Preparing for Rain!

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Preparing for Rain!

"Exhausted" is the word that best describes how I feel right now, but I am "preparing for rain."  I have spent most of the 24 hours (5 hours of sleep) finishing up on my first writing prompt booklet to help teachers inspire kids to write and illustrate.  I have been updating my website to better connect as a marketing tool. ( I can't stand the marketing and business aspect of all of this.  If only I could just teach, write, and draw.)  And now I am beginning my campaign for the 500 UG Fan Club to generate the necessary capital for my business to keep going for the upcoming year.  I have been doing this for two years now and each year taken a loss on the business.  I see the potential, and jeremycolebooks is almost a debt free business.  But I need to ask myself... Have I given my best in all of this?  Have I sacraficed enough?  No, I have not and...Yes, I am "preparing for rain."  I am reminded of two farmers.  One of the farmers stepped out in faith during a drought with no sign of rain, but he had the faith enough to go out into the field till the ground, plants the seeds, and tend to the field.  Standing in faith, he did what he was designed to do.  By preparing for rain, he was expecting rain!  The second farmer saw his cricumstances: the dry ground, the cloud free sky, the hopelessness of other farmers, and chose not to plant seed.  He didn't do what he was designed to do.  The rain came!  Which farmer was the better man?  We are asked to "bloom" right where we are.  Some people will view this post because they want to become an author or illustrator, or simply out of interest.  What were you designed to do?  Are you fulfilling your purpose, "blooming" exactly where you are, or are you looking at your circumstances, second guessing your purpose, and not planting seed?  It's a choice: I am "preparing for rain", because I expect the rain to come.  I plan to put my best toward all aspects of my life, as a man, a husband, a father, a son, a friend, a leader, a teacher, an author, and an illustrator.   

Quick Advice to Authors and Illustrators:  Would you rather be short on ideas or time to write and illustrate?  Some authors and illustrators may express that they are short on ideas and often sit idle, stumped for an idea.  I never let an idea go!  Often I will go about my daily routine and an idea will come to me out of nowhere.  I take a second to write the idea, usually a phrase that will trigger the idea later to memory, and go about my day.  I am never short on ideas.  My biggest frustration is not having the time to write or illustrate.  I have over 30 book ideas and it seems like I never have enough time, but I would rather have that problem than the inverse.  I couldn't imagine having all the time in the world to write and draw, but a "drought" of ideas.  Tip:  Pause and write the idea down.  You don't want to lose it!