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NaPiBoWriWee

May 22, 2011

NaPiBoWriWee 2011 Wrap Up & Reunion Date!

 

National Picture Book Writing Week

Hello! Well, another NaPiBoWriWee came and went. As always, I was THRILLED by the turn-out, the enthusiasm, and the insightful comments that were posted on the blogs during May 1-7, 2011. I was also inspired by how hard everyone worked to try and write 7 picture books in 7 days!

I hope everyone has at least ONE picture book draft from our annual event that you feel might be worth revising and submitting in the future. Please keep me posted on how your NaPiBoWriWee books fare in the coming year!

In the meantime, I wanted to make a couple of announcements about our upcoming NAPIBOWRIWEE REUNION plus more news.

(Keep reading after the jump for the date of our NaPiBoWriWee 2011 reunion & more news…)

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May 8, 2011

NaPiBoWriWee Day Eight: CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Filed under: NaPiBoWriWee 2011 Prize Drawing — Tags: , , — paulayoo @ 5:00 pm

National Picture Book Writing Week Congratulations on finishing the third annual National Picture Book Writing Week from May 1-7, 2011!!!! I’m so excited we were able to make it through together. I’M ALSO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF OUR ANNUAL PRIZE DRAWING!!!!

As for moi, I did not write 7 picture books in 7 days, however, given my work schedule and all these blogs! LOL! No surprise there. I ended up writing six very rough first drafts. Okay, when I think about it, make that 5 1/2 drafts. LOL! But again, the whole purpose of NaPiBoWriWee was simply to encourage ALL OF US to write every single day, come rain or shine. I hope you have learned a lot from this process and that you now have some great first drafts that you can really dig into for the rest of the year.

For those of you who have registered to comment on this NaPiBoWriWee blog (link: http://paulayoo.com/napi)… please note that starting next week, I’ll be switching BACK to my other blog – the main Paula Yoo blog. The link on my homepage says “BLOG” or you can go here: http://paulayoo.com/blog

My regular blog will be where I post daily blogs on writing, TV, books, and my cat and foodie adventures, plus other random fun stuff. So you will have to re-register at that blog in order to post comments. I hope you’ll join me there for the rest of the year. I will continue to post an occasional blog at this NaPiBoWriWee link with any NaPiBoWriWee updates, so you can always check back here too. But please note that most of my active blogging for the rest of the year until NaPiBoWriWee 2012 will be at the regular BLOG link.

As for souvenirs, we have T-shirts and coffee mugs, plus a 2011 Notebook, at our store here: http://cafepress.com/napibowriwee

So now, let’s get down to the real nitty gritty… WHO WON??!!!!

Visual proof that I randomly picked names out of a hat for this contest drawing, just like i said I would! :)

(Keep reading after the jump to find out who the winners are for this year’s prize giveaway random drawing contest!)

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NaPiBoWriWee Day Eight: Guest Author Blog – Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Welcome 2011 NaPiBoWriWee Guest Author Sudipta Bardhan-Quillan!

EXHAUSTED? I bet you are! But doesn’t it feel GREAT? You wrote 7 picture books in 7 days! And for those of you who fell short of the mark, you still TRIED. And that’s what counts. I hope you take away from this experience a sense of pride and accomplishment for having lived the life of a REAL writer who writes as often as possible, hopefully every day. And I hope you have walked away with at least one jewel – if not more – amongst your 7 books that you can polish until it shines like a diamond!

Speaking of diamonds, today’s extra Guest Author blog spotlights talented author SUDIPTA BARDHAN-QUALLEN. Sudipta has written many picture books including Tightrope Poppy, the High-Wire Pig, illustrated by Sarah Dillard; The Hog Prince, illustrated by Jason Wolff; and her latest book, Chicks Run Wild, illustrated by Ward Jenkins (Simon & Schuster 2011). She lives in New Jersey with her three children. But Sudipta did not start out as a writer. She’s a brainiac science expert (hello, she graduated with a degree in Biology from Caltech!). She’s a great example of a writer who has a wide variety of work and educational experience… aspiring children’s book writers are a diverse bunch!

(Keep reading after the jump for our interview with Sudipta…)

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NaPiBoWriWee Day Eight (Prize Drawing): Guest Author Blog – Lisa Wheeler

Meet 2011 NaPiBoWriWee Guest Author Lisa Wheeler

Good morning! Welcome to the Day After NaPiBoWriWee! Can you believe we finished 7 picture books in 7 days? Or at least tried to? I hope everyone slept in this morning… you deserve it!

The prize drawing announcement of the winners will be posted by 5 PM (PST) today. Please come back to see if you won! I will be drawing names from a hat at random. The prizes will include autographed copies of my two picture books, the IRA Notable Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story (Lee & Low 2005) and Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story (Lee & Low 2009) and goodies from our NaPiBoWriWee store (http://cafepress.com/napibowriwee). Other prizes will include signed books from all the authors who were interviewed for NaPiBoWriWee (Erin Eitter Kono, Ken Min, Katie Davis, Hope Vestergaard, Don Tate, Carolyn Crimi, Dan Santat, Janie Bynum, Lisa Wheeler, and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen) plus a free manuscript critique from author Tara Lazar.

Before we post the winners of the 2011 National Picture Book Writing Week Prize Giveaways Random Drawing Contest, I will be posting two final Guest Author Blogs to inspire everyone to KEEP WRITING even though NaPiBoWriWee has ended for the year.

9 AM (PST) GUEST AUTHOR BLOG: This morning’s Guest Author blog features kid  lit veteran LISA WHEELER, who has graciously offered to autograph a copy of her book, Spinster Goose: Twisted Rhymes for Naughty Children for this year’s prize giveaway. Thank you Lisa!

12 PM (PST) GUEST AUTHOR BLOG: The next Guest Author blog will be posted at noon (PST) and will feature SUDIPTA BARDHAN-QUALLEN. She will autograph a copy of Chicks Run Wild for our drawing as well. Thank you Sudipta!

So please come back for Sudipta’s guest blog at noon (PST) and the Prize Announcement at 5 PM (PST)!

(Keep reading for the rest of our Q&A with Lisa Wheeler after the jump…)

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May 7, 2011

NaPiBoWriWee Day Seven – NOT The End!

Filed under: Uncategorized — paulayoo @ 11:59 pm

National Picture Book Writing Week

Saturday May 7, 2011 – 11: 59 PM.

Wow. NaPiBoWriWee 2011 is over!

Did you meet the challenge? Did you write 7 picture books in 7 days? Do you now have seven rough drafts that you can revise lovingly for the rest of the year and shine until they sparkle like diamonds for prospective agents and editors?

If so, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

For those of you who managed to squeak out at least one picture book or even seven sentences – I’m still so proud of you! Writing every day no matter what is a skill that you have now mastered! Bravo!

As always, it has been an honor and privilege to host this crazy event every year. Who knew it would last three whole years? Here’s hoping to another three – or more – years of NaPiBoWriWee!

(Keep reading after the jump for important CONTEST information for those of you who signed up for the annual prize drawing and other info!)

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NaPiBoWriWee Day Seven: Guest Author Blog – Janie Bynum

Meet 2011 NaPiBoWriwee Guest Author/Illustrator Janie Bynum

Welcome  JANIE BYNUM, our guest author/artist  for 2011 NaPiBoWriWee Day Seven!

Janie Bynum is an author and illustrator of children’s books. Originally from Dallas, she has lived half her life in Texas and half of it in Michigan (with a one-year residency in Oak Park, IL). She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from the University of North Texas. Over the years she developed her illustration and writing skills and attended two children’s book illustration classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to writing and illustrating books, she operates a successful graphic design business. In 1997 she got her first picture book contract based on a story she wrote and for which she created rough illustrations (a full “dummy”). The book, ALTOONA BABOONA, hit the shelves in the spring of 1999. Since then, she’s written and/or illustrated another 20 picture books. Her most recent picture book is KIKI’S BLANKIE, from Sterling Publishing. She has several other picture book stories in various stages of “un-done.” For more information on Janie, please check out her website here: http://janiebynum.com/

Janie graciously agreed to autograph a copy of Kiki’s Blankie for this year’s prize giveaway. Thank you, Janie!

(Keep reading for the rest of our Q&A with Janie Bynum after the jump…)

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NaPiBoWriWee Day Seven: Good Morning Guest Author/Artist Dan Santat

National Picture Book Writing Week

Good morning! Can you believe it is DAY SEVEN? It is the last day of the 2011 National Picture Book Writing Week!

By now, you are all hardened veterans of NaPiBoWriWee. Congratulations on making it this far. :)

Today we have a special treat. Not one but TWO Guest Author blogs to inspire you as you write! To get your morning started right, let’s hang out with author/artist DAN SANTAT, author/artist of the upcoming graphic novel Sidekicks (coming out July 11, 2011 from Arthur A. Levine Books). Dan has graciously offered to autograph a copy of this book when it comes out in July for our prize drawing! (Please come back here at Noon (PST) for our guest author/artist blog with JANIE BYNUM.)

(Keep reading after the jump for our Q&A with Dan Santat…)

 

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May 6, 2011

NaPiBoWriWee 2011 Day Six – Bedtime Blog!

(L-R) Charlotte & Beethoven snuggle while I stare blankly at my computer screen and sob softly to myself... NaPiBoWriWee?! What was I thinking? Am In crazy?!

My eyes hurt.

No, really, my eyes are KILLING me. I don’t think I’ve blinked in the past six days. Usually around now I kick myself and bang my head against the  wall, bemoaning, “Why did I create NaPiBoWriWee? Am I INSANE?”

Turns out, yup. I’m nuts. :) LOL! How is everyone doing? Did you survive Day 6?

For those of you keeping count, I have written FIVE picture books so far. I’m hoping I can get the last two done tomorrow because it’s Saturday and I don’t have to be at work! :) This has been the toughest NaPiBoWriWee for me because I have had to work full-time while running this event, so it’s been EXHAUSTING. Plus, I’m learning how to navigate around my brand new redesigned website that features TWO WordPress blogs (this NaPiBoWriWee one and my regular Paula Yoo blog at http://paulayoo.com/blog).

In addition, I usually prepare for NaPiBoWriWee. Before May 1st, I’ve usually figured out my 7 picture book ideas and done the necessary research and brainstorming of plots. Then I just write starting May 1st. But this time, I was writing all these books from scratch – from the idea to the research to the plot brainstorming to the actual writing.

So that’s why I chose to do 7 focused picture books aimed at younger readers and all about cats. LOL. :) I have embraced my inner Crazy Cat Lady! I found focusing like this really helped me. So let’s hope I can write 7 before midnight tomorrow!

Tonight’s Bedtime Blog is just a quick recap of what’s on schedule for the next 48 hours. Below is our schedule plus information on the May 8th prize giveaway random drawing!

(Keep reading after the jump for info on our final day plus the May 8th Contest Winners Announcement…)

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NaPiBoWriWee Day Six: Guest Author Blog – Don Tate

Meet 2011 NaPiBoWriWee Guest Author/Artist Don Tate!

Welcome  DON TATE, our guest author/artist  for 2011 NaPiBoWriWee Day Six!

(From Don’s website bio): “Don Tate is the award-winning illustrator/author of more than 25 trade and educational books for children. His books include Ron’s Big Mission (Dutton, 2009), a Junior Library Guild spring 2009 selection; I Am My Grandpa’s Enkelin, written by Walter Wangerin Jr., published with Paraclete Press in December 2007; Sure as Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit and his Walkin’ Talkin’ Friends (Houghton Mifflin, 2004), which received starred reviews from Booklist Magazine and School Library Journal, as well as a 2004 Aesop Accolades award, and a Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2006 – 2007; Summer Sun Risin’ (Lee & Low Books, 2002), a Bank Street College of Education as “Best Children’s Books of the Year for 2002″ and recipient of the Children’s Crown Award, 2003 by the National Christian School Association Master List; and Say Hey: A Song of Willie Mays (Jump at the Sun, 2000). His other trade picture books include Black All Around! (Lee & Low Books); The Hidden Feast (August House, 2006); The Legend of the Valentine (Zondervan, 2002), which is also a Christian Bookseller’s Association best seller; She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story (Harper Collins, 2010). In addition to illustrating, Don is an author. It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Taught Himself to Draw is a Lee & Low New Voices honor winner and will publish in 2012. In addition to children’s books, Don also licenses his art to product manufacturers. KIDZ is a line of juvenile bed and bathroom products that includes wallpaper, light switches, wall art and drawer knobs. He also has a line of children’s textile/fabric available at specialty fabric shops, which feature his designs. My Peepz, a group of African American characters, is marketed to ‘tweeners and has been a hit in the calendar market. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Don currently resides in Austin, Texas where he works full-time as an illustrator/graphics reporter for the Austin American Statesman. Don lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and son. In his spare time, Don is a gym-rat, having competed (in better fit days) in natural, drug-free bodybuilding.” F0r more information, visit his website: http://www.dontate.com/

Don graciously agreed to autograph a copy of She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story (Collins 2010) for this year’s prize giveaway. Thank you, Don!

(Keep reading for the rest of our Q&A with Don Tate after the jump…)

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NaPiBoWriWee 2011 Day Six – Good Morning!

Filed under: NaPiBoWriWee Day Six 5/6/11 — Tags: , , — paulayoo @ 9:00 am

National Picture Book Writing Week

DAY SIX PEOPLE! We are at DAY SIX! Don’t give up! Keep writing! The end is in sight! And don’t forget, we have a fun random prize giveaway drawing contest on May 8th! Stay tuned for details on that!

Special Announcement: Because we are on Day 6, I’ve posted TWO Guest Author Blogs. The first was Carolyn Crimi, which was posted at 5 AM (PST) for the East Coast folks waking up at 9 AM (EST)! The next one is at noon (PST) – featuring writer/illustrator Don Tate.

For those of you who are still “in the zone” and are gearing up to write Picture Book No. 6, here’s your daily Good Morning blog on writing craft issues. You’ll remember that we have discussed First Drafts, Plot Structure, Theme, The Hero’s Journey, and yesterday, Point of View.

Today’s writing craft issue? GENRE. Even though I am aware that we are writing picture books, I thought I’d share with you some thoughts from my favorite book that I use to teach with… The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb (Writers Digest Books ’01). Lamb does a great job of showing the differences between picture books, middle grade novels, etc.

(Keep reading after the jump to find out more about craft…)

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Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story
Good Enough
Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
Books by Paula Yoo