How Does a Writer Stick to the Road?

I had the pleasure of presenting recently at the 2024 Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day - SoCal. In preparation, I wrote a rhyming, motivational piece drawing inspiration from the book, "How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight," by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague. It resonated with the crowd, so I'm sharing it with you. I hope it gives you a lift or giggle.

​​HOW DOES A WRITER STICK TO THE ROAD?

How does a writer stick to the road?
Does she stall?
Does she sputter things aren’t fair and implode?


Does she throw out her notebook? Does she hurl a new pen?
Is she late for her group, time and time again?

When she gets a critique does she aim for payback?
Does she sink to new lows binging 
Tik Tok and snacks?


Does she put off revision, rearrange her work station?

Does she down a pink cocktail, for new inspiration?


When there's a rejection, Does she point and blame
like a sorry loser after a game?


Does she claim that first draft was ready to go.
Does she gripe and complain how publishing's slow

Does she QUIT?


Nooooo!


A writer makes plans 
to write every day.
She helps her friends 
with their rhyme and wordplay.


She sends her first pages 
and waits for feedback.
When rejections come in
she builds 

a nice stack.


She listens and reads
and shoots for that star.
She writes those stories 
she thought up in the car.


And a writer knows 
there's no true "the end." 
So, go work, go work
my writer friends.