2012 is off to a great start!

I think that 2012 is going to be an amazing year.  It's definitely off to a great start with writing, which makes me SO happy!  I received my author copies of the February issue of Ladybug magazine, including my poem "Goldfish".  The illustrator, Linda Hill Griffith, did an amazing job.  I love how the two-page spread turned out.  It's always fun to see how an artist interprets your words. 

I also received a letter from High Five magazine and my poem "Dandelion Wishes" will be published in their August issue.  I'm looking forward to seeing it. 

Finally, I am really excited about the revisions for a spunky character-driven picture book that I started last year.  After putting it away for months, it felt great to tackle it again with fresh eyes.  I  LOVE this character (is that weird?) and would be beyond thrilled to see him come to life in book form and be able to share him with children.  Go GK!

New Year Inspiration!

Happy New Year to all of you!  Here's some inspiration for the new year.  I just came across this and had to share it.  It's Ira Glass on storytelling from David Shiyang Liu.  Wow!  Enjoy...

http://vimeo.com/24715531

PiBoIdMo Update!

Well, it's December 1st and time to report how I did during this month's challenge.  I have to admit that I have been on a writer's "break" recently.  Needed to recharge after a few rejections that came REALLY close.  After awhile, it was stinging a little too much.  So, less than enthusiastically, I decided to sign up for this challenge.  Maybe it would be just the boost that I needed... 

It turns out it was exactly what I needed!  I ended up with 45 shiny new ideas for picture books - some that I am VERY excited to start working on.  (It also gave me an idea for a middle grade book and one for a YA novel - which is very strange because I've never written either of those types of books before.)  Reading all of the guest blogs and that daily advice on picture books also helped me to identify some areas to work on in my other picture book manuscripts.  I'm really looking forward to digging into all of my picture books - new and old - and whipping them into shape. 

Thank you so much Tara Lazar for coming up with the wonderful idea for PiBoIdMo and coordinating all of the inspirational guest blogs and the Facebook group camaraderie.  It really was time well spent.  I am so thankful that I decided to participate.  If you've ever considered doing it but thought the task seemed too daunting - I encourage you to sign up.  Even if you tell yourself that you'll just do it for a week.  I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised and will want to continue.  I'm surprised that even though it's December and the challenge is over - I'm still coming up with more ideas than usual. 

I guess once you give your muse that extra boost you never know what can happen...

http://taralazar.wordpress.com

Picture Book Month!

November is picture book month!  If you haven't had a chance yet, definitely check out the website www.picturebookmonth.com.  What a great way to remind everyone why the world needs printed picture books.  There's nothing like holding a real book in your hands and sharing it with a child.  In my opinion, the digital version can't compare. 

So, gather a big stack of picture books from your shelves at home or head out to the library.  I think I've reached my library card's limit this month.  (Might have to find another place for the huge stacks before Thanksgiving dinner.)  That's one thing I'm very thankful for...picture books!    Share them with someone you love!  
                                                        
                                    Read * Share * Celebrate!

PiBoIdMo Update!

We're past the half way mark and I'm right on target!  So far 16 solid picture book ideas down.  (Still need to write today's idea down.)  I've had lots of ideas beyond that but am only counting the ones that I feel are the most solid.  I've also tried to make sure to jot down the skeleton of the story as well.  And a few of them have morphed into rough drafts...but not too many.

Although I am keeping up with the writing part, I am not able to keep up with all of the posts and blogs each day.  They are all so fantastic that I try to at least catch up on them every few days or at least once a week.  All of the participants and the guest bloggers are very inspiring. 

Yesterday a big highlight came from Tammi Sauer who shared some big news in our PiBoIdMo Facebook Group.  Tammi's recent sale of "Nugget and Fang" to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's was an idea that she came up with during PiBoIdMo 2009.  Hooray for Tammi!

2011 SCBWI-Illinois' Prairie Writer's Day

Saturday's Prairie Writer's Day: Get Hooked! was a huge success.  This year's speakers and sessions were informative and inspiring.  (And full of lots of fishing metaphors.)  The all-star line up included:  Josh Adams, Co-founder Adams Literary, Stacey Barney, Editor at G.P. Putnams's Sons, Michele Burke, Editor at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, Karen Kohn, Senior Art Director for Carus Publishing, Kathy Landwehr, Vice President & Associate Publisher for Peachtree Publishers, Daniel Nayeri, Editor for Clarion Books, Molly O'Neill, Editor for Katherine Tegen Books and Mary Rodgers, Editor-in-Chief for Lerner Publishing Groups.  Also, Author Bruce Hale, Author Esther Hershenhorn, Literary Attorney Debra Kass Orenstein, and Chair of the Teacher Education department at DePaul University Roxanne Owens.   

Something new this year was a skype visit by Bruce Hale on humor in your writing.  He did a fabulous job and it was so neat to see a skype visit in action.  Bruce was a pro!  I really enjoyed it.

I have tons of notes to sort through this week and lots of submissions to polish up!  It's also always so great to to be with all of my writer pals for the day.  Thanks so much to the hard working committee.  Now, off to write!

November is PiBoIdMo...

November is Picture Book Idea Month and I've, nervously, decided to take on the challenge.  That's right...one shiny new picture book idea each day for a whole month.  Looking forward to doing this with my writing pals.  A challenge is always much more fun with their support and encouragement.  Here goes! 

And for anyone out there that's considering joining in, I say do it.  Sign up on Tara's website http://taralazar.wordpress.com/  The more the merrier!