Day Seven - 1st Annual 12 Days of Christmas Write Christmas Challenge

"A Writer’s Fairy Tale"

            If you’ve been writing long enough, you’ll recognize a familiar fairy tale motif integral to success--transformation.  The “lowly heroine/writer” who attends the “ball/writing conference” and lands the “prize/publishing contract” isn’t always the same gal who stayed home by the cinders “scrubbing/writing.” The “trait/story” that catches the “prince/editor’s” eye, isn’t often in the same form as it was at its creation.

            It’s not enough to create a lowly heroine and send her to the ball. This character must have a history and a goal. She must transform into something bigger than herself, come alive, jump off the page she is written on and speak to the reader.  Cinderella scrubbed more than her fair share of floors before the visit by the “fairy godmother/writing mentor.” When the “magical moment/opportunity” arrived, Cinderella was ready.  She wasn’t just an ordinary girl, but one with a past, a dream and the desire to fulfill that dream.

            With Cinderella and her fairy tale ending in mind, get down and scrub those floors!  Read/study successful books, from fiction to fantasy and everything in-between. Take notes as to what works/what doesn’t in different stories and genres. Identify what sets a particular story apart from the rest.  Focus on voice, character, plot, motivation, conflict, resolution, style, theme and motif. Use what you learn to transform your efforts into publishable stories and yourself into a published writer.

            As an exercise in creativity, take a familiar fairy tale and transform it. Give it an unusual slant and breathe your own life into it.  Work your fingers to the bone and bring your writing to the next level. Who knows, there just may be a fairy godmother waiting there! 

BONUS *WORD WEAVING* CHALLENGE:

Write a picture book story using as many words from this list as possible. Give yourself bonus points for using all of them. If this practice becomes a project, feel free to discard any words that don't serve your story. They will have done their job by inspiring something new! 

APPLE
HAIR
SLIPPER
SPELL
WITCH
MOAT
CRUMBS
CASTLE
MIRROR
FROG

Word weaving exercise inspired by popular fairy tales. Please check out any one of these books! 

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PLEASE feel free to follow this blog so you don't miss any tidbit of information and please feel free to leave any comment or question you may have. I will do my bes to answer all! 

Lynne Marie is the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten - illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog's 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play -- illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, pending) and Let's Eat! Mealtimes Around the World -- illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019). You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com. 

To order the Star in the Christmas Play, click the title.

Day Six - 1st Annual 12 Days of Christmas White Christmas Challenge

FINDING YOUR FRESH START

            Now that it’s nearing the close of 2018, you’re probably wondering how to give your writing a fresh start or a jump start. Do it -- you certainly deserve another chance and most importantly, don’t forget, so do your characters!

            Perhaps your character(s) dwindled away as a result of a tired plot, missing conflict, or over-zealous sidekicks.  If so, it’s time to breathe life into these poor souls.

            Choose the most favored of your nearly-departed characters and give them a fresh plot. You can begin by writing a picture book draft of up to 700 words, with your character doing any one or more of the following:

1.                  Wanting to make a friend.

2.                  Losing or gaining a beloved object.

3.                  Wanting to win a prize.

4.                  Gaining or losing a magical power.

5.                  Moving to a new home or school or country or galaxy.

6.                  Becoming or not wanting to be a ______________________.

7.                  Losing or getting a parent, sibling or friend.

8.                  Learning to share.

9.                  Becoming someone else for the day.

10.              Learning to say “I’m sorry.”   

11.              Organizing something challenging.

12.              Doing something you would least expect him/her to do.  

13.              Wanting a pet.

14.              Doing a job or chore.

15.              Learning to get along with others.

Whatever you chose, challenge your character’s staying power and remain true to

his/her/its personality.  You will find out things about your character that you hadn’t considered or known—and that may be all your character needs for a fresh start and a happy new year! 

BONUS *WORD WEAVING* CHALLENGE:

Write a picture book story using as many words from this list as possible. Give yourself bonus points for using all of them. If this practice becomes a project, feel free to discard any words that don't serve your story. They will have done their job by inspiring something new! 




DEAR
BEACH 
FLIES
HORN
SOCKS
HONESTY
PICKLES
SUGAR
TASTE
FRECKLES



Word weaving exercise inspired by words from DEAR SANTASAURUS, written by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Jef Kaminsky, Boyds Mills Press, 2019 and BEING FRANK, written by Donna Earnhardt and illustrated by Andrea Castellani (Flashlight Press, 2012). Please check out these books! 

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PLEASE feel free to follow this blog so you don't miss any tidbit of information and please feel free to leave any comment or question you may have. I will do my bes to answer all! 

Lynne Marie is the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten - illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog's 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play -- illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, pending) and Let's Eat! Mealtimes Around the World -- illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019). You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com. 

To order the Star in the Christmas Play, click the title.

Day Five - 1st Annual 12 Days of Christmas Write Christmas Challenge

A PITCH A DAY WILL BRING SUCCESS YOUR WAY

Leery of queries? Perturbed over pitches? Learning to write the perfect pitch is like riding a bike or playing an instrument. It gets better with practice -- and thankfully nothing you can't manage with a little discipline. 

Here's an exercise to strengthen your pitch potential.

PART ONE:

Choose a favorite book from your chosen genre. Consider its unique aspects and write a 50-word query lead.

EXAMPLE: When Alice falls down a rabbit hole, an adventure begins. Soon, she is chasing a white rabbit, taking tea with rodents, changing size and trying to keep her head from a volatile queen. Can Alice escape the madness and find her way home?


If you feel you need to study up before undertaking this task, get a pile of picture books and read the jacket flaps!

Write five pitches as practice. 

PART TWO: 

Now, take a look at your own body of work and write five pitches. If you only have a few projects, challenge yourself to write the pitches in an entirely different style. See which one works best. An as always you should be rereading, revising and re-visioning your pitches to make them as vivid and tight as possible. 

Good luck! 

BONUS *WORD WEAVING* CHALLENGE:

Write a picture book story using as many words from this list as possible. Give yourself bonus points for using all of them. If this practice becomes a project, feel free to discard any words that don't serve your story. They will have done their job by inspiring something new! 





KWANZA
LIGHT
HOME
PRIDE
BLESSING
BEAVER
WIGGLE
BLUE
SCOOP
RACE 




Word weaving exercise inspired by words from SANTA'S KWANZA, written by Garen Eileen Thomas and illustrated by Guy Francis (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2004 and I'M DONE, written by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan and illustrated by Catherine Lazar Odell. Please check out these books! 

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PLEASE feel free to follow this blog so you don't miss any tidbit of information and please feel free to leave any comment or question you may have. I will do my bes to answer all! 

Lynne Marie is the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten - illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog's 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play -- illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, pending) and Let's Eat! Mealtimes Around the World -- illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019). You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com. 

To order the Star in the Christmas Play, click the title.