Favorite Quotes

 "When life breaks into tiny little pieces. You must pick them up, examine each one with love, and place them back together." 

                                                                          ~Naomi Canale

                                                                          Current Work in Progress

You is smart. You is kind. You is important!!

Hope you’ve all had a wonderful Holiday this season!

This year as I celebrated Christmas with my family, I watched many movies. I’ve been waiting to see THE HELP because I’ve wanted to finish the book first, but when my mother-in-law brought it with her into town I couldn’t resist. And OMG it was one of the BEST movies I’ve seen in a VERY LONG time. I couldn’t peel my eyes off the screen. This movie made my heart pound out of my chest and I don’t usually cry with movies, but I did. A lot.

As I thought about THE HELP, I thought about how hard it is to stay encouraged as writers and artists. But with Aibileen now beautifully branded into my mind I will never forget her words. I'm even saying them to my children, everyday!

So when you're having doubt never forget that you is smart, you is kind, and you is important!!

Happy writing/illustrating everyone!!

Favorite Quotes

Last night I watched a great movie called, SHAOLIN. I'm a huge fan of Kung Fu movies! One because I've been in love with martial arts since I was nine. And two because I really admire the peace and serenity in the art and this movie definitely conveyed that. I heard one of the characters last night named, Cook, say this...

"I don't know any of this, all I know is it's worthless to train just the moves without the spirit." 

This line says so much to me! And when I sat down to write today, I related this with my work. 

How about you guys, has anything inspired you lately?

Happy writing everyone!

Formatting Pet Peeves

This last weekend I met up with my fabulous critique group and the discussion of formatting our manuscripts came up. 

So I thought I’d share with you VERY lovely blog readers some of the proper ways I've learned how to format my manuscript.

If you have any suggestions or input on things you’ve learned about formatting your manuscript or if you’re just knowledgeable on the subject, please DO share in the comments. It would be MUCHO appreciated!

Not very long ago I had an editor express interest in my work. So with A LOT of excitement I sent it and upon researching some of her pet peeves online, I found out that one of them was double spacing. Inside I was like NO, I didn’t format it properly?! After all the research and time I’d spent writing for the past five years, how did I not know this!?! Quickly, I figured out how to change this!

With a quick…

Select All ---> Ctrl f ---> Replace ---> Find period-space-space ---> Replace All period-space

Or if you want to change Word's sentence spacing behavior (On Windows):

Tools ---> Options ---> Spelling & Grammar ---> Settings ---> Spaces required between sentences ---> Change from "don't check" to "1"

…and voila you’ve now cut the manual task of fixing your double spaces. Double spacing was drilled into my head as a kid, but as many have said it's now just a hangover from typewriter days.

Another formatting pet peeve is the Tab Button. If you’re still using it, it’s probably not the best idea. In the fast changing world of technology e-readers are a very hot commodity— EVERYWHERE! Especially with editors and agents. The tab button isn't compatible on e-readers and with most of them reading your work on them you want to make sure to have it twinkling before their very eyes. So to rid your manuscript of indents just follow the steps below…

Select All ---> Ctrl f ---> ^t ---> Replace All

Next, click on Paragraph. Under the Indents and Spacing Tab, go to Indentation. Put Left and Right at 0". And then under Special for First Line make your paragraphs automatically indent by .5".

Hope this helps! Happy writing everyone!!

All about Nevada SCBWI's Mentor Program

Hello my wonderful and very loyal readers! This weekend I had the great opportunity to talk all about Nevada's SCBWI's Mentor Program, at one of our local conferences. It went really well. But it really went well because my fellow mentee and critique partner, Tracy Clark lovingly helped me through the process. And not to mention that our group of writers attending were made of awesomeness as well.

So becuase I am in LOVE with the mentor program and think you all should sign up, I thought I'd share some of this weekends highlights on the program.

Here are posters about my emotional process through the program...

The Nevada SCBWI’s Mentor Program is such a rare opportunity. There aren’t many programs out there that offer something so unique and extraordinary. If you’re thinking of applying I would strongly encourage you to. You will walk away from the program with that extra jump you need to help bring your writing up to a higher, more professional level. 

Our 2012 Mentor Program has something new this year! We’ve added a Published/Agented level, where before we just had a pre-published writer’s category. But even if you don’t fit into that group it’s still a very exciting and fantastic time to apply.

So what’s all the excitement about? Well, this year we have A-list authors like Holly Black, Kathleen Duey, and our very own Ellen Hopkins. But if you’re not published or agented we also have more A-list authors/agents for you to work with like Terri Farley, Verla Kay, Deborah Nourse Lattimore, Susan Hart Lindquist, Abigail Samoun, and Suzanne Morgan Williams.

And here's another fun visual (because I am a visual junkie)...

 

The Mentor Program is probably for you if…

• You’ve been attending a critique group regularly and are beginning to get very positive feedback on your work.
• You’ve submitted to publishers and received “good rejections.”
• You’ve been invited to send more work to an editor.
• You’ve published in other fields or other genres of children’s books and want to break into something new.
• You aren’t sure if you fit any of the above categories, but the program seems made for you, and you are willing to work hard and respond to constructive criticism and comment.

The Mentor program may not be right for you if…

• You expect publication and to get an agent immediately after completing the program.
• You don’t like to read or write.
• You think your work is perfect and needs little to no work.

Program Kick-off…

• May 18-20, 2012 – Tahoe Writer’s Retreat, Stateline Nevada
• Jennifer Rofé, from the Andrea Brown Literary Agency
• Abigail Samoun, from the Red Fox Literary Agency

Helpful hints if you get into the mentor program…

• Remember that your mentor is busy too. They’re not only busy with other fellow mentees but with family, writing, and whatever else life throws at them.
• Your mentor will help find your weaknesses and help give you new strengths.
• Embrace your fellow mentees. They are a great companion through the process.
• Be patient and keep working hard on your manuscript.
• Enjoy the process!

During the program…

• May 18, 2012 to October 12, 2012
• You will receive critique/revision/illustration input exchanges between mentors and mentees.
• Each mentee will get at least 3 critical feedbacks, by mail or e-mail, provided he/she meets the deadlines.

Program Wrap-up…

• October 12-14, 2012 (Fall Mentor Retreat, Virginia City, Nevada)
• Guest editor to be announced.

The application deadline is December 1, 2011. So if you're interested check out The Nevada SCBWI's website here and GOOD LUCK!! Hope to see all your wonderful faces in the program this year!

Interview with Illustrator Alice Young

Alice Young studied illustration at The Art Center College of Design. She graduated in 2001 with a B.F.A. in honors and then put a hold on illustration to pursue her other passion which ended in a M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Biola University in 2009. Now she’s back doing what she does best, which is creating the world through illustrations. She’s currently living in beautiful Southern California creating fantastic works of art for children.

Since this blog’s about offering inspiration to writers and artists, my first question for you is, do you have a favorite quote? If so, why is it your favorite?

"Had they but courage equal to desire?"- W.B. Yeats

This quote reminds me to not be a coward and to meet my desires with the courage to the see them through.

If you could go back in time when you first started creating and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t be hindered by a fear of looking like the fool. When I was younger, I did not ask as many questions or go for as many things as I could have because I was afraid to look like the fool. I don’t want to allow that fear to stop me now.

Who’s had the biggest influence on you? What did they do to inspire your art?

I have to say my biggest influence is my mom. She is not an artist, but an appreciator of the arts. She nurtured my creativity and surrounded me with tons of children’s books and art books growing up. I grew up seeing a lot of illustration styles that we don’t always see here in the States. I was exposed to a lot of illustrations from China, Japan, and Europe. I believe the style of my illustrations reflect these influences.

I also learn a lot from her. Like how to make the most of fragments of time. I tend to waste time that does not come in chunks. So she inspires me to get more done!

Are there ever times you feel your creative spark dying? If so, how do you light it back up?

Of course! It happens a lot. When this happens, I read. Reading is always very inspiring and gets the mind going. I also flip through magazines, listen to music, watch movies, or anything that might inspire. But sometimes, you just keep working and pushing through even when you’re not feeling that creative spark. I really believe discipline is more important than genius because I see how hard all the people I consider successful have worked for their success.

Do you have a favorite illustration you could share with us that has a story behind it?

That is a really good question! I have a hard time liking my own work, because I can see how it can be better. But I’ll share a recent piece I made for my promotional card. It is of pickled children. I was inspired to make this illustration after reading George MacDonald’s fairy tale, “The Giant’s Heart.” In the story, the giant eats children and likes them pickled instead of boiled; this is because he likes them crisp. I just couldn’t help myself after reading that!

Have you ever set a really tough goal for yourself and succeeded? Could you share with us what it was and how you accomplished it?

I don’t think it is the toughest goal I could have made more myself, but more than a year ago I set out to figure out how to make a website for myself. I took a few classes and finally launched my website in March. Even now, there are changes I would like to make to my site but I am going to need to do more learning for that!

If you could pick a word to describe yourself, what would it be?

Vicarious.

Thank you Alice! And I have to say that your website is, um, WOW! Great job. If you would like to find out more about Alice Young you should not only check out her website but her fun blog as well.

Favorite Quotes

What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers.

~Logan Pearsall Smith