Picture book Nanowrimo. Who's in?

JennyJones

I’m in minus a few days for the craziest week or 10 days of my day job (happens every November). I’m jazzed about the accountability! If there are people expecting me then I know I will have motivation to stick to it.

Coley

I'm in, I like Lee's idea! I am not sure how busy November will be for me so that's a bit simpler. But I want accountability and structure and buddies! Awesome, thanks @Braden-Hallett

braden H

@Lee-White That works too! I'm happy with whatever gets people to write something as opposed to write nothing

I was doing a direct translation of the nanowrimo challenge (which is write that novel every day) but a tweak is absolutely needed to gear it towards children's books.

Maybe I'll put together a simple story sentence template to help people along and have some other handy exercises along with the prompts.

Maybe 'hard mode' can be taking that story sentence/synopsis and writing 500 words to get things started

braden H

@chrisaakins Great idea! As long as you're writin' every day to get those words on paper

ArtofAleksey

Yeah I agree with @Lee-White thats why 1 prompt will probably be more realistic

I am pretty good at coming up with silly concepts. Synopsis might be more fun and efficient.

braden H

@Aleksey Absolutely more realistic (more fun too)

I suppose it depends on what each person's goal is.

I'm eager to kinda find my kid-lit voice if you get what I mean (which takes writing lots and lots and lots and tonnes and lots and ohdeargodIhatewritingnow bunches of stories). A nice selection of story ideas and options is a bonus!

arent-draper

Braden, I'm in...only I am going to work on 4 picture book manuscripts (one per week) for November. I am going to put them into physical Dummy books with thumbnails.

Jon Anderson

I love the idea and even Lee's twist but I don't think I'll have much opportunity to try it. I hope it helps you guys out that get to stay with it.

xin li

This sounds really fun. I will follow along. I may spent 20mins - 40mins max to a synopsis only though.
I am wondering if there is any resources for beginner/intermediate writers out there which is similar to @Lee-White's youtube channel. Specifically, I am thinking about how to do 50 thumbnails appraoch - how would research and ideation process looks like in writtin? Anyone has suggestions?

RG Spaulding

Wow..that is a lot. I am a member of 12x12challenge.com and it is a challenge to write 12 picture books drafts or revisions in 12 months. I will just watch you guys and cheer on!

Heather Boyd

@Braden-Hallett

I’m working on people and character studies in November, I may may do some writing up on some of them. That or I will write an excerpt from a possible story whether picture book or not. I need to practise writing too.

ArtofAleksey

@Braden-Hallett idk i always thought a good way to write a kidslit story For me is to remember the difficulties I faced growing up, or trauma, and what I learned, what could have been different, etc. some way to relate to those that might be experiencing the same feelings. Then figure out a way to communicate that feeling visually. Lots of time and effort but definitely doable if you take your time

braden H

@xin-li said in Picture book Nanowrimo. Who's in?:

This sounds really fun. I will follow along. I may spent 20mins - 40mins max to a synopsis only though.
I am wondering if there is any resources for beginner/intermediate writers out there which is similar to @Lee-White's youtube channel. Specifically, I am thinking about how to do 50 thumbnails appraoch - how would research and ideation process looks like in writtin? Anyone has suggestions?

Generally the same as the process we were taught. Lots of brainstorming and mindmaps (and all sorts of other writer's tricks which I'm sure I can dig up out of all my old notes and textbooks) Except then you sit down and write. Consider the first draft to be a rough sketch or value comp. It doesn't have to look good, it just has to exist.

braden H

@RG-Spaulding said in Picture book Nanowrimo. Who's in?:

Wow..that is a lot. I am a member of 12x12challenge.com and it is a challenge to write 12 picture books drafts or revisions in 12 months. I will just watch you guys and cheer on!

I assume those are finished and polished manuscripts? I'm thinking more getting a story onto the page whether it's good or not. First roughest of drafts material

braden H

I'm seeing lots of interest!

I'll dust off my english teacher hat and get something together

peteolczyk

I’m in Braden, I’m terrible at writing. Sounds like a great way to dive in.

burvantill

@arent-draper that’s a good idea. My November is full but I may be able to swing four. I’m gonna think on that.

burvantill

@Heather-Boyd said in Picture book Nanowrimo. Who's in?:

I’m working on people and character studies in November

Me too!!! Do you want to share with each other or Start a thread?
My main focus is going to be master studies of faces and bodies of illustrations that I like the look of. By the end of November I want to have a grasp on a consistent style of drawing people. Do you have a lesson or book that you are going to follow, or are you self teaching?

NicolaSchofield

@Braden-Hallett This sounds really cool, and super great of you to dig out some exercises and stuff. My November is a little crazy but I'll join in when I can.

xin li

@Braden-Hallett I have written a bunch of stories during the last 12 months or so. They are not good text yet, but I believe there are some good ideas in them. I feel like I know what to do to break down the process of making an illustration after Lee & David's class during this spring. But I am having a hard time taking a rough idea to a finished text, the same way as a rough thumbnail to a finished illustration.

I have made 2 attempts to do picture dummy book in the past, and could not finish them because I started doubting about the story. Now I am doing a dummy book for the 3rd time with one of the stories, and I started to have doubts again...

If you have some tips for writing that you can dig up from your old notes to share, that would be fantastic.