Spring into Writing
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Writing Fun
Spring into Writing is starting soon (May 1st). You can register here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-the-writing-challenge/ In honor of our upcoming month of writing fun I would like to mention some other things that will help you with your writing!
First off is the Children’s Book Academy’s upcoming writing course Middle Grade Mastery. I took The Craft and Business of Illustrating Children’s Books and it was wonderful. I learned so much. Everyone got their work seen and commented on by the instructors at least once. In the end you get your work seen by a lot of professionals. Mira Reisberg is absolutely lovely! Scholarships for this course runs until April 30th. Use MGMAGIC in before 6am tomorrow and get a $100 discount (I’d use that money saved to get a 1 on 1 critique).
http://bit.ly/MGScholarships The course starts May 13th https://childrensbookacademy.teachable.com/p/middle-grade-mastery
Twitter:
These are the two I chats have attended, but there are many more!
#kidlitchat Tuesday nights at 6pm ET 9pm PT
#PBChat Wednesday nights at 6pm ET 9pm PT
Debra Ridpath Ohi @inkyelbows has made an extensive list of writing chats: http://inkygirl.com/writechat-directory/
#MSWL is for agents and editors to post on with things they want to see. It’s a great resource to see what people want, but submit as normal according to the agent’s/publisher’s guidelines! https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/
There are a lot of great pitch parties on Twitter as well! This is where you can pitch and agents can request your work! Calendar created by Meg Latorre. https://iwriterly.com/pitch-contest-calendar/
Websites:
If you haven’t seen it yet, go to Kidlit 411! Kidlit 411 has a huge list of resources for kidlit writers and illustrators. They are continually updating this list http://www.kidlit411.com/
Paula Yoo Hosts NaPiBoWriWee May 1st-7th. Can you write a story a day for 7 days? Yes, yes you can. It’s totally compatible with Spring into Writing, too! https://napibowriwee.com/
I have heard so many great things about Rate Your Story. Many of my friends have used it with great results! https://www.rateyourstory.org/
Let me know about other writing resources you know! I know I missed some things that are outside of the kidlit world. Please post them so everyone can benefit!
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Last Chance for Booklets!
I slightly overstated the title of this. It takes around 2 weeks for the booklets to go from here to the States. So if you order now I can mail out books tomorrow! Nothing in the book is time sensitive (other than the planner part that runs April – September), so you can wait to get the book until after the event starts. I will post the booklet just before the event so you can look it over before buying. Just know that it will take a couple of weeks to arrive. You can buy the booklet here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/690724515/spring-into-writing-challenge-booklet
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Register for Spring into Writing! It’s a month long event that helps writers be creative and have fun with their writing! Event starts May 1st: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-the-writing-challenge/
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A big thank you to Sharalyn A. Edgeberg for coming up with the name Spring into Writing! Look for your print copy of the booklet in the mail soon!
The winner for the booklet is Shelly Hawley-Yan! I’ll be sending you a book as well!
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Guest List for Spring into Writing!
Here is the guest list so far for Spring into Writing! It’s a small list, but I plan it that way so the event will be more relaxing.
Nancy Vo — http://www.nancyvo.com/
Becky Fyfe — http://chapterbookchallenge.blogspot.com/
Julie Hedlund — http://12x12challenge.com/
Ksenia Anske — https://www.kseniaanske.com/
Mason Deaver — https://www.masondeaverwrites.com/
Ken Rolston — http://kenrolston.com/
Yvonne Mes — https://www.yvonnemes.com/
Nick Patton — https://www.patreon.com/picturebooking
Jennifer Cole Judd — http://jennifercolejudd.com/
Melissa Stoller — https://www.melissastoller.com/
Robin Martin — http://sbpra.com/robinmartin-duttmann/
Jennifer Ward — http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/
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Register for Spring into Writing here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-the-writing-challenge/
Buy the 88 page booklet here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/690724515/spring-into-writing-challenge-booklet
In the image left to right Kensia Anske’s “The Badlings”; Nancy Vo’s “The Outlaw”; Mason Deaver’s “I Wish You All The Best”; Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 badge. Jennifer Ward’s “I Love Birds”; Ken Rolston’s “Dad vs. the THREENAGER”, Yvonne Mes’ “Oliver’s Grumbles”; Nick Patton’s the “Picturebooking” podcast; Robin Martin’s “Zoo on the Moon”; Jennifer Cole Judd’s “Circus Train” and Becky Fyfe’s Chapterbook Challenge badge. Click on the links above to find out more about each guest!
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Spring into Writing Planners!
I was planning on posting the guest list for Spring into writing today today, but I keep getting getting emails back from people who want to help out with the event! I’m going to give it another weekend and post the guests Tuesday!
The Spring Into Writing Planners are being printed now. I have a couple of planners in my hands now. Technically they are in my art room, but still. I will be mailing these two out tomorrow, but I should have more at the end of the week. You can order the planners here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/690724515/pre-order-for-spring-into-writing
There will be a free, downloadable planner/workbook available, but this one comes already assembled, spiral bound and has a plastic dust cover! Any sales help me to keep my blog/website running! If you can buy the book. You can also help me out and buy me a coffee if you’d like! Ko-fi.com/daniduck
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Spring into Writing Contest!
I need some help getting the word out about Spring into Writing. The winner will be chosen at random, but the more you help out the more entries you’ll get!
It costs me a lot of money to run my blog events and for web hosting. I really need a bit of help! One way you can help me out is buying a printed planner! You can get this planner for here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/690724515/pre-order-for-spring-into-writing
The Planner is spiral bound and the cover is printed in color. It has a plastic protective cover and I’ll sign & write a note inside the book.
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Spring into Writing!
To Sign Up for Spring into Writing: Sign up here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-spring-into-writing/
I will be using this list of names to choose the prize winners. Most of the prizes will be given to those that complete the challenge, but there will be some prizes for everyone. Sign up starts now and runs until May 7th.
Also plug your email at the top where it says “Subscribe”.
When is it? Spring into Wriitng starts May 1st 2020.
Where can I find more info? Join the group on Facebook! This group is for anyone interested in making picture book dummies! You do not have to participate in the event to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/548159692008535Spring into Writing on Discord: https://discord.gg/mEt4PGr
How do I sign up? Sign up runs Now – May 7th. Be sure to follow my blog by email so you can keep up to date with any announcements. Registration is absolutely free for this event (as is the booklet!)
What’s the goal? The goal is to just have fun!
What do I need to bring? Yourself, writing utensils and paper.
To Win Spring into Writing:
You chose your own goals in this event. Get halfway through and can’t make your goal? Change it. It’s done and you didn’t finish? Change them again. Still didn’t finish? You win anyway. The most important thing is to have fun!
What if I’m Not a Writer? You do NOT have to identify as an writer to participate in this challenge. It helps to have a love of writing! If you do not have a love of writing, then a love of writing will be assigned to you soon.
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Writing Challenge Updates!
Working on getting things in order for the writing challenge. Here’s some things you should know! Sign up for the writing challenge here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-the-writing-challenge/
1. Name That Writing Challenge: I’ve already asked for names for the challenge. You can vote on names here (or add your own): https://www.facebook.com/groups/548159692008535/permalink/1363992383758591/
2. Booklets I’m going to set the price for the booklet back to $12 as it was for the original. I don’t believe the cost of printing will be much more than the last event. The total cost will be $15 USD. The whole book will be free to download and use during the event. This will give you a nice spiral-bound book to work in, and help me keep my site running! https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DaniDuckArt
It takes about 2 weeks for the booklet to get to people in the states, so please be sure to order early!
3. Smart Dummies Instagram I will be shutting down my Smart Dummies Challenge Instagram account. It’s taking way too much of my time to run it and I don’t think it’s getting to enough people to be useful. I would much rather use my time for other event related things!
4. Other Things
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- There will be an advertising contest soon in which you can win a booklet for the event.
- I hope I can get one or two proof readers for the booklet!
- The goal is to have fun, but wondering if we should have a more specific goal.
- I believe I have 9-10 guests planned for the event. Please feel free to reach out to me if you want to be a guest. I’m waiting to hear back on a few people and don’t want to send out too many more emails!
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I will address all of these other things in separate posts, but feel free to ask about any of these in the comments! Sign up for the writing challenge here:
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Writing Challenge Update
This weekend I’m working hard to get all my ducks in order for the big writing event. (sign up for the
event is here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-the-writing-challenge/ The main thing I’m doing is gathering names and asking people to join as guests. This is my least favorite part of the event process.Yes, I’ve done a lot of event planning in the past for Smart Dummies, but asking people to join only gets slightly easier. I’m over the fear of people yelling at me about the event, but asking is still hard. Even when people are friends. Especially when the people I am asking are friends. I love you all and I hope I’m not annoying!
I’m still looking for names for the challenge. If you have a name feel free to add it below!
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The Writing Challenge is GO!
You can now sign up for the new writing challenge below! I’m doing pre-registration for this event just to judge involvement in this new challenge. If you pre-register now you will not have to register later this year! This event will take place on this blog (as will future Smart Dummies events).You can register for the 2019 Writing Challenge here: http://ngi.c96.myftpupload.com/register-for-the-writing-challenge
The Writing Challenge will be May 1st – May 31st!
Interested in pre-ordering the Writing Challenge* booklet?Then you can go here:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DaniDuckArtEdit: The price of the planner will stay the same.$15 total USD for the planner plus shipping to the US! This planner will a bit be longer in content and the calendar will be for the 6 months (instead of 2 months)!
I’m still looking for a name for the Writing Challenge (feel free to post your ideas in the comments below).
