Picture Book Marathon Update: Day Thirteen & Fourteen

My Picture Book Marathon tally spelled out "Sweet" success as I handed in my count of 7 completed picture book drafts on Sunday for the week, a total of 12 since the Marathon started on February 1st!  It hasn't always easy to find the time to write a complete draft each day.  I have given up some of my favorite t.v. shows, checked Facebook less, and as Lora and Jean recommended, made it a daily task to ponder and list three possible ideas to work on the next day.  I have noticed myself finding a rhythm, and more and more, doing productive work on my writing and storytelling has become part of my daily routine.

I think being in the holiday spirit got my creative juices flowing, as a holiday book poured out of me on Sunday, but it wasn't a Valentine's Day book!  Of the 14 picture book drafts I've written, there are 7 that I consider worth pursuing with more revisions, and this one is definitely one of them. 

One of Lora and Jean's recent blogposts discussed writing what you know. Monday's picture book draft was inspired by my little one, who has neurological tics and makes humming noises or perhaps something else, when the tic shifts over time.  It's about a little hippo who blinks, hums and flicks his tongue and his attempt to convince the other animals to let him play with them in the watering hole. I am happy that even in the first draft I feel it has humor, compassion, tension, and ultimately, understanding. I hope that after much thought and many revisions, it will one day be a GOOD story.  Read on, to see what I mean...

This weekend, I asked my 6-year old daughter (who has been reading picture books and chapter books unassisted for some time) what topics she liked to read about in picture books. She replied, "Well, just about anything that's good." I asked her what she meant by good, and tried to get her to pick some topics in particular. She titled her head and said, "Didn't you understand? Anything that's GOOD!" She gave me examples...FLORA'S VERY WINDY DAY (by Jeanne Birdsall), DESERT ROSE AND THE HIGHFALUTIN' HOG (by Alison Jackson), JULIUS, BABY OF THE WORLD (by Kevin Henkes), SUCH A SILLY BABY (by Steffanie and Richard Long). All these books are extremely different in style and topic, but I think I know what she means. A good story, well-told!

So keep on writing those drafts every day -- you're stretching your creative muscles, exploring new things (situations, characters, voices, places, conflicts). You're on the right path to creating that good story, well told!

Picture Book Marathon Day Twelve / On the Twelfth Day of Marathon...

On the 12th Day of Marathon, my true love (my little sweetheart Kayla) gave to me...another great idea to pursue <3

And, to be truthful, I think this one is one of the winners!

Lora and Jean mentioned in their Day 11 Marathon Post that Katherine Paterson recommends to "Write what you know," or "would like to know." At the recent SCBWI NY11, Newbery award-winning author Lois Lowry gave similar advice. "Things that happened way back when. Then told and shaped, and told again." And "What if? What if? Alway there. So many answers. Be aware." Another snippet included: "a phrase and little more -- imagination, take wings, soar!"

So, be aware!

In my own writing, I often include overlay imaginative fiction upon factual events. Events that happen in my life. In my son's life. In my daughter's life. School events. This day's draft was no exception. In a left-handed way, the basis for my inspiration came from making Valentines for my daughter's First Grade Class.  Of course, realizing that so many books exist about Valentine's Day, I found a way to approach the school celebration from a different angle, focus on a learning aspect, add some fiction and fun and hopefully learn more about snails in the process! Got you intrigued? Hopefully it will be a book someday and you will get to read first hand what I am talking about.

But my point is that you can use real-life for inspiration and write about day-to-day things without really writing about those tired topics. Just be aware of the parts that work, then push the box a little further, and think outside of it.

So, go ahead, write what you know or what you want to know, and give it a twist <3

Picture Book Marathon Day Eleven / Sowing Your Story Seeds All in a Row (Structure)

For Friday, I discussed my top ten methods for finding inspiration. My idea for Picture Book Marathon Day 11 came from reading the fun and fabulous book, JACK OF ALL TAILS, written by a former critique group partner, Kim Norman. Please visit her at her website: http://www.kimnormanbooks.com/.

Of course, my idea really has nothing to do with this wonderful book, in which "Members of the Kibbleman family take on jobs training people to live with their pets, wallowing in mud like the Munson's pot-bellied pig or lying in front of the television and passing gas like Mrs. Philpott's dearly-departed boxer dog MacTavish." That's the beauty of it!

Just  one little detail, if you will, sent my mind flying off in a different direction, to a different place, with a different character and a different situation, and voila -- my story was born! But I digress (and of course wanted to share the title of a thoroughly enjoyable book)...

Here's where the sowing comes in. Just like every day is different, so is every idea or seed for each story. Some practically grow on their own, some require lots of sun light and water. Others might make you roll up your sleeves, put your arms deep down into mucky earth and pull them out by their roots. The point is, you have to do what it takes.

With Manuscript #11, a structured format worked easily. I had my flawed but engaging character, setting, situation and problem in my head. All I had to do is let them loose for the fun and frivolity to begin. From there, my character made three aggravated and humorous attempts to solve her problem and finally, when it seemed that all hope was lost, she came up with an unexpected solution -- just like in so many of the books we know and love <3 Structure! It worked for me today, and at the end of it all, I had tapped out a promising first draft.

Please come back and visit  my blog for more Picture Book Marathon Updates and other techniques for letting your ideas turn into drafts (as well as tips, thoughts and tricks from other Published Authors and Illustrators).

Lynne Marie is the author of HEDGEHOG GOES TO KINDERGARTEN, Scholastic, April 2011
visit http://www.hedgehoggoestokindergarten.blogspot.com/ for updates

Picture Book Marathon Day Ten / Top Ten Places to Get Ideas

Due to planning an extremely last-minute vacation which my little one sorely needs, I am behind with my agenda, so please pardon me while I play catch up with Marathon Updates and Guest Author Blogposts. Thanks!

*.*.*.*

On this Tenth day of Picture Book Marathon, I thought it might be good to throw some kindling wood on the fire (for anyone who is struggling for ideas) and discuss my Top Ten Places to Get Ideas.

I'll begin by discussing "Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten," which will be my first published picture book from Scholastic (coming April 2011).  This idea for this book was inspired by the real experience of my son going to school and being worried about having someone to sit with on the bus, and owning hedgehogs. Hedgehogs tend to be very nervous if they don't feel safe, and, they spike up if they are jostled or hear loud noises, so this fact added further tension to my plot, and provided the perfect main character. Thankfully, I was able to add a lot of other fun and favorite things in this book. Please visit http://www.hedgehoggoestokindergarten.blogspot.com/ in April to find out more about it!

So, back to discussing the places where I often get my ideas:

1.  Real life problems and experiences

    *Like in "Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten" above

2.  Talking to people I know / Listening to Conversations

     *I got my idea for "Tooth Truth" from a story my sister told my daughter about something my niece and

     nephew did when they lost their teeth

3.  Reading Non-Fiction Books

    *I got the idea for "Pig for President" when I read some factual information about how smart pigs are!

4. Real-life Pets

    *"Jump" was inspired by an African bullfrogs we raised from an egg in a kit

5. Holidays

    *"Woodchuck Woes" was in part inspired by Groundhog Day

6. Reading Classics

    *I tried my hand at rewriting "There Was an Old ____" with my own unique spin on it!

7.  Giving stories to Characters in other Books

     *Chomp the Crocodile, who quietly appears in "Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten," has her own story to

        tell in "Chomp's Picture Day Countdown."

8.  Sequel

     Spike the Hedgehog gets off the bus and enjoys Kindergarten in "Hedgehog's 100th Day

    of School" and other stories

9.  Sometimes, I just put words (characters, props, actions, dialogue snippets, settings) on little

slips of paper and put them into a fish bowl. I'll draw them out one at a time, and build a story

from them gets its own momentum. You would be surprised how it works. And you can always

cheat a little if you have to!

10.  The ideas just pop into my head! Sometimes I play around with them, sometimes, I let them simmer.

Bonus: Take a walk, read a magazine, do some yoga, exercise, soak in the tub! You would be surprised at what ideas can sneak up on you when you relax your mind and aren't looking!

I hope you all find this helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments and share any other ideas you may have.

Lynne Marie

Picture Book Marathon Day Nine/A Cat Has Nine Lives!

Because today was Picture Book Marathon, Day Nine (and the fact that Cats have nine lives), I took a leap and worked on an idea that had been niggling at me but had never amounted to more than an image.  After about an hour and a half, I landed on my feet, with  a completed (albeit rough) draft!

Now my little cat MC is no longer standing out in the rain and cold, all alone -- he has a home on paper!

I am finding the Marathon to be a valuable and productive tool in moving toward my goals and helping me push past points that I might have just stopped at in the past. This process reminds reminds me of a quote that I would like to share:

"You can't wait for inspiration.  You have to go after it with a club."  Jack London

And though I leave you today, knowing that my little cat likely has at least eight more drafts in him before he's finished, at least he has begun to live his life!

Happy Creating!

Picture Book Marathon Day Eight/I Wish I Were an Octopus!

It's days like today - Picture Book Marathon, Day 8 - that I wish I were an Octopus with 8 arms! Everytime I turned around, someone was knockin', the phone was ringin', or something needed doin'!

Since I started today with a blank canvas, I figured there must be a message in the invocation of an octopus image. So I took what life had to offer me today, and while I answered the door, spoke on the phone and did what needed doing, I let the seeds take root for a picture book manuscript about -- you guessed it: An Octopus.

At present this draft may not be as polished or as brilliant as Kevin Sherry's I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean (as a wanna be illustrator, too, I LOVE that book), and it certainly isn't about an octopus in the way that you might expect, but it's a picture book that has an octopus in it. And, even though I first sat down to accomplish this task at 9:05 A.M. and it's now 4:05 P.M. -- I can finally say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED <3

Here's a quote that speaks to those manuscripts that we may never end up using:
"Start early and work hard. A writer's apprenticeship usually involves writing a million words (which are then discarded) before he's almost ready to begin. That takes a while." David Eddings
So write, write, write, and enjoy the process. Don't worry about which drafts you will ultimately choose and use. That will come later.

Lynne Marie

Picture Book Marathon Day Six and Seven/The Good, the Bad & The Ugly!

Children's Author Lynne Marie and Son Kevin (Now 22) 

Of course, we each want to be a superhero in this Picture Book Marathon, crossing the finish line first, with a satchel of twenty-six publishable picture book manuscripts strapped on our back.

Rather than get discouraged if looks like things are not going according to that plan, I think it's important to remember that in life, there's the good, the bad and the ugly. It's all part of the process.

Taking a look at my manuscripts for the past week, I would say that's EXACTLY what I have in the mix: Good, Bad & just plain Ugly. But I am a glass is half full person, and I must admit that two of my manuscripts drafts are rather darn good and I don't think they would have come out if it weren't for this process. It's like a clogged drain. Unclog it and see what comes out, be it good, bad or ugly. Again, process. You can't fight with it, just let it flow!

And don't be hard on yourself. Andrea Brown Literary Agent Mary Kole said in last Thursday's Writer's Digest webinar that usually only one in every ten picture book manuscripts is saleable, so you have to get your creative juices flowing, write those drafts, and then develop the most promising and publishable of the bunch. Again, that's part of the process. So just flow with it and enjoy it -- all of it, the good, bad and the ugly!

By the way, anyone who even writes one publishable picture book manuscript is a superhero in my book!

Picture Book Marathon Day Five!

With four picture book manuscripts under my belt, I'm excited to begin Day Five of the Marathon.

I woke up with a terrible, terrible migraine and had to take medicine that makes me woozy and now can't go to my Saturday morning ice skating lessons (RATS!), but I am not going to let that stop me from my using my brain muscles today.  I'm eager to press on and make the best of my day!

I have a whole stash of great ideas from the PIBOIDMO, but I'm feeling a bit antsy from being steered off my course, so I wanted something new to chew on today. So I headed over to the Picture Book Marathon Blog to re-read the posts and found just what I was looking for, buried under all the snow...

Of course, I always have had an affinity for little scurrying creatures!

No matter what obstacles befall you today, I hope you all can write on...

And be sure to check out previous posts from this blog for some fabulous writing prompts and inspirations from picture book writers like Lisa Wheeler, Tammi Sauer, Kelly DiPucchio and more!

UPDATE: I am pleased to say that despite headache and medicine I have completed PB#5 based upon the afore-mentioned inspiration. So far, it is the most promising of the bunch. This proves that you never know when the good ones are going to pop up (if you are paying attention that is a little pun)! And, at Lora and Jean's recommendation, I have generated three ideas to choose from for tomorrow.

Feel free to guess what my picture book is about.

Lynne Marie

Writing Inspiration / Picture Book Marathon

Having just landed from a four-day whirlwind of creative inspiration called NY11 SCBWI,  I am thrilled to be a part of the 2011 Picture Book Marathon. This is my very first Picture Book Marathon, in which my goal is to write one complete draft of a picture book for twenty-six days in the month of February. I'm going for the gold (all 26)!

Even with just one day falling between the NY11 SCBWI and the Picture Book Marathon, I am pleased to share that I am on track with three (3) picture book manuscript drafts completed so far! My very first picture book draft, A LETTER TO BEAR, was inspired by my little one and the little lovey she carries around. Although bear friends are often overdone, hopefully I found a way to make this idea fresh! I guess we'll see...

I wanted to share something I ask myself when things (like perhaps writing twenty-six picture book manuscripts in one month, or even something else) feels overwhelming.
QUESTION: How do you eat an elephant? ANSWER: One bite at a time!

Hope you can see the wisdom in this and that it helps you work your way toward your goal in times of stress.

Have a great day, and good luck to all who are participating in the Picture Book Marathon!

Lynne Marie
http://www.hedgehoggoestokindergarten.blogspot.com/

WRITING TIP: Give the Dog A Bone by Lynne Marie

Two days ago, PiBoIdMo ended. I achieved my goal of 30 ideas in 30 days! It was so much fun and so productive, but now I really miss it. The daily goals, the inspirational blog posts in my in-box, the comments from fellow authors, illustrators and writers. I'm already going through withdrawals. Unfortunately, I haven't been yet been able to sink my teeth into my delicious ideas, but that time is coming soon. Still, I loved having those daily goals hanging over my head. And for the rest of you who did too, I want to throw you a bone, and give you something to chew on over the next month.

The Picture Book Marathon is coming February, with training in January. Sign-ups should be posted in early December: http://site.picturebookmarathon.org/About.html

So start gearing up for the race. Stretch those muscles and practice your craft! Good luck you you!