I am thrilled to welcome Stacy Jensen today for the inaugural post in this series.  Stacy was one of my first regular blog followers, and she also hosted me on her blog for my very first guest post.  She is generous with her time and talent, and you can find the myriad ways to find and contact her at the end of this post.  Without further adieu, here is Stacy.

Which way to go with your writing? Photo credit: Stacy Jensen

Write Without Rules

Do you ever get confused about what to write? I do.

I read about writing rules on blogs and in books. I hear, “Oh, you can’t do that” in critique groups.  Or, “That’s a tough topic in this market.”

As I’ve been studying the craft of writing picture books, I decided to say “No more” to this chatter when I write. I turn off the rule checklist, stare at a blank piece of paper and go for it.

Last year, I wrote my first intentional picture book manuscript for a Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators’ retreat. As I faced a deadline, I researched the basics of how to write a picture book, but realized I needed to scrap them and just write.

Here’s what I did:

I wrote in rhyme. I’m not very good at it. I should be in rhyming jail, but I did it anyway.

I drew a map of my main character’s neighborhood. I’m not an artist, but the black squiggles helped me visualize where my main character misbehaved in the story.

I studied my ABCs by creating a list of words for my story. It pushed me to not only consider the setting, but also the things, people and places my characters encounter in their world. Plus, I had to find logical items for Q, X, and Z.

I gave myself permission to be a newbie. I signed up for the retreat to learn. I submitted my manuscript to the published author in charge and my small group with no regret.

My drafts are layers in a larger project. Each draft is helping me reach my goal of submitting polished stories to an agent or publisher. I spend non-writing time studying trends, writing tips and word counts. These rules are applied to my story during the revision process.

Just like my son doesn’t like to hear “No” all the time, neither do the stories in my head. They just want to escape and explore the page for a bit before reality reels them in.

So, I’m writing my 12 x 12 in 2012 drafts like there are no rules.

How are rules part of your writing routine?  Can you live without them or do you need them?

Stacy S. Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she mothers a toddler at home, one boy in her picture book manuscripts, and a memoir manuscript. She does this with no rules in mind during the draft stage. You can find Stacy on her blog - http://stacysjensen.blogspot.com, Twitter - http://twitter.com/StacySJensen, and Facebook -  http://www.facebook.com/StacySJensen

Snow sculpture illuminated by colored spotlights

Much to be grateful for this week!

Quotes on Gratitude

“Happiness is the settling of the soul into its most appropriate spot.” — Aristotle

“Deficiency motivation doesn’t work. It will lead to a life-long pursuit of try to fix me. Learn to appreciate what you have and where and who you are.” — Wayne Dyer

“Many times a day I realize how much my own life is built on the labours of my fellowmen, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” — Albert Einstein

Gratitude list for the week ending February 4

1. Getting to ski and hang out with great friends, including my bestest girlfriend!
2. Witnessing more than one beautiful sunrise reflecting on the mountains
3. Completing my January picture book draft for the 12 x 12 challenge
4. The incredible community of writers that have come together for the 12 x 12.  They inspire me daily.
5. Finishing one good book and starting another
6. Reading THE LAST OF THE REALLY GREAT WHANGDOODLES with the kids
7. Skype
8. Writing the last page of a lovely journal (was a gift from the friend above). Great way to end Week 9 of The Artist’s Way.
9. Snow sculptures in Breckenridge
10. A long nap on a day I felt under the weather

What are you grateful for this week?

My first FULL morning pages journal

Per my post last week, I’m combining Weeks 8 and 9 into one check-in. It is way later than usual because, well, the vagaries of life got in the way this week – grocery shopping, cooking dinner, transporting kids all over hell’s half-acre.  BUT, this one is a doozy so hold onto your seats!

• Week 8 Theme: “Recovering a Sense of Strength.”  This chapter focuses on surviving artistic losses by turning them into gains.  It also works on freeing us from using time as an avoidance strategy and creative block.
• Week 9 Theme: “Recovering a Sense of Compassion.”  This chapter deals with our biggest creative blocks – the internal ones.  We learn that creative blocks are born from fear and only fear, and that it is artist-abuse to call it anything else – laziness, untalented, unworthy, etc.
• Morning Pages: I missed a couple of days over the past two weeks, even though I didn’t intend to.  Here’s what I’ve learned about morning pages.  If I say to myself, “I’ll do them later,” I won’t.  They have to get done first thing after I wake up or they just don’t get done.
• Artist Date: I didn’t go anywhere, but I did indulge myself in a couple of different activities.  First, I have been participating in a free online business boot camp called Women on Purpose.  The calls are an hour a day a few days a week.  Normally I would not allow myself the luxury of a whole hour to do something that is seemingly not directly related to my work.  What I’ve found, however, is that the topics addressed on these calls ARE directly related to how I want to run my business.  They are fun, encouraging and inspiring to listen to.  Second, when I found myself feeling run down this week, I allowed myself a couple of long naps in the late morning.  Very restorative.

Any “Aha” Moments? 

• Chapter 8: One of the tasks for the week was a “memory mining” exercise.  I discovered that I had done several things in my youth to sabotage my budding writer.  Out of nowhere, I remembered that in my freshman year, my creative writing professor wanted to submit a couple of my papers (which were really personal essays) for publication.  I said no.  He encouraged me to take more creative writing courses.  I didn’t.  I know exactly why I didn’t, which I’m not going to say here, but what’s amazing is that I had forgotten ALL about it.  From there, I was able to remember other things I did over the years to squash myself before anybody else could.  Must. Stop. Doing That.
• Chapter 9: The big assignment this week was to read the morning pages so far.  Wow.  In a way, that was extremely painful, and in another way, both enlightening and encouraging.  All along I’ve been pleased with my progress.  Just making it to Week 10 is an achievement.  Yet, I hadn’t yet felt that I’d experienced any major transformation.  Well, I was wrong.  My early pages contain lots of name-calling (of myself), feelings of lack – of accomplishment, creativity, discipline, etc.  Somewhere in the middle of my journal (because I have now filled an entire book!), more often than not the name-calling and feelings of inadequacy gave way to insights, ideas and excitement.  After I finished reading, I started thinking about all I have done and everything that has happened since I began November 9, 2011.  A few examples:

A few favorite quotes from the Week 8 chapter:

“Creativity cannot be comfortably quantified in intellectual terms… (T)he entire thrust of intellectualism runs counter to the creative impulse. For an artist, to become overly cerebral is to become crippled.”

“Pain that is not used profitably quickly solidifies into a leaden heart, which makes any action difficult. When faced with a loss, immediately take one small action to support your artist.“

“At the heart of the anorexia of artistic avoidance is the denial of process. We like to focus on having learned a skill or having made an artwork. This attention to final form ignores the fact that creativity lies not in the done but in the doing.”

A few favorite quotes from the Week 9 chapter:

“Fear is the true name for what ails the blocked artist. It may be fear of failure or fear of success. Most frequently, it is the fear of abandonment.”

“(B)eing an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline… Enthusiasm (from the Greek, “filled with God”) is an ongoing energy supply tapped into the flow of life itself. Enthusiasm is grounded in play, not work.”

“Remember that art is process. The process is supposed to be fun.”

How have you overcome avoidance (fear) and/or internal blocks to your art?

Week 7 Check-In

Week 6 Check-In

Week 5 Check-In

Week 4 Check-In

Week 3 Check-In

Week 2 Check-In

Week 1 Check-In

The Artist’s Way

As impossible as it is for me to believe we’re already one full month into 2012, here we are.  Did you get a Picture Book draft written in January?  Let us know in the comments section.  If you did – YAY – you’re eligible for an extra point toward a critique from Tara Lazar (but make sure you’ve left a comment on her Jan. 1 post).  You have until midnight EST Feb 1st to leave a comment on this post and Tara’s initial post to be eligible for the drawing.  I’ll draw a winner via Random.org on Feb. 2nd.

If you didn’t complete a draft this month, try not to be discouraged, and don’t get down on yourself.  Brush yourself off and get ready for February.  While the ultimate goal is 12 PBs, the main idea is to write more by being part of the group than you would have by going it on your own.

I did get my draft finished, albeit by the skin of my teeth.  I wrote the conclusion only yesterday.  With both of my kids having birthdays this month, January is always busy.  Add to that all the administration related to the launch of this challenge, and I can say for absolute certain that I would not have written anything this month if it weren’t for you guys.  So thanks!  The challenge is working its magic already!

Now, for those of you who are really, truly crazy need an even greater challenge, February is also the Picture Book Marathon.  The goal there is to write 26 PB drafts in February (with three rest days).  Good luck to those of you who participate.  I’ll be cheering you on – from the sidelines!

Many thanks, once again, to Tara Lazar, who launched this challenge for us so beautifully!!  We are all going to buy her debut picture book, THE MONSTORE, when it comes out next year, right??

AND – Be sure to come back tomorrow for our February featured author. Excitement!

CONGRATULATIONS to the 401 brave souls who decided to take this plunge with me.  I am so grateful to you all for providing ME with the inspiration and encouragement I need to meet my writing goals this year.

A few announcements and reminders:

1. I have sent an email to all registered participants confirming your participation in the challenge.  You DO NOT NEED TO REPLY to that email.  It is for your reference.  If you believe you signed up for the challenge and do not get an email from me, please contact me at JulieFHedlund (at) gmail (dot) com as soon as possible.
2. If you want to be eligible for at least one point toward this month’s giveaway – a PB critique from author Tara Lazar, you MUST leave a comment on her post by midnight EST on Wednesday, February 1st.  I will draw a winner through Random.org on February 2nd.
3. Check the blog tomorrow for our monthly check-in.  If you completed a PB draft in January, leave a comment saying so and you’ll be eligible for an additional point toward the giveaway.  Please remember that a comment on the check-in post will not count unless you’ve also commented on Tara’s initial post.
4. All “official” 12 x 12 announcements, giveaways and prizes will be made here on the blog.  Please make sure you are following so you receive all of the information.
5. We have a very active 12 x 12 Facebook group where people are introducing themselves, sharing information and support and forming critique groups.  If you are on Facebook, I highly encourage you to join us there.
6. I am now following all 12 x 12 participants with Twitter accounts. If you haven’t already followed me back, please do so at https://twitter.com/#!/JulieFHedlund.  I have created a list of all 12 x 12 participants that you can follow if you want to keep up with your fellow participants: https://twitter.com/#!/list/JulieFHedlund/twelve-by-twelve-in-2012.  We are tweeting about the 12 x 12 challenge using the hashtag #12x.  If you provided me with your Twitter handle and I wasn’t able to follow you, you will hear from me within the next week or so via email.
7. I am also following all participants who are blogging.  If I had any difficulty following your blog, you will hear from me within the next week or so via email.  Some of you provided me with static author and/or illustrator websites.  Please note that I am not able to follow those, as they do not have feeds embedded into them.
8. We have created a list of participant blogs on the Facebook page, and I encourage you all to follow each other.  We’re here to support one another, after all.
9. As a reminder, all “official” 12 x 12 posts will have our banner displayed across the top.  It’s a companion to our lovely badge.  So whenever you see the banner, you know that post will be 12 x 12 related.  Don’t forget you can put the badge on your blog too!  Wear it proudly!
10. Last, but certainly not least, GOOD LUCK to everyone!  I can’t believe we’re already almost one month in.  What a fantastic month it has been!

Still more questions?  Please leave them in the comments.

1. The chance to win craft-related giveaways such as critiques, books, consultations, etc. from our monthly featured authors.  This month’s prize is a critique from Tara Lazar.
2. Access to the 12 x 12 Facebook Group, where an active and supportive group of writers are cheering each other on and helping each other out.  Seriously, these people are already moving mountains for each other – forming critique groups, sharing resources, giving advice.
3. Spontaneous opportunities such as the one being offered in February – a chance to win a critique with freelance editor Tamson Weston.
4. The biggest benefit?  You could end the year with 12 shiny PB drafts.  What could be better than that?

If you are ready to take the plunge, you can sign on the digital line here.  

Two exciting 12 x 12 in 2012 announcements!

Announcement #1

Beginning February 7th, a pre-published participant of the 12 x 12 challenge will guest post on the blog for the new Tuesday 12 x 12 series.  Each participating author and/or illustrator will write a post on a topic of their choice related to the challenge – why they joined, what they’ve learned, connections they’ve made, books they’ve written, etc.

I am so excited about this series because it will give you a chance to get to know some of the talented and courageous writers who have taken the plunge with me into this challenge.  Many of these writers, you will discover, have fabulous blogs of their own where they generously share their knowledge, successes, and bumps along the road.

You may be wondering why this series is focused on pre-published authors specifically.  For one thing, I guess I have a soft spot for pre-pubbies (my newly minted term), since I am one myself. Second, I already have plans to feature many published authors and illustrators throughout the challenge, so I wanted to shine the light on the great folks putting in the hours and the hard work it takes to get published today.  Finally, I have learned so much from reading their blogs already, and I know you will too.  After all, you don’t have to be traditionally published in order to have knowledge and experience worth sharing.  If so, my own blog would be out of business!  So I hope you’ll come by on Tuesdays and give these brave souls the support and encouragement they deserve.

Announcement #2

I was thrilled to welcome freelance editor Tamson Weston into the 12 x 12 challenge as a participant.  Tamson has very generously offered to give participants a FANTASTIC opportunity to practice writing pitches for the chance to win a manuscript critique from her.  More details will be provided on February 16th when the contest goes live, but because you will only have FOUR DAYS to submit your pitches, I wanted to give you some advance warning so you can start working on them in your “spare” time.

You may choose ONE of your WIPs and submit a pitch that is no more than 140 characters (same as a maximum Twitter message), along with THE FIRST line of your book.  The only exception is if your book is in verse, in which case you can submit the first four lines.  So get ready, because this is a HUGE opportunity.  The grand prize winner will receive a manuscript critique from Tamson.  Again, more information on how to submit, how the entries will be judged, etc. will be posted on February 16th.

Tamson is published children’s book author and editor with over 15 years experience at several prestigious publishing houses including HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Disney Hyperion.  Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, Robert Weinstock, Adam Gopnik, Jane Leslie Conly, Anne Rockwell, Deborah Hopkinson, Jen Violi, Alexander Stadler, and Dan Santat are just a few of the authors/illustrators she’s worked with.

Are you excited yet??

Now, I suggest you go follow Tamson everywhere she lives!

Tamson’s Blog

Tamson’s Facebook Page

Tamson on Twitter

Also, please note the lovely companion banner to our Participant Badge that Linda Silvestri created for us.  Whenever you see that banner at the top of one of my blog posts, you’ll know it is an “official” challenge post and you should be sure to read it if you are participating.

What is the 12 x 12 in 2012 Challenge?

Simple.  We plan to write twelve complete picture book drafts in 2012. One picture book draft per month for each of the twelve months of 2012. This means a first draft: beginning, middle, end. NOT a submission-ready piece.

Who is sponsoring the 12 x 12?

Author Julie Hedlund launched the challenge after realizing she only completed one full draft from all 30 of the PiBoIdMo ideas she came up with in 2010.  She decided to invite others to come along for the journey for support and camaraderie.  You can find out more about Julie by visiting her blog, Write Up My Life.

Who can participate?

Any author and/or illustrator who wants to write and/or illustrate 12 picture books in 2012 at any level of publishing experience.  Whether you are brand new to the writing/illustrating, multi-published, or somewhere in between, we welcome you.

Why should I join?

You can join the existing 300+ participants in supporting each other.  It is an amazing community of talented writers and illustrators. There is also a very good chance you will write more with the support of the group than going it on your own.

In addition, there will be guest posts on the blog from experts in the field along with a special giveaway each month.  The prizes will all be ones geared toward helping you improve your craft.

Did you say prizes? What prizes??

Oh yes, prizes galore! Here’s how it works:

On the first of each month, I will feature a guest post by a published author or other industry professional with picture book writing tips and advice.  I’m asking each featured author to donate a prize that would in some way help improve our craft.  That might be a manuscript critique, a query critique, a marketing consult, a membership, a writing resource, etc.

In order to be eligible for the giveaway, you must: 1) Be an official participant (see below); and 2) Leave a comment on the first-of-the-month post any time during the month.  All official participants who leave a comment on the post will receive one point and be eligible for the giveaway regardless of whether they complete a full picture book draft that month.

Okay, I’m in.  How do I sign up?

You need to do two things.  First, follow Julie Hedlund’s blog: http://www.writeupmylife.com.  Then, fill out the form embedded in this post: http://writeupmylife.com/2011/11/30/12-x-12-in-2012-picture-book-writing-challenge/

If you want to do more, you can join the Facebook group.

We are also tweeting under the hashtag #12x

Is there a deadline for signing up?

Yes. You must sign up by January 29, 2012 in order to be an official participant.  Sign up here: http://writeupmylife.com/2011/11/30/12-x-12-in-2012-picture-book-writing-challenge/

What if I miss the deadline and still want to participate?

You are free to jump in at any time throughout 2012 and participate in the blog discussions and tweet with us using the #12x hashtag.  However, only participants who sign up by January 29th are eligible for 12 x 12 giveaways and prizes and to participate in the Facebook group.  This is for two reasons.

1. We wanted to create incentives and rewards for people to sign up before the end of January and,

2. Setting a deadline limits the administrative burden associated with the challenge.

What happens if I don’t write twelve PB drafts?  Can I still be part of the group?

So long as your intention is to do your best to write one PB draft per month, you are welcome to join us.  In the end, it doesn’t matter if you have 12, 4 or even 1 PB drafted if you’ve gotten more accomplished by being in the group than by going it alone.  There will be a winner badge, of course, for those who make it to 12 or more, but the idea is that we support, encourage, and help each other throughout the year as we try to put flesh on the bones of those PB ideas.

How do I qualify to win prizes during the 12 x 12?

First, you must be an official 12 x 12 participant (see requirements outlined above).

Second, you must leave a comment on the first-of-the month post from that month’s featured guest.  Leaving the comment earns you one point.

Can I still win a prize even if I didn’t get a PB drafted that month?

Yes! So long as you comment on the first of the month post by the featured author, you will earn one point for the prize drawing.

Let’s say I do get my draft written in a given month.  Are there additional chances to win prizes?

On the last day of each month, there will be a check-in post on the blog.  If you completed a draft that month, you can let us know in the comments.  That gives you one extra point for purposes of that month’s prize drawing.

How will you select the prize winners?

Each participant has the chance to earn up to two points per month.  Each qualifying participant will be entered into a drawing via Random.org either 1 or 2 times depending on the number of points they earned.  Once all the names are entered, Random.org will be used to choose a winner.

Do I have to share or post my draft somewhere in order to prove I wrote a draft that month?

No.  This challenge is on the honor system.  On the last day of each month, there will be a check-in post on Julie Hedlund’s blog.  If you finished a draft that month, simply leave a comment on the check-in post letting us know.

Are there other ways I can get involved with the challenge and meet other challengers?

Join in the discussion on Write Up My Life.  There will be many posts with lots of advice for PB writers.  You can also follow our progress and news by following the #12x tag on Twitter.

Who created the incredible 12 x 12 Participant Badge?

That would be Linda Silvestri, an extraordinarily talented illustrator.  If you join the challenge, please post the badge on your blog (if you have one) with a link back to this post.

Please also be sure to visit Linda’s website and her blog:  http://lindasilvestri.com/

Do you have other questions? Please leave them in the comments!

At last! At last! 12 x 12 in 2012 is here!!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you had a great celebration to ring in the New Year.  I also hope that after you are finished watching football and nursing whatever *ahem* hangover you might have, you are ready for DAY ONE of the 12 x 12 in 2012 challenge!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, fire up your laptops, your tablets, your PCs because today you may start writing your first picture book draft for the challenge!

Here to kick us off is none other than author Tara Lazar – the founder of Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo).  I am so tickled to have Tara here today because it is she, after all, who set us on this path by having us set down all those great ideas in November.  To make it even sweeter, Tara is offering one lucky 12 x 12er a picture book critique. Hooray!

To enter to win the critique, you must be an official challenger and have signed the form as explained here.  Then, leave a comment on this post any time during the month of January for one point.  On the last day of the month, we’ll check in and if you completed a picture book draft, you can comment there to get another point.  I will draw a winner using Random.org and announce on February 2nd.

Now, Take it Away Tara!

What better place to begin the 12×12 challenge than at the end?

Seriously—the end of your story.

Most of us know the importance of the first line in hooking the reader. Well, the end is where you can lose them—forever.

At the end, your entire story can fall apart. Splat flat on its face. Writing a wondrous 450 words means nothing if the last 50 are wimpy. Your reader will shove your story back on the shelf with a mere “meh.”

The key to writing a memorable picture book, a best-seller, is not in its readability but its re-readability. Parents aren’t going to plunk down $16 on something their kids will only want to experience once. You’ve got to punch-up the ending.

As a creative writing major in college, I rarely finished a story (and somehow they gave me a diploma anyway). I thought there was some mystical formula for ending a story that the professors were holding hostage. I was waiting for someone to tell me what to do. No one explained that you finish a story by…well…finishing it. Don’t let it linger. Sit down and get’r’done!

Now I realize that’s not great advice. So I’m going to tell you three things about endings that I wish I knew back then.

1. Wrap presents—not endings—with neat little bows.
   When in life is any solution so tidy? Crossing all your i’s and dotting all your t’s—strike that, reverse it—tends to feel unsatisfying because it’s too easy, too clean. It’s not honest. So be careful about making everything scream “happily ever after.” Leave a little opening for your readers to crawl through and explore what happens next. Let their imagination tie up the loose ends.
2.  The circular ending can be clever and fun.
   As you approach the conclusion of your story, re-read the beginning. Is there any way to echo the opening, to bring the characters back to where they started, but have them arrive as changed beings? They’ve taken an emotional journey and they’re not the same characters they were a few hundred words ago, so what about the beginning has changed at the end? In my picture book THE MONSTORE, one of the final lines is the same as the opening line, with just a few key word changes that make it totally different. And the reader can imagine another story jumping off from this old-but-new sentence.
3. The twist extends the story beyond the story.
   Bringing a twist to the end means you’re adding something unexpected that leaves room for more story to happen once the book is closed. Remember point #1 above? The twist tangles the loose ends. Think of CLICK, CLACK, MOO. Was the story over when the cows and chickens got their electric blankets? Nooooo. The clever duck never brought the typewriter back! And the flock demanded a diving board! Hilarious! So think about what little twist you can tack onto your story to give a final guffaw. A story that ends on a smile guarantees it will be read again and again.

Tara Lazar is a picture book author, mother, foodie and boogeyman assassin, currently booked at 3am nightly. She’s the creator of Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoidMo), the picture book writer’s alternative to NaNoWriMo, held every November on her blog at http://taralazar.wordpress.com. Her first two picture books, THE MONSTORE and I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK will be released by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster in 2013 and 2014. Follow her kidlit capers at http://twitter.com/taralazar.

Badge by Linda Silvestri

With just one day left before the 12 x 12 in 2012 challenge begins – 12 picture book drafts in 12 months – I want to share some additional information about how the challenge will work.

Sign-Up Deadline

First, you must sign up for the challenge by following the directions contained in this post NO LATER than midnight Mountain Time on January 29, 2012.  People who sign up on or before that date will be considered the official participants, and therefore eligible for all prizes and giveaways throughout the year.

That said, anyone is welcome to sign up after that date and join in the camaraderie via the blog, the Facebook group, etc.  But I want to make sure those that signed up from the beginning are the ones who will reap the greatest reward.  It would also be too big of an admin commitment for me to add and track participants all year. So if you are interested in joining and you haven’t already, MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP BY JANUARY 29th.

In addition to the Facebook group, don’t forget to tweet with the hashtag #12x to share with others!

First of the Month Posts

On the first of each month, I will feature a guest post by a published author or other industry professional with picture book writing tips and advice.  This author will be the “featured” author for the month.  Depending on the person’s availability, that might mean additional posts from them in the How I Got My Agent series, an interview with me, or other types of coverage on the blog.  I will also feature at least one of the author’s books on Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday series that month.  Likewise, I encourage all of you to support our featured authors by reading, sharing, and if possible, buying their books.

I’m asking each featured author to donate a prize that would in some way help improve our craft.  That might be a manuscript critique, a query critique, a marketing consult, a membership, a writing resource, etc.  In order to be eligible for the giveaway, you must: 1) Be an official participant (see above); and 2) Leave a comment on the first-of-the-month post any time during the month.  All official participants who leave a comment on the post will receive one point and be eligible for the giveaway regardless of whether they complete a full picture book draft that month.  However…

End of the Month Posts

We want to give participants who do complete a draft an extra chance to win.  So we’ll do check-ins on the last day of each month.  If you completed a draft, let us know in the comments.  This is on the honor system.  I will not ask to see or verify such drafts.  It’s your karma, not mine. 

If you completed a draft that month you get one extra point.  For those keeping track, that means all participants have the opportunity to earn a total of two points each month.  Don’t forget to leave a comment on the first of the month post though, as only those who comment on BOTH the first and the last will get two points.

Prize Drawings

I will draw a winner each month using Random.org. Because the first of the month post will feature our guest author/industry professional, prize winners will be announced on the 2nd of each month.

And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Our first featured author is…

You didn’t think I was really going to tell you did you?  Come back tomorrow!

There. Clear as night?  Great, now let’s get ready to WRITE!