Saturday, June 30, 2012

The 12 x 12 in 2012 Halfway Blog Party!


12 x 12 x 12 halfway blog party 


(I don't know how to embed a link in a picture, so, just in case it didn't work, here is where the above picture should lead.)


I joined the 12 x 12 in 2012 picture book writing challenge way back in December of 2011. It started last January, and the goal is to write one rough draft of a new picture book every month. So far, I have not only managed to do so for the first half of this challenge, but I have written more than one a month because, in the month of February, I joined the Picture Book Marathon and wrote 26 picture book drafts.


This has been a major learning experience for me. I have had the ideas running around my head for these picture books for many years, and this year, at the start of this challenge, is the first time I actually tried to write them down. I joined a critique group formed through the 12 x 12 in 2012 Facebook group, and through them have learned that, pretty much, I am nowhere near done learning about this process of writing picture books.


Julie Hedlund organized this challenge, and she has been amazing. Also amazing is that, with this being the first year this challenge has run, Julie had over 400 people sign up for it! (For the month-long Chapter Book Challenge I organized, there were only 23 of us signed up, but that may grow by next year's challenge.) I honestly don't know how she finds the time to keep everything running smoothly with so many participants and with all of the author guest blog posts, prizes and even aspiring author guest blog posts that she has been posting, as well as keeping up with the Facebook group.


I must admit that, as helpful as all of this has been, I continue to be a bit envious of those picture book authors/aspiring authors who are also illustrators. I would love to be able to illustrate my own picture books and ensure that the pictures portrayed my ideas exactly as I intend them to be portrayed, but alas, my skills do not run in that direction. (You can see examples of my pitiful attempts to teach myself to draw here and here.)

I know that several of the members of the 12 x 12 in 2012 challenge have already been published or have become published during the course of this challenge, and, as we are only half-way through the challenge, I am looking forward to seeing many more of my talented colleagues join the ranks of the published before this challenge completes.

*raises champagne glass* Here's to halfway there already and to another 6 months and 6 more picture books written! Woohoo!!!!

16 comments:

Romelle Broas said...

I can't believe you signed up for the PB marathon AND 12x12 in 2012. That is crazy talk! Just kidding. 32 stories in 6 months is amazing...You are amazing! I raise my glass to you. Cheers for another 6 months of writing bliss!

Romelle Broas said...

You participated in the 12x12 in 2012 AND the PB Marathon? That is 31 or 32 stories in 6 months! That is amazing...YOU are amazing! That will give you more chances to find that publishable gem. I wish you well.

Beth Stilborn said...

Congratulations on your mazillions of drafts! (I stopped believing in math in second grade, so 6 plus 26 equals mazillions.) Also congrats on all your learnings.

Happy Half-Way There! Here's to a wonderful second half!

rena traxel said...

I also wish I could draw! Congrats on your accomplishments. I also have no clue how Julie finds the time to do everything. I hosted a poetry challenge during April and was exhausted by the end and that was only a month long!

Jackie Castle said...

I had to stop at just doing the 12x12 challenge. I saw that other PB challenge and though, no way! Kuddos to you for doing it.

You're doing great. And I enjoy the Imagine, Create, Write post on fb I see all the time.

Happy Writing.
Jackie

Tina Cho said...

You've been quite busy, too. Wow, 26 manuscripts in one month. I can't imagine. Congratulations for all your accomplishments!

Julie Rowan-Zoch said...

I half to second the 'learning experience' comment - makes the prospect of what is to come in the next 6 mths so exciting! Wholehearted congrats at the halfway mark!

Heather said...

You have been mad, crazy productive over the past six months! Congratulations! Good luck with the next six months and happy halfway.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations for your successes, Rebecca! The remaining six months of writing will be great for you.

Julie Rowan-Zoch said...

I totally agree with the learning experience comment - makes the prospect of what is to come in the next six months so exciting! Wholehearted congrats at halfway!

Julie Hedlund said...

12 x 12 + PB Marathon + Chapter Book Challenge = Super-heroic writing! CONGRATULATIONS! It's been so wonderful having you in the challenge, and I might even join your chapter book challenge next year. If I'm still sane by then - LOL.

Joanna said...

You are the Mama of Manuscripts and I am in awe!

Dana Carey said...

Wow. Drawing skills or not, all those stories are something to be proud of. Congrats!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my post! I am with you about wondering how Julie manages to keep it all together...and I also wish I could draw.
Congrats on ALL of your pb drafts...that is amazing and quite note-worthy...I've done a couple more than the 6...and really need to hook up with a critique group that would keep me on the straight and narrow. :)
Best of luck in the second half of 12x12...and happy writing!

Carter Higgins said...

You have been CRAZY BUSY!! Can't wait to turn one of those books into a book trailer;)

Sheri Mills Cook said...

WOW! You rock! PB Marathon and 12x12in2012 Picture Book Challenge.
Wishing you a wonderful second half to the madness and fun!!!