Pick of the Month: February 2012

I have been plugging away at my 75 Book Challenge. I have read 26 books so far.  Awesome -- yes! But, I still feel behind.  Will I make it to 75 by the end of the year?  I hope so! It's been fun so far.

Here is my favorite read from February 2012.


Picture Book:  Lost Boy: The Story of the Man who created Peter Pan by Jane Yolen

This is lovely picture book biography about the life J.M. Barrie, author of "Peter Pan."  At 2990 words, this is probably not the best choice for a one-night bedtime story for young children.  It might work if you spread it out over several nights.  The story is primarily meant for middle grade readers, grades 4-8.  The illustrations are beautiful, whimsical, and fill the readers and listeners with 'awe'.

As an aspiring writer, Barrie's story struck a chord with me.  His path to becoming a successful author was not an easy as you would think.  He went through many of the same trials and tribulations in his time that we all continue to go through now.  It made me feel connected to him in an unexpected way.  I always find experiences like these make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  It's one of many reasons I love children's literature -- the stories reach people of all ages, from 0-90.  I hope you will check it out!

Leaving Room

When writing picture book texts have you ever heard the following advice?  

'You must leave room for the illustrations.'

I know I have.  As a largely intuitive person, I have soaked in the knowledge from classes, conferences, workshops, and reading slowly over time. I can compare my picture book texts from two years ago to texts from today and see a difference -- more room.

So how can you achieve this in your own writing? Here's a few things that have worked for me.

1) Reading at least 30-40+ classic & new picture books.

     I don't just mean flip through the pages, get the general gist of the story, and the add it to your 'read' pile.  I mean really read the story.  Put yourselves in a child's shoes.  Read each page aloud, and then stop to enjoy the illustrations on each page.  How are those illustrations adding to the story? Do they make you feel happy or sad? Do they make you laugh?  Do they make you want to turn the page and find out what happens next?  

2)  Break your picture book text up into scenes, and create a storyboard.

     I am not an Author//Illustrator, but I do like to break the story up into scenes and make a storyboard.  Granted, these are things the Author may not have much control of during the publishing process, but at this point that is not really what it's meant for.  This process gives you the ability to know if what you have written works as a picture book. Are there at least 12-16 distinctly different scenes?  Another added bonus is that it might help you envision changes in the text you may not have seen before.  Perhaps you've written something that is too wordy or has too many descriptions.  Or perhaps there may be an added emotional layer you didn't see before.

 

Pick of the Month: January 2012

I have a confession to make...this post is almost a month late.  My oh-so-wonderful-plan was to choose my favorite books I've read, as part of the 75 Book Challenge, and write a lovely post about them each month.  I still love the idea and intend on following through with it.  So, without further ado, here are my top picks for January 2012.  It was a hard decision, as I read a number of 'curl up with a cup of cocoa and eagerly read me' kind of stories last month.  Wait -- that's every month!

Picture Book: Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

Sharks and Trains! I think I hear those words at least once or twice a day at work.  Kids loves sharks and trains! What a great idea to pair the two in a picture book!  In Shark vs. Train the two characters challenge each other in the ultimate competition to see who can 'out-do' the other.

In some cases Train has the advantage, like marshmallow roasting.
In others it's Shark, like trick-or-treating.
Who will win? Check out this fun book to find out!


Novel - Middle Grade: The Giver by Lois Lowry


How did I get this far in life without having read this beautifully written dystopian novel, which also happens to be a Newberry Honor Book?  Looking back at my teen years it was probably because I was too busy reading Sweet Valley High Books, while also sneaking Dean Koontz and Stephen King books from my mother's bookshelves.  I also remember having a habit of 'judging a book by its cover'. I probably glanced at it and decided not to give it a chance (silly me!)

What I loved about the book most was Jonah's voice throughout the story.  Lowry pulled you in his world so quickly and seamlessly that you literally lived and experienced Jonas's world as he did.  I suspected from the beginning that the utopian society he was living in was in fact a dystopian one, but nonetheless delighted in how Jonas discovered it.  It was like slowly unwrapping a candy wrapped in several layers of foil, only to find that the once you reach the center it has melted.

If you are a fan of Dystopian fiction and have not read The Giver I highly, highly recommend it.

Getting out of my bubble -- My SDSU Writer's Conference Experience

I love attending writer's conferences, workshops, and critique groups with fellow children's and young adult writers.  I get to spend time with like-minded, spirited individuals who love children's books as much as I do.  And, I don't get people looking at me funny for enjoying them either!

This past summer, I received a wonderful piece of advice while attending a Children's Writers Schmooze -- 'Expand your horizons.  Don't limit yourself to events just for children's writers. Branch out! Explore events for other genres as well.'

I percolated over the idea for some time and finally decided to take the plunge.  I signed up for the SDSU Writer's Conference in San Diego, and will be posting recaps of it very soon! Writers from all genres were present at this event -- and I was very nervous to attend.  I am so happy I did! Most sessions didn't address my genre specifically, but nonetheless I was able to pick out information relevant to me and soak it all in. I was also exposed to many ideas about the new digital and technological world of publishing (more on that soon too.)

One of my favorite sessions was put on by author, Angela Hunt, entitled Evoking Emotion.  It was wonderful!  She had a box of tissues on the counter for all of us -- just in case.  I didn't think I would need them, but oh how wrong I was about that!  She used various videos as discussion points in discovering how they evoked such a strong emotional response.  Take a look at the video below about Christian the Lion Cub and see what I mean.  (The singer featured in the video is the Late Whitney Houston.  May she rest in peace.  My heart goes out to her family and friends.)

12 x 12 in 12

It's official! I've signed up to for the 12 x 12 in 2012 Challenge hosted by Julie Hedlund!

What is this challenge all about?
The premise is simple. Write 12 full picture books (with a beginning, middle, and end) in 2012. It's ok if they're not submission ready. The idea is just to put pen to page, while motivating yourself and other writers in the process.  You can even earn prizes!! How about that?

I know, I know -- writing 12 full length picture books sounds like a daunting task, but as long as you have the intention of completing them, it's worthwhile to sign up!  I have heard of so many writers' success stories from their PiBoIdMo ideas, including its founder, Tara Lazar.

So far I have have completed one story in 2012 for the 12x12in12 Challenge, and two from the PiBoIdMo 2011 Challenge.  Who knows? Maybe one of them may be my next published story...

Good luck to everyone, whatever your 2012 endeavors might be.  Enjoy the process!

Progress Report 3/12/12 -- 3 down 9 to go!

The joy of REAL books

One of my writer's group friends shared a wonderful video with me the other day called 'The Joy of Books'. Ahhh -- Nothing can compare to the feel of a real book in your hands, the gentle flipping of its pages, the cozy paper smell in your nose...

This is especially true with children's books and their gorgeous illustrations. I can still recall my own childhood days and how I envisioned the books in the bookstore coming alive, much like the ones featured in the video below. 

Enjoy!

How will you say 2012?

Happy New Years! It's 2012!

Like the old saying goes, "You say tomayto, I say tomahto." Some will call it Two-Thousand-Twelve, some will call it Twenty-Twelve.

Personally, from the years 2000-2011, I referred to the years by their long names.  Two Thousand, Two Thousand-one, etc.  But, a very wise friend, who also happens to be my brother-in-law, pointed out to me that historically this is not how we have referred to the years.  1900 is not referred to as One Thousand-Nine Hundred, but rather Nineteen-Hundred.  It makes sense to me!

So, in 2012, I'm gonna try changing it up, and see if it sticks.  I will refer to the year as Twenty-Twelve, instead of Two-thousand-twelve. 

How will you refer to the new year?