Hey!
Hi Everyone. Sorry about being somewhere else this week. Well, a little bit sorry. I have momentarily stepped out of the blogosphere but I’ll be back with a post tomorrow. Or the next day. Or June. 
FYI, I’ve been working on my first kid’s book (ages 5-9) and I’ve been having a total ball. It’s a simple fun story with some cute characters and lots of life-improving principles woven through the tale. Of course. The final product could be total rubbish but I’m certainly enjoying the process. The initial feedback is positive but maybe they’re just being nice. 
How much fun is it doing totally new stuff? Different stuff?
Ace.
Somebody asked me yesterday if the only child with no children of his own (me) could write something that kids will relate to and, more importantly, enjoy. “Good question”, I replied. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
If I only do the stuff I’m good at, or comfortable with, I’ll never be challenged, never grow and I’ll be really frickin’ bored. So, kid’s book it is. Apart from the end result, the beauty of doing new things and things out of my ‘field’ is that, one way or the other, I’m gonna learn something. I’m not sure how much potential I have but I am sure I don’t want to waste it.
See you tomorrow. Or June.
“On the other side of fear is freedom.”
* Don’t forget my new kid’s book (The Angry Ant) is out now! Love this article? Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter today to receive more articles like this, and get my FREE Ebook!
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
If you’re writing a kids’ book, you may want to mind your frickin’ language? Good luck anyway.
As if he will swear in a kids book! But honestly, us adults need the straight talk to make us sit up and listen sometimes!
Considering the title of your first book, I can HARDLY wait to hear the title for a kid’s book……..
Seriously, based on the blog posts, I think it’s going to be very straightforward and easy for kids to understand.
I’d like to make a suggestion for you mate. When you’ve finished the book, explain to the head teachers at the local schools who you are and what you do and that you have squeezed some of your teachings into a story for children and would they mind if you visited the school and personally read your story to a class or two. Then you will actually see and appreciate the response from the little fellas. That’d make the whole thing even more worthwhile.
I can’t see why the teachers wouldn’t agree to it. It would be good thing to do all round.
Oh Sweet Jesus – Anything has to better than the readers my 6 year old son brings home from school…………Talk about zero plot line!
)
Good luck Craig
Good luck, you’ll do good. I love the last quote!
Having once been a child yourself, I would have thought that you’re very well qualified to write for children!
From my experience, all you need to win that age group over is a fart joke or ten…seriously though, I think your straight talk attitude is just what kids need. It would be a welcome change from the cotton wool/you’re so special message so many parents pour over their kids these days.
Fantastic – and next on the list PLEASE the adolescents – we work through so many parts of your emails and some are just a bit too complex. Hope that the children’s book is a huge success – you may well be motivated to approach the young adults who really need you too!!!!!!
Good luck
Annie
Awesome…been thinking of this same thing myself…still nutting out where to start. Publishing ect…the process is always the best part. All the best with it craig.
My encouragement to most people is if it is not detrimental to you or others I say GO FOR IT.
As a mother of two awesome boys I have to say – ITS ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!!!!! I have seen you in action Craig. For YEARS I have WISHED you would do a book so my two boys could get on board this style of learning, living and evolving. I printed off one of your articles for my 13 year old son one day – How to stop being a dickhead – and he LOVED it. It was relevant (not that he’s a dickhead!), he understood it, it was in context, it entertained him and he learnt something. And please don’t modify that straight-shooting style. I know from experience that mushy, sacchrined stuff about giving yourself a hug etc….ain’t gunna work!! I can’t wait. I know what I’m getting all they’re mates for their birthdays now:-). If you need a couple of test pilots before the big launch – put my blokes on the list!
Awesome Craig!!! … Enjoy the journey Amigo … I’m sure you’ll do great
… Love the last quote too!!!
Looking forward to catching up with you and the MBE Gang early March.
Big Hug
xx
Mon
Hi Craig,
I am glad you are writing a kids book. I gave my then 8yo son a copy of the ‘How not to be a Dickhead’ article when it was first written. Reason being that 1) I wasn’t being heard as a mum and 2) my ever-doting and very, very, VERY tolerant husband didn’t /doesn’t understand about kids needing boundaries. I think my son got the jist of what the message was. We (my son and I) still refer to the article from time to time. Usually when behaviour we witness is not appropriate and / or dangerous. Like a lot of kids his age he has a good idea of what the word means and we are careful to use it in that sort of context. Bye! Amanda
Hey Craig!
I came here loaded with all these comments I was going to make, but I see they’ve all been made already! So I’ll just say good luck with it, I’m sure it will be an excellent piece of writing!
{{HUG}} Tina
Hey how exciting, a kids book by The Motivator as u r affectionately known at my house. Our kids need to hear your awesome philosophies. Please make sure tho you give it a nice long road test because there are thousands of really awkward, poor quality kids books out there that started life as a fabulous germ of an idea but didn’t end up very ‘polished’. I mean, make sure the grammar, syntax, illustrations…everything are perfect. I’m sure u will! This long-suffering teacher is begging!
Can I suggest the title be the Craig Harper book for kids who want to read good and do other things good too
Damo, clearly I need you on my production team. Hope you’re well Mate. Still waiting for that dinner…
Go The F**k To Sleep is the much talked-about book that is sure to appeal to tired parents everywhere. The wickedly funny prose and deceivingly sweet illustrations make it appear to be an innocent storybook, but it isn’t for children!
It perfectly captures the frustration parents feel when trying to put their child to bed. It is pants-wettingly funny! Strong language warning – do not read if easily offended!
Hope yours is as funny as this book.CH. LOL