Start the Year Off Write 2014! Sure will!!!

Good things come in pairs, it seems.

Just when I was gearing up for this month's ReviMo, I heard from Julie Hedlund about another great writing challenge, Start the Year Off Write 2014, by Shannon Abercrombie.


Starting January 5th, her happy band of writers, illustrators and publishing experts will be posting writing exercises, as well as offering wisdom and critiques (woohoo prizes!) to participants.

Who are these illustrious published authors and illustrators sharing their writing exercises, you ask.

Well, they are:

Linda Ashman
Troy Cummings
Drew Daywalt
Lori Degman
Ame Dyckman
Meg Fleming
Liz Garton Scanlan
David Harrison
Julie Hedlund
Thanhha Lai
Tara Lazar
Marianne Malone
Christie Matheson
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Matt Phelan
Mary Francis Rockcastle
Corey Rosen Schwartz
Adam Rubin
Kristen Fulton

 I know, right! Grrrrrreat line up!


Very excited to be a part of this one, and I know that it will be just the thing to boost my creativity for the new year.


Head over to Shannon's blog to sign up.
Here's the link: http://www.shannonabercrombie.com/start-the-year-off-write-2/the-challenge/

Studying Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul

Today marks the begin of my study group for Ann Whitford Paul's "Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication." I am super excited!

A FB buddy of mine suggested that we go through the book together. Of course I said yes! Then we opened it up to some of our Facebook writing groups, and within less then a week we had close to 50 people joining in!!!

I'm amazed, but I guess I shouldn't be, by how many wonderful, dedicated (did I mention friendly) writers there are out there, who are just aching to improve their craft. It makes me feel good. And, not only that, but now I have a group of people to work this book with!

So, I'll be posting over the next weeks. Sharing the process and what I learn. Hope you get something out of it too!