Writing Prompt/Character First

If you are a SCBWI              Prose Shop Members Diana Murray & Lynne Marie
member AND a

picture book writer,

then you know the

pressure that

February 15th through

March 15th can

bring to complete,

revise, polish, shine,

print out and post

that winning manuscript

for the SCBWI's                                                    

Barbara Karlin Grant!

My fellow Prose Shop Critique Group Member and Friend Diana Murray knows this first hand as I am proud to share that she was this year's WINNER with her manuscript "Grimelda, the Very Messy Witch."

                                                                  
I am extremely pleased to be able to have Diana here with you today to share some of her process on writing the winning manuscript. Here is how she began:

Character First

When I wrote “Grimelda the Very Messy Witch”, I started with the idea of a character. I wanted to write about someone who was messy and stubborn. From there, I envisioned different types of characters who would fit the bill and finally decided that a witch would give me the most room to push the idea to its limit. Next I gave her a witchy goal and then made her messy, stubborn nature an obstacle in achieving that goal.

There are many ways to start a puzzle. Starting with the idea of a character is like putting down a corner piece first. With those two flat edges, you have a clue where it goes. Choose a scenario that best lets you showcase that character and the rest of the pieces can fall into place.

ABOUT DIANA:

Diana Murray won the 2010 SCBWI Barbara Karlin Grant for her rhyming picture book entitled, "Grimelda the Very Messy Witch". Her poems are forthcoming in publications including SCBWI Bulletin, Highlights, and Spider. For more information about Diana, please visit her web site: http://www.dianamurray.com/

 

ABOUT THE GRANT:

http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Barbara-Karlin-Grant

 

Please follow this blog so you don't miss our upcoming talented authors as well as a tip from Barbara Karlin Grant Runner-up Jenni Bielicki!