Fun
-
Bird Drawing Video
Bird drawing video! Bird is not happy. I won’t say why. Let me know if there is something you’d like me to draw on video!
-
Welcome to Doodles & Dreams
Welcome to Doodles and Dreams! All the fun starts today. If you haven’t signed up for this event please sign up here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/doodles-and-dreams/ Don’t forget to pick up your free booklet as well.
This is a relaxed event to encourage doodles and fun! I’ll be making posts here so be sure to sign up for my email. If you like what you make during this event please share it with me on Twitter or Instagram using #doodledreams! I’ll RT some work I see. You don’t have to stick with what’s in the book. Please feel free to share any of you work with that tag.
If you have something you really like please mail it to me at daniduck(@)gmail.com. I’ll be posting other people’s work on Fridays (but only if you email it to me). I’m also hoping to post a few other things throughout the month so please sign up to get my emails below!
I just finished editing the Doodles & Dreams booklet so if there are mistakes please let me know. Also if you find accessibility issues in the booklet or on the website please let me know!
If you are an artist or writer please feel free to join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/mEt4PGr This server is meant for adult professionals and those working towards becoming a professional. Right now it’s mostly kidlit and graphic novel people!
Subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss out on any event posts!
-
Doodles & Dreams
I meant to announce this sooner. I’ve been extremely fatigued this past week and before that I’ve been so busy.
Unfortunately, there won’t be any Smart Dummies this year. It’s something I wrestled with a lot. It’s been an extra busy year for me. COVID has really messed things up. Also, I feel like I need a break.
This year I’m running a relaxed event called Doodles and Dreams! This will be an event much like my Spring into Writing Event. I will be releasing the Smart Dummies booklet again this year. If possible I’ll also do a fun booklet for Doodles &Dreams as well.
Doodles & Dreams wont have prizes, but I’m hoping it will be a lot of fun! We’ll do some art sharing and maybe even have some chats. I’ll be talking more about this before September starts. I hope to see you there!
Sign up here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/doodles-and-dreams/
-
Announcing #QueerKidlit
I want to invite you all to a new Twitter chat! The chat is called #QueerKidlit and will be Wednesday nights 5:30pm PT/ 8:30pm ET. It’s hosted by Jenette Bradley (@jeanettebradly) and myself (@daniduck). The very first event will be Wednesday August 12th! All LGBTQIA+ people and allies welcome! This event is for both kidlit writers and illustrators.
There are lots of things we are working out about this chat. Please come with ideas for things you’d like to see!
Logo art by Jeanette Bradley.
-
Wednesday Updates
Creative Goals:
I’m getting really close to finishing up the images for this cat comic I’m working on. Just need a few more hours I hope. I’m hoping to finish the 3 I’m working on. I’ll have to finish the other two in my portfolio as well, but I’m happy I’m almost there!
Currently Reading:
I’m currently reading A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. I just summarized the story for a friend so I’ll post it here. There is a minor spoiler in the text about an event that happens within the first few chapters. I’ve whited these areas out.
It’s from two perspectives. A magical being takes Malik’s sister as his prisoner. Malik enters a deal with a magical being to save his sister. The deal is to kill Karina who is the Crown Princess of Ziran.
Karina’s mother is murdered and Karina wants to bring her back using dark magic (which could end up with her killing Malik). She also has to contend with her council who seems to be working against her and undermining everything she does. She has to hide her mother’s death and deal with a unknown traitor.
Malik is chosen by a goddess to enter the Solstasia competition. This gives Malik a way to get to Karina, but everything gets more complicated when the two meet and start having feelings for one another.
I’m almost done with this story and I’m so excited to find out how it’s all resolved!
More Fun Stuff:
My son was asking for math worksheets to do over the summer. He loves math. I remembered my friend Evelyn B Christensen does some wonderful puzzle books for kids. She has logic, math, word and other puzzles in her books. Evelyn has all kinds of puzzles on her website for kids to do and sample sheets from each of her books. There is lots to for free on her site that will keep kids busy for hours. I printed up a bunch of sheets to see what my son likes so I know which books to order for him! http://evelynchristensen.com/index.html
-
Spring into Writing Starts TODAY!
Today is the first day of Spring into Writing and do I have a fun month of writing planned for you! I’ve got a bunch of great writers all lined up for you this month. with a fun 50-page workbook you can download and print!
If you aren’t signed up for Spring into Writing go here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-spring-into-writing/
Grab one of these two participant badges you see here and put it on your website, blog, or anywhere on social media. Please link to www.daniduck.com/blog
Here are the links to the workbook. They are both the same booklet but ordered differently depending on how you wish to print them:
This is a print ready version of the workbook. Each spread (or two pages) are made to fit on typical printer paper. This is meant to be double sided. The papers can be stapled in the middle into a book: Spring into Writing Workbook 2020
Spring into Writing "day" badge. Bunny jumping over flower bush while a duckling and two chicks watch. This is the copy to print if you want larger pages. Make sure to set the print to vertical and “fit to page”. You can bind these pages together with staples or a three ring binder. If you want a read-only version this is the one to download.
Spring into Writing 2020 Booklet
Spring into Writing "night" badge. Bunny in the shadows holding a red pen. Red ink drips from the pen and saturates the page. This event is meant to be relaxing. There are a ton of activities to do in the workbook. You do not need to do any of them to win Spring into Writing. If you have writing to do just continue working on that! Unlike my other event “Smart Dummies” (and other events like it) there is no way to lose Spring into Writing. Everyone wins!
Sundays I will be posting the weekly schedule of posts. 3 days a week there will be posts from guests. The other two days will be either a post from me or another guest. You can use the planner to write down the guests if you like.
There is no particular order in doing the booklet. I wont be announcing which page to do when. I might discuss some of the pages, but any order you want to do the book in is up to you!
There are some prizes! Kaitlyn Sanchez is offering a critique for one lucky winner. Her post will be Monday. I am offering a $25 gift card for anyone who helps me get out the word for Spring into Writing. If you talk about me on twitter please tag @daniduck on Twitter or @dani_duck_art on Instagram! There may be more prizes. They tend to show up at the last minute, and are very wonderful, so keep an eye out!
-
Win a $25 Gift Card!
I just realized that my post about Spring into Writing registration being OPEN may not have been sent. You can register at the link below.
Help me get the word out about Spring into Writing and you could win a $25 USD gift card to an indie book store of your choice! You can enter every day by mentioning the event on social media.
Spring into Writing is a free event to help writers have fun while writing. Since it’s all about having fun you win just by being a part of the event. There will be a free downloadable workbook.
I can manually add in entries, so if you’ve gone over and beyond what’s in the Rafflecopter please let me know! Also let me know if you have any trouble entering.
You must be signed up to Spring into Writing to enter. The new guest list is up, but still in progress! Sign up to Spring into Writing here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-spring-into-writing/ (Signing up is absolutely free!) Feel free to use any of my Spring into Writing images to share with your social media posts!
-
Fun For Kids!
I’ve got a new page on my website titled “Home Fun For Kids”. Right now it’s got a few things listed that my kids love, but I’m planning on adding more things in the future. These are all free activities, though some (like prodigy) have and optional paid service. Please let me know of any resources you know. If it’s a website of resources I’ll post it if it doesn’t overlap too much with the resources I already have. The page is: https://daniduck.com/home-fun-for-kids/
These are the current links I have posted, but will be adding more soon to the link above!
Programs:
Coding: Scratch Jr. https://www.scratchjr.org/ Works on both Android and Apple Devices. There is also a version of the program for older kids and adults called Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/ (This program is used at my child’s school).
Math Fun: Prodigy https://www.prodigygame.com/ You can play in a browser or on a tablet/phone. Your child may have a profile through their school. (This program is used at my child’s school).
Roblox: Contains a lot of player created games. https://www.roblox.com/ Roblox Studio (for creating games): https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/203313860-Roblox-Studio
What Should I Draw?
On Twitter @DrawWhat & include: #WSID Children’s illustrators from all over the world are working to turn children’s ideas into images! Parents can tweet children’s requests. Children are encouraged to draw as well. Brainchild of Ame Dyckman and Charlene Chua.
Printable Activity Sheets:
Jarrett Lerner: https://jarrettlerner.com/activities/
Videos:
Draw Everyday: https://www.youtube.com/studiojjk
Live at 2pm ET
Homeschooling and More Resources:
Free Classes and more: https://www.khanacademy.org/
More Resources: https://smartcoos.com/resources