November appeared on the end of Halloween’s black cat tail…and it’s going to be a busy month!
Have you reached your writing goals so far this year?
Check-in: At the end of each month, Julie Hedlund requests that we check-in to let her know if we have completed a picture book draft as part of the 12×12 Challenge. I’m happy to say that I have! And please keep in mind that registration for 12×12 in 2014 is just around the corner. If you are looking to be inspired, motivated and encouraged in your picture book writing…THAT IS THE PLACE TO BE! This year, members at the Golden Book level had the opportunity to submit picture book manuscripts to ELEVEN awesome literary agents!
Check-out: I hope you will check out Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog because she will be announcing the FINALISTS in the Halloweensie Contest. There were almost 80 entries…click here for her link up post to read some amazingly creative stories. Click here to read my submission: HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY COUNTDOWN. I’ll add the link as soon as it is available (Monday, November 4) that will take you to Susanna’s finalists’ page where you will be able to vote for your favorite.
November is a special month for writers…and picture book writers have two other super challenges in which they can participate.
Picture Book Month, founded by Dianne de las Casas, will provide daily inspirational posts by leading authors, illustrators and others in the kid lit community…all celebrating the importance of picture books in the lives of young children.
Picture Book Idea Month, founded by Tara Lazar, will provide daily AH-HA moments for every writer and illustrator. You sign up and pledge to write down a picture book idea EVERY DAY for the month of November. I participated last year and I can promise you that it was an amazing month-long series of generous sharing on the part of those who have ‘been there, done that’ and succeeded!!! And I now have a 2012 PiBoIdMo notebook with 30 ideas and a NEW 2013notebook that already has several. Not every idea will become a picture book manuscript…but some have…and a few are in submission. There is still time to sign up for PiBoIdMo…registration closes on November 7th. Challenges like this one will help you reach your writing goals.
Are you taking part in these challenges? What other writing or illustrating challenges are available?
Check-up: When did you have your last check-up? Do you get so busy with job, family and the responsibilities of your life that you put off going for that important annual routine check-up? I try to schedule mine around my birthday every year…that way I don’t forget. I did a post last year that details the top three health screeningsmost women should have.
November is also American Diabetes Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, National Adoption Month, National Novel Writing Month, National Epilepsy Month, Native American Heritage Month, Military Family Month and Child Safety Protection Month! In addition, Book Lovers Day is today, November 2 and Young Readers Day is the 12th, Clean Your Refrigerator Day is the 15th, World Peace Day is the 17th, World Kindness Day is the 13th .the first night of Hanukkah is the 27th and Thanksgiving is the 28th. I’ll be writing about some of these important days this month.
And, last but not least, don’t forget to turn your clocks BACK (on Saturday night or Sunday morning) for Daylight Savings Time.
Related articles
- Interview with Marcie Colleen: Author of Picture Book Month Teacher’s Guide (rlkurstedt.wordpress.com)
- November: A Month of Writing Challenges (rockinghorsewriting.com)
- Picture Book Prompt #2 – Barbara Jean Hicks (tinanicholscouryblog.com)
- Picture Book Prompt #1 – Barbara Jean Hicks (tinanicholscouryblog.com)
- PiBoIdMo – Barbara Jean Hicks (tinanicholscouryblog.com)
- November – Picture Book Month (kathytemean.wordpress.com)
- PiBoIdMo 2013 Day 1 (loniedwards.com)
- PiBoIdMo 2013 is almost here! (sketchedout.wordpress.com)
- November – Picture Book Month (darlenebeckjacobson.wordpress.com)
- November Word Wars: NaNoWriMo and PiBoIdMo (writersrumpus.com)
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Wow, you’ve got a lot going on! I wish I was ready for the 12/x12 challenge, but I doubt I’ll have time to focus on it next year. I’m keeping that option opened though. At least I signed up for •PiBoIdMo this year, and I’m really excited to do this challenge. I only have 2 book ideas in my head yet and I haven’t written anything down but I bought myself a special notebook for this project as a motivation tool. My kids already know my first book idea since they saw the draft this past summer, and they are very excited about the new book idea I came up with. They actually want me to put the whole book together and were disappointed I’m only writing the concept right now. Poor guys…
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I’m so glad you are registered for PiBoIdMo, Milka! Your boys are so lucky…their momma is so creative! And, as the guest posters have mentioned, the picture book ‘idea’ that you write down can be as little as the name of the main character or a couple of fun words that you think could make a great story. 🙂
See you there! 🙂
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I won’t beat myself up if I can come up with 30 book ideas, but if I have a dozen done and looking good by the end of the month, I’ll be very happy.
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That’s the way to approach these challenges, Milka…you do what you can.:)
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Wow! Thanks, Vivian.
I’ve marked “Clean Your Refrigerator” Day on the calendar! 😛
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A clean refrigerator is a good refrigerator…or something like that, Nancy.:)
I’m sure you’ve seen those lists of quirky special days…they are hilarious!
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Whew! That’s a lot of stuff going on!! I think I’d like to get in on that clean your refrigerator day! And that move your clocks back has me messed up again. I don’t get it.
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I think that ‘move your clocks back’ messes EVERYONE up, Rhythm. I don’t get it either.:) I know one of the big reasons they say they do it is so that kids won’t have to be waiting at the school bus stop in the dark…why not just have an hour less of school in the winter and the kids will get to sleep an hour longer.:) 🙂
Wonder what you’ll find in your fridge? 🙂
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an hour less of school! genius!! I’m drooling with the thought of what might be in that fridge! We may tackle that one today! Yay!
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This is a very creative post, Vivian and heralds a lot of important goings on in this month. I am glad you put it down so succinctly and clearly.
Did you know it was also Care Givers Month? You may have said that but I didn’t see it. There are so many goings on. Are you doing PiBoIdMo this month? I signed up but haven’t gotten one idea yet. However if I do get an idea I know how to increase that idea by the Mathematical formula way of the first blogger on Tara’s blog.
It was Wow! on that one. I’m not sure if you saw it but it sure sounds impressive and doable. Since it exponentially increases your one idea to so many, I hope I get one idea. 🙂
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You know, Clar…sometimes I go on the FB forums and hear what others are doing. Then I think to myself, I should be doing that or this or whatever. But then when I look at my lists, I feel better because I realize that I AM doing a bunch of stuff…none of us, after all, can be doing everything.:)
I am doing PiBoIdMo…I’m sure I’ll see you there in the comments.:)I think the Math one was Sudipta who talked about math variables and combining the different elements of your different stories (character, plot, setting, etc.) with each other to get many new interesting story ideas…kind of like mash-ups.
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Yes, it was. Do you see my link to it?
I loved that one. 🙂 So many ideas spring from one. Expontially. By the way I have one idea now. And using her formulas I have at least nine. or more. I break out in a sweat when trying to apply formulas to my ideas. ha ha.
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You are so right, Clar…I didn’t see that part of your comment with the link.:) It is such a simple idea…and so helpful in expanding the number of stories we can come up with!
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yeah! dont be bashful , don’t be shy. Make these ideas shine! 🙂
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Cool post, Ms. Kirkfield! 😀
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Thank you, Erik! It always helps me to list some of the things I am doing…then I realize what I am accomplishing.:)
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