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From Betsy Devany: 

I am in North Carolina now where the weather teases me, making me yearn for spring.  Back home there is still nearly two feet of snow on the ground, the threat of more snow on its way, and temperatures that hover in the low teens.

In Chapel Hill, pansies are blooming, and by mid-afternoon, I peel off my winter jacket, settle on a bench and unwind.

This is when I see the turkeys. They wander through the neighborhood as if going for their daily stroll during which they discuss life.

What if that really was the case? What would two turkeys talk about while out and about? 

You may also consider these questions while you study the photograph:

1. Is your mc familiar with the turkeys?
2. Is your mc visiting this house or does your mc live there?
3. Is your mc one of the turkeys?
4. Does your mc ignore the turkeys, chase them, watch them, or do something else?
5. Where are the turkeys going?

Now write a one-page response to the picture starting with the following: _______ couldn’t believe _____ eyes . . .

I would love to hear what you come up with! Happy writing! Betsy  www.betsydevany.com

Good luck with coming up with a unique idea.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

This has been a week of snow and more snow and perfecting the art of shoveling—which I clearly have no desire to perfect. However, it is, in this type of weather, a necessity. I would be perfectly fine staying indoors, spending my days writing, while hoping that the snow will simply melt away. But it doesn’t, and at some point, I have to rescue my car from beneath a snow bank, and then, get out of my very long driveway. Safely.

With the mounds and mounds of snow piled in my yard, I found myself taking a slew of pictures this week. Pictures of trees covered in snow, birds in the snow, squirrels covered in snow, icicles, and, of course, my car buried in the snow.

For this week’s prompt, I used one of these pictures. The photo is of my stone dragon lovingly referred to as “Snickle” by my four-year-old granddaughter.

After you have studied the picture, pick a character. (You may choose Snickle, if you would like.) Write a one-page response, starting with the following: ____ appeared through the snow as if_________

Questions to consider:

1. How old is your mc?
2. What are they doing outside in the snow?
3. Have they seen the dragon before or is this new for them?
4. Does seeing the dragon make them scared, curious, or cause them to laugh?
5. Can the dragon speak?
6. Is there more than one dragon?
7. Does the dragon want to be uncovered?
8. When your mc sees the dragon, do they want to clear all the snow off him or cover him back up?

Have fun! Happy writing! Betsy

Strange picture.  It will be interesting to read what you come up with. 

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

This week I am not going to give you a first line prompt.  Your challenge is to pick one of the pictures below and find a story in it.  Remember, the more you write, the better you will get, so just sit down and start writing.  This is a good way to exercise your brain, without having to devote a lot of time to writing.  So take 20 minutes and write a first page, who knows it could inspire a new story.

Are you the bear?  Are you watching the bear?  What is the bear doing?  Is this the beginning of your story or the end?

Are the people on the bike cold?  Where are they going?  Why are they riding in the snow?  What would happen if they slide on the ice?

Use your imagination.  Think out of the box.  Good luck.

Kathy

Donald Maass in his noted book, Writing the Breakout Novel says, “Genuine inner conflict will make your protagonist memorable.” When we say create a memorable character, what are we saying? Mr. Maass says, “Simply that we are thinking about that character after the story is over.  What causes us to do that?  Inner conflict.  When it is powerfully portrayed, it lingers beyond the last page.  Readers seek to resolve it.  They will mentally talk to your heroine, trying to make her happy.  They will imagine scenes in which things come out better for your poor protagonist.  Trigger that response in your readers and yolu will have succeeded in making you character memorable.”

Here are a few writing steps you can take to help you develop inner conflict with your characters.

Step 1:  Thinking about your protagonist in the novel as a whole, what is it that your protagonist wants the most?  Write that down.

Step 2: Write down whatever is the opposite of that.

Step 3: How can your protagonist want both of those things simultaneously?  What would cause your protagonist to want them both?  What steps would he actively take to pursue those conflicting desires?  Make notes.

Additional work:  Work on sharpening the contrast between these opposing desires.  Make them mutually exlusive.  How can you ensure that if your protagonist gets one, he cannot get the other?  Make notes.

Conclusion:  Donald Maass says, “In creating genuine inner conflict, it is not enough simply to create inner turmoil.  True inner conflict involves wanting two things that are nutually exclusive.  It is most effective when it tears your protagonist, or any character, in two opposite directions.

With more and more editors saying they want character-driven  books, even to authors who write picture books, I think we can all benefit by creating conflict and memorable characters.  Hope the last three posts helped you learn or remember some things that will deepen your characters and help accomplish your publishing goals.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Hello!

For those who have completed their holiday shopping, I congratulate you. (I am, in fact, a tad envious.) For the people who have barely seen the inside of the mall or any other retail store this season, welcome to the club!

On the topic of retail, especially the business of selling books, I decided to share a very special bookstore. One I discovered last year in Paris. To get the true essence of the shop, and to see the rest of the photographs from Shakespeare and Company, visit my blog: http://betsydevany.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/the-inspiration-for-free-fall-friday-week-7

And now, for this week’s prompt!

Study the photo. Next, choose one of the children from the photo to be your mc, or have your mc be a child outside the photo, observing these children. If you prefer to ponder, rather than immediately responding to the prompt, there are questions to consider below.

Either way, you will hopefully write a one-page response to the prompt. Take the challenge. Enjoy! Kathy and I would love to hear what you come up with.

Happy Hanukkah!

Questions to consider:

1. Is your mc drawn to the dog? If so, why?
2. Is your mc not in the picture? If so, why?
3. Who has brought your mc to the bookstore? Their parents or someone else?
4. Does your mc live in Paris, or are they only visiting?
5. Do they speak French? If not, how do they feel hearing a foreign language?
6. Has your mc come to the store to buy a book, or are they merely passing through the area?
7. Who does the dog belong to? Is it a stray?
8. Does your mc want to bring the dog home?

Hope this inspires at least a new first page.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Last weekend the New Jersey chapter of the SCBWI had a Writing Craft Day.  I shared some of the information from the Novel workshop with you last week.  Since I couldn’t be in two places at one time, I asked some members to write up something that I could put on my blog.  I would like to share a few with you today.

The first to send me something was Judy Shappell.  She said, “During the workshop Leeza described in detail the components and the making of a good picture book.  The length, terminology, defining your manuscript and character, having a theme, the importance of a good opening line, problem solving and the marriage of text and illustration are some of the considerations for success. Writers should strive to establish a different approach to a universal theme.  The book should be character driven.

“Breaking down the content on each of the 32 pages of a picture book was extremely interesting and helpful.  Defining the half title page, full title page, the “front matter”, where the story begins, where tension and release occurs as well as the twist and happy ending, all contribute to the making of a picture book.  A slide presentation was also presented.”

Laurie Wallmark participated and said, “Leeza discussed the hallmarks of a good picture book, including characterization, theme, plot, setting, and more. She brought a selection of published books to use as examples. In addition to the craft of writing picture books, Leeza talked about the realities of the market. Then it was time for a short exercise to get our creative juices flowing. The workshop finished with arts and crafts, where we cut up our manuscripts to create a picture book dummy. We all came away with information to help make our picture books stronger.”

Then Ame Dyckman sent me this:

Greetings, everybody!  Kathy has kindly shared some of the fabulous tips from Anita Nolan’s Novel Workshop at the NJ SCBWI Writer’s Craft Day in Princeton last weekend.  Now I’ll give you the inside scoop on Leeza Hernandez’ amazing Picture Book Workshop!

As I walked into the Hyatt conference room, I beheld three of my favorite things:

• Leeza—Author/illustrator extraordinaire, uber-talented and funny as heck.
• Books—A heap of brilliant picture books from Leeza’s personal collection.
• Sugar!—Brownies, donut holes, Rice Krispie treats, and other tasty creative brain fuel.

I was thrilled to see them all!

After introductions and a cool word association/relaxation exercise, Leeza led the assembled writers, illustrators, and writer/illustrators in a lively chat (peppered with classic and fresh read-aloud examples) on the popular universal themes found in picture books:

• Firsts  (First day of school, first sleepover, first lost tooth, etc.)
• Sibling Rivalry
• Bravery
• Loneliness
• Persaveerence Pursaverance Never Giving Up

and the always heart-tugging:

• Finding One’s Place in the World

Then, we talked about feelings.  (No, not our feelings.  The reader’s feelings.)  We

discussed the necessity of a picture book’s (typically) happy ending, the need to compel a young reader emotionally, and some resonating methods your Main Character can use to solve their problem:

• Embark on a Quest
• Overcome a Fear
• Invent S
  9 Comments on Picture Book Writing Craft Workshop, last added: 11/23/2010
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  Barbara said, on 11/21/2010 4:51:00 AM
  

  Very nice and very true.

  Character driven is key nowadays (and I’d say the more iconic the character the better.)

  Also, that opening line or coupla lines are crucial and should set the stage with who/what/where/why.

  I’d also say that for some publishers playing with book structure, and/or character/world POV are of interest

  (Of course there are tons of successful pbs that are not character driven but that does not seem to be the discussion here.)

  Thanks Leeza.

  Barb

  George Shannon-Author said, on 11/22/2010 11:21:00 AM
  

  Thanks for sharing. It sounds like a very informative AND very fun day.

  Cheers to all writing picture books!

  George Shannon

  Debbie Ridpath Ohi said, on 11/23/2010 5:30:00 AM
  

  Thanks so much for sharing this information, Kathy (and others who contributed). Sounds like an excellent and useful event.

  Tracey said, on 11/23/2010 5:53:00 AM
  

  What a great workshop! I wish I was able to be there.

  rose said, on 11/23/2010 8:18:00 AM
  

  Sounds amazing
  wish I could have been there!

  kathytemean said, on 11/23/2010 4:41:00 PM
  

  Barbara,

  Thanks for leaving a good comment.

  Happy Thanksgiving,

  Kathy

  kathytemean said, on 11/23/2010 4:42:00 PM
  

  George,

  I second that. Picture books are hard to do then most people think.

  Kathy

  kathytemean said, on 11/23/2010 4:43:00 PM
  

  Tracey,

  It’s been too long, since I’ve seen you. Hope you will find the time to join us at something in the future.

  Happy Thanksgiving,

  Kathy

  kathytemean said, on 11/23/2010 4:46:00 PM
  

  Rose,

  I’m sure you would have enjoyed it. Where do you live? Probably too far to make coming to something worth the time and expense.

  Have a great holiday,

  Kathy

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