You've heard of NaNoWriMo, the challenge to write one complete novel during the month of November. But what the heck is NaPiBoWriWee?
It's a funny acronynm for National Picture Book Writing Week-- duh!
Since Paula Yoo announced the challenge on her blog, writers of all skill levels have joined in. I'm one of them. Why? I have no idea. I have too much on my plate already. But I haven't been doing enough writing lately, so I figured why not?
Tonight I will spend some time coming up with 7 picture book ideas that I will flesh out into full picture books with a beginning, middle and end, during the next 7 days.
It sounds impossible to me; Picture books always take me months to write (they're hard little buggers!) but, hey, I'm up for a challenge.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
I wish I had known about this earlier...
The MFA Weblog is a must-read for anyone considering an MFA program or already enrolled in one. This blog has information on everything from getting in to financial aid, to the best programs in particular genres. If you or someone you know is considering an MFA, check it out for some honest and helpful advice!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
Don't forget:
Books have less fat than candy, aren't sugary like jellybeans, won't make you sick (don't belive the CPSIA!) and don't have any carbs.
Not to mention giving a kid a book helps him develop phoentic awareness and other skills he needs to succeed in school. A good book will be picked up again and again by an eager child and will never go out of style. When a child's toys are being tossed aside and his clothes are outgrown, a book will still sit on a shelf, be re-read and re-loved.
Give the gift of a book this Easter, because it will last longer than anything else you can pack into an Easter basket.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
How Do You Tell Someone?
I recently had someone send me an e-mail about Poetry.com after seeing me mention that I dealt with them when I was a teenager. I had referred to it as a "scam" and they couldn't figure out why.
How do you bring up a topic like that to someone? Poetry.com is a scam in the sense that they are only out to get your money. Yes, they publish your poem in a book. No, you can't buy it at any bookstores anywhere. It's a giant book that will cost you way too much to purchase, and your poem will probably be small and insignificant in a stream of other poems. Poetry.com will publish anything. People have purposely submitted terrible poetry to them, and they got published!
To cap it all off, they tempt you with awards and honors, then expect you to pay to get them! For more information, see some of the complaints.
So, how do you tell someone so excited about writing that they are falling into a trap? I was just a teenager when they lured me in, but I know many adults who have fallen for it too. I still look at that "published" poem differently now, after I figured it out. I hate to break someone's heart, but part of me thinks that once they figure it out by themselves, they'll be much stronger for it.
How do you bring up a topic like that to someone? Poetry.com is a scam in the sense that they are only out to get your money. Yes, they publish your poem in a book. No, you can't buy it at any bookstores anywhere. It's a giant book that will cost you way too much to purchase, and your poem will probably be small and insignificant in a stream of other poems. Poetry.com will publish anything. People have purposely submitted terrible poetry to them, and they got published!
To cap it all off, they tempt you with awards and honors, then expect you to pay to get them! For more information, see some of the complaints.
So, how do you tell someone so excited about writing that they are falling into a trap? I was just a teenager when they lured me in, but I know many adults who have fallen for it too. I still look at that "published" poem differently now, after I figured it out. I hate to break someone's heart, but part of me thinks that once they figure it out by themselves, they'll be much stronger for it.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Cool Link: Authonomy
Authonomy is a new website from Harper Collins with the goal of finding fresh, new writing talent.
From the website:
"authonomyTM is a brand new community site for writers, readers and publishers, conceived and developed by book editors at HarperCollins. We want to flush out the brightest, freshest new literature around - we’re glad you stopped by."
Users are asked to upload at least 10,000 words of their completed or in-progress novel. Authonomy is for serious writers, and the 10,000 word count is meant to weed out writers who will not finish their novels. Fellow writers/Authonomy users read and rate the novels, with the highest rated novels moving on to editors at Harper Collins for publication consideration!
Harper Collins does not promise to publish anyone who uploads their book. However, the prospect of getting their work seen by editors has intrigued the thousands of writers who have joined the site so far.
If Authonomy is any indication, the publishing community may be moving into a new, more creative area of submissions.
From the website:
"authonomyTM is a brand new community site for writers, readers and publishers, conceived and developed by book editors at HarperCollins. We want to flush out the brightest, freshest new literature around - we’re glad you stopped by."
Users are asked to upload at least 10,000 words of their completed or in-progress novel. Authonomy is for serious writers, and the 10,000 word count is meant to weed out writers who will not finish their novels. Fellow writers/Authonomy users read and rate the novels, with the highest rated novels moving on to editors at Harper Collins for publication consideration!
Harper Collins does not promise to publish anyone who uploads their book. However, the prospect of getting their work seen by editors has intrigued the thousands of writers who have joined the site so far.
If Authonomy is any indication, the publishing community may be moving into a new, more creative area of submissions.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Children's Poet Laureate
In late 2006, the Poetry Foundation named Jack Prelutsky the first ever Children's Poet Laureate. The position was created to raise awareness of the importance of children's poetry as a means of getting children to love both poetry and reading.
In late 2008, poet Mary Ann Hoberman was named the new Children's Poet Laureate. Hoberman is the author of over 40 books for children, including A House is a House for Me, which won the National Book Award.
In addition to raising awareness about poetry for children, the position brings new hope to children's writers with a poetry background, like myself. I find it hard to write poetry for kids that doesn't sound condescending or too babyish. But by reading and studying poets like Prelutsky and Hoberman, I can learn more about perfecting the genre. There is definitely a market out there for children's poetry!
In late 2008, poet Mary Ann Hoberman was named the new Children's Poet Laureate. Hoberman is the author of over 40 books for children, including A House is a House for Me, which won the National Book Award.
In addition to raising awareness about poetry for children, the position brings new hope to children's writers with a poetry background, like myself. I find it hard to write poetry for kids that doesn't sound condescending or too babyish. But by reading and studying poets like Prelutsky and Hoberman, I can learn more about perfecting the genre. There is definitely a market out there for children's poetry!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
There's No Such Thing as Writer's Block
Someone once told me there's no such thing as writer's block. Some days, I don't believe them. But most of the time, I am inclined to agree. Writer's block is in your head!
"Writer's block" can occur for a variety of reasons. Think of some of the times you haven't been able to write one word. Chances are, one of these things applied:
1) You were stressed or otherwise too preoccupied to think of ideas or concentrate enough to put them down on paper.
2) You were stressed or otherwise too preccupied with real life to have the time to put your ideas on paper.
3) You hadn't been living life enough and you didn't have a single thing to write about.
Many people will tell you that free-writing, brainstorming, or writing with prompts will get your writing juices flowing again. And that can be true, to an extent. But if your situation is anything like #1 or #2 listed above, you must learn to take care of things before you sit down to write. Always sit down to write with a clear mind, uncluttered of worries and responsibilities. Think "I love doing this and it will help me relax." If your writing must wait until your baby is asleep, your dog no longer smells like skunk, and your husband has been fed, then that's when you must do it.
If your situation is #3, walk away from your desk, go outside, meet some people, walk around the park, observe some children, get on the bus, watch the people come on and off and make up their life stories, go shopping for new sneakers, join a pick-up basketball game in an unfamiliar neighborhood, and THEN come home and tell me you have nothing to write about!
"Writer's block" can occur for a variety of reasons. Think of some of the times you haven't been able to write one word. Chances are, one of these things applied:
1) You were stressed or otherwise too preoccupied to think of ideas or concentrate enough to put them down on paper.
2) You were stressed or otherwise too preccupied with real life to have the time to put your ideas on paper.
3) You hadn't been living life enough and you didn't have a single thing to write about.
Many people will tell you that free-writing, brainstorming, or writing with prompts will get your writing juices flowing again. And that can be true, to an extent. But if your situation is anything like #1 or #2 listed above, you must learn to take care of things before you sit down to write. Always sit down to write with a clear mind, uncluttered of worries and responsibilities. Think "I love doing this and it will help me relax." If your writing must wait until your baby is asleep, your dog no longer smells like skunk, and your husband has been fed, then that's when you must do it.
If your situation is #3, walk away from your desk, go outside, meet some people, walk around the park, observe some children, get on the bus, watch the people come on and off and make up their life stories, go shopping for new sneakers, join a pick-up basketball game in an unfamiliar neighborhood, and THEN come home and tell me you have nothing to write about!
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