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PiBoIdMo Prep 2014: Mining for Ideas
Come November, I’m usually physically and emotionally spent. I’m exhausted from the first few months of school and anticipating the exhaustion of the holidays. But a challenge comes along every November that I just can’t pass up. PiBoIdMo. Picture Book Idea Month, started by the amazing Tara Lazar. I’ve…
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Picture Book Month Day 29: Picture Books as Writing Mentor Texts featuring MONSTORE
MONSTORE by Tara Lazar Illustrated by James Burks Aladdin, 2013 Summary: Zack needs a monster to keep his sister away from his room, but every monster he buys doesn’t work, and buying more monsters doesn’t work either. He has to find a solution to his monstrosity of a…
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November is for Picture Books
It’s almost November and there are two great things going on in the month of November (and I’m not talking about Thanksgiving, even though that’s pretty awesome). PiBoIdMo is for Writers I’m participating in PiBoIdMo, sponsored by Tara Lazar. As a writer, this is a great way to get…
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Making Time to Write: PiBoIdMo Prep
November is quickly approaching and one really important thing I do in November? PIBOIDMO. Also known as Picture Book Idea Month. I don’t usually do NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month—where one attempts to do an entire draft of a novel in the month of November. PiBoIdMo is more up…
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Making Time to Write Monday: Just Say No to New Year’s Resolutions (or 31 Just for Fun)
Alayne Kay Christian is in my online picture book critique group. She’s also the founder of the new group Sub Six. Sub Sixers are planning to submit six manuscripts sitting in folders. On Alayne’s blog, Writer’s Whole Life Perspective, she challenged her readers to not worry about New Year’s…
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Making Time to Write Monday: Picture Book Challenge
November and December can be hectic, with multiple holidays, parties, shopping, work stress. Everything seems to be heightened this time of year. It’s usually a difficult time of the year to take on new challenges. But, sometimes having my writing life can be a calm in the storm. Thankfully,…
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12×12 in 12 Blog Party–12 Resources for the Picture Book Writer
It’s time to celebrate a completed (or almost completed) 12 x 12 in ’12 picture book challenge. To celebrate, I’m posting 12 resources for picture book writers. 1. Rob Sanders’ blog–Check out Rob’s site. He often posts good writing tips for picture books writers and this year has…
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Writing Quote Wednesday: Sunlight
“There is so much talk of creative ‘breakthroughs’ that many of us expect our creativity to be dramatic. This is seldom the case. Very occasionally, we will have a flash of insight or intuition but more often we will experience a slow and steady course. Our creativity resembles sunlight…
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Making Time to Write Monday: If You Only Have 15 Minutes
I am a teacher by day. It just hit me this week that I think teaching has forced me to master efficiency. On any given day, I typically have between 0 minutes-60 minutes of planning time. The average is 30-50 minutes. However, there are many days that I’m lucky…
