Defining Moments that Inspire Us

I believe there are defining moments in our lives as writers and illustrators. There are those moments that change the trajectory of our lives forever after. In fact, I'm pretty sure I experienced one of those moments this past weekend when I attended the Chemers Gallery's annual Children's Book Illustrator's Art Show and Book Signing in Tustin.

I expected to meet fabulously talented artists and see their work up close. I expected one of my favorite illustrators, E. B. Lewis, to be there and I expected to buy his latest picture book, Each Kindness, with text by Jacqueline Woodson. What I didn't expect was to be inspired beyond words.

Sure, it was pretty cool when he encouraged my 14 year old son, who is also an artist, to never stray from traditional media and to always remember that "less is more." And, yah, it was a memorable moment when he signed my daughter's new book for her, telling her to "share the kindness."  But something happened next that I truely didn't see coming. 

In a packed out tent in the back parking lot, each illustrator took 15 or 20 minutes to talk to the guests. Mr. Lewis spoke to us last and his talk was titled Mastering Visual Language. I expected a few tips and some insight to how this brilliant artist worked. But, let me tell you, I was mesmerized when Mr. Lewis began to recite the entire text of my all time favorite picture book, The Other Side (also by Jacqueline Woodson), as an example of text that inspired him to illustrate. In fact, I sat in speechless awe, listening. What a moment!

I realized in that moment that I needed to do what I was meant to do as a poet without excuse, apology, or apprehension. Because that's who I am. That's what I am. A poet. And poets need to put words on paper, like we need put air into our lungs. I can't put my finger on exactly why that moment brought me to such an emotional crescendo about my writing. But I do know that life is filled with moments that surprise us. Moments that inspire us. Moments that change the trajectory of our lives. And I'm pretty sure that was one of them for me.

Have you ever had a moment like that where inspiration struck you like a bolt of lightening? Tell me about it. And tell me, what author or illustrator has inspired you?

There's a Party and You're Invited

Hey there peeps! I wanted to let you know that there's a new Kid Lit party in town and you're all invited!  Twelve kidlit writers and illustrators have come together at Word Disco to kick-off a new blog. And guess what. I'm one of them (woo hoo) and you can check out my first post here where I talk about the inspiration behind the idea of Starry Kalahari.

What exactly is Word Disco, you ask? Well, my good friend and fellow disco dance partner, Meg Lentz, said it perfectly in our first post last week:

"Hello world, and welcome to Word Disco! We are thrilled to bring you a fresh perspective on life and laughter in the world of Children’s Literature. This is not your mahogany-desk-alphabetized-bookshelf sort of writing forum. This is a KidLit dance floor. Here at the Word Disco, we believe that professional strides are made while having fun. Yes, you can expect to find writing tips and inspiration beneath the speckled lights of our ever-spinning disco ball, but for the most part—we’d like to invite you to kick back with us on our comfortable couch in the Lobby, and have a good time. So, woot-woot, here we go!"

The FREE-Tique Contest Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun with the Free-tique contest and for all your congrats on my recent exciting news. You guys are AWESOME!

In addition to the 32 contest participants, we had 36 favorite picture books listed. What fun! A list of all your favorites are at the end of this post, so please check them out. But first, let's get right to the WINNER of the free critique contest.

First, I noted each participant's name and placed those into a hat. (A special thank you, my darling hubby for offering up his favorite cap for this special occasion.)

Then, I had my daughter pulled out ONE name.

Congratulations to our FREE-Tique WINNER, Wendy Mintz!!! YAY!!!!! (Wendy, email me here for more info. I can't wait to read your story!)

Also, as a special thank you to those who participated in the contest, I'm extending the special price of $25 for picture book critiques. Email me for more info.

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the fun!  Now, here's the list of picture books tht you love best.  What a fantastic  list to bring with you on your next library visit. Enjoy and again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone!

A Visitor for Bear, by Bonny Becker & Kady MacDonald Denton
Are You My Mother, by P.D. Eastman
Avacado Baby, by John Burningham
Barnyard Dance, by Sandra Boynton
Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo!, by Rosetta Stone & Michael Frith
Big Red Barn, Margaret Wise Brown & Felicia Bond
Chicks Run Wild, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Ward Jenkins
Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Flemming & G. Brian Karas
Click, Clack, Moo, by Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
Fortunately, by Remy Charlip
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson
Hats for Sale
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss
I Stink, by Kate McMullan & Jim McMullan
I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen
Lost and Found, by Oliver Jeffers
Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans
Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney
Moo Baa La La La, by Sandra Boynton
Mr. Pusskins, by Sam Lloyd
Once There Were Giants, by Martin Waddell & Penny Dale
One Dark Night, by Lisa Wheeler & Ivan Bates
Piggie Pie, by Margie Palatini and Howard Fine
Rainbow Crow, by Nancy Van Laan & Beatriz Vidal
Sailor Moo: Cow at Sea, by Lisa Wheeler & Ponder Goembel
The Digging-est Dog, by Al Perkins & Eric Gurney
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein
The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper & Nancy M. Leak
The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
The Other Side, Jaqueline Woodson & E.B. Lewis
The Rabbits, by John Marsden & Shaun Tan
The Very Cranky Bear, by Nick Bland
Turtle Tail, by Frank Ashe
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

FREE-TIQUE Contest for Picture Book Writers

Hello Picture Book writers!

In the midst of all the excitement of late with a new agent and contest win (squee!), I'm closing out the Kick Off Launch Party of my critique service this weekend and I thought it would be extra fun to throw a FREE-TIQUE Party too.

What's that, you ask? It's a FREE picture book critique contest.  All you need to do to enter the contest is leave a comment on THIS POST before midnight, Saturday, Sept. 15th.  I will throw each name into a hat (one per person) and I will randomly choose one WINNER!

To add a little extra fun, tell me your favorite picture book of all time and I'll post mine too.

Of course, you can read more about my critique service HERE.

Good luck!

And the Winner Is....

I am so very honored and excited to share some fantastic news. I attended the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Summer Conference in August, which has truly been the highlight of my year for four years now.  It's a time to meet up with my beloved writer friends, make new friends, share stories and nuggets of gold, meet the awe inspiring publishers, editors and agents that help make this kidlit machine run so beautifully, and a time to learn more about this amazing craft of writing and the business side of being an author.

This year I submitted my manuscript, STARRY KALAHARI, for a consultation and I WON the MOST PROMISING PICTURE BOOK AWARD!!!! Words honestly can not explain how blessed and honored I feel.  The fact that this is the very first year for the award is truly an award all within itself.

SQUEEEEEE!

P.S. A HUGE congratulations to the winner of the 2012 Sue Alexander Award, Kat Yeh!!!

SCBWI Summer Conference Budget

Hello Kidlit Peeps! I have LOTS of amazing news to share very soon, but first…

If you know anything about SCBWI, you know that the rockin’est party of the year is the Summer Conference, which takes place in July or August each year in Los Angeles, CA. That’s right… Ain’t no party like a KID LIT PARTY ‘cause the KID LIT PARTY don’t stoooooooop!

Now that we’ve established the importance of attending this fabulous party… errr…. conference each year, I’d like to touch on something that is not often talked about on discussion boards and blogs; budget.  For those of you who are new to writing or even those who are established writers but have never attended this conference, I’m sure money is an issue when considering a trek out to L.A.  So I’ve decided to dedicate this post to help you determine a monthly savings goal for the next 10 months that will help you attend the 2013 SCBWI Summer Conference. 

Ready?

Before we start, consider if you are on a low, medium, or high budget.  This will be determined by your actual monetary availability and your personal preferences (lodging priorities, what you eat and drink -- and how much, and if you are interested in the “extras” at the conference, like a manuscript or portfolio submission, or adding the extra day of intensives. Additionally, you might choose to check in on Thursday or Friday and check out on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. 

Everyone has their own wants and needs, so in order to generalize I’ve broken things down into three levels; Low Budget, Mid Budget, and the affectionately named “Party On” Budget.  Of course, these are only estimates, but they’re pretty close since they’re based on my experience attending the past 4 years.  The one line item that will be most “personal” will be the food/drinks. And to be honest, I’m not a big food/drinks person, so you may be better off determining how much you’ll spend each day and plug in your own numbers.  Also, I’ve included airfare (and estiate) and shuttle cost, so if you live locally, you can remove those from your total.

Keep in mind, the monthly savings goal is based on a 10 month plan (October through July) so you can start saving right now for next year. Of course, if you plan ahead or have some money throw into the pot to begin with, you can decrease your monthly savings amount if you base your plan on a 12 month cycle. Just take your total and divide by 12 instead of the 10 like I did.

Confused yet? OK. Here goes...

Oh, and remember, if you have any questions or comments at all please post them here.



By the way, don't forget to budget  extra money to buy some great books from the SCBWI Conference Bookstore!

I hope to see you there next year!

NaPiBoWriWee 2012 - Day 1

This month is one of my favorite times of the year as a picture book writer. Why? Because May 1-7 is National Picture Book Writing Week. For four years now, I've joined my friend, the talented author/TVproducer/musician and founder of NaPiBoWriWee, Paula Yoo, in writing seven picture books in seven days.

Impossible, you say? Well, we aren't actually writing seven final drafts. In fact, they don't even have to be seven good drafts. The only resemblance of a NaPiBoWriWee rule is that you have to write seven picture book first drafts, each with a beginning, middle, and end. That's it... OH, and you have to post your progress on Paula's Website each day. Paula's blog post for DAY 1 is HERE.



Ready? Set? Go!!!

Jenni's NEW Critique Service

I'm super excited to announce that I'm now offering a critique service for children's writers. 

Critiques include an in-depth overall look and a detailed line-by-line analysis of your picture book manuscript (or 10 pages of a longer work).  I'll point out strengths and weaknesses of plot and evaluate your use of character, setting, and voice.

Let's face it, getting a picture book published is tough enough, but for those who write in rhyme, it can be even more challenging.   Your rhythm and rhyme must be...

P-E-R-F-E-C-T! 

I can help you polish to perfection by pointing out areas where you can tighten your manuscript.

Here's what people are saying about Jenni's critiques...


“Jenni gives thoughtful and insightful critiques, thoroughly, line by line. She has an innate ability to offer helpful and useful suggestions and a keen ear for rhyme, to help bring a story full circle, chocked full of fabulous ideas.” - Brenda Sturgis

***

"Jenni's Critiques are thoughtful, thorough, and encouraging. She never fails to offer plenty of useful food for thought to help take a manuscript to the next level." - Diana Murray

***

“It was a treat to read Jenni’s critiques of my picture book stories. It’s maybe because of her honest and supportive way of giving comments, sprinkled with a dash of good humor. But one thing is for sure—Her suggestions always help advance the story.” - Anne Speirs

***

"Jenni's critiques provided the clarity I needed to move my story forward. She addressed my theme, plot, arc, and word count with honest, helpful comments. She is excellent at suggestions for the rhythmic language necessary for memorable picture books." - Penny Klostermann

In order to celebrate the "grand opening" of my new critique service I'm offering special pricing for a limited time only:

• $25 for Picture Books (up to 1000 words)
• $25 for Chapter Books, Middle Grade or Young Adult (10 pages, double spaced)
• $15 for a second critique of the same manuscript (or 10 pages) if you have implemented my suggestions within your revision.  

CONTACT ME with questions or reserve your critique spot now through PayPal at the link below.  You will receive a confirmation email after payment has been received. Submission instructions will be enclosed. Please be sure to select the correct drop-down option when making your payment.

Select One

Critique - PB $25.00 USD Critique - MG/YA $25.00 USD 2nd Critique of Revised MS $15.00 USD

SCBWI Summer Conference 2012 is Coming!

Registration for the 41st annual Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Summer Conference will begin on April 18th. With last year's sell-out, don't miss this opportunity to join hundreds of kid lit industry professionals for keynotes, workshops, and lectures by some of the  best in the world.

Go to SCBWI's website for detailed information and I hope to see you there!

United, Not Devided

I was thinking the other day about all the division in our country and I wrote this.

UNITED States, where
WE the people
STAND strong as one nation, not when we are
DEVIDED by ideology, but when
WE respect one another, working together to rise together, lest we
FALL together.

Mind Sponge and Playtime

As you can tell, I've been on quite a long blogging hiatus. Typically I'd be pretty regretful that it's been about three months since my last post, but I'm not. In September I enrolled in a local college creative writing course that called for an original short story per week. And since I crave deadlines I had quite an exciting and productive time with it. I learned a lot about the writing process and I even walked out of the class with several short stories, including two I consider rough draft chapters of a new middle grade manuscript WIP. Yay me!!

Now that the class is over, I've started dabbling in painting. Most picture book writers think in pictures, or at least I do, so I am excited to be jumping in with both feet. It's been a dream of mine for a long time now. One thing that most people don't know about me is that before I chose to pursue my Marketing degree, I started out as an Art major. I did mostly 2D and graphic design stuff before switching my major, so drawing and painting animals and people are pretty new to me. I'm having a really fun time playing around with watercolors. Who knows, maybe some day I'll be good enough to illustrate my own books.

Here's my first try at painting, using two of Pat Schories' characters from her book Biscuit Wants to Play.

As for blogging, I haven't forgotten about all those workshop and conference updates I promised. More SCBWI Summer Conference recaps to come very soon.

SCBWI Summer Conference 2011 - Saturday, Part 1

The Saturday line-up at the SCBWI Summer conference was AHHH-MAZE-ING!!!

Author Donna Jo Napoli kicked off our morning, getting right to business with a keynote titled, How Writing About Terrible Things Makes Your Reader a Better Person.  She talked about the difference between children who are protected (fed well, kept safe, listened to, etc.) and those who are not. When a child is unprotected, he feels alone and embarrassed and when he reads a book about a character going through the same thing, a perfectly good person, he realizes that bad things happen to good people.  This reminded me of the keynote by Richard Peck in 2009 when he discussed how important our "jobs" are as writers. We can not always save a hurting child, but what we can do is offer her a companion. Needless to say, I was a blubbering mess through Mr. Peck and Ms. Napoli's keynotes.

The next keynote has stayed with me since the moment I heard it. Author/Illustrator, David Small, began with a short film that was made as a trailer for his illustrated memoir, Stitches, that takes the reader through a journey of unimaginable abuse. After sharing with us about his writing, art, and how he grew up feel unloved, he closed his keynote singing, "How sweet it is to be loved by you," as he pointed to us, the audience, his family. The moment was unforgettable and when most of us had started to tear up in that moment, his wife joined him on the stage. They, together, danced a victory dance, and Mr. Small sang to her as they danced, "How sweet it is to be loved by you."  It was an unforgettable moment and I am honored that I was there to be a part of it.

As if we weren't emotional enough, Lin Oliver took the next keynote segment to interview the incredible Judy Blume.  Yes... That's right. JUDY BLUME!  I feverishly took five pages of gold-nugget filled notes. Here are a few if my favorites...

• Kid's concerns are the same.
• No matter what, get that first draft done!
• It never gets any easier.
• I hear them talking.  (re: writing dialogue.)
• Telling a story is a quest. It involves questioning.

When Lin and Judy closed, the California Ballroom erupted with applause and a much deserved standing ovation from all.

Stay tuned for Saturday, Part 2 with details of my breakout session with Libba Bray and Jenni Holm and keynotes from Jon Scieszka, Norton Juster and Mary Pope Osborne.

SCBWI Summer Conference 2011 - Friday

I'm still riding the "high" of the SCBWI 40th Anniversary Summer Conference. As usual, the air was thick with inspiration, encouragement and kid lit friends.  Here are a few of my favorite moments...

Friday

I carpooled with one of my local critique partners, Sherry Dargert, and arrived first thing Friday morning. I quickly registered and met up with two of my dear kid lit friends (and conference roomies), Lori Degman and Meg Fleming Lentz.  Lori and I have been critique partners for a while now, but this was the first time I'd met her or Meg face to face. Here we are at the Saturday night "Forty Winks" Gala with our other roomie, Heather Zenzen.

Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser greeted and welcomed us to the first ever sold out SCBWI Summer Conference event.  We learned that there were close to 1350 attendees from 49 U.S. states and 20 different countries.  We enjoyed the annual "introduction of the faculty" as everyone shared a sentence that included the word forty.

Prolific author, Bruce Coville, was our first keynote speaker. He gave us 13 pieces of advice, starting with "marry rich."  But one of the most inspiring things he said was simply put, "children are worth our best effort." 

2010 Caldecott Medal winner, Jerry Pinkney, shared his journey through slides. He suggested that we look at things in a different perspective and look over the shoulder of the main character.

Lin Oliver was moderator for our star-studded editor panel with Allyn Johnston, Julie Strauss-Gabel, Jennifer Hunt, Beverly Horowitz, and Debra Dorfman.  One of the things they addressed was how the ebook is changing the way the industry markets and how more is expected from the author regarding creating a buzz with school visits, social media and an overall online presence. 

It was great to see Libba Bray again as she took the podium as our evening speaker.  Libba also spoke at the SCBWI Writers Day LA conference in 2010, where my picture book manuscript, Starry Kalahari, won the writing contest in the nonfiction category.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist that plug opp... now, back to Libba...)

Libba's keynote was titled Writing It All Wrong: A Survival Manual. She explained how important it is to write that first draft, even though we think it's bad... really bad... I mean REALLY SUCKY bad.  She said you should not only acknowledge that it sucks, but you should "embrace the suck." Of course, the entire ballroom erupted with laughter again and again and again.  

Middle Grade and YA author extraordinaire, Laurie Halse Anderson, spoke at a breakout session titled The Nuts and Bolts of Crafting a Creative Life: Finding Lost Time and Reclaiming Creativity.  Nuggets of gold were scattered this way and that around that on-the-floor-in-front-of-her-podium-sitting-room-only room.  Laurie listed many myths that can hurt authors and gave us tons of tips on how to avoid the so-not-true, but very common saying, "I don't have time for writing."  I was in awe as she NAILED us on several time stealing activities and habits.   

Editor and consultant, Emma Dryden, was our Friday evening keynote speaker. Her presentation, Traveling Through the Digital Landscape: Where We've Been an Where We're Headed, was jam-packed with stats, reports and detailed industry info. She took us step by step through the digital age as she tapped into the real deal of what's happening with e-publishing today.

Friday ended with the PAL Book Sale & Cocktail Party and lots of visiting with friends. 

It was great seeing Paula Yoo, who is not only my favorite violin rock star, but also kidlit author and writer/producer of the SciFi show Eureka. By the way, she and I both agree the show should be called YOOreka... but whatever!  Paula and I met at her first National Picture Book Writing Week (NaPiBoWriWee) event in 2009.

 Here I am with picture book mastaaaahhhh, Tammi Sauer, and author/illustrator, Dan Santat. By the way, I had the opportunity to see Dan again this past weekend when he taught a group of kids about graphic novels, including my own three kiddos.  Stay tuned for a blog post about that exciting event soon.

Here I am again with Lori and Meg at the PAL party. "Don't go into the light!" 

Stay tuned for some more great recap action for Saturday and Sunday at the 2011 SCBWI Summer Conference.

SCBWI Summer Conference: 10 Tips (part 2)

The first keynote is less than 24 hours away. Your palms are sweating. Your heart is doing jumping jacks. Your mind is racing.  No worries... Here are 5 more tips to help you enjoy the SCBWI Summer conference. (Tips #1-5 are posted HERE.)

Tip #6: Say Hello!

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the kid lit community is like a family. If you find yourself alone, say hello to someone. It’s easy to make new friends connections, especially if you’re hanging out in the lobby each evening.  Likewise, don’t be afraid to approach an editor or agent and introduce yourself. Of course, always be professional and never corner someone in the bathroom with your manuscript in hand. Seriously, I’ve heard some nightmare stories.

Tip #7: Expense It!
Save receipts for everything you do. All your meals, hotel, airfare, and books are tax deductible.

Tip #8: Remember It!
When someone gives you a business card, jot down a quick note of something that will help you remember them. You will most likely get A LOT of business cards. If you’re Facebook and/or Twitter savvy, friend and follow them when you get home to keep in touch. Another way to recall all the fun is to take pictures. Don’t forget your camera.

Tip #9: Post It!
If you have a blog, or are on Face Book, Twitter, or any other social networking site, post your experience. Remember not to post too much detail about the speeches though.

Tip #10: Relax, Be Yourself, Smile and HAVE FUN!

See you there!!!

SCBWI Summer Conference: 10 Tips (part 1)

The countdown is on... The SCBWI Summer Conference is only days away. If this is your first time attending, here are a few quick tips to help you along as you get ready for the best kid lit event of the year!

TIP #1: How to Dress
The summer conference is casual. Wear what you're most comfortable in, while presenting yourself professionally. Some wear jeans, some wear trendy styles, and some like to wear more corporate/casual attire.

Tip #2: Research
Look up each of the keynote speakers. If you're an avid reader, pick up some of the authors' books at the library or bookstore and find out what makes them the notable author they are.  Know ahead of time what each of the agents and editors are looking for and what their list looks like (prior books and/or authors they've worked with). You may end up having an opportunity to pitch your book to them.

Tip #3: The Pitch
Speaking of pitching your book, you'll want to have a 30 second pitch ready. Even if you don't have (or don't take advantage of) an opportunity to pitch to an agent or editor, you'll most likely hear "What do you write" a number of times from other writers.  30 seconds also happens to be the amount of time that it takes to ride the elevator and you never know who you'll see in there between sessions.

Tip #4: Taking Notes
I like to bring a new spiral bound notebook to keep all my keynotes and session notes in.  If you do this, consider skipping the first 1-3 pages so you can make a Table of Contents.  When crafting your query letters to the editors and/or agents that you've attended sessions with, you'll refer back to your notes many times.

Tip #5: Take Care of Yourself
In order to be your best, be sure to eat well and get lots of sleep the week before the conference.  This event is notably one of the most exhausting experiences of my year, both physically and emotionally.  If you're like me, you may not sleep well at the event, so prepare your body with extra sleep the few days before.  Eat well and hydrate yourself too.

Stay tuned for tips #6-10 soon.