NaPiBoWriWee 2012: Day One (May 1, 2012)

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National Picture Book Writing Week is this May 1-7, 2012!

WELCOME TO DAY ONE OF NAPIBOWRIWEE 2012!  

SPECIAL UPDATE: How does NAPIBOWRIWEE work? Simply post your comments on today’s blog here to let us know how you did! I’ll be posting a daily blog every morning by 8 AM PST with new information, updates, writing advice from myself and special guest authors, plus lots of personal encouragement for your writing journey this week!

If you post a comment on my blog or email me at paula at paulayoo dot com, I will include your name in our fun prize drawing contest at the end of the week. Details below.

I will be live tweeting as well at @paulayoo on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaulaYoo

*** IMPORTANT! PLEASE NOTE: I will be gone at work today from 8 AM to 3 PM PST. If you post a comment or register on my https://paulayoo.com/napi WordPress blog, please know that I will approve your comment & registration at the end of the day when I return from work.) ****

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Welcome to NAPIBOWRIWEE 2012! 

SPECIAL NAPIBOWRIWEE INTERVIEW VIDEO POSTED! Please check out fellow SCBWI member & author/blogger LEE WIND‘s blog video interview with me about this year’s event. The link is here:

NaPiBoWriWee 2012 Interview: http://scbwi.blogspot.com/2012/05/paula-yoo-gives-us-scoop-on-national.html

Thanks Lee! For more info on the awesome Lee Wind, please check out his website here: http://www.leewind.org/

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I created this event, National Picture Book Writing Week, in 2009 as a fun way to promote the publication of my second picture book, SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY (Lee & Low ’09).

I thought it would be fun to challenge myself to write 7 picture books in 7 days. I had been procrastinating writing another new picture book draft for the longest time. So I thought, “What if I force myself to try and write 7 different picture book manuscripts in one week?” Sure, the drafts would be sloppy rough drafts. But at least I’d have 7 FINISHED drafts to choose from when it came to serious revisions and possible submission to my book agent.

To my surprise, HUNDREDS of people from all over the world (including places as far away as Hong Kong, Egypt, and Australia) participated. It led to the creation of a NaPiBoWriWee Souvenir store and to a wonderful community of writers who bonded as future friends and joined SCBWI (Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators). Some participants even won writing contests with the drafts they had created from this event!

Since 2009, I’ve hosted this event every May 1-7. This is the fourth year of NaPiBoWriWee. Can you believe it?

(Keep reading after the jump for more info about DAY ONE!)

NAPIBOWRIWEE 2012 REMINDERS:

1. Picture books are HARD. This event does NOT believe that a picture book can be written in one day. That’s pretty much impossible. BUT… a rough first draft of a picture book can be written in one day if you force yourself not to quit. 🙂 So the goal of this event is to discourage PROCRASTINATION. Just write and FINISH a first draft of a picture book each day. That way, you will have seven rough drafts to choose from – which one shines the most and has the potential to be revised thoroughly into a wonderful submission to an agent or editor? Writing is rewriting – and you can’t rewrite if you don’t have a first rough draft to begin with!

2. Please do NOT email me your drafts. This is NOT a writing contest. No one is critiquing anyone’s works. You do not have to prove to me you wrote 7 picture books in 7 days. We work on the Honor Code here. You say it, I believe you. 🙂

3. What if you don’t finish 7 picture books in 7 days? Don’t worry! At least you tried! I’m happy if you finish ONE picture book in 7 days! The whole point is to TRY! What I really hope is that this event inspires you to write EVERY DAY. 🙂

4. Fun Prize Drawing Contest: At the end of NaPiBoWriWee, I will put everyone’s names in a hat and pick winners at random for special prizes. These prizes will include autographed copies of my two picture books (SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY and SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY), plus special souvenir NAPIBOWRIWEE 2012 T-shirts, coffee mugs, and notebooks. There will also be other fun prizes as well, so stay tuned for more details.

5. NAPIBOWRIWEE Store: We also have a NAPIBOWRIWEE store featuring the 2012 new logo designed by talented designer/writer Sandy Tanaka. The store includes 2012 NaPiBoWriWee coffee mugs, notebooks and T-shirts. The link is here: http://www.cafepress.com/npbww2012

6. How to participate: Just comment on my blog every day to let us know how you are doing! If you post a comment (or if you email me at paula at paulayoo dot com), I will automatically include your name in the prize drawing.

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For NAPIBOWRIWEE DAY #1, here are some thoughts as we begin our journey together:

WRITING BOOKS: Below is a list of inspirational how-to writing books that I find very helpful for inspiring my writing process.  (Please click on each title for the Amazon link.)

WRITING PICTURE BOOKS by Ann Whitford Paul

PICTURE WRITING: A NEW APPROACH TO WRITING FOR KIDS AND TEENS by Anastasia Suen

THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO CRAFTING STORIES FOR CHILDREN by Nancy Lamb

POEM-MAKING: WAYS TO BEGIN WRITING POETRY by Myra Cohn Livingston

WRITING ADVICE: Today’s writing advice is from picture book author/illustrator ERIN EITTER KONO, whose latest picture book, CATERINA, will be published by Dial in 2013. Her website: http://www.eekono-illustration.com/

Erin says: “Never talk down to kids, and never underestimate the wit of a three year old.  If you’re going to write for kids you need to constantly ask yourself If you were a kid, what on this page is relatable, interesting, funny, or basically worth your time. Why does a kid care?” 

(For more info on Erin Eitter Kono, check out my Q&A with her from last year: https://paulayoo.com/napi/?p=55)

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I will post a daily blog from May 1 to 7, 2012 with my own personal experience with NaPiBoWriWee, more writing advice, news updates, plus special announcements. So please come back every day for a new blog.

Please post your progress at the end of each day on these blogs. I will try to reply to as many comments as possible myself and also update you on my progress as well.

*** (IMPORTANT NOTE: I am at work all day from 8 AM to 3 PM PST, so if you comment on my blog between those hours, your comment will appear on the website as soon as I get home!)***

GOOD LUCK! HAPPY WRITING! And remember… WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! 🙂

 

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50 Comments »

  1. Thank you Paula! Enjoyed your interview with Lee this AM.

    Catching up on all the interviews from NAPIBOWRIWEE 2011 was a great way to brainstorm and prep for this week. I’m excited to give it a whirl!

    – Cathy

  2. My daughter told me a poem but I think it would be a perfect story. So she and I will work on it more after school. Can we get feedback after the seven days…I have three kids and work so it may take us some time.

    • Hi! Love the poem idea. FYI, I do not read anyone’s drafts because I’m unfortunately too busy. This is just a community event to encourage everyone to write. I will be posting helpful poetry blogs later this week that you might find helpful, too. Plus there are some great blogs from the archives about poetry as well. Keep me posted on how your writing goes. But if you want professional feedback, I always recommend editor Amy Lin at her website here: http://www.editomato.com/

    • Thanks Paula for the feedback. I also think I have a screenplay or story. At this point I have two outlines and I am actually taking some of your replies and putting them in a document for quicker access. This other feedback you have given to others has been great. Thanks again.

  4. Loved your interview with Lee Wind, Paula.

    Day 1 went well for me. Got a rough draft down on paper.

    Good luck to all!

  5. Human nature rides again….PB idea that has been swirling in my head is now a first vomit draft, all because it’s May 1st! Hey, whatever works – and apparently this NaPiBoWriWee is workin’ for me. Hope to keep the momentum for days 2-7. Thanks for the inspiration!

  6. Paula, I enjoyed your interview with Lee. I just finished draft #1. (Just in time – I only have the time that my little one is at preschool to write). I hope everyone else is motivated and having a great writing day. Good luck to all of you.

    • Oops – I didn’t mean interview. I meant your video explaination of the event and how it started. : )Sheesh, if I am typoing here, I wonder how bad my draft this morning really is. LOL

  7. I am going to count 600 words as a draft, even if half of the words are: Why does he do this? Where would you find the best apple? Does this character name suck? Day one done!

  10. Had a wonderful time scribbling…scribbling…and scribbling some more. This particular PB idea has been on my mind for quite a while. I love the challenge of seven in a row. Eager for tomorrow. Thank you, Paula!

  11. I’m half way through today. Needed a break. It’s rough, but I love where it is going. This is the greatest thing I’ve done for myself in years. Hey!!!!!

  12. Success with one draft. I’ve had that idea for many months and I’m glad I finally got it down on paper. Now the struggle of finding more ideas.

    • I have been there, with that odd switch problem too Emily. Glad you were able to resolve it and get a draft done!

  14. Woo-hoo!!! First one done and it’s only 5:20 p.m. I thought I’d be in here at 11:59 p.m. I’ve had this story idea since my oldest daughter was in 2nd grade. She’s now 27, with 3 children! Thanks Paula for the motivation.

  15. Hi Paula,
    I’ve just learned about this writing challenge through twitter. Sounds like fun! I’ll give it a try, but mostly I’m just happy to have found your website with so much useful info: advice, links to blogs, other websites, etc.
    Thank you,
    Sasha (aka The Happy Amateur http://www.thehappyamateur.com)

    • Thank you Sasha for your kind words. I am grateful my blogs are giving aspiring writers like yourself good guidance. Keep us posted on your writing journey here!

  17. I just finished my first draft. So proud I finished it. I am a very slow writer–think sloth. But, it’s done and that’s what is important—why I am doing this marathon. I look forward to tomorrow. How do the rest of you keep up the work through the seven days? Holly

    • I’ve just found out about this. I have two drafts ready, but that doesn’t count, because they were written before the challenge. I’d like to come up with at least one new draft this week. For me something like this would be an accomplishment! 🙂
      Good luck, everyone!

    • Hi Holly. Remember the tortoise and the hare. Your “sloth” writing ways may win out in the end. 🙂 It’s hard for me with work etc. I have forced myself to do the “wake up an hour early and write for one hour in the morning” routine and it really does work. I use this program for the early morning writing hour I give myself before going to work (when I have a job). It’s OMM WRITER. Really zen writing software: http://www.ommwriter.com/

  18. Wow, everybody. Good job.

    Day One #NaPiBoWriWee – a success! Finished (draft) a story for Early Readers, roughly 2,000 words. Complete with chapters.

    Bring on Day Two!

  19. Sleep is the victor tonight. Had an idea in mind and was excited to forge ahead, but the story got away from me and the yawnies snuck in. Hoping to get an earlier start tomorrow. …maybe even try to return to it in chunks throughout the day. Or maybe I’ll just start with a different idea and see where it takes me. Either way, excited to be part of something bigger than me sitting alone in front of my laptop.

    • It’s okay if you miss a day and try to make up for it with two the next. Remember, in the end, I’m happy if you get even ONE done because I just want everyone to write all week. Good luck and hope you can catch up. BTW sometimes it’s good NOT to write cuz your brain is gestating an idea. I’ve often gone a few days without writing and then out of nowhere, my subconscious solves a writing problem and bam! I’ve got a draft written out of nowhere. 🙂

  23. Liked your video interview. That’s a nice introduction for my first NaPiBoWriWee event! Also enjoyed the history of it. Thanks for sharing. I wrote my draft during my lunch break at work and will be writing the conclusion of the draft after the kids are tucked in. So consider it done.

  24. Day 1

    One down and six to go!! I finished my first draft by lunch and revised it this evening. It needs more work, but I can work on my NaPiBoWriWee picture books as part of my 12×12 in 12 total.

    Hope everyone has had a good day!!

  26. Worked on my first draft picture book today. Crazy…I hope I made the deadline. Letting go was the hardest thing to do.

  27. Congrats everyone for finishing Day One!!! I JUST handwrote Book No. 1 in my notebook and finished literally five minutes before midnight. LOL! Phew! Made it just under the wire. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog. I will post it as soon as I can tomorrow morning. I had a superbusy day and not enough sleep, so I may not post the blog right at 8 AM PST. I will tweet @paulayoo when the Day 2 blog goes live tomorrow morning. Good night! 🙂

  28. Hi Paula! I’m 6 days post-op, so I’m jumping in here on Day 2. Super excited about getting started, zero down and seven to go – whoooot!!! Let’s do this thang!!!

    • Sometimes I think not writing is important cuz your brain is gestating an idea. Let’s hope your idea seeds sprout and blossom! And thanks for your blog entry -yes, you cannot fail at NaPiBoWriWee! 🙂

  30. Paula, I’m so mixed up. I’ve written 3 drafts and have announced their completion on the 12x12in’12 FB site, but not your blog! I’ve just realized it and am trying to correct my mistake, but I’ve left you comments on the 2011 NaPiBoWriWee posts. Waaah!(crying like a baby) Anyway, I’m working on draft #4 now. Thanks for doing this. I’ve got 3 drafts and one stewing. 🙂

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