pose, prepare to strike
prayer forgotten, prey in
sight; arbor mantis
hunter by Angie Quantrell
Can you see it? My imagination took flight just as this tree spread its wings in attack mode.
How about you? What do you think about when you hear the word hunter?
It’s that time of year, writers. If you are a SCBWI member, this is a great opportunity! The application window is March.
Let’s turn those ideas into the best stories possible!
Thanks to Kathy Temean over at Writing and Illustrating!
via BOOK WINNERS and SCBWI WORK IN PROGRESS AWARDS Opportunity
layers, patterns mix;
tightly furled, mystery
blankets secret core
mystery by Angie Quantrell
I spied this gorgeous tree and cones during a winter walk. With such fascinating texture, design, and beauty, I just had to climb a snow bank to get close enough and snap a few photos. So glad I did!
What mystery have you seen lately?
Reading for Research Month is here! March Madness of the Picture Book World, here we come!
This is my 4th or 5th year participating in ReFoReMo. Happy 5 years to #ReFoReMo! Focused blog posts guide researchers (us) to read picture books that illustrate the information found in blog posts. I look forward to this month as an opportunity to read lots of picture books and study their techniques, formats, and picture book elements. If you love picture books, this month of reading is for you.
Is it a coincidence that Reading for Research Month occurs the same month as Read Aloud Day on March 2? I think not (or maybe so, but it is a cool coincidence.)
Read, friends. Read.
Book stacks from previous ReFoReMo! Be prepared for the time AND space commitment! LOL
Great things happen during ReFoReMo:
– picture books are read, studied, dissected
– blog posts are shared by professionals in the kidlit field
– the kidlit community gives support to one another
– interaction between fellow writers, authors, bloggers, and kidlit enthusiasts is invigorating and addicting
– learning about picture books, in oh so many ways, grows in direct correlation to the amount of time spent reading and studying PB texts
– libraries are flooded with requests for picture books (which, as we all know, trickles back to authors – yay!)
– so much fun to be had!
REGISTRATION opens today! Visit ReFoReMo to register.
And start requesting those books! Find the book list here.
I’ve printed the book list and registered for ReFoReMo. Who’s with me?
Do you have a word of the year? This year my word is treasure. Last year my word was roots and I had an inspirational image art project I worked on throughout the year to remind me of my word.
I don’t yet have an art project in process for treasure, but the image is forming in my mind. I’m letting it percolate on the back burner. You know what happens when things perk on the back burner? If it’s my dad’s coffee pot, the old-fashioned type with grounds, metal basket, and metal coffee-greasy shellac, then perking will brew strong, formidable, grow-the-hair-on-your-chest type of coffee.
That’s what I’m going for. Treasure that grows strong, formidable, and grows the hair on my chest, in the courage and confidence sort of way. Letting my word simmer will add notes of depth, fragrance, insights, and spicy overtones. As I taste my word, treasure, I hope I will also grow deeper, gain insights, become more fragrant, and enjoy spice in my life.
A spicy life! Let’s do it!
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, NKJV)
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV)
Taste and see, smell and know.
I began a Blessings and Thankfulness journal on January 1. Nothing fancy, just a cheap composition notebook and pens. As I focus on my treasure, I want to remember the blessings and reasons for thankfulness which are all around me. You know how easy it is to complain and mope. Ugh. I’m so tired of that. But still, I sink into that attitude. I hope by considering and jotting down both blessings and thanks, I can avoid the pity party.
A quick list of some of my treasures:
Jesus-God-Holy Spirit-faith-hope-love-Kevin-RV-home-shelter-food-Taylor-Jamie-Donavyn-Autumn-Chelsie-Hayden-Khloe-Gage-Monet-coffee-church-family-friends-you-readers-nature-snow-books-gardens-beauty-Bog boots-words-Bible-chocolate-art-music-travel-camera-rubber stamping-crafts-journals-writing-bees-flowers-hiking
Can you list 5 treasures in your life?
Read more about my Word of the Year here.
What is your word of the year?
I love writing and reading and sipping coffee and nibbling dark chocolate.
Did you see the polysyndeton technique I just used?
Notice the ands, instead of commas. Using extended conjunctions in a sentence is polysyndeton. As soon as I read this post. I recognized this literary technique as one I love to employ. Much to the dismay of some of my former critique partners.
I love the way polysyndeton slows the reader down, creates excitement, enhances vocabulary, adds focus, and increases emotions in the text I’m writing. (No polysyndeton in this sentence.)
It’s fun to play with a technique with a fancy name! I’m not even sure how to correctly pronounce polysyndeton, but I can put it to good use.
Read the full article by Daily Writing Tips here.
How about you? Do you use the polysyndeton technique? Is there a favorite literary technique you love?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Let’s take a little vacation to visit summer and Monet’s Giverny. (I think we can all use some sunshine and green.) Here’s #ThrowbackThursday meets Hump Day Haiku.
in white winter mope,
memories feed sanity
bridge to restful green
bridge by Angie Quantrell
Welcome to Hump Day Haiku Challenge. Join the fun and share a Haiku about bridges or winter despair. We’ll make it to spring!
swirl wind, drift snowflakes.
secure; howl winter frenzy
living in snow globe
blow now, pile deep, chill;
blanket all, winter world, twirl-
alien landscape
frozen fingers ache
deep breath. calm. blue sky. storm rest.
living in snow globe
winter snow globe by Angie Quantrell
drifting, snarled, stuck
captured, unprepared to stay-
winter lock in place
winter by Angie Quantrell
Happy Hump Day Haiku Challenge! Join us. Write a Haiku about winter or being stuck. Post the link or your Haiku in the comments so we can all read it.
Welcome!
I’m a Storystorm winner!
Storystorm is a month-long brainstorming project for writers of picture books organized and hosted by Tara Lazar. Mark your calendars for January 2020 when Storystorm will blast off the new year with daily posts, ideas, tips, and interactions with other writers. It’s that good.
Everyone who participates in Storystorm is a winner. I have a full notebook of ideas from this past month of Storystorm and previous years of Storystorm. I just began my second notebook. Those notebooks are gold mines for writers of picture books. Really!
I can’t tell you my ideas. They are SECRET. For now. Let me tell you there are some real gems lining those pages.
Whoop!
What do you do to brainstorm?
Love, Laughter, and Life 