ve wondered, “When will it be my turn?” – you can do this.

Your turn can come sooner than you may have thought possible by changing what you’re currently doing.

Follow this process.

You have nothing to lose. And everything to gain.

Thank you so much for watching these videos. I hope you’ve received some value from them, and I encourage you to download The Unstoppable Picture Book Author at my website howardpearlstein.com. That will make sure you have all of the information presented in these videos whenever you need it.

If you have any questions, go to my website and fill out the form to reach out to me.

Thank you so much again. Best of luck!