Moving Forward — with learnings from a picture book
As I continue my year’s theme of moving forward, and continue to discover what that means for me, I’ve drawn some excellent learnings from a picture book.
When I set myself toward a goal, no matter what that goal is, I tend to want to get to it as quickly as possible. When I make a decision, I want to act on it right away.
That’s not always the best approach.
In Susanna Leonard Hill‘s wonderful picture book Not Yet, Rose, little Rose is having a very hard time waiting for her baby brother or sister to be born. Her parents have to keep telling her “not yet, Rose.”
In my desire to get to my goals, I sometimes need to tell myself, “Not yet, Beth.” For example, I’m working on a novel for adults at the moment. It’s a major rewrite of a manuscript I wrote about four years ago. I have scrapped huge chunks of the old manuscript, and am writing new chapters. I get impatient with that process. I want it to be done! But taking shortcuts will not create the book I hope this will be. “Not yet, Beth.”
There are other times when I want to just leap into something, but I know in the long run, it will be best to wait until the groundwork is done. “Not yet, Beth.”
But, as with little Rose, hearing “not yet” doesn’t mean just flouncing off and saying, “Forget it, then.” Rose worked at preparing herself for her new sibling. I am working, too. Slowly getting that manuscript rebuilt in a way that serves the story and is the best writing I can do. Waiting on other things until the time is right for them.
It’s active waiting, not passive. “Not yet” doesn’t mean “never” — it means “there is still something to be done before the time is right.”
Thank you, Rose, and thank you, Susanna, for that learning. Now… I have some work to do.
Title: Not Yet, Rose
Author: Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrator: Nicole Rutten
Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Audience Age: 3-8
Themes/Topics: Waiting, new sibling, patience
Opening Sentences: On Monday, Rose wanted a sister. She raced into her parents’ room. “Is the baby here yet?” she asked. “Not yet, Rose,” said her mother.
Review Link: Julie Hedlund reviewed this book in 2012 for Perfect Picture Book Friday. You can find her review and suggested activities here.
Availability: Ask your local bookstore to get it in, or order it online – it’s available to order from Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY. Let’s keep this wonderful book in print!
thanks for sharing the lessons you learned from this delightful book.
You’re welcome, Belinda! It is, indeed, a delightful book.
Interesting post. I tend to take things a little more cautiously, myself. Goodluck on your novel.
Good for you, Diane. And thanks!
Some of the best reminders in life can be found in the most adorable of places. Thank you for the reminder as I, too, need to work on my patience for things I want done now when patience is the best course.
Thanks, Angela — and you’re welcome!
That is my favorite Susanna book! And this post is coming at a perfect time for me. I have a YA novel that I’d written about 8 chapters of and I thought was pretty good but then I realized (through trying to write a blurb for it) that I will need to reimagine a good chunk of it and also realized I needed to revamp it to correct a historical timeline error. Sigh. But patience is the key and I appreciated reading about your similar journey. Thanks, Beth!
Patience isn’t always easy, is it, Teresa, but it pays off in the end. Wishing you the best of everything with your YA novel!
Excellent post Beth. Understand your inpatience. I have a major rewrite to do and need to begin tackling the project, but family matters are taking precedence. Enjoyed how you worked Susanna’s book into your comments.
Thanks, Pat. Family comes first, for sure. *hugs*
Great post, Beth! That is a lovely book too.
Thanks, Catherine. It is, indeed, a lovely book.
I think I need to heed more picture book learnings, Beth. Thanks for this post!
Thanks, Julie. It’s amazing what we can learn from picture books!
Great point! Now, I need to get to work on my spy novel! 😉
Woohoo! Go Erik! I’m looking forward to your next novel!
“Not yet” is tougher than it sounds. They’re two of my least favorite words, actually. But good for you letting Rose walk you through to success!
You’re so right about “not yet,” Genevieve. Rose was very helpful to me — she learned a lot, and so did I!
Love your take on this sweet book. I often find picture books speaking to me. We are never too old, right?!
Thanks, Joanna. You’re right, we are definitely never too old!
I don’t know where I heard this, or if I heard it at all, but there is a phrase that dictates that it is best to proceed quickly but slowly. It’s the sort of thing that makes sense if you don’t look at it too closely. Cross that street quickly if you want to get to the other side, but go slowly and carefully if you don’t want to get hit!
“proceed quickly but slowly” — I like that a lot, Aubrey! Thank you!
Thank you so much for mentioning ROSE, Beth, and I’m so glad you found her approach helpful. It’s wonderful to know that a story I wrote has something in it for kids of all ages 🙂 I could learn a thing or two from Rose myself. It’s hard to be patient. But it’s important. Everything in the fullness of time.