Writing Journey
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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…
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Susanna Hill’s Holiday Writing Contest
Author Susanna Leonard Hill is having a Holiday writing contest where you could win prizes! Be creative and write a post with your own version (350 words or less) of The Night Before Christmas (it can be about any winter holiday). Please visit Ms. Hill’s website for all the details HERE. My entry is posted below. I have been interested in writing a picture book about the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal for quite some time, but have not done it yet. So, for my entry today the monk seal takes center stage, as I play around with the idea of what a monk seal might want for Christmas. Enjoy!!…
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My First contract
I’m over the moon! I received my first contract this week. It is for for a short story entitled, Max and Digby’s Big Day. It is about a young man, Max, who trained his miniature bull terrier, Digby, in agility and is taking him to his first match. What happens when Digby seemingly forgets his training? The story will appear in the November 2011 issue of Stories for Children Magazine. (Updated: The November issue is now available for purchase HERE.) I have more good news to announce soon. I hope my mailbox continues to buzz with exciting news this month… Happy September everyone! I hope you are having as bountiful…
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So Long Summer…Hello September!
So long Summer! This will go down in my books as the first summer I spent seriously devoted to writing! If I were an apple farmer I would say I had an abundant harvest this summer. Here is just a partial list of things I accomplished. ❦ I attended my first SCBWI Summer Conference. ❦ I joined a Peer Critique Group! ❦ I connected with another Children’s Writer in my neighborhood! ❦ I read 30+ picture books. ❦ I took 2 online writing courses. ❦ I wrote 4 new short stories and made progress on my Middle Grade WIP. ❦ I learned how to use a “twitter hashtag.” ❦ I…
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Library Days: The charming Katie Wheeler Library
As I mentioned in my previous post, Library Picture Book Round Up: Week One, I’ve been visiting libraries at least once a week this summer. This week I decided to visit the Katie Wheeler library in Irvine. Isn’t the building charming and quaint? As I strolled up the rose lined walk leading up to the front doors, I found myself thinking of a few literary classics of my youth. I could picture myself being transported to Prince Edward Island and seeing Anne of Green Gables, with her fiery red standing on the balcony above. It was refreshing. It was delightful place to spend an afternoon filled with nostalgia and…
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My 5 Year Old Reading Self
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to attend a Free Writing Workshop, The Seven Deadly Sins of Writing led by Author Amy Goldman Koss and hosted by SCBWI (have I mentioned how much I love them?) Ms. Koss was very candid, funny, and realistic in her discussion with us. I will be adding her list of seven deadly writing sins to my “post-its” from now on whenever I write. (I have been guilty of at least three!) Ms. Koss also led us in several writing exercises, one of which was to think about the age group you are writing for, write to yourself when you were that age and…
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Summer Writing Workshops
Hello everyone!So I have every intention to keep blogging throughout the summer, but at the moment I can’t make any promises. And why is that you ask? Well, I have signed up to take two online writing workshops simultaneously. I have my summer off from work so it should be no biggie right? Seeing as how the last class I took was two years ago when I took a Wilton Cake Decorating class, I’m actually a bit anxious about it. I know it will be a fun, exhilirating experience. But I can’t help but feel like an incoming college student all over again. Wish me luck and if all goes…
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RemembeRed: A Real Meal, Finally!
I gazed up at the menu with excitement. This was it, the first real food I would have in two weeks. This was the third restaurant in the food court I’d been to already, staring up at the menu deciding whether or not I could eat here. My husband didn’t say so but I could tell he just wanted me to pick something already. Would any of this food be ok and not get caught in the four gaping holes I had in the back of my mouth? I’d waited until I was almost thirty to get my wisdom teeth pulled out. Now I realized why this would have…
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5 Things to do while playing The Waiting Game
I have to confess, I have become a little preoccupied with checking my e-mail and mailbox for the past few weeks…wishing and hoping to receive news about recent manuscript submissions. Of course, it can take many months to hear anything however, I’ve been told one of my stories is currently under consideration. (Squeal!) It is so hard to contain that shred of hope I have in my heart without getting carried away. I have desperately been trying to find other things to keep those pushy little — “today’s the day, go check the mail!” monsters at bay. If you are playing the waiting game like me, here are five things…
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Writer’s Day in L.A.
Yesterday I attended the SCBWI-LA’s 30th Annual Writer’s Day. It was my second official writing conference since taking up writing seriously again. I was a little anxious about attending at first. I kinda felt like that little five year old girl I once was. I was always nervous about having to move for the 3rd time in two years and then go to a new school and make new friends all over again. Well I’ve come a long way since then and I am happy to report – I loved every minute of it!The camaraderie with fellow writers was excellent. I also felt very inspired by the speakers of the…
