Today is the last day of pre-, post- and all things PiBoIdMo. It certainly has been an amazing event this year and I have all of you to thank. Thanks to the guest bloggers, authors, illustrators and agents who offer prizes. And thanks to all the participants because your enthusiasm for creating stories for children is what makes November my favorite and most productive month of the year!
Here are some fun stats from PiBoIdMo:
- Over 570 registered participators
- 29,633 web hits for November (did not include pre- or post-PiBo, which puts the number around 40,000)
- Average 988 daily web hits
- The most active time of day for comments was 1:00pm
- The illustrator posts were, on average, more popular than author posts (sorry authors!)
- The most active day was November 1st with 1995 web hits
- 310 PiBoIdMo WINNERS completed the challenge (a 54% success rate!)
- PiBoIdMo was ranked as high as #8 out of 15,601 book blogs on Technorati.com
- PiBoIdMo participants created AT LEAST 9,300 new picture book ideas
Wow! That’s a lot of potential new stories to get into the hands of children…who will potentially find their new MOST FAVORITEST book in the bunch. Time to get writing!
Speaking of writing, PiBoIdMo inspired a new challenge from Julie Hedlund: the 12 in 12 Challenge. Picture book writers are encouraged to write 12 manuscripts in 12 months. Truth be told, this is my goal every year but I have yet to make it. Spurred on by the 12×12 community, I think this is totally doable!
Also, don’t forget to bring your idea journal over to Paula Yoo’s NaPiBoWriWee in May! Write seven first drafts in seven days.
I’d like to remind everyone that the PiBoIdMo Cafe Press shop will remain open year-round. Every purchase earns $3 for RIF and the Mount Prospect Elementary School Library. So far we’ve only raised $75. We can do much better! Get your mug, tote or tee today! (Please be aware that neither logo designer Bonnie Adamson nor I make any money from the CafePress shop. All proceeds are donated.)
Finally, I’d LOVE to hear your FEEDBACK about the event.
Who would you like to see guest blog next year?
What could be done better next year?
The PiBoIdMo Facebook group was Mindy Alyse Weiss’s idea and it is a warm, encouraging community that will remain open year-round.
What other ideas do you have for PiBoIdMo as it rolls into its fourth year?
And once again, thank you, thank you. You’ve truly made PiBoIdMo 2011 an event to remember!
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
59 comments
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December 9, 2011 at 2:21 pm
elizabethannewrites
I absolutely LOVED my first experience of PiBoIdMo! The Facebook Group was the icing on the cake, and it built such an affirming and encouraging community. Kudos to Mindy for coming up with the idea!
I’d like to see Emma Walton Hamilton, author, educator, literacy advocate and delightful person as a guest blogger next year.
Thanks so much for all you’ve done, Tara! Do you get to relax a bit now?
December 9, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Beth G
Thank you, Tara, for such a wonderful month of inspiration and creativity!!! I got more done than ever, and I think that I might even have 10 ideas that are ready to be finished. Thanks for the great posts pre, during, and post PiBoIdMo too. Fabulous; every bit of the month! I’m already looking forward to next year, but will tide myself over with the 12 in 12 Challenge and NaPiBoWriWee.
~Beth
December 9, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Julie
Those are some amazing stats! Thank YOU for all that you did for us this month. I can barely begin to fathom how much work it was. And thank you for the 12×12 plug too! 🙂
December 9, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Can’t think of a thing that could be done better, Tara. You keep topping yourself every year, though!
Amazing stats–pardon me while I give a special shout-out to the illustrators who contributed such fabulous posts, and to the illustrator participants who have been inspired to add words to their pictures: I salute you!
This has been such a gift. A thousand thanks to you, Tara, and to the entire PBoIdMo community.
December 9, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Sue Heavenrich
Tara – I love PiBoIdMo each time I do it (which has been exactly twice). I love the blog posts and the inspiration.
Could you get science & writers to post something next year? I review kids books for STEM Friday and there are so many good science & nature books coming out. And maybe someone who can inspire those of us who occasionally look at the world through a digital lens?
You do an amazing job – I look forward to next year.
December 9, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Tara
Great ideas, Sue! Jotting this down for next year.
December 9, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Jeannie Brett
Hi Tara! Thanks for all of this! It has been inspiring! Did I miss something? Where are the winners announced?
Thanks!
December 9, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Tara
Jeannie, I’ll announce winners later today. I’ve been waiting for an “independent auditor” to help…which probably means my almost-9-year-old! LOL. Next year I’m hiring an intern!
December 9, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Jennifer DuBose
Wow, those are some impressive numbers! It’ll be fun to see how many of those ideas end up on store shelves!
December 9, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Carole Lindstrom
Thank you for everything, Tara. It was GREAT fun! And very productive.
December 9, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Priscilla Mizell
Thanks for another wonderful experience, Tara! 🙂
December 9, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Elizabeth Stevens Omlor
Tara!
Thank you so much for providing SO much inspiration! This last month of writing has by cup overflowing with not only ideas but with complete joy. I feel as if I am off to a rockin’ start to becoming a new writer for children and have even started my new blog documenting the whole ride: http://www.bananapeelin.blogspot.com.
I would be so honored if you were to check it out in your free time! Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication!
December 9, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Vicky Jean-Louis
I guess I’m not the only one who thought that it was now time to thank you Tara for everything you did the past months!! It helped out people like me who never wrote a thing, up to the published writers! Thanks again, and I hope you’ll now have the time to be with your family in this wonderful time of year!!
December 9, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Kelly Korenek
Thank you again, Tara, for this life altering experience. I appreciate all the work that you put into this challenge. I have met great people through PiBoIdMo and learned so much! Thanks to PiBoIdMo, I have regained my confidence in writing for children. You have inspired me!
December 9, 2011 at 3:13 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
This was my first year participating Tara and I am totally hooked! Thank you for giving me a reason to concentrate on my picture book writing each day admist all the other goings on in my world. I am actually a little sad that I wont’ be getting daily blog posts to read because they were wonderful! I honestly can’t wait for next year and sincerely hope I can share a success story with you somewhere down the road. Thank you again!
ps…I have yet to blog about this but I will…it’s on the long to do list. Can I hire a life intern?!
December 9, 2011 at 3:21 pm
angelapenadahle
Warm fuzzies Tara, warm fuzzies! PiBoIdMo is truly a gem for writers. I think my favorite part was the FB page because it allowed me to get to know the community better. It helps to know there are others out there doing the same thing, struggling with the same things, not to mention rejoicing over every little success! Now we can do it together, in a sense. 🙂
December 9, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Bethany Telles
Oh Tara… What an amazing experience this has been. To be surrounded with such a large community of friends, supporters, encouragers, and know-it-alls (in the good sense!) was incredible for me. This was my first year, and it was well worth it. Thank you for your hard work, and thank you to Mindy, too, for the FB group! I will treasure this year!
December 9, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Sandi Hershenson
Thank you Tara, and to all of the participants in PiBoIdMo! This was a wonderful experience, and I look forward to participating again next year!
December 9, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Dana Carey
I’m racking my brain trying to think of an improvement for next year but really, Tara, I think you’ve got it right. I really liked the addition of the facebook page (thanks, Mindy!) and the interaction there. Lots of fun. Off the top of my head for guest bloggers: Anastasia Suen (pb/writing for kids/teaching maven). I’ll keep thinking & post any ideas on the fb page.
Well, time for one more big THANK YOU, TARA. I’ve been here since the beginning and keep coming back for more. You are so generous with your time and efforts for the benefit of all–you so deserve all those great stats. Bravo!
Best,
Dana
December 9, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Kat Yeh
LOVE PIBOIDMO. LOVE TARA. Thanks for all your continued efforts, Tara. It just amazes me how generous you are with your time and how you always manage to be fun and funny – no matter how busy you are. No wonder you make jewelry: You are a Gem.
December 10, 2011 at 12:37 am
Tara
Awwww, *sniff*, that was bee-you-tee-ful.
December 10, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Cathy Mealey
Ooo – PiBoIdMo earrings! PiBo on the right ear, IdMo on the left!
Next November’s bestseller!!
December 9, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Darshana
Mindy, great idea on the FB group! Thank you Tara for another wonderful PiBoIdMo. Guest blogger suggestions – Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Peter Brown, Katie Davi, Tom Lichtenheld, Valerie Lewis (co-owner of Hicklebee’s Bookstore). Sorry don’t know if all these people blog or not.
December 10, 2011 at 12:39 am
Tara
I would LOVE to get some of those folks (!!!!) and a bookseller is a great idea. Must also add a children’s librarian to the list.
December 9, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Robriel Wolf
Thank you for starting this and for doing all the hard work to keep it going. It has been a phenomenally satisfying experience for me. I didn’t manage to get 30 ideas, but I got over twenty and that’s been amazing for me. For so many years I’ve said “Well, one day I want to have a children’s book..” but then I’d think “I don’t know how to start..” Well, I can’t say that anymore. I have some pretty great starts and now it’s up to me to make them into finished products. I definitely appreciated the swift kick in the Muse!
December 9, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Carrie F
Tara, thank you soooo much for everything you have done to organize this. You did a wonderful job. I’m so excited about my little idea file and can’t wait to get down to work — if only these darn holidays would just get out of the way. ;-)) I hope you found a little time to work on your own ideas, too!
December 9, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Julie Falatko
Thank you, Tara! November was amazing! My PiBoIdMo journal is always nearby now. I’m nowhere near one-a-day now, but you helped me to write down any idea I think of, when I think of it. Can’t wait for 12×12, and next year!
December 9, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Cathy C. Hall
It was my first PiBoIdMo and I pretty much loved it all–the blog posts were inspiring as well as instructional, the FB page was super supportive and fun, and the little dragonfly is so darn cute, it’ll probably be on my profile Twitter pic forever. (Also because I don’t know how to get it off.)
I can’t think of anything to add to the wonderfulness of it all. But I bet you’d make a great speaker at an SCBWI conference, Tara, bringing all your PiBoIdMo stuff! (I saw where TWO of the success stories won the Barbara Karlin Grant. How awesome is that???)
December 9, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Jeanie Wogaman
Thanks so much for all you’ve done, Tara! You are awesome!
December 9, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Catherine Johnson
Thank you, Tara! Those stats are amazing. I’m really pumped for 12 x 12 and I must get to that shop soon.
December 9, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Beth MacKinney
It was absolutely rich this year, Tara. I can’t think of how you could improve!
December 9, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Stephanie Shaw
Waaaaa! I want it to go on forever. My favorite thing to do every morning is check in for the day’s blog. What? You mean I have to start writing now?
Tara, I hope you know how much you have helped others by creating PiBoIdMo. Thank you so much.
Happy Writing and Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!
December 9, 2011 at 5:38 pm
beckylevine
Tara, thanks so much for setting up and running PiBoIdMo. It’s been a wonderful month of ideas!
December 9, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Ramona
Thanks for everything Tara. I thoroughly enjoyed my very first PiBoIdMo challenge, the community spirit, the huge resource of hints, tips and ideas from guests, all of it in fact!
December 9, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Ramona
PS: I would love to hear feedback from any entrants whose PB idea becomes successful!
December 9, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Lynn
Tara, I have said it a few times on here already, but on Dec. 8 I also blogged about PiBoIdMo and what it did for me. In case you haven’t had time yet to check it out: http://lynnadavidson.wordpress.com
Then I signed up for the 12×12 in 2012 challenge with the hope that it will help me to follow through on my PiBoIdMo pledge.
Thank you, Tara, for this wonderful tool for writers at all levels. Last year’s PiBoIdMo was great, but .. for me .. this one was even better.
Blessings.
December 9, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Janeen Brian
THANK YOU, TARA!!
big capitals for a big event.
Much appreciated,
regards
Janeen
December 9, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Lori Grusin Degman
Thank you so much, Tara – you made November a wonderful month!!
December 9, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
Tara, thank you so much for all you hard work. This was my first PiBoIdMo and I loved it. I was introduced to a bunch of new pb writing friends and loved all the inspiration from your daily posts and the FB group. Thanks again!
December 9, 2011 at 7:40 pm
tinamcho
I’ve had such a fun time doing PiBoIdMo, Tara! I’ll miss all these wonderful posts in my inbox every day. I’d love to hear advice from pb author greats…like Jane Yolen, Eric Carle,…and more editors. Truly, I’m so glad I joined. Have a restful, relaxing rest of December!
December 10, 2011 at 12:42 am
Tara
Oh wow, Jane Yolen and Eric Carle? I’d contact them and they’d be like Pee Bow what? WHO are you? I gave at the OFFICE. LOL. I would also love more editors. Hopefully I will be working with more editors next year and can invite them!
December 9, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Wendy Greenley
This was amazing, Tara. It was my first PiBoIdMo, but hopefully not my last! I especially enjoyed hearing from “new” picture book authors, just breaking in like we all want to do!
December 9, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Ellen L. Ramsey
I’ll put in a plug for the PiBoIdMo Cafe Press Shop–I added several items from the shop to the holiday gift list I gave my husband and daughter. And they do know how to take a hint! With a PiBoIdMo tote bag or T-shirt, I’ll be readily identifiable at SCBWI conferences–and I’ll hope to meet some of you other PiBoIdMo participants!
December 10, 2011 at 12:44 am
Tara
Such a great idea to wear your WINNER shirt to a SCBWI conference. You’re bound to run into a fellow PiBoIdMo’er, Mo’ite, Mo’igan…or whatever we choose to call ourselves.
December 10, 2011 at 1:19 am
Sharon K. Mayhew (@skmayh)
OMGoodness, what a great idea!
December 10, 2011 at 1:18 am
Sharon K. Mayhew (@skmayh)
Tara…Your posts were outstanding. I can’t think of a way to improve PiBoIdMo. I usually can, so that is a true compliment. It was a great month…
Thank you for all of your hard work!
December 10, 2011 at 3:02 am
Rebecca Colby
I love that you’ve collated all the information and shared these stats. I don’t know where you find the time, Tara, but I really appreciate all you do. Thank you for another fantastic November!
You won’t know it but you were a real life saver to me in 2009 when you ran your first public PiBoIdMo. I was stuck in bed for eight months with hyperemesis gravidarum. I didn’t do much that year but feel sorry for myself (despite the joy of being pregnant) but PiBoIdMo gave me the kick in the butt I needed to get out of my funk and realize that if I was stuck in bed for months with only my thoughts to keep me company, that I could a least make those thoughts productive.
You’ve also helped me to cultivate the habit of generating ideas year round. I keep notebooks by the bed, sofa, in my purse and even a waterproof one by the tub. 🙂 Many thanks for everything!
December 10, 2011 at 4:56 am
Linda Lodding
What a success, Tara — for all of us! Thank you so much for creating and hosting PiBoIdMo and for asking me to be a guest blogger. I also agree that next year it would be great to also hear from thos in the “biz” – librarians, booksellers, editors etc.
I’m also wondering if there could be a spot (?) where authors who have participated in PiBoIdMo could contine encourganing each other through some sort of crit group/manuscript exchange? I know how difficult this could be to organize but perhaps a place where people could sign up/register if they’d be open to some sort of manuscript exchange? Maybe on the FB page?
Continued success everyone!
December 10, 2011 at 5:31 am
Mona Pease
A GIANT thank you Tara. November 2011 has been a wonderful month of jumpstarting picture book ideas for me and so many others. Mindy’s Facebook idea has kept the whole BiBoIdMo group connected. What a great lineup of guests, ideas, blogs from others, prizes you presented. Thank you so much. We have a year to enhance our ideas, pass them on to our friends for critique, and sub them. Hopefully you’ll have a pool of success stories to post in November 2012!!!
December 10, 2011 at 8:59 am
Pat Haapaniemi
I’m proud to be one of those 570+ and so grateful to you for putting this together! Thank you, Tara!
December 10, 2011 at 9:38 am
Joan Waites
Many thanks for such an inspiring month! Congratulations on making this such a huge success and for all the work that went into it! Hoping to see many participants ideas becoming future published books!
Joan
December 11, 2011 at 1:05 am
Kerry Aradhya
I’m so so so happy to have participated in PiBoIdMo this year and feel like I have found a while new community of writers here that I wouldn’t otherwise have found…plus I have so many more picture book ideas than I could ever have imaged. Many many thanks for a great month, and so glad to hear the Facebook page will stay open throughout the year for continued socializing and support. Will be looking forward to next year!
December 11, 2011 at 9:42 am
Lynda Shoup
I really enjoyed seeing the statistics. I think you have a great thing going and need not worry about adding more bells and whistles.
The one thing I think you might be able to use is an advisory board, elves or intern. With so many participants you must be run absolutely ragged by the end of November.
While I was impressed by your use of the random number generator, there may be an easier way for you to count the participants. I’m thinking this would make it so that you don’t have to ask someone else to be your validator at a given point in time. That might make things easier for you.
What about using a spreadsheet (I’m thinking Excel, but there are others. Would the google option make sense?) to record the names of all participants. This can then be sorted alphabetically, making it easy to see if you have someone on the list twice. If you are using the random generator, having the names in alphabetical order could be as valid as having them in sign up order. If you would like support with entering names, tracking data, etc. I can help. You could also easily add in the blog and web links.
Tara, it was a great month. Thank you so much for all you put into it.
December 11, 2011 at 9:52 am
DianaM
Amazing stats! Thanks for sharing.
I had a blast this year. A truly inspiring experience.
I thought all the guest bloggers did a stellar job. Since you asked, I’d love to also hear from Karen Beaumont, Lisa Wheeler, Julia Donaldson, Mem Fox, Verla Kay, and Ellen Jackson.
December 11, 2011 at 10:55 am
KAthy Higgs-Coulthard
I’d love to see Ruth McNally Barshaw blog next year. Her series, Ellie McDoodle is fun and her commentary is very insightful. I also think having April Pulley Sayre blog about her non-fiction approach and connections to classroom needs would be helpful.
Thanks again for a marvelous month!
December 12, 2011 at 3:53 am
Helen Ross
Tara, thank you for creating this wonderful month for children’s picture book writers. I had fun all the way, and have 50+ picture book ideas. Your guest bloggers were fantastic. It was great to read such an array of inspirational posts. I have been passing the work about PiBoldMo around and will be doing so again before next year’s event. Have a great and inspirational year.
December 12, 2011 at 3:54 am
Helen Ross
Whoops! Forgot to say, ‘Congratulations on the fantastic stats’.
December 13, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Teresa
Your posts were all wonderful. The authors are inspiring. It’s helpful to hear what agents and editors might be looking for. Thank you for a great month. Looking forward to future events.
January 30, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Ty's Adventures
Hi! It’s me, Ty!
I thought I left ya a big fat THANK YOU!!!!! for all of the inspiration during PiBoIdMo and then some…I guess I didn’t! EEK!
My bad!
Sooo…here it is now! Keep on inspiring!