I did it!

The Picture Book Marathon is officially over.  I am very proud to report that I completed the marathon with 26 new manuscripts!  This was such a great experience and I learned so much.   I definitely plan to participate next year.  And if you're one of those people that's been thinking about it, but afraid to commit...I say give it a try.  You won't regret it.

Thanks so much for all of the support from my writer friends and from my family.  My parents are the best cheerleaders a girl could ever hope for.  Before this all started they surprised me with a cute pink marathon t-shirt and a big box of chocolates.  A piece for each day that I completed a manuscript.  (In March I'm going on a diet.)  And my mom sent daily e-mails to keep me motivated.  ;-)

My husband and kiddos were really great too.  Didn't let me get lazy.  Let me have my writing time, even at night.  And the kids were so into it that they were coming up with new ideas for me too.  Then I'd hear "Mom, did you write about ____ yet?  That will be a really good one."  They also endured endless nights of take-out and frozen dinners.  (I'm really going on a diet in March.)  Thank you guys - love you!

Day 24 - Packing...

I've been busy doing critiques and reading TONS of picture books in preparation for the Picture Book Boot Camp that starts tomorrow.  I read a huge stack by Lisa Wheeler and can I just say, she is brilliant.  There are so many of hers that I had to read over again to analyze how she does it.  I just can't wait to learn more from her this weekend.  Should be amazing.  I met her almost 10 years ago at a conference in Detroit and she was hilarious and so talented. 

I also got my manuscript done for the day.  A silly idea that ended up combining two old ideas.  I'll have to find my old notes on those to compare.  I really hope that I still like these ideas next month.  After reading all of Lisa's books, well... can't wait for her wisdom. 

Probably won't blog the next few days while I'm out of town but will catch up when I return. Off to pack.

Day 23 - Only 5 days left!

I just can't believe that there are only 5 days left of the marathon.  Another benefit of participating - no time for anyone to have the "winter blahs".  You stay so super busy that the month is over before you know it!  :-) 

Got my manuscript done for today.  And I was so happy to find that because there were two days when I wrote more than one manuscript, I have 23 new picture book files.  (Even though I did use my two days off.)  Hooray! 

I can't wait to see what happens in March when I get to take stories these further.  Is there anyone out there that has done this before that has any insight?  Is it easy to keep the momentum?  Or do people fall off the wagon?  Do the rough drafts that seemed like good ideas in Feb, still seem good in March and after?  It will be very interesting.  No matter what happens, I am really glad that I did this!

Day 22 - Good News Always Helps!

So much to do before I leave again this Friday for Lisa Wheeler's Picture Book Boot Camp.  I've been feeling a little overwhelmed that I only have two days this week with the kids at school - then I got today's mail.  A wonderful contract arrived from Children's Better Health Institiute.  Almost two years ago they wanted to buy my poem "Pinata" and now it will appear in their May/June issue of Humpty Dumpty magazine.  Can't wait to see the illustration.  Hooray!  That really gave me a boost with my writing for today.  Less than a week left.  I just can't believe that. 

Keep writing fellow marathoners - we're almost there!

Day 21 - Back on track...

So the weekend show choir trip was great... action packed every minute of the day and into the wee hours of the morning.  On Saturday I don't hink we got to bed until 3:00 in trhe morning.  All of the kids - and adults - are still exhausted.  So glad that I saved up my "off days" because I did need to use them on Friday and Saturday.  There was just no time to write but I did get a idea for a new angle on a story I've been working on.  Love when those triggers happen at unexpected times. 

One of the many wonderful side effects of doing the marathon is that I really feel terrible for taking any time off at all - it feels so disappointing.  (And we're allowed two days off this month.)  But this is great because, let's face it, life gets busy and sometimes we can't fit it in.  But now it will be harder to just say "Oh well, didn't have time today."  Just can't do that anymore.

So back to my daily writing.  And this is in spite of the fact that my kiddos are off three days this week.  Here we go.... 
And thank you so much to everyone who has sent me wonderful messages of encouragement.  I appreciate it more than you can imagine. 

Day 17 - It's back!

So glad that I felt like my muse was working with me again today.  I needed it.  Got several new ideas and a manuscript written out for one.  Bringing the others with me this weekend on the high school trip.  No blogging for a few days but promise myself to keep writing.  If things get too crazy - then these will be my two off days for the marathon.  But hopefully I won't have to use them.  Happy writing everyone!

Day 16 - Marathon Mojo

Don't they say that the last few miles of a marathon are the hardest?  I think I'm there.   The last few days have been a little rough.  Fortunately we are expecting nearly 60 degree weather tomorrow - following our record breaking snow storm.  Maybe that will give me the much needed boost to get back in the groove.  I'm still writing and am actually ahead of schedule with number of new manuscripts written.  Just need that oomph back.

I'll be out of town this weekend to chaperone a high school show choir competition so I won't be blogging Fri & Sat, but will still try to write during any down time.  Then next weekend off to Lisa Wheeler's Picture Book Boot Camp.  Maybe that's a little bit of the problem - knowing that I'll be out of town a few weekends in a row.  Causing me to be a little distracted with what needs to be done at home.

I was invited to join another critique group this past week and I'm so excited about it.  The focus of the group... you guessed it, picture book revision.  Perfect timing.