Each week my articles go out into the world and I’m eager for people to read what I’ve written. The publications I write for have paid subscriptions of a few thousand to over 25,000. I’m not shy about people seeing my byline and I’m always happy when it is on the front page.

But I have a new project I’m working on—one that I’ve been tight lipped about. So, let me tell you a little secret…I am working on writing my first picture book. It seems like such a little thing, but spreading the word about this dream of mine is scary.

When it comes to writing children’s stories, I’m insecure. This is new territory for me and I know I have a lot to learn. The thought of sending my 500-word picture book manuscript off to my four critique partners is far more nerve wracking than waiting for a 2,500-word feature to hit those 25,000 mailboxes.

It isn’t easy to do something new, particularly when we know we aren’t going to be good at it right out of the gate. Yet each week I take Evan to hockey and tell him that he has to practice if he wants to get better. I tell him not to get discouraged when he falls down because that is how he learns. When he whines because skating is hard, I tell him, “In our family, we do hard things.” But I don’t always lead by example. I am guilty of sticking to what I know because it is comfortable.

Last month I took Evan to a rock-climbing party. My little guy wanted to scale the wall, but fear kept him from reaching the top. I knew how much he wanted it, so right before the party ended, I climbed with him. I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I stepped out of my comfort zone and loved the adventure.

Jumping into the world of children’s literature is a new and exciting journey, but I know the path to publication is long and hard. I’ll be putting myself out there and learning from my mistakes. I’ve read that picture books are one of the hardest markets to break into. I’d love to get a picture book published (who wouldn’t!?!), but delving into children’s literature is about more than that. It is about learning new ways to play with words and making a new group friends along the way.

Next month I’ll be spending a full weekend at the New Jersey Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators conference. I can’t wait to take in everything the conference has to offer. Writing for kids is a new avenue to explore and I’m looking forward to connecting with a whole new group of writers. It is a fun addition to my life as a full-time freelancer and mama.

My blogging-turned-real-life friend Sarah wrote a post several weeks ago about the role blogging plays in her life. It made me think about my own reasons for blogging. When I first joined the blogosphere, it was simply because I wanted to write. I liked telling stories about my work and my kids and used my blog as a way to share ideas and keep in touch with real-world and internet friends.

Then I went to writing conferences and read articles that said writers should blog, need to blog to build a platform. I went from wanting to write to feeling overwhelmed by what others might expect to see in this space. Somewhere in there, I lost sight of my blogging goal: To build a little community where I can connect with, learn from and laugh with others. I also hope to share some things that work for me and maybe (just maybe) inspire others along the way.

I recently wrote a keynote speech for a client. In the speech, he wanted to relay a story he read about why animal trainers rely on stools to tame lions. When a trainer enters a lion’s cage with the four legs of a stool pointing towards the lion’s face, the lion tries to focus on all four legs at once. It can’t and a kind of paralysis overwhelms it. The lion becomes tame and weak because its attention is fragmented.

In worrying about what others expected to see in this space, my attention became fragmented. More often than not, posting became something I felt like I should do and I worried I wasn’t doing it right. But it has become fun again. I am going to continue blogging about freelancing and my kiddos because that is my little world right now, but I’m going to worry less about the ratio of writing posts to family posts and focus more on the joy I get from being a part of the blogosphere. I hope you’ll continue to come along on the journey!

Even as a journalist, there are times I get frustrated with the media. Let’s be honest. Twenty-four hour news coverage means non-newsworthy stories can get beaten to death and even those that are newsworthy can get blown out of proportion. But then there are days when I pick up the paper and read a story that leaves me saying, “There. That is why journalism matters. That is why the press is and should be the fourth estate.”

Last week, the front page of the Washington Post detailed the story of the Air Force secretly dumping the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a landfill without the families’ knowledge or consent. The Post first revealed the practice last month and is continuing its push for information.

Read the story here. It is appalling, and this is exactly the type of story the media should grab onto and fight tooth and nail to uncover. It is the reason the first amendment exists. It is why I am grateful "Congress shall make no law…" 

I’m sure we’re all guilty of cursing police officers when we’re caught speeding yet we want them to be at the ready when we need help. The same goes for the press.

There may be times when we roll our eyes or change the channel because we’re tired of seeing the same story over and over again or we just can't take any more of a particular anchor. But even so, let’s be glad the press is there. It really does serve a greater good. Plus, you never know when you may need the media to come to your aid. It can happen, and I bet that while the families who are just now learning their loved ones’ remains were dumped in a landfill are devastated, they’re glad to know the practice was uncovered and the military will be held responsible for its actions.