Jessica Williams is a children’s book writer and illustrator. On top of that, she is self-published, and with her experience has come some great tips.
With titles like You Can’t Invite a Fish to a Dance Party and I Can’t Clean My Room who could resist checking these stories out? I can’t wait to read these to my kids! You can find Jessica on her website, Instagram, and on Facebook.
QUESTION: What obstacles did you overcome to write your books?
JESSICA: I think the biggest obstacle I had to overcome were my insecurities. I remember going to my first CANSCAIP Sask conference before I had published anything and feeling like an imposter.
After pushing those thoughts down, the next major obstacle was figuring out how to publish. I decided to self-publish my books, which meant I needed to learn how to source freelance editors and illustrators as well as learn new design software.
QUESTION: What has writing brought to your life?
JESSICA: Writing, especially for children, has brought me new creative avenues that I hadn’t explored before as well as the opportunity to share stories with kids and families. I’ve gotten to travel to schools and communities across the province to read to kids and talk about the fun of writing. Sharing stories is probably my favourite part of being an author.
QUESTION: What is a skill you had to work on in your writing?
JESSICA: When writing children’s books, every word counts. The average picture book is 500-1000 words, so editing is crucial. Evaluating each sentence critically to decide if it is necessary has been a skill I’ve really had to work on.
QUESTION: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to write a book?
JESSICA: After you’ve revised and gotten your story to the point where you’re happy with it, find a professional editor to go through it. When you get the edits back, consider their suggestions and don’t be discouraged! Remember, the editor’s job is to help your writing be the best it can be!
