April was good to me. I wrote a new draft AND revised a draft. I sit in the parlor in the master bedroom of my home away from home in Scotland as I write this. Plenty of inspiration here, and since I have five more days before I fly home, I plan to write my May draft and do a revision while I’m here.
Your turn!
Tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in April? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. Our prize comes from this month’s Featured Author Heather Preusser. You could win a signed copy of Heather’s debut picture book, A Symphony of Cowbells!
Here is what you need to do to check in for a chance to win:
- See the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post that says “A Signed Copy of A SYMPHONY OF COWBELLS“ at the top.
- Click on the “Comment on Heather’s post” button. Commenting on Heather’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.
- Click on the “Wrote a PB Draft” button. This will ask if you completed a PB draft in April. If you did, click ENTER, if not, move on to the next step.
- Click on the last “Revised a PB Draft” button. This will ask if you revised a PB in April. If you did, click ENTER. If not, move on to the next step.
- That’s it! Rafflecopter will track your points.
You have until midnight Eastern on May 2nd to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and it will be announced on the blog on May 3rd.
(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.)
36 Responses
The more I read about various writers’ retreats, the more I want to “escape” too! Especially to magical places like Scotland, Ireland (home), the mountains and the beach. Alas, my humble local park with a lake view may just have to do 🙂
It’s not where you write. It’s what you write and how you write that matters. Your imagination can also take you anywhere in the world.
Enjoy your vacation. Julie:) I’ve written a draft for April and worked on two revisions. I can’t believe April is leaving us already!
Even though I am slowly getting over my walking pneumonia, and am still taking my “rat poison” for a blood clot in my left leg and 2 new meds for my rapid heart rate and low blood pressure I did manage to add a new PB to my list as well as revise another one of my Storystorm / PiBoIdMo manuscripts. I really wanted to do more, but time seemed to get away from me
Sharon, the fact you were able to accomplish that while mending is marvelous! 🙂
Hope you get better soon Sharon! Congrats on getting a manuscript written and another one revised.
Oh Scotland! How wonderful, Julie ! Glasgow is the home of my grandmother and I have always wanted to go there! One day I’ll take my 4 kids on a hunt for our family history ?
Despite enjoying the big slowdown commonly known as Spring Break, April was a productive month for me. I wrote two new drafts and posted one of them on the 12×12 for feedback. I revised 4 manuscripts and submitted twice. On an organizational level, I signed up for the Picture Book Blueprint (but haven’t used it yet), I read every archived PiBoIdMo guest post from 2012, and have created an excel spreadsheet to track and develop my ideas.
Oh, and this month I discovered “You Belong Here” by M.H. Clark, which is now my absolute all-time favorite picture book. It is absolutely a timeless classic in the making. I’ve purchased 10 copies to give to friends and family! Obviously, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Scotland! I am sure you are surrounded by awesome story possibilities. Have fun.
Lucky you to be hanging out in Scotland and writing! Sounds lovely. 🙂 I was able to revise an old manuscript and write a new one this month (for the first time). So glad I found 12 x 12!!
Have fun at your retreat, Julie!
I completed a draft and a revision, though they are both VERY FAR from being actually “completed.” It feels so good to hit that check button and know that I did something–even if it was just a little–to get closer to that goal. One fun thing that is happening is that I am acquiring so many fun characters that I enjoy spending time with. 12×12 is awesome, I’m so glad I found this place!
Made a draft early this month! Been revising two drafts while pulling out my hair in frustration. Productive month!
Scotland and Ireland are two places I’d love to visit –see where my ancestors came from. I know you’re loving it! Enjoy!
Another rough month for me: my best friend died about six weeks after her major surgery for cancer. I miss her every day. And today is my mom’s birthday — she died in March. I still can’t believe they’re both gone.
But I did write a new story — Goldie Locks and the Three Pigs (and posted it… maybe too soon… on the forum), and I revised (again) my story about the Martians/Martins.
Pam, I am so sorry for your loss. It always hurts so much when you lose people that you love. You’ll be in my thoughts.
Scotland sounds wonderful. I’ve wanted to go for a few years, as my grandmother was a Scot. This has been a very busy month. I just finished a month long writing course, went to a Molly Idle illustrators workshop yesterday, and had written a PB draft, which I lost, and had to re-write it from memory yesterday during breaks. Does that count as a revision? It turned out a bit differently (fried memory), especially the title and ending. I’m amazed at what I completed, but I just want to know how I ever graduated from college.
This month was really productive. I write 1.5 new drafts (hoping to make it to 2 before the end of the month!) and posted one of them in the full manuscripts forum for the first time! Submitted a draft for a critique at an SCBWI conference, waiting to hear back on another draft from another SCBWI conference. And signed up for another professional critique in May.
I also started tracking publishers in a Google doc and copying and pasting lines and descriptions I love from all the picture books I read. Feel like there’s a long way to go for me, but I’m excited and hopeful about the future!
April was very energizing for me, with some important submission-activity and revisions. I’m excited to see what May brings, in terms of new writing, new relationships, and continued growth with my critique partners. I can’t wait to share further good news with my 12×12 pals!
Hi Julie, I worked very hard this month revising and editing, I hope you have a wonderful trip, I bet your dog (Rocky?) is home switching channels and raiding the fridge. Have fun, He’ll clean up before you home.
Joan Sloane
I completed my draft, and revised it, did revisions on other WIP MS and dummies from prior months. I also did my agent submission. Hey I looked back in my monthly folders I now keep and had 2 Jan drafts, plus one each month. So that’s 5 in 4 months. Feeling happy about this. I think I deserve a trip to Scotland. Maybe after I sell a book.
Oh, I also started studying picture books intensively again – this time from the reading list in Laura Backes PB Blueprint. Thank you so much for getting them on the webinar and our big discount. I am expecting a very busy summer, for sure.
Scotland. Nice ? There’sa water slide down a mountain that I’d love to ride there.
In April: I’ve been reading PBs. Critiquing partners’ mss and getting mine critiqued.
I’ve completed a draft. Started another two. And have been revising other mss.
Working through PB Blueprint. Learning and learning. And loving this journey.
I love Scotland! The atmosphere of so many stories.
How wonderful to be in Scotland! Envious! 🙂 Enjoy.
As April turns to May– taking stock. Have two revised MSS, one on query to an agent. (The other has earned three rejections so far.) Have two drafted MSS, much to revise in each–my work cut out for May. And maybe something new approaching in the wings? Experimenting with NaWriPicBook Week–or whatever it’s called— though such speed and multiplicity are definitely not my style!
Way to go Julie Hedlund! Your writing retreat sounds lovely and productive. Have fun with your May draft(s) and revisions.
I somehow managed to write 4 new drafts while revising and working on a pitch for another. 12×12 is a great means of inspiration and motivation!
12×12 has been good to me. 🙂 I wrote a new draft and revised one.
I’m loving your photos and stories from Scotland! One of these days!
Congrats, Julie! Jane Yolen’s Scotland writing retreat! Oh my gosh! I got to chat with her one-on-one at the NESCBWI conference – she is totally inspiring!
And I’m so glad you are getting time to write.
At the conference, I participated in Harold Underdown’s revision workshop…so I definitely revised this month…and also wrote a slip sloppy rough draft of a fiction pb…we’ll see if I can move forward on that one…or if I get sidetracked by another nonfiction idea.
I love 12×12! I has made me a better writer and critiquer! Thank you!
Enjoy Scotland, Julie, and I hope the writing muses pay many a visit!
Scotland?????? What a treat! I would definitely find my eyes and ears straining to see and hear the world around me. Writing would be a plus. Enjoy your time.
April was a busy but productive month!
I wrote a new draft and made minor revisions to two other manuscripts in April.
Have a great vacation, Julie!
Linda
A writer’s retreat sounds wonderful! I found great online instruction and inspiration this month. I have enjoyed revising manuscripts and seeing them improve. I tried something new this month and wrote a draft for a concept book. On a short trip, I discovered an idea for a new manuscript. I am now busy with research.
Scotland! Wish I were there with you Julie. And I happen to be researching a Scottish person for a picture book biography so would love to see the country!
I wrote one manuscript. I tried my hand at a script with a more involved plot. Typically I like to write in rhyme, so this saw my first stretch as an author. I look forward to experimenting more and more.
April was good! I wrote two manuscripts, revised one, and started writing another one.