Finish the Story #3 A Basketball, a Pillow, and a Pair of Boots

“Finish the Story #3 A Basketball, a Pillow, and a Pair of Boots” by Joan Y. Edwards

Basketball

pillow

Boots

Dear Readers,

Here Ye, Here Ye. Come on in.
Story #3 is about to begin.
Use all three props. Write a first page.
Make your story all about rage.

Post your writing in the comments below. At the end of a week, I’ll post all the stories with the names of the people who wrote them. I’ll give a free pitch and first page critique to one of the people who posts a comment. I will be the one critiquing your pitch and first page. If you win three times in a row from my blog, I ask that you give your third win to a friend.

A first page sent to an editor or agent would be double-spaced, a first page would be from 150-250 words for a novel, Young Adult, or Middle Grade. If it’s a picture book then 250 words would be almost the whole book. So go for what will make this writing exercise fun for you. The challenge is in using all three props: a basketball, a pillow, and a pair of boots in a meaningful way. The main emotion I’d like for you to show in your story on this first page is rage  – violent, uncontrollable anger. Synonyms: fury, anger, wrath, ire, passion, frenzy, madness, rave, storm, rampage (from Google Search)

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rage

http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rage

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rage

I hope you’ll consider participating. If you want to use these props in a story that you’re working on and don’t want to post your writing, please post a comment and let us know how using the pictured props and the emotion highlighted was fun for you. I’ll announce the winner of the free pitch and first page critique from me after midnight on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Here are links to two blog posts I did on pitch:

How to Entice an Editor/Agent with a Pitch(Logline)
http://www.joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/how-to-entice-an-editoragent-with-a-pitch-logline/

How to Deliver a Short Gutsy Pitch to Entice Editors, Agents, and Readers
http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/how-to-deliver-a-short-gutsy-pitch-to-entice-editors-agents-and-readers/

Think in abundance;
There Is a Publisher for Your Story!

Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

The Catholic Writers Conference – Online and Free – March 17-31, 2012

“The Catholic Writers Conference – Online and Free – March 17-31, 2012″ by Joan Y. Edwards

Register  http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/ Register and bookmark the site and check back for updates with added courses.

March 17-24 Workshops in the Forum area will be open 24 hours a day, so that you can read, do assignments and get feedback from the presenters at your own leisure. Presenters will be visiting them frequently. Presenters will not respond after March 24th, but the forums will be open.

March 24-31 One Hour Chats on Varying Topics and Pitches

• 20 Ways to Correct, Trim, and Enhance Your Manuscript by Joan Edwards
• Believe – Submit Your Manuscript by Joan Edwards
• Practice Your Pitch on Me by Joan Edwards
• Everything I Need to Know is on the Internet by Susan K. Stewart
• Introduction to ePublishing with Susan Stewart
• Self-Publishing: From Draft to Quality Book by Ellen Gable Hrkach
• The Future of Self-Publishing: E-Books by Ellen Gable Hrkach
• Tweeting Your Way to Success with Jo Linsdell

There will be other workshops. Publishers and/or agents will be there, too. They haven’t been announced yet. Check The Catholic Writers Conference  websute: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/index.php?name=Content_2&cid=2.

Here is a blurb about the three workshops I will teach. I did the first two workshops at the Muse Online Writers Conference in October. The people who attended said that they were good and hoped I would do the workshops again next October. This will be my first venture to have a chat with a workshop. I have participated in them, but never been the main speaker of a chat session.

• 20 Ways to Correct, Trim, and Enhance Your Manuscript by Joan Edwards

20 Ways to Correct, Trim, and Enhance Your Manuscript A Five Day Workshop Guide to correct grammar and punctuation. Replace telling words with vivid showing words with emotional impact. Cut words that don’t carry the plot, character, and emotional theme forward. Is the backstory essential? Does it contain crucial information, or can it be eliminated without loss of comprehension. Power of three. Delete or replace pet words. Vary sentence structure. If a sentence is giving your trouble, I’ll help with it.

Forum workshop and chat

• Believe – Submit Your Manuscript – Pub Sub 3rd Fri – by Joan Edwards

Believe – Submit Your Manuscript – PubSub3rdFri (Publisher Submission on the Third Friday). A Five Day Workshop The more manuscripts you submit, the better your chance at publication. What is PubSub3rdFri, Why be a Pub Subber? Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4. Steps to get manuscripts ready to submit, get manuscript to “ready” stage, choose a publisher, follow the guidelines, write a pitch, query letter, cover letter, proposal, final critique, proof, submitting, education and motivation.

Forum workshop and chat

• Practice Your Pitch on Me by Joan Edwards

Detailed Guide to Writing a Pitch. Write Your Pitch. Practice your pitch.

First Week March 17-24

Day 1 What is a pitch? Why does a writer need one? Using a finished manuscript or ideas for a new story, write Part 1 of the pitch. genre, page count, universal theme (______+_____ leads to _______)
Day 2 Write part 2 of the pitch. What is the main character and the problem or dilemma he has. Tell the antagonist and how they keep main character from getting what they want. Why should I care? Tell the action the main character must take to reach their goal? What do they have to overcome to reach their goal?
Day 3. Write part 3 of the pitch. Tell how the main character changes emotionally and why? Explain the underlying universal theme for the story.
Day 4. Try out your pitch on me. Revise it for next day.
Day 5. Try out your pitch again on me. Reverse. I’ll pitch your story to you, using your words on a tape recorder, video, or twitter (private message). Perhaps hearing me pitch your stories, it’ll help you get it to an enticing, magnetic pitch that no editor, agent, or reader will be able to turn down.

Second Week March 24-31

One hour chat to try out your final pitch and celebrate getting better and better.

I hope you’ll get a chance to participate. Please share with those you think might be interested in taking one of the workshops at the conference.

I may not update this blog so be sure and check The Catholic Writers Conference website 

http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/index.php?name=Content_2&cid=2

for more information about the workshops and times for the chat sessions. Let me know if you’re registered and plan to take one of my workshops. Then I can look forward to seeing you there! Anticipation is a lot of the fun of a vacation, trip, party, or special event. It’s going to be fun.

Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for believing in me. I’m proud of you for believing in you.

Do something fun for you today!
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

Winner of the Finish the Story #2 is Elaine Green

Dear Joy, Elaine, and Linda,
I appreciate all three of you leaving comments on this Finish the Contest #2  Bananas, Scissors, a Vacuum Cleaner, and a Ferris Wheel.
Joy and Elaine, both of you provided great first pages for the story. You added tension and suspense to the story. Thank you.
I asked Random.org for a random number from 1-3. It chose number 2. That means that Elaine Green won a free pitch and first page critique. Congratulations to you, Elaine.
You have my email address, Elaine. Just send me your pitch and first page. You have one year to send me one.

Have a fun day!
Joan Y. Edwards

Think in Abundance

“Think in Abundance” by Joan Y. Edwards

People who lived through the crash of the stock market in 1929 had to overcome a big period of time when there seemingly wasn’t enough. My mother struggled with this belief that was passed down by her parents. In turn I inherited a little of this belief myself. It was not until I was 47 years old that I realized that I had surrounded everything around me with negatives. There wasn’t enough of anything for me. Blaming others for my situation didn’t help calm me down on the inside. Blaming myself for the situation wasn’t much better. When I stopped looking for someone to blame (myself or others) and searched for the solution, I discovered that I had to change my thinking. It wasn’t necessarily what I was doing that was wrong. It was the thinking in my mind that had become cluttered with experiences that were so negative that I didn’t know if I could live any more. How did I get from being a positive thinker to a negative thinker? It doesn’t really matter. The solution I felt was in finding a way to fill myself with positive thoughts.

Why look for a job when you think there’s no way you can get one?

Why try to pay your bills when you say you never have the money to pay them?

Why have a child when you think you won’t have the money to raise her or him?

These thoughts are self-defeating. Choose your thoughts every day. Surround yourself with a positive spin to what’s happening to you. Otherwise, death will come sooner than you think, only because of your thoughts.

“I never have enough money to pay my bills.”

“I have just enough money to pay my bills.”

“I have enough money to pay my bills plus $20.00 to put in savings.”

“I have enough money to pay my bills, plus $20.00 to put in savings, plus $20.00 to give as a gift to anyone I want to share my money with.

The statements that go through your mind on a consistent basis are your belief system. They can be changed. You can change them. Visualize yourself with an abundance of money for whatever you want or need. Hear yourself saying, “I have an abundance of money for all my wants and needs.” Remember the sensations when you touch the pay check or the money you earn from the sales you make. Say “I can feel the things that my money buys for me: my house, my clothing, my transportation, my vacation. I share with others through my church or favorite charity. When I’m a good steward with my money, God rewards me with more money.”

“If I share my money, I won’t have enough left.” If these are your thoughts, change your thinking. “I have an abundance of money to pay my just debts and to share with others.” Don’t share money unless you have paid your bills first.  Pay all your bills first. That’s being a good steward with your money.

I got into too much debt one time. It did not feel good at all. I used credit cards. I based paying the credit cards on both my first husband’s and my salary. NOT a good plan. If one of you loses a job, there goes your payment plan right out the window. I didn’t realize what keeping a balance on my credit card was doing to me. I was avoiding saying “No” to myself or my family for things that weren’t needed. I charged them.

My older daughter, Lorrie, was amazed when her college roommate paid off the balance she owed the credit card company. Lorrie said, “Do you mean they’ll let you do that? They’ll let you pay it off in full when the first payment is due?” Her roommate told her, “Yes.” It changed her whole way of thinking. Lorrie loves to save money. She has saved oodles of money by paying off the whole balance on her credit card when her first payment is due. You can, too.

Credit Card Companies may have this mantra: They may be saying: Our customers owe us more money than they can pay off on the first month. We want them to pay us interest. We want our customers to always owe us money.  That’s how we make money. We’ll raise their credit so they can owe us more money.” Actually, credit card companies provide a great service for us. If you use it as a crutch and never get it paid off, it can disable you financially. Low and behold, it has also turned the tables on the financial institutions because so many people have not been able to pay their just debts. The whole system has gone defunct.  The United States Government owes way too much money – more than they can possibly pay when the next payment comes due. Other countries are running in that same circle, not good. You can’t change everybody. You can’t change other people. However, you can change your beliefs.

I believe that the credit card idea came from the Company Store.  People worked in the mines. They needed items for their families to survive. They mining company set up a company store where their workers could purchase groceries, clothing, household items. etc.  If they didn’t have the money, the Company Store would let them have it on credit…they would take what they owed out of their next pay check.  This made the workers even more dependent upon the company. The thinking starts going in a circle and keeps empowering it to stay within those boundaries. Stopping it gets harder and harder…sort of like a roller coaster that won’t stop or a ferris wheel that has no brakes and keeps on spinning.

If you have a credit card that you’ve charged to the limit and are paying interest on the money, I encourage you to set a new mindset. Say, “I have enough money to pay off my credit card debt.” Pay off 20% of what you owe plus $20.00 every month until you have it paid in full. Don’t borrow any more, until it is paid off. Say to yourself, “I have the money to pay the full amount I charge on a credit card before the next payment is due.” This will keep you from having to pay interest on the money.

This problem is widespread. Almost the whole world has done this type of borrowing and now its way of payment has been pulled out from under its feet.  You need to have the courage to live within your means, to empower yourself to have an abundance of everything that you need.

When you are good stewards with your money, God rewards you with more. Ask and you shall receive. Believe and it will be given to you.

What are your beliefs? If they are not getting you the results you want, change the words. Ask in abundance. Take action to prove you are a good steward of all that God has given you. Be thankful for all that you have.  I believe that action equals satisfaction. Action leads to satisfaction. Take a little step towards your new belief. You’ll be amazed at the difference a few words in your mind will make. The changes in your mind create the energy for you to do things differently and to make a positive difference in your own life.

I pray that you have an abundance of everything that you need and want.

Feel free to ask questions and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Never Give Up
Change the words you’re saying to yourself
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

Joan’s Tips for Blogging, Computers, Etc.

“Joan’s Tips for Blogging, Computers, Etc.” by Joan Y. Edwards

From time to time, I think, “Wow! I need to tell my readers that.”

I wonder if they have trouble with this, too. So I’m starting a blog post that I can add to if I think of something to remind me and to possibly help you, too.

1. If you copy a URL (website link) from a site, and put it in a document and it doesn’t work, look at the link: 20% is a code for a space. If you see a link that says: http://www.joanyedwards.com/20%20%, it should look like this: http://www.joanyedwards.com/. Somehow two extra spaces got added to your link. Sometimes it’s a hidden link and you can’t see it. If you click on a web link and it says 404, can’t be found, or 400 bad request, check the screen at the top of the internet browser box. You might find spaces that were added by accident. In place of each space, the computer put 20%. 20% means space in computer talk. Take the 20%20% out and try again.

2. If you find that a link for a site isn’t a good link, try the basic home link of the main website. For instance, if you had the link,
http://www.joanyedwards.com/floodle.htm, and it wasn’t a good, working link, try the main website, which is http://www.joanyedwards.com. Then you can search for links to categories on the main site that you want to see. http://www.joanyedwards.com.FlipFlapFloodle.htm.

2. Write a copy of your blog post in your word processor and save it. Sometimes the blog might not get saved correctly. Then you’ve covered your heartache.

3. In WordPress Blog, if you want one space between lines, hit SHIFT and ENTER. Result is one line spacing. I haven’t tried it in Blogger.

4. Save your work, put the date your started on it. You can name each version for the date you wrote it. Then if you change your mind about revisions, you’ve got it.

5.When you post a comment on anybody’s blog, write “Dear” and the name of the blogger. Also sign your name at the end. Otherwise, your email might go into the SPAM folder. The person you wanted to see your message, might not even see it. SPAM checkers check to see if the email address is a good one. They also check to see if the name at the top and the email address match. Another thing the automatic SPAM checkers do is that they delete the comments with more than one link or with links that seem like they are selling a product. Akismet is the SPAM checker that WordPress uses. Many spammers write beautiful things to you hoping you’ll click on the links in their comment or their link in their address. I even checked out some of them and wrote them at the email addresses given. They were not good, authentic addresses. The emails came back. If you do these things, the bloggers you post comments on will have a better chance of reading it.

6. Lately I’ve noticed that the bad guys have started a new tactic to upset you and infect your computer with a virus. If you click on a site that starts flashing a message that your computer is infected with one or more horrible viruses or malware, and it tells you click a link or download any software to check for it, DON’T DO IT. THE MINUTE YOU CLICK ON THAT DOWNLOAD LINK, THAT PARTICULAR SITE BEGINS TO DOWNLOAD A VIRUS TO YOUR COMPUTER. THEY MAY TRY TO SELL YOU SOFTWARE. DON’T BUY IT. YOU’LL BE GIVING YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION TO UNTRUSTWORTHY PEOPLE. IT’S A SCARE TACTIC.  Hit the X to close your browser, to close down the window.

The best thing is to purchase anti-virus software that will protect your computer. Have it scan your computer often. It will put any viruses in quarantine so that they won’t hurt your computer. I have Norton’s Anti-Virus software and an additional program that tells you if a site is safe or not. That really helps.

Thanks, Holly Jahangiri, for suggesting that I reword this to make the meaning clear. She also stated in her comment that you should use software from a reputable antivirus software company like Symantec or McAfee, or freebies like Avast, are well-known to be safe, effective, and reputable. You want to use a company you CAN trust. If you’re running a hardware firewall and a decent antivirus program, you can pretty safely ignore little websites that want to “help” you deal with the nasties. They’re often RUN by the nasties.

I hope this information helps you. I’ll add to this from time to time when I see something that I believe you’d like to know.

Thanks for reading my blog. I appreciate it.

Do something today because it’s fun for you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

Finish the Story #2 Contest: Bananas, Scissors, a Vacuum Cleaner, and a Ferris Wheel

“Finish the Story #2 The Clues were Bananas, Scissors, a Vacuum Cleaner, and a Ferris Wheel” by Joan Y. Edwards

I feel really good. Four people contributed to our first “Finish the Story” contest – 42 people read the post. I thought that showed that people were interested and read it even if they didn’t contribute. Hopefully this time we will have more people participating. I hope those who participated before will join in again. Perhaps a few others will join in this time, so that instead of four people participating, we will have eight. I’ll be happy with any number of participants and readers, but I get really excited when more people join in. I love to have fun with others. Especially, with you.

The clues for solving the mystery were three of the following: bananas, scissors, a vacuum cleaner, and a ferris wheel:

Bananas

Scissors

Vacuum Cleaner

Ferris Wheel

Here it goes. Esther is sixth grader who wants to be a detective like Columbo on television, but she wanted to save the people from being killed in the first place.

Joan Y. Edwards wrote:

STORY A

Esther had to stay after school in detention on Tuesday. She’d gotten in trouble because  her banana accidently slipped out of her lunch box. She couldn’t help that Stacy Wentworth accidently stepped on it, and fell. 

Now Esther was going to have to pedal her bike faster than anything to get to the county fair.  The morning paper said that Laurene Hanson, a kindergarten girl was reported missing yesterday. The last time Laurene had been seen was at the fair. Esther had to get there and look for clues to help find that little girl before it was too late. 

MORE OF STORY A

Elaine Green wrote: (Thanks for coming back again, Elaine.)

Esther pedaled harder and faster than she ever had before. To her surprise she found herself popping wheelies like all the boys did when they were trying to show off for the girls. In the back of her head she knew she was going to be in more trouble for going straight to the fair and not home to get her chores done. Tuesday afternoon was her day to vacuum her room and playroom, but her mother was just going to have to understand this time.

Anyway, it wasn’t her fault that Stacy was such a klutz. I mean,”who doesn’t see a banana on the floor?” she thought. How did that whole episode get so twisted that she was the only one staying after school in detention in the first place? Esther was not about to act like the drama queen that Stacy had. She had the whole cafeteria watching as she screeched and held her ankle as if her foot was going to detach from her leg if she let go. Esther just sat staring in disbelief until a teacher came by pulling her from her perplexed gaze.

Stacy was not anywhere a concern to Esther now. Right now, she needed to focus on getting to the fair to find clues to help find sweet little Laurene. Laurene was the same age as Esther’s little sister. Mica. They were not in the same classroom, but they played together sometimes on the playground after school. She was kindhearted, often quiet at times, but tended to come out of her shell and show her funny side when she was around people she trusted.

“I have to do everything in my power to find her,” Esther thought to herself. As she looked around the fair trying to get her bearings, she decided that jumping on the ferris wheel would be a great way to get an aerial view of the whole fair and give her time to think which direction she needed to go to start her detective work. Esther knew time was of the essence so she bought a roll of tickets and jumped in line. As the ferris wheel helper was attaching the safety chain, she saw Kenny running towards her waving his hands and screaming, “Hold the ride.” He made it just in time and jumped on board next to Esther. She was a little annoyed that she was not going to be able to strategize her next step on her own, but she also knew deep down that Kenny would be an asset to her. He was always good about following up on loose ends.”

MORE OF STORY A

Joan Y. Edwards wrote:

Kenny said, “I thought your Mother had you glued to a vacuum cleaner on Tuesdays.”

Esther said, “Yeah. Today there’s more than dust bunnies on my mind. “Laurene Hanson is missing.”

Kenny’s eyes grew wide, “Laurene. Oh No.”

Esther said, “WSBY News said she was last seen here at the fair.”

Kenny said, “So, you’re on the ferris wheel to case the area.”

Esther said, “Right.”

Kenny said, “Can I help?”

Esther hesitated, bit her nails, “I want to solve this myself.”

The ferris wheel moved up a little to let another person on.

Kenny said, “But it’s Laurene who’s missing. The police and rescue people are looking and they haven’t found her. You think you’re going to find her by yourself?

Esther said, “That’s what I was hoping.”

Kenny said, “I’ll let you take all the glory. I just want to find Laurene. We can be more effective and successful if we work together.”

The ferris wheel stopped to let another person on.

Esther looked back into Kenny’s eyes,  and said, “You’re right. The main thing is finding Laurene before something bad happens to her. I need your help.”

Kenny said, “Thanks.”

Esther said, “Here’s what I’m thinking. Tell me what I’m forgetting and tell me your “what ifs.”

Kenny said, “All right. I’ll look for the loose ends…things you might have overlooked.”

Now it’s your turn to add to the story:

And a different twist using the first information I gave above,

STORY B

Joan wrote: Esther had to stay after school in detention Tuesday. She’d gotten in trouble because  her banana accidently slipped out of her lunch box. She couldn’t help that hot shot Mandy Stephenson, head cheerleader, had accidently stepped on it, and broken her ankle.

Now Esther was going to have to pedal her bike faster than anything to get to the county fair.  The morning paper said that her best friend, Stacy Wentworth was missing. The last time she had been seen was at the fair. Esther had to get there and look for clues to help find her friend before it was too late.

Joy Moore wrote: Esther just sat for a moment staring in space.  She was told that she could go.  Detention was over.  The truth was she couldn’t move.  Her mouth was dry and she had a strong urge throw up.  What was she going to do now?

Her best friend Stacy Wentworth was missing.  There of course was nothing to suggest foul play.  But Esther knew better.  In her locker were found the three things to prove that something was amiss.

1. A banana peel.  No one knew it but Esther knew that Stacy was allergic to bananas.  It happened when she was one year old.  She swelled up like a balloon.  The antidote was a complicated mixture of B-pollen mixed with an antihistamine spread out over peanut butter bread.  Stacy couldn’t swallow a pill.  B- pollen had a metallic taste.  It had to be mixed with peanut butter and spread over bread.  In the remote area in which the lived B-pollen was hard to come by.  Better just to avoid it all together.

2. A vacuum cleaner. Also unknown to people outside her immediate circle was her allergy to dust.  Her allergy was so extreme that if she came within six feet of it she broke out in hives.  The family was careful to keep the vacuum in the garage closet, locked away.  Never did Stacy get into the car from the garage.  Even through the door of the locked closet, the fumes would make their way to her skin.  One time the hives were so big, they looked like small pillows ready to burst open with tiny feathers.

3.  A ferris wheel.  The most mysterious of all.  It was only one small moment in time.  When Stacy was five years old she was stranded on top of a ferris wheel for eight hours while they tinkered with the machine to get it working again.  Eight hours of never knowing if you will see your family again.  With the wind whipping through your hair and the people on the ground so small below you.  It was after that, Stacy vowed never again to get on a ferris wheel or even visit a county fair. 

So why was Stacy missing from the fair a place she would never go?  And why did her locker contain the three things she would not under any condition come close to?

There was one thing Esther knew.  Whatever happened to Stacy she was the one to find out.

Way to go, Joy and Elaine. That was fun. Thanks.

Okay. Other readers. Put your dialogue and text in the comments. I’ll add it to the story along with your name as contributing to it. I’ll also add your name to the tags so that the search engines can find it.

Anyone who leaves a comment before midnight on Sunday, January 22, 2012 will have a chance to win a free pitch and first page critique.

Your turn. Please add to our story. Help us finish the story. Use three of the following bananas, scissors, a vacuum cleaner, and a ferris wheel.

Thanks for reading my blog and for leaving a comment. Please feel free to share with your friends. I appreciate you very much.

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

Winners of Finish the Story #1 Contest

Since it was my Birthday Present having this contest, I am awarding each person who left a comment above – Linda Andersen, June Phyllis Baker, Brenda Madole, and Elaine Green a free pitch and first page critique!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yee Haw! Send me your pitch and first page to joanyedwards@earthlink.net. I look forward to seeing your work!

Do something good for you today! Laugh! Smile! Giggle! Never Give Up! Joan Y. Edwards

 

 

What Are Picture Books?

“What Are Picture Books?” by Joan Y. Edwards

Picture books are stories that are illustrated on every page of the book. They are usually 32 pages, but can be 24, 48, 64 pages. The illustrations help to tell the story. Without some of the pictures, the reader might not understand the story. In other words, the text depends on the illustrations to help tell the story. An author can both write the story and do the illustrations, or the story can be written by one person and illustrated by a different person.

Karen Cioffi shared that Claire Saxby quoted a publisher’s definition of a picture book as “40% words, 40% illustration, and 20% X-factor.”

Picture books come in many different sizes…really big, really small and anywhere in the middle. The have them 4×4 inches. And they have big books that might be 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide. You can get a book to fit in your pocket. You can get a book to hang on your wall. Books are fun to hang around with…from early ages to infinity and beyond. Publishers make their choice on the size appropriate for the story.

Nowadays, most publishers want shorter text for picture books. Text can vary from less than 500 words to at the most 1000 words.

They have baby books that are made of non-toxic fibers that babies can chew on and not hurt themselves. These are similar to concept books, but shorter.

Board Books can be for ages 1-3. Board Books are concept books, very few words- 300 or less with concepts. For instance, a picture of a truck with the word truck or a letter of the alphabet with a word that begins with that letter. They are made of thick board usually laminated so that the books withstand the rough treatment and constant use by small children. Eric Carle’s Book of Shapes is a good example of a board book.

Regular – traditional picture books of 32 pages are for ages 4-8. They are from 500-1000 words. Some are written in rhyme.

Wendy Martin in her article, “Illustration for Picture Books,” says the artist’s tools for planning a picture book are: 1. a character sheet, 2. a storyboard, and 3. a book dummy.”

A character sheet has pictures of each character drawn in different positions: front, side, back; happy and sad; angry and envious, puzzled and an “aha” moment or other traits.

A storyboard is one sheet of paper divided into the sections to represent the pages for the picture book. Artists or authors fill it with thumbnail sketches of illustrations and where the text will go.

On Elizabeth Dulemba’s website is a “Blank Storyboard for You to Use:” http://dulemba.com/FreeTools/Storyboard.jpg.

A book dummy has real pages with text and illustrations pasted into place so that the editors can get an idea of what the book will look like. It makes it possible for changes to be suggested and everything put in its right place before printing.

Authors may also make these to help build their idea of how the story will look on paper.

The author of the story makes sure that there is a problem in the story. Just like with any story, the following will be true.

A. Introduce problem/want/desire. Protagonist wants something.

B. Present obstacles and escalate. Something stands in the way of the protagonist, so that he has to struggle to get what he/she/it wants. The Protagonist overcomes obstacles (often in threes). The Protagonist creates his own solution.

C. Climax. Protagonist gets goal, chooses another goal over the original one, or comes to accept he/she will not get goal.

D. Resolution. Protagonist either achieves or doesn’t achieve goal, but is changed by experience.

Here are examples of three delightful picture books. There are hundreds of great picture books.

The first is my own book, Flip Flap Floodle.

1. Joan Y. Edwards, author and illustrator. Flip Flap Floodle, the happy little duck who Never Gives Up.

Flip Flap Floodle

Becky Shillington, in her review on Amazon, gives a great pitch for my book. She says,”FLIP, FLAP, FLOODLE is a delightful story about a happy little duck who loves to play his flute. With a spring in his step and a song in his heart, Flip sets out one day to play a tune for Grandma, but runs into hungry Mr. Fox along the way. Sure that his song will save him, Flip (with a little help from his feisty mother) proves that determination and perseverance can “out fox” the wiliest foe.”
Thank you, Becky.

Flip Flap Floodle keeps playing his song even inside the fox’s belly. Hear Flip’s song. Flip’s mother hears him playing his song in the fox’s belly. His song saves him, but he has to have a little help from his mother and pepper.

I know the authorities prefer that the protagonist do it all by himself. However, I want children to remember that it’s all right to get help once in a while. I also want them to learn the power of never giving up on their talents and dreams.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Flap-Floodle-Joan-Edwards/dp/1594572852/

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flip-flap-floodle-joan-edwards/1007194393

2. Ginger Nielson, author and illustrator. “Gunther, the Underwater Elephant:”

Gunther, the Underwater Elephant

“Gunther, the little elephant, by accident gets separated from his family and floats out to sea. He learns to use his trunk as a snorkel. When he returns home, a tropical bird tells him of a tragedy involving his mother. Gunther uses items from his underwater journey to save the day.

4RV Publishing:
http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/children-page-5.php

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Gunther-Underwater-Elephant-Ginger-Neilson/dp/0983274029/

3. Holly Jahangiri. Trockle. Illustrations by Jordan M. Vinyard

Trockle (A monster under Steven's bed)

“Stephen doesn’t like to go to bed because he knows a monster is underneath. Even when told that Monster Repellent was sprayed under the bed, he knows it didn’t work. Under the bed, Trockle, the monster, doesn’t want to go to sleep because he’s afraid of the huge monster above.”

4RV Publishing:
http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/children-page-3.php

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trockle-holly-jahangiri/1009194112?ean=9780979751325&itm=1&usri=trockle

Here are three more of my picture book favorites:

4. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz.

5. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith.

6. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond.

Below are resources I read to write this article. I hope you find them helpful.

I hope you enjoy reading about picture books. If you purchase a copy of Flip Flap Floodle, either paperback, Kindle, or Nook, send me a confirmation of the shipping of your order to joanyedwards @ earthlink.net and I’ll send you a jpg of an early illustration of Mr. Fox that’ll make you laugh your socks off.

Everyone who leaves a comment for this blog post between now and January 31, 2012 will have their name put in a hat. Random.org will choose a person to win a free critique of a pitch and 1000 words of a manuscript. Please leave a comment. I’d like for you to be the winner. Your comments make me a winner every time. I love hearing from you.

 

Resources

1. About.com. Children’s Books. “Picture Books:” http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/picturebooks/Picture_Books.htm
2. Aaron Zens. “Character Design:” http://aaronzenz.com/characterdesign.html
3. American Library Association. “The Caldecott Medal Home Page-Winners from 1938 to Present:” http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal
4. Claire Zaxby. “The Difference Between School Readers and Picture Books by Claire Saxby:” http://robynopie.blogspot.com/2009/08/claire-saxbys-sheep-goat-and-creaking.html
5. Elizabeth Dulemba. “Storyboard for Paco” http://dulemba.com/FreeTools/Paco-Thumbnails.jpg and
6. Elizabeth Dulemba. “Blank Storyboard for You to Use:” http://dulemba.com/FreeTools/Storyboard.jpg
7. Enoch Pratt Free Library. “Guide to Picture Books:”   http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/children/index.aspx?id=4116
Eric Carle’s Book of Shapes: http://www.amazon.com/My-Very-First-Book-Shapes/dp/0399243879
8. Ginger Nielson. Gunther, the Underwater Elephant: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/children-page-5.php
9. Harold Underdown. “Chapter 8: Book Formats and Age Levels:” http://www.underdown.org/cig_3e_ch08a.htm
10. Holly Jahangiri. Trockle. Illustrations by Jordan M. Vinyard
http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/children-page-3.php — http://www.amazon.com/Trockle-Holly-Jahangiri/dp/0979751322
11. Joan Y. Edwards. Flip Flap Floodle, the happy little duck who Never Gives Up.
Amazon—Barnes & Noble
12.Keith Schoch. “Teach with Picture Books:” http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/
13. Leslie Reece. Department of Education, Western Australia. “Picturebooks:” http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/fiction/classroom/picturebooks/
14. Margot Finke. “How to Write a Picture Book with Fabulous Rhyme & Meter:”  http://www.underdown.org/mf-rhyme-and-meter.htm
15. Meghan McCarthy. “An Illustrator’s Guide to Creating a Picture Book:” http://www.meghan-mccarthy.com/illustratorsguide.html
16. Mem Fox. “So You Want to Write a Picture Book.” http://www.memfox.net/so-you-want-to-write-a-picture-book.html
17. Michael Hyatt. “Write a Winning Book Proposal.” http://michaelhyatt.com/product/writing-a-winning-book-proposal
18. MM DelRosario. “What is a Picture Book? http://mmdelrosario.hubpages.com/hub/what-is-a-picture-book
19. New York Public Library. “100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know.” http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=61
20. Steve Barancik. “How to Write a Children’s Book:”http://www.best-childrens-books.com/how-to-write-a-childrens-book.html
21. Tara Lazar “Picture Book Construction – Know Your Layout:” (a template) http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/picture-book-construction-know-your-layout/
22. Tracy Marchini. “Nine Factors that Make a Picture Book Successful :” http://tmarchini.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/9-factors-that-make-a-picture-book-successful/
23. Umbral Walker. Dreamings. “Children’s Books vs Middle Grade vs. Young Adult (YA) Novels:”
http://web.me.com/umbralwalker/Dreamings/Updates/Entries/2010/5/3_Children%E2%80%99s_vs_Middle_Grade_vs_Young_Adult_(YA)_Novels.html
24. Uri Shulevitz. “Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books:” http://mightyartdemos.com/mightyartdemos-shulevitz.html
25. Wendy Martin. “Illustration for Picture Books, Part 1:” http://wendymartinillustration.com/wordpress/2009/11/11/illustration-for-picture-books-part-1/
26. Wendy Martin. “Illustration for Picture Books, Part 11: http://wendymartinillustration.com/wordpress/2009/11/11/illustration-for-picture-books-part-2/
27. Wikipedia.org. “Picture Books:” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picture_book
28. WiseGeek.com. “What is a Picture Book?” http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-picture-book.htm

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

Finish the Story #1: All That Was Left – a Stapler, a Money Bag, and a Bird Ornament

“Finish the Story #1: All That Was Left Behind Was a Stapler, a Money Bag, and a Bird Ornament” by Joan Y. Edwards

I thought I’d try something new. I call it, “Finish the Story.” Actually you can write your own first page using the three props. You can free write what you think comes next in the story. You can write what you think comes before this part in the story. You can add something to the middle of this story. My purpose is to get you to think outside the box. I want you to get your creative juices going. You can insert one or more of the props into your own story.  I thought this might be a fun way to use random pictures I’ve taken of things in my house to use as props to help us improve our writing skills. I plan to take photos to use at least once a week during 2012. I’ll do one “Finish the Story” at least once a month. Perhaps more…perhaps less depending upon your interest and participation.

Joan Y. Edwards said: At the end of the storm, all that was left was: a stapler, a money bag, and a bird ornament.

Stapler

Money Bag

Bird Blowing Horn Ornament

The wind waged a war with Beth’s small apartment near the railroad tracks. It shook so much the walls vibrated like a dentist drill in her mouth. The last train had gone by ten years ago. She looked out the window and saw a black funnel coming toward her. She picked up the afghan from a chair and ran to the bathroom. She climbed over the sides of the porcelain tub and knelt down in it. She covered herself with the afghan and prayed.

June Phyllis Baker wrote: Holding on the side of the tub, Beth lifted one wobbly leg over the tub at time. Shattered glass from the mirror  covered the floor. 

How would she get out of here without cutting herself? She felt  her way in the dark. She pulled the piece of loose plaster that was dangled from the wall onto the floor like a trail of bread crumbs.

Beth put one foot in front of the other and entered what was once her living room. She wrapped her arms around herself. She was alone and scared.The windows had been blown out. The Christmas tree laid on the floor.  All her favorite ornaments were destroyed. 

“Merry Christmas!” she said. Her eyes filled with tears.

A voice from somewhere called  her name.

“Beth? Thank God you’re alright.”

Linda Andersen added: The air grew quiet and still, like the beach in December.  Beth saw clipped trees, walls flat on the ground, and debris everywhere.  How could she possibly think of a vacation at a time like this?  She checked herself.  No broken bones, no bleeding.  She was alive, even though she stood in a pile of shattered glass. She shook out the afghan that had covered her during the storm and discovered two large holes.  How had she escaped unharmed?

Brenda Madole added: Had it really been 10 years since she left family and friends in Sacramento for this? What was she doing in Ashland, KS anyway? Beth’s questions and thoughts made her mind as dizzy as the twister ravaging her apartment building. The next thing she remembered was seeing the worried look of her elderly neighbor Mrs. O’Cleary closer than Beth would have liked. It seemed all the tenants were gathered in her apartment, or what was left of it. Of course they were just going through looking for survivors and anything that may be a reminder of life before the twister.  As Beth joined in the dazed effort, she couldn’t believe the devastation. She aimlessly looked around when the glare of a reflection caught her eye. Upon closer look, Beth realized it was her favorite stapler from Jr. High sparkling in the post-storm sun. She quickly ran to it as you would an old friend. When she grabbed her stapler, she found next to it her father’s old money bag from the bank he worked in for over 20 years and the tacky Tweety Christmas ornament Grandma sent four years ago. Only those three items remained of her earthly possessions. Beth laughed to herself at the irony of the only things she now had were from her past. The same past she had spent the last 10 years trying to forget. At that moment all the confusion left Beth as surely as the storm had left and she knew what she must do. Go home. Regardless of who or what she would find, Beth knew she must return home to Sacramento.

Joan Y. Edwards said: But how could she just take off and leave these people. They were her family now and they needed her. But the chasm between her and her Mother had gone on long enough. She’d come back here, if she needed to. However, she had to go talk to her Mother in Sacramento. Ten years of not speaking seemed like a long enough cooling off time. Perhaps they could make amends.

What was the best way to get there? She looked at her car…what was left of it, looked like a flattened soda can squished by a giant. It wouldn’t be that car.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right, Beth?”

Elaine Green added: Beth turned around to see Crain’s sweet face. He was still as handsome as ever even with all the soot and dust in his hair. Looking at him, she actually caught a glimpse of what he would look like twenty years from now with salt and pepper hair. His eyes proved he was shaken and scared. However, his grip on Beth’s shoulder was tender, yet firm. He wanted to prove to be as strong and comforting to Beth like she unknowingly had been for him throughout the years. He had adored Beth since the day she rolled into Ashland in her two door coupe stuffed with every last one of her belongings. To Crain it was like yesterday watching her open her car door and basically fall out of the tiny space she had left herself to drive across country to start her new life. Yet, despite her disheveled appearance, to Crain she looked like a tall angel with her golden hair, long legs and scruffy jeans, flip-flops and plaid untucked shirt. Beth never knew what a breath of fresh air she had been in Crain’s life over the years. Her California beauty and sweet temperament is what got him through most of the long hours sitting on his tractor going round and round sowing his wheat fields. They had become dear friends, but he had never found the right time or courage from within to tell her how he really felt.

“You all right.” he asked again.

Beth without thinking fell into his chest and became as limp as a rag doll, yet somehow maintained the tightest squeeze around his neck. It was the first time since the twister turned their small town into rubble that she was able to release all of her emotions. She didn’t feel so alone and scared about standing in a pile of broken glass and fallen walls or as anxiety driven about the future she was about to endure seeing her mother. At this particular moment she felt safe and for her that was all that mattered.

Now add your part.

Thanks for joining in the fun. Now finish the story. If you add parts to the story in your comments, I’ll add them to the text of this blog with your name added as writing it.  Every day I’ll add what you, the readers, put in your comments. I’ll add your name to the tags so that search engines can find what you wrote here.

Everyone who posts a comment or sentences for the story will have a chance to win a free pitch and first page critique. I’ll choose the random winner after midnight on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. It’s a way to celebrate my birthday.

Good luck. Have fun! If you want to leave a whole story about this in your comment, that’s okay, too. Whatever it inspires, go for it! Please leave a comment, even if you don’t add to the story. It is fun to hear from you. You are important to me. Without you, I wouldn’t have a blog, it would be more of a log. You are the biggest part of my blog. Thanks.

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

Submit Your Manuscript – Pub Sub Goals for 2012

“Submit Your Manuscript – Pub Sub Goals for 2012″ by Joan Y. Edwards

Pub Sub 3rd Fri Participant

 

Today I’d like to invite you to become a Pub Subber. I’d like to see if you would join me and other writers and illustrators in PubSub3rdFri (Publisher Submission on the Third Friday of the Month).

I heard about Chris Baty’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) in November each year. In 2009, I thought why not have a system to encourage people to submit their work on a regular basis. Dun da Dunn! PubSub3rFri was born.

To become a Pub Subber, focus during 2012 on submitting one or more of your quality creative works to a critique group or professional editor, book or magazine publisher, editor, agent, or contest on the third Friday of each month.

If there are twelve of your works out there in the submission world, you’ll have a better chance of getting work published. Each time you submit your work, you increase your chances for getting published. If you submit one month out of the year, you have an 8% chance of being published. If you submit 6 months, you have increased your chances 50% for that year. If you submit all 12 months, you improve your chances 100%.

You want it to be as natural for you to submit to a publisher as it is to submit your work to a critique group. A friend reminded me that I shouldn’t submit something if it’s not ready. That’s true. You don’t want to send work that has not been proofed, revised, and proofed again. However, you may have stories that have been revised and critiqued more than twenty times. Yet, you haven’t submitted them anywhere. With PubSub3rdFri, I hope to encourage you to submit your manuscripts.

Each time you submit, print out a PubSub certificate. If you don’t have one ready to send off on the Third Friday, give yourself a rain check and submit it soon. You can download certificates and rain checks from my website: http://www.joanyedwards.com/pubsub3rdfri.htm.

The Old Way: Send quality manuscript out, wait for the answer, receive the answer, submit again.

Pub Sub Way: Send one (or more) manuscripts out on the third Friday of each month to one (or more) publishers, editors, or agents.

• Submit your quality work (article, poem, puzzle, devotion, illustration, short story, picture book, chapter book, middle grade novel, young adult novel, adult novel, play, song, or movie)to publisher, editor, agent, or contest on the third Friday of the month. You can submit on any day of the month and as many times as you like.
• Submit your manuscript today. It automatically increases your chance of getting it published from 0-100% from not submitting it.
• Get your work critiqued by a critique group or professional writer or editor of your genre before you submit it to an editor or agent. Getting your work in quality condition is part of the Pub Sub 3rd Fri philosophy. Quality does not mean perfect. When you submit it, you’re saying: “This is the best I can do with the knowledge and skills that I have at the present time. This truly is my best effort.” When editors and agents see quality work, they are willing to work with you to get it ready for publication.
• To be published, you must take action. Accept yourself as you are. Accept the editors and agents as they are. Go for it. Send a query or manuscript now! This is the only way that an agent or editor will be able to discover how great your story is.
• Once you get started, you’ll be submitting as a habit. Your belief in yourself will grow. It says to your inner self that you believe in your story. That you have faith in it. Faith in your story takes it to publication.
• Celebrate each time you submit. Celebrate each time you revise. Celebrate each time you write, draw, sing, create. Celebrate yourself every day!

Besides the certificates and the rainchecks, I also have a Pub Subbers Page to advertise your belief in Pub Subbing, your creative works, and you.

It contains the names and personal blogs/websites of people who believe in the Pub Sub 3rd Fri philosophy and as a result, they submit their quality work more frequently to critique groups, editors, agents, or contests.

As a result of their more frequent submissions, many members of PubSub3rdFri have been published in newspaper articles, magazine articles, won contests, and/or received a book contract(s). When members let me know their publication successes, I list them beside their names.

May I count you as a Pub Subber? If so, let me know.

If PubSub3rdFri sounds like a good idea to you and during 2012, submit your work to a critique group, editor, agent, or contest and leave a comment on the Pub Subbers Page: http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/pub-subbers/.

Say “I will submit a query or manuscript to an editor, agent, publisher, or critique group at least once a month during 2012. Count me in for Pub Sub 3rd Fri 2012.” Tell me the name of the manuscript, where you sent it and when, along with your name and website/blog. Let me know when you get published. I visualize you as published. Visualize yourself as published. I’ll add the name of the article, book, or illustration beside your name when you are published. Leave a comment on the Pub Subbers Page: http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/pub-subbers/.

Your goal: “I will submit a query or manuscript to an editor, agent, publisher, or critique group at least once a month during 2012. I believe I will be published. In my mind, I am a published author or illustrator on or before December 31, 2012.”

Even with complications and obstacles, the vision of success in your mind, the excitement of getting it, your thankfulness, and your action toward it will create the reality for you. Good luck! I know that many of you are participating in Pub Sub without letting me know. That’s okay. As long as I’m helping you, it’s okay. I’d like to give you recognition of your belief in yourself to build your confidence and expand your beliefs. Please let me know you are joining me and the 16 other people. My goal this year is:

Over 100 people join me in Pub Sub 3rd Fri during 2012. I hope you will be one of them. I wish you success.

The following links give you ideas of what to focus on each week of the month to be ready to submit your manuscript on the third Friday.

Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four.

More PubSub3rdFri posts:
http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/category/writing/pub-sub-3rd-fri/.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope I’ve inspired you to believe in yourself. Join 57 other people who have subscribed to my blog.  Click the Sign Me Up in the left hand column, or click on Follow if it is visible at the top of the page. When I reach 100 email subscribers, I’ll choose ten at random subscribers to win a free first page critique.  The 100th subscriber will win a free critique of the first 1000 words of a manuscript, along with its pitch.  That sounds like fun to me. I hope it sounds like fun to you, too.

I’d be honored if you share this blog post with your friends..

Celebrate you. You’re the only human being exactly like you.
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards

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• 7 Good Reasons to Submit Your Story (September PubSub3rdFri) (joanyedwards.wordpress.com)