LIVE FROM THE WOW RETREAT IN BEAUTIFUL ENOTA GA...GROGers GAIN INSPIRATION FROM LISA WHEELER! by Kathy Halsey

Yes, here we are up in the mountains in beautiful Enota, ready to get our "write on," with guru, nonfiction maven, Kristen Fulton. We GROGers have never met our own tribe in person before, so this is a real treat. BUT, we've been so immersed in writing that I can hardly get this post done, so stay tuned for more and pictures to come on Friday.

GROGERs kick up their heels.

Today we were treated to an amazingly prolific picture book author, Lisa Wheeler. She condensed her popular Picture Book Boot Camp workshop, and went all "camo" (camouflage) on us. If you get the chance to listen to Lisa Wheeler or take a course, do it! Lisa's sessions today were so inspirational, I began to immediately fiddle with the manuscripts that I brought to the WOW retreat. 

Here are some of Lisa's most memorable nuggets for writers that I gathered today. Enjoy and learn from one of the masters:

1. Study script. It's an awesome way to learn to write a picture book.

2. Part of the fun of being a writer is that we (writers) get to be the boss. We get to tell the characters what to do.


3. A picture book should have bookends. (on the importance of the beginning and the ending)

4. ANYTHING that takes your reader out of the book has to be fixed.

5.  When a story amused you, show it to others. (How you know  you're ready for feedback.)

6. Lisa on talking animals: Yes, you can write about them. An aside on the subject: A picture book writer asks a publisher,"Do you buy talking animals?" Publisher's answer,"It depends on what the animals have to say."





    

Tag You're It! Writing Process Blog Hop

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Yeah! It’s summer time! I remember playing tag on the lawn as a child. Now we’re playing again! This time my writerly friend, Beth Stilborn, a.k.a. Elizabeth Starborn tagged me on the Writing Process Blog Hop. What fun, Beth! Thank you.

While I catch my breath, let me tell you about my tagger. I first met Beth last year through JulieHedlund’s 12 x 12 group, The Children’s Book Hub Facebook page that Beth co-hosts with Emma Walton Hamilton, and at Katie Davis’ Video Idiot Boot Camp.

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Beth and I just might break out into a duet. We share a passion for theater, music, and the Arts in children’s education. Beth is also the associate editor of the Children’s Book Hub monthly newsletter. If that isn’t enough to keep Beth running, check out her excellent copy editing and proofreading service.

Arghhh! Matey! This is me storytelling at South Primary School in Chillicothe, Il.  The students became the "crew" as we sang, danced, and read cue cards during my original story of The Tale of the Scurvy Ol' Sea Dog!  

While we are safe at home base, let me tell you about my writing process.

WHAT AM I WORKING ON?

Right now, I’m in the middle of the fabulous class co-taught by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and  Mira Reisberg : From Storyteller to Exquisite Writer: The Pleasures and Craft of Poetic Techniques  over at the Children’s BookAcademy.  There is so much wonderful information; it will make you jump up and down with excitement. Sudipta and Mira are masters at explaining things with examples, weekly webinars, and critiques.  My rhyming picture book about bugs is coming along nicely.

I am also researching and getting ready for the WOW Writing Retreat July 7-13^th with the amazing Kristen McGill Fulton. Nonfiction is the name of the game at this retreat for me.  I have two manuscripts that will be critiqued. One story is about a saint. The other story is about a man that invented something that we use everyday.

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS?

Everyone has a story. It is my mission to help emergent writers of all ages articulate their own stories,write about them, and share their words. I love when authors find their voice and experience the sheer joy of writing. Love You More Than You Know, an anthology about moms sending their sons and daughters to war, helped us lighten our burdens and helped us to heal.

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 WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?

I write because I must. I write for the sheer joy of writing! I write because I love to read. I write so I can share these two passions. I write so that I can listen to others tell their story. When we share stories, we find out we are more alike than different.

HOW DOES MY WRITING PROCESS WORK?

·      I need quiet time. When my five kids were little, I would stay up way too late because that was the only time it was quiet in the house. 

·      I keep a sketchbook journal. Bring on the crayons, glitter, and pictures. When I let myself play with words and pictures, I get creative. I also free write (write with abandon) and go back and highlight the parts I like, leaving the rest behind.

·      I move. Walking can get you into the zone and solve things when you are stuck in a manuscript. Acting out stories can shed some light on your manuscript too! Try a hat or costumes. Walk and talk like your main character.

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·      I work with my writing partner or critique group. Sometimes just talking it out will help a story. Getting feedback is also key in reworking my manuscripts. Remember writers are really rewriters!

·      Deadlines and chocolate help keep me focused.

Happy writing! So on with the chase! These are the lovely writers I tagged. 

 Kristen McGill Fulton writes nonfiction picture books and some historical fiction. She is represented by Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary. Kristen is a wonderful writer and teacher!  This is what Kristen had to say:

 One of my favorite places is my office stacked with shelves full of nonfiction picture books in alphabetical order of course. I believe that a writer must write everyday. Whether it is for a story, blog, or personal journal- practice makes perfect.  I currently am occupied with preparing for WOW Nonficpic and our summer Retreat 2014. I teach an online nonfiction class called Nonfiction Archaeology and believe that it is awesome :-) But, I am a little biased.

My husband Rusty and I have three children, all grown and enjoy much of our time traveling around the US in our RV that we lovingly call Chalet Fulton. I absolutely love daffodils and it makes me smile just saying the word.  I love my pajamas and comfy slippers. Iced Tea and Diet Caffeine Free Coke are staples in my home. I play a silly game called Clash of Clans on my iPad and can whop some butt with my army of minions.That’s it, that’s me in a nutshell. Not complicated or fancy, just me. 

The fabulous Sue Heavenrich is a freelance environmental journalist, but behind those Clark Kent glasses is a gal who is passionate about writing for kids. In her past life she’s taught science, been a camp counselor, taught skiing, home schooled her kids, and now works part time in a small-town library. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her counting bees, following ants, or chasing that Bad Woodchuck out of the garden.

Her children’s articles have been published in Highlights, Ranger Rick, Boy’s Quest, Cobblestone, and Wild Outdoor World. Sue reviews STEM literature and writes about science at Archimedes Notebook  and reviews kid’s books at Sally’s Bookshelf.
 

Writer-driven Facebook Groups for YOU by Kathy Halsey

Last Tuesday I posted about Facebook groups for writers and today I list MORE fabulous groups. These groups are usually closed, but most will accept you if they know you are a writer. Message or email the administrator to join. 

Get the 411 with These Groups

1. KidLit 411 is a great place to start your week off. It really does give you the lowdown on all things writerly in kid lit! The site indicates that it's "A Facebook group of children's writers and illustrators run by the founders of the website www.Kidlit411.com. Share your information and kid lit news, find critique partners, and join a fun community." Illustrators, middle grade, contests, hot blog posts for the week, it's covered by the highly talented and friendly Sylvia Liu and Elaine Kiely Kearns. If you have time for only one group, this is it.

2. WOW nonficpic is the first group I joined and I consider it my home.  Non-ficiton reigns supreme here and the founder, Kristen McGill Fulton, is both generous with information and a great teacher, to boot. This site states that "this group is for non-fiction picture book writers and the Non-Fiction Genre includes: Biographies, Reference, How-To's and Memoirs. It also includes Faction (Facts told in a fictitious way) and Historical Fiction (Fictitious story about real people, events and places).

3. Kids of Color Children's Books, hosted by Leila Monaghan, is a rich site full of information about diverse books and book pairings. We all should read diverse books and here's a place to dive in.  From the site: "A group to support diverse children's books. Home of the #ReadSameReadDifferent campaign promoting reading across cultures including African American, Latino/a, Asian, Native American, Muslim, Euro American, urban, rural and immigrant, of books with similar themes and levels. Think of a pair that would work well together? Just let us know!"

Winning the Prize ~ by Beth Gallagher

In April, the GROG had its Launch Party on Facebook. Beth Gallagher won the Nonfiction Archaeology prize, a "How-to-write-nonfiction-picture-books" course facilitated by Kristen McGill Fulton. I ask Beth to submit a post about her experience. This is what she said about the class and the prize.

From the desk of Beth Gallagher:

 

You know how your grandma always told you when life gives you lemons - make lemonade? Well, even if yours didn’t, mine said it enough for all of us. Turns out, sometimes its not so easy to squeeze the juice out of those babies! Writing has always been my way of making lemonade, whether it was journals, stories, magazine articles, or books.

 

The past few years have been a lemon-filled period of life for me. It went straight from the pure electric joy of adopting my precious daughters to the complete heart stopping terror of nearly losing one of them to a serious illness. All the while, I wrote. Sometimes uplifting and happy pieces, sometimes not so happy, occasionally dark and depressing stuff, but finally it was like I was trying to swim through Jello.

 

The dreaded writers’ block descended. I joined several social media groups for writers and creative people, and through them I’ve met some friends that turned out to be my glowing guides through the darkness – whether they know it or not. I was directed by one in particular (Jackie Wellington who invited me to read and comment daily on the GROG which I am glad I did.). And through the miracle of my friends' support and the GROG contest,  I was able to win the prize of the Nonfiction Archaeology class which I attended in April. (Don’t tell anyone, but apparently I’m addicted and am attending the June class as well.)

 

Let me just say that the whole thing was a slice of Heaven on my computer! Kristen is such a gifted writer and teacher! She is so organized and clear thinking that it seems to ooze out of the keyboard and into my own hands.  The class is very comprehensive in its scope and covers nonfiction writing so completely from the elementary level to advanced that it no longer scares me! I’ve been able to create a binder of all Kristen’s lessons and information that keep me focused when the lemons start to build up. I’m truly so grateful to my online “peeps” - Twitter to Facebook, from my critique groups to new friendships and Grog for saving me from myself, refocusing me on what I love to do, and for guiding me back to what I know can be a new career.

 

If you are at all interested in writing nonfiction (though a lot of Kristen’s information and advice can also be applied to fiction writing), I strongly recommend that you run not walk straight to her Nonfiction Archaeology class! You can find more information here: http://www.kristenfulton.org/nonfiction-class.html. I’m also happy to answer any of your questions about the class as a past & present student. Feel free to email me at semayawi.toadcottage@gmail.com.

 

Let's Go to the Hop!

Oh, baby, let’s go to the hop and the GROG Launch party when you need to cool your dancin’ shoes. (Don’t forget to comment  starting today to WIN FABULOUS PRIZES! See the rafflecopter on the right side of this post.) Kudos to Cathy C. Hall, who invited me on this writing process blog tour! Her blog theme is so clever and she has a fractured fishy tale to tell. Cathy invited me to answer a couple questions on the writing process. So let’s hop to it!
1. What am I working on?
I just finished my sixth draft of THE TWELVE DANCING WALRUSES, a fractured fairy tale, for Susanna Leonard Hill’s March Madness Spring Contest. I am researching two non-fiction projects: one on Gertrude Divine Webster, a founder of the Desert Botanical Gardens, and also a bio on Mary Colter, architect of many buildings at the Grand Canyon. Another NF topic on the horizon featured the Hohokam Indians who engineered the canal system that feeds Phoenix, AZ.  In July I’ll meet other NF tribe members at WOW Retreat in GA hosted by KristenMcGill Fulton. I belong to 12x12 and am proud that I’m 3/3 on draft & revision deadlines. Finally, I interviewed a group of watch/clock experts for a WIP I call ABOUT TIME, a NF science piece with STEM influences.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My work is eclectic and evolving. I’m drawn to topics about which I know next to nothing. I also write on subjects I wish were on the library shelves when I was a kid. I like discovering topics about women who were first in their field – hence Gertrude & Mary’s bios. As a new writer, I’m experimenting with fiction, non-fiction, biographies and even poetry to find my genre sweet spot. My picture books feature animal characters only and one of my picture books may morph into an early chapter book, especially after viewing Mira Riesberg’s Chapter Book Alchemist intro webinar last Friday.
3. Why do I write what I do?
As a former teacher/school librarian, I want to write books that give kids hope and make them laugh. With my NF material, I aim to teach a new idea in a unique way. I am very conscious of the quiet kids, the loners, the outsiders. I want to champion them in my work, too.
4.  How does your writing process work?
My process is still being discovered. I’ve been writing seriously for one year so I don’t have a true method yet. I’m learning what my process is and I’m OK w/that. Here’s what tends to happen: 
1. Feed the brain with coffee, Facebook, blogs, the newspaper, and reading in my genre. 
2. Research topics even if it’s a fiction picture book. 
3. Draft one comes fast, but crits/revisions slow me down and I ruminate. 
4. Rumination is walking the dog, talking nonstop to my hubs about a project, discussing sticking points with other writers, and taking a break for a few days. 
5. When I’m refreshed, I puzzle out whatever isn’t working and rewrite and repeat. 
6. When a story gels, I read it at the Dog-eared Pages, my fav bookstore run by YA author Anna Questerly, during Open Mic, or I send it to a contest or a computer file. I am waiting to submit my work, preferring to master the craft of writing first.

Now two GROGers hop on the blog train. Dance  over next Monday, April 7 to meet Jan Godown Annino on her blog and Suzy Leopold. Jan wrote the award-winning book, SHE SANG PROMISE: THE STORY OF BETTY MAE JUMPER, SEMINOLE TRIBAL LEADER. Suzy Leopold is an educator who reads and writes with students everyday. She is a writer and a creative painter (Suzy's art is one of our fab prizes, so be sure to comment on this post.) and one of my esteemed critique partners! Check out Suzy's blog for tips on her writing process, too. 
Comment to share your writing process, what you're working on and how your writing is unique. GROG ON.