tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6796542794634086442024-03-19T01:48:08.668-07:00The Official SCBWI BlogLee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.comBlogger1514125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-71963283733935507052024-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-14T06:00:00.128-07:00Jenn Bailey discusses her books and writing secrets<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr3JXKFp4WxhgnQgxQxeiX74pdHgavCxIlIFwSikjnXoWi4jAofILSdxphJqW4UBRrDXbJlXPefNWKOz01MssMGFtBfrmRhK0oRtsBDAX3QJ3P1hWsvW8_5-E7skB6n4ZP6BgGEygpWgtka_gl2hsqr9nC_A2WE6d9yEw_Q7_EicaS4ioATo37zy-oNQl/s1280/Bailey_Jenn_FriendForHenry_BenjiandMe%20copy%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="963" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr3JXKFp4WxhgnQgxQxeiX74pdHgavCxIlIFwSikjnXoWi4jAofILSdxphJqW4UBRrDXbJlXPefNWKOz01MssMGFtBfrmRhK0oRtsBDAX3QJ3P1hWsvW8_5-E7skB6n4ZP6BgGEygpWgtka_gl2hsqr9nC_A2WE6d9yEw_Q7_EicaS4ioATo37zy-oNQl/w337-h447/Bailey_Jenn_FriendForHenry_BenjiandMe%20copy%202.jpeg" width="337" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By <a href="https://sumasubramaniam.com/" target="_blank">Suma Subramaniam</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm thrilled to welcome Jenn Bailey to the SCBWI Blog today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSqChDcSWs8Y0JBSwtRumcuF2dCKpUM3eXlvz-VfwoCEsnY4wTa0OlkrbyfMt4RNTHfY_8KL1l2PqLkiJ4AOhoFgWWnqOBac7giKHXZIQ9lUaRCWEcN1K1X2nbJu8CR8PRzzHeKi9tbmJIJ1OmDW_jn7Sm98obIa6dWseOhvrzRSYK_1TyG9I_eCRRHaR/s436/HATSN.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSqChDcSWs8Y0JBSwtRumcuF2dCKpUM3eXlvz-VfwoCEsnY4wTa0OlkrbyfMt4RNTHfY_8KL1l2PqLkiJ4AOhoFgWWnqOBac7giKHXZIQ9lUaRCWEcN1K1X2nbJu8CR8PRzzHeKi9tbmJIJ1OmDW_jn7Sm98obIa6dWseOhvrzRSYK_1TyG9I_eCRRHaR/s320/HATSN.webp" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>We're eager to learn about your new books, <a href="https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/henry-and-the-something-new" target="_blank">Henry And The Something New</a> (Chronicle Books, 2024), illustrated by <a href="https://www.mikasongdraws.com/about" target="_blank">Mika Song</a>, <a href="https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/henry-like-always" target="_blank">Henry, Like Always</a> (Chronicle Books, 2023), illustrated by Mika Song, and <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jenn-bailey/the-twelve-hours-of-christmas/9780316330978/?lens=little-brown-books-for-young-readers" target="_blank">The Twelve Hours Of Christmas</a> (Little, Brown For Young Readers, 2023), illustrated by <a href="https://www.beagifted.com/" target="_blank">Bea Jackson</a>. Could you tell us what they're about?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, Henry, Like Always and Henry And The Something New are early reader chapter books that are based on my picture book, <a href="https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/a-friend-for-henry" target="_blank">A Friend For Henry</a> (Chronicle Books, 2019), illustrated by Mika Song. I am so excited we've added to Henry's stories and let him grow up a grade or two. He's got a bit more confidence and can have more involved adventures with his classmates. I have loved being able to continue sharing how Henry sees and experiences his world. As long as there is more to explore and share in an authentic way, I hope there will be more stories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Actually, a third book, Henry's Picture Perfect Day, will hit shelves in 2025. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Twelve Hours Of Christmas is a beautifully illustrated picture book that came out this holiday season with Little Brown. Bea Jackson did the art and it is everything!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've always wanted to write a Christmas book and one day I just thought what even is a calling bird? Like, why are the lords leaping and how many drummers drum? I wanted to make that classic song something that kids could relate to and so instead of twelve days of Christmas, we follow a family through twelve hours of Christmas days. I grew up with my huge extended family all gathering for the holiday and Bea totally got that vibe and Ta-da. The book was born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTdjHFxkgf8xGDFbcv2vYhB-KPAt_o3vsCfeNYgn1S-Kp4759eb5f8XPxi-MWEsvdOuAYcY3kbkwfQ33-UhZ0u9OYsLD6hXftYu5KxqFAK0kQIODGr79409K-66wni-35shxE4hyfq0HfO6T1Oa8q8_6cfnFau-t5pvdmC71bnoMcFV6UX2HzKFV38-3I/s2000/12HoursWStars%20copy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTdjHFxkgf8xGDFbcv2vYhB-KPAt_o3vsCfeNYgn1S-Kp4759eb5f8XPxi-MWEsvdOuAYcY3kbkwfQ33-UhZ0u9OYsLD6hXftYu5KxqFAK0kQIODGr79409K-66wni-35shxE4hyfq0HfO6T1Oa8q8_6cfnFau-t5pvdmC71bnoMcFV6UX2HzKFV38-3I/s320/12HoursWStars%20copy.png" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Does writing early reader chapter books for children give you a different perspective about the craft when compared to picture books? If so, how?</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I love this question! I made some careful and considered decisions when I shifted from the Henry picture book to these early readers, but I hadn't stepped back to look at them as craft decisions and they totally are!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So first, let's look at what picture books and these early readers have in common. They are both highly illustrated. And the word count isn't that far apart - 700 words compared to about 1,200 words. There is a main story arc that finds a positive resolution at the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, a big difference between my picture books and chapter books is that generally I consider picture books to be read, aloud, by an accomplished reader. The reader can handle big vocabulary and can be there to talk about concepts and ask questions to the listeners. I always write my picture books as conversation starters or interactive, oral experiences. Having broad engagement among multiple people is what makes picture books so magical!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the early readers, I am dealing with emergent readers. These are kiddos who are tackling this great, wonderful world of books and ideas very possibly on their own. There is a closer style of storytelling here. You are closing psychic distance between reader and character, much like you do in a novel. So, I make sure vocabulary words have plenty of context or are illustratable. I make my first chapters shorter than other chapters in the book. I want this new reader to feel accomplished!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also make sure each chapter has some kind of resolution. Sure, the book as a whole will have a positive resolution, but I want to reward the reader with a bit of story satisfaction for reading all of those words and making it to the end of each chapter. If they had to close the book midway because of bedtime or classwork, I want them confident and intrigued enough to open it back up when they get the chance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are other craft elements I play with but that is the biggest one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OL-DITJISFyrnN4_zfCqNTaNudEk-O46HSTU6RlbnKaJBBwvW-_02vkKkHR-57TqHGcs-cqcQ445hUGRgbkxTHQugw-dZILZ3HqLV23BfRzb_cBDYwCQZeTdVOeiCMMM-8Yyv-YIpcHIUXrn8rRnJ_PPhwwdWTYgYEVymn7Cpqog4A5UUCM3UhxhexH0/s1280/Funny_JCBailey_Authorphoto.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1169" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OL-DITJISFyrnN4_zfCqNTaNudEk-O46HSTU6RlbnKaJBBwvW-_02vkKkHR-57TqHGcs-cqcQ445hUGRgbkxTHQugw-dZILZ3HqLV23BfRzb_cBDYwCQZeTdVOeiCMMM-8Yyv-YIpcHIUXrn8rRnJ_PPhwwdWTYgYEVymn7Cpqog4A5UUCM3UhxhexH0/s320/Funny_JCBailey_Authorphoto.jpeg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What is your writing process like?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm horrible! I wish I were a better drafter. I can't seem to kick that disapproving editor off my shoulder so </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tend to write and rewrite sentences and paragraphs until I think they are pretty polished before I move on. This makes me slow, or should I say slower than I'd like to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I have to write in sequence. I can have a story goal in mind, but I have to write my way there. No jumping ahead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I usually start drafting with paper and pencil. There is something about the blank, white screen of the computer that makes it all feel too professional and too final. When I get a good start on the project in my notebook, then I can go to the computer and transcribe and move on from there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also do a lot of what I call "priting"-- that's pre-writing -- in my head before I even get to the paper and pencil part. I walk my dog, Oliver, every morning and he is my best audience as I flesh out story ideas and arcs with him. I try out different scenarios and scenes in my imagination. It's kind of like running a movie in my head, and when I feel pretty good about one, I'll share it with Ollie. He hardly ever disagrees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFCXe4JDmYBGcE9qxS5bj9fvSoyJQ8Kfw3Cz2VLQZ7pbmtJgPs2XgbP09ghEfH-NC5ew6dA_Q4Ea-y339uj1gBIzUHrf2fPd6mlxppzTGAfqqrUzsa2-nCHvPRNEF-ZdirGWJmgzvF9An21qLEZUsBq0lztb3smSetVMBn64uh7Xm8jcxoyiiyYUq6tBj/s640/IMG_4951.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFCXe4JDmYBGcE9qxS5bj9fvSoyJQ8Kfw3Cz2VLQZ7pbmtJgPs2XgbP09ghEfH-NC5ew6dA_Q4Ea-y339uj1gBIzUHrf2fPd6mlxppzTGAfqqrUzsa2-nCHvPRNEF-ZdirGWJmgzvF9An21qLEZUsBq0lztb3smSetVMBn64uh7Xm8jcxoyiiyYUq6tBj/s320/IMG_4951.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What was the most challenging part of writing the Henry books?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finding a publisher who would give them a shot. I thank Chronicle, and my editor Daria Harper, with all my heart! They have been a huge advocate and cheerleader for Henry. They shared my vision from the very start.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Henry is a quiet character. He's no Fancy Nancy or Captain Underpants. He's fairly shy, rather reserved, and has a quirky sense of humor. He's a lot like my own children and is crafted to appeal to those quieter kids who don't always get a voice. We are finally in an age where these voices are being valued more and being published. Hooray for that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqJCffDkqJSynl3p7bQ36ALfVxItAkvr3xRpbyxqZqRC7VEbEPmiY8T58x0Pbx-HZBO24DvWgeABmaLnApfTqRVyRjUupqQUc5EjHl0cMbgJFdwSPBMT41yau_B6FHe4_O_aMEjCF4Axx0RcIMTy-i2OK6Y25-owZp5-U7eCKhDe9cOtHvyu2FnnNJ0wI/s2394/HLA_withSeals.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqJCffDkqJSynl3p7bQ36ALfVxItAkvr3xRpbyxqZqRC7VEbEPmiY8T58x0Pbx-HZBO24DvWgeABmaLnApfTqRVyRjUupqQUc5EjHl0cMbgJFdwSPBMT41yau_B6FHe4_O_aMEjCF4Axx0RcIMTy-i2OK6Y25-owZp5-U7eCKhDe9cOtHvyu2FnnNJ0wI/s320/HLA_withSeals.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if their voices and visions for their stories matter?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh! It matters! All experiences matter. Otherwise, how can we understand each other and how can we learn and practice empathy? How else can we live a thousand lives so we can figure out how to navigate the life we are living? Stories that make us feel, stories with a point of view and resonance to personal truth always matter. And they come in so many forms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I find the advice "write what you know" to be misleading. Until you get into the deep craft of storytelling, that advise can set you on the wrong path. I grew up reading a lot of science fiction and fantasy--worlds and magic systems that nobody could "know." While i read about wizards and aliens and dragons, I was really reading about resilience and loyalty and courage. I was reading about hope and companionship and love. These were the elements that made up the voices, visions, and experiences of those authors. And this is what connected me to their stories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So let's change that advice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To write stories that matter, write what you know in your heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqbkC48f4jDOVtbCKKBUncgkedx-D9vctn11kOJshzBcpOux6Mv1iYzrf5JAvrzMGbktbvq3A5fkeqZsJfBySrXu75TtBrPEqEjKQM4encIw6dKRrkHIqQPoaFzJH_TY1iNQYY-TqpwUqn5PTdGyw_gF_pbwcQzKClilLnQXqPtvwGXFuaVW6Viwt2-VB/s640/WithHat.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqbkC48f4jDOVtbCKKBUncgkedx-D9vctn11kOJshzBcpOux6Mv1iYzrf5JAvrzMGbktbvq3A5fkeqZsJfBySrXu75TtBrPEqEjKQM4encIw6dKRrkHIqQPoaFzJH_TY1iNQYY-TqpwUqn5PTdGyw_gF_pbwcQzKClilLnQXqPtvwGXFuaVW6Viwt2-VB/s320/WithHat.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b><a href="https://jennbailey.com/" target="_blank">Jenn Bailey</a></b> is an award-winning author who has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work has received the ALA Schneider Family Honor award, Bank Street Book of the Year award, been star-reviewed by Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Publishers Weekly, and been included in numerous state reading lists, among other accolades.</span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jenn is a frequent guest lecturer and workshop leader for SCBWI, Heartland Writers for Kids and Teens, and the One Year Adventure Novel workshops. Jenn is published by Chronicle Books; Arcadia Press; Magic Cat Publishing; Little, Brown and Company; and Levine Querido and is represented by Erica Silverman with The Stimola Literary Agency.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 10px 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU9Q5rcNTYA2Gobxt9m1lyUdPNFmxdxWSHw8QXXrric1CQUMiKXdISRR5RijsI3rMVbEJG4r9gM9FtenRm6vKIMdgkTSCK1C2vsEvmO7NLKyJya7-hvxF8n6AD3x5DDwpxJ3jVsbM5erWyAfVD_2QHXR9AVkN9wLgfGm5AjQ70rf8Sq9eq23ys1A9IqEB/s5280/Suma%20Subramaniam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5280" data-original-width="3525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU9Q5rcNTYA2Gobxt9m1lyUdPNFmxdxWSHw8QXXrric1CQUMiKXdISRR5RijsI3rMVbEJG4r9gM9FtenRm6vKIMdgkTSCK1C2vsEvmO7NLKyJya7-hvxF8n6AD3x5DDwpxJ3jVsbM5erWyAfVD_2QHXR9AVkN9wLgfGm5AjQ70rf8Sq9eq23ys1A9IqEB/s320/Suma%20Subramaniam.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Suma Subramaniam</b> is a recruiter by day and a children's book author by night. Her picture books include <a href="https://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=title&mode=book&isbn=1536217832" target="_blank">Namaste is a Greeting</a> (2023 Crystal Kite and 2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner), <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374388744/shesangforindia">She Sang for India</a> (2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner and 2022 NYPL Diverse Voices Book), <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Runaway-Dosa/Suma-Subramaniam/9781499813975" target="_blank">The Runaway Dosa</a>, and more. Suma is also the contributing author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586001/the-hero-next-door-by-olugbemisola-rhuday-perkovich/" target="_blank">The Hero Next Door</a> (Finalist-Massachusetts Book Award). Her poems have been published in Poetry Foundation's Poetry Magazine, What is Hope?, and other anthologies for children. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Learn more at <a href="https://sumasubramaniam.com" target="_blank">https://sumasubramaniam.com</a>.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><b><br /></b></div><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-42755950708363980502024-03-12T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-17T17:15:56.163-07:00Kids Ask KidLit Authors Some Great Questions<p>This roundup of great (and some hysterical) questions from kids was SO much fun! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP125iYyWm5oj-wLGlJgfiQ3qh_qZG4hLPUZA7-L3OQqGfxfreg71c87_xBKtNfq53-JePrmaWBtbtbd20DaUCLE9x3xfxAXutRL4kJwRq1vrnfEF1FY_kjBHmqPicV53hCkJyOGZloB44o3xPacsaoMAzYCRCxaS8iEUv72btOFToF0YG1TwY3z4kBcw/s1562/PW%20childrens%20authors%20on%20their%20favorite%20questions%20from%20kids.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="screenshot of the Publishers Weekly article, "Children’s Authors on Their Favorite Questions from Kids"" border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="1180" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP125iYyWm5oj-wLGlJgfiQ3qh_qZG4hLPUZA7-L3OQqGfxfreg71c87_xBKtNfq53-JePrmaWBtbtbd20DaUCLE9x3xfxAXutRL4kJwRq1vrnfEF1FY_kjBHmqPicV53hCkJyOGZloB44o3xPacsaoMAzYCRCxaS8iEUv72btOFToF0YG1TwY3z4kBcw/w242-h320/PW%20childrens%20authors%20on%20their%20favorite%20questions%20from%20kids.png" width="242" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Cheers to Diane Roback for pulling it all together over at <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/94249-children-s-authors-on-their-favorite-questions-from-kids.html" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a>, and gratitude to Meg Medina, Sophie Blackall, Jacqueline Woodson, Jeff Kinney, Katherine Paterson, Christian Robinson, Linda Sue Park, Jason Reynolds, Mary Pope Osborn, Rick Riordan, Gene Luen Yang, Kwame Alexander, Lois Lowry, R.L. Stine, Kate DiCamillo, Renée Watson, and Jon Scieszka for contributing their favorite kid question! </p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, Write, and occasionally answer some wacky kid questions!</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-29985304878839748802024-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-07T21:57:20.404-08:00Yamile Saied Mendez Discusses Writing Craft<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVkGgB-R2xEshV-ZOP8k8HwbPW6uORh0D_BDU4-JLtnWfqQSBvqFEoPxV5a5GCTZOFc1CrKAdrW_yjw3LG-1nnz1j03BkdL988Jbjnp72jV2cJDlZ8umq-1mwYJScYrjk4GFyxyux1ADw0STv8zrO2ApNLmwCBrq77nFkvG6m_M4kJv8mQpfvdR-_tFFo/s5000/YamileMendez.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="5000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVkGgB-R2xEshV-ZOP8k8HwbPW6uORh0D_BDU4-JLtnWfqQSBvqFEoPxV5a5GCTZOFc1CrKAdrW_yjw3LG-1nnz1j03BkdL988Jbjnp72jV2cJDlZ8umq-1mwYJScYrjk4GFyxyux1ADw0STv8zrO2ApNLmwCBrq77nFkvG6m_M4kJv8mQpfvdR-_tFFo/s320/YamileMendez.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>By <a href="https://sumasubramaniam.com/" target="_blank">Suma Subramaniam</a></p><p>I'm thrilled to welcome <a href="https://yamilemendez.com/" target="_blank">Yamile Saied Mendez </a>to the SCBWI Blog today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyx6DkfIt4Jq3C-KPLj9AC2Ggv2IVg3WjLOfrxesKoeaZ167R6Lma9H3VmNczb6fDAzFn8uZPJ8s_PkBgMvBAnCfdIGeSZCHRqCsYR7dHL6kGczog-BB8oSCHfrsM_Vlc4mz5wkbkrWNDZTuJFtrnW1pd98w7ztbe2MT-yo3dXQG7lOYokG0D7A8dJBOA/s1500/image%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyx6DkfIt4Jq3C-KPLj9AC2Ggv2IVg3WjLOfrxesKoeaZ167R6Lma9H3VmNczb6fDAzFn8uZPJ8s_PkBgMvBAnCfdIGeSZCHRqCsYR7dHL6kGczog-BB8oSCHfrsM_Vlc4mz5wkbkrWNDZTuJFtrnW1pd98w7ztbe2MT-yo3dXQG7lOYokG0D7A8dJBOA/s320/image%20(2).png" width="207" /></a></div><p><b>We're eager to learn about your new children's books this year. Could you tell us what they're about?</b></p><p><span> </span>2024 will be a fun and intensive year for me, as I have a story in an anthology, an original translation, two picture books, and two middle-grade novels coming out. </p><p><span> </span><a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250810717/outofourleague" target="_blank">Out of Our League: 16 Stories of Girls in Sports</a>, edited by Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli (Macmillan, Feb 3rd, 2024)</p><p> <a href="https://www.leeandlow.com/books/en-estas-tierras-magicas" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.leeandlow.com/books/en-estas-tierras-magicas" target="_blank">En Estas Tierras Magicas </a>, MG translation of On These Magic Shores (Lee & Low Books, May 12th, 2024)</p><p><span> </span><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/grandmas-are-magic-yamile-saied-mendez/20868048" target="_blank">Grandmas Are Magic</a>, PB, illustrated by <a href="Suma Subramaniam is a recruiter by day and a children's book author by night. Her picture books include Namaste is a Greeting (2023 Crystal Kite and 2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner), She Sang for India (2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner and 2022 NYPL Diverse Voices Book), The Runaway Dosa, and more. Suma is also the contributing author of The Hero Next Door (Finalist-Massachusetts Book Award). Her poems have been published in Poetry Foundation's Poetry Magazine, What is Hope?, and another anthologies for children. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Learn more at https://sumasubramaniam.com." target="_blank">Minji Kim</a> (Disney Press, August 6th, 2024)</p><p><span> </span><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/pockets-of-love-yamile-saied-mendez?variant=41295581970466" target="_blank">Pockets Of Love</a>, PB, illustrated by <a href="https://www.sarapalaciosillustrations.com/" target="_blank">Sara Palacios</a> ( Harper Collins, September 3rd, 2024)</p><p><span> </span>The Beautiful Gathorme (MG): September 17th, 2024</p><p><span> </span>Super secret MG: September 24th, 2024</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstBHDZZ1GcB6KrMHf6T51E-auRsU6ZLkEB8c5TkzM68ZD5tdCxYBuGOQonmU1XyrhEAZXmSPfbq-qLCmb9IkJeHWvCsmBN42BWfE41NrdmuLN2RgDxZAin7rPmWcsdbHR-U8RBhuI3aOJivi1nmE9B2-sDLviBlC3PRg0zNTvPsfacF7LK9uh_uNZPtZu/s1500/image%20(8).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstBHDZZ1GcB6KrMHf6T51E-auRsU6ZLkEB8c5TkzM68ZD5tdCxYBuGOQonmU1XyrhEAZXmSPfbq-qLCmb9IkJeHWvCsmBN42BWfE41NrdmuLN2RgDxZAin7rPmWcsdbHR-U8RBhuI3aOJivi1nmE9B2-sDLviBlC3PRg0zNTvPsfacF7LK9uh_uNZPtZu/s320/image%20(8).png" width="212" /></a><p><b>You write for children, young adults, and adults. Does writing books for different age groups give you a different perspective about approaching craft? If so, how?</b></p><p>Yes, and no. My process is very similar, whether I'm writing a picture book or a romance. But of course, editing an 85,000-word novel is much more time consuming than editing a 200-word picture book. Notice I'm saying more time consuming, not more difficult. Writing for different age groups has its set of challenges and joys.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFZblcW4xBrl23oWnktRn4VaOTWoix8_OrEJSDZ08x6PuLtHXdWTbP1eqb85arSWw5sU1gP2saIfGBjANn_6ZjsqcHXBhpa1R_GAGiR-pi9hbO37j3z3PtSzpMJtikrtqhsVIkLtpksvtOVlyZhfjn0c-iYgEt6qQEQqsUSDwtYklytWoCYmYV8YFe9DQ/s1500/image%20(4).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFZblcW4xBrl23oWnktRn4VaOTWoix8_OrEJSDZ08x6PuLtHXdWTbP1eqb85arSWw5sU1gP2saIfGBjANn_6ZjsqcHXBhpa1R_GAGiR-pi9hbO37j3z3PtSzpMJtikrtqhsVIkLtpksvtOVlyZhfjn0c-iYgEt6qQEQqsUSDwtYklytWoCYmYV8YFe9DQ/s320/image%20(4).png" width="212" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><b>What is your writing process like?</b></p><p>I'm very eclectic. I start collecting ideas in my phone notes and my notebook. My least favorite part of the process is drafting because I love having all the pieces of the story puzzle, and arranging them during the re-writing and editing process. That's why I write my first drafts very fast, to get the story out of my system, so I can get to the fun part which is working in collaboration with my editors to make the story in my head reflect on the pages of a book.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoGD-UYgUBOV0Q4AbzJ5cmtWge8sQqYjNFqn8J5C64o_UuxE18dUa4vX_6OsITNwx6ieRtS81o3iAMuYEeS1PKYD4Ma7rRIFLL2iswhyphenhypheno1hbo2UUCWnZCATBEGBs2cRpxIzL8EM-QojeOmdSzFo-1KFuex_m90HEfy1u07R1aTePa9iMmBclwcrY9m8ih/s1500/image%20(5).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1177" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoGD-UYgUBOV0Q4AbzJ5cmtWge8sQqYjNFqn8J5C64o_UuxE18dUa4vX_6OsITNwx6ieRtS81o3iAMuYEeS1PKYD4Ma7rRIFLL2iswhyphenhypheno1hbo2UUCWnZCATBEGBs2cRpxIzL8EM-QojeOmdSzFo-1KFuex_m90HEfy1u07R1aTePa9iMmBclwcrY9m8ih/s320/image%20(5).png" width="251" /></a></div><p><b>What is the most challenging part of your author life?</b></p><p>The most difficult time is how different publishing timing can be from that of everyday life. Sometimes there are long times of waiting for news, and then it seems like all deadlines fall on the same week or even day! But I like the ebbs and flows that allow me time to think about new stories to write.</p><p><b>What would you like to say to your readers and writers who are wondering if their voices and visions for their stories matter?</b></p><p>Every voice matters! Every vision matters! And no one else can tell the story that is in your heart but you. So silence the haters, and write!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mmdqJwGEaufSMkXe5g8a_vp2ZQBeOfiDzIdhyphenhyphenl8zajj9LFrIfZMixd2YMWcnxM1Biesn2Tp1CyTT3s_bsBqILoinzx__T88ngsbUNcvID17GkTxiJK3mPVpng76L2ahstTxntgVVJUxbARaGcel56X7Myz0pbXzg8LQ5zHY2KdcNA_SA2SDMTzF7V1JZ/s5000/YamileMendez.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="5000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mmdqJwGEaufSMkXe5g8a_vp2ZQBeOfiDzIdhyphenhyphenl8zajj9LFrIfZMixd2YMWcnxM1Biesn2Tp1CyTT3s_bsBqILoinzx__T88ngsbUNcvID17GkTxiJK3mPVpng76L2ahstTxntgVVJUxbARaGcel56X7Myz0pbXzg8LQ5zHY2KdcNA_SA2SDMTzF7V1JZ/s320/YamileMendez.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Mendez </b>was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, but has lived most of her life in a lovely valley surrounded by mountains in Utah. She's the award winning best-selling author of many books and short stories for young readers, and occasionally, for adults. She's also the co-editor of the anthologies <i>OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS: 15 LATINE MONSTER STORIES (</i>with Amparo Ortiz) and <i>CALLING THE MOON: 16 PERIOD STORIES FROM BIPOC AUTHORS (</i>with Aida Salazar).</p><p>Her novel <i>FURIA </i>is a Reese's Book Club pick and the 2021 inaugural Pura Belpre Young Adult gold medal winner. A Walter Dean Myers inaugural grant recipient, she's also a VONA Workshop (Voices of our Nations) alumna and a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She's a founding member of Las Musas, a community for Latine authors. Find her online at <a href="http://yamilemendez.com">yamilemendez.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxODaV3NLMeuGCvt8w9CJQ0Wwrg6wndp67zZDAVURmCgwe410hFzG2BbB8ZvkWCpKA_l0trRZ-P208Jbmlowd9tR_w3bGEY_Qj4r-KH5GCfLMUO9ZARBInFaYLYqT7osmwToynxlcvActmY02lH5u732pMoRpAZ3dNdfLP69zEbhgDeywcPohmXEbS19W/s5280/Suma%20Subramaniam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5280" data-original-width="3525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxODaV3NLMeuGCvt8w9CJQ0Wwrg6wndp67zZDAVURmCgwe410hFzG2BbB8ZvkWCpKA_l0trRZ-P208Jbmlowd9tR_w3bGEY_Qj4r-KH5GCfLMUO9ZARBInFaYLYqT7osmwToynxlcvActmY02lH5u732pMoRpAZ3dNdfLP69zEbhgDeywcPohmXEbS19W/s320/Suma%20Subramaniam.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p><b>Suma Subramaniam</b> is a recruiter by day and a children's book author by night. Her picture books include <a href="https://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=title&mode=book&isbn=1536217832" target="_blank">Namaste is a Greeting</a> (2023 Crystal Kite and 2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner), <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374388744/shesangforindia">She Sang for India</a> (2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner and 2022 NYPL Diverse Voices Book), <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Runaway-Dosa/Suma-Subramaniam/9781499813975" target="_blank">The Runaway Dosa</a>, and more. Suma is also the contributing author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586001/the-hero-next-door-by-olugbemisola-rhuday-perkovich/" target="_blank">The Hero Next Door</a> (Finalist-Massachusetts Book Award). Her poems have been published in Poetry Foundation's Poetry Magazine, What is Hope?, and other anthologies for children. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Learn more at <a href="https://sumasubramaniam.com" target="_blank">https://sumasubramaniam.com</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-78858687445948288782024-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-05T06:00:00.150-08:00Publisher Brooke Warner On Returns (Yes, they're "heart-troubling" for authors, but there's more to consider...)<p>Over on substack, Brooke Warner wrote this column, <a href="https://brookewarner.substack.com/p/things-that-make-authors-cry" target="_blank">Things That Make Authors Cry</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkEPrDcfjdaMsEUINOjUzk6w9fxZHx4YdQk5AEuTnOKIPLvLggYftigVTG7hNq-YguMd1wLTq4vOBH_stq7SlmU-tPPk4MmlbO477V2SJYk37n2kBdqVmJHtHdjknb3Zo3M-l2hKp8ATqhmmlxLuSMmYxTb-H_X9yr1pa8YlsjCkdfzIrkbZJRAyxWbc/s883/Things%20that%20make%20authors%20cry%20by%20Brooke%20Warner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="screenshot from Brooke Warner's substack column "Things that make authors cry"" border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkEPrDcfjdaMsEUINOjUzk6w9fxZHx4YdQk5AEuTnOKIPLvLggYftigVTG7hNq-YguMd1wLTq4vOBH_stq7SlmU-tPPk4MmlbO477V2SJYk37n2kBdqVmJHtHdjknb3Zo3M-l2hKp8ATqhmmlxLuSMmYxTb-H_X9yr1pa8YlsjCkdfzIrkbZJRAyxWbc/w290-h320/Things%20that%20make%20authors%20cry%20by%20Brooke%20Warner.png" width="290" /></a></div><br /><p>So when your publisher sells your book to a retailer it's not a for-sure sale, because the retailer then needs to sell it to a customer. If they don't, the retailer can send it back to the publisher, which is called a return. And they'll want their money back. And they'll charge for the shipping. This all impacts your royalty statement (look carefully and you'll notice there's a reserve usually held for future returns).</p><p>In addition to explaining more about how returns work and how publishers figure out how many books to print in the first place, Brooke also shares wisdom from her publisher perspective, including:</p><p></p><blockquote>“It doesn’t feel good to have books returned, but it’s also the case that it’s not an indictment on a given book.”</blockquote><p>and</p><p></p><blockquote>“Your publisher will always do everything in its power to push your books out the door, to get the most possible exposure, the most possible buys.”</blockquote><p></p><p>and</p><p></p><blockquote>“Authors who hoped they’d sell more are also proud of their books. Books can surprise us with their longevity, opening up doors and possibilities many years after they come out.”</blockquote><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://brookewarner.substack.com/p/things-that-make-authors-cry" target="_blank">The article is well-worth checking out</a>.<br /></p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-25296949172161471142024-03-01T19:19:00.000-08:002024-03-07T21:57:37.812-08:00Hanh Bui Discusses How Her Refugee Experiences Fueled Her Writing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGfzSwQtUcO999bTlPB50su82ReRtBIMUJap5Fuqdrx1cFDZpdxL5883RVFFVDzDSiOtw9vuajItaQpbXxq53_7h3h-IX5VIJ3PprN2vVJVJQtwNF7VZCJPlfpYv0_XWavTN40RdWhd_GqcLUuQvS0SKWubwTgHINS5SAkMq_CCmqxXhvDGl7Yp7JAgIJ/s2048/image%20(11).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGfzSwQtUcO999bTlPB50su82ReRtBIMUJap5Fuqdrx1cFDZpdxL5883RVFFVDzDSiOtw9vuajItaQpbXxq53_7h3h-IX5VIJ3PprN2vVJVJQtwNF7VZCJPlfpYv0_XWavTN40RdWhd_GqcLUuQvS0SKWubwTgHINS5SAkMq_CCmqxXhvDGl7Yp7JAgIJ/w288-h433/image%20(11).png" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p>By <a href="https://sumasubramaniam.com/" target="_blank">Suma Subramaniam</a></p><p>I'm thrilled to welcome <a href="https://hanhbui.net/" target="_blank">Hanh Bui</a><a href="https://yamilemendez.com/" target="_blank"> </a>to the SCBWI Blog today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJohyphenhyphenz2Jfb5QsZd1HVp8VQuMBQFJAHqlQwlZsFsNqNWEIS2_eRY63bOhJAqFjMw7GPtle9vJu8MdmZcxb8BFjiESWrmsNdW28c3-1xNhkTpiL1XooGC1KeQKp16pQxPZdKSB_8JgJeBeyHPQ2LQMTWVd76tvdtXYzLg7PJxhyphenhyphenMpCMVolv1YPWsah7JOFa8/s828/image%20(10).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="828" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJohyphenhyphenz2Jfb5QsZd1HVp8VQuMBQFJAHqlQwlZsFsNqNWEIS2_eRY63bOhJAqFjMw7GPtle9vJu8MdmZcxb8BFjiESWrmsNdW28c3-1xNhkTpiL1XooGC1KeQKp16pQxPZdKSB_8JgJeBeyHPQ2LQMTWVd76tvdtXYzLg7PJxhyphenhyphenMpCMVolv1YPWsah7JOFa8/s320/image%20(10).png" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>We're eager to learn about your new book, <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250355423/anhsnewword" target="_blank">Anh's New Word</a>, illustrated by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/baoluuart/" target="_blank">Bao Luu</a> (Macmillan, 2024). Could you tell us what it is about?</b></p><p>Anh's New Word is inspired by my grandmother and Miss Marilou, my first American teacher, at a refugee camp. In 1975, my family and I immigrated to the United States seeking asylum and a new beginning. Fort Indiantown Gap served as temporary housing during the resettlement of thousands of Vietnamese refugees. Miss Marilou's kindness when I was most vulnerable has had a lifelong impact on my journey. This is a story about a child overcoming her shyness and worries to learn her first English word. I wrote this story as a tribute to Miss Marilou and all teachers for the important work they do in support of children.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQrB_hpLreJUoXhPzYjHhkshHOLQCOtwW5fKB1XEHtK1_0vE00hfOEmxjvNjMaPUEpUsdcBwEoI1qnC2uAN0epiLuZE3Gp7Imb_FYt4S1GoziOFTK2rmYmLR8JCLVq9HRWlboHv7vrAYw5SnxAw0ELUkr_-hy0kL4ZN5d1vKgJ-ye-sqaCGgTd3XyHCZw/s960/image%20(12).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="960" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQrB_hpLreJUoXhPzYjHhkshHOLQCOtwW5fKB1XEHtK1_0vE00hfOEmxjvNjMaPUEpUsdcBwEoI1qnC2uAN0epiLuZE3Gp7Imb_FYt4S1GoziOFTK2rmYmLR8JCLVq9HRWlboHv7vrAYw5SnxAw0ELUkr_-hy0kL4ZN5d1vKgJ-ye-sqaCGgTd3XyHCZw/s320/image%20(12).png" width="320" /></a></div><span> </span><span>Hanh Bui is on the top right back row along with her three brothers in the side yard of her first home</span><p><b>Does writing picture books from your life give you a different perspective about similar issues kids face today? If so, how? </b></p><p>Writing picture books based on my refugee experiences allows me to share with children and families with similar challenges that there is goodness in our world--there are helpers and allies. Representation is important in order for all children to know that they are not alone and their experiences matter. In today's world with so much divisiveness, I hope my stories will foster empathy for the experiences of others and inspire kindness as we reflect on our common humanity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lK6shg8CeccQ9ENwR-agnvcaDCZv6e6URCeg5MvBE-CroMubnLHekFsP8WABq95lzKJX0dRLCdj0OEnFTpalg_EXmb2jRlzhajxHQ0GfECGA62z50oL-41sJhbeuBmaEsTjIODOAG-588M6nMNt7YsMGtBlftl3MLuP1z8TrtVnw0M4cBGNjzIbZKZrd/s1008/Screenshot%202024-01-22%20at%2010.36.32%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1008" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lK6shg8CeccQ9ENwR-agnvcaDCZv6e6URCeg5MvBE-CroMubnLHekFsP8WABq95lzKJX0dRLCdj0OEnFTpalg_EXmb2jRlzhajxHQ0GfECGA62z50oL-41sJhbeuBmaEsTjIODOAG-588M6nMNt7YsMGtBlftl3MLuP1z8TrtVnw0M4cBGNjzIbZKZrd/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-22%20at%2010.36.32%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In middle school, Hanh Bui wrote a story that her teacher helped make into a book. It was titled THE WAY TO FREEDOM and was about her refugee experience. She was featured in the Lancaster Sunday News during National Children's Book Week.</div><p><b>What is your writing process like? </b></p><p>I keep an idea's journal where I jot down story ideas. I'll write down my thoughts in my journal to develop later, but some ideas linger in my thoughts beckoning me to write them. If an idea comes to me when I'm away from home, I'll log those ideas in the notes' app on my phone. I always write a complete first draft without worrying about edits or story structure. I'll think of a blurb for the premise of my story. The first draft is all about just letting the story flow from within. Then I'll take a break and come back to my manuscript with fresh eyes to make cuts of scenes that aren't relevant to the heart of my story. I'll revise and revise until I feel my story is complete and ready to share with other trusted writer friends and my agent. Based on the feedback I receive, I'll make edits or add layers needed to make my story more meaningful and engaging. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8sPq_p63bR2oOvVmnkUMJo79Cn_KQHZVtIrF78CDNqiTTBeNEPaGuOqTZHW2DrMUQP637LjPws4nWYgo03LbneT7VaVzwuJKi-FiX4Xb1NQZCJEeu8_8R7Ghy2dtZIZZminfap_YjDctgo-8DMqyKhWE-0hv6koq3TggucyZ18r8zfIfHTHMLky1OL6R/s2048/image%20(9).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8sPq_p63bR2oOvVmnkUMJo79Cn_KQHZVtIrF78CDNqiTTBeNEPaGuOqTZHW2DrMUQP637LjPws4nWYgo03LbneT7VaVzwuJKi-FiX4Xb1NQZCJEeu8_8R7Ghy2dtZIZZminfap_YjDctgo-8DMqyKhWE-0hv6koq3TggucyZ18r8zfIfHTHMLky1OL6R/s320/image%20(9).png" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>What was the most challenging part of writing your stories?</b></p><p>Revisions are the most challenging part of writing my stories and knowing when a story is complete. When I first started my journey as a writer, a mentor told me to "embrace revisions". I am glad that I learned this important step early on because it has prepared me for the many rounds of revisions I've done for myself and with the editors of my books. The process of making a story into a book is truly a collaboration. I am grateful for the team who has helped me create the best version of my stories to share with readers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNxieY36PpMOCKdiLClvVM4cqIVU_T-_PX2cOzUJfmXo7QWqezBwJRIRIdmEz1LHsAoQA7fbXa2Ca5ulymDm0VpllPNXRylzUxIF2IVunz6JVG9vCAIw04uSjLFU9fxbQ4os6LVTHbpJf4Tt2de6NQIMEpT17QRRtV9RakMUDfF-Dmi_1cx1Zv5GZ2tBu/s1048/Childhood%20photos.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1027" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNxieY36PpMOCKdiLClvVM4cqIVU_T-_PX2cOzUJfmXo7QWqezBwJRIRIdmEz1LHsAoQA7fbXa2Ca5ulymDm0VpllPNXRylzUxIF2IVunz6JVG9vCAIw04uSjLFU9fxbQ4os6LVTHbpJf4Tt2de6NQIMEpT17QRRtV9RakMUDfF-Dmi_1cx1Zv5GZ2tBu/s320/Childhood%20photos.jpeg" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Hanh Bui at 9 years old with her aunties and brother. They were so happy to have a home of their own in Lancaster, Pennsylvania</span></div><p><b>What would you like to say to your readers who are wondering if their voices and visions for their lives matter?</b></p><p>I would encourage my readers to be proud of their experiences and heritage which are uniquely theirs. When they believe in their own voice, they can move forward with confidence so that others will feel their words. I hope by sharing my books, I will empower readers to become storytellers too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE2gFWbEWww5AHzkXFbQn39c_jaSbvu5B9QpsRpg5tVdoSM0Fzc5uEdtxTqk-knPGLaYjb6i7QvBd58lIPIWRRWHcI30f3I-PpcjDhlK3urWj9mqx4-rUxi9mXvHtGL5EHxb8U2hkqo1c87eYgz-bv8JD7PbTVmiamgYDN2DxTZLbNrlUZ82UTMLmZzlh/s2048/image%20(11).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE2gFWbEWww5AHzkXFbQn39c_jaSbvu5B9QpsRpg5tVdoSM0Fzc5uEdtxTqk-knPGLaYjb6i7QvBd58lIPIWRRWHcI30f3I-PpcjDhlK3urWj9mqx4-rUxi9mXvHtGL5EHxb8U2hkqo1c87eYgz-bv8JD7PbTVmiamgYDN2DxTZLbNrlUZ82UTMLmZzlh/s320/image%20(11).png" width="213" /></a></div><p>Inspired by her first teacher at the refugee camp, <b>Hanh Bui</b> pursuied a master's degree in Early Childhood Education and taught second grade before becoming a full-time mother to three children. She also served as a Development Officer for Senhoa Foundation in support of women and children who survived human trafficking in Cambodia, and has served on boards supporting children and parents in building community. Hanh's commitment to celebrating her heritage includes giving presentations in school visits about her refugee experience to children studying immigration as part of their school curriculum. She serves as co-chair of the Equity and Inclusion Team for the Mid-Atlantic region of SCBWI, and has been featured in Highlights For Children magazine, Next Avenue, and Forbes. She is the author of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250842060/theyellowaodai" target="_blank">THE YELLOW Ao DAI</a> and <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250355423/anhsnewword" target="_blank">ANH's NEW WORD</a>. You can learn more about Hanh and her books here: <a href="https://hanhbui.net" target="_blank">https://hanhbui.net/ </a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY8AJVMytXUfJ8l1uxmZ6oHyvDxADZqUC3oNRQFxG7POnBslBzcytTgszybYJZ60EHH7P82HwBeyCuyf1P6pxoEVfwQOLy7sAwdyHPI9Tds-QK2O3oVM3-tW5lWkP9YPfAPz5WGFVSMiBXopfrSuhFTHoc5dMU9cWxTaqW89qmV-Qec6j3Sro5UshFua8/s5280/Suma%20Subramaniam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5280" data-original-width="3525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY8AJVMytXUfJ8l1uxmZ6oHyvDxADZqUC3oNRQFxG7POnBslBzcytTgszybYJZ60EHH7P82HwBeyCuyf1P6pxoEVfwQOLy7sAwdyHPI9Tds-QK2O3oVM3-tW5lWkP9YPfAPz5WGFVSMiBXopfrSuhFTHoc5dMU9cWxTaqW89qmV-Qec6j3Sro5UshFua8/s320/Suma%20Subramaniam.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Suma Subramaniam</b> is a recruiter by day and a children's book author by night. Her picture books include <a href="https://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=title&mode=book&isbn=1536217832" target="_blank">Namaste is a Greeting</a> (2023 Crystal Kite and 2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner), <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374388744/shesangforindia">She Sang for India</a> (2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner and 2022 NYPL Diverse Voices Book), <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Runaway-Dosa/Suma-Subramaniam/9781499813975" target="_blank">The Runaway Dosa</a>, and more. Suma is also the contributing author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586001/the-hero-next-door-by-olugbemisola-rhuday-perkovich/" target="_blank">The Hero Next Door</a> (Finalist-Massachusetts Book Award). Her poems have been published in Poetry Foundation's Poetry Magazine, What is Hope?, and other anthologies for children. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Learn more at <a href="https://sumasubramaniam.com" target="_blank">https://sumasubramaniam.com</a>.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-6377054316039122672024-02-27T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-27T06:00:00.288-08:00On Kindness and the Lenses We Work Through<p>It's one week from the publication of my fourth book, <i>A Different Kind of Brave</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1piwTJdIUjqVnW0VcuITMfGNzldpG2_0vMf9LdRDWiZTg7NElnTG9AXQMbknq_VJr0Nj8SMWh49bxY3zanUfl7nK122l7KIbWgMp8apCehQrpybAXBuzXXIHDdYrlMjMEe5gNLuOxFilJrnFacIcQKdtVOFmcWFqQRnfkE5q3G17OFBqEvNAf9fX-Xrk/s2400/ADifferentKindofBrave_Wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cover of Lee Wind's YA novel "A Different Kind of Brave"" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1piwTJdIUjqVnW0VcuITMfGNzldpG2_0vMf9LdRDWiZTg7NElnTG9AXQMbknq_VJr0Nj8SMWh49bxY3zanUfl7nK122l7KIbWgMp8apCehQrpybAXBuzXXIHDdYrlMjMEe5gNLuOxFilJrnFacIcQKdtVOFmcWFqQRnfkE5q3G17OFBqEvNAf9fX-Xrk/w210-h320/ADifferentKindofBrave_Wind.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>It's my gay teen love letter to James Bond movies, and a book packed with so many of the story things I loved as a teen—secret identities, cool gadgets, exotic cars, high-stakes adventure, and something I never got as teen: a gay love story. Starring two gay teens. Surrounded by a diverse cast of Queer and allied friends.</p><p>My book recently got a couple of really nice trade reviews, and that external validation felt so powerful it scared me. I joked that the starred review was like telling my imposter syndrome to go sit in the corner and shut up. </p><p>I joked about it, but then found myself thinking about how negative self-talk isn't something I've completely gotten past.</p><p>That, and being on the cusp of this YA novel coming out and finally reaching readers has me thinking a lot about my author journey. After all, I started writing for kids and teens in earnest back in 2004, and this is my first traditionally published YA novel, coming out March 5, 2024. </p><p>The math is easy (that's twenty years). The lessons feel more hard-won.</p><p>So, with the vision that it might be helpful to share, some thoughts:</p><p>We writers (and other creatives) are not always kind to ourselves.</p><p>We drive ourselves to produce (<i>write every day!</i>), ignoring the wisdom of the seasons: you cannot only harvest. You need to let crops lay dormant (winter), germinate (spring), grow (summer), and only then can you harvest (fall.) Plants and trees don't skip the resting time of winter, and we skip rest at our peril. That's also called "<b>burnout</b>."</p><p>The real world is on fire (as the news constantly tells us), and we are tasked by the publishing industry and ourselves with "rising above the noise" to somehow help our book stand out amid <i>millions</i> of other books. Like our book's box office opening week is the most important thing about it (<i>ooh--you wrote a best-seller?</i>) rather than remembering that the impact of one book on one heart is how the world actually changes. That impact is also what truly makes a book sell, through that age-old chesnut: "<b>word of mouth</b>."</p><p>Maybe most insidiously, we often view our work with the wrong lens. Most writers and other creatives have multiple lenses we work though, including:</p><p>1) The creative lens, when you're researching and crafting something new:<i> I'm an artist!</i></p><p>2) The editorial lens, when you apply your critical eye to evaluate feedback and revise.<i> It's not everything I wanted it to be, but I can make it better.</i></p><p>3) The critic lens, when you beat yourself up about what you didn't accomplish, and occasionally feel okay about what you wrote. This is the home of my "<i><b>imposter syndrome,</b></i>" which I have to keep reminding has been told to go sit in a corner and be quiet...</p><p>Drafting with your creative lens, and the editorial lens intrudes? That makes writing painful and slow. Insert <b>tortured artist </b>cliche here.</p><p>Drafting with your creative lens, and the critic lens gets in the way? Hello <b>writer's block</b>.</p><p>So I'm trying to learn. To not demand I produce every day. To allow myself the grace of seasons to my creativity. To do my bit to get the word out, and trust that if I created the best book I can, it will reach readers for whom it's important and meaningful. To use the right lens at the right time. And most of all, to be kind to myself on this adventure.</p><p>I hope you will be kind to yourself on your creative journey, too...</p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!<br /></i>Lee<p>p.s.: You can learn more about my books at my website here: <a href="http://leewind.org">leewind.org</a></p><p><br /></p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-67854673845882199672024-02-23T17:14:00.000-08:002024-02-23T17:14:41.615-08:00To Be Visible: Why Writing Intersectional Identities for Kids Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHM8DkBhp7vFMWtD2-kn0aBe7hEcqRHgcyZFgicjwWw1RsjZxtsHYyxkOhj35Lwt_lirEXmT3yix3TJselBXeFppe3Wjwbdz3eTsTpz6NRzjp3_AMWJ_R8IhyphenhyphenJkxjWdbjj_zlg_SzMhzxHEuYi_jM58c-z96NsNHIt0EGMr5ggkgpkeoy4aaLXW6zJiOg/s894/Dagny-Benedict-1707490102-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="894" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHM8DkBhp7vFMWtD2-kn0aBe7hEcqRHgcyZFgicjwWw1RsjZxtsHYyxkOhj35Lwt_lirEXmT3yix3TJselBXeFppe3Wjwbdz3eTsTpz6NRzjp3_AMWJ_R8IhyphenhyphenJkxjWdbjj_zlg_SzMhzxHEuYi_jM58c-z96NsNHIt0EGMr5ggkgpkeoy4aaLXW6zJiOg/w379-h252/Dagny-Benedict-1707490102-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><p>Throughout this week, there's a picture that I just can't shake. A kid, smiling at the camera, looking dapper and happy in their vest. A picture that reminds me it's possible to miss someone who you've never met. Grieve someone you've never met. Wish you could turn back time and prevent the seemingly unpreventable.</p><p>That kid is Nex Benedict, an indigenous nonbinary teen who was killed in Oklahoma this last week. They died after a school fight, during which they and a trans friend were attacked by peers in a school bathroom. Their story is all over the internet, and there's been an outpouring of grief and rage and love.</p><p>When people ask why it's important to write about marginalized and intersectional identities in children's literature, look no further than Nex, and the millions of kids like them. The kids like me. As a kid, I didn't have words for all the things that I was--ADHD and autistic and queer and Arab-American, a kid who struggled with mental health and would become disabled as a young adult. I didn't have the words because no one gave them to me. But I knew I was different. And I often felt so lonely and just plain wrong because of it. But because I didn't have the words, in my mind, there was only one person to blame--me.</p><p>This is why it's important to not just be accepting of marginalized and intersectional identities as writers for kids, but also embrace, uplift, and purposely include these voices in our work. In today's world, it's not just "nice" for kids to see themselves in the books they read--it is a matter of life and death.</p><p>Reading Nex's story over and over again, I've had to grapple with the truth that this was done to them by their own peers--by teenage girls. Kids themselves, who had to have been so overcome with fear and shame and anger to lash out at what they didn't understand. Kids who had to get those messages of fear and anger somewhere--from the adults in their lives. The same adults who don't want diverse books in classrooms and libraries.</p><p>And here's the often overlooked fact--it's just as vital to champion and write books about intersectional and marginalized identities <i>for </i>the kids that hurt Nex. Because this world is not kind to people like me, and kids like Nex. And as important as it is for kids to be able to see themselves in books, to know they're not alone and not wrong for being who they are, it's also just as vital to have these books to help people who are afraid of what they don't understand or ashamed of their own insecurities finally be able to put themselves in someone else's shoes.</p><p>Because that's the magic of story, right? It helps us feel more human, and helps us understand the beauty and complexity of everyone else, being human in their own unique ways.</p><p>So please. For kids like Nex, who are also nonbinary, or indigenous, or raised by a grandparent, or are bullied, or who also love cats and video games and reading and Minecraft and friendship bracelets--write these stories. Write your own stories. And if you don't feel comfortable writing an own voices narrative, then include complex, 3D, fully-fledged secondary characters with these identities and experiences.</p><p>We can't afford not to be visible. And if not you personally, then at least your stories, if you are safe enough to do so. All authenticity is a risk. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. Because as we all know, stories can change the world.</p><p>We love you, Nex. And we won't forget. I promise.</p><p><br /></p><p>_____________________________________________________________________</p><p><b>About the Author</b></p><p>Ashley Wilda is an Arab-American, neurodivergent, queer, disabled writer and mental health advocate living in eastern Virginia. Their debut novel <i>The Night Fox</i>, a YA magical realism tale written in poetry and prose about mental health and nature, was published in 2023 with Penguin Random House, and her following YA contemporary novel, <i>Cleave</i>, will be published by Penguin in 2026. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. In addition to writing, they love rock climbing, exploring the mountains, creating art, and adventuring with their husband, Ethan, and rescue pup, Phoenix. Find Ash on Instagram: @ashleywilda_ or at www.ashleywilda.com.</p>Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10283655180430074717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-5360734914889946832024-02-21T08:25:00.000-08:002024-02-21T08:25:31.447-08:00Join the SCBWI and KidLit Community for the Golden Kite Awards Ceremony -- Free and Online this Friday Feb 23, 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGxXXA0N5uBlWQ6v-dKAan4mKVGwl0al11cJZ3cMxoKE95H88dpTHxC-jMCcklXP6CSe_-XZWbEUSvTmy23JCkApbDBJ3q9iVu_yaLe34a3YUJ0s0djL56dZ0FM5fjhsuJPpRCO9WStltBh4R0kdgCc0MIAkMHpiTGZWam0IyI8mBvAITkGEZOjcVO0E/s726/GoldenKite%20Gala%20logo.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="SCBWI Golden Kite Award Gala logo" border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="726" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGxXXA0N5uBlWQ6v-dKAan4mKVGwl0al11cJZ3cMxoKE95H88dpTHxC-jMCcklXP6CSe_-XZWbEUSvTmy23JCkApbDBJ3q9iVu_yaLe34a3YUJ0s0djL56dZ0FM5fjhsuJPpRCO9WStltBh4R0kdgCc0MIAkMHpiTGZWam0IyI8mBvAITkGEZOjcVO0E/w320-h209/GoldenKite%20Gala%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p><a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/golden-kites-awards-ceremony-2024" target="_blank">Sign up here</a> to join the online event and find out who wins in the these seven categories, and hear the acceptance speeches!</p><p>Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction</p><p>Young Adult Fiction</p><p>Nonfiction</p><p>Text for Younger Readers, Nonfiction Text for Older Readers</p><p>Picture Book Text</p><p>Picture Book Illustration</p><p>Illustration for Older Readers</p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/2024-golden-kite-award-finalists?" target="_blank">Explore the finalist books at bookshop.org here</a>.</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!</i><br />Lee</p> Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-5352176007296680972024-02-15T14:17:00.000-08:002024-02-15T14:17:54.455-08:00Liminal Spaces: Where Our Writing Thrives<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOmR1czCNphR0FbxsbP-0CdgGArT2lU_HJsIeB60jPaHfHLPoGwfZVQ1MuWOHuTAiXM3xJYBaHxI3JX_G9QG8159J849BUWVIa6_Eb5K2yuK5uEWnJUovnmmyGQprSD9ZkgOhMido4SD91BsNpshVctJJ3d1VMnqRMEowa99DzgHErDNb7ryO3gCwQ_g/s7162/usgs-hoS3dzgpHzw-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7162" data-original-width="7146" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOmR1czCNphR0FbxsbP-0CdgGArT2lU_HJsIeB60jPaHfHLPoGwfZVQ1MuWOHuTAiXM3xJYBaHxI3JX_G9QG8159J849BUWVIa6_Eb5K2yuK5uEWnJUovnmmyGQprSD9ZkgOhMido4SD91BsNpshVctJJ3d1VMnqRMEowa99DzgHErDNb7ryO3gCwQ_g/s320/usgs-hoS3dzgpHzw-unsplash.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I don’t know if I can do this.” That’s what I said to my husband after reading the editorial letter for my debut novel, <i>The Night Fox</i>. There was one major problem - I had too many walls.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cf94372c-7fff-d6f0-a31f-61cc622afd1a"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At first glance, it seemed like a story problem. Scenes that weren’t shown, characters that didn’t interact enough. But the real issue? There were important places where I was holding back.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But those walls were there to protect me. From the grief, the memories. When I pressed against those places in the story, I felt… blank. Like some invisible force held me back.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How was I going to uncover the raw emotional truth the story needed, if I couldn’t even go there myself?</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Does this sound familiar to you? Have you ever reached a point in a story–or even your life–where you want to move forward with every fiber of who you are, but you seem to be stuck in this shadowy, in-between place?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You’re definitely not alone. You may simply be in what we call a “liminal space.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">VeryWell Mind defines a liminal space as </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">“the uncertain transition between where you've been and where you're going physically, emotionally, or metaphorically.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">To be in a liminal space means to be on the precipice of something new but not quite there yet. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The word "liminal" comes from the Latin word “limen,” which means threshold.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Not here, and not there. Not past, and not yet. Now now, and not then.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">We all have lived through liminal spaces, whether we realize it or not. Grief is a liminal space. So is hope. Or being engaged. Or pregnant. Or watching a loved one go through hospice.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometimes we get stuck in these places, when the thing we’re waiting for changes or never comes. Sometimes exiting one liminal space ushers in another.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">When it comes to our writing, we move through many liminal spaces.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A story germinates as an inkling in the back of our head, then simmers, turning into something more.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A first draft is a liminal space, where we are telling the story to ourselves for the first time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Having work out on submission is a liminal space, where we may struggle to keep writing other projects as we wait to hear news.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The bottom line - liminal spaces are slippery things. It can be hard to recognize when we’re in one, and even harder to know how to embrace that liminality and make magic happen while we’re there.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">But here’s my challenge to you–</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The liminal spaces are where the true work takes place, taking your stories from good to transcendent.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8eeb9513-7fff-7c73-f951-7cfb3a62d83c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So at this point, you may be thinking - okay, I understand the concept of liminal spaces. I even can understand how they can be useful to us, even magical. But </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can I write through these spaces, when I don’t know which way is up or down?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ee8300c2-7fff-105b-8fab-e2ae2d3ea515" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Great question. Honestly, moving within a liminal space is different for everyone. But I’ll share with you a few things that helped me continue my writing practice, even while not entirely knowing where I was going to end up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>1. Be gentle with yourself.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words, allow yourself to just </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So much of creating is just being. Is just presence. Allow yourself to fully feel, without worrying about productivity or what may happen as you feel those feelings. Trust in yourself to know the way back home. Because the best work comes out of these feelings.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Establish rituals.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grounding elements help me feel a connection to my writing practice even when my life or my project feels like a disorienting liminal space. Lighting a candle, steeping tea, starting with a poem, or even just re-reading something you wrote last session can help you find your footing in these moments.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>3. Stop worrying about quality.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can’t move through a liminal space with your judgmental mind, or your editor mind. It’s about intuitiveness, flow state, and trusting your gut. I’d even recommend not fixing little errors like grammar or punctuation, and just commit to the stream of words. There will be time later for that exacting, precise part of you. For now, you just have to let the magic of the present moment, of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">knowing, take over.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Focus on </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">doing </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">versus </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">getting somewhere.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liminal spaces can’t be forced. You can’t will-power your way through the in-between - you’ll just find yourself right back where you started. But at the same time, that doesn’t mean you aren’t making progress.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Focus on the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">act </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of writing. Focus on consistently sitting down to do the work, without worrying about how much you’ve done or where the work is getting you. Focus on the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">versus the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And when you emerge, you’ll be surprised at how far the work you have already done has taken you when you weren’t looking.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay, so now that we have a few tools under our belt, back to my story. Where did working in this liminal space take me?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I started writing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The Night Fox</i>, a tale about grief and mental health and magic,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because I had to, for myself. But also because when I was going through the darkest time in my life, it was the book I wish I had. The book I couldn’t find. And on the chance that someone else out there was going through something similar… I had to write it for them too.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The story was unconventional to be sure - between the magic and the faith elements and the dual narrative arcs and poetry thrown in there to boot, I worried the story wouldn’t find a home. It didn’t fit neatly into a box… but that was the point. Neither does grief, or love.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facing those daunting edits, I was in a liminal space, and so was this story. My life wasn’t easily defined or held to one shape, and neither was the story I was writing–and neither were the stories and lives that have had the most impact on me as a person and as a writer–and I would guess the same is true for you.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s something about the stories that are birthed from these liminal spaces that are raw and authentic and just deeply </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">true </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in a felt sense that’s hard to put your finger on. These are the stories that change the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So h</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ow do you forge ahead in a liminal space? This might be the question you’re holding now, either in your life or in the story you want to write.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the answer may surprise you - </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Y</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ou don’t.</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don’t force things. You don’t forge ahead, blasting through walls, feelings be damned.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You sit with it. You feel. You slowly push deeper into yourself, and the story. You give the emotional truth time to reveal itself by slowly but surely probing deeper into the heart of things, trusting that it’ll one day become a clear picture.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That isn’t an easy process. It’s hard, taking steps that feel blind. But that’s when the magic of the liminal space takes over.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So there I was, faced with that cursed editor’s note, that insisted I dig deep into feelings I didn’t want to touch - in other words, lean into my liminal space.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I returned to my beloved grad school as a graduate assistant for the summer residency and sat with my feelings. I soaked in the craft and the astounding courage of the community. I pulled it all in until I felt full. Then I sat down. And cried. And wrote out a plan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sitting in the faded blue armchair at my favorite coffee shop, I finally arrived at the part of the story that was hardest for me. It wasn’t the climax or the flashiest part. But for me, it hit the deepest.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote the scene.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hurried to pack my things.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made it to my car and closed the door.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I sobbed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I knew the story was complete. I knew I had honored my liminal space, and because I worked </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it, instead of in spite of it, something magical had unfolded on the page.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s the thing, writing about the liminal. You may be writing fiction. But the feelings are real. You know it’ll be worth it, in the end. To tell the story you need to tell, to reach the reader who desperately needs that particular story. But I’m not going to lie - it can hurt. But it can heal too. Both yourself, and your readers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turns out, that draft was my best work yet.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So to all my writers who feel broken, invisible, opposing realities held in one beautiful, flawed body… don’t give up. You’re simply in a liminal space. You’re not alone - there are others here, beyond their own thresholds, making something beautiful, even if they don’t know it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somewhere, someone needs the story you have yet to tell. Don’t give up on you. Don’t give up on your stories. Don’t give up on the magic. Keep on feeling and sitting and writing and transforming - and you’ll find it may just become the story of your dreams.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DvA_vIL2LIsqk2M8Ov290pBP9ixXdcDJJxkZhhNo8zj3WTrYmrpXl11qbN4ifZrX9Imj2eHbMAMiOcpHOnjlETt7iyQldntnMN3UG94YfZGocFHWeqjRAMAn5oI783cXomyWLxKaQMFkAPpgJYIHMyNYwJrwBKvHwttfkzV-0wKVGcjkiJTlhhW3KC8/s1800/Ashley_Wilda.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DvA_vIL2LIsqk2M8Ov290pBP9ixXdcDJJxkZhhNo8zj3WTrYmrpXl11qbN4ifZrX9Imj2eHbMAMiOcpHOnjlETt7iyQldntnMN3UG94YfZGocFHWeqjRAMAn5oI783cXomyWLxKaQMFkAPpgJYIHMyNYwJrwBKvHwttfkzV-0wKVGcjkiJTlhhW3KC8/w167-h209/Ashley_Wilda.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><p style="font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;"></p><p style="font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e0598f45-7fff-d456-9712-8a3c04011c74"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ashley Wilda is an Arab-American, neurodivergent, queer, disabled writer and mental health advocate living in eastern Virginia. Their debut novel <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720480/the-night-fox-by-ashley-wilda/" target="_blank">The Night Fox</a></i>, a YA magical realism tale written in poetry and prose about mental health and nature, was published in 2023 with Penguin Random House, and her following YA contemporary novel, <i>Cleave</i>, will be published by Penguin in 2026. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. In addition to writing, they love rock climbing, exploring the mountains, creating art, and adventuring with their husband, Ethan, and rescue pup, Phoenix. Find Ash on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ashleywilda_" target="_blank">@ashleywilda_</a> or at <a href="http://www.ashleywilda.com">www.ashleywilda.com</a>.</span></p></span></div></span></span>Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10283655180430074717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-7764158369360657912024-02-14T09:02:00.000-08:002024-02-14T09:02:31.449-08:00Catch up on highlights from the 2024 SCBWI Winter Conference!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxelefjLO6i0dG7DZsfOndc332E4TXQWltzW0Fmt2KOmwvQk5Dlh3JsRJWW4JD3NkoQ9ywsSIx_yxiUcFloSlbCBbZVQngwUPEFCVbdjh4CuLA_e1CDdea5v0cdWRn99Rx0tKcJHQYjyPk6cFbO2xyqai_zYr8F8OHFDK8pMeMwL8ewPV08uXi8oC3gYo/s800/SCBWI%202024%20winter%20conference%20blog%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scbwi conference blog logo" border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="800" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxelefjLO6i0dG7DZsfOndc332E4TXQWltzW0Fmt2KOmwvQk5Dlh3JsRJWW4JD3NkoQ9ywsSIx_yxiUcFloSlbCBbZVQngwUPEFCVbdjh4CuLA_e1CDdea5v0cdWRn99Rx0tKcJHQYjyPk6cFbO2xyqai_zYr8F8OHFDK8pMeMwL8ewPV08uXi8oC3gYo/w320-h155/SCBWI%202024%20winter%20conference%20blog%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It was a whirlwind weekend of SCBWI illustrator, translator, and author goodness!</p><p>Get a taste over at <a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the official SCBWI Conference blog</a>, and/or browse these links below:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/portfolio-showcase.html" target="_blank">Portfolio Showcase / Industry Party</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/were-minutes-away-from-2024-scbwi.html" target="_blank">We're minutes away from the 2024 SCBWI Winter Conference (blogger welcome)</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/welcome-with-sarah-baker-scbwi.html" target="_blank">Welcome with Sarah Baker, SCBWI Executive Director</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/keynote-joseph-coelho.html" target="_blank">Keynote: Joseph Coelho</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/illustrators-break-through-pushing-past.html" target="_blank">Creative Lab- Illustrators Break Through! with Pat Cummings, Cecilia Yung and Christy Ewers</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/creative-lab-dont-call-it-self.html" target="_blank">Creative Lab - Don't Call it "Self" Publishing with Andrea Fleck-Nisbet and Lee Wind</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/creative-lab-kate-messner-revision-half.html" target="_blank">Creative Lab: Kate Messner - Revision Half-Marathon</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/keynote-interview-with-cece-bell.html" target="_blank">Keynote: An Interview with Cece Bell</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-outlook-for-childrens-publishing-in.html" target="_blank">The Outlook for Children's Publishing in 2024 (photo)</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/panel-outlook-for-childrens-publishing_10.html" target="_blank">Panel: Patrice Caldwell</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-outlook-for-childrens-publishing-in_10.html" target="_blank">Panel: Mallory Loehr</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/panel-outlook-for-childrens-publishing.html" target="_blank">Panel: Alvina Ling & Susan Ven Metre</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/networking-party.html" target="_blank">Networking Party</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/awards-presentations.html" target="_blank">Awards Presentations!</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/creative-lab-jump-start-playful-and.html" target="_blank">Creative Lab: The Jump Start: with Phil Bildner</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/creative-lab-emily-xr-pan-storytelling.html" target="_blank">Creative Lab: Emily XR Pan - Storytelling Structure</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/keynote-address-james-ransome.html" target="_blank">Keynote Address - James Ransome, Author/Illustrator</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/wrap-up-with-scbwi-executive-director.html" target="_blank">Wrap Up with SCBWI Executive Director, Sarah Baker</a></p><p><a href="https://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2024/02/thank-you-for-joining-us.html" target="_blank">Thank you for joining us!</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Cheers to Jolie Stekly and Justin Campbell for joining me for "team blog" duties, and to everyone who attended.</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq38HPfTzC5QH8KYv835ajiXDI2GGaNjTOYH-f5gwHKey7xf0_XVpEC_YBr0DBIEv7KwM8bEl-IAlkkfpSntfTFrQURQD9UmvfqF8lToOSlLUe1yB5BTvNUIBPmzN9sbOjtfFm-lsavYHvf52DQ2G4MJPodvupvN7V-z5_Vdygom5WlWhuw00OS6YgMBM/s518/virtual%20scbwi%20winter%202024%20conference%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="virtual scbwi 2024 winter conference logo" border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="518" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq38HPfTzC5QH8KYv835ajiXDI2GGaNjTOYH-f5gwHKey7xf0_XVpEC_YBr0DBIEv7KwM8bEl-IAlkkfpSntfTFrQURQD9UmvfqF8lToOSlLUe1yB5BTvNUIBPmzN9sbOjtfFm-lsavYHvf52DQ2G4MJPodvupvN7V-z5_Vdygom5WlWhuw00OS6YgMBM/w320-h242/virtual%20scbwi%20winter%202024%20conference%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>You can still sign up for the <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-virtual-winter-conference" target="_blank">Virtual Conference happening on Feb 24, 2024</a></p><p>with recordings of the keynote sessions from the in-personal conference and completely new online creative labs...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqquLZmNE2UKFPGHRW86Pchg-4gDLYm0nojx-owjypJ8qonks3IZ-KhKS53-cASnnJFvYBpsfzbwvX6EqFfunMz0km3oi4168M_1gALyddovUIUlKG2KldTLWZrvle1p9lasxmveCqi0quu4-3h1fhGQEgVF3ARDR-jO0kBdz5krcNf_becmbVcFydrgA/s506/virtual%20golden%20kite%202024%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="virtual scbwi golden kite award ceremony logo" border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="506" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqquLZmNE2UKFPGHRW86Pchg-4gDLYm0nojx-owjypJ8qonks3IZ-KhKS53-cASnnJFvYBpsfzbwvX6EqFfunMz0km3oi4168M_1gALyddovUIUlKG2KldTLWZrvle1p9lasxmveCqi0quu4-3h1fhGQEgVF3ARDR-jO0kBdz5krcNf_becmbVcFydrgA/w320-h244/virtual%20golden%20kite%202024%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>And we hope you'll all <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/golden-kites-awards-ceremony-2024" target="_blank">join us for the free virtual Golden Kite Award ceremony</a></p><p>Feb 23, 2024</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!</i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-6799107076035575432024-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-08T06:00:00.140-08:00For the Weird Ones: 3 Writing Block Rituals for Built-Different Brains<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4wosF_sMyVWf0zKdgaVffBpzuio94LDw3b0EHO2dWKgIwjgq5q6BKcb7YhVfHN76LzJfICCC8OZ_tTZHHDcr6BPYq5l-8O_qvjDjW3GE-kvFR0aWWT_7HjSe7mUI2QUAwpM0SePK2npJaXcn_2JAian74V3fw-55txPXcSnZqW9MJo43TaNckYzkaf0/s3671/etienne-girardet-EP6_VZhzXM8-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2753" data-original-width="3671" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4wosF_sMyVWf0zKdgaVffBpzuio94LDw3b0EHO2dWKgIwjgq5q6BKcb7YhVfHN76LzJfICCC8OZ_tTZHHDcr6BPYq5l-8O_qvjDjW3GE-kvFR0aWWT_7HjSe7mUI2QUAwpM0SePK2npJaXcn_2JAian74V3fw-55txPXcSnZqW9MJo43TaNckYzkaf0/w387-h290/etienne-girardet-EP6_VZhzXM8-unsplash.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hello, SCBWI! I’m Ash, your guest writer for the next few weeks. I’m a queer, neurodivergent, Arab-American, disabled author and poet, mental health advocate, and overall wild creative. To learn more about me, check out the bio at the end of this post!</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4fbafb9a-7fff-7047-8b80-f5f1d0dd4657"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today’s topic - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rituals for busting through writer’s block.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I’m sure you’ve heard a plethora of advice from wise authors and creatives on this topic, including the time-honored command to “sit your butt in the chair” and just write, which is a kind of ritual in itself.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Why rituals for writer’s block? A ritual is any action where you purposefully follow a routine or pattern but with an air of intentionality, even sacredness–motions you move through as an entry point into something grander. </span><a href="https://fullfocusplanner.com/the-science-of-rituals/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20study%3A%20%E2%80%9Cthe,brain's%20response%20to%20personal%20failure.%E2%80%9D" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Science has shown</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> that ritual “buffers against uncertainty and anxiety… [and] guides goal-directed performance by regulating the brain's response to personal failure.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sounds like the perfect antidote to writer’s block, yes?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But here’s the twist. What if you aren’t a neurotypical writer? What if you have mental health struggles? What if you have ADHD or are autistic? What if you have chronic illnesses that make your everyday levels of motivation and stamina unpredictable?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Whew. That’s the question for the ages. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How can we bust through creative blocks, when our brains and bodies don’t work like everyone else’s?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Over the next few posts, this question is going to come up quite a bit, and I hope that my experience as a neurospicy, chronically ill, trauma-savvy creative can perhaps give you some ideas for your own writing practice, along with a heaping ladle of affirmation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And it all starts with this simple but radical statement… </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You aren’t alone.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Although no one has lived your unique experience, and no one has your exact brain, body, or untold stories, you are not the only creative to ever face these challenges along with the “standard” writer’s block struggle. In fact, we creative types seem to be more prone to this particular flavor of life challenges… or more honestly, just more prone to creativity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All that to say–you’re in good company. So release a deep sigh, relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw. We’ve got this.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>1.</b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">My first tip for busting writer’s block as a neurodiverse, disabled human–stop. trying. to force it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wait up. Doesn’t that fly in the face of the tried-and-true “butt in the chair” mentality? Fake it till you make it? Run at the writer’s block brick wall headfirst?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m aware; it does seem counterintuitive! But honestly, I wish someone had told me this trick a looong time ago. It would have saved me countless hours of beating myself up internally, banging my head on the proverbial keyboard, wondering why the words just won’t come out right.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I needed to give myself permission to write awfully. Yep, you heard me right. Give yourself permission to write crap. And I really mean it–stream of consciousness that ish. Don’t stop and fix grammar, or punctuation, or spelling. Just barrel on, blindly trusting that something good will come out of the flow.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And let me tell you, this method has almost never failed me. Either I will end up getting into the groove and writing good material, or I’ll finish the session feeling a little sheepish, only to later discover not-so-hidden gems amid the rubbish.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And at the end of the day, any time spent writing is time spent well.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, how to turn this into a ritual?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Begin each writing session with a brain dump. Sit in your chair. Roll your shoulders. Allow the first thought that floats into your mind to bleed onto the page. No criticizing, no shaming. It doesn’t matter if the thought is as mundane as “What should I eat for lunch?” Just begin to write what you think, and how those thoughts attach to feelings. Allow your subconscious mind to lead you in a childlike dance.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And when you can recognize that you’ve entered that state of flow, like a new pen finally rolling smooth, you can turn your attention to your story.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>2.</b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tip number two: the vibes matter.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As someone whose brain focuses intensely on my environment–minuscule sounds, the shade of the lights, the itchiness of my chair–I have found that cultivating a purposeful atmosphere greatly aids in conquering writer’s block.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What lighting helps you feel the most in flow? What colors help you sink into your creative self? What sounds and textures create a space where your brain can stop being so hypervigilant and instead tune into your subconscious and enter your characters’ minds?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, I know most of us aren’t the most affluent. You can make any space work for you in this manner. Whether it’s an office, a desk, a corner of a room, or even part of a closet, the goal is simply to find an environment you can tailor to suit your unique vibey needs.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How to turn this into a ritual? When you enter your space with the intention to write, pick a few things you always do before beginning. Whether that’s making a cup of Earl Grey tea, lighting a candle, or spraying lavender essential oil, pick sensory actions that help you feel the most grounded and ready to create.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The cool thing? Eventually, your brain will associate those particular sensory experiences with the act of writing, and your body will even more quickly slip into that oh-so-coveted writing flow space.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>3.</b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Last but not least–accept that some days are not good days.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Some days, no level of “tricking” your brain is going to cut it. Some days, the pain or fatigue or flashbacks or buzzing distraction is just too much. It’s easy to feel defeated–like circumstances outside of your control are sabotaging your creative process.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But here’s the thing–writing is about so much more than just stringing words together and arranging them on a page. Every good storyteller knows that a story begins long before you ever think to write it. Each one synthesized from your experiences, ponderings, memories, and wanderings. In order to write good stories, you have to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">experience </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">good stories.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So next time you have no more tricks up your sleeve–here’s a ritual for you. Take a moment to be still. Soak in the world. Every single tiny detail. Your inner world, your outer world. Whether you’re sitting or lying down or taking a walk, let your attention settle. Focus on your breath. Bring the world into clearer view. For these are the details, the moments, that make our writing sing and cut true.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Next time you come to the page, you’ll bring all that richness with you, that you would have otherwise missed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Because that’s the greatest secret I’ll leave you with–</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For a writer, your whole life is a creative act. Don’t sell yourself short. Even your breath is a miracle of your own making.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DvA_vIL2LIsqk2M8Ov290pBP9ixXdcDJJxkZhhNo8zj3WTrYmrpXl11qbN4ifZrX9Imj2eHbMAMiOcpHOnjlETt7iyQldntnMN3UG94YfZGocFHWeqjRAMAn5oI783cXomyWLxKaQMFkAPpgJYIHMyNYwJrwBKvHwttfkzV-0wKVGcjkiJTlhhW3KC8/s1800/Ashley_Wilda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DvA_vIL2LIsqk2M8Ov290pBP9ixXdcDJJxkZhhNo8zj3WTrYmrpXl11qbN4ifZrX9Imj2eHbMAMiOcpHOnjlETt7iyQldntnMN3UG94YfZGocFHWeqjRAMAn5oI783cXomyWLxKaQMFkAPpgJYIHMyNYwJrwBKvHwttfkzV-0wKVGcjkiJTlhhW3KC8/w167-h209/Ashley_Wilda.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e0598f45-7fff-d456-9712-8a3c04011c74"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ashley Wilda is an Arab-American, neurodivergent, queer, disabled writer and mental health advocate living in eastern Virginia. Their debut novel <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720480/the-night-fox-by-ashley-wilda/" target="_blank">The Night Fox</a></i>, a YA magical realism tale written in poetry and prose about mental health and nature, was published in 2023 with Penguin Random House, and her following YA contemporary novel, <i>Cleave</i>, will be published by Penguin in 2026. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. In addition to writing, they love rock climbing, exploring the mountains, creating art, and adventuring with their husband, Ethan, and rescue pup, Phoenix. Find Ash on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ashleywilda_" target="_blank">@ashleywilda_</a> or at <a href="http://www.ashleywilda.com">www.ashleywilda.com</a>.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10283655180430074717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-21672697573243827262024-02-02T09:04:00.000-08:002024-02-02T09:04:41.796-08:00The SCBWI Winter Conference is ONE WEEK Away!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg44AMCO_yI73E2lAGFKt0hXhyphenhyphenh7ZRwV6U1_qze5apM2JsdaR19vhV6zfnIl75TDGtPnq1q0MfvWIzQlnv3r5jQf9emvOEAfH6hbucLn1NQDB_FuMsF5pI4L0TfRFX_8n5vUX4XQki94uDfVgFlkab_f2LKxxoeZcAfy3OnCg914viWzqJ_e2_um5619M/s800/SCBWI%20in-person%20Winter%20conference%202024%20logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SCBWI In-Person Winter Conference 2024 logo" border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="800" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg44AMCO_yI73E2lAGFKt0hXhyphenhyphenh7ZRwV6U1_qze5apM2JsdaR19vhV6zfnIl75TDGtPnq1q0MfvWIzQlnv3r5jQf9emvOEAfH6hbucLn1NQDB_FuMsF5pI4L0TfRFX_8n5vUX4XQki94uDfVgFlkab_f2LKxxoeZcAfy3OnCg914viWzqJ_e2_um5619M/w320-h309/SCBWI%20in-person%20Winter%20conference%202024%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>If you'll be joining us in person in New York City, get ready for an amazing weekend of inspiration, craft, business, opportunity, and community that is <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-in-person-winter-conference-2024" target="_blank">#scbwiWinter24</a> </p><p>It's going to be packed with Keynotes, Panels, Creative Labs, Socials, the portfolio showcase, and so much more!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx6OhG4MWKFPoM9uWyQKhx6-wbbvvtAGMDa_KnTWkmCRBOGwSfmZEMFbIbYQl0A-NPmrVacxjFYZKVufo8EzWdeL5zQluVzMwSh9XoNqSX1w81h1fReHL8YnKqV6c_fyvr3yZEAyah_Ydx8VoSZ0IVEfi8yEDpKce9mV5Zf34iPG3QSByMjxgRnxcJ0c/s800/keynotes%20in%20person%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="800" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx6OhG4MWKFPoM9uWyQKhx6-wbbvvtAGMDa_KnTWkmCRBOGwSfmZEMFbIbYQl0A-NPmrVacxjFYZKVufo8EzWdeL5zQluVzMwSh9XoNqSX1w81h1fReHL8YnKqV6c_fyvr3yZEAyah_Ydx8VoSZ0IVEfi8yEDpKce9mV5Zf34iPG3QSByMjxgRnxcJ0c/s320/keynotes%20in%20person%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aCHEK9F8WdPFbixISIVxKVfC6j8LT_9AWcxCfzfMQ1noHCvXuaJI7-EnnoceIAAEDmrK1TT9s562_dM1z3EtmZZPfE_1D_bxGOi2LQ0_z3ZNRy9InSznQep7tQKyw0AeJoWTxjcminzrq4Wa0xfyPBVZbeezH6JJt1ZLZUWMZ91PlsXoDZ0PwF3Wgas/s871/creative%20labs%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aCHEK9F8WdPFbixISIVxKVfC6j8LT_9AWcxCfzfMQ1noHCvXuaJI7-EnnoceIAAEDmrK1TT9s562_dM1z3EtmZZPfE_1D_bxGOi2LQ0_z3ZNRy9InSznQep7tQKyw0AeJoWTxjcminzrq4Wa0xfyPBVZbeezH6JJt1ZLZUWMZ91PlsXoDZ0PwF3Wgas/s320/creative%20labs%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024%20AM.png" width="294" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4ZQ8mmexiW5uSWIQGHSvx0bNBpRXDlckIig7NxS685b4C80DnG1FWMPKm2FL3QxjJVrsSSUNNO070IlM-ZdME4od5mvP1YBOX-_IJyJZCII0YsDCiH6YdJwdBwKQs8JGhFep2e5Jk4_sp4OWMyC2hJrX3hauAQHPodIVkmXJ0O8ggYpqprj0YHg6YtQ/s845/creative%20labs%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4ZQ8mmexiW5uSWIQGHSvx0bNBpRXDlckIig7NxS685b4C80DnG1FWMPKm2FL3QxjJVrsSSUNNO070IlM-ZdME4od5mvP1YBOX-_IJyJZCII0YsDCiH6YdJwdBwKQs8JGhFep2e5Jk4_sp4OWMyC2hJrX3hauAQHPodIVkmXJ0O8ggYpqprj0YHg6YtQ/s320/creative%20labs%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024%20PM.png" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />There's also going to be a <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-virtual-winter-conference" target="_blank">virtual SCBWI Winter Conference</a> (Feb 23-24, 2024), with the Golden Kite Awards Presentation, Recordings of the Keynotes and Panels from the in-person conference, Creative Labs, The Piranha Pit, Peer Critiques, and more!<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG4bP3n2jh3w8vvR3fQfChlqnwUoDmHloMPEvVOLbyMEj8owgtkh6rOK5-YEJRpzFH7ghVhnULrARL9bjEQWn8YcSLHlgTt2eLEwCl4yT5-lYdsdacZuQT6-g4c7-k0P5POnrDH93yso795aj8BnMUY5IzvFsh8hhLZ8n7ANWDI6VurBzTP0whSokM6c/s800/Virtual%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="screenshot of the offerings of the Virtual SCBWI Winter Conference 2024" border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="800" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG4bP3n2jh3w8vvR3fQfChlqnwUoDmHloMPEvVOLbyMEj8owgtkh6rOK5-YEJRpzFH7ghVhnULrARL9bjEQWn8YcSLHlgTt2eLEwCl4yT5-lYdsdacZuQT6-g4c7-k0P5POnrDH93yso795aj8BnMUY5IzvFsh8hhLZ8n7ANWDI6VurBzTP0whSokM6c/w400-h228/Virtual%20scbwi%20winter%20conference%202024.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>If you'll be in New York for the in-person winter conference, say hello! (I'll be blogging, co-teaching a creative lab, and hosting the LGBTQIA2+ and Allies Social.)</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-49279176583730841222024-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-30T06:00:00.150-08:00Have You Claimed Your Google Knowledge Panel?<p>At 22:14 of this video interview on The Indie Author Podcast, <a href="https://youtu.be/5OKO_xDm7bM?si=9ZpbpOfpzuEoow--" target="_blank">The Many Levers of Your Author Platform with Andrea De Werd</a>, Andrea speaks with Matty Dalrymple about claiming your profiles:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Once you have an ISBN, claim your profiles. Go claim your BookBub profile, go claim your GoodReads profile, claim your Amazon Author Central..."</blockquote><p></p><p>I'd heard of all of those before. But even with my 4th book releasing in March, this next one was new to me:</p><p></p><blockquote>"And then, related to your website, you can claim your Google Knowledge Panel... When you search for anyone on Google, there's a little side panel that pops up on the right hand column, and it will say 'Is this you? Claim this panel.' at the bottom... so you can click that."</blockquote><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvOOOavYgie0N-D6-0iK0NlTO6W66VgdnVl0IeXD1Dow5nFGIi-LHOWlS_i_2ksxvfC0X2_3ER8BswlCxWJVM_GcqrzYnIdHLJArMe9jO27zIGZP-M4fGPZUfYBWHEq-ruzeGpwt_sRNSghE0tJIEKZpVntqYAkBj9Px5ch_cdlH0e7iU4qrmxBdUBjE/s800/Google%20Knowledge%20Panel%20screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="800" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvOOOavYgie0N-D6-0iK0NlTO6W66VgdnVl0IeXD1Dow5nFGIi-LHOWlS_i_2ksxvfC0X2_3ER8BswlCxWJVM_GcqrzYnIdHLJArMe9jO27zIGZP-M4fGPZUfYBWHEq-ruzeGpwt_sRNSghE0tJIEKZpVntqYAkBj9Px5ch_cdlH0e7iU4qrmxBdUBjE/w400-h125/Google%20Knowledge%20Panel%20screenshot.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I searched Google for "Claim Google Knowledge Panel" <br />and this is a screenshot of the beginning of the instructions. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Andrea explains the once you've claimed it, you can control your Google Knowledge Panel contents--you can include a short bio, decide what social media channels it links through to, and you can even point people to your newest book. </p><p>It's a great lever for your platform as a children's book creator, and we should all consider pulling that lever!</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,</i><br />Lee</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-41019246688933220792024-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:002024-01-25T11:50:52.169-08:00FEMALE IS FUNNY TOO: Analyzing humor and gender in children's content<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> By M.R. Woodward</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Are funny male kid lit writers more successful than female? </h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fbANODPW3CpLqBphSZFR74EhwcxficOnz46W0CpKpc9twp-UC3gOD_-jJsbt27FlYdZyboNqBxc5mZkfL5PFMybftJMzcj14Zvd5f-KFZN5REBoIZsYb3VSgSoy0m-WdYWJWlZW69LybcEJL7SjLhno4vdcoGTmVshMTNV3KdKImqR1r5UkzLm1yeSo/s160/Unknown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fbANODPW3CpLqBphSZFR74EhwcxficOnz46W0CpKpc9twp-UC3gOD_-jJsbt27FlYdZyboNqBxc5mZkfL5PFMybftJMzcj14Zvd5f-KFZN5REBoIZsYb3VSgSoy0m-WdYWJWlZW69LybcEJL7SjLhno4vdcoGTmVshMTNV3KdKImqR1r5UkzLm1yeSo/w51-h51/Unknown.png" width="51" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwyflwclbIn8bE-YrE5yKi4byuu88MuTQrILpovtVl2Rhi4GtKlwaqD66NkvpCxgtEAa5Joq_sb_W-FOumQwzuSylLZhe17Lhm-LU8fSwPjbPh0Vt9MZK5ilC8PfPBpVxsz29_sFq4vcBAEj3Bs5O-WHVyeGfbCkBfb8Tk8LZNLB7st3shJzgxkzsAXs/s225/Unknown-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwyflwclbIn8bE-YrE5yKi4byuu88MuTQrILpovtVl2Rhi4GtKlwaqD66NkvpCxgtEAa5Joq_sb_W-FOumQwzuSylLZhe17Lhm-LU8fSwPjbPh0Vt9MZK5ilC8PfPBpVxsz29_sFq4vcBAEj3Bs5O-WHVyeGfbCkBfb8Tk8LZNLB7st3shJzgxkzsAXs/w40-h40/Unknown-1.png" width="40" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfbnhxXJPlg-9mQIcKZlKLHJTOwNNOjxMkUC_GCdUJpVhGNkLSWbem-CsoR-Ar3yNS-QEqxHWl-VJEq71Zyi2bnqyKBYC1XPtHDoGoZG0zw49SBpmyRSp572KE6p2u0XJs7t7qzCFbmt5SizyCsLxJxioKGEs2bGyo5r6TvFHWilLAr9qdveFCk-AYEI/s225/Unknown-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfbnhxXJPlg-9mQIcKZlKLHJTOwNNOjxMkUC_GCdUJpVhGNkLSWbem-CsoR-Ar3yNS-QEqxHWl-VJEq71Zyi2bnqyKBYC1XPtHDoGoZG0zw49SBpmyRSp572KE6p2u0XJs7t7qzCFbmt5SizyCsLxJxioKGEs2bGyo5r6TvFHWilLAr9qdveFCk-AYEI/w56-h56/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="56" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N14aBptEsJ-6CeVkiItU5KW8SERPJo6n-OrAAFMjlSQojMLcOmrtP0t5uggLS5llx7M-Qtd7RrdUtujAPEuU1ksliDTKCNX8UsLMImJJoheFEwHUsnlqCauDN8bXFfANwZg6seuPUvafgCbJGTDP-kprgWDF1gs4H1Us3DgcQVS8C75KUn_S5ydnGm4/s250/1272_equals-sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="250" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N14aBptEsJ-6CeVkiItU5KW8SERPJo6n-OrAAFMjlSQojMLcOmrtP0t5uggLS5llx7M-Qtd7RrdUtujAPEuU1ksliDTKCNX8UsLMImJJoheFEwHUsnlqCauDN8bXFfANwZg6seuPUvafgCbJGTDP-kprgWDF1gs4H1Us3DgcQVS8C75KUn_S5ydnGm4/w41-h35/1272_equals-sign.png" width="41" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOGRC9Uh6D-imSHfkmr0a7C1fnrCwiUfsbYD-mBJA23txy98WIlXdW03E4Ke4kTTA-dV6jFRO9NW8Cul8yszUWmbdVYwnyhF9DVan_1ugKu8PkmTQk_Qn1sKfoZWeAX5O7tBQCSp8ktuuuu9Iuc82tnT7m4zeqm5ZmWW1LhhyphenhyphenV2JLtCzXJZ6HQGcKuoM/s225/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOGRC9Uh6D-imSHfkmr0a7C1fnrCwiUfsbYD-mBJA23txy98WIlXdW03E4Ke4kTTA-dV6jFRO9NW8Cul8yszUWmbdVYwnyhF9DVan_1ugKu8PkmTQk_Qn1sKfoZWeAX5O7tBQCSp8ktuuuu9Iuc82tnT7m4zeqm5ZmWW1LhhyphenhyphenV2JLtCzXJZ6HQGcKuoM/w55-h55/Unknown.jpeg" width="55" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dzfbRmy-AO3Ezxl71h5zkRdXgK8Zvfr2FsPGv1n6M8MZfuoy0r5ZyC2cdPucv_QpZHh6wDscBej0lL0mIN5s4jrvovCiHJpHyr80NgezRkyFVC1Mw2OdB7mIuAVx2NLZ06UCMQW0Cg8y6xomzc0AIxhlONwwK_Lk9Hf40Iv-u6n7Fs9zPe6GFjgnLz4/s266/Unknown-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dzfbRmy-AO3Ezxl71h5zkRdXgK8Zvfr2FsPGv1n6M8MZfuoy0r5ZyC2cdPucv_QpZHh6wDscBej0lL0mIN5s4jrvovCiHJpHyr80NgezRkyFVC1Mw2OdB7mIuAVx2NLZ06UCMQW0Cg8y6xomzc0AIxhlONwwK_Lk9Hf40Iv-u6n7Fs9zPe6GFjgnLz4/w45-h47/Unknown-2.png" width="45" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I had changed my name to a male pen name or used my initials (like above). Would I have better luck selling my funny picture books? Would I get higher advances? </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll never know the answers to these questions. And perhaps it's all in my head. But here's something I DO know from working at a children's book store: The general consumer knows a LOT more funny male children's book authors than they do female. People know to ask for Mo Willems, Ryan Higgins, Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers, Dav Pilkey... etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>And even if they don't know their names, their books are the ones they know: DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES, THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT, I WANT MY HAT BACK, DOGMAN, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS, DON'T EAT YOUR CLASSMATES... <span> The funny picture book best sellers are mostly written by men. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Now, I know many of you are thinking: "Hey, I know TONS of funny female picture book writers!" Well, guess what, I DO TOO! But, like me, most of you reading this are kid lit writers. Thus, we have a vast knowledge of picture books and other kid lit, that regular parents and their kids don't have. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Yes, you and I, can sing the praises of funny (and prolific) female picture book writers like Tara Lazar, Deborah Underwood, Doreen Cronin, Tammi Sauer, Keiko Kasha, Dev Petty, Kelly Dipucchio, Shannon Hale, Laurie Keller, Ame Dyckman, and many many more... but can your brother-in-law? Can your mom? Can your best friend from high school? Ask them to name some funny children's authors without looking at their bookshelves-- see what names they produce-- they might come out with Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume. Maybe Sandra Boynton if they have a toddler. But my guess is that they'll name way more men-- especially for picture books. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I don't know the exact numbers on who makes the most money selling FUNNY kid lit (and I don't have time to do that research). But I have an inkling it would skew male. I'd love to see accurate numbers on this if anyone has them. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div>However, just for funsies-- I checked eleven "Funniest picture book lists"-- some were from publishers, others from bloggers, some from libraries, or booksellers like Bookshop-- in other words, NOT the general public-- but people with expert knowledge of the kid-lit industry. They were just the first lists that popped up when I googled "funniest picture books." But I made sure they were lists compiled within the last two years. To be fair, some of these lists were about even, and a few of them even had <i>slightly</i> more female writers, but most did not. When I averaged it all out, 64% were male.</div><div><br /></div><div>*I also looked at a few funny MG lists, and these seem to be much more evenly gendered. Which is so great to see! </div><div><br /></div><div>Sure, 64% isn't terrible. It's probably much better than it would have been 15-20 years ago. But considering that the majority of people compiling these lists (kid lit editors, authors, bloggers, and booksellers) are ALSO female, you'd think these numbers would lean the other way.</div><div><br /></div><div>All that being said, I DO think we're headed in the right direction. And if bloggers and other people in the kid-lit industry as starting to realize that women are funny, hopefully the general public will catch on too! </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe some day soon, someone will walk in and ask if we carry any books by Marianna Coppo. And I will be thrilled, because she is hilarious.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbchNTvuquBaui3uOzwqjSwHRhGcgJsTjn_mz1pKZzRrTOlTZswlmmvMqR21ZrDaANN8_Iz5zc2Zm6n-CA6vKAS1z9utf44FEhpaNmxtow8eKOCrK-_61ox-kxgsQloV0MKR2hmV5ZQW7_PWbRc6YBRzvmRxttZ1F0j4XfL-tPONHHyJR3yPH1ClujPNQ/s1000/81zDDJ4AMzL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1000" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbchNTvuquBaui3uOzwqjSwHRhGcgJsTjn_mz1pKZzRrTOlTZswlmmvMqR21ZrDaANN8_Iz5zc2Zm6n-CA6vKAS1z9utf44FEhpaNmxtow8eKOCrK-_61ox-kxgsQloV0MKR2hmV5ZQW7_PWbRc6YBRzvmRxttZ1F0j4XfL-tPONHHyJR3yPH1ClujPNQ/w196-h169/81zDDJ4AMzL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Are funny characters in kid's content mostly male? </h3><div><br /></div><div>Recently, I've been reading a lot of middle grade fantasy. Three books I've read recently, HUNT FOR THE HOLLOWER, THE SPIRIT GLASS, and THE WIZARDS OF ONCE, that are all written by women and have female protagonists, also have hilarious sidekick characters-- who are all male. (I highly recommend all of these books by the way!)</div><div><br /></div><div>It got me thinking about funny sidekick characters in kids' movies as well. Pretty much every animated Disney/ Pixar movie has a funny sidekick. But how many can you name that are female? I thought of two: Dory from FINDING NEMO, and Sisu in RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON. There might be a few more, but I think it's safe to say that the "funny sidekick" role is VERY male dominated. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9EC94kmligx4t8uFC2c5ABEAGiR01yt9g59kJM8-o-0U6GU_rY3SUTfxSky0bIY6oIfvH_ofmWd3Lqp-7_QDNcsDtb1JAeZb0HyZNuWWVDSUXnA1LE681AOYqAyIL4Vi3_zf80wInqqnVYUfx4PQ3q3mgpsi2M7hTB2WckSsM0tmnt8k32cEP5R8pXw/s1142/sub-buzz-7282-1600114122-10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1142" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9EC94kmligx4t8uFC2c5ABEAGiR01yt9g59kJM8-o-0U6GU_rY3SUTfxSky0bIY6oIfvH_ofmWd3Lqp-7_QDNcsDtb1JAeZb0HyZNuWWVDSUXnA1LE681AOYqAyIL4Vi3_zf80wInqqnVYUfx4PQ3q3mgpsi2M7hTB2WckSsM0tmnt8k32cEP5R8pXw/w144-h107/sub-buzz-7282-1600114122-10.png" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzUstoj1Qk4DEJzaLN4aAAwn-HccFewa7JTd8UtrHd-IJqytH2quM0fHrFLTfTisP2NvCjQUrI6F34HeUcsuGDmC3PPZ5ttSmH1B1O5cpn3jaBap92lBS8O2ZmDxoXZjpQfT8P0DMpNTq0Pcli-bpo5fdEOz5ijN7iDX51wQh6HzQ47nW9bYN_lTL7u8/s259/Unknown-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzUstoj1Qk4DEJzaLN4aAAwn-HccFewa7JTd8UtrHd-IJqytH2quM0fHrFLTfTisP2NvCjQUrI6F34HeUcsuGDmC3PPZ5ttSmH1B1O5cpn3jaBap92lBS8O2ZmDxoXZjpQfT8P0DMpNTq0Pcli-bpo5fdEOz5ijN7iDX51wQh6HzQ47nW9bYN_lTL7u8/w110-h147/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="110" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="253" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZSV0JANgbCSO8aTvbAGY1jv_LCpEo38mKKEkL0bO1Cdm3pTRXSKd-RxIOowtIni4ySyspHHjUPFq5c_YvyrEv-Zex13VsZ1769hdzeOxUuHJl0tcuFG5XMvjWh-K00mlIF1blQbBOjpI-nr-stSlZ1ahv5aawLWTM6OsUFvUzKndfx9WKE6efLQrbKU/w132-h106/images-1.jpeg" width="132" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyM2MalBBhFpWWLVL4EahWqyYF61N51RsPN9Nkc_x4HDzj7I0FOgeex2hmqvH9Nfa26lE0PG23y55lntt3PszRjeR5rnyTe_8Fui8rzYv19Zno-w3LGWrELyB3yPpr7EXob_2jvtt1VeNhOJTt0n4bQn3goL1izEBAEybbsdE6OPs-7VbOQ26yBJkivY/w220-h123/TheLionKing-TimonPumbaa-700x394.jpg" width="220" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then started thinking about picture book characters, especially animal ones. I realized that most funny animal characters are written as male. (Again, I don't have any exact numbers on this. I just started looking at the characters on all these funny picture book lists, and most were male.) And even if the gender is never mentioned in the book-- like the pigeon in Mo Willems' books, I had <i>thought </i>of them as male-- and reviewers or book blurbs had also described these characters using he/him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why do we do this? How can we change? </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pretty sure the answer lies somewhat in representation. The more funny female characters we see in movies, books, TV, etc, the easier it will become to believe that female characters are funny. So as writers, let's put them in! Next time you sit down to write a funny picture book-- think about your lead character. What is their gender? Why? If you wrote a funny male character, is there ANY reason at all they can't be female instead? Other than your own bias of... I just think he's funnier as a male. And if that's your answer, then maybe you need to examine why it is you think that way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because the world definitely needs more Olivias!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZA7_hu7Z3VOWlEpp4hLiC5grvRXYWbIlK_ciLF63XxSpzm8nDC0kWDeAyhsF5nOYzbIZmmFgIAJmo2fHcIBI1etFmvbWNx2VDTrqUv-1SxPkeyKLYhlJ5epDp9DpQIwHLYuEQzHhQLi-g-XVChS0PJgqmC3wZQIBOdw1r_hfIBJZp2bPWOedYSQY4gVY/s276/Unknown-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZA7_hu7Z3VOWlEpp4hLiC5grvRXYWbIlK_ciLF63XxSpzm8nDC0kWDeAyhsF5nOYzbIZmmFgIAJmo2fHcIBI1etFmvbWNx2VDTrqUv-1SxPkeyKLYhlJ5epDp9DpQIwHLYuEQzHhQLi-g-XVChS0PJgqmC3wZQIBOdw1r_hfIBJZp2bPWOedYSQY4gVY/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" width="183" /></a></div><br /> </div><div>Also, when you read to your kids, you can do what Lisa Tolin, author of HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR, did and change all the funny male characters to female. That way your kids grow up thinking girls are funny too! Check out her article <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-make-all-my-female-characters-in-kids-books-funny-2022-8" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><u>Of course men can be funny, but so can women</u></h3><div><u><br /></u></div><div>By no means am I disregarding the talent and humor of funny male kid lit authors! The male authors and their books I mentioned above ARE hilarious (with the exception of a few of them that I personally think are way overrated.) Is Jon Klassen brilliant in his own unique brand of humor? Of course he is! The problem is that I've picked up so many hilarious books by women and thought, "This is so funny. Why isn't she a household name?" </div><div><br /></div><div>I hate the phrase "dad jokes." It implies that only men can make the kind of corny cheesy jokes that rely on stupid wordplay and make everyone laugh and roll their eyes. It's just another contributing factor in why our society doesn't believe in funny women-- "Dads are the funny ones!" I propose we change it to "parent jokes" or maybe just "eye rollers." LOL. </div><div><br /></div><div>And if any of your friends need funny picture book recs... give them suggestions written by women! Let's try to even things out a little.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have other suggestions for changing the narrative around WHO we think is funny, comment below! </div><div><br /></div><div>**There are MANY more funny female (and male) kid lit authors who were not mentioned in this blog. If you're looking for more, just google "funny picture books" and lists will come up! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some other articles/blogs detailing how the children's book industry is still mostly male (and white) despite the fact that more women work in kid lit, and there are more women pursuing kid lit careers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://phys.org/news/2023-08-children-whiter-male-society.html">https://phys.org/news/2023-08-children-whiter-male-society.html</a></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://emmawaltonhamilton.com/blog/where-the-women-are-tough-questions-about-the-gender-disparities-in-childrens-publishing">https://emmawaltonhamilton.com/blog/where-the-women-are-tough-questions-about-the-gender-disparities-in-childrens-publishing</a></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0260566">https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0260566</a></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><br /></p><h3><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR: </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="850" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGpq35UyYyWTGgGmNZUVYoVCLMKQgpSjUBizuU4a08eQKzNRppDM9qfVzYSjq8HgOSCdmseDIpjVHatQtiJZfMtXRMewyaWsN_ZzB1jsSZIXHqwxu-ovIQeAxxRF7989ywHMw-hG0KQVCj6K5vHcG9JLgjOKMF62-tHdUbzvdGo6AP2dmbYWstJEmwWo0=w258-h337" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; caret-color: rgb(141, 181, 30); color: #8db51e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="258" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan </span>has<span color="rgb(var(--color_15))"> an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, and has been working as a comedy screenwriter for over 10 years. After becoming a mom, she rediscovered her long-lost love of children’s books and has since been pursuing a career in kid-lit.</span></i></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"> </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i>She also works part-time in a children's book store called Green Bean Books, in Portland, OR.</i></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i style="font-family: arial;">Megan is a member of the SCBWI community, 12x12 PB challenge, multiple picture book critique groups, and PB Soar 24 (a promotional marketing group of authors debuting in 2024).</i><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span><div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, Megan offers manuscript and screenplay critiques and editing. To work with Megan or learn about her available services, click <a href="http://www.meganwoodward.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here.</a></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s3070/9781665927987.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3070" data-original-width="2470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s320/9781665927987.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="257" /></a></div></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div></h3><div><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan's debut picture book, THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY NOT CURSED, illustrated by </span>Risa Rodil, <span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">will be released on June</span></span><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> 25, 2024 by Simon and Schuster. </span></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><br /></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">You can <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Book-Is-Definitely-Not-Cursed/Megan-Woodward/9781665927987" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PREORDER</a> here.</span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">OR: If you're local or near Portland, you can. preorder a signed copy from <a href="https://greenbeanbookspdx.indielite.org/pre-order-book-definitely-not-cursed-megan-woodward" target="_blank">Green Bean Books</a>!!!</span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Follow Megan on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/womeganwo/?next=%2F" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/womeganwo" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/meganwoodward.bsky.social" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authormeganwoodward" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</i></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Meg McMuffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282225240468810516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-63489563857875908852024-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-23T06:00:00.126-08:00Book Marketing Tips From Beyoncé - Alesha Brown Serves It Up for Us in This BookLife by Publishers Weekly Article<p>With so much book marketing advice out there, it's always fun to see a fresh take on something we all have to do as part of our journeys as children's and teen book creators.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEqOZ8_uvZDC-jNvSqlEVgbDQrbuEsbGG_yiCF5_BUrOJ5DTarWzI413grHle6v89iB4ZtA657VZjhrimy3G0DwlIKSnESZ3e14o2_TeAfzZZAaqA0K4N3x-ta8xkoitvhXph3Z-vgaBd233l3HYUetADYplRL9CG-qQUltRsCWcDBMlDjRVCm_sOjOE/s786/Beyonce_Dreamgirls_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEqOZ8_uvZDC-jNvSqlEVgbDQrbuEsbGG_yiCF5_BUrOJ5DTarWzI413grHle6v89iB4ZtA657VZjhrimy3G0DwlIKSnESZ3e14o2_TeAfzZZAaqA0K4N3x-ta8xkoitvhXph3Z-vgaBd233l3HYUetADYplRL9CG-qQUltRsCWcDBMlDjRVCm_sOjOE/w260-h400/Beyonce_Dreamgirls_cropped.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beyoncé on the red carpet, Dreamgirls premiere, 2007, <br /><i>Beyonce_Dreamgirls.jpg: S Pakhrin from DC, USAderivative work: Truu, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0" target="_blank">CC BY 2.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In this great <i>BookLife/Publishers Weekly</i> article, <a href="https://booklife.com/news/authors/01/15/2024/market-like-a-superstar.html" target="_blank">Market Like a Superstar</a>, Alesha isn't saying we need a red-carpet-surrounded-by-photographers moment, but she is taking the business genius of Beyoncé and translating it to the world of book marketing. <br /></p><p>There are seven steps to this Beyoncé marketing dance, each accompanied by a book-world case study:</p><p>1) build a community of fans</p><p>2) share your journey</p><p>3) incorporate the people in your life into your work</p><p>4) encourage audience participation</p><p>5) thank your supporters</p><p>6) create magic</p><p>7) have your next offering ready</p><p>To give you a taste, here's the "create magic" step:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><b>Step six</b>: create magic. We all enjoy a great experience, so don’t forget to sprinkle yours with a little magic. Ensure that your service or product is worth the investment. If you create a magical experience that makes people feel good, they will come back time and time again, often alongside new followers. Focus on creating immersive book covers, compelling blurbs, and engaging first chapters to captivate readers from the start. Organize virtual or in-person book launch events on Zoom and Crowdcast. Incorporate interactive elements, unique themes, activities, and guest appearances to make your book launches unforgettable.</p><p>Case study: Marissa Meyer. Meyer’s book launch events for the Lunar Chronicles series included cosplay contests, themed decorations, and interactive activities, immersing readers in her fictional universe. Readers attended events not just for the books but for the experience, creating a memorable connection with the author and her stories.</p></blockquote><p></p><p><a href="https://booklife.com/news/authors/01/15/2024/market-like-a-superstar.html" target="_blank">Go check out the full article</a> – it's well-worth reading.</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-34395802213085041532024-01-18T13:49:00.000-08:002024-01-18T13:49:54.139-08:00Interview with Jennifer Green, the owner of Green Bean Books<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> By: Megan Woodward</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLUKqw5Csk27kp6oXqMQQo3ejFocjjI_2drPk21aqvT8-e0-_8LqoYbHZHu0I1LHvl9ieb1NYGlkq092h78hPQte8Z-7erFHJwUAPNz6DMkSpCXsXasR2Cs5Q5yScI5hD-fJXtlSXzaPm-DTAJ_EOt8lju7SyHrZhyWx2PjaQQIRKekDyTjp6p6S9v9U/s493/Unknown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="493" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLUKqw5Csk27kp6oXqMQQo3ejFocjjI_2drPk21aqvT8-e0-_8LqoYbHZHu0I1LHvl9ieb1NYGlkq092h78hPQte8Z-7erFHJwUAPNz6DMkSpCXsXasR2Cs5Q5yScI5hD-fJXtlSXzaPm-DTAJ_EOt8lju7SyHrZhyWx2PjaQQIRKekDyTjp6p6S9v9U/s320/Unknown.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></h3><div>I've always thought that working in a children's book store would be the ultimate dream job. Being around kid lit and kids who love books-- it's all I want in life! (Expect for like millions of dollars). Well, in June 2023, my dream was realized when Jennifer Green hired me to work part time at Green Bean Books, a charming little children's book store on Alberta St in Portland, OR, that's reminiscent of The Shop Around the Corner in the movie YOU'VE GOT MAIL. If you are a child or a lover of children's books-- this place is Heaven on earth. It's magical, it's whimsical, it's cozy, it employs Earl (the most knowledgable children's bookseller you'll ever meet), it's chock full of books from board books through middle grade, it sells the cutest stuffies ever, and it even has a vending machine for finger puppets handmade by Jennifer herself! Not to mention-- all of the awesome author events and weekly story times! If you visit Portland, don't miss it!</div><div><br /></div><div>You can visit our website <a href="http://www.greenbeanbookspdx.com" target="_blank">here</a>, our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/greenbeanbooks">here</a>, and our Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/greenbeanbooks/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8y22iLjkLSGbiaYdEFcZOUTgydEkJAd6c_Ogt-fvdmYFq963P99ql0_76uh49bdgn2rHDQWpeMC0KH4aFGJNe8zdfC6b-gQoEeEaf9pMvfUPyMfjNUmz_9VXxVtDzniq_izahKQN6hC_GOOCHJkJUlIKrdxuMHwtexMy3HmvHj9JzoWgqg8YvbfChjA/s348/348s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="348" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8y22iLjkLSGbiaYdEFcZOUTgydEkJAd6c_Ogt-fvdmYFq963P99ql0_76uh49bdgn2rHDQWpeMC0KH4aFGJNe8zdfC6b-gQoEeEaf9pMvfUPyMfjNUmz_9VXxVtDzniq_izahKQN6hC_GOOCHJkJUlIKrdxuMHwtexMy3HmvHj9JzoWgqg8YvbfChjA/w239-h239/348s.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZqj2uI4JrgkJxoDbz3l0G-UaUoSHmFC1SgiVTeSUkboLtikX7hjXdO4Ep0md6GVDLRpLrHXw1qKApwCjEiB7agDWOQ3oAzU1zenSz50DNN_4U73tkLnEh-hVJCg07bFIh5Roa8-_l-6EoEeGxxxI4Otw85qnZjaia8mBcED9-6h_-BwPob-IMZ85jfI/s299/green_bean_books_exterior_042617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="249" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZqj2uI4JrgkJxoDbz3l0G-UaUoSHmFC1SgiVTeSUkboLtikX7hjXdO4Ep0md6GVDLRpLrHXw1qKApwCjEiB7agDWOQ3oAzU1zenSz50DNN_4U73tkLnEh-hVJCg07bFIh5Roa8-_l-6EoEeGxxxI4Otw85qnZjaia8mBcED9-6h_-BwPob-IMZ85jfI/w222-h253/green_bean_books_exterior_042617.jpg" width="222" /></a><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a children's book author, it's been super interesting and beneficial to see things from a bookseller's perspective and observe all kinds of authors events. So, to share some of that knowledge and wisdom with you all, Jennifer Green, the owner of Green Bean Books has graciously allowed me to interview her! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Interview: </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>MW:</b></span><i> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell us a little bit about your journey in opening a bookstore. What led you to become a bookseller?</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>JG:<span style="font-size: 14.666667px;"> </span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It all started when I was seven and made a library in my bedroom that neighbors could checkout books from. I tried to be easy on them with the fines! (: Then I moved up to working the desk at the library as well as a couple independent bookstores throughout college. I ended up teaching elementary school for ten years and became known as the teacher to borrow books from in my school. My favorite part of teaching was read-aloud time with the kids. When I decided I needed a change from teaching it felt like owning a bookstore was my natural next step and perhaps what I was meant to do all along. I started my store as a used/new store with most of the used books coming from my own classroom collection which nearly filled the store! I guess I’ve always been sort of a book hoarder and I figured it was time to share more books with the world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-eb5ea014-7fff-5571-d9ef-6608a77d8eff"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-family: times;">MW:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you curate your book selection for the store? Do you have certain criteria? Do you read reviews? How </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">much influence do book sales reps have on your choices?</span></i></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I read reviews, follow favorite kidlit blogs and social media accounts, comb through catalogs and get advice from my very valued reps. All of it combined together! I also talk to staff and customers to find out what people are asking for and wishing they could find most. </span></p></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-aa98f1f7-7fff-322d-59bf-aa041ba3c605"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have my own preferred aesthetic and personal preferences for the artwork and stories in books, but I also try to think what a wide array of people wandering into my store might be looking for as well. It’s important to me to curate a collection of books that reflects the diversity of our world. I’d like every kid who walks into GBB to feel like they can see themselves reflected in the books we carry.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">MW:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Would you prefer an author to email, call, or mail you to let you know they have a book coming out?</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-43246b87-7fff-60a0-a1aa-bc7e04940d7f" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>JG:</b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I would prefer an email or USPS mailing listing as much info as possible about the book including images. It’s especially nice when authors know something about our store and why they think the book would make a good fit in our store. Attachments of excerpts and bio info are ideal. I am more likely to respond to a personal email or letter rather than a cut and pasted impersonal sounding one. It's also great if an author asks if they can drop by or mail a copy of their book if they have one to share.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When authors just drop by the store to present their book with no warning, it can be inconvenient if we are helping a customer or immersed in a project, so this is not advised.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">MW:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What types of books would you personally like to see more of? Fewer of? </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3c7203ee-7fff-ec63-a0d2-5248b9f6d85c" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I would love to see more books with universal stories showing casual diversity. In terms of picture books, customers seem to be seeking longer stories and stories with humor. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would also like to see more kidlit choices in the 2nd-3rd grade chapter book level.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">MW:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What types of books tend to sell better than others? Are there any recent trends you’ve noticed becoming popular?</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-707faa2b-7fff-7c27-0a95-a4a41ff272fb" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I feel like heavily illustrated chapter books are having a moment. Also, graphic novels for 1st and 2nd graders are hot right now.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">MW: </span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What is the best way for authors to contact and collaborate with you for events? Any “do’s” or “don’ts” for approaching a bookseller? </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8851482d-7fff-04ad-31fb-48a34780c952" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Email is the best way to set up an event. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We love it when authors contact us at least two months (or more) before they'd like to schedule a book reading. That gives us plenty of time to plan, order books, make signs, do posts, press releases and other publicity tasks. All of that takes more time than you might think. Events are usually more successful when authors share invitations and promote their event too on their social media and with friends and family. It's wonderful if authors can give us a semi-accurate estimate of how many people they think might attend. This helps us with book ordering. Sometimes authors will bring extra books that they have themselves too just in case we run out at the event. We then consign these for them and we are very grateful when this happens.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's fantastic if authors have bookmarks, posters and prints to give away, especially as an incentive for customers to buy their book. Sometimes we'll raffle a print that the author donates. The key is that customers have to buy a book to get their name in the raffle hat. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's especially wonderful if an author can plan and provide an activity or craft to go with their reading. Kids events with crafts or activities attached always draw more of an audience. If you do plan a craft or activity, it's great to take and send pictures along with a description of the activity so that we can promote the activity that goes with the event on social media and in our newsletter. It's also such a gift when the author brings their own supplies. We always appreciate when the activity is not too messy as well. Paint doesn't usually work well in our little space.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes the author wants to offer snacks, which is great, but it's good to run what you will be bringing by us first so we can make sure it's not too messy as well. We usually do snacks out on our outdoor deck for this reason. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7QebAUpiMgtDLbmwFg0JS2dzKcSd4z1RHI_3pY4FKhhJjFfOwF2hU92o8YJnPKaOkOY-wF2S1VRdIZ7opOVJbUhNyXUa8hPb7Z4uUEqrDlfO9t1cFxoL1L5mi7yWaPrbXzNswoAmFd1y_wGKjthZAPWhn3gL0zMDCAJepda4U23TS-2Pl0XEBsXHg58/s1032/Screenshot%202024-01-18%20at%201.13.16%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="872" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7QebAUpiMgtDLbmwFg0JS2dzKcSd4z1RHI_3pY4FKhhJjFfOwF2hU92o8YJnPKaOkOY-wF2S1VRdIZ7opOVJbUhNyXUa8hPb7Z4uUEqrDlfO9t1cFxoL1L5mi7yWaPrbXzNswoAmFd1y_wGKjthZAPWhn3gL0zMDCAJepda4U23TS-2Pl0XEBsXHg58/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-18%20at%201.13.16%20PM.png" width="270" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s also ideal if the event at our store is not scheduled right after or before a similar event at a nearby store. This tends to reduce our audience potential.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>MW: </b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Do you collaborate with authors for school visits? Can you explain how that works? </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-adfe9ff8-7fff-6888-230e-000438082ce7" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG: </span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School visits take a bit longer to set up so we like to have at least 3 months lead time to make these really successful. It takes time to make arrangements, create and distribute the order forms, get them back from students, and then order the books. It's wonderful if the author gives us a full description of their presentation format, and offers video clips or references from past school visits to share with a school. This can help in selling the visit to librarians and school administrators.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s also great when the author can let us know what exact technical accommodations they will need such as microphone, Mac dongle etc. ahead of time so we can make sure the school is set-up and ready for them. If there are materials in advance that we can provide the teachers with such as bookmarks or book trailers, that also helps generate more student interest in the book.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">MW:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What are your recent personal favorites in each category/ age range? </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6a350861-7fff-1e12-8172-e803ee08bb05" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG: </span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ferris</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Kate DiCamillo- early middle reader</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coyote Sunrise Lost and Found </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Dan Gemeinhart- middle reader</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">102 Days of Lying About Lauren </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Maura Jortner</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frank and Bert</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros- Picture Book</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hidden World of Gnomes </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Lauren Soloy-picture Book</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mexikid</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Pedro Martin- middle grade graphic novel</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7UAGj55KwFe8fumiR6VU1Ksizy6qmWePROlo2c59Im44pLiUfCgtA48_KS7AxGPR1OuRwYL3x1QAQhJT36hWWn8dU8MGJdYOis-TJcC2ThuYQhuCaxyfE_-oifr1bM4kMohmL26IvgtXE51MmEjku5fbF4gzrjEAApRXLL13Mj9tw-SzTiNVE9C1DCI/s450/9780735271043.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7UAGj55KwFe8fumiR6VU1Ksizy6qmWePROlo2c59Im44pLiUfCgtA48_KS7AxGPR1OuRwYL3x1QAQhJT36hWWn8dU8MGJdYOis-TJcC2ThuYQhuCaxyfE_-oifr1bM4kMohmL26IvgtXE51MmEjku5fbF4gzrjEAApRXLL13Mj9tw-SzTiNVE9C1DCI/s320/9780735271043.jpeg" width="227" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bX3wI0Bwwt3g-mflj90q5Iyo3xnNExG0Y_e_7hCAV2ZUvkD53Qqs2GCZ4q5_eIaJ3MqsfiuF60NPBfYslwpRgWI86l46-Mqi1jEjvky-3c_PeNMeacoziGRDuPEA1V0jlGp4_67NJ1nDiVyDq-3rKA6fcpiHRasWQQHmHqx_byMS35euZsYmgAqubWI/s450/9780823453627.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bX3wI0Bwwt3g-mflj90q5Iyo3xnNExG0Y_e_7hCAV2ZUvkD53Qqs2GCZ4q5_eIaJ3MqsfiuF60NPBfYslwpRgWI86l46-Mqi1jEjvky-3c_PeNMeacoziGRDuPEA1V0jlGp4_67NJ1nDiVyDq-3rKA6fcpiHRasWQQHmHqx_byMS35euZsYmgAqubWI/s320/9780823453627.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div> </div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>MW:</b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What is your favorite thing about being a children’s bookseller? </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-b5d28426-7fff-a431-aace-21d2963f50a3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There’s nothing better than finding the perfect book for a child! When a child or parent comes back and tells me that they connected with a book I recommended, it makes me glow!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">MW:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Any other words of wisdom or advice for kid lit writers you’d like to add? </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-91c3229a-7fff-154c-7eee-a9e21aae28b1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">JG:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please shop at indie bookstores that you’d like support from. It’s a two way street. You need our support and we need yours too!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: times; font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">MW: </b><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Yes! So much this. Don't order your books from Amazon! It's just as easy to order them online from your local indie! Or better yet, go in and connect with the booksellers in person-- it's a joy to talk to people who are passionate about books. They LOVE what they do and are guaranteed to recommend wonderful books you might not have otherwise discovered. I speak from personal experience-- it is SUCH a pleasure to help connect kids with books they love. Truly truly a dream job. </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>The best way you can thank Jennifer Green for all this wonderful insight is to buy books from your local indie!</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><h3><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR: </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="850" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGpq35UyYyWTGgGmNZUVYoVCLMKQgpSjUBizuU4a08eQKzNRppDM9qfVzYSjq8HgOSCdmseDIpjVHatQtiJZfMtXRMewyaWsN_ZzB1jsSZIXHqwxu-ovIQeAxxRF7989ywHMw-hG0KQVCj6K5vHcG9JLgjOKMF62-tHdUbzvdGo6AP2dmbYWstJEmwWo0=w258-h337" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; caret-color: rgb(141, 181, 30); color: #8db51e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="258" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan </span>has<span color="rgb(var(--color_15))"> an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, and has been working as a comedy screenwriter for over 10 years. After becoming a mom, she rediscovered her long-lost love of children’s books and has since been pursuing a career in kid-lit.</span></i></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"> </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i>She also works part-time in a children's book store called Green Bean Books, in Portland, OR.</i></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i style="font-family: arial;">Megan is a member of the SCBWI community, 12x12 PB challenge, multiple picture book critique groups, and PB Soar 24 (a promotional marketing group of authors debuting in 2024).</i><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span><div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, Megan offers manuscript and screenplay critiques and editing. To work with Megan or learn about her available services, click <a href="http://www.meganwoodward.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here.</a></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s3070/9781665927987.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3070" data-original-width="2470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s320/9781665927987.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="257" /></a></div></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div></h3><div><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan's debut picture book, THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY NOT CURSED, illustrated by </span>Risa Rodil, <span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">will be released on June</span></span><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> 25, 2024 by Simon and Schuster. </span></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><br /></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">You can <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Book-Is-Definitely-Not-Cursed/Megan-Woodward/9781665927987" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PREORDER</a> here.</span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">OR: If you're local or near Portland, you can. preorder a signed copy from <a href="https://greenbeanbookspdx.indielite.org/pre-order-book-definitely-not-cursed-megan-woodward" target="_blank">Green Bean Books</a>!!!</span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Follow Megan on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/womeganwo/?next=%2F" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/womeganwo" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/meganwoodward.bsky.social" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authormeganwoodward" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</i></span></p></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Meg McMuffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282225240468810516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-81142008120361344312024-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-16T06:00:00.300-08:00AI re-gurgitation can be a call for YOUR unique creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddovDopaeSPfIzZc9smLD8cPMrH5zpws7P2UFwEMBoQJYEAhNuZAm27R3D36OMjcPtOx5_MwbM8AqIFr3U6taL3AbnyG4DxmmY1lTQeEDn4CMcV02546BsCsJpfj4tRZGOCU4h-ojMouiH_15lVBkluEXaL-GbNRj5sYuCQqDNFdE3XmQ9V9PE3VlE_Y/s600/What%20will%20you%20create.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="colored pencils sit on a blank page above the words: What will you create?" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddovDopaeSPfIzZc9smLD8cPMrH5zpws7P2UFwEMBoQJYEAhNuZAm27R3D36OMjcPtOx5_MwbM8AqIFr3U6taL3AbnyG4DxmmY1lTQeEDn4CMcV02546BsCsJpfj4tRZGOCU4h-ojMouiH_15lVBkluEXaL-GbNRj5sYuCQqDNFdE3XmQ9V9PE3VlE_Y/w320-h320/What%20will%20you%20create.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>So there's a lot of talk about "generative" AI. I think that's a misnomer. It's re-generative. It's not generating anything new. It might be even more appropriate to call it "regurgitative" AI, as it's digesting stuff and then bringing it back up in an altered form...</p><p>The Summer-Fall 2022 issue of <i>The Authors Guild Bulletin</i> included an article by Mary Rasenberger (the CEO of the Authors Guild) called "Artificial Intelligence: How Will Authorship Be Defined In An AI Future?"</p><p>These words, from the final paragraph, have been resonating with me since I first read it, and it seems worthwhile considering them as we head into 2024:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"Do we want humans or AI creating our literature and other arts? ... AI cannot feel, think, or empathize. It lacks the essential human faculties that move the arts forward. While it is remarkable that engineers could create a "new" Rembrandt that so closely resembles an authentic one, we do not need new Rembrandts; we need new art and literature to reflect where we humans are now, and where we might be going."</p><p>—Mary Rasenberger</p></blockquote><p></p><p>I find in those words enormous inspiration, a call to creativity. Let's tap into the very things that make us remarkably human as we create works for kids and teens. Let's not regurgitate "new" classics, let's create new books that <i>become</i> classics—because of how human they are, how much they speak to kids and teens now, and how profoundly they give voice to each of us creators.</p><p>The advice has often been put in another way:</p><p></p><blockquote>Tell the story in the way only YOU can tell it.</blockquote><p></p><p>That's our voice - as writers, as illustrators*, we need to find our voice, and then tell stories in the way only WE can tell them.</p><p>And with that inspiration for your creative work ahead,</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!</i><br />Lee</p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>*Not to leave translators out. There's enormous creativity in translating, and two translators will create two different translations from the same text. But it seems that part of the art of translation is the effort to bring the original creator's voice to a new language while keeping not just the story but also the feel, the tone, and maybe we can use the word here, too: the voice of the original. Translation is fascinating, and if there's a translator reading this who wants to be a guest blogger about the art and craft of translating books for kids and teens, just reach out: leewind (at) roadrunner (dot) com</i></p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-4063273548455653322024-01-11T09:16:00.000-08:002024-01-27T16:02:23.075-08:00A PUN IN THE OVEN: How to give birth to wordplay in picture books<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> by: Megan Woodward</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>Anyone who knows me, knows I love puns— all kinds. Hamburger puns, hotdog puns, sticky puns, sesame puns... When it’s summertime, I soak up the punshine and right now I’m currently walking in a winter punderland. (Okay, not really, I’m writing this blog, but you get the point.) This girl just wanna have pun. That’s all I really want.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwYEoLbtVGjMH29X_7WAoEDo-RPXpESpL6q7z-apPsiJvaIt2shq5Knn7-LR3JMUDRQwGGvO7Pr8evF4Ng6uE4djCBsUKsPzX3Wv3c-eqZtR1s6W9ahhY09Tns34likzAnd9O-T9rYZVeWc7CxHGkepHgK3OX3ioAKQPbcb3PBt7FPty5dG6gVC1-rQos" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwYEoLbtVGjMH29X_7WAoEDo-RPXpESpL6q7z-apPsiJvaIt2shq5Knn7-LR3JMUDRQwGGvO7Pr8evF4Ng6uE4djCBsUKsPzX3Wv3c-eqZtR1s6W9ahhY09Tns34likzAnd9O-T9rYZVeWc7CxHGkepHgK3OX3ioAKQPbcb3PBt7FPty5dG6gVC1-rQos=w211-h208" width="211" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjFSldgeieZg9IpVxFeDujRoTsL0S1BrtFAa_sUel4xYYrI1KafLvJ1lKdcEgt4vFAA3IG5HdLmmyB-j6f-_w0R-ThLgAwoo9-jgYxF2DqTNhDposYbUbIhJxsNg8tXMRSMIfCjWN3bcJM5qtqh-QEJDM8pFlznCp4SPWgyseV0RJAMXcvH5NmE_ZmPHA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjFSldgeieZg9IpVxFeDujRoTsL0S1BrtFAa_sUel4xYYrI1KafLvJ1lKdcEgt4vFAA3IG5HdLmmyB-j6f-_w0R-ThLgAwoo9-jgYxF2DqTNhDposYbUbIhJxsNg8tXMRSMIfCjWN3bcJM5qtqh-QEJDM8pFlznCp4SPWgyseV0RJAMXcvH5NmE_ZmPHA=w202-h205" width="202" /></a><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>But when it comes to writing picture books, how many puns are too many? Will kids even understand them? Are they mostly for the adults’ benefit? How do you decide which to keep and which to lose? And most importantly, how do you come up with the right pun for the right moment? </p><p>Here are some of my tips for pun filled picture books:</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u>ANOTHER PUN BITES THE DUST</u></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></p></h3><div><div>As much as I love puns, I sometimes overdo it and have to take some puns out of that oven and throw them right in the trash. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a picture book, one or more per page is probably too many. It begins to feel forced if they’re in every sentence or on every page. It’s also harder to read because when the words don’t look like what the reader expects, it can trip them up. Sometimes it can take a minute to realize the intended pun, or figure out how it should be pronounced. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my first drafts, I go all out. I’m experimenting! Puns galore! Then I go back through and see which ones feel the most natural to the sentences and the story. </div><div><br /></div><div>If I wrote a sentence that only exists for the pun, I usually lose it. Puns should be integrated into the language that would already be there and that is essential to telling the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also have my critique partners read it out loud to me. If they trip up saying or reading any of my wordplay, I take it out. They’ll often tell me when one isn’t working. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, some puns are just better than others. </div><div>For example here are some good cat puns vs bad cat puns: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD-eI7JVkcwv0CP1mLErwFyOGmTLHw07oOGlvbhE_IWIF3msnSADcEUKRrPvKBvfPdM3D0hDVmP0Jjc59RbPNVzxDPnzd5LhxNlNPvkwnXSOjavfoVlWKR8yvCBCY8BQavs0o6aNrCCd7GxJks3MiJf45nvod6Y9PpofckwbWqWW5WYAFl5sptZoOj-nE" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD-eI7JVkcwv0CP1mLErwFyOGmTLHw07oOGlvbhE_IWIF3msnSADcEUKRrPvKBvfPdM3D0hDVmP0Jjc59RbPNVzxDPnzd5LhxNlNPvkwnXSOjavfoVlWKR8yvCBCY8BQavs0o6aNrCCd7GxJks3MiJf45nvod6Y9PpofckwbWqWW5WYAFl5sptZoOj-nE" width="240" /></a></div><b>Good: </b></div><div>- Pawsitively</div><div>- purrfectly</div><div>- cat-itude</div><div>- fur-ocious</div><div>- pawthority </div><div>(These words sound exactly or almost exactly like the original word. Sometimes, they’re just spelled differently or have an added sound at the beginning. It’s easy to either see or hear the pun in the word, while still retaining the meaning of the original word) </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Bad: </b></div><div>- whiskery behavior (“whisker”, doesn’t sound enough like “risk” and if you say “whisky behavior” it’s more of a baking pun rather than a cat pun, plus, it sounds like you're talking about a drunk person.)</div><div>- meowerly (for hourly— see I had to explain that one. If it's difficult to figure out or pronounce,<br /> it can sometimes work in the right context, but most of the time, it will be a stretch)</div><div>- fur-ious (This is spelled the exact same as the original word, but you’re expecting someone to pronounce it differently, which they may not know to do. Plus, even if they figure it out, it might sound strange. Fur doesn’t rhyme with “FURE” which is how you pronounce the beginning of “furious.”)</div><div>- wooly kittens (If you’re just going to replace the first sound of a word, you need to make sure that that word doesn’t already exist, or else it will be confusing. For example: Cat-itude works because attitude is already a word, but cat-itude is not. But if you’re trying to make a pun with the word “bitten” it doesn’t work to say “kitten” because that word has meaning on its own. There are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you’re using an idiom like “Once bitten, twice shy” Then it might work to replace it and say “once kitten, twice shy” because you're changing a word within a recognizable phrase, not just the word).</div><div><br /></div><div>So it’s good to analyze your puns and figure out which ones are simple and easy to understand vs which ones are a stretch. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u>KID PUNS vs ADULT PUNS</u></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></p></h3><div><div><span style="font-family: times;">There is always a debate about how much humor to put in picture books that will go over the kids’ heads. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Personally, as an adult who consumes a lot of kid content with my kid— books, movies, etc, I appreciate lots of humor that’s aimed at me— otherwise I get bored. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">If adults are 50% of the audience, shouldn’t half the jokes be for them? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">That being said, you don’t want adults to have to constantly stop and explain the jokes to kids. They need to get a lot of them on their own. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: times;">Generally, kids aren’t going to get the following puns: </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>1. Puns that are spelled differently but sound the same</b> (like purrfect) Many picture book age kids can’t read or spell yet, so a lot of these will go over their heads, but leave them in! Adults will still think it’s clever and may enjoy explaining it to their kids— but they don’t HAVE to explain anything for the kid to still understand the story. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>2. Puns that rely on larger vocabularies. </b>It may not work for picture books to make a pun with a bigger word, like ubiquitous. Let’s say you’re making a potty humor joke and saying “poo-biquitous” LOL. Yes, it’s funny to me, but when reading to kids, adults will not only have to explain the original word and its meaning, but also the pun. Leave these kind out. They require too much work. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>3. Puns that reference pop culture, events, movies, songs, etc from the past.</b> I made a “girls just wanna have fun” pun at the beginning of this blog. Most kids wouldn’t have understood that. But many adults will. And as long as the kids can still understand the story without knowing that reference, it doesn’t matter. Leave them in, but use sparingly!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b>4. Puns that reference “adult” words or material.</b> I recently wrote a picture book called WHERE THE CLUCK ARE MY EGGS? The main character, (a chicken) constantly says that phrase while searching for her missing eggs. I thought it was hilarious and wouldn’t have a problem reading that to my kid (who hears me say bad words all the time and knows not to repeat them). But critique partners and others who read that manuscript had mixed feelings about it. Some loved it, while others said they would feel uncomfortable reading it to their kids. Which I totally get. Everyone has different parenting ideas about cuss words. Ultimately, I decided to send it out on sub as is, because my agent at the time liked it and so did I. We figured I could always change it if an editor really liked the story but not that phrase. So far, it’s received a bunch of rejections so maybe that was the wrong choice? Who knows! I say just use your best judgement here and proceed with caution! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Kids LOVE puns and wordplay when they get it. </b>One of my kid’s favorite things is to say: “Look under there!” And when I say “under where?” He laughs and says “You said underwear!” I put this pun in a recent picture book I wrote called NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTTS. (Also a wordplay title.)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHh7M-PT3XL4EnsrNl6PUvnQwBqpzhs7bnuclmBeRAsieROJPrYTeSWebLMuf9CWUqqOCGTp9qAvYJeLn5TtY4WE8Fyi_U1OcBvppLmITCiuycjrYd8AHuS38aqUwQxnH6V54IKPnclwEwsJw4OlklOwqa7DW3CzSOXcQZORGxV_AKYGRkWUVuoDYu-qU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img alt="" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHh7M-PT3XL4EnsrNl6PUvnQwBqpzhs7bnuclmBeRAsieROJPrYTeSWebLMuf9CWUqqOCGTp9qAvYJeLn5TtY4WE8Fyi_U1OcBvppLmITCiuycjrYd8AHuS38aqUwQxnH6V54IKPnclwEwsJw4OlklOwqa7DW3CzSOXcQZORGxV_AKYGRkWUVuoDYu-qU=w172-h145" width="172" /></span></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">So try to provide ample puns that kids can laugh at without any explaining from an adult! Word play that uses a homophones is great for this, because they’ll get the joke from context rather than spelling. Kids love feeling like they’re in on the joke, so make sure they are at least half the time. </span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u>PUNS ARE NOT ALWAYS EASY</u></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">You might think that punny picture book writers just vomit out wordplay with ease, and while that is sometimes true, a lot of the time, I work hard to come up with them. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">Here are some of my methods:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px;">1. I come up with a glossary of words relating to my subject. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">For example, if I’m writing about a muffin in a coffee shop/ bakery (like in my manuscript BRAGAMUFFIN), that might look like this:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">Pastry, croissant, bagel, donut, bread, dough, coffee, espresso, crumbs, tea, counter, dessert, eclair, bun, cup, cake, sweet, savory, froth, sugar, etc etc.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">Then I figure out which of these words lend themselves best to puns— for example, Bread could be used in a pun for well-bred. Tea could be used for any word ending in ty— negativi-tea. Dough is good for a lot of puns! Eclair— eclairify, eclairvoyant. Etc etc. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">I keep these in mind as I’m writing, in case any of them fit in the story, but I try not to force them in.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">I also use this list to cross-reference rhyming words as I’m writing. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px;">2. I use rhymezone.com</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">Anytime you’re trying to come up with a pun, it’s helpful to find words that rhyme with whatever word you’re looking to use. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">For example, for </span><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: 400;">this blog, </span><span style="font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">I got on rhymezone.com to find words that rhyme with pun, in order to make a pun pun. Then I took the words “fun”, “bun”, “sun”, and “won” to come up with words or phrases that contained those words— sunshine, wonderland, hamburger buns, and girls just wanna have fun. Then I replaced them all with “pun.” </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px;">3. I literally google “cat + pun”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">The internet is a treasure trove of already created puns. Just google your subject plus the word “pun” and tons of lists, memes, images, etc will pop up. I don’t always use the exact ones I find, but often they spark ideas for puns that I DO use. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px;">4. I utilize idioms</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">Since idioms are recognizable phrases that adults and even many kids are familiar with, it’s easy to pop a pun into one that everyone will appreciate. For example, the title of this blog: A pun in the oven! I came up with that by googling idiom + bun, because I knew that “bun” rhymed with “pun”. Voila, I had my title. (Though, admittedly maybe not one kids would get.)</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">In conclusion....</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;">Anyone can be punny and use word play. You quite literally play around with words until you come up with something you think is clever and amusing. It’s fun to do! </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfy4cwtzYQYIC_UvQTv2Di-_gpeCFGIt0V0SSdh_gmkc_FgVMlIoY4MAtp90F4uoVca6BtyRa6FCPtenHqGfzixPo6IPTQv_95Via6X13h4VomAVkGJQjiO7-PWzp_2Rg1z5K3q7XBYN2BZKeZUgLvvsAjhof5iTfFolykQQhPWUxaIHPOM00AO3fAdg/s397/images-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="397" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfy4cwtzYQYIC_UvQTv2Di-_gpeCFGIt0V0SSdh_gmkc_FgVMlIoY4MAtp90F4uoVca6BtyRa6FCPtenHqGfzixPo6IPTQv_95Via6X13h4VomAVkGJQjiO7-PWzp_2Rg1z5K3q7XBYN2BZKeZUgLvvsAjhof5iTfFolykQQhPWUxaIHPOM00AO3fAdg/w398-h127/images-2.jpeg" width="398" /></a></span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times; font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times; font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">However, if you want wordplay added to your manuscript, but don’t want to do it yourself, hit me up on my website or on Upwork. Adding humor, puns, and jokes is a service I provide. Cost will depend on the length of your manuscript. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;">Happy Writing! Hope you have some fun in the pun! </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR: </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="850" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGpq35UyYyWTGgGmNZUVYoVCLMKQgpSjUBizuU4a08eQKzNRppDM9qfVzYSjq8HgOSCdmseDIpjVHatQtiJZfMtXRMewyaWsN_ZzB1jsSZIXHqwxu-ovIQeAxxRF7989ywHMw-hG0KQVCj6K5vHcG9JLgjOKMF62-tHdUbzvdGo6AP2dmbYWstJEmwWo0=w258-h337" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; caret-color: rgb(141, 181, 30); color: #8db51e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="258" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-size: 14.7px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan </span>has<span color="rgb(var(--color_15))"> an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, and has been working as a comedy screenwriter for over 10 years. After becoming a mom, she rediscovered her long-lost love of children’s books and has since been pursuing a career in kid-lit.</span></i></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"> </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i>She also works part-time in a children's book store called Green Bean Books, in Portland, OR.</i></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 400;"><i style="font-family: arial;">Megan is a member of the SCBWI community, 12x12 PB challenge, multiple picture book critique groups, and PB Soar 24 (a promotional marketing group of authors debuting in 2024).</i><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span><div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, Megan offers manuscript and screenplay critiques and editing. To work with Megan or learn about her available services, click <a href="http://www.meganwoodward.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here.</a></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s3070/9781665927987.jpg" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3070" data-original-width="2470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s320/9781665927987.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="257" /></a></div></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div></h3><div><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan's debut picture book, THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY NOT CURSED, illustrated by </span>Risa Rodil, <span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">will be released on June</span></span><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> 25, 2024 by Simon and Schuster. </span></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><br /></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Click here to <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Book-Is-Definitely-Not-Cursed/Megan-Woodward/9781665927987" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PREORDER</a>.</span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Follow Megan on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/womeganwo/?next=%2F" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/womeganwo" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/meganwoodward.bsky.social" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authormeganwoodward" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</i></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Meg McMuffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282225240468810516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-59102098822812315042024-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-09T06:00:00.130-08:00An Overview of AI in Publishing - Thad McIlroy in Publishers Weekly<p>This recent article, <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/93963-how-publishers-can-navigate-the-ai-revolution.html?oly_enc_id=5245J8885612J3J" target="_blank">How Publishers Can Navigate the AI Revolution</a>, is well-worth reading.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiTRr-MvYT8m5kAt0i9YUyBFnrXgjPHvll8t-CiKy1JrAmmRij-38M_8oPbFeaqoxH4wcKp4TXiCUIxj7Poo2gM_lZ1qYd71ZSM1fXy4oWgawHSrKBYJsTACUviTrpRSgi3AvlsekRZ5W3CfDcximV1g7StWDDaks68raqRZROeBO7dXY0LS33xzPLLg/s1054/How%20Publsihers%20Can%20Navigate%20the%20AI%20Revolution%20-%20PW%20article.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="screenshot of Publishers Weekly article "How Publishers Can Navigate the AI Revolution"" border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiTRr-MvYT8m5kAt0i9YUyBFnrXgjPHvll8t-CiKy1JrAmmRij-38M_8oPbFeaqoxH4wcKp4TXiCUIxj7Poo2gM_lZ1qYd71ZSM1fXy4oWgawHSrKBYJsTACUviTrpRSgi3AvlsekRZ5W3CfDcximV1g7StWDDaks68raqRZROeBO7dXY0LS33xzPLLg/w304-h400/How%20Publsihers%20Can%20Navigate%20the%20AI%20Revolution%20-%20PW%20article.png" width="304" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Thad gives a brief overview and history of Artificial Intelligence, including how much of it is already integrated into our lives, discusses ChatGPT and some of its competitors, how AI might integrate with publishing (mentioning the author push-back happening about uncompensated use of copyrighted books to train AI systems), and the importance of "HITL" which Thad defines as:</p><p></p><blockquote>”the human in the loop—an acknowledgement that AI is not autonomous but rather an interaction between humans and machines, and that the machine is merely a tool.”</blockquote><p></p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-75540947405294207362024-01-04T12:29:00.000-08:002024-01-04T12:29:54.575-08:00Screenplays to Kid Lit: How My Screenwriting Background Helps Me Write Picture Books<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw_LT2ODFl_uZwgVkYeWXLGs0OHvCm0AQvNTirYahhrAph2O7l3PNvl2VzSlPEWSgolPN_7X3x0MbwMjGsULiacCwPhLdSQ6r8xewHwnOHGpn93SN97GEnRoWOoM_3zIhvpvySkt9Tuqi6Vc08mLizs7WC-W6maRl4Un1uR3WW1stgdXoLPhl2tzK8g8/s243/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw_LT2ODFl_uZwgVkYeWXLGs0OHvCm0AQvNTirYahhrAph2O7l3PNvl2VzSlPEWSgolPN_7X3x0MbwMjGsULiacCwPhLdSQ6r8xewHwnOHGpn93SN97GEnRoWOoM_3zIhvpvySkt9Tuqi6Vc08mLizs7WC-W6maRl4Un1uR3WW1stgdXoLPhl2tzK8g8/s243/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by: Megan Woodward</span></b></div></span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TF5PHE62Ip1Yy-_dgIE2jO77pu0DovwZykS3Yxa1NLY5BHBq1rLzngiC4B8yo9XaZvWIGQ7SM4m2ZxiDpUDqA2O3iqUk3bna9taCWrGNhiTYIPvnHlvUpp-YLmtvTVCneYVZlJEdSxfkZzImLrYHjSoXYoBoWo5xoN3T7y1h-pvp6wyoj1BTEhjgGrg/s910/Screenplay_image_FC-910x430.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="910" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TF5PHE62Ip1Yy-_dgIE2jO77pu0DovwZykS3Yxa1NLY5BHBq1rLzngiC4B8yo9XaZvWIGQ7SM4m2ZxiDpUDqA2O3iqUk3bna9taCWrGNhiTYIPvnHlvUpp-YLmtvTVCneYVZlJEdSxfkZzImLrYHjSoXYoBoWo5xoN3T7y1h-pvp6wyoj1BTEhjgGrg/w258-h171/Screenplay_image_FC-910x430.jpg" width="258" /></a> <img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="243" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw_LT2ODFl_uZwgVkYeWXLGs0OHvCm0AQvNTirYahhrAph2O7l3PNvl2VzSlPEWSgolPN_7X3x0MbwMjGsULiacCwPhLdSQ6r8xewHwnOHGpn93SN97GEnRoWOoM_3zIhvpvySkt9Tuqi6Vc08mLizs7WC-W6maRl4Un1uR3WW1stgdXoLPhl2tzK8g8/w169-h166/Unknown.jpeg" width="169" /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Have you ever read a screenplay? If you write picture books (or graphic novels), I highly recommend reading a few. Screenplays have a lot of similarities to illustrated children’s books, not only in structure but also in the relationship between words and pictures, or, as we say in screenwriting, between dialogue and action. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Some background: I have an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA and am a working and produced comedy screenwriter. After becoming a mom, I rediscovered my love of kids’ books and decided to take a break from the film industry to focus on kid lit. (Also, it was a lot easier to write picture books instead of screenplays when I only had a few hours a day during nap time).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Admittedly, I had no clue what I was doing at the start. My first picture book was 1700 words and rhyming (poorly rhyming). But after doing research and reading a TON of books from the library, I realized that my screenwriting background was extremely helpful in writing picture books. Here are the reasons why:</span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>1. THEY HAVE SIMILAR STORY</b> <b>STRUCTURE</b> </span></h3><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">In screenwriting classes, “structure” was drilled into us. Every professor was obsessed with it… and rightfully so. Most screenplays, even the most unique ones, are very formulaic in plot structure. This isn’t a bad thing! The structure works, that’s why we use it. But after studying picture books, I realized that they use a similar structure— just in a simplified way! Below, I break down Ryan Higgins’ MOTHER BRUCE, using screenwriting structure:</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQEiAPbIKEWGN9IW4Z5yKMija8qGJ9p9VONwwZTv7EEwXILaX-u5Nq1h_LP4oCld6iF3G3w81iswSnADcdawDEwBd8SDxKWx34GcvLsNeWq1Mbsf5Bcwh9CwL8-wi4hAQ8bdQ0l1OWx6yTAk4oLELo22cKDuWNNe7mddtwfeodmDc-LE5OgtTbpWa9Bc/s463/A7E1E51A38236234D6F9D854197052033F8DE574.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="463" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQEiAPbIKEWGN9IW4Z5yKMija8qGJ9p9VONwwZTv7EEwXILaX-u5Nq1h_LP4oCld6iF3G3w81iswSnADcdawDEwBd8SDxKWx34GcvLsNeWq1Mbsf5Bcwh9CwL8-wi4hAQ8bdQ0l1OWx6yTAk4oLELo22cKDuWNNe7mddtwfeodmDc-LE5OgtTbpWa9Bc/w218-h155/A7E1E51A38236234D6F9D854197052033F8DE574.jpeg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>ACT 1:</b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>- ORDINARY WORLD (or SET UP):</b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In screenwriting, this shows your character (or characters) in their regular day-to-day life. We learn a little bit about them: who they are, what their personality, problems and/or flaws are, and what their goals are. Sometimes the character is happy with their life… but often, the opposite is true and they want something different.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, we learn a little bit about Bruce on the first few pages: </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Who is he? A bear</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Flaws/ Personality? He’s grumpy, a loner, doesn’t like</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span> <span> </span></span>cute animals.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Goals? To cook gourmet recipes from ingredients he finds</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span> <span> </span></span>in the forest.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Does he like his life this way? Absolutely.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>- INCITING INCIDENT: </b> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">This is an event that sets the plot into motion. It will alter the course of the story and will disrupt the “ordinary world."</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, Bruce’s stove goes while he is cooking goose eggs. Thus, instead of a gourmet egg dish, he gets goslings.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>- POINT OF NO RETURN:</b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In screenplays, this is the end of Act 1, and it’s usually a decision the protagonist makes that propels them into the action. There is no going back once this decision is made. While it’s less common in picture books, I’ve still found it in some.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, it might be a stretch, but I believe this moment comes when Bruce decides NOT to eat the goslings. That’s a choice he makes and and it propels him into action— because now he must figure out what to do with the goslings he doesn’t eat.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>ACT 2:</u></b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"> <b>-RISING TENSION: </b> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In screenwriting, this is the part of the story where the protagonist faces obstacles and tries to overcome them but doesn’t usually succeed, or succeeds only to be met with a another problem. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, Bruce tries to get rid of the goslings in various ways. No success. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>- MID POINT:</b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"> At the midpoint in screenplays, there is usually a change of some sort. The protagonist sometimes changes their attitude or approach to achieving their goals. Sometimes they go from being passive to more active. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, the mid-point is when Bruce realizes he is stuck with these goslings, and tries to make the best of it. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"> <b>-MORE RISING TENSION/ HIGHER STAKES: </b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Now the protagonist faces more obstacles and conflict, but now the stakes are higher. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, Bruce struggles to raise the goslings. It’s HARD work! Time passes and the goslings grow up. (Meanwhile, they’ve also gotten attached to Bruce, and maybe he to them— which raises the stakes)<b>. </b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>-LOW POINT: </b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Screenwriters also sometimes call this the “Big Gloom.” It’s the point when it seems like all the protagonist’s efforts have failed and all is lost. This is generally a much worse and much bigger plot point in screenplays than it is in picture books. But most picture books still have one… maybe we should call it the “small gloom.”</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE it comes after Bruce has tried to get the birds to migrate, and all his efforts have failed. It’s summed up in one word: “Sigh…”</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>ACT 3:</u></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><b>- CLIMAX/ RESOLUTION: </b> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In screenplays, this is when the protagonist finds a way to overcome their obstacles and achieve their goals, even if it means changing what their goals are. They may not get what they originally wanted at the beginning, but this change is part of their character arc. In screenplays, the protagonist will usually face one last obstacle or difficult challenge, but in picture books, sometimes it’s just a new idea, a realization, or change in character that becomes the resolution. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">In MOTHER BRUCE, Bruce decides to migrate with the goslings, by taking a bus south to Miami. Bruce is still stuck with the goslings, but he doesn’t mind so much anymore, especially when he gets to relax on the beach. (He changed his goals but found a resolution that both worked for him and kept the goslings happy.) </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Now I’m not saying that every picture book has this exact structure, but if you look closely, you’ll find that plenty of them follow it somewhat. Try reading a few out and checking for the plot points above! Personally, knowing screenwriting structure has been so useful in writing picture books. </span></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></blockquote>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><b></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><b></b></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">2. THEY ARE BOTH VISUAL MEDIUMS</span></b></h3>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">When you write a screenplay, you have to describe what's happening visually in each scene. We call this the "action." And you can’t write anything in the action that cannot be SEEN. For example— you can’t write: Lindsay expected her days were numbered— that’s not visual. You have to show it through Lindsay’s actions. Does she display fearful behaviors? Is she marking days off on her calendar? Or you can use her dialogue: Does she say something to another character about not being around this time next year? You have to provide all the information about the characters and plot, without narrating to the viewer what’s happening, because that becomes expositional and boring. You must also convey to the director (and the rest of the crew and cast) what the visuals should be, while also leaving them room for creativity of their own.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Similarly, in picture books, you need to write text that will complement the illustrations, and convey to the illustrator what should be be pictured, while also leaving room for the illustrator to be creative. Because nobody wants to read text that shows the exact same thing as the illustrations. If Ryan Higgins had written: “Bruce stuck his head in the tree looking for eggs”, on the page where the illustration shows Bruce sticking his head in the tree looking for eggs… that would be pretty boring. </span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">When I first started writing picture books, I had a LOT of illustration notes—hey, I was just writing action like in screenplays! However, I soon learned that this was not acceptable. Luckily, due to my screenwriting skills, I was already good at finding ways to “show, not tell.” I just had to adapt those skills slightly.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Just like writing screenplays, it’s a tricky balance to create a visual medium through text only. </span></span></p><div><br /></div>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">3. HUMOR FROM COMBINING/ CONTRASTING TEXT AND VISUALS</span></b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;">As a comedy screenwriter, I’m well aware that a lot of jokes in film and TV are funny because they use the visuals to either complement or contrast what the character says. Here’s an example from WHEN HARRY MET SALLY: <b></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The famous line “I’ll have what she’s having” is not funny on it’s own. But when the character says it right after we’ve witnessed Meg Ryan pretending to climax at the next table, it’s hilarious. The screenwriter had to write that into the action of the scene, in order to make that joke. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY87aUHelKsZ6tNjsUn2G5-v3K71_cTPIljthPqiYZ2qJwn-i5aEG4TDWnPWEV6Lbowt6rYF4cV_OrWDEbPsDHpsilvCIYJaZLr_0Md-fYlLETdpImFG98I7X4KtHbLQgZudTXkfYihGu4BDhY7Q_3Jn8d_mWcjGsfzvHzDWGnvWsmSuUWh3-IdFsID1E/s245/Unknown-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="245" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY87aUHelKsZ6tNjsUn2G5-v3K71_cTPIljthPqiYZ2qJwn-i5aEG4TDWnPWEV6Lbowt6rYF4cV_OrWDEbPsDHpsilvCIYJaZLr_0Md-fYlLETdpImFG98I7X4KtHbLQgZudTXkfYihGu4BDhY7Q_3Jn8d_mWcjGsfzvHzDWGnvWsmSuUWh3-IdFsID1E/w225-h175/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDILWAOfoaW_nxKFAjXCy-wjFF82V1Ubwe1krfBZrLhNIjqGx36EemCmTbDiHa0S-nJ0n9rsJFaPpFadokXasuClLVooixB6gl2RktZYMeYaCsv52UOJxR7t2B5FDlghcPE2gwSoMJbcOrKX94wBeDHH4N_eb7cYd1IqCD_Et0bQByjbJepRNi8JdDsnI/s268/Unknown-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDILWAOfoaW_nxKFAjXCy-wjFF82V1Ubwe1krfBZrLhNIjqGx36EemCmTbDiHa0S-nJ0n9rsJFaPpFadokXasuClLVooixB6gl2RktZYMeYaCsv52UOJxR7t2B5FDlghcPE2gwSoMJbcOrKX94wBeDHH4N_eb7cYd1IqCD_Et0bQByjbJepRNi8JdDsnI/w233-h174/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px;">So I know I just talked about too many illustration notes being unacceptable. But when you need that illustration note for a great joke, leave it in! </span><br />
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here’s an example from Jory John’s SOMETHING’S WRONG: </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9zXlkT5khGsL2pZEGw6NY7BgqHA1LNK4CnPskxUe3gAErqHReYoz7kC66NW3gIHiTXZ3pgwyZML1vpzfQDbW6NXkIKxKoRdZnYPIDgIKy13QukMxEEk7Nnxyd8oI7sFSIypY8_Nh36vXpRiUDV_lIv5wxqZfBzpOyO-giC3-XkNTlNai8RoP4E_uw4Q/s404/Unknown-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="404" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9zXlkT5khGsL2pZEGw6NY7BgqHA1LNK4CnPskxUe3gAErqHReYoz7kC66NW3gIHiTXZ3pgwyZML1vpzfQDbW6NXkIKxKoRdZnYPIDgIKy13QukMxEEk7Nnxyd8oI7sFSIypY8_Nh36vXpRiUDV_lIv5wxqZfBzpOyO-giC3-XkNTlNai8RoP4E_uw4Q/w493-h122/Unknown-3.jpeg" width="493" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On the second page the bear is wondering why something feels wrong. He says: “I don’t get it. Why do I feel so odd right now?” </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That line alone, is not funny. But because the illustration shows that the bear is in his underwear and nothing else, it IS funny, because the bear doesn’t realize that he’s forgotten to put on pants. It’s only a joke because the text and illustrations work together. But if Jory John hadn’t included that very important illustration note, the joke (and whole concept of the book) would have been completely missed. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s how being a comedy screenwriter has helped me be a funnier picture book writer! </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">4. THEY ARE BOTH SPARING WITH WORDS</span></b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now I know that screenplays are a LOT longer than picture books, so this may not totally make sense, but hear me out. A GOOD screenplay must be very sparsely written. Nothing should go into a screenplay that isn’t absolutely essential to pushing the story forward or developing character. Everything should be integrated and important. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;">Unlike longer form writing, such as novels, there is no room in screenplays for flowery descriptions or characters’ inner thoughts. The visual details are provided later by the director, set decorators, art design, editors, visual effects artists, etc. The screenwriter worries about none of that. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;">I think the same is true of picture books. As the writer, you don’t provide the details of the illustrations. You don’t go into too much detail about the characters or their back stories. You pare it down to what really matters in the story, and that’s tough to do! </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;">As a screenwriter, I’ve had to cut so many scenes from scripts. So as a children’s book author, it’s been easier for me to do the same! </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In conclusion, if you want to hone your skills as a picture book writer, read a few screenplays and/or a book about screenwriting! I guarantee you’ll take away some valuable lessons. Plus, it’s kind of fun to see how your favorite movies were written. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Resources: </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here’s an article that lists websites where you can read screenplays:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/">https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here are some books about screenwriting: </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><u>Save the Cat</u> by Blake Snyder</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Screenplay</span> by Sid Field</p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Crafting Short Screenplays That Connect</span> by Claudia Hunter- Johnson (So, I haven’t actually read this one, but it's on my list because I think it could be a good lesson in sparse writing and only keeping the bare essentials.) </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR: </b></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGpq35UyYyWTGgGmNZUVYoVCLMKQgpSjUBizuU4a08eQKzNRppDM9qfVzYSjq8HgOSCdmseDIpjVHatQtiJZfMtXRMewyaWsN_ZzB1jsSZIXHqwxu-ovIQeAxxRF7989ywHMw-hG0KQVCj6K5vHcG9JLgjOKMF62-tHdUbzvdGo6AP2dmbYWstJEmwWo0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="850" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGpq35UyYyWTGgGmNZUVYoVCLMKQgpSjUBizuU4a08eQKzNRppDM9qfVzYSjq8HgOSCdmseDIpjVHatQtiJZfMtXRMewyaWsN_ZzB1jsSZIXHqwxu-ovIQeAxxRF7989ywHMw-hG0KQVCj6K5vHcG9JLgjOKMF62-tHdUbzvdGo6AP2dmbYWstJEmwWo0=w258-h337" width="258" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan </span>has<span color="rgb(var(--color_15))"> an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, and has been working as a comedy screenwriter for over 10 years. After becoming a mom, she rediscovered her long-lost love of children’s books and has since been pursuing a career in kid-lit.</span></i></span><i style="font-family: arial;"><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))"> </span></i><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">She also works part-time in a children's book store called Green Bean Books, in Portland, OR.</span></i></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Megan is a member of the SCBWI community, 12x12 PB challenge, multiple picture book critique groups, and PB Soar 24 (a promotional marketing group of authors debuting in 2024).</i><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span><div><div><br /></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Additionally, Megan offers manuscript and screenplay critiques and editing. To work with Megan or learn about her available services, click <a href="http://www.meganwoodward.com" target="_blank">here.</a></i></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s3070/9781665927987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3070" data-original-width="2470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240ViqUscbqNAxWSvZo1j1zMVMCdf0wkLSLoboX6RLU8F3S1SyNSGG-hGvm6q2fN67Zz4nYsvpjKGTAX_rICSeOp9NaBZbQNkhQD5mmfp0ETCpEmp1uj9N0qJEo3DiSoWEn2znZtvOKoGW1gtpMMcWHWxp-dueVqOj-XgowwrJT2EWgV29nNHLBi1ch4/s320/9781665927987.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">Megan's debut picture book, THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY NOT CURSED, illustrated by </span>Risa Rodil, <span color="rgb(var(--color_15))">will be released on June</span></span><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"> 25, 2024 by Simon and Schuster. </span></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span color="rgb(var(--color_15))"><br /></span></i></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Click here to <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Book-Is-Definitely-Not-Cursed/Megan-Woodward/9781665927987" target="_blank">PREORDER</a>.</span></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Follow Megan on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/womeganwo/?next=%2F" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/womeganwo" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/meganwoodward.bsky.social" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authormeganwoodward" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</i></span></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p class="font_8 wixui-rich-text__text" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; color: rgb(var(--color_15)); font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; pointer-events: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #676767; font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #676767; font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><b></b><br /></p></div></div></div>Meg McMuffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12282225240468810516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-82951886364996383892024-01-02T15:05:00.000-08:002024-01-02T15:05:00.149-08:00Goals and Your Creative Time in 2024<p>Happy New Year, SCBWI Community!</p><p>As we head into 2024, and you plan your creative works ahead, consider applying the (often used in business) SMART goals tool.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcrOuUKGLVY-BNgQR_pllVJmJazPuAiyVg6NY8X7gOk3DVoZqacvij82ecXIQ625ps3fbvKlCtVb6VLPHSRNo2IbGfdnqACCBw6uo_XIcrtMOTgW79E1Xz1QNYQIhevX5cHXZdifrltEkMDBqRHlf1bHJBmDk9LIlX0RZg6KvZCcpzqhPBAH7F-qp7XQ/s800/Goal%20setting%20for%20your%20creativity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcrOuUKGLVY-BNgQR_pllVJmJazPuAiyVg6NY8X7gOk3DVoZqacvij82ecXIQ625ps3fbvKlCtVb6VLPHSRNo2IbGfdnqACCBw6uo_XIcrtMOTgW79E1Xz1QNYQIhevX5cHXZdifrltEkMDBqRHlf1bHJBmDk9LIlX0RZg6KvZCcpzqhPBAH7F-qp7XQ/s320/Goal%20setting%20for%20your%20creativity.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If you want to nerd out on the history of SMART goals, there's a fun article on it <a href="https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/smart-goals/brief-history-of-smart-goals.php" target="_blank">here</a>. But more to the point, as you look at setting goals for your writing, illustrating, and/or translating year ahead, can you make your goals:</p><p>SPECIFIC</p><p>What exactly are you hoping to achieve? A new picture book dummy? A revision of a novel? An MFA?</p><p>MEASURABLE</p><p>What are the steps to achieving your goal? Are you going to measure time invested? Words accrued? Editors researched?</p><p>ACHIEVABLE</p><p>Sometimes the "A" in the SMART acronym is shown as <i>attainable</i> or even <i>assignable</i> (a management thing), but for us, is the goal something within our power to make happen? Here's an example: Getting your book featured in the <i>New York Times</i> would be awesome, but it's not directly achievable by you. Pitching an agent you've researched is achievable.</p><p>RELEVANT</p><p>Maybe you want to take a class to improve a skill, or learn new software that can aid your process. Maybe you want to read 1,000 picture books to really understand how a picture book works, and what makes one sing... Keep in mind your overall vision of creating books and content for kids and/or teens as you're setting your goals. But I'd suggest not being too stringent on this. If you really want to learn how to make bread, maybe that's the thing you need to fill your creative well... and who knows, maybe you'll create a story about a character who is obsessed with tracing back the origins of their sourdough starter!</p><p>TIME BOUND</p><p>It's always fun at the start of a new year to set goals for the year ahead. But a year is a huge amount of time. It might be more effective for you to set weekly goals. Or monthly. Or, daily... Consider that without a time-constraint on your goal, it could never get to the front-burner of your attention. </p><p></p><blockquote>So now, take five minutes to write down one or two creative goals for 2024. And check if they're SMART.</blockquote><p></p><p><i>Good luck on the adventure ahead, as we all illustrate, translate, and write on,</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-38444867483435340362023-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:002023-12-28T09:52:14.378-08:00Building Connection and Community<p>Oftentimes being a writer can be an isolating and challenging experience. There is so much uncertainty and waiting for things to happen in this industry that are beyond one’s control. Three years ago, while I was in the midst of supporting a family member and his young family as he faced a serious terminal illness, I felt utterly overwhelmed and pondered whether I should continue my path toward publication. I was deep in the query trenches and feeling too emotionally drained to develop my manuscripts. I almost walked away from my dreams of becoming a published author. </p><p>One sleepless night I was scrolling through Facebook, <b>Vivian Kirkfield</b>’s post about her writing contest caught my attention. I decided that writing a story in fifty words would be challenging, but achievable with all I had going on in my life. It was an opportunity for me to take a small step back into doing what I love and share my writing. The encouraging comments I received about my entry sparked in me a desire to complete the picture book manuscripts I’ve set aside. I reached out to Vivian to thank her for her thoughtful feedback about the story I submitted for her contest and to let her know how grateful I was to be writing again. Vivian responded with the most thoughtful letter. Her words were reassuring and needed. She said, “Life often gets in the way of our dreams, and I’m so impressed you are finding ways to continue to follow your passion to write.” Vivian’s 50PreciousWords contest was the catalyst for me to continue to pursue my dreams of becoming a children’s book writer. Vivian has been a dear friend and an ally to many in the kid-lit community. She embodies all the qualities of what it means to succeed with grace, humility and kindness. </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: What/who inspired you to become a writer? Is there a special theme that is a part of all of your books? </p><p><b>Vivian</b>: Hello Hanh! Thank you so much for inviting me to have this conversation. And I love this question because I think that writing…and perhaps everything we do…stems from someone or something that inspired us to do it. For me, writing has always been a part of my life – even as a child, I loved scribbling poems. And, even as a child, my goal was to become a kindergarten teacher – I loved reading to younger children in the neighborhood. But it wasn’t until my son gave me a very unusual birthday gift for my 64th birthday that I seriously considered becoming a writer: he took me skydiving and, when my feet touched the ground, I knew that if I could jump out of a perfectly good airplane, I could probably do anything. And the next year, I jumped into the world of writing for children.</p><p>Many of my books center on ordinary people who did extraordinary things…visionaries whose inventions or actions made a difference…folks who overcame naysayers, discrimination, and other huge obstacles because they refused to give up on their dreams.</p><p> <img height="197" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/aQTRI3wVF_yv74SNwDAJ4qo_0_GV8vFN1H2FWkHEP39oqkrzt7RAmWgh3bHum67HxBAmqhJ-6ck6WYBDW6t1onQeDfFvnqa-CLxPwwq43f1GHV0NzsMXcQp_LgDzx_XNRgnTD9Y4iM3Tk-UEI-witrE" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="256" /><img height="199" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/AzPsgTVjldr3i06BQDIS0-uARA5vv-QMvOuEzFi18RFN1kNn80W6lv3QSPB_mK1xxfLqjVdT9U1bVFQF-wWdwGFpaO8oejzNjNyXOLggoZX9OY9U5BIFBXnP6ZzthBfEcE7JerKVamOQ6f-sezfzdYA" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="203" /></p><p> Vivian skydiving with her son.<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Vivian sewing at 5 years old.</p><p><b>Hanh</b>: Do you remember a time in your childhood that sparked your love of books? What do you hope readers will feel when they read your books? </p><p><b>Vivian</b>: My love affair with books began at the age of two, sitting on my mother’s lap as she turned the pages of <i>The Little House </i>by Virginia Lee Burton. By the time I was old enough to get a library card, the librarian at our local library already knew me by name. And summers were spent pretty much inhaling books. I always felt that books were a window on the world – I loved finding out about people, places, and things – and even read the Encyclopedia Britannica from cover to cover.</p><p>My hope is that readers will feel the same thing when they read my books as I felt as a child: engaged and entertained by the story, as well as curious to learn more. I hope my books inspire kids to believe in themselves, and to have hopes and dreams and plans of what might be…and to realize that nothing is impossible if you can imagine it. Because once you have the idea in your mind, you can start taking steps to make it a reality.</p><p><b>Hanh</b>: Please share the 5 P’s that have guided you on your writing journey.</p><p><b>Vivian</b>: The 5 P’s…thank you for asking about them, Hanh. Once you have the idea of what you want to do, you need to take steps to make that hope or dream a reality. And the 5 P’s apply to anyone setting out to accomplish anything in any field. These ingredients/steps are crucial for success:</p><p><b></b></p><blockquote><p><b>Passion</b>: Honestly, if you don’t absolutely LOVE the story you are writing, it’s probably not going to work for you. Having your own connection with the subject or person and having a desire to connect with your readers will help you pour your heart on the page.</p><p><b>Preparation</b>: When I first started writing for children in 2012, I thought that since I got A’s in English, I could just sit down and write picture book manuscripts that would be instantly acquired by editors…but that was not the case. I needed to take picture book writing classes, attend webinars, study mentor texts, and join critique groups.</p><p><b>Practice</b>: To get good at anything, we need to do it over and over, right? Playing basketball, becoming a dancer, learning to speak a foreign language. And writing is no different. We need to write and revise, write and revise, write and revise.</p><p><b>Patience</b>: The path to publication is a process…it takes TIME! And lots of it. It’s important to have patience with editors and agents – they are overwhelmed. With critique partners – they are juggling their own responsibilities and obligations. And most importantly, be patient with yourself…be kind to yourself…surround yourself with positive people who can encourage and support you.</p><p><b>Perseverance</b>: Never. Give. Up. Success comes to those who push through the rejections and just keep on going.</p></blockquote><p></p><p><b>Hanh</b>: What is the best advice you’ve ever received on your journey as a writer? Please share resources that have been helpful to you. What would you say to your younger writer-self about the process and journey to publication? </p><p><b>Vivian</b>: This is a three-part question…and I think the answer to part one and part three is the same: Don’t compare yourself to others! We are each on our own individual journey – and no two journeys will look the same. Some folks juggle full-time jobs. Others have family responsibilities – young children and sometimes, aging parents. Plus, we are different types of writers – some people love to set aside a dedicated writing time each day. But some write when the muse strikes. As long as the fire to write is ignited in your heart – and you are finding joy in what you are doing, you are on the right path.</p><p>Regarding resources, we are so very lucky because this kid-lit community rocks – filled with generous mentors and supportive friends. Here is a very short list of some helpful links:</p><p><b><a href="https://www.scbwi.org/home" target="_blank">SCBWI</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://susannahill.com/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill/Making Picture Book Magic</a></b> </p><p><a href="https://www.12x12challenge.com/" target="_blank"><b>Julie Hedlund/12x12 Challenge</b> </a></p><p><b><a href="https://taralazar.com/" target="_blank">Tata Lazar/Storystorm Challenge</a></b> </p><p><a href="https://www.reneelatulippe.com/" target="_blank"><b>Renee LaTulippe/Lyrical Language Lab</b></a></p><p><b><a href="https://www.kidlit411.com/" target="_blank">KidLit411</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org/" target="_blank">Rate Your Story</a></b> </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: I’m excited for your annual <b>50PreciousWords</b> contest. It is a wonderful opportunity for writers at all stages to hone their craft, receive encouraging feedback and share their stories in a warm and welcoming space. Please share with us more about your uplifting contest.</p><p><b>Vivian</b>: Thank you for asking, Hanh. #50PreciousWords grew from a whim to challenge writers to tell a children’s story with only 50 words or less into an amazing international writing contest that garners 700+ submissions every year. Back in 2016, I’d been reading how editor Bennett Cerf challenged Dr. Seuss to write a story for children with only 50 unique words. And I thought…I’ll go one step further and try to write a story with only 50 words TOTAL! When I opened the challenge to the kid-lit community, the response was phenomenal. And the great thing about it, other than the comment thread of thousands of positive comment and other than the fabulous prizes awarded each year, is that many writers are inspired to be writing, revising, and submitting (exactly what writers need to be doing) and almost every day, someone emails me or messages me to tell me about the agent they got or the book deal they signed with THAT manuscript – sometimes fleshed out – other times edited drastically – but always sparked by their contest entry. I also added a Literacy Initiative – and for the past two years, thanks to the generosity of contest participants, we’ve been able to donate hundreds of brand-new children’s books to local schools in need.</p><p> In addition, since 2018, I’ve hosted a children’s writing challenge: #50PreciousWordsforKids. Young people around the world are invited to write a story for children in 50 words or less…and they can add illustrations, which is a lovely incentive for students who prefer to express themselves with art. Entries are emailed to me by teachers and parents, every child receives a Certificate of Participation, and then ALL the submissions are published on my blog in a special Mother’s Day post. How amazing for the children to see their stories in print! That could be a life-changing moment! </p><p>Thank you, Vivian, for your encouraging and inspiring responses to my questions. Beyond my admiration for you as a writer, I am grateful for our friendship which has been one of the greatest blessings on my creative journey. </p><p>Wishing everyone peace, joy and blessings for 2024. May we continue to write stories that will give us hope and create a kinder world for all. </p><p>You can learn more about Vivian's 50PreciousWords Contest on her website.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-612d0dca-7fff-3050-8b68-1e7770be86dc"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 172px; overflow: hidden; width: 172px;"><img height="172" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/w8RtfGc-VTvKzij9juT1kayvkQBG5GMCMAoGnvsdleR4gFoawLTkL62yOPbVd_WNQmMSkNyQDeaEfABKEklocu1TGZEJYfgkgdlPTqNWtA8nI_Vl99UuKV_fQeMyNx5_RRq6wrlhipSxXJshSpXvwXw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="172" /></span></span></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 172px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px;"><img height="172" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/YCkSbNk4m1ZutTqZfXgNa9hrmDlcXZJtJkoNIRb_WlmGnQ4rzJKjcLbXLPkncDaZBO4BhRfGrcnLqDCP5XGtjLNiX9rcnCA5A-WDesw47Q3otrRESEnAB4fk_q9d2xSa6fGuOcroF2uFyRD80eRNt4M" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="175" /></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 173px; overflow: hidden; width: 173px;"><img height="173" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Dbc3jTt0s65Vj5_eiXuoFubo1OD-pCxyYNEJHcMns64Df38hQF9O7yY11qnY6_WIkPHcnwnQD3id4XVMLJl3rnNeOsvHQzZdh9NnvYkfvbfNHPqy4qHcbl0zCJNyDqkMtBZ4Bxg_Y1m9aqpxY4jnbEw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="173" /></span></p><p></p><p>Writer for children—reader forever…that’s <b>Vivian Kirkfield</b> in five words. A retired kindergarten teacher with a master's in early childhood education, Vivian inspires budding writers during classroom visits and shares insights with aspiring authors at conferences and on her blog where she hosts the #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest and the #50PreciousWordsforKids Challenge. Her nonfiction narratives bring history alive for young readers and her picture books have garnered starred reviews and accolades including the Silver Eureka, Social Studies Notable Trade Book, Best STEM Book K-12, Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2022, and Junior Library Guild Selection.</p><p>To connect with Vivian and learn more about her books and 50PreciousWords Contest:</p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="http://www.viviankirkfield.com" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Vivian's Website</a><b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/viviankirkfield" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.twitter.com/viviankirkfield" target="_blank">X (formerly Twitter)</a> </b><b><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/viviankirkfield.bsky.social" target="_blank">Blue Sky</a> </b><b><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviankirkfield" target="_blank">Linkedin</a> </b><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/viviankirkfield" target="_blank">Instagram</a></b></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a55ac5ea-7fff-e212-d62a-c6a777d9701e"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 205px; overflow: hidden; width: 607px;"><img height="205" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/kePd7V9BrXdBUU2BM_jYChN4qce0peKgd2wHhQo929NBkRrTmZKdvWuvEiNw3VrGQoe0zbOSPmhrXlL0ysFOdCDm_hsC4yRIlO2LUZTK5EmLo5G0M4Dh_ZmicNTFMXqH7LMnf7sFfBzw3-nM6cBfwzA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="607" /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href="https://hanhbui.net" target="_blank">Hanh’s Website</a></b> <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hbui333" target="_blank">Instagram</a></b> <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hbui333" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hanhbuiwrites" target="_blank">X (Formerly Twitter)</a></b> </span></p><p>Inspired by her first teacher at the refugee camp, Hanh Bui pursued a master's degree in early childhood education and taught second grade. Her stories are inspired by her immigrant experiences and Vietnamese heritage. She hopes to help all children feel seen and know that their experiences matter. Hanh’s commitment to celebrating her heritage includes giving presentations in school visits about her refugee experience to children studying immigration as part of their school curriculum. She is a member of Diverse Verse and serves as co-chair of the Equity and Inclusion Team for the Mid-Atlantic region of SCBWI. She is the author of <i>The Yellow Áo Dài</i> and <i>Ánh's New Word</i>.</p><p><br /></p>Hanh Buihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638753268274138518noreply@blogger.com1Fairfax, VA, USA38.846223599999988 -77.3063732999999910.535989763821142 -112.46262329999999 67.15645743617884 -42.15012329999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-25792886627374651882023-12-26T03:00:00.000-08:002023-12-26T03:00:00.240-08:00Story Lessons from a Holiday Song: Roy Peter Clark Explains How "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" can be a Mentor Text<p>This article in Poynter. by Roy Peter Clark, <a href="https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2023/what-i-learned-rudolph-red-notes-reindeer/" target="_blank">What I learned about writing and storytelling from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer</a>, is fun holiday (and craft) reading.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMMGIN7wnIoVClorD_t9sKVpfKVhYWjh2ZNcAy-pv86d88-ezcnYy0JBz4VFKLVmqlP3Q6EYEjKEWSRzGTFUCDayYiskUL7jZfCbKlckJ4J8Tf18DyfAZ6rpLiqZIRTHciT5wd6CQB9ghgqIS2bDT_ACIisLymmXNxmEC_szRbpTSj3ovKo2jVNMHNg8/s866/Rudolph%20the%20Red%20Nosed%20Reindeer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMMGIN7wnIoVClorD_t9sKVpfKVhYWjh2ZNcAy-pv86d88-ezcnYy0JBz4VFKLVmqlP3Q6EYEjKEWSRzGTFUCDayYiskUL7jZfCbKlckJ4J8Tf18DyfAZ6rpLiqZIRTHciT5wd6CQB9ghgqIS2bDT_ACIisLymmXNxmEC_szRbpTSj3ovKo2jVNMHNg8/s320/Rudolph%20the%20Red%20Nosed%20Reindeer.png" width="296" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The subtitle is great, too: "There may be no more efficient example for teaching the elements of story than the story of Rudolph, just 88 words."</p><p>Roy Peter Clark makes his case (in far more than 88 words), and walking through the Names, Telling Detail, Inciting Incident, Story Engine, Mythic Archetypes, and Payoff of a song so many of us know really does, well... pay off.</p><p>Enjoy, and here's to more light and joy for us all, in this holiday season and ahead in 2024!</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,</i><br />Lee</p><p><br /></p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-64580507529664591282023-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:002023-12-21T06:00:00.136-08:00The Power of Storytelling<p>I’ve had the honor of meeting readers at book events and school visits who have shared with me how much my book, <i>The Yellow Áo Dài</i>, means to them. I am especially moved when readers of all ages tell me that my story helps them feel seen, proud of their Vietnamese heritage and that my words are “healing their inner child”. This is how I feel about <b>Ly Ky Tran</b> and her coming-of-age memoir, <i>House of Sticks</i>. </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: Please share the inspiration for your book. What do you hope readers will connect with from <i>House of Sticks</i>? </p><p><b>Ly</b>: I was an avid reader growing up. I loved getting lost in books and imagining all the different lives and different worlds. But as my own life became increasingly complex and difficult, I found myself yearning to see a story that resembled mine. I wanted to feel less alone in my experiences, but to no avail. When I discovered the power of my own written word, I figured that I could be the one to tell my story, and in the off chance that there was someone out there who experienced what I’d experienced, that at the very least I could help eradicate their loneliness. </p><p>It makes me incredibly happy to see the increase in AAPI representation in literature and the arts in general, and I’m thrilled to see your beautiful book, <i>The Yellow Áo Dài</i>, gracing the shelves. There is so much warmth and tenderness emanating from your characters, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much of it is inspired by your own family and experiences. Could you tell me about the sources you drew from to write this beautiful story? </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: I’m delighted that you were touched by this story inspired by my daughter and beloved mother-in-law. I appreciate what you shared about your wish to write your own experiences into existence between the pages of your book and to offer comfort to those who may feel the loneliness you experienced. You certainly succeeded in helping others feel seen and less alone. </p><p>My mother-in-law passed away when my daughter was just a baby. My daughter felt alone and different from most of her friends who have grandparents. She began to feel curious about her grandmother. I realized this was the perfect opportunity for me to share with my daughter her special connection not only to her grandmother, but also our Vietnamese heritage. </p><p>In your memoir, you shared the challenges you faced navigating two worlds and how that impacted your day-to-day life. Your words resonated with me because I too grew up in a traditional Vietnamese household feeling the pressure to honor my heritage while also searching for a sense of belonging beyond my homelife. Was there a defining moment in your life that empowered you to believe that you can have agency over who you wanted to be?</p><p><b>Ly</b>: There was this point when I was in my second year of college. I was depressed beyond belief and could barely bring myself to wake up, feed myself, go to school, etc. It was a dark time full of regret, living a life that seemed headed for nothing but failure. In those days, I was always searching for someone or something to blame, my parents, my family, institutions, systemic oppression. It was so easy to point that finger. But after some time, I realized that blame was not a solution. I needed a way to move forward and rewrite my narrative. So, I made the drastic decision to drop out of school. It didn’t make sense to anyone else but me. But I truly felt that if I could fail on my own terms, I could succeed on my own terms as well. Despite not knowing what the future would hold, it was at that moment that I reclaimed my agency. </p><p>In many ways, Naliah’s story is also one of self-ownership while honoring one’s heritage. I adore how Naliah embraces her culture with the help and support of a loving family and admire her courage in owning up to her mistake. What is a moment in your life that required courage? And how did that change you? </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: Your words resonate with me on so many levels. When I was in high school, both of my grandparents became ill. I was raised by my grandparents. My grandmother passed away during my first year of college. I felt utterly lost and struggled to move forward on my life’s journey. After all, my grandmother was my moral compass and anchor in this world. I was torn between feeling like a failure in school or going to college as expected coming from a traditional Vietnamese household where education is prioritized as the path to success. I told my family that I wanted to drop out of school, and they felt I was making a mistake. I’ve always been raised to be obedient to my elders, but I decided to do what I felt was best for my broken self. </p><p>It took a lot of courage for me to make a choice that went against what others believed was best for me. From that moment on, I learned to trust myself and listen to my inner voice. When I was ready to return to college in order to realize my dreams of becoming a teacher, I enrolled in school for me and that made all the difference in the world. My head and heart space were in a better place to navigate the challenges of college life.</p><p>How long did it take from the first draft to publication? What has been the most meaningful part of your creative journey?</p><p><b>Ly</b>: The publication journey took me about seven years. When I received my book deal, I had just graduated college, and I was still living the story I was telling. It not only took time to hone my craft but to also create the distance needed to honor the truth of my story. I didn’t set out with some grand notion of love or forgiveness. I set out to simply understand my past, my parents’ past, examine all the details that characterized my life up until that point. And by the end of the process, I was utterly transformed. From the soil of understanding, love and forgiveness blossomed. It was alchemical. </p><p>What did your process look like? And could you talk about your experiences collaborating with an illustrator to make your words visually come to life? The art is absolutely stunning. </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: My creative process organically stemmed from my need to be a part of the change I wanted to see in our world. I recognized the need for positive representation of marginalized voices in children’s literature and stories that authentically represented the experiences of refugees. I felt a responsibility to write about the many layers of my experiences as a refugee child in hopes that my stories may foster empathy and inspire kindness. After all, I am a testament to the impact of kindness and allyship. </p><p>My collaboration with Minnie Phan, the illustrator for <i>The Yellow Áo Dài</i>, was surreal. To see my words come to life with Minnie’s art was even better than I imagined. Minnie felt a special connection to my protagonist’s experiences in the story because of her own childhood with her mother. The gorgeous art Minnie created for our book elevated the text and made this story even more meaningful and engaging. </p><p><b>Hanh</b>: When did you know that you wanted to become a writer? How did your own childhood and lived experiences influence your stories? </p><p><b>Ly</b>: Storytelling has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I learned it from my father, who told me stories about his time in the re-education camps, and I learned it from my mother, who told me fables and parables to teach me valuable lessons. When life got too unbearable, I turned to storytelling as a coping mechanism. But it wasn’t until I read Toni Morrison’s <i>The Bluest Eye</i> in the ninth grade that I felt the draw of the written word and its power. It was the first book to ever move me to tears. I wanted that, whatever it was, that ability to touch someone’s heart so profoundly that it could make them cry. I think that’s when the seed was planted, and I watered that seed over the years, writing countless iterations of my story until it grew into something that I finally felt was worth sharing with the world. </p><p>How about you? When did you decide you wanted to be a writer, and how does your experience as a schoolteacher impact your writing?</p><p><b>Hanh</b>: I decided to become a writer later in life as a second career in hopes that my stories may help children who have yet to see themselves represented in books. My experiences as a teacher deepened my desire to write stories that show all children that their family experiences and culture are worthy of being shared and have a place on bookshelves. </p><p>Do you feel that there is a through-line or particular theme you’re drawn to, whatever you’re writing, regardless of genre? </p><p><b>Ly</b>: Yes, I think on a cellular level, the themes I’m drawn to include mental health, womanhood, and loneliness. These themes are ubiquitous in my own life, so I have a lot to draw from. On a more macro-level, I’m interested in the idea of breaking free from the narratives that prevent us from embracing our humanity in all its beauty and all its flaws, and having the courage to be who we are meant to be.</p><p>Thank you for having the courage to share your truths. May our words inspire others to know their experiences matter and are needed between the pages of books. I cherish our sisterhood as women and writers.</p><p style="text-align: center;">~~~</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS69mCZBx6Ko3Z2RNqaM-xt3CU22wpwSyLGkwnzBDrmYgGdoF6YZx1lpr9EdXst9XjzN0FgbEmxM6DlshdZkzXFfqH_AJKJ0Gq-dJDIuH04XZYv25JJSlO-JckCvwi4EPb0Nqae-dDWdK59Wu7QcVAXRvFlYDsN2u9D900v5B2zdEZVLEYP_Pk6WjkeGn/s985/LY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="985" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS69mCZBx6Ko3Z2RNqaM-xt3CU22wpwSyLGkwnzBDrmYgGdoF6YZx1lpr9EdXst9XjzN0FgbEmxM6DlshdZkzXFfqH_AJKJ0Gq-dJDIuH04XZYv25JJSlO-JckCvwi4EPb0Nqae-dDWdK59Wu7QcVAXRvFlYDsN2u9D900v5B2zdEZVLEYP_Pk6WjkeGn/s320/LY.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/endingforadverbs" target="_blank">Instagram</a> <a href="https://www.lytran.me/" target="_blank">Ly’s Website</a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi415K9mKXO0zrk7lAGX0sgedjXQCXQ16ZzUss4YZzJ7VVoSWetWWMLAAiljr-SSKK2K8ycwUzNwGMfIdzfySeOQ843xEsvAYzDwx7HtGyI9D87wE4n-1fovn6cHhbnz8fUTsmRd6DetneK-mlc3S9TmVzqbOk691Os0zkVxZWfCTSSxoCdWGGvAMsyTSN/s1615/HANH.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="1615" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi415K9mKXO0zrk7lAGX0sgedjXQCXQ16ZzUss4YZzJ7VVoSWetWWMLAAiljr-SSKK2K8ycwUzNwGMfIdzfySeOQ843xEsvAYzDwx7HtGyI9D87wE4n-1fovn6cHhbnz8fUTsmRd6DetneK-mlc3S9TmVzqbOk691Os0zkVxZWfCTSSxoCdWGGvAMsyTSN/w549-h185/HANH.png" width="549" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hbui333" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hbui333" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hanhbuiwrites" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">X (formerly Twitter)</a>, <a href="https://hanhbui.net" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Website</a></p>Hanh Buihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638753268274138518noreply@blogger.com1Fairfax, VA, USA38.846223599999988 -77.3063732999999910.535989763821142 -112.46262329999999 67.15645743617884 -42.15012329999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679654279463408644.post-3432964817951669222023-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:002023-12-19T14:45:28.190-08:00Inspiration Quote: "Art is the highest form of hope"<p>I saw this brilliant quote by Gerhard Richter in the Phaidon Press book by the same title, </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVRJKKl9FdNt7oOzFmF6zHl8FqHPeifgZfOkCCoNX_ycbTUjPaLVxvdWqLZihyphenhyphenVkqEmmK4L1Dw2IrSJs0BW41w_TM_DOg9G5rUKTjx7CZMVL7eSkIYCkFjNx73H8hB0l16qeLn3YcoZ2BK262x7K9lQM28tNFBZOGiRXFDKQ2WhyphenhyphensPG9Udk9q6272AGo/s1404/ArtIstheHighestFormofHope.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cover of the book titled "Art is the Highest Form of Hope" with those words in silver on a dark blue background" border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1404" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVRJKKl9FdNt7oOzFmF6zHl8FqHPeifgZfOkCCoNX_ycbTUjPaLVxvdWqLZihyphenhyphenVkqEmmK4L1Dw2IrSJs0BW41w_TM_DOg9G5rUKTjx7CZMVL7eSkIYCkFjNx73H8hB0l16qeLn3YcoZ2BK262x7K9lQM28tNFBZOGiRXFDKQ2WhyphenhyphensPG9Udk9q6272AGo/w320-h320/ArtIstheHighestFormofHope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The quote citation: Gerhard Richter: documenta 7, vol. 1 (Kassel, Germany: D + V Paul Dierichs, 1982), 443, exhibition catalog.</p><p>So here's to us each creating our own art, our own highest form of hope, this season and onwards, into 2024 and beyond,</p><p><i>Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,</i><br />Lee</p>Lee Wind, M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06314692778355984313noreply@blogger.com0