Last Day, Hurray!

Here's hoping that the last day of the 5th Annual Picture Book Marathon finds you appreciating everything that you've accomplished this month. Whether you've done a half marathon, the full 26, or something in between, you should be proud of yourself!
How do you plan to celebrate?

Story Starters: A Few Fun Resources

These story starter sites are designed for kids, but since you're writing for kids they work just fine.

Don't forget to write your story while you play with this one on Scholastic's site. Or, try these ideas from authors such as Katherine Paterson, Mo Willems, and Jon Scieszka -- and get ready to celebrate Children's Book Week in the process. No luck? Check out these ideas for daily writing.

Show Me A Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling, by Emily Neuburger, might be more involved than you have time for during marathon month, but see if you can find it at your library or bookstore later. I want to make a set of the story rocks for my nephews, and then another set for myself.

Story Starter: Go Wordless

Today's story starter idea is a wordless picture book. I know, if you're not an illustrator, that seems like a weird one. But it forces you to think about the scenes in the book, like a mini movie or play. Sixteen spreads - what's going on? Write the stage directions.

Eleven days to go marathoners!

A Few Quick Questions....

Hang in there, marathoners, 10 days down and 18 to go. You're more than a third of the way if you're doing the whole marathon! And some of you half-marathoners will be finishing up this week.

Here's a quick (4 question, multiple choice) survey for you -- if you're doing the marathon, please take a moment to fill it out. 

Story Starters: Multiple Choice

Okay, choose one from each of these four categories:

Your character is:

• a frog
• a lizard
• a postman
• a mayor
• a duck

Who is also:

• a magician
• a toad in disguise
• a street musician
• a juggler
• despondent

And wants:

• to be famous
• to avoid bedtime at any cost
• cinnamon rolls for breakfast
• a new haircut
• to be an astronaut

But:

• Aunt Marge is coming to visit
• the babysitter is mean
• she can't sing
• she has a broken leg
• the store is fresh out of magic wands

Okay, go!

Story Starters: What Do You Hear?

The first of the story starters, for when you're running low on ideas:

Start with a sound. For example, "Crinch." or "Kapow!" or "Shh, shh, shhhh...." 

For a timely example, take a look at Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox, written by Susan Blackaby with characters and illustration created by Carmen Segovia. I love the little fox's "piff, piff, hoop, hoop," for instance. 

Think of some sounds that are fun to say. What stories do they bring to mind?

February 1! Let's Go!

By the time I post this many of you will have finished your first picture book draft. How's it going? Easy or hard? The sunshine and blue skies in Salt Lake today sure helped me!