NATIONAL PICTURE BOOK WRITING WEEK

(”NaPiBoWriWee”)

7 Picture Books in 7 Days!

In the spirit of National Novel Writing Month (“NaNoWriMo”) where people across the country try to write a complete novel in one month, the fine folks at www.paulayoo.com have decided to start the first ever National Picture Book Writing Week, affectionately nicknamed “NaPiBoWriWee.”
The goal? To write 7 picture books in 7 days.

All NaPiBoWriWee participants should register on my website (http://paulayoo.com/) and comment on my blogs every day with your own progress.

For those of you who participate in the first annual NaPiBoWriWee, I will select a winner at random on the 7th day – that winner will receive an autographed copy of my latest picture book,“SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY” (Lee & Low Books, 2009). For more info on the book, go here: http://www.leeandlow.com/books/368/hc/shining_star_the_anna_may_wong_story

The basic rules?

Just write 7 complete and separate picture books in one week. Each picture book must have a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is no required minimum word count because picture book lengths can vary from 50 words to 2000 words, depending on the genre.
I will be posting a blog every day for seven days with picture book writing tips and encouragement and updates on my own progress, plus links to The Three Silly Chicks (http://threesillychicks.blogspot.com/) who will also be providing similar helpful blog tips.

For everyone who has a website or blog – you are encouraged to promote NaPiBoWriWee on your blog/website/myspace/Facebook/Twitter. I only request that you provide a link to my website - http://paulayoo.com/.

And for those of you attending the national Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators(http://scbwi.org/) conference in August, let me know and I’ll arrange for an informal gathering during the conference so we can meet in person and celebrate our first NaPiBoWriWee!

For more info, contact me at paula@paulayoo.com.

To summarize, 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. Instead, each book must have a clear beginning, middle and end.
4. You are allowed to brainstorm and research book topics before May 1st.
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. The fine folks of NaPiBoWriWee require nothing but your word of honor. We will embrace the Honor Code. If you say you have written 7 complete picture book drafts in 7 days, we will believe you. Besides, why would you lie to us? You’re writing picture books for little children! Picture Book Authors are nice, honest people who would never lie! 
7. Please register on http://paulayoo.com/ in order to write comments on Paula’s blog every day with your progress and questions.
8. If you plan to blog about your NaPiBoWriWee journey, please include a link to:http://paulayoo.com/
9. A winner will be chosen from random of all the people who comment from May 1-7 onhttp://paulayoo.com/. That winner will receive an autographed copy of Paula Yoo’s latest picture book biography, “SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY” (Lee & Low Books 2009) by June 2009 when the book is released.
10. For those of you attending the national Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators(http://scbwi.org/) conference in August, let me know and I’ll arrange for an informal gathering during the conference so we can meet in person and celebrate our first NaPiBoWriWee!

Good luck and I look forward to writing 7 picture books in 7 days with everyone! 

I think this is the hardest part for me. THE WAITING!!! I know I will hunt the postman down to see if I have a response. Esp. if it’s one that I think has a very good chance.

So, what to do??? Get busy. Simply putting it. Definitely get busy. Strongly put. *wink, wink* Work on another story or article. Do some research. Read some books. Do anything you can to keep your mind from going crazy.

I have found that this can be my most productive time. But I have to work at it. It doesn’t come naturally and who doesn’t like instant gratification? But seriously considering how slow the publishing world really does move, you MUST have patients. The end result will give you a yes or no. Another simply put statement. But that’s the life of a writer.

Once again I found myself being sidelined with my writing and of course with my blogs.   grrrrrrrrrrrrr!   But just like a great mc in one of my favorite books, I can’t be held back for long. So, what has been going on in my life over the past 1/2 month. LOTS. Mainly having to deal with sickness… YES, STILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I’ve been busy with my children too. Now, I try not to get too much into my personal life, but but BBBBBBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTT I have to give a shout out here…

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAY TO GO TIFTAREA PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My older two are (or were) on the Varsity football team for TA. They got in the top four again… second year in a row!!! AND they are Region 3-AA STATE CHAMPIONS!!!! I am so doing my snoopy dance for these guys!!!!

NOW, on my writing. Things could be going better with my new stories batch, but I have been having a story critiqued that is getting it closer to being THERE! WoooooHooooooo. That is such an amazing feeling still. To have accomplished something and have it there!

 I do have an extra to add here too. Fun for Kidz Magazine accepted my article “Flash Talk” for their May 2012 issue. Doing another Snoopy Dance. woooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooo.

Now, I’m looking at the end of the year. *sigh* Where has this year gone, btw?!? I mean woosh and it’s g-o-n-e! I am still getting a few more subs out before the end of the year. Don’t know if I’ll manage to have my total subs up this year or not. But I know I’ve had some good turn arounds this year. I always like going over my spread sheet and seeing how things went.

OKay, I better get to writing…

Hey there everyone.

Had to give a heads up:

Hélène Boudreau will be giving a book away each week until the official launch of ACADIAN STAR, October 18th. Go check out her blog at: http://www.heleneboudreau.com/?p=335 and be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win. And hey! while you’re at it, let her know that I sent you (Tracey M. Cox).

Here’s a sneaky peak of her cover:

very savvy!!!

Good luck everyone!

Hello all.

I wanted to let you all know that I will not be able to post anything else for this week. The flower shop I work in is in charge of a wedding rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and the reception. Needless to say, I’m going in early and getting home late.

Posts will pick back up next week.

Thanks!
~~~Tracey

HOOOOOOOO-RAY!

I’ve been doing a snoopy tail wag the past week or so. I want to make sure before I said anything, but…

I got another acceptance. This one is with the ICL Newsletter. ICL is aka ‘The Institute of Children’s Literature’ and I’m a current student there. They have a newsletter you can subscribe to that’s always filled with interesting articles and great market information.

And now I’m going to be included in those pages… W – O – W!

I don’t have a timeframe of when it will appear yet, but it’s in there inventory folder and will be coming. So now that I know for sure -I got my check, YES it was a payable piece wooooohooooo- I’m ready to get moving.

Everyone has got to get up and snoopy dance with me now. *haha*

Hope you hear some good news too.

~Cheers!~

Hey everyone.

I have a writing friend/critique partner/buddy that I would like to give a shout out to…

Jennifer Gladen, is one special lady that I know. HEY JEN!!! She has a new e-zine (online magazine) called MY LIGHT Magazine. She sent me a blurb and I wanted to forward. If you can help THANKS!!! If you want to read more about Jennifer, you can find a link to her blog under my ‘writers’ links on the right side of this blog.—> —> —>

Best to all,
~~~Tracey

 

Hey everyone,

 Below is a blurb and a link all about iSearchiGive.  When you select My Light as your cause and begin using the iGive search engine, My Light earns cash. In less than a month – with just me –I’ve earned over $1.00 – I know, I know. It’s not much at all, but it could be more if other people searched along with us. That’s why I’m sending the link and the blurb.  So here it is:

We invite you to begin using iSearchiGive.com every time you search the web. Each search means $0.01 for our cause and while the numbers may seem small at first, we all search the web hundreds of times every month, and our combined efforts can truly add up. And since it’s powered by iGive.com (a site that has been helping causes raise money online since 1997), we know it’s not just a flash in the pan!

Try it today – it’s free! http://www.isearchigive.com/?s=28&c=47177

___________________________
Jennifer Gladen,
Editor, My Light Magazine
http://mylightmagazine.com
http://mylightmagazine.stblogs.com
http://www.igive.com/MyLight
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mylight
Author of A Star in the Night (Guardian Angel Publishing Summer 2008)

 

Hey all.

Don’t mind all the boxes, newspapers, and bubble wrap.

I’m moving some/most of my myspace blog posts over to here.
I like to have everything in one place.
I’ll still leave it up at my myspace page too.

Thanks.
~~~Tracey

OK, now that 2008 has had a bit to get going I’ve been thinking about all I want to do this year:

• READ. Yes, that again. My goal is at least one picture book a day. 2 if I’m feeling spunky. haha.
• SUBMIT. My goal with submissions will be targeting more magazines for the beginning of the year. I really want to try and build up my credits more.
• AGENT RESEARCH. I talked with one of my m-i-l friends daughter who contracts with different publishing houses. ***squeeling here. I can’t believe I actually did this!!!*** I was told the best thing a writer can do is have an agent. This person told me that agents know this business inside and out, better than lawyers. I know it can be just as hard to get an agent as it is to be published, but that is where I’m putting my efforts now.
• CLASSES. I have officially started my classes with ICL!!! After being accepted five years ago. I am looking forward to this so much. I know I can write, and write well. I just need that little extra that I haven’t figured out yet. I believe this will help me find that bit.

2008, I am ready for it! I hope you are too.

Hello all.
And thanks for following me over to here.
I am trying WordPress to see if I like it better than my myspace blog. If so, I’ll be moving over here permanently.

Best wishes,
~~~Tracey