Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

11/3/10

November also means PiBoIdMo!

October was a month of celebrations for me. Celebrating two new picture books, 1 + 1 = 5 and Other Unlikely Additions and Minnesota's Hidden Alphabet. Celebrating turning 50 years old (it's been one of my best birthdays ever). And of course celebrating Halloween, with plenty of pumpkin carving.

Now it's time to catch my breath and look at a new month. As Stephanie reminded us, November is National Novel Writing Month. Cheers and good wishes to all who are taking up this challenge. But for those of you who wish to try a shorter writing form, November is also Picture Book Idea Month, or PiBoIdMo.

For the second year in a row, Tara Lazar has assembled a collection of children's authors and illustrators who are providing inspiration and encouragement on writing picture books. Readers of Tara's blog are encouraged to take the PiBoIdMo Challenge: come up with one new idea for a picture book each day throughout the month of November. And for all those who follow through, she is offering some fabulous prizes (oh, I do love contests!), including free books, original artwork, manuscript critiques from published authors, and personal consultation from established agents. Best of all, after 30 days you'll have 30 (or more) ideas for a new book.

It's not too late to take part. You have until November 7th to take the PiBoIdMo pledge to qualify for prizes. And even if you don't sign up for the challenge, you can read the ongoing list of inspirational ideas to get motivated for your next picture book (I was the guest blogger for November 2).

Whether your interest lies in novels or a picture books, here's to a new month of celebrating successful writing!

8 comments:

Christy said...

Wow! I'm in awe of your accomplishments and energy. I LOVE your pumpkins. And happy birthday!

Thanks for letting us know about PiBoldMo. I'm not clear if I have to make the ideas visible to others--do you know?

Stephanie said...

Happy birthday! Congrats on your new pb's. And I love the idea of coming up with pb ideas, I'm just a little busy with NaNo this year... And your pumpkin-carving skills blow me away.

Edie Hemingway said...

David,

What a great post on this and on Tara Lazar's blog! You even convinced me that maybe I can come up with some picture book ideas.

And I always love your carved pumpkins. What an appropriate one posted on this blog!

Lauren said...

I had never heard of National PiBoIdMo month until now-- what fun! I am so in the thick of drawings for my next book that that is where all of my ideas are going right now, but I will follow Tara's blog. AND Thank You by the way for the plug of Winter is the Warmest Season! I really appreciate that and so does my book!
Happy Birthday again, David and your pumpkins astound me- truly! And congratulations on your two books again. Wonderful!

David LaRochelle said...

I don't believe you have to make your ideas visible to anyone else, Christy. All you have to do is sign a list saying that yes, you did indeed come up with 30 ideas. And you only have to do this if you want to be eligible for the prizes. Of course you can simply follow the blogs this month without taking the challenge, too.

And good luck on your next book, Lauren!

Anonymous said...

David, what a gorgeous pumpkin! I love it. Best pumpkin carving EVER.

Christy, you do not have to share your ideas with anyone--except if you win one of the grand prizes, feedback from an agent. Then you send her your best five ideas and she will tell you which ones might be the best to pursue as manuscripts.

Thanks for guest blogging for PiBoIdMo, David. I am adding this blog to my link list, too!

Anonymous said...

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Diane Adams said...

Thanks for the great info, David. I had never heard of this.

I guess we know who won the local pumpkin carving contest this year. :)