Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

FLAT CAT: THE CLASS PET Cover Reveal and Giveaway! (featuring PRH Senior Designer Opal Roengchai)

October 29, 2024 in FLAT CAT, Picture Books, Publishing | Tags: Opal Roengchai, Penguin Random House, Pete Oswald | 37 comments

I was appearing at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival in mid-October when a woman walked up and said, “I’m a designer at Penguin Random House and I worked on Flat Cat.”

OMG! I met Opal Roengchai and now you can meet this talented woman, too! Thanks for joining me for this cover reveal, Opal.

It’s really rare for an author to have contact with the art side of the publishing house. So to start off this interview, I’d like to ask you what your title is at Penguin Random House and what your general responsibilities are?

I am a Senior Designer at PRH, working on titles under the PYR-Viking, Flamingo, and Philomel imprints.

(It was cool when I posted pics from the Ludwig Bemelmans Bar on Instagram and you commented that you worked on the Madeline books at PRH!)

Though I predominantly work on picture books and middle grade novels, I have started to design graphic novels as well. I am also the art director on projects, which means I collaborate with illustrators from sketch stage to finished book. We discuss trim size, paper stock, special effects, endpapers, etc. But my real focus is the art: Is the art illustrating the text? Is the layout good when the text is in place? Is the flow of the story working at a good pace? Those are a few of the many things I look at when reviewing the sketches.

So what is your first consideration when you think about the cover of a picture book? Do you offer guidance to the illustrator or do you just let them go for it?

It depends on the situation. I like to give the illustrator the opportunity to share their initial cover sketch ideas, but there are instances where guidance is provided if we and/or the author have a certain vision in mind. In addition, there are times when the illustrator will ask us specifically what we’re looking for and deliver accordingly.

What was that process like for the FLAT CAT: THE CLASS PET?

The cover process usually occurs after the final interior art has been delivered, allowing for possible cover concept inspiration. In this case, there was a piece in the interior that we really loved, and thought represented the story and school theme perfectly. We pulled a piece of spot art from the interior where we see Flat Cat peeking out of Willow’s backpack but had a few notes for Pete since this illustration would be used for the cover.

Essentially, the cover is our opportunity to communicate what the story is about. Being that Flat Cat was our main character, we wanted him to stand out on the cover. So, we asked the illustrator to make Flat Cat more visible as he sneaks out of Willow’s backpack and asked for more school supplies to go with the theme of the story.

Pete supplied a cover sketch that we (the editorial team and design) reviewed and sent off to you (the author) for your notes. We also shared the sketch with Sales and Marketing for any possible feedback. Overall, it’s a very collaborative effort across several departments.

From there, we either ask for further adjustments or go to final cover art. For FLAT CAT: THE CLASS PET, we had one more art comment which was to add some school-related background, which Pete took into consideration and added in the final cover art.

I remember that I wanted the subtitle to be written across the paper airplane!

Oh, yes…the sizing and placement was tricky.

Yep, no one would’ve been able to read the subtitle! This is why I’m not in the art department!

Can we talk about the awesome endpapers?

Pete is so talented and great with doing patterns on endpapers, so we asked him to share his concept and loved what he did. Then you had a great idea of adding one version of Flat Cat doing the peace sign as a little Easter egg.

Because it’s book TWO…and two fingers is also the peace sign! OK, so maybe sometimes I have decent ideas.

Kids really pick up on these details—it was definitely a nice addition to the endpapers. The peace sign version of Flat Cat was my favorite, so I added it to the back cover of the jacket as well. When designing the full jacket, I like to bring in some interior details to make it one cohesive package.

Designing the jacket is my favorite part of book design. I have a blank canvas to play with the design layout of the flaps, spine and back cover. It gives me the chance to add in some visual appeal overall. I like to think of the jacket and interior as a full package, so I’ll pull some interior art spots to front flap. Other than the visual appeal, it helps illustrate the flap copy. When it comes to the back cover, the illustrator may supply new art but depends on their schedule and timing. But in this instance, I pulled the image of Flat Cat holding up a peace sign to play homage to the endpapers and the last line of the book, which is “Smooth moves, Flat Cat.” I like the added connection of it all.

When designing, there are some other things I think about as well. For example, some books will be displayed on a shelf facing out where we see the front cover and other times the spine is facing out instead. Because of that, I really like to add a little décor to the spine to grab the reader’s attention and in this case, I added an image of Flat Cat to sit along with the title treatment.

And the whole package looks as cool as Flat Cat himself! Thanks for all that you did to help bring the book to life, Opal!

So here it is, the cover reveal for FLAT CAT: THE CLASS PET, which is due out on June 17, 2025 from Flamingo Books!

And blog readers, if you pre-order, just let me know below and you will be entered into a giveaway for a Flat Cat peace sign pin and cover magnet. I’ll giveaway 5 of these packages around Thanksgiving.

Smooth moves, Flat Cat (and Opal)!

The Carle Honorees: “A Force That Can Change the Future”

September 24, 2024 in Picture Books | Tags: Book Banning, The Carle Honors, The Carle Museum of Picture Book Art | 9 comments

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will hold its annual Carle Honor Awards Gala this Thursday, celebrating significant contributions to the picture book. For the past several years, I’ve asked the four Honor recipients a salient question about the current state of the medium. This year I’ve had this on my mind:

Considering the rise of book banning in recent times, can you re-stress the importance of picture books and letting children choose what they read by having unfettered access to all matter of literature?

Uri Shulevitz, Artist Honoree

If I had had books, I would have been the happiest kid alive. But I did not have any. Luckily, what I had was a mother, who told me stories, while we lived in Central Asia during World War II, which you can read about in my book, CHANCE. In those years of terrible hunger due to lack of food, I can say the stories gave me hope and saved my life. Banning books, stories, deprives children of spiritual sustenance.

We Need Diverse Books, Angel Honoree
Represented by Ellen Oh, Co-Founder, CEO & President

My daughter just graduated from college and is now a brand new 2nd grade teacher at a Title 1 school. The first thing we did was build up a library filled with diverse picture books. She was determined that every child that came to her classroom would be able to find a book that represented them. And she marveled at the extraordinary amount of diverse picture books we were able to find for her extremely diverse student body. We talked about how different it was from when she was little. Every day, she gets the pleasure of seeing a child grab a book from her library and hug it tightly, exclaiming “Look Ms. Oh, this book is like me!” As a reading teacher, she knows how challenging her job is, especially now. Fortunately, she is in a county that has not had any book banning or challenges. Her community of parents are supportive of all children and their right to read. I wish this were true for all children across the country but know the harm that is being caused in far too many areas of the country. Book bans are rarely about protecting the children from real harm. They are about controlling morality and power based on the prejudiced beliefs of a self-righteous minority. Which is why books with LGBT+ and BIPOC stories are overwhelmingly challenged and banned. Picture books are a fundamental building block of literacy. When marginalized children don’t see themselves in the books they read, it impacts their ability to read because visual literacy is so important for young readers. It impacts their self-worth when they don’t see themselves in the pages of a book. It impacts all children who don’t learn to recognize the importance of all diverse stories. Book bans harm all children.

KidLitTV, Bridge Honoree
Represented by Julie Gribble, Founder

It’s crucial to emphasize the significance of visual literacy, the positive impact of seeing oneself reflected in the pictures of a book, and the long-term benefits of empowering children to select books that inspire empathy and independence. We can’t afford to underestimate targeted attempts to ban books with LGBTQ+ characters, characters of color, or themes of race and racism.

Here’s what I’d like to contribute to this conversation.

This is a political issue, yet many people refrain from discussing or following politics to prevent confrontation or conflict. However, it’s important to remember that politics will impact you regardless.

Let’s discuss the recent surge in book bans and the reasons behind it.

Sensing a changing demographic led fearlessly by an empathic younger generation who believe in equality, justice, and human rights, extremist right-wing groups are leading the effort to roll back the clock.

As a creator of books that instill kindness and fairness in young readers, you and your books pose a significant threat to an entire political movement. This is a testament to the power of children’s book creators. You’re a force that can shape the future. When these readers grow up, they become voters who are more inclined to challenge right-wing extremism. By limiting the literature available to children, extremist groups are attempting to
control the perspectives and values that young readers are exposed to, thereby influencing their future voting decisions. It’s no coincidence that book bans are often implemented by the same organizations that are restricting voting access.

So, as Michelle Obama says, “Do something.”

Here are a few resources to help us do something:

Vote!
From PEN America: 5 Ways to Fight Book Bans
Do you know when school board elections happen in your state? School boards
play an important role in ensuring students in your schools have access to books, and often have the power to allow or prevent book bans.
Text “READ” to 26797 for more information from Let America Read and to register to vote.
RESOURCES to Help FIGHT Against BOOK BANS & CENSORSHIP!
The above post includes a link to this constructive initiative: We Are Stronger Than Censorship. At the center of this campaign is the pledge to distribute over 2,000 inclusive books to areas most affected by censorship, reinforcing the vital role that diverse voices play in promoting understanding and empathy within our communities.

Let’s be fearless in this fight. Speak up and take action.

The Horn Book Inc., Mentor Honoree
Represented by Elissa Gershowitz, Executive Editor

Picture books are usually the first encounters children have with books and reading, ideally setting them on a path to: engagement, enjoyment, escapism, entertainment; creativity, compassion, critical thinking; imagination, empathy, problem-solving, and more. In short: all the reasons readers love to read! The more diverse the books, the more diverse the readers, the greater chance a young person will feel seen and understood and will be open to the experiences of others (Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s classic “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” analogy). All young people deserve to find their books–the ones that speak to them and keep them turning pages. (Or they can put a book down–that’s fine too!)

Many thanks to The 2024 Carle Honor recipients and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for inspiring creators and readers of all ages.

For more info about the museum and its mission, please visit CarleMuseum.org.

PARTY ANIMALS Cover Reveal with Illustrator Anna Raff (plus a giveaway)

July 11, 2024 in PARTY ANIMALS, Picture Books | Tags: Anna Raff | 58 comments

Often I write a picture book without any idea of what my characters might look like, and sometimes I don’t even know WHAT they are. Are they even human?

Nope. I prefer non-humans. Monsters, aliens, purple orangutans—I feel they have more freedom in their actions than mere mortals. And that gives me more freedom, too.

Such was the case with my upcoming title, PARTY ANIMALS, illustrated by the talented Anna Raff. I asked Anna about this blank canvas I dropped onto her drafting table.

Anna, when I wrote PARTY ANIMALS, I didn’t specify what kind of animals were having a party! How did you decide upon each character’s species?

What a fun question to start with!

I had a few things in mind at the very beginning of my sketch process. Primarily, I was thinking about your wonderful text and the personalities it brought to mind. For instance, Horace—our party pooper—needed to be a stern, no-nonsense kind of guy. At first I thought he might be a mule, since he’s a bit stubborn, too. Then I started to think about scale and how funny a vast difference in size would be between the chaotic partying animals and poor Horace cowering in the corner amidst the mayhem. So I decided he should be the smallest and chose a rat—I have a history of drawing rats—knowing he might also have a pink tail. To me, that flash of pink says maybe he’s not such a big ol’ grouch after all? Our wonderful editor, Sylvie Frank, gave me the idea of giving him a toothpick walking stick, which adds even more clues to his inner character.

In addition to scale, for the other animals I was thinking about what their area of partying expertise would be. Beatrix, the elephant chef, cooks all the wacky foods for each celebration. I thought having a trunk would be helpful for her in the kitchen. Who among us home chefs hasn’t wished for an extra hand? And to be honest, I really just love drawing elephant ears.

And love of drawing is what brought me to the other two animal species: Theodore, the cat, and Phoebe…who I think is a dog?…even I’m not entirely sure! One of the things I learned in from my mentor, Marshall Arisman, is something I try to instill in my own students. You have to ask yourself, “What do I want to draw?” If you answer honestly, you end up having a much better time in the process, rather than thinking about outside influences. As with elephant ears, I love drawing dogs and cats. I also thought it might be fun for readers to imagine their own pet cat being really into crafts and decorating, and a “dog” who was also a great virtuoso/DJ!

You’ve packed a whole lot of goodies into the illustrations: little hidden gems! Do you want to reveal one or two of your favorites?

Another great question! Some people call them “carrots”.

During the-milk-has-gone-sour party, Beatrix is holding a 1960s edition of the Betty Crocker Cook Book (the space in between “cook” and “book” is not a typo!), the source of many of my family’s favorite dessert recipes when I was a kid. In fact, I just used it to bake my dad a strawberry-rhubarb pie for Father’s Day.

Another detail that was fun was switching the fabric patterns and imagery on the Party Animals’ clothing to match each party theme. Oh…and all the wacky bakes! I think the pincushion cake is my favorite.

What were some of your intentions when designing and illustrating the cover of PARTY ANIMALS?

Primarily, I wanted to emphasize each animals’ party energy, whether it be super-duper party-er or party-pooper, so readers would know what they’re in for. We’ve got the three partying animals in front, each exhibiting their party expertise, while Horace is up top amongst the balloons, acting all judgey.

At first, I had Beatrix holding up one of her more obscure bakes, the brain cake from the thinking party. But our editor and art director thought that might be a little misleading / too specific. At the time, they also mentioned the addition of the tagline, so when I was replacing the cake, that seemed like a great place for more lettering.

I knew early on that the title type needed to be prominent, in balloon lettering…you know, to scream PAR-TAY! The fact there we’re doing a second book drove my decision making, too. Before becoming an illustrator, I was a designer and art director and tapped into a few of those skills to really fine-tune the lettering, so it would feel like part of a series. That also helped with the lettering for Bea’s layer cake.

And then for the case cover, Joann had the idea of showing the aftermath of the fantabulous party on the jacket, with Horace sweeping up while the other animals crash in a sleepy heap. I played around with the lighting in the final art too, to contrast against the warm, splashy lighting of the jacket.

Thank you for all the fun, Anna!

And now here is the cover reveal for PARTY ANIMALS, releasing March 11, 2025 from Disney*Hyperion!

PARTY ANIMALS is available for pre-order anywhere, but if you’d like me to sign and personalize your copy, I’d be grateful if you placed an order via my local indie, The Bookworm, whose longtime owner passed away recently. We want to keep the store in Bernardsville, NJ running after 40 years of serving the community! You can call them at 908-766-4599.

Anna will sign copies ordered via Books of Wonder.

And now the givey! Comment below with what you like most about the cover and a random winner will be selected on August 1. That winner will receive a signed spread (by me, Tara Lazar) from the F&G (printed proof) of PARTY ANIMALS!

Good luck!

Christmas in July! (Daily Storystorm Winners, Finally)

July 1, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | 52 comments

Sure, it’s a cliché, but it’s a good one! After months of managing health issues between school visits, I’m finally announcing the daily winners from Storystorm. I will be emailing you over the coming days. Congratulations!

But before that, we have to talk.

Are you having a tough time in picture books? I am. Everyone I know is—mentees, critique partners, agents—I’m hearing it everywhere. Things are slower than usual in the already glacial pace of the publishing market. So, I’m here to tell you: it’s not you, it’s them.

We already know there’s nothing you can do to control what’s happening out there. What we can control is our own output. Keep your B.I.C. and “just keep swimming”. That is, write your butt off. (Wait, I thought Tara said to keep my butt in chair? I’m so confused!)

SCBWI featured an excellent “State of the Children’s Book Market 2024” webinar recently with Deborah Halverson. The playback is available at SCBWI.org and I encourage you to watch. There are indeed bright spots as we navigate through this rough patch. “Editors are craving humor to balance out the more earnest books” is one takeaway. Funny tales, character-driven manuscripts and intergenerational stories are wanted in picture books. And if you can get all three in one book, I suppose you’ve hit the trifecta!

But as always, don’t go writing to please the market. Write to please your muse. Shooting from the heart never goes out of style.

AND NOW, THE DAILY PRIZE WINNERS! Many thanks to Urania Smith and Mel Mwai for helping to randomly select.

I will be emailing winners directly to distribute the long-awaited prizes.

Thank you! I hope to be up and running here more often in the near future!

1	Sally McClure	Picture book critique from Tara Lazar
2	Donna Cangelosi	Spot in picture book revision class from Julie Falatko
3	Todd Freer	Fiction picture book critique from Lisa Katzenberger
4	Sunny Walker	30-minute “Ask Me Anything” Zoom and sticker pack from Courtney Pippin-Mathur
5	Denita Johnson	Signed copy of ALL THOSE BABIES from Mylisa Larsen
6	Cindy Greene	Copy of LUCY’S BLOOMS by Dawn Babb Prochovnic
6	J Lehson	Winner’s choice copy of WHERE DOES A PIRATE GO POTTY? or WHERE DOES A COWGIRL GO POTTY? from Dawn Babb Prochovnic
6	Jim Chaize	30-minute “Ask Me Anything” (for an individual, critique group, or classroom) with Dawn Babb Prochovnic
7	Carmela McCain Simmons	30-minute Ask Me Anything with Cheryl Kim
7	Kristi Mahoney	30-minute Ask Me Anything with Sylvia Chen
7	Susan Burdorf	One-hour Ask Me Anything with Zainab Khan
7	Dawn M.	30-minute Ask Me Anything OR a MS critique (under 600-words non-rhyming Fiction/Nonfiction picture book/board book) with Marzieh Abbas
7	M. M. Sutanto	One-hour Ask Me Anything about websites or Canva OR a live picture book critique on Zoom with Stacy S. Jensen
7	Kathy Doherty	MS critique (under 600-words non-rhyming fiction picture book/board book) with option for Zoom brainstorming chat with Christina Shawn
7	Sheri Dillard	Manuscript critique (picture book, fiction, poetry or prose, rhyming okay, under 700 words) from Carol Joy Munro
7	Charlie Griffin	Picture book manuscript critique (max 600 word, non-rhyming, fiction) OR a copy of Peaches from Gabriele Davis
7	Debbie Allmand	$20 gift card to your favorite indie bookstore from Sara Holly Ackerman
8	Kalee Gwarjanski	Copy of MAKE WAY: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings from Angela Burke Kunkel
9	Marty Bellis	Fiction critique, an Ask Me Anything Zoom call, or a combo of the two from David McMullin
10	Melissa Hastings	PB critique with a 30-minute zoom call and a signed copy of ROCKET SHIP, SOLO TRIP from Chiara Colombi
10	Helen Lysicatos	PB critique with a 30-minute zoom call and a signed copy of ROCKET SHIP, SOLO TRIP from Chiara Colombi
11	tacy S. Jensen	A 60-min AMA and copy of REMEMBERING SUNDAYS WITH GRANDPA from Lauren H. Kerstein
12	Teresa Fales	Winner’s choice book copy one of Christine’s book from Christine Evans
13	Hilary Margitich	A 30-minute virtual school visit and one 30-minute “Ask Me Anything” Zoom from Laurel Neme
13	Mari Miyagi	A 30-minute virtual school visit and one 30-minute “Ask Me Anything” Zoom from Laurel Neme
14	Tanya Konerman	one copy of SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILTY BELT and one Ask-Me-Anything Zoom chat from Sharon Giltrow
14	Joyce Uglow	one copy of SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILTY BELT and one Ask-Me-Anything Zoom chat from Sharon Giltrow
15	Jenny Boyd	one copy of Love Made More from Colleen Rowan Kosinski
15	Amy Houts	one copy of Love Made More from Colleen Rowan Kosinski
15	Sara Fajardo	one copy of Love Made More from Colleen Rowan Kosinski
15	Rachelle Burk	one copy of Love Made More from Colleen Rowan Kosinski
15	Cheryl Coate	one copy of Love Made More from Colleen Rowan Kosinski
15	Diane Mittler	one copy of Love Made More from Colleen Rowan Kosinski
16	Angel Gantnier	LOVE GROWS from Ruth Spiro
16	Alicia Shawn Gagnon	HOW TO EXPLAIN CODING TO A GROWN-UP from Ruth Spiro
17	Lucretia Schafroth	30-minute “Ask Me Anything” Zoom or one picture book/early reader critique from Melissa H. Mwai
18	kelliearted	One copy of MIGHTY MUDDY US from Charles Santoso
18	susaninez0905	One copy of MIGHTY MUDDY US from Charles Santoso
18	Fiona Bannatyne	One copy of MIGHTY MUDDY US from Charles Santoso
19	Lisa K Davis (lisakdaviswriting)	One copy of LOUIS from Julie Rowan-Zoch
19	Marie Prins	One copy of I’M A HARE, SO THERE! from Julie Rowan-Zoch
19	Amy Mucci (brightwishbooks)	One copy of NOT ALL SHEEP ARE BORING! from Julie Rowan-Zoch
20	Marci Chorpash Hersel (marcihersel)	One copy of ALPHABUDDIES: G IS FIRST! from Karen Kane
20	Judy Abelove Shemtob	One copy ALPHABUDDIES: G IS FIRST! from Karen Kane
21	Colleen Owen Murphy	One signed copy of WHO IS TIBET’S EXILED LEADER? THE 14TH DALAI LAMA or a critique of a nonfiction picture book manuscript under 1,000 words with Teresa Ho Robeson
22	Bethanny Parker	A PB critique with career consultation (20 min Zoom) with Maria Marianayagum
23	Linda K Chavez	One signed copy of one of her books (winner’s choice) from Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
24	Ashley Bankhead	30-minute “Ask Me Anything” Zoom or one picture book critique with Gabi Snydeer
25	Laurie Seaford	One copy of her book A WALK THROUGH THE REDWOODS and a virtual classroom with Brigitte Rodguez
26	Marlena Leach	30-minute AMA on Zoom and a signed copy of LET’S FLY! with Chana Stiefel
27	Alison McGauley	One signed copy of SOURGRASS from Hope Lim
27	Angela De Groot	One signed copy of SOURGRASS from Hope Lim
28	Heidi K Yates (Heidikyates)	One of either a picture book critique or a signed copy of any of his books from Josh Funk
28	Sharon Dalgleish (sharonkdal)	One of either a picture book critique or a signed copy of any of his books from Josh Funk
28	Jessica Iwanski	One of either a picture book critique or a signed copy of any of his books from Josh Funk
29	Wendy Greenley	Choice of a signed copy of MAKE MORE S’MORES (US addresses only) or a picture book critique from Cathy Ballou Measley
30	All Story Storm Participants	Free e-book on how to use the structure of a picture book—a process called Spreading—to scaffold your writing process from Simone Kaplan

Storystorm 2024 Grand Prize Winners!

March 4, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | 78 comments

Tara has had some temporary technical difficulties, so she thanks you for standing by!

Without further ado, here are the Storystorm Grand Prize winners! I will be in touch via email later this week. I sincerely appreciate your continued patience as I am in the thick of school visit season.

Mia Geiger (Liza Royce Agency)

Maria Marshall (Stephen Fraser)

Susan Glick (Erin Murphy)

Carrie Cook (Sean McCarthy)

Jennifer Schmidt (Kelly Sonnack)

How to Get Ready for the Storystorm 2024 Grand Prizes!

February 17, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | 80 comments

Thank you for your patience! I took a break from Storystorm duties for a while to focus on other things…and now I’m back! BOOM, KAPOW, MEOW!

Firstly, please gather your ideas.

Then, sort them.

Separate pebbles from seeds.
Sift for diamonds.
Do your ideas pass the litmus tests?
You may have to draw a diagram first.

Are you ready?

Once you have ideas that you like, start fleshing them out. If you’re a Grand Prize winner, you’ll have the opportunity to share your BEST FIVE IDEAS with a kidlit agent. They’ll respond with feedback recommending which ideas may be best to pursue as manuscripts. (Saves time writing stories that won’t be marketable!) To present your ideas in the best light, I recommend writing them out like jacket flap…you know, that marketing copy on the inside cover of a picture book. Here’s jacket flap for my September 2023 release, FLAT CAT:

Flat Cat was born flat. He wasn’t squashed by an out-of-control ice cream truck, or smushed in a waffle iron. He was just flat. This slick, sly cat could stray and roam anywhere he pleased, keen and unseen. And wouldn’t you know it, Flat Cat liked it just like that.

That is until one day, when Flat Cat accidentally fell splish-splosh right in the wash. And when he emerged from the dryer, Flat Cat wasn’t flat at all. He was adorably puffy and downright fluffy!

Go to your local library (which may be in your own house) and read as many jacket flaps as you can to get a feel for them. You can also read jacket flap marketing text online at book retailers.

Then start writing your own for your upcoming masterpieces! If you’re a GRAND PRIZE winner, five of these pitches are what you’ll present to a kidlit agent to receive feedback.

FIVE Grand Prize Winners will be chosen next week, to be paired with these amazing kidlit agents:

Liza Fleissig and Ginger Harris, Liza Royce Agency
Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency
Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary Agency
Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency

So spend this weekend getting ready! Prize distribution will begin next week!

Sign the 2024 Storystorm Pledge!

February 1, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | 715 comments

The 2024 Storystorm Pledge is closed.

If you’ve been participating in Storystorm all month, you’ve been generating scads, scores and stacks of ideas!

Luckily you don’t need stacks to “win” the Storystorm challenge. You just need 30 of them!

When you have 30 ideas, you can qualify to win one of the AMAZING Storystorm Grand Prizes—feedback on your best 5 picture book ideas from a kidlit agent! (List to be announced.) This year there will be at least 5 grand prizes, and hopefully more!

SWEET!

In order to qualify for a Grand Prize, your name must be on the registration post AND the pledge below.

If you have 30 ideas, put your right hand on a picture book and repeat after me:

I do solemnly swear that I have faithfully executed
the Storystorm 30-ideas-in-January challenge,
and will, to the best of my ability,
parlay my ideas into picture book manuscripts.

Now I’m not saying all 30 ideas have to be good. Some may just be titles, some may be character quirks. Some may be problems and some may create problems when you sit down to write. Some may be high-concept and some barely a concept. But…they’re yours, all yours!

You have until February 7th at 11:59:59PM EST to sign the pledge by leaving a comment on this post.

PLEASE COMMENT ONLY ONCE.

The name you left on the registration post and the name you leave on this winner’s pledge SHOULD MATCH. However, when you comment, WordPress also logs info that allows me to recognize you, so don’t worry if they’re not exact.

Again, please COMMENT ONLY ONCE. If you make a mistake, contact me instead of leaving a second comment.

Remember, this is an honor system pledge. You don’t have to send in your ideas to prove you’ve got 30 of them. If you say so, I’ll believe you! Honestly, it’s that simple. (Wouldn’t it be nice if real life were that straightforward.)

Before you sign, you can also pick up your Winner’s Badge!

There are winner’s mugs, T-shirts and tote bags you can purchase at Zazzle.com/store/storystorm (note the items may not be live until late on 2/1). All proceeds go to The Highlights Foundation. If there’s other SWAG you want, I can add it to the shop…just ask!

Now…are you ready to sign?

Then GO FOR IT! Let’s see your name below!

And, CONGRATULATIONS!

Storystorm 2024 Day 31: Tara Lazar Schedules Nothing

January 31, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | 473 comments

by Tara Lazar

Reading the title, it’s not what you think.

I do schedule plenty of things—school visits, weeknight dinners, and birthday parties. But what I’m suggesting here is to schedule NOTHING: time, that is, to DO NOTHING.

No laundry. No grocery shopping. No pickleball. (Please, no pickleball!!!)

I want you to set aside at least 15 minutes every day to just BE. Stare out the window. Have a cuppa cocoa. Let your mind wander. Don’t concern yourself with any task. Don’t start obsessing over your to-do list. Your assignment is NOTHING.

Yes, I want you to relax. Our lives can be tremendously fast-paced. We need time to catch our breath. But there is a simple benefit to letting your mind take a stroll—we wind up going to new, unexpected places.

Since you’ve done the Storystorm challenge now for 30 days, story ideation should have become a habit. But with our busy, modern lives, we can easily forget it, let it go. I’m encouraging you to schedule daydreaming time so you continue this habit throughout the year.

Three years ago, when I wrote about creating a habit, I learned it’s easiest to “piggyback” on an established habit. You can tack daydreaming onto your morning routine. Or afternoon coffee break. Or before-bed wind-down.

I find that daydreaming gets me out of story pickles (again with the pickles?) and provides clarity on an existing project. And when I’m done daydreaming, I think about career goals. What do I want to accomplish this week? Month? Year? You need time to think about these things, and not just while you’re sitting at a traffic light.

Scheduled thinking time is something successful business leaders work into their day. You own a business, too—YOU. Being an author is a business and you should be planning that business. Allow for some quiet time every day to not only imagine new stories, but to set goals and to plan. Don’t let this time be interrupted! It may look like NOTHING, but you’re actually WORKING. Literally!

Today is the last official day of Storystorm. Tomorrow, if you have at least 30 ideas, you can sign the Storystorm pledge to be eligible for one of the Grand Prizes: an evaluation of your best 5 ideas by a kidlit agent. If you don’t have 30 ideas yet, consider today a bonus day, the perfect day to start doing nothing.

Storystorm 2024 Day 30: Simone Kaplan Sifts for Diamonds

January 30, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | Tags: Picture Book People, Simone Kaplan | 498 comments

by Simone Kaplan

Congratulations on making it to Day 30 of Storystorm!

If you have successfully completed the challenge, you will have about 30 ideas, maybe more.

That’s an ample collection of ideas.

A collection so large that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and unsure of what to focus on next.

I’d like to offer a clear set of steps to help you go from confusion to clarity.

To help you…

Get a handle on your ideas
Develop a manageable shortlist
Decide which idea to work on first
Explore your idea
Get your idea out of your head and onto the page

…and maintain momentum going forward.

These are things that I’ve learned by working with hundreds of writers, both experienced best-selling ones and newbies. Because, while everybody has their own individual way of getting to a final manuscript, there are some steps that are the same for everyone.

Are you ready?

Here goes:

STEP 1—Organize

Your first step is to organize/collect your ideas so that you can look at them and evaluate them in a strategic way.

It’s crucial to have a place where you collect and record your ideas.

I would suggest creating a document which you title either “Ideas” or “Storystorm 2024”.

Then list all these ideas.

You’re doing this for two reasons.

First, because ideas are elusive and, as you go through your days and weeks, they tend to dissolve and scatter and disappear.

Having a place where you have them all together means that you can go back and add more ideas as they occur to you, add details to the ideas as you have a new insight, or mine the list at a later date for more manuscript ideas.

The second is because having a list will make it possible for you to look at all your ideas at one time and make strategic decisions.

Your list can be as simple as a word or theme: Anxiety

A title: Fred’s Frisbee

A sentence: Beebee’s Doll—a story about how a child and a dog share a doll.

An idea: Overcoming fear of swimming.

The list can be as long or as short as you would like it to be.

And you can go into as much or as little detail as you would like.

Make sure though that you have enough context so that when you go back to work on the piece you remember why the idea appealed to you in the first place.

Now that you have a somewhat organized list, you are ready to move onto the next step, which is:

STEP 2—Sift

Your second step involves shortening the list to a manageable number.

Given the fact that you can’t write all 30 manuscripts at the same time, you’re going to have to make some decisions.

This is where it starts to feel like you’re panning for diamonds. Not all ideas are diamonds. Some are mere gravel, some are cubic zirconia which sparkle initially but then turn out to lack value, some are semi-precious stones that could become something special, and some are diamonds, which could become gorgeous and amazing.

When you pan for diamonds, you collect a whole bunch of stones in a sifting screen. The fine mesh screen helps sift through dirt quickly, enables you to examine the contents easily, and increases the possibility that you’ll find something precious.

You need to develop the literary equivalent of a sifting screen! A tool to help you look at the contents of your idea pan with interest and discernment.

Here’s the tool, and fortunately, you don’t need mesh and screwdrivers and metal. You have everything you need to move forward.

Start by getting quiet and focused. Close your eyes, place your hands over your solar plexus, and watch your breath for about 30 seconds.

Then read through your list with intention and care. Make a note of (or place a checkmark next to) any idea that seems to call to you. You’re not looking for fireworks—although if something jumps out and is clearly your next idea, that’s great! What you’re looking for are the ideas that seem to sparkle, that have a kind of juiciness, that intrigue you, not because you know where they’re going or what they’re going to be about, but because you want to find out what they might be about.

Be curious and open-minded.

If something that makes you happy or gives you a little charge when you see it on the page, that’s an idea to mark.

Your list should now be considerably shorter and it’s time to move on to Step 3.

STEP 3—Select

It’s time to commit to one idea.

You now have a short list of ideas that appeal to you.

How do you decide which idea to work on first?

You might be looking for the best idea.

But the ‘best idea’ is a myth.

Because you can’t know if an idea is ‘the best’ or even ‘good’ until you begin to work on it.

Just like diamond cutters don’t know whether a diamond is going to be suited for gem or industrial use until they start to cut it and see what flaws or inclusions it contains, you can’t know if your idea is good until you actually do the work of developing your manuscript.

So here’s what in my experience is a helpful truth:

It doesn’t matter which you work on next.
Don’t spend forever trying to make the ‘best’ decision.
Pick something. Anything. Some place to begin.

If you need more advice here it is:

Look at the list again with an open mind and an open heart.

Is there anything there that particularly calls to you?

If it does, start there—move to Step 4.

If not, use one of these scientifically validated methods:

Number your choices.
Write down each number on a separate piece of paper.
Crumple them up.
Close your eyes and pick a piece of paper.
That’s the idea you’re going to work on.
You can also do this by rolling a dice if you have one.

or…

Place your list in front of you.
Aim a pencil or pen at the list.
Close your eyes and place the point on the paper.
Wherever it lands is the first project.

Because here’s the important thing about where you start: It’s not the idea that matters, it’s the execution.

At some point you might want to explore all the ideas on your list.

And you don’t have to work on only one idea at a time.

You can take an idea as far as it’ll go then start with another one, while the first one rests quietly in your subconscious. Percolating and working itself out. You can always come back to an idea.

The next step is the first in developing your idea.

STEP 4—Explore

Here’s where you figure out what your unique contribution could be.

Great!

Now you have the idea you’re going to work on next, you’re ready to mine it for magic. Because your job as a picture book writer is to create something fresh and original. You do that by writing the book that only you can write.

And you find that out by using a technique called ‘freewriting’ or ‘stream of consciousness writing’ or ‘brainstorm writing.’ It’s a time-honored way to bypass your conscious mind and access the creative, rich unconscious. To engage with your idea in the hopes that it will reveal secrets and blossom.

So, give your idea some love and attention and see what happens. Here’s how to do it.

Set a timer for 10–12 minutes and, starting with: I want to explore the idea of … just write.

Without stopping, without lifting your hands off the keyboard, without pausing or staring into space. If an unrelated thought pops into your mind, write that down. I forgot to buy laundry detergent, or I’d rather write another manuscript, or I hate this! Then go back to the idea that you’re exploring. Don’t worry about grammar or logic or making sense. Just write until the timer goes off.

And then stop.

You might want to read what you’ve written right away; you might want to wait a while. Do what feels right to you and what aligns with your writing process. When you’re ready, read what you’ve done. You should have a slightly more developed sense about what aspects and elements of the idea are important to you. You might have characters or bits of dialog, ideas for plot or structure. Or you might have come up with other aspects you want to explore.

Do as many freewriting sessions as you need or want to get you to a place where you feel comfortable with what you’re writing about.

Then move on to the next step.

STEP 5—Spread it!

Lean into the picture book format.

It’s time to figure out the shape of your manuscript: what your beginning, middle, and end might look like, and to see which elements you have and which you might still need to develop.

It’s time to spread it! Spreading is the process that unlocks the underlying structure of a picture book and helps you scaffold your story. It’s a little bit like doing an outline but more effective and not quite as restrictive.

Spreading is where you take everything you know about plotting and planning, and you slot it into the 32-page/14-spread picture book structure.

If you’re working with a three-act narrative, you know you have approximately—

3 spreads for the beginning or set up.
8 spreads for the middle or development.
3 spreads for the ending or resolution.

Each spread functions like a unit of aesthetic experience that invites the reader to turn the page to get to the next one.

On each spread, character develops, plot advances, or something gets explored.

All you need to do is to write down one sentence per spread.

Thinking of your manuscript in this way will help you get a grip on what’s working, what might not be serving your story, and which elements you might still need and make the necessary adjustments before you actually start to write the book.

For more information about this process, please see my free downloadable e-book about the 14-spread framework. To access it, you can go here.

Moving Forward and Maintaining Momentum

Your idea is no longer a sparkly, nebulous thing. You have a sense of what it’s about. You also have a sense of where it’s going and how to get there.

Great!

Keep going with the idea and take it as far as you can. When you feel you can go no further, put the manuscript in a safe place like a drawer or a file on your computer called “The Drawer,” a place where you keep manuscripts in process. Let it rest there until you are ready to look at it again.

While some do, not all manuscripts go from idea to finished in one streak. You might need to let your work percolate.

When you’re ready to tackle it again, you can open the folder and pick up where you left off. You will probably find that the manuscript looks different, and that you can bring a different perspective to it.

Until then, you can return to your shortlist and repeat the process with as many ideas as call to you. One at a time.

One idea at a time. One manuscript at a time.

That’s how you write better books and build a body of work.

Onward!

Simone Kaplan is giving away a free e-book on how to use the structure of a picture book—a process she calls Spreading—to scaffold your writing process to all Storystorm participants. You can sign up for it at https://picturebookpeople.com/spreading-process-and-template/. It’ll be delivered to your inbox as soon as you sign up.

She’s also giving a one-hour critique session to one participant. The session will offer a deep dive into their work and will provide personalized individual feedback and guidance to help elevate their understanding of craft.

You’re eligible to win the session if you’re a registered Storystorm 2024 participant and you have commented only once on today’s blog post.

Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.

Simone Kaplan is a picture book editor, coach, and publishing consultant who has decades of experience helping authors polish their work, and an in-depth understanding of the world of picture book publishing. She shares her expertise with individuals, through critiques, offers weekly prompts, and classes and group programs to help authors write the best picture books they can. You can find her at PictureBookPeople.com.

Storystorm 2024 Day 29: Cathy Ballou Mealey’s Idea Has Already Been Done! (5 Tips for Finetuning Your Concept)

January 29, 2024 in STORYSTORM 2024 | Tags: Cathy Ballou Mealey, MAKE MORE S'MORES, SLOTH & SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE, WHEN A TREE GROWS | 893 comments

by Cathy Ballou Mealey

Congratulations Storystormers, you have reached 29 days of ideas! What comes next? You could jot down a plot for your favorite story nugget, or scribble some opening lines. Maybe you will brainstorm clever titles, or look up recent comp books. That’s when you might suddenly discover—oh no!—my idea has already been done!

I can practically guarantee that this has happened to almost everyone at some point in their creative journey. But it does not mean you should give up on your idea! After all, it had enough merit to have been published once, now the concept just needs your fresh take or unique perspective.

Remember old-timey boomboxes like this one?

In a perfect world, your favorite music came through loud and clear as soon as you pushed ON. But if the signal faded or went fuzzy with static, finetuning was required! By spinning the dial or tweaking the antenna, you could find a melody to soothe your soul or set your toe tapping. Think of your initial Storystorm idea like that radio station you must finetune, making adjustments until you hear sweet harmony.

Luckily you have more options than just a wonky knob or wobbly antenna to finetune your initial Storystorm concept. Here are five suggestions to try:

Change the setting: What if your story took place on the moon? Or underwater? In the winter?
Change the period: Move your timeframe back to the Jurassic or ahead to the Jetsons!
Change the point of view: Turn a minor character into the hero and tell the story from their perspective.
Change the style: Can you incorporate nonfiction or STEM elements, write in first or second person, change rhyme to prose?
Change the cast of characters: Should you have one, two, three or a crowd of characters? Explore cutting or expanding.

Bonus Tip!

Change the ‘rules’ of your story world or incorporate magical elements. What if bears could fly? What if snow was green? What if writing picture books was easy?

Cathy Ballou Mealey is giving one winner their choice of a signed copy of MAKE MORE S’MORES (US addresses only) or a picture book manuscript critique.

You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm 2024 participant and you have commented only once on today’s blog post.

Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.

Cathy Ballou Mealey is eternally grateful to those who post book reviews! She is the author of MAKE MORE S’MORES, illustrated by Ariel Landy (Sleeping Bear Books, 2023) SLOTH & SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE illustrated by Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press, 2021) and WHEN A TREE GROWS illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska (Union Square, 2019). Visit her website on most social media platforms @catballoumealey or website CathyBallouMealey.wixsite.com/author.