NaPiBoWriWee May 1-May 7

Sunday begins  National Picture Book Writing Week, NaPiBoWriWee for short. The goal is to write 7 picture books in 7 days.

Here are the basic rules:

1. Midnight May 1st to 11:59 p.m. May 7th: Write 7 separate and complete picture books.

2. You are NOT allowed to write the same picture book in 7 variations. Each book must be complete and separate.

3. No minimum word count, just be sure that each book must has a clear beginning, middle and end.

4. You are allowed to brainstorm and research book topics before May 1st. Outlines are acceptable. First draft writing is NOT. Do NOT write your books before May 1st – only brainstorming, taking notes, and outlining are allowed.

5. You are NOT allowed to write a single word of your draft until midnight May 1st.

6. There is NO minimum word count required.

7. If you plan to blog about your NaPiBoWriWee journey, please include a link to:http://paulayoo.com/

8. Please comment on the soon-to-debut NaPiBoWriWee WordPress blog or email Paula at paula at paulayoo dot com and she will include your name in the prize drawing. Several winners will be chosen from random. Winners will receive an autographed copy of Paula’s books “SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY” (Lee & Low Books 2009)  and “SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY” (Lee & Low ’05), along with items from the NapiBoWriWee Store and a couple of surprise autographed book prizes from special guest authors!

9.  This is NOT a writing contest. Think ofNaPiBoWriWee as a writing support group where we can cheer each other on. So please do NOT send Paula your manuscripts.

10. If you plan on attending the national Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators (http://scbwi.org/) conference in August, let Paula know and she’ll arrange for an informal gathering during the conference so you can meet in person and celebrate NaPiBoWriWee!

For more information about prizes, tips and tricks for NaPiBoWriWee be sure to check out the official site. So warm up those computers and get in touch with your inner child because this is truly a challenge.

Happy Writing

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Oh The Places You’ll Go!

May is right around the corner and with it I will celebrate the one year anniversary (or is it a book birthday) for my picture book “Grandma’s Pear Tree.”

I have been very fortunate to share my book at many places this past year including New York for my first book signing and several school signings in the Los Angeles area. I am now moving into a new phase with my book that I like to call the “Inspirational stage.”  Recently the requests that I receive are not merely about my book, they want to know what inspired the story, and what inspires me as a writer.

For those of you not familiar with my story “Grandma’s Pear Tree” was rejected 14 times before Raven Tree Press expressed an interest in it. It took nearly a year for them to decide whether it would work with their list and then nearly two years before the book was completed. In total it took nearly four years from the time I had my original idea to having a completed picture book in my hands, and this wasn’t my first story. I had been writing for about 4 years before I had the idea for “Pear tree” and had written several other manuscripts that had received countless rejections.

This is not an unusual story for those familiar with the publishing industry and I am by no means complaining. I am thrilled that my book was published and I feel truly blessed that Raven Tree Press saw something special in my story. However, this is an unusual story for those not familiar with the publishing industry and I find that as I share my story with schools they are amazed at the perseverance required to get a book published.

This summer I’ll be packing my sunscreen and hat and heading off  to camp to share this story with the Girl Scouts. I have also been asked to speak with a group of young ladies in juvenile hall. I will have the opportunity to share what it takes to persevere through multiple rejections and keep on trying. Both groups feel that sharing my story will be an inspiration for the girls, I hope that is true.

Who knew that when I was receiving those rejections all those years ago, I would use that experience to inspire others today.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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SCBWI Summer Conference 2011

It’s time to register for the SCBWI Summer Conference. According to the SCBWI website, the conference will feature 3 days of agents, editors, publishers, workshops and networking plus one optional day of intensives, that can help you take your writing and illustration to the next level.  The conference will be held August 5-8th in Los Angeles, so pack your swim suits and sun screen, lap tops and pencils and prepare for a great event.

The speakers for this event include Laurie Halse Anderson, Libba Bray, Bruce Coville, John Green, Norton Juster, Donna Jo Napoli, Mary Pope Osborne, Gary Paulsen, Jerry Pinkney, Jon Scieszka and David Small. The conference will also feature panels of over 20 leading editors, art directors and agents who will be conducting  sessions on craft and present the current and future state of the industry, and yes, electronic publishing.

This year marks a little change in the format. For three days, August 5-7th, the features that you have come to expect; the main sessions, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and optional manuscript and portfolio critiques will take place. The fourth and final day of the conference, August 8, is an optional intensive day for a limited number of authors and illustrators. This Writer Intensive will feature three-hour, hands-on workshops on various topics, in addition to a round-table critique of your work led by an editor or agent. The Illustrator Intensive will feature up-close craft demonstrations by seven of the world’s leading illustrators.

For more information on the conference or to register visit www.scbwi.org.

Happy Writing

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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I’m Firing My Inner Editor

Last week Sarah shared a post that showed us the revision process of author Kate DiCamillo. I was particularly impressed with her first draft. It was messy, sparse on punctuation, and in general just a frame work for the story to come.

One of my greatest struggles for my current WIP is the messy first draft. I find myself battling my inner editor (that little voice inside my head that constantly corrects me) as I begin to put ideas on paper:

 Inner Editor: “Shouldn’t you place a comma there?”

 Me:”But I really want to get this idea down on paper.”

Inner Editor: “You’ll just have to do it later, why not save yourself time right now?”

Me: “But I just came up with a great way to rescue the hero from the mutant aliens.”

 Inner Editor: “It will only take two seconds and then you’ll never have to worry about it again.”

Me: “There, there’s your comma are you happy?”

Inner Editor: “That was nice, but are you sure you don’t want to start a new paragraph here? I mean you really are starting a new thought.”

Me: “This is just the first draft and I just want to rescue my hero from the aliens.”

Inner Editor: “Fine go ahead and do it your way.”

This battle will continue until I lose my thought and before I know it I have written about a paragraph and I am done for the day. I can’t recall my terrific idea to rescue my hero from the mutant aliens* and if I keep going at my current pace I will finish this story when I am 100 years old.

So this week I am firing my inner editor. I am giving myself permission to write a messy first draft, filled with lots of misspelled words and grammar errors. I want to see if I can write more that one paragraph a day and maybe I will finish the first draft. Once the first draft is complete, I will have a short celebratory party and then invite my inner editor over and we can review the manuscript together.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

*My current WIP does not involve mutant aliens or any other space creatures at this time, but who knows what may happen once I write more than one paragraph a day.

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Book Thoughts: Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan

I picked up an ARC of Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan at the 2011 ALA conference.

From the publisher (Running Press Books):

(Purple Daze) is a young adult novel set in suburban Los Angeles in 1965. Six high school students share their experiences and feelings in interconnected free verse and traditional poems about war, feminism, riots, love, racism, rock ‘n’ roll, high school, and friendship.Although there have been verse novels published recently, none explore the changing and volatile 1960′s in America– a time when young people drove a cultural and political revolution. With themes like the costs and casualties of war, the consequences of sex, and the complex relationships between teens, their peers, and their parents, this story is still as relevant today as it was 45 years ago.

I met Sherry Shahan through Vermont College. She joined our “class” for graduation. She was a student who only attended the summer residencies–not because she was afraid of Vermont winters, but because she was too darn busy the rest of the year.

She was busy writing gorgeous and playful picture books.

She was busy off on adventures.

And participating in dance contests.

And enjoying her grandchildren.

Let’s just say she is not a typical grandmother!

I will freely admit to being a bit intimidated by Sherry and her accomplishments when we first met… except that she was way too nice and generous and enthusiastic to make me feel that way for long.

In talking to her, it doesn’t take long to realize the secret to her success: She works really hard.

But personal stuff aside, Purple Daze is an amazing, important book.

It’s absolutely a peek at the ’60s. There are even snippets of actual news events woven throughout the characters’ viewpoints. But there is also the more personal look at this volatile time period. One character is drafted to Vietnam, another enlists. The ones left at home have to decide if and when and how to protest the war. But they are also struggling with getting through their teen years. They have to deal with parents and peer pressure and figuring out how far is too far when it comes to sex and drinking and drugs. Hearts are broken. Lives altered forever.

And it’s all told in verse.

To me, the poems that belong to each character could each stand alone – this makes the story different than some novels told in verse. It makes it a more challenging read – but also more rewarding. It’s a collection of poems as well as a cumulative narrative.

I think this story and format will appeal to both teens and adults–and it absolutely brought out the former teacher in me. This book would make such an awesome keystone for a unit in English and/or History classes.

Especially if you get your class to read these poems aloud. I would love to see a group of teens each take a character to read. Maybe reader’s theater style. I get shivers just imagining it.

And then, the students would write their own poems – reflecting their own thoughts and struggles within this particular place in time. Have a poetry slam to share. Make a new book.

A book that keeps on giving. Like Sherry.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Making Pretty

Little bits of miscellany…

Keys to unknown locks

An elephant

Watch bit

Angel set free from its Advent chime

Lizard

Coyote howling at the moon

Rose from an old boyfriend

Dog tag too worn to read the name

Kookaburra sits in the old (gum) tree

Just had to! Still a work in progress…

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Revisions of a Master

Need proof that revision is part of the process?

Check out this gem: Here you can read the first page from five different drafts of one of my all time favorite books, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

I think it’s designed for teachers to use with kids, but of course I find it fascinating.

Not only can you spy on different versions and stages of progress for this Newbery Honor book,  but you can also read comments from the author regarding each draft.

For instance, who knew the third version would be closer to the final draft than the fourth? These are the kind of steps – forward and backward – that I feel like I make all the time in trying to revise my work. Could it not just be a serious brain flaw but a possible part of the process?

Some fantastic quotable quotes from the amazing and wonderful Kate DiCamillo:

“So much of writing is like walking down a dark hallway with your arms out in front of you. You bump into a lot of things. You pick things up and then put them down.”

“Progress is hard to measure in any creative endeavor, I think. It’s often a matter of instinct, of feeling your way through what works and what doesn’t. The only thing I’ve found that works is to keep on working and not expect that you will get it right the first time.”

Good stuff!

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Cake Friday: Red Velvet Cake Balls

Son #1 went to a party and couldn’t stop talking about the cake balls. After a little research I found this recipe from bakerella.com, the queen of cake balls and cake pops. I thought we needed a little something fun today so I posted the recipe below.Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

You can find more recipes in a book by Bakerella titled Cake Pops:

Happy Friday.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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A Year of Firsts

“So, how are you doing?”

This is a question that has been asked often in the last year and while it seems like sharing a simple greeting, it really goes much deeper than that. It has now been a year since my sister Wendy passed away and that simple greeting is letting me know that they care about me as I go through what I call my “Year of Firsts.”

When someone you love passes away there are those moments when you realize that this is the first time that your special person isn’t there. Celebrating holidays, birthdays and special events are just not the same when your loved one is gone and you feel that loss just a little bit more.

In our case we had even more “firsts” that made this past year especially bitter sweet: the baby’s first steps, first words (Da Da and No), and first birthday that made this year just a little bit tougher. I found myself wishing I could spend more time with my niece and nephew than the 100 mile distance would allow. Even though I couldn’t see them as often as I would like I found myself thinking of them and little ways to let them know that I care.

I also had some personal firsts in the past year. My first picture book was published and I faced my  first book signing, school visit, and first award without one of my biggest supporters. I made sure that my niece was there at each of these events and I found that there is nothing like a book event to give my family something happy to concentrate on rather than what we were missing.

The toughest first for me, was the first time I picked up the phone to call my sister and realized that she wasn’t there to call. I still feel that urge to give her a call a year later but I am glad I have my blog buddy Sarah and my family to be there for me at those times.

They say that the first year is the toughest and that it should get easier as time goes on, the sharp sting of grief will be replaced by sweet memories. Lucky for me I have many wonderful memories to look back on and many others who are willing to share them with me.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Author Spotlight- Andrea Zimmerman

Our newest author spotlight is on the talented Andrea Zimmerman. Andrea is a fellow SCBWI member and the hostess for our local Picture Book Party here in San Diego. She is generous with her time and a great inspiration for us all.

Here is a brief bio:

Andrea Zimmerman was born in Ohio and grew up in New York, Utah, and California. As a child, she loved exploring nature and reading comic books. As a teenager, she loved riding her horse. She went to college, got a degree in Fine Arts for Children, and started writing. Later, she went back to school at UCLA and became a dentist. She enjoys her family, going to museums, gardening, and traveling. She also likes her cats.

WOTS: What was your road to publication?

AZ:My mother had published some magazine articles as a young woman and encouraged me to be a writer, too. Since I liked art, picture books seem to be a natural.

WOTS: Can you tell me a bit about your writing process? Do you plot or not?

AZ: Basically, I purposely daydream with the intent of coming up with a story. I form a pretty clear idea of the beginning, middle and end before I write it down. Of course, sometimes it changes in the rewriting.

WOTS: Are you working on any new projects that you can tell us about?

AZ: As far as new work, I think it’s better to keep stories quiet, until you get them finished, so the magic doesn’t evaporate. But I have some picture book in various stages of readiness and some I’m sending out.

WOTS: Describe your studio or usual work space for us.

AZ:Well, my space tends to migrate around the house. Right now my desk is in the dining room and my computer is in the bedroom. These change depending on what else is happening around our house. For the real creative part, I like lying down on the bed or couch.

WOTS: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

AZ:I hope to avoid any other professions! I’ve had different jobs, and I worked in dentistry for years. My kids are grown and I love the freedom I have now to set my own schedule.  I want to just do the best I can at making books for children.

WOTS: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

AZ: People often say I seem calm and confident. I’m not.

WOTS: You write and illustrate books with your husband David Clemesha, how to you share the workload?

AZ: I usually write the story and David points out what doesn’t work and makes suggestions. With illustrating, David does the line drawings, and I point out what doesn’t work and make suggestions. We blend our ideas, and agree a lot, though it’s a long, slow process for us. Then I paint the colors, which is time consuming, but pretty straight forward. We have been enjoying picture books together since we first met, decades ago, so it’s part of our marriage.

WOTS: Your book “Eliza’s Cherry Trees” is a bit different from some of your other books, what inspired you to write a book about Eliza Scidmore?

AZ: About ten years ago, I read an article about Eliza. I thought she should be getting more recognition for bringing the cherry trees to Washington and for her other accomplishments. She was an outstanding woman for her times. It seemed like a perfect tale for a picture book because it was an interesting story, and because of the women’s history and multicultural aspects.

WOTS: You mention in your blog that “Eliza’s Cherry Trees” took persistence to get it published. Can you share some of the difficulties you experienced and how you over came them?

AZ:I used Eliza as my role model for persistence since it took her 24 years to get the trees to Washington. I wrote the book, tried to get a publisher and couldn’t.  I put the manuscript away, waiting until the hundredth anniversary was approaching. I started sending it out again, had offers that fell through, and just kept trying. Eventually I sold it, but it was rejected many, many times. I think it was harder to sell because although publishers may say that they do not want books on famous people who have been “overdone”, it may be challenging  for them to take a chance on someone less well known, but with a great life story. They may wonder if there will be a market for the book. But I think Eliza will be relevant every Spring, when the cherries bloom again in Washington.

WOTS: We here at Writing on the Sidewalk tend to procrastinate with our writing, where do you fit in Procrastinator or Proactive?

AZ: I invented and perfected procrastinating.

If you would like to learn more about Andrea be sure to check out her website and her Picture Book Party blog. Andrea was recently interviewed about her book “Eliza’s Cherry Trees”  on the NPR program “Here and Now,”  select the “Listen to the Story” button to hear the interview.  To learn more about Eliza Scidmore, check out Andrea’s great resource site here.

Thanks Andrea, for taking the time to visit with us.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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