You made it through! It doesn’t matter if your journey was like this… Because you have emerged victorious! OK, so maybe your journey wasn’t that difficult. Whatever the path was l…
Source: Got 30 Ideas? Sign the Storystorm Pledge!
Ta-da! A month full of great picture book ideas! OK, maybe not all are great, but still! Many thanks to Tara Lazar for making Storystorm happen! Happy writing!
by Dr. Carrie Barron Here is a wonderful quote I just found by psychologist and creator of the Hierarchy of Needs pyramid, Abraham Maslow: “A first rate soup is more creative than a second rate pai…
Source: Storystorm Day 30: “Make Soup!” by Dr. Carrie Barron
Creativity. Sometimes it comes and sometimes you have to start working and then the juices get flowing. Writers and other creative souls, we just need to start working with our ingredients, be those pen and paper, paint and canvas, clay and tools. Smell the soup!
by Kirsten Hess, Bookseller It has been wonderful to read the posts in Storystorm this month, to get a peek into the creative processes that go into the many wonderful books that we carry in our sh…
Source: Storystorm Day 29: “Let’s Play Books!” by Kirsten Hess
I love having books and play partnered together! Perfect match. Need to visit this bookstore!
by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon Audrey: Like all picture book origin stories, this one starts years ago. Liz and I knew each other but not well at this point, if I remember correctly. Li…
Source: Storystorm Day 28: “Book, Not Novel” by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon
I hab a code, too!
This is a great post with strategies for helping write picture books – with a friend!
Storystorm is coming to an end in a few days. I will miss the daily posts by others working in the field of picture books!
Along the way, I’ve learned, brainstormed, taken notes, and jotted down many ideas for future writing projects. Way to go, Tara Lazar and all of the presenters! You can visit Tara’s site and check it out here.
Another unexpected result from Storystorm came this morning. I have now hired a personal assistant. Welcome, Mabel!
by Ruth Spiro Two weeks ago, I posted the following question on the Storystorm Facebook group: I had been brainstorming my own list of ideas to write about, but I think it’s important to do some ma…
Source: Storystorm Day 27: “Ruth Spiro is Asking for it!”
Ruth shares some great writing strategies for turning ideas into picture books. Thanks, Ruth!
Reblogged on WordPress.com
Source: How To Write Your Name In Elvish In 10 Minutes – The Meta Picture
Love it! Everyone needs to know how to write their names in Elvish. LOTR, ready to go!
Summer farmer markets, oh how I look forward to you! Enjoy this throwback post from August 2009.
Place Monge (Paris) fountain on Sunday Market day
In France, one of the things we truly enjoyed was the Sunday market held in the Place Monge town square. One could buy ANYTHING needed for eating, drinking, or giving. One Sunday we encountered a simultaneous flea market, but I could never figure out when another was going to be staged. I so wanted another chance at finding treasures!
On any given Sunday, there was no lack of choices for purchase at the market. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers were squashed in among stalls of stinky cheese and fish, raw meat and poultry. Lucious homemade breads competed for the winning fragrance award with occasional ‘meals made for you right now.’ The entire experience was a delight for the senses. Taking home the goods – mouth-watering sustenance.
Flowers at Sunday Market
Meat vendor at Place Monge
Produce vendor at Place Monge
A meal comprised of market fare from Place Monge
Many years ago, in the Yakima Valley, a Sunday farmer’s market was hatched. Of course, being at church most of each Sunday, we did not frequent the market. In fact, we boycotted it simply because it should be held on Saturdays (our opinion) so market workers and go-ers could attend church on Sunday. Granted, I don’t believe our boycott gained any new members of a church anywhere…
With our recent life change of full Sunday church responsibilities to experiencing ‘house church’ at a local park on Sunday mornings, we decided we would check it out – to see what the rest of the valley does on Sunday mornings. It seems that many residents take pride and joy at what is locally available, fresh from the fields, and the hands of gardeners, farmers, and crafters.
Sunday Market in Yakima
Pleasantly surprised, we found a plethora of aromatic and tasty produce, fruit, home-produced crafts, and food items. Mixed in was a variety of ethnic food stalls (I love the panset and lumpia) and shoppers galore.
Checking out the goods
An added bonus was musical entertainment. Steel drum music was such a wonderful accompaniment to the outing.
My oldest grandbaby (now he is 7) hits the Sunday Market
We encountered people we knew, interacted with community members, and socialized under the hot sun. Purchasing fresh produce and showing off our grandson were top prizes for the day.
Hayden with Papa at the Yakima Sunday Market
I guess the boycott was a misguided waste of time. The Master Gardener did not stick Himself in church and stay there all day on Sundays. He was out among the people, out in the community. Perhaps more productive to relationship building, making new friends, and reaching out is to be where the people are…not where we think they should be, but where they actually are.
A challenge to myself – where are the families in my community on any given Sunday morning? Maybe it’s time I found out…and made some new friends.
by Rebecca E. Hirsch Congrats, Storystormers, you are almost done! Tara asked me talk to you about how to get nonfiction ideas. In fiction, anything is possible. But nonfiction shows the world as i…
Source: Storystorm Day 26: “Non-Fiction Truths” by Rebecca E. Hirsch
What are your interests? Mine your hobbies, passions, and experiences for picture book ideas – fiction and nonfiction!
by Jill Esbaum Ever had a story idea pop into your head while reading someone else’s published book? I still remember, back in 2008, stumbling onto Mary Amato’s quirky CHICKEN OF THE FAMILY. I was …
Source: Storystorm Day 25: “Characters Who Won’t Stay in the Drawer” by Jill Esbaum
A tale of a tale which inspired a tale – and many years of revising and/or simmering in the file cabinet. Some stories take a long time to perc. There is hope!
Love, Laughter, and Life 