My cats wait anxiously for me to finish writing so we can go to sleep! (Front: Charlotte, middle: Oreo; back: Beethoven)
We survived Day Three of the 2011 NaPiBoWriWee! Hooray for us! 
Did you finish 3 picture books in 3 days? If so, CONGRATULATIONS! If you are still treading water and struggling to stay in the game… YAY! HANG IN THERE!!! Remember, often it’s not about the goal. It’s about the JOURNEY to that goal. NaPiBoWriWee makes you a stronger writer. So keep the faith and keep writing. Don’t feel bad! Feel PROUD that you are crazy enough to join me on this nutty adventure.
For those of you keeping track at home, I wrote one picture book on Sunday, I had an idea that I scribbled down but didn’t write a draft for yet on Monday night. So this morning, I wrote a STINKY first draft of Book No. 2 before I went to work, and tonight I just wrote a third STINKY first draft. So I’m caught up. 3 for 3! But my books are different this year: the first year, I did a mix of fiction and non-fiction. Last year, I only wrote 4 books because I was so overwhelmed by managing/running NaPiBoWriWee so I couldn’t get more than 4 done. This year, I decided my goal will be to write 7 picture books about CATS. They will be for YOUNGER children, so they don’t have to be super long drafts this time around. (I tend to write for older children, especially my background as a published non-fiction picture book biographer, so my Lee & Low books are rather lengthy). So for me – 7 Cat Picture Books In 7 Days! LOL! Crazy Cat Ladies rule! (NOTE: Here’s a great list of cat-oriented picture books from the awesome Cynthia Leitich Smith: http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/favorites/by_genre/kitlit/kitlit.html)
Your brand new 2011 NaPiBoWriWee Notebooks are here!
And to inspire you further (shameless plug) – check out our new souvenir 2011 NapiBoWriWee Notebook at our CafePress store. I am writing in mine right now! http://www.cafepress.com/napibowriwee.530725193
Tonight’s blog is about WRITING SOFTWARE PROGRAMS. I know most people use Microsoft Word – an industry staple. I use Word quite a bit. But I’ve recently discovered some fun new writing software programs that have opened up my writing and given me more creative free reign. These programs are: SCRIVENER and OMM WRITER. Maybe these programs might help you overcome your writers’ block if you’re facing a blank computer screen…
(Keep reading after the jump to find out more about Scrivener and OMM Writer…)
