Children's Writer Self-talk #8

DREAM BIG!

Children's Writer Self-talk #7

Children's Writer Self-talk #6

Children's Writer Self-talk #5

Children's Writer Self-talk #4

Children's Writer Self-talk #3

Children's Writer Self-talk #2

Children's Writer Self-talk #1

What a Great Year

Celebrating 2015

Celebration #1

OUTER SPACE BEDTIME (illustrated by Brian Won) was released in January of 2015 by Random House, and Barnes & Noble in Tampa hosted our faboo launch party.

Celebration #2

Sold RODZILLA to Simon & Schuster in February.

Celebration #3

In, June, I co-taught the Picture Book track at SCBWI Florida along with Rubin Pfeffer and Allyn Johnston. The room was packed, the energy was high, and there were plenty of laughs.

Celebration #4

Toured England and visited Paris during a ten-day trip with my sister, Dr. Pat Sanders.

Celebration #5

Enjoyed a writing retreat in Canada with writing bud Aimee Reid. Our former critique group member, Kari-Lynn Winters, happened to be at the same retreat center. What a hoot!

Celebration #6

A week at Pass-a-grille Beach, Florida, with Pat, cousins Dawn and Kaile Lindsay, and the dogs—Baxter and Angel.

Celebration #7

Sold A FLAG FOR HARVEY (my first non-fiction picture book) to Random House.

Celebration #8

Led a Picture Book Boot Camp in Tampa, Florida, with some really great folks.

Celebration #9

Taught about revision to writers in Delray Beach, Florida. And we even got the projector to work!

Celebration #10

OUTER SPACE BEDTIME RACE was named one of the top twenty rhyming picture books of 2015 by KidLit TV and RhyPiBoMo. 

Opinions Wanted

If You Could Make a List . . .

I’m planning a couple of training events for picture book writers. Before I launch into what I think people would like to learn about, I decided I’d ask picture book writers to tell me what they’d like to learn. If you were asked what you wanted to learn in a picture book track, what would you include on your list? Do you want to know about idea generation? Planning? Plotting? Writing craft? Character development? Voice? Rhythm, rhyme, and meter? Revision? Dummies, mock-ups, and formatting? Or some other writing craft or component of the writing process?

How do you like to learn? Would you want to look at exemplar picture books that could model successful writing techniques? Would you want to experience hands-on writing activities? Would you want to apply what you learn to your own writing? Would you like to work with a partner or a small group of writers from time to time during the event?

What would you write on your list of “what I want to learn about picture

books?” Add your thoughts as a comment below. Not only will your ideas help me

plan content for upcoming writing training events, they will also inspire future blog

posts.

THANKS!

One Liners that Inspire

An Afternoon with Greg Neri

Greg Neri has written award-winning YA and MG novels, graphic novels, and picture books on subjects from black urban cowboys to surfers on the lam to Johnny Cash. What these genre-busting books have in common is that they were all inspired by real-life events that grabbed the author out of the blue and inspired a new story.

Tampa Bay area members of SCBWI Florida had the opportunity to hear Greg speak yesterday. As I listened, I found myself jotting down sentence after sentence that seemed to represent Greg’s approach to, and philosophy about, writing. Below are some of his one-liners about finding inspiration (and following it) and growing a writing career that is vibrant and unique.

r Be like a boy scout—always be prepared.

r Be ready to roll with the punches and land on your feet.

r Be fluid.

r Read the situation.

r Don’t be tied [too tightly] to something [such as an idea, approach, or topic].

r If you know there’s demand for something—feed the demand.

r Sometimes it has nothing to do with you or your work—it’s in the ether.

r Accept gifts when they come your way.

r When an opportunity presents itself, let your muse go to work.

r Adapt and change—the story knows what it wants to be.

r Don’t trust rejection as rejection.

r Story will never be what you think it is. It will never follow the schedule you think.

r Editors may have trouble taking leaps of faith. You may have to take them by the hand and show them.

r Say “YES”—take the risk.

r Titles need to grab people and make them think, “What is that?!” But don’t tell everything in the title.

r Just tell the story.

A Challenge

Which of Greg’s one-line tips stands out to you? Let that thought be the mantra for your writing this week.

More about Greg Neri

Greg’s latest books are KNOCK OUT GAMES (an edgy novel) and HELLO, I’M JOHNNY CASH (a picture book in verse). Visit Greg’s web site at: http://www.gregneri.com/. 

It's Here!

Outer Space Bedtime Race

Written by Rob Sanders

Illustrated by Brian Won

Random House Children’s Books

     Aliens from every planet rocket through their silly bedtime routines—they sink into crater bubble baths and shimmy into deep-sleep suits, just like you (almost)!

     Brian Won’s glowing graphics pop off the page and Rob Sanders’ wacky text and goofy rhymes will have kids racing to snuggle under the covers and blast off to dreamland.

Watch the book trailer at:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtAIQZNq1OM

Three Words to Grow a Picture Book Plot

IN A WORD . . . OR THREE

Want to know what separates a story from a picture book? Three words—hook, heart, and action.

HOOK—A picture book must capture attention immediately. The first page, first image, and first words have to do the work of an entire first chapter in a novel. The reader (be it an editor, agent, book buyer, or child) must be immediately engaged, inspired, interested, and/or inquisitive. Get straight to the hook—avoid back story, the overuse of description, and unneeded characters.

HEART—The main character of your picture book has to have heart. That comes from being relatable, intriguing, funny, childlike, engaging, multi-layered, and someone a kid wants to spend time with again and again. To have heart, the main character has to have a wanna-be-likeable quality. In other words, a character with heart is one that the child would like to be.

ACTION—A picture book has to be action-packed. When editors say a story is “too quiet” they usually mean nothing seems to be happening, or that the story is lacking action. Action doesn’t mean exploding chickens on every page, but that a character has to be engaged in solving a problem, the action has to rise and fall, the story has to move from one place to another, and the action has to keep the reader interested and engaged.

There you have it! Plot in three words. Go forth and conquer!

Character Names to Bark About!

BARK! WOOF! HOWL!

 

Looking for a name for that pet in your picture book manuscript? Vetstreet.com has just released a list of the most popular dog names for 2014. Could the next best-selling picture book character be among the list?

FEMALE                        MALE

10.Chloe                          10.Toby

9. Luna                            9. Bentley

8. Zoey                            8. Zeus

7. Sophie                         7. Bear

6. Lola                             6. Duke

5. Molly                           5. Cooper

4. Sadie                            4. Buddy

3. Lucy                            3. Rocky

2. Daisy                           2. Charlie

1. Bella                            1. Max

Read more at: http://www.vetstreet.com/most-popular-puppy-names-of-2014?wt.mc_id=Email;VetNewsletter;December-9;Article1.

 

Come Learn with Us!

LAUNCHING INTO PICTURE BOOKS

A Picture Book Boot Camp

with Rob Sanders

Sponsored by SCBWI Florida

Saturday, September 27^th, 2014 – 9 AM to 4 PM

Marco Island Center for the Arts
1010 Winterberry Drive
Marco Island, Florida 34145
(239) 394-4221

Whether you’ve never written a picture book, or you have a drawer full of manuscripts, this boot camp is for you. Rob Sanders—a former editor, and now a writing teacher and picture book author—will lead the session. Since Rob began his picture book journey six years ago, he has sold four picture books to three major houses, landed an agent, and achieved great riches and fame. Okay, that last part isn’t true, but you'll still enjoy this lively session with Rob. You will learn about creating a concept, picture book plot, character development, beginnings and endings, formatting, and much, much more. Come blastoff to your picture book dreams! Limit: 40 participants

Required Gear: Bring your laptop or favorite supplies for writing and note-taking. Outlets are limited. Bring one (or more) of your picture book manuscripts. If you don’t have a work-in-progress, no worries! We will have lunch at a local restaurant, but you are welcome to bring your lunch, snacks, coffee, etc.

ROB SANDERS does not work as a loading dock worker, a trophy engraver, or an editor. But he used to. Rob is not a cowboy, an alien, or a ballerina. But he writes about them. He is a picture book author, a writing teacher, and a great uncle. A native of Springfield, Missouri, Rob now lives in Brandon, Florida. He is a frequent blogger, critiquer, and writing coach. Rob Sanders—an author whose books will tickle your funny bone and touch your heart.

Register at http://florida.scbwi.org/2014/07/26/926/

SCBWI Members: $75.00

Non-SCBWI Members: $85.00

Note: The registration fee does not include lunch.