Joann Howeth

When people ask me what I attribute my success to, I'd say it's due to three things: I credit it mostly to a great deal of perseverance, a little bit of luck, and faith in the potential that I arrived with in

this world that has ever so patiently waited for me to recognize it so I could exploit it.

This isn't advice I learned while working any of the many mundane jobs I've had or from a boss, but one that came to me as a realization when I was well into my 30s. Unless you work in the medical

field, law enforcement, or fire prevention, there are few true emergencies in life. For myself, when I get stuck or frustrated with a project the best thing I can do is walk away from it for a while, ideally

for hours. Inevitably, I'm rewarded after a night's sleep with my solutions arriving in my dreams. The major take-away for me has been that getting unduly excited about a problem seems to keep it a

problem longer. Withdrawing attention from it gives me some repose. Likewise it gives the problem the grace to breath. I do believe the universe has a big hand in this, so it boils down to trusting

yourself and trusting the process. Above all, find the thing you're crazy passionate about and pursue it.

My advice to women entering this industry is to understand that becoming a published author is not easy - there are lots of road blocks. Surround yourself with like-minded people, find the subjects you're passionate about and run with them, strive to rise above discouragement, let the "green-eyed monster" have his fifteen minutes - then get back to work, learn something new every day, celebrate your "wins," and always be willing to lend a helping hand to your fellow creatives.

The publishing industry is a tough field to navigate for any new author. For authors of children's literature there are hurdles galore. When I first started writing and dreaming of becoming published, traditional publishing was the only acceptable route - that's where you achieved status, success, renown, and maybe some financial reward. But winning a traditional publishing contract is a difficult journey. You have to first acquire an agent. Then that individual helps you get your foot in the door. Unfortunately, agents also act as gatekeepers. And if you can't find one that sees merit in your work, the publishing goalpost can grow distressingly faint in the distance. A nice trend of recent years has been that self-publishing has lost some of its stigma. It isn't so frowned upon anymore, which has made it easier for writers to take advantage of the self-publishing opportunities out there. This path is by no means any easier - you now have to wear multiple caps; following publication the biggest expense of energy is the marketing. So you need to educate yourself, and you have to be fearless. You're selling your books, but you're also selling yourself. And that takes courage.

And while all that's happening, be sure to stay on top of your craft - take classes, study and learn, workshop your manuscripts, find critique partners, join writing groups, and immerse yourself in your next project.

Veracity, authenticity, humility, kindness, compassion, empathy.