Write What You Know

Howdy (writing) partners! Just wanted to pop in with some blast-from-the-past pictures and a quick tidbit about picture book subject matter. 

This is me - circa 1980 - and one of the Brahman bulls on our family's farm. It was a little farm - but a busy one, filled with sounds (and smells!) that stuck with me. And it's exactly these kinds of childhood experiences that I have been mining for book ideas. So what inspired the walk down memory lane? 

Well for one thing I own half that farm now, and still make memories there. 

Secondly, I just attended a SCBWI conference and this message - write what you know - was a key theme. In other words, your stories should look in, not out. Be authentic, and mine your memories for (especially childhood) experiences that were both unique but also universal. 

Also, watch out for cow pies. 

*NEW KIDLIT IMPRINT*

Well looky here! A new kidlit imprint will be launching in 2020! As explained in the article: "HarperCollins Children’s Books is expanding with a new imprint for young readers, Quill Tree Books....Quill Tree will focus on publishing authors with a strong point of view, as well as those who are often underrepresented"

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/82185-harpercollins-launches-quill-tree-imprint.html

Start Your Engines...

Your literary brain engines, that is! It's January which means it is also Story Storm time! As explained on the website "The Storystorm challenge is to create 30 story ideas in 30 days. You don’t have to write a manuscript (but you can if the mood strikes). You don’t need potential best-seller ideas."

This amazing event was created by Tara Lazar - yes, THAT Tara Lazar. So you know it is good! And it's free and it's online. YAY!

https://taralazar.com/storystorm/