Lori Degman's Blog, page 5
March 30, 2014
Bogged Down by Blogging
I was just beating myself up (figuratively - it's had to really beat yourself up because it hurts!) about breaking my promise to Elaine Kiely Kearns, of KidLit 411 fame! I told her I'd blog more regularly and that was almost 3 months ago - sorry Elaine!! I thought about why I hadn't blogged more often this past year and I realized, it's because I've been busy blogging - on other people's sites!
Here are some of the blog posts I've written in the past year:
~ I'm a regular contributor to a group blog called Word Disco - an Unexpected Party. I wrote five posts there last year. The other amazing author/posters are: Jenni Bielecki, Meg Fleming, Renee Gian, Betsy Pritts Ickes, Megan Maynor, Stephen Shaskan, Trisha Speed Shaskan, Catherine Urdahl and Heather Zenzen.
~ I'm also a regular contributor (though I'm late a lot - sorry!) to Nancy Viau's wonderful blog for kids, WIT - Writing Info & Tips. The other contributing authors are: Alisonn Formento and Margie Gelbwasser.
In addition to my series guest posts, I've also done one-time posts on a variety of other sites:
~ I did a post on Genres for Donna Martin's series, Writerly Wisdom.
~ I've contributed a few times to Marcie Flinchum Atkins' series, We're All in This Together.
~ I wrote a post and writing prompt about Rhythm on Shannon Abercrombie's series, Start The Year off Write.
~ I contributed a Dot to Peter Reynold's Celebri-dots for International Dot Day, held on September 15th.
So, instead of beating myself up, I should be hoisting myself on my shoulders (definitely harder than beating yourself up) and patting myself on the back (that I can do!) for writing so many posts in the past year!
You can expect to see a lot more posts from me soon - 30 to be exact! I'll be writing a poem-a-day in April for Poetry Month, as I did last year. In each poem, I'll use a word suggested here or on my Facebook page. I stole borrowed this idea from Ed DeCaria's March Madness Poetry Contest. I made it to round three this year, with the words Protean, Rapturous, and Quotidian! Next year I'm going all the way!
If you know of anyone else participating in April Poetry Month, please share their info here for other poetry lovers!! Also, please suggest words for my poems and come back in two days to read the first one!
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January 4, 2014
KIDLIT 411
I can't believe I haven't posted since July!! Well, really, I can since a lot has happened since then:
~ My son got married in September, so the summer and early fall were packed full of wedding planning, showers and dress shopping!
~ I went back to teaching full-time (I had been part-time teacher / part-time lead teacher for four years) so I have twice the number of students this year.
~ On the writing side - I've been trying to find time to write and edit my picture book manuscripts; I joined my second critique group; I've done several guest posts on friends' blogs; I'm still a judge for Rate Your Story and submissions have skyrocketed; I've been doing a lot of critiques from my critique service; and I've been preparing for the May 13th release of my new book!
~ And, to be perfectly honest, I've wasted a lot of time on social media!
So, what does this have to do with KIDLIT 411? I discovered this amazing new site and I contacted its founder, E. Kiely Kearns to tell her how awesome the site is and to ask if she'd add me to the list of critiquers. She said she would and she'd link to my blog too if I started posting more regularly. That's when I realized I hadn't posted since July!!
So, I want to thank E. Kiely Kearns for creating her amazingly helpful and informative site and for the big nudge! I just want to ask her one thing - where were you when I was getting started? Oh yeah - in grade school :-)
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~ My son got married in September, so the summer and early fall were packed full of wedding planning, showers and dress shopping! ~ I went back to teaching full-time (I had been part-time teacher / part-time lead teacher for four years) so I have twice the number of students this year.
~ On the writing side - I've been trying to find time to write and edit my picture book manuscripts; I joined my second critique group; I've done several guest posts on friends' blogs; I'm still a judge for Rate Your Story and submissions have skyrocketed; I've been doing a lot of critiques from my critique service; and I've been preparing for the May 13th release of my new book!
~ And, to be perfectly honest, I've wasted a lot of time on social media!
So, what does this have to do with KIDLIT 411? I discovered this amazing new site and I contacted its founder, E. Kiely Kearns to tell her how awesome the site is and to ask if she'd add me to the list of critiquers. She said she would and she'd link to my blog too if I started posting more regularly. That's when I realized I hadn't posted since July!!
So, I want to thank E. Kiely Kearns for creating her amazingly helpful and informative site and for the big nudge! I just want to ask her one thing - where were you when I was getting started? Oh yeah - in grade school :-)
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for free email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
July 4, 2013
The Next Big Thing Blog Tour
I was tagged a while ago, by Sallie Wolf, to be a stop on The Next Big Thing Blog Tour. Sallie is the author of: The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder's Journal; Truck Stuck;
Peter's
Trucks
and her upcoming picture book, THE MYSTERIOUS CARGO.
I forgot all about doing this - so sorry Sallie! As it turns out - it's a good thing I forgot because now I have the cover to share! Didn't Deborah Zemke do an amazing job? Anyway, back to the NBTBT. I had to answer the following questions about my soon-to-be-published (Spring, 2014) picture book. So, here I go . . .
1) What is the working title of your next
book?
The title of my upcoming picture book
is COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS!
2) Where did the idea come from for
the book?
I originally wanted to write a "Boy
who cried wolf" type of story, but
with a rooster. Then it morphed into
a story where the rooster goes on vacation and the other animals try to wake the farmer,
but are unsuccessful.
3) What genre does your book fall under?
It's a rhyming, humorous picture book.
4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your
characters in a movie rendition?
It would have to be animated and there are eight animals and the farmer who all have pretty equal parts, so I'd have to think for a while about how to cast it. I'd love to have that problem. :-)
5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When Rooster leaves for a week's vacation, the other animals try their best to crow, but they can't wake the farmer from his deep sleep.
6) Who is publishing your book?
Creston Books
7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the
manuscript?
Once I figured out the rhyme scheme and knew I was going to have a different animal for each verse, it went pretty quickly. I worked a long time on the ending - I just couldn't figure out how to wrap it all up. But,
persistance pays off because I love the ending!!
8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
That's a tough question too because it kind of reminds me of Click Clack Moo but it's in rhyme and that isn't. I know there must be other books with the same rhyme scheme as mine, but I can't think of any off hand.
9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I honestly don't have an answer for this question - sorry! I will say that I am constantly inspired by my author and illustrator friends!!
10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
It's a funny story with a lot of word play and a few twists that will surprise you!
Next up on the Next Big Thing Blog Tour is Miranda Paul, who has not one - but two - next big things! I'll let her tell you all about it! Take it away, Miranda!
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for free email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
I forgot all about doing this - so sorry Sallie! As it turns out - it's a good thing I forgot because now I have the cover to share! Didn't Deborah Zemke do an amazing job? Anyway, back to the NBTBT. I had to answer the following questions about my soon-to-be-published (Spring, 2014) picture book. So, here I go . . .
1) What is the working title of your next
book?
The title of my upcoming picture book
is COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS!
2) Where did the idea come from for
the book?
I originally wanted to write a "Boy
who cried wolf" type of story, but
with a rooster. Then it morphed into
a story where the rooster goes on vacation and the other animals try to wake the farmer,
but are unsuccessful.
3) What genre does your book fall under?
It's a rhyming, humorous picture book.
4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your
characters in a movie rendition?
It would have to be animated and there are eight animals and the farmer who all have pretty equal parts, so I'd have to think for a while about how to cast it. I'd love to have that problem. :-)
5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When Rooster leaves for a week's vacation, the other animals try their best to crow, but they can't wake the farmer from his deep sleep.
6) Who is publishing your book?
Creston Books
7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the
manuscript?
Once I figured out the rhyme scheme and knew I was going to have a different animal for each verse, it went pretty quickly. I worked a long time on the ending - I just couldn't figure out how to wrap it all up. But,
persistance pays off because I love the ending!!
8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
That's a tough question too because it kind of reminds me of Click Clack Moo but it's in rhyme and that isn't. I know there must be other books with the same rhyme scheme as mine, but I can't think of any off hand.
9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I honestly don't have an answer for this question - sorry! I will say that I am constantly inspired by my author and illustrator friends!!
10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
It's a funny story with a lot of word play and a few twists that will surprise you!
Next up on the Next Big Thing Blog Tour is Miranda Paul, who has not one - but two - next big things! I'll let her tell you all about it! Take it away, Miranda!
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for free email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
April 30, 2013
Poetry Month - Day 30: Hooray!!
I'd be lying if I said I'm sad to see Poetry Month come to an end. I'd also be lying if I said it wasn't a lot of fun! I know my poems weren't the greatest poems ever written - not even close! But I'm proud of myself for getting them done - and on time!
A fellow writer, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, started a series on her blog called We're All in This Together. For the series, she asks writers to share their experiences to help other writers. Last week, Marcie asked us to share how we find time to write. I didn't submit anything because I couldn't think of anything to write.
But, in reflecting on this month's writing challenge, I thought of my answer - I find time to write when I have an obligation and limited time! If I hadn't publicly announced my goal of writing a poem a day, I would have let myself off the hook on several occasions! There were nights I'd realize it was 9:00 and I'd forgotten to write my poem! I'd have to get it written before going to sleep and I'd have to work in the morning. If not for the possibility of public humiliation (ok, I'm being a bit dramatic), I may have gone several days without writing.
So, here is my last poem of the month, using a word I chose for myself - well, three words really:
In thirty days and thirty nights
were thirty poems I vowed to write.
For every poem, a friend would choose
a random word I'd have to use.
To write a verse and rhyme the word,which sometimes made my poems absurd!
I tried to make the poems funny.Sometimes I was on the money.
Other times, my poems weren’t great,but none of them were posted late!
And now my April challenge endsSo thanks again to all my friends!!
I’m finished now. Tomorrow’s May!
Until next year . . . Hip Hip Hooray!!
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for
free email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
A fellow writer, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, started a series on her blog called We're All in This Together. For the series, she asks writers to share their experiences to help other writers. Last week, Marcie asked us to share how we find time to write. I didn't submit anything because I couldn't think of anything to write.
But, in reflecting on this month's writing challenge, I thought of my answer - I find time to write when I have an obligation and limited time! If I hadn't publicly announced my goal of writing a poem a day, I would have let myself off the hook on several occasions! There were nights I'd realize it was 9:00 and I'd forgotten to write my poem! I'd have to get it written before going to sleep and I'd have to work in the morning. If not for the possibility of public humiliation (ok, I'm being a bit dramatic), I may have gone several days without writing.
So, here is my last poem of the month, using a word I chose for myself - well, three words really:
In thirty days and thirty nights
were thirty poems I vowed to write.
For every poem, a friend would choose
a random word I'd have to use.
To write a verse and rhyme the word,which sometimes made my poems absurd!
I tried to make the poems funny.Sometimes I was on the money.
Other times, my poems weren’t great,but none of them were posted late!
And now my April challenge endsSo thanks again to all my friends!!
I’m finished now. Tomorrow’s May!
Until next year . . . Hip Hip Hooray!!
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for
free email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
April 29, 2013
Poetry Month - Day 29: Aleatory
Penny Klostermann strikes again! This time, she threw the word Aleatory at me! Never heard it before and had no idea what to do with it so I used a tricky way to get around it. I think it's a poet's prerogative!
Aleatory
If I’ve never heard the word, Aleatory,then how could I use it to tell a good story?
I looked up its meaning so I’d understandIt means “by coincidence; something unplanned”.
To me, it sounds more like an awful disease.Like something that brings on a cough or a sneeze.
Or maybe a legal word, used by a lawyer.Or something received by your former employer.
It could be a building where scientists work.Or something describing a guy who’s a jerk.
It might be the space running in between homes.Or maybe the hats worn by cute garden gnomes.
Or how ‘bout a building where people go bowling.Or paths in the park, where a family goes strolling.
It may be the smell seeping out from the trash.Perhaps its a word that describes someone’s rash.
But, aleatory means “by happenstance”.I think Penny thought of it purely by chance!
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email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
Aleatory
If I’ve never heard the word, Aleatory,then how could I use it to tell a good story?
I looked up its meaning so I’d understandIt means “by coincidence; something unplanned”.
To me, it sounds more like an awful disease.Like something that brings on a cough or a sneeze.
Or maybe a legal word, used by a lawyer.Or something received by your former employer.
It could be a building where scientists work.Or something describing a guy who’s a jerk.
It might be the space running in between homes.Or maybe the hats worn by cute garden gnomes.
Or how ‘bout a building where people go bowling.Or paths in the park, where a family goes strolling.
It may be the smell seeping out from the trash.Perhaps its a word that describes someone’s rash.
But, aleatory means “by happenstance”.I think Penny thought of it purely by chance!
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for free
email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
April 28, 2013
Poetry Month - Day 28: Jr. High
My childhood friend, Sally, suggested Jr. High as my word for today. Sally and I met in Jr. High and lost touch for several decades, until we reconnected on Facebook. To me, that's one of the best parts about Facebook - reconnecting with old friends! Thinking back on my years at Locust Jr. High reminded me of what an angsty (real word?) time Jr. High is!
Jr. High
It’s do or die in Junior High.You need to have thick skin.
From what you say to what you weigh,there’s pressure to fit in.
The latest clothes.The cutest nose.It’s superficial stuff.
The tightest blouse.The biggest house.It never is enough.
There’ll always bethe ones who seethe worst in everyone.
But who’s to say,their way’s the waythat things should all be done?
So, just be youand you’ll undothe need to fit some mold.
And then you’ll seeyou’re free to bea treasure to behold!
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April 27, 2013
Poetry Month - Day 27: Melodramatic
Today's word, Melodramatic, is from Erik - I wrote about him on Day 6, when he gave me the word Katzenjammer - great word!! So, without a lot of hoopla, here's my poem for today.
The writing is hard to read. It says, "Being a bit melodramatic aren't we Rex . . . it comes off next week."
MelodramaticI tend to be melodramatic.Quite often, I overreact!My feelings aren’t monochromaticThey’re more like a rainbow, in fact.
The littlest things will upset me.A papercut feels like a wound.When someone is late to come get me,I always assume I’m marooned.
I often give standing ovationsfor ads that I see on TV.I kiss and hug all my relationsand anyone else that I see.
They think I have bats in my attic,because of the way that I act. But, I’m simply melodramatic!And that is an absolute fact!
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April 26, 2013
Poetry Month - Day 26: Fool
I ran out of words so I had to come up with one of my own. I had just written a post for my group blog, Word Disco, and the theme was April Fools. So, I wrote about the fool card in the Tarot deck and related it to aspiring authors. So, when I had to think of a word to use, I thought of Fool. After reading today's poem, check out Word Disco - I think you'll like it!
FoolThey call me a foolthat makes me so happy.To me, fools are coolthey’re feisty and scrappy!
They follow their dreamswith the faith of a child.They’re just as they seemand they’re often beguiled.
On journey’s unknownthey will risk harm and pain.In storms, they’re not thrownthey just dance in the rain!
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FoolThey call me a foolthat makes me so happy.To me, fools are coolthey’re feisty and scrappy!
They follow their dreamswith the faith of a child.They’re just as they seemand they’re often beguiled.
On journey’s unknownthey will risk harm and pain.In storms, they’re not thrownthey just dance in the rain!
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April 25, 2013
Poetry Month - April 25: Button
Today's word, Button, was suggested by my friend and poet, Linda Wallin. I hope she'll write her own poem to post here! In case you didn't realize it, Linda - that's a dare!!
ButtonMarvin was a gluttonwho always dined on mutton.
which made his girth increaseand his breathing room decrease.
He ate another chop,Then he heard a mighty POP!
Now, Marvin is a gluttonwho no longer has a button!
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April 24, 2013
Poetry Month - Day 24: Noise
Today is International Noise Awareness Day - a day when we warn people about the long term exposure to noise. Noise induced hearing loss can not be reversed! So, if you go to concerts or when you mow the lawn or are exposed to loud noises, wear ear plugs - protect your hearing!! You can learn more about it here, at the Center for Hearing and Communication.
In honor of Noise Awareness Day, I'm posting a Bowery Poetry Club/ASL Slam! Check it out!
Wasn't that cool?
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In honor of Noise Awareness Day, I'm posting a Bowery Poetry Club/ASL Slam! Check it out!
Wasn't that cool?
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, sign up for free email updates from this blog (in the upper right hand side of the page).
