Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 51
January 26, 2016
Looking for a writing/revising challenge but short on time? Try this.
To writers out there who never have trouble finding time to write or revise: pls ignore the rest of this post.
To those who are always putting their own projects on the back burner because of bill-paying work taking priority, family obligations, favors for other people, insecurity or fear, procrastination or a zillion other reasons, feel free to check out the Inkygirl Daily Writing Challenge.
More info on this webpage, plus there's an Inkygirl Daily Writing Challenge FB Page where I sometimes post tips and comics.
I've also added a bunch of time goal badges for those who think that way instead of wordcount.
January 25, 2016
Advice For Young Writers, Patience, ELLA AND PENGUIN STICK TOGETHER: Three Questions with Megan Maynor
Megan Maynor is a former advertising copywriter and author of picture books ELLA AND PENGUIN STICK TOGETHER and ELLA AND PENGUIN: A PERFECT MATCH (coming 2017), both from HarperCollins Children’s Books. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children.
ELLA AND PENGUIN is a new picture book written by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet, published by HarperCollins Children's Books in January 2016. You can see reviews in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.
You can find out more about Megan and her work at MeganMaynor.com and on Twitter at @megan_maynor.
Synopsis of ELLA AND PENGUIN:
Ella and Penguin want to see their new glow-in-the-dark stickers glow—but they don't want to go into the dark. (It’s so dark!) Can they see the stickers glow another way? Can they face the dark closet if they stick together?
Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
I got these buttons at the gift shop in the New York Public Library:
The library itself is breathtaking with its marble staircases and wood-paneled reading rooms—all this grandeur for people to read books—for free!
The lions out front are named Patience and Fortitude.
I thought Patience and Fortitude seemed like good guiding stars while navigating the journey to publication.
I looked at these buttons A LOT while writing.
For me, Patience and Fortitude are reminders of the long game. Each day’s progress may be slight, but the only way to get there is incrementally. Likewise, there will be turbulence of all kinds, but the only way to finish is to keep working.
[image error]Megan with a copy of an advance reader's copy of ELLA AND PENGUIN STICK TOGETHER
Q. What advice do you have for young writers?
If you don’t know what to write about, write about your socks. Keep going. You’ll find out what you wanted to write about.
This is advice I got from MY third grade teacher.
And it helped make me unafraid of writing, I think. Will the first thing I write be great? Probably not. And that’s fine. It’s not a big deal where you start. You just start.
When I would get an assignment as an advertising copywriter, and now, when I make up the assignment myself, I can always write something. From there, I just try to make it better and better. How could it be more interesting? More surprising? Funnier or more true? Start with socks. Go from there.
Jee reading Ella and Penguin Stick Together with his dad, Erik.
Q. What are you excited about right now?
I’m excited about seeing my book on book store shelves—and in the hands of real live kids!—for the first time. It takes a long time to make a picture book, so this story has lived in my head for years. Now it’s finally OUT THERE, in the world, with real readers.
And it has been an absolute JOY to hear from parents and teachers that their kids are connecting with the story. It’s a bit surreal, to be honest. But so thrilling.
Mackena loves that there is a narwhal in this book. I do too!
------
For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.
January 22, 2016
Zebo Ludvicek's KITE picture book dummy missing after SCBWI-Florida Regional Conference
I had a fantastic time at the SCBWI-Florida Regional Conference this past week; you can see my photos on Facebook and Flickr. I co-ran the Illustrator Comprehensive with Pat Cummings, and one of the attendees was the mega-talented Zebo Ludvicek. Side note: Zebo's debut picture book, MOUSE, will be published by Jennifer Besser at Putnam!
Anyway, Zebo brought a gorgeous wordless picture book dummy to the session....and it somehow disappeared. Here's one of the interior illustrations:
Announcements were made; we all searched our bags and rooms, but no luck.
If YOU attended the convention and somehow missed the announcement, please do look through all the papers and materials you brought home from the event, just in case.
It's about 40 pages long, stapled, printed on Epson Matte Paper, 8.5 x 11" portrait orientation.
And (I hate to say it, but just in case) if you happen to notice this picture book dummy with someone else's name somewhere, please let Zebo or her agent know RIGHT AWAY. Thanks so much!
January 20, 2016
Comic: Hamster Writers
[image error]
January 12, 2016
January 7, 2016
Quickie Anonymous Poll For Agents, Editors and Art Directors
To agents, editors and art directors out there: please take a few minutes to answer a short anonymous poll to help up-and-coming writers and illustrators?
Results will be discussed at the SCBWI-Florida Regional Conference, SCBWI Metro NY Chapter (Feb event) and SCBWI-LA Writer's Day as well as summarized in Inkygirl.com later this year.
For editors and art directors, I'm looking for those who are involved in the decision-making process re: book contracts or initial talent-scouting. Thank you SO MUCH!
You can find results to previous surveys in my Inkygirl Survey Archives.
January 6, 2016
December 31, 2015
Comic: New Year's Resolutions (or not)
I have actually broken my resolution not to make resolutions and am going to make a resolution! See my blog post on KidLitArtists.com: New Year's Resolutions and Realistic Goal-Setting For Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Happy New Year's, everyone!
December 22, 2015
In memory of Debbie Alvarez, The Styling Librarian
Deeply saddened to hear that teacher/librarian Debbie Alvarez has died. Though we never had the chance to hang out in person, Debbie and I have emailed each other as well chatting on social media. She has been so generous in her support of me and my work on her blog, including a post just last week.
Like many others, I'm a fan of her blog, The Styling Librarian:
I love the tagline in the top right corner: "In my opinion, books are the best accessory."
The portrait in the top left corner was done by me. While Debbie was interviewing me for her blog early last year, I discovered that she was just about to have a surgery (she didn't say what it was for), so I asked for her address so I could send her something to help cheer her up while she was recovering. She was hesitant, saying that it was sweet of me to offer but that shipping to Hong Kong was crazy expensive, and that my found object art posts already brightened up her days. I insisted, and here's what she wrote about it.
Photo: BENJAMIN BRINK/The Oregonian
Debbie never mentioned the word "cancer" in any of our emails; I only found out when we became Facebook friends and I followed one of her post links to her personal blog, and then scrolled back to older entries. And then I felt like an idiot, because I remember telling Debbie about having a cold bug in the household when she first approached me about doing an interview. I was complaining about a cold and there Debbie was, about to head into cancer-related surgery.
Sometimes the lack of comments on my own blog made me wonder how many people actually read it, but Debbie encouraged me: "So excited, just love how you share thoughts with others, your enthusiasm got me to finally pick up a pen and become persistent with my own writing and join SCBWI here in Hong Kong."
Despite what she was going through, Debbie continued to support others, post on her blog about the love of reading, and embrace life as fully as possible. Debbie Alvarez was an inspiration to me, and the world is a lesser place without her.
