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12 x 12 March 2018 Check-In Post!

Wow! First quarter of 12 x 12 done and dusted. How are you doing? I must report that once again, I did not write a new draft. HOWEVER, I started one that I know I’ll go back to. I’ve been way into the revision weeds this month, and that actually feels good. I need to get a few things polished up and ready to go to my agent before I have the space to take on the new and shiny ideas. I think April will be that month (she says, full of optimism). 😉

A quick reminder about these check-in posts. You do NOT need to post or share your manuscript anywhere in order to get points. You can enter the Rafflecopter (below) for a chance to win this month’s prize from Laura Clement and you can request badges in the Forum. But I repeat, you do NOT need to email me or Kelli or anyone. This is your challenge and it’s on the honor system. We trust you, and we promise there are no 12 x 12 police. 🙂

Now it’s your turn!

Tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in March? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. Our prize comes from this month’s Featured Author Laura Clement. Laura is giving away a copy of her book EGG and a direct submission opportunity with her publisher, Clear Fork Publishing. This is a drawing not to be missed!

Here is what you need to do to check in for a chance to win:

  1. See the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post that says “A copy of EGG at the top.
  2. Click on the “Comment on Laura’s post” button. Commenting on Laura’s post is mandatory for this giveaway and you can enter the Rafflecopter even if you didn’t write a draft this month. You can comment on the post here.  Click ENTER.
  3. Click on the “Wrote a PB Draft” button. This will ask if you completed a PB draft in March. If you did, click ENTER, if not, move on to the next step.
  4. Click on the last “Revised a PB Draft” button. This will ask if you revised a PB in March. If you did, click ENTER. If not, move on to the next step.
  5. That’s it! Rafflecopter will track your points.

You have until midnight Eastern on April 2nd to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and it will be announced on the blog on April 3rd.

You do not need to post your manuscript and/or revisions on the forum for them to count. If you wrote or revised a manuscript in March, even if it’s just on your computer where no one can see it, then enter the Rafflecopter below.

(Remember, monthly draft and revision badges are awarded separately from your Rafflecopter entry. Watch this handy tutorial to find out how to get your badges. CLICK HERE.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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40 Responses

  1. I finished Feb’s draft this month, and started a new one. As for revision, I think that’s my middle name, and what I do most days.

  2. I wrote a new story for Vivian’s 50 Precious Words contest. Shortest story I’ve ever written! But I suspect it will be growing in words next month 🙂 And I revised a manuscript for the SCBWI WIP opportunity.

  3. I wrote a new PB draft even though I was away from my desk caring for an elderly relative post-surgery. I’m sort of astonished that I got it done. Sheesh.

  4. This month flew by!

    I revised a few manuscripts, wrote a new draft, and started on the seed of a new idea that I’m going to complete as my draft for April!

    I also preparing for the nescbwi Spring Conference, revising my verse novel and writing critical papers for a Hollins University class.

    Onto April! YAY Spring! (Maybe the Maine snow will melt this month.)

  5. Wrote and revised a manuscript in March – thanks for the friendly nudges from this group 🙂

  6. I drafted a new rhyming PB and got feedback that the meter was “pretty much impeccable”. I have a ways to go with plot, but the feedback made me SO happy!

  7. I finished a rough draft of the 9th story for the complilation book I’m doing…so YAY! LOTS of revision during the month as well. Now to turn my attention to revising the new one and giving it to critique buddies for their thoughts.

  8. I worked diligently on getting a manuscript ready for one of the editors or agents the Picture Book Summit who offered to accept submissions. This is work and I can find myself procrastinating.

  9. I churned out a raft of ideas this month, wrote a supremely terrible and incomplete first draft of a book that’s been on my mind for months, and revised a couple of other manuscripts. The best thing I did this month was take a weekend workshop with Bob Staake, who is a wildly energetic writer and illustrator. He encouraged me to let go of the preciousness, get the thing down and see what happens next. Still thinking about all he showed us. April awaits us all!

  10. Wow-that month was fast. Luckily I started off like a lion and did draft and some revision in the first week because since then life has kept me from writerly endeavors.

  11. I revised a ms, submitted a ms to a TwitterPitch request and have half a draft done for another. Still getting the hang of 12×12, but it’s keeping me focused…sort of. 🙂

  12. I wrote a manuscript draft and revised a few. I created a picture book dummy for a story I was working on. Finished a book on writing and got deeper into another. Joined Laura Backes’ Picture Book Blueprint and watched several of the webinars. I completed Anastasia Suen’s Intensive Picture Book Workshop.. I am pumped and ready to rock into next month.

  13. I wrote a new draft of a new PB. It is very rough, but it does have a beginning, middle, and end.

  14. I was very prolific this month! I completed four rough draft PB manuscripts. I revised several manuscripts and made submissions. Now, to revise my March PBs and get some of my ideas into drafts for April.

  15. Busy month with REFOREMO review of about 50 picture books. Completed a very rough draft of a new PB and revised an existing one. Happy Spring everyone!

  16. I’m revising a story that I wrote in February. Still a long way to go, but it feels good to be working on a new manuscript.

  17. I absolutely would *not* have any of the drafts, accountability, or progress I’ve made in 2018 without 12×12. This group is absolutely invaluable. Thank you for creating this space!

  18. I wrote a new story in March and worked on several others. I’ve gotten some wonderfully helpful feedback from my fellow 12x12ers. Thanks!

  19. I started at least three new books and finished one – plus a revision.
    Looking for a critique group!
    Thank you for the info, Tara.

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Interested in Joining the 12x12 Challenge?

Financial Need Scholarship Guidelines

All applications will be accepted via email only between November 1, 2023 – November 30, 2023 at kelli@juliehedlund.com.

Subject line of the email:

  1. 12 x 12 Financial Need Scholarship
 

Please include the following in the body of the email:

  1. An autobiographical statement and career summary in 250 words or fewer.
  2. A short statement describing the nature of the financial need/circumstances in 250 words or fewer.
  3. A sample query letter for the manuscript you are submitting with your application.
  4. Pitches for two additional completed picture books.
 

 Attached to the email:

  1.  The full text of one picture book manuscript, attached as a Word document named as FIN_YourFirstName_YourLastName_Title_of_Manuscript.doc (or docx).