Inspiration

Inspiration is all around. Tap into your five senses and open your mind to the world around you. Doing so you’ll discover inspiration for creating children’s literature. Perhaps you find magical ideas in the ordinary. Time listening to students, your kids, and/or grandkids can spark ideas. By reading widely one can discover mentor tests to

#50 Precious Words

An international writing contest, hosted by author Vivian Kirkfield is open! Vivian shared her dream for the very first contest in 2016. This is the eighth year of the contest. Magic does happen! It’s time to write and submit. “I thought, wouldn’t that be a great challenge…to write a story for kids with only 50

Mighty Kid Lit

Michele Ziemke is a kidlit creator. She enjoys writing and illustrating children’s literature. She is the creator of the kidlit platform Mighty Kid Lit. Last week several members answered the call to support Mighty Kid Lit with various position as we all learn and grow together. I volunteered to create posters for #TickleMeTuesday and #ThoughtfulThursday.

Avoid the Summer Slide

The sweltering summer heat with temperatures hovering around the century mark probably has you and the kids enjoying tall glasses of fresh lemonade sitting in the shade of a tall oak tree. Hopefully, your children are devouring a tall stack of books, and jotting down stories in a journal, while sipping lemonade through a straw.

2023 Picture Book Rising Stars

The second annual 2023 Picture Book Rising Stars ⭐ Mentorship Program is an amazing opportunity to grow and learn as a writer. Authors Kailei Pew and Ebony Lynn Mudd began the program with a tweet and received an overwhelming response from picture book creators. Debbie Ridpath Ohi, author and illustrator, interviewed Ebony and Kailei in

Spring Fling 2023

NO SEED LEFT BEHIND By Suzy Leopold In a patch of soil, Garden Girl sows seeds. Sunflower Seed peeks through a cellophane window on the seed package. “Wait! What about me?” Why doesn’t Garden Girl hear me?  “Plant me!” Seed shouts. Garden Girl attaches the seed package to a garden stake.  Tap! Tap! “I don’t

Picture Book Critique Partners

As a whole, the picture book community is supportive and encouraging. Critique partners and groups are invaluable. Writers who exchange manuscripts should consider doing so as a professional reciprocal relationship of giving and receiving. Writers acquire new knowledge when giving and receiving critiques. Giving constructive critiques improves a writer’s own manuscripts. “No time spent writing

Storystorm 2023

Many kidlit creators look forward to Storystorm hosted by Tara Lazar every year. This event began in 2009. The first time I participated was ten years ago. What is Storystorm? It’s a month-long brainstorming event to create and generate story ideas during the month of January. There are daily posts from authors, illustrators, and kidlit

Building, Creating, and Sustaining Ideal Partner Relationships

Successful critique groups support a writer’s journey by helping writers shine and create polished stories. Organizing a thriving critique group:  Writers can grow, learn, and develop the craft of writing by giving and receiving manuscript critiques. Giving a critique is subjective. Some writers read for meaning while others focus on word choice and grammar.  Successful critique groups

March On With Mentor Texts

The month of March was filled with new picture book titles an and new learning. lynne Marie, Editor and Owner of Rate Your Story, hosted the event. Guest authors and illustrators shared picture book titles and discussions of the mentor texts. The challenge included reading daily posts to discover how these published books are successful