Wednesday, December 12th, 2012...2:20 pm
It’s a Party! Happy 12/12/12!
Congratulations to everyone who participated in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 12 this year! It doesn’t matter how many manuscripts you piled up, how good they were, or if they ever get published. And if you’re stuck on that, read my last post!
I’m a picture book author, and yet, these nudges from Julie have helped me come up with more stories than I would have left to my own resistance! Thank you, Julie, and to those of you who keep saying you want to write picture books, get yourself over there!
We came
We pledged
We wrote
We posted
We celebrated
My own 12×12 participation will be much easier this coming year, because I also got to play over at PiBoIdMo! Doesn’t that sound like fun? And I won! Here’s why…
Picture Book Idea Month gave me permission to stop and consider a multitude of ideas for writing. Instead of working away on an idea that popped into my head, I had a list to choose from. Yes, I did keep lists, but I didn’t always use them.
The difference is this: Because of PiBoIdMo, I was working on quantity of ideas. But, once you get past the obvious ones, you get into the more creative ones. In my normal process, I think of a good idea, then write. During PiBoIdMo, I kept going on the idea stage longer than usual.
And now, I’m a winner not only because I made my quota, but because I have a better writing habit. In fact, as the PiBoIdMo community will tell you, we’re ALL winners. Thanks, Tara Lazar!
My 12/12/12 suggestions for aspiring picture book authors & illustrators:
- Write! Many people prefer the idea of writing to the work of writing. I avoided writing for years by reading about it and by saying I didn’t have time. Practice, practice, practice!
- Learn your craft. Attend classes and conferences. Read books, magazines, and other publications. Sign up for online newsletters.
- Know kids and kids’ books. Go to the library and check out a stack every week – the books, not the kids. Observe kids. Hang out with them. Volunteer at schools, libraries, scouting or 4-H groups, etc.
- Join SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). They’ll teach you everything you need to know through their website, handouts, newsletters, and conferences. Get involved!
- Participate in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) with Tara Lazar. (Click on the PiBoIdMo banner above for more information.)
- Take those PiBo ideas and head over to Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 and write a manuscript each month of the year. (Click on the 12×12 picture at the top of this post.)
- Join or start an online or in-person critique or writing support group. Find writing buddies. Libraries, colleges, and SCBWI may help.
- Sign up for manuscript critiques at conferences, but have a thick skin about it. You don’t really want to hear it’s perfect, do you?
- Research publishers and editors. Follow all submission guidelines. Get a copy of the most current Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market.
- It’s often harder to get a good children’s writer’s agent than it is to get published. Finding an agent is probably not one of your first steps.
- Don’t send in a manuscript a friend illustrated for you. Editors select the illustrator. If you write and illustrate, consider letting them know the text and artwork may be considered separately.
- Expect Rejection. Most stories are just practice, and everyone gets rejections. Celebrate those rejection letters!
And if you’re ready for a little coaching, I’ll have a few openings in the new year!
24 Comments
December 12th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Hi, Deb. Your list of advice is amazing! I especially identify with the “practice” advice. Once the ideas steep awhile, it’s important to try them a lot of different ways to find the best path. I’m a brand new blogger so I’m glad to “meet” you through the 12×12 linky list!
December 12th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Thanks, Wendy. It’s great to meet you, too! Happy Noodling! ; )
December 12th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
It’s so true, having that list of ideas from last year really made 12×12 possible for me this year. Otherwise, I would have been stuck in the idea stage too often. Interestingly, 4 of the manuscripts I wrote this year came from ideas I had during the year, not my PiBoIdMo list — but somehow having the list gave me the cushion I needed if I didn’t have a great “new” idea one month.
Great list of suggestions, too. Happy 12/12/12!
December 12th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
We are all winners! Thank you for summing up your tips on becoming a picture book author. Great advice! Thanks, Deb!
December 12th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Thanks, Romelle. It’s been a great year and so good to “meet” you! Yes, we won, didn’t we!
December 12th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Love all your advice Deb. I will save it in my files. Congrats to you and your accomplishments!
December 12th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Excellent suggestions. BTW, did you put your picture sideways on the linky-list on purpose? I thought it very creative if you did. Happy 12/12/12 day.
December 13th, 2012 at 12:09 am
Thanks, Hannah. No, I was not being creative, although I did try to talk myself into believing that, so I appreciate your take on it! The photo worked fine in other places, but not there. And I couldn’t figure out how to change it, so I finally gave up. ; )
December 13th, 2012 at 12:10 am
Oh, Jennifer, I’m always saving those things and never looking at them again. I hope you have better luck with that than I do! Thank you. What a fun year… So glad to get to know everyone! Best wishes on your writing!
December 13th, 2012 at 8:02 am
Cool advice, Deb! Especially #1!
I actually came up with fresh ideas for around 80% of my 12×12 manuscripts, rather than 2011 ideas. But I do love dipping back to these lists.
Congrats on your accomplishments this year!
December 13th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Resisting writing really puts a stop to books getting published! ; ) My latest method to tacking this, thanks to Eric Maisel, is to make a list (and three is plenty) from this statement: When there’s resistance, I will… Or maybe this is just another way to resist writing?
December 13th, 2012 at 9:52 am
Wow – I just shared your post before I finished reading it! Great stuff for stockings!
December 13th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Oh, Julie. Great idea! Do you think my kids will mind? This could really be good for our budget ; )
December 13th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Great list, Deb — thanks! I’m so grateful for all the creative, supportive people I’ve “met” through 12×12!
December 13th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Yes, Beth. This would have been a far different year without all of you sharing the journey. Happy holidays and good wishes for a writing-filled 2013.
December 13th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I love your suggestions! Congratulations and here is to an even more creative 2013. I used a lot of my ideas from PiBo also. I just love that challenge
December 13th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Boy you aren’t kidding about #1!! That’s what I did for YEARS. 12 x 12 was really my way of setting some accountability for myself. I’m so glad 12 x 12 did the same for you, Deb. And I could not agree more about PiBoIdMo. Having a long list of ideas REALLY helps.
I’ve loved getting to know you and your wonderful books this year. The Dinos were a big hit in my house this year!
December 14th, 2012 at 4:07 am
Deb – I love your list of advice! Number 1 is especially important! I spent years dwelling on the idea of writing and not really writing. So glad that’s changed now!
December 14th, 2012 at 7:06 am
Me, too, Becky! And isn’t it crazy? Okay. Confession time. I still resist. Just not for years…
December 14th, 2012 at 7:08 am
Thank you, Julie. For your sweet words, for the support, for 12×12… It’s been great getting to know you, too. Have a great trip——those are some lucky writers going with you!!!
December 17th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Ditto, Deb.
(Great list of 12 suggestions!)
December 17th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Thanks, Cathy. I still have trouble with #1! ; )
December 19th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Thanks so much, Deb! Your tips are great! 12×12 created a blissful year for me…writing picture book drafts all year…what could be better! Congrats on doing 12×12 and PiBoIdMo…it was my first year for that and you are right…now I have a ton (well, maybe 30) ideas that will serve as drafts for 12×12 in 2013.
December 19th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Let’s keep going, Vivian! So fun to share all this with you this year…
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