Archive for the ‘Katrina’s Blog’ Category

The Writers’ Quilt

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

 

When it comes to writing picture books and approaching publishers, I’ve made many of the mistakes that there are to make. Trial and error is how I learn about writing specifically for the picture book genre. It’s how I learn about the industry, secured an agent and got more books published. I didn’t have any mentors or writerly connections when my first book was accepted. I just muddled my way through from there. It’s worked out okay.

Last year I ran a series of workshops in regional areas for aspiring picture book authors about developing a manuscript and finding a publisher. I focused on the questions that I would have loved to hear answered when I first began writing and when I hit bumps in the road along the way. I wanted to share some of my mistakes so that participants wouldn’t make the same ones. The workshops were great fun.

I love books picture. I love reading them and I love writing them so it follows that I love hanging out with writers who share my love.

Following last year’s workshops I received emails from writers asking about an online picture book writing workshop. I’ve been mulling the idea over since then, trying to think of a way I could deliver a course that was as engaging, as fun, and as motivating, as hopefully the face to face ones were. (I didn’t want to just send out an e-book.) And I think I’ve worked out a way! So come and visit me at the Writers Quilt Website. It’s a little net space for those of us who just want to talk about writing picture books all day.

See you over there.

Katrina x

 

 

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Two Questions

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Here’s a fun exercise for fellow writers: Answer these two questions -

What do you write?

Why do you write it?

(It’s harder that it looks.)

 

What I Write

I write all kinds of things. Sometimes I write about small dogs and sometimes I write about dads and babies. I also write about the weather, especially when it’s raining. I write stories that children seem to like. I write picture book stories, so adults must like them too, otherwise children will never get to hear them. At the moment I’m trying to write about a girl who wants to be a mermaid. It’s tricky because such a story has been told before and I want to create something that’s original but still feels natural. I have to watch out for clunks because there should be a comforting rhythm to a picture book text.  Some of my finished books include Littledog (it’s meant to be one word because that’s the dog’s name) My Dad Thinks He’s Funny and Big Rain Coming. Once I wrote a story about a seal but no one wanted to publish it, probably because it wasn’t really that good. The same thing happened with my story about singing frogs.  Plenty of times I write rubbish by mistake but every now and then I write something lovely. I write all kinds of things.

 

Why I Write It

I tried to give up writing once. It was during a busy time when I felt like I was drowning in the stress of an overcrowded life. I knew I needed to throw something overboard to stay afloat so I tossed writing over the side. (It wasn’t paying the bills after all.) But instead of feeling lighter, I felt like I was suffocating under an even greater heaviness. It pulled me deeper until I was forced to acknowledge what I’d always really known – writing was, and is, my life raft. When I write I feel free. Other writers understand what I mean. When we write we feel buoyant. We find peace through our writing. That sounds like nonsense to some people but not to other writers.

So I write for the nourishing weightless feelings of peace and freedom and then there’s the other reason; my ego. I write because I like being a published author. I like seeing my name on book covers. I like achieving success in a highly competitive field and I like the challenge of creating something from nothing. When it comes down to it, all reasons considered, I write for myself.

How would you answer?

*I stole the idea for these question from the Emerging Writer’s Festival site. They’re asking potential 2012 panelists to send in their answers.*

 

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I Have a Plan

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

2012

I have a plan.

I’m planning on planning.

I’m planning on planning a novel.

I’m not planning on drafting. I’m just planning on planning.

Why am I planing on planning, and not planning on writing, a novel?

Because… I have a character in my head who won’t squeeze into a picture book. I’ve told him to go away but he won’t. (I’ve also told him to turn into a girl because I’d rather write about a girl but he won’t do that either.)  I need to write him away.

Because… I’d like to challenge myself with something new but the idea of beginning a novel is completely overwhelming. I’m not sure where to start and this way it doesn’t all feel quite so scary. Nothing intimidating about a notebook, especially a pretty one.

Because… I don’t want to jump in with unfed ideas. I want to fatten my characters. I want to slow down. I want to be clear. I want to do my best.

So, among other writerly things, this year, I’m planning on planning. (I’ll worry about the drafting next year.) Wish me luck!

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