Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 35
January 24, 2017
January 20, 2017
Comic: Grammar Kidfight
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January 13, 2017
Turning a coffee stain into art: responses from artists to my #CoffeeStainChallenge + an art giveaway
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As some of you already know, I am fond of doodling with coffee stains. I was first inspired by (lo and behold) an accidental coffee stain, whose shape spurred me to turn what was initially a random event into art. I recently posted about purposely creating a bunch of coffee stains as doodlefodder, and my friend Joyce Grant suggested I post one of them and challenge people to doodle with it. Here's the original coffee stain:
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I had SO much browsing creations by artists of all ages on social media - thanks to all who posted! So much so that I will probably do more coffee stain challenges. :-) I've posted a few of the entries in this post, but you can browse all of them via the #CoffeeStainChallenge hashtag on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can click on any of the images below to be taken to the original post. Participants below include Kevin Sylvester, third-graders in Shari Daniels's class, 10-year-old Trenton, Eric Fan, Susan McKenna Grant, Hazel Milburn, Heather Baillie-Brown, Carey Johnson, Rachel Comeau, Caroline Fernandez, Joyce Grant, Mark Wilder, Lisa Doherty.
Here are just a few of the wonderful creations people made from my coffee stain (and scroll to the bottom for the link to my GIVEAWAY of one of my original coffee stain doodles):
And here's what I came up with:
I'm having a special GIVEAWAY of one of my coffee stain doodles (see below)! Just click on THIS LINK to enter. If you end up winning and prefer to own my "READ" coffee doodle instead (image just above this paragraph), just let me know.
The beautiful part of writing: you don't have to get it right the first time unlike, say, brain surgery. - Robert Cormier
I have to remind myself of this again and again as I'm working on my novel; my tendency has always been to over-edit as I write the first draft.
Feel free to download and print this Robert Cormier quote to post in your home, office, classroom or library!
For many more free, print-ready posters, bookmarks and other material related to writing and reading, see my For The Love Of Reading and Print-Ready Archives.
January 10, 2017
Advice for young writers, finding one's voice and CRUSHING IT: Three Questions Interview with Joanne Levy
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I met Joanne Levy through the local Torkidlit group. I love her wry wit and also loved her middle grade, Small Medium At Large (Bloomsbury); you can see my interview with Joanne from a few years ago, where she talked about how she wrote the book, her work process and advice for aspiring authors. I'm loving her new book, CRUSHING IT, which debuts *today* from Aladdin/Simon & Schuster as part of their MIX series for tweens.
A survivor of the corporate world, Joanne Levy works from home, creating the friends she wishes she had when as a kid. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, mischievous cats, mean African Grey parrot, and sweet but not-so-smart dog. Joanne’s books are: Crushing It and Small Medium at Large. You can find Joanne at JoanneLevy.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
CRUSHING IT is published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, for ages 9-13. If you're in the Hamilton, ON area, do come out to Joanne Levy's CRUSHING IT Launch Party on Jan. 28, 2-4 pm at the Hamilton Public Library, Westdale Branch, sponsored by Bryan Prince Bookseller.
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Kat woos the boy next door on behalf of her best friend, and in the process realizes that true beauty—and true confidence—comes from the inside in this hilarious M!X novel from the author of Small Medium at Large.
Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
I must say first off that my office is a giant mess. I’m embarrassed about it and have tried to tidy it up many times, but after about a day, it always goes back to being cluttered and messy. My desk is especially awful. I would have sent along a picture of that, but, well, it’s embarrassing. So here’s a picture of a button that is attached to my desk at about eye-level where I can see it at all times:
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It’s a direct quote from author J. Anderson Coats, who I have the pleasure of knowing via the Class of 2K12 (a group of authors whose debuts all came out in 2012). Our fellow 2K12er, Gina Rosati, had the quote made into buttons and distributed them to all of us. I think the button speaks for itself and while a bit graphic, encompasses how horrible the process of writing can be. I love the button because it’s a reminder that in the end it all works out and that I’m not alone in what can often feel like a very solitary and isolating job.
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Q. What advice do you have for young writers?
One of the things that took a while for me to learn is that a writer shouldn’t deny her voice.
I started out writing books for adults and I had this notion that writing was to be clever and important. I guess because I wanted to come across as clever and important (who doesn’t, really?). But as I went on, my writing started to evolve and while I was still struggling to make a sale to a publisher, I was being told that my writing was funny. Well, that’s nice, but while humor is nice to have within a story, it shouldn’t be the main focus. Should it? Literature shouldn’t be sophomoric to be good.
Then I read a clever and very funny story about a very serious subject. The book was called Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. This book literally changed my life as a writer. Not in a religious way, but because I learned that humor—even ridiculous and silly humor—can very much have a place in literature. That it was GOOD to be funny.
From that moment, I embraced my natural voice and changed my approach to writing. I am naturally a funny person and I would be denying my readers if I didn’t put that humor into my work. Not to mention that I got greater enjoyment out of letting my inner comedienne loose. It was like I took the ‘serious writer’ cloak off and became myself. And myself likes to laugh. She hopes you do, too.
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Q. What are you excited about right now?
I am excited about having another book out in the world. It’s been a while since SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE came out (in 2012) and I’m eager to get out and connect with kids again. Nothing is more fun than reading to kids and making them laugh with my words. Maybe I can even inspire a few while I’m at it. I’ve really missed that in between books and can’t wait to get out there!
With my friend Joanne Levy a couple of years ago
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For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.
January 3, 2017
I feel like this at least once every book project
Anyone else feel like this sometimes? I go through this at LEAST once every book project. The insecurity helps keep me humble and also motivates me to always keep learning and experimenting, to push myself to step out of my comfort zone. I try to write or doodle in my journal every day, and will sometimes share my entries publicly. If you're looking for extra motivation to start journalling, I encourage you to check out National Journal Writing Month, which encourages journal writing for personal growth but especially in Jan, April, July and Oct.
January 2, 2017
December 28, 2016
"I wrote things to get them out of feeling them, and onto paper. So writing in a way saved me, kept me company." R.I.P. Carrie Fisher: actor and writer
Above: my sketchbook journal entry yesterday. So sorry to hear about the passing of Carrie Fisher. My sister and I saw the original Star Wars (A New Hope) in the theatre together, and I remember being so inspired by the character of Princess Leia -- a princess who was a strong and independent thinker, sassy and courageous, who didn't count on a prince to find her happiness.
Most people recognize Carrie Fisher for her Princess Leia role in Star Wars role, but did you know she was also a writer?
December 27, 2016
December 23, 2016
Comic: Snowfamily nostalgia
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Thanks to Pamela Ross for the caption!
