Today’s Priorities: Learn How to Plan Your Picture Book Writing Project Understand the Importance of Reading Picture Books Written by Other Authors Learn to Use the Ideas Sheet [After you begin a regular writing routine, you will be flooded with tons of new ideas] Learn to Use the Reading Log A List of Books We’ll…
Category: 14 Day PB Challenge
Take the #14DayPBChallenge – Write, Revise, & Submit Your Picture Book for Publication
Let’s Get Ready for my new #14DayPBChallenge. During the next 2 weeks, I plan to complete at least one new picture book manuscript, and I am also challenging myself to begin my search for an agent. I plan to do the process publicly–here on my blog. Join Me: Take the 2023 #14DayPBChallenge. It’s Free. Every…
How to Participate in #ReadtoWrite for a Chance to Win an Autographed Copy of Jacki Kellum’s The Donkey’s Song in 31 Days
Today is January 1, and I am launching several challenges and events for writers and visual artists. Participate in any or all of the challenge events for a chance to win an autographed copy of my picture book The Donkey’s Song at the end of January–in 31 Days. In February, I’ll add other challenges–#14DayPBChallenge and…
Picture Book Writers: Let’s Get Published – Query Letters, SCBWI Tips, Agent List
Did you get a like on #PBPitch yesterday? If you didn’t, don’t worry. That’s only one way to get yourself noticed by agents and editors. A Reminder to All of Us Who Did Not Succeed in PBPitch: Tip Number 8: Try Not to React Personally to Whether Your Pitch on a Twitter Party is Liked…
Jacki Kellum Workshop: Writing & Marketing A Picture Book
Here are a few of the topics that I am already fully prepared to teach to high school, college, and adults: Distinctions between end rhyme and internal rhyme Mix it up–don’t sing your readers to sleep. Surprise your readers with unique word patterns. Don’t be too predictable. Read what my editor Frances Gilbert, who is…
#14DayPBDay 11 – How to Write an Author’s Biography for A Picture Book Writer?
I’ve only been in the business of writing children’s books for a couple of years and yet, I couldn’t even venture a guess as to how many times I’ve been asked to supply a biography for myself. Doesn’t it make sense to get one good biography ready and store it somewhere safe? Better still–email your…
#14DayPBChallenge Day 10 – Let’s Practice Writing Twitter Pitches
Frances Gilbert, Vice President and Editor in Chief at Doubleday for Young Readers [under the hood of Random House Children’s Books], acquired my debut picture book The Donkey’s Song via #PBPitch, which is a Twitter Event for picture book writers who want to pitch their books to agents and editors. I have written several posts…
14-Day Picture Book Challenge Day 3 – Picture Writing and Word Painting – How to Write Descriptively
Day 3 Challenge – 14 Day Picture Book Challenge – Part A: Read Jane Yolen’s description of the setting in her book Owl Moon and after you have reduced the words significantly, rewrite it — without losing the power of the initial words. Part B: Rewrite the Setting of Your Picture Book. In another post,…
14-Day Picture Book Challenge Day 2 – Describe the Setting of Your Picture Book
For the second day of the 14-Day Picture Book Challenge, your assignment is to describe the setting of the picture book that you will be writing. You don’t need to write in beautiful, poetic words yet. You don’t need to consider the voice or the format of your potential picture book. You don’t need to…
14 Day Picture Book Challenge Day 1 – Plan and Write Your First Draft
“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked. “Were do you want to go?’ was his response. ‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered. ‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.’ “ When I am writing creatively, I prefer an…