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12 x 12 Check-In September 2017

Wow, we are turning into the 4th quarter of 2017. September is never a favorite month of mine, and this one was no different. BUT, I did write a new draft! It’s terrible, but I think it has promise. I’m spending some time thinking about what I want to accomplish with my writing before the door closes on 2017. If you are inclined or inspired to do the same, let us know in the comments.

I want to have a solid proposal for my PB bio completed by the middle of November, and one more fiction PB at close to submission-ready. That’s ambitious given the holidays, parenting, etc., but that is what I am striving for.

Your turn!

Tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in September? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. Our prize comes from this month’s Featured Author Anna Forrester. One lucky winner will get their choice of the critique from Anna or a hardcover copy of Bat Count!

Bat Count by Anna Forrester

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 “Your Choice of a critique or copy of BAT COUNT at the top.
  2. Click on the “Comment on Anna’s post” button. Commenting on Anna’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 September. 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 September. 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 October 2nd to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and it will be announced on the blog on October 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.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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25 Responses

  1. I wrote a draft for September and revised. September is always daunting for me. The days seem to fly, and before I know it, the New year is here! I’m working to write a story that will find a home in an agent’s eye. I’m thankful for the 12×12 community and the daily inspiration I find here. Wishing everyone a beautiful fall 🙂

  2. I finally got around to revising a draft that had been put away for a few months. Felt good to get back to writing and revising.

  3. September has been a very productive and busy month for me. I revised a manuscript, and also wrote a new draft. I sent some submissions out. I participated in Smart Dummies, and completed my dummy. I also took a class offered by art director Giuseppe Castellano where we worked on a fun illustration assignment. I managed all of this even though I was out of commission for a week this month due to a family reunion trip that had been on my calendar for awhile. Of course, in order to meet some of the deadlines I let some of the household chores slip…but it was definitely worth it. I am so happy with all I was able to accomplish! Wishing everyone a happy and productive month too. 🙂

  4. September was productive for me. I attended a PB writer’s retreat in Nova Scotia and wrote two new stories.
    I’m revising them now but I guess I got my October picture book manuscript draft done too.
    2 more to go!!
    My April manuscript was a board book and it was accepted by a Canadian publisher. I received an advanced reading copy already.
    It will be released in February 2018!
    Thank you 12 x 12 for keeping me on track!
    I don’t know what I did before you came along.

  5. September = back to work = so tired = falling asleep early = little writing done at night. Fortunately, I have been doing some writing during my daughter’s lessons on the weekends. Happy to report that I did my September draft! Now to do more revising…

  6. I have been busy researching publishers and writing cover letters to send my 3 complete manuscripts out.
    This as I am sure you all know, is a busy and complicated process! I am also working on a website as well which, besides teaching, has been keeping me busy.

    I continue to write and I am always working on more than one manuscript. I have at least five others on the go. It takes me a long time!

    My stories are in my head always and even while out in the forest, I write (notes on my phone)..a sentence, a word, a phrase or an idea!

  7. It doesn’t seem possible that today is the first day of October… before you know it, it will be Christmas.

    This has been another busy month for me… not so much writing but revising, although I did write a new PB which will hopefully be revised this coming month.

    I also revised and submitted one of my older PB manuscripts and sent it to the 12 x 12 September Agent and finished the revisions on one of my chapter books as part of Becky Fyfe’s ChaBooCha Lite.

    If nothing happens medically (I only have two appointments in October) I plan to go over my PB and Chapter Book manuscripts and submit them within the next few weeks.

  8. I continue to revise old drafts, and I did write a new one. Also, I am taking an illustrating course to improve my art.

  9. Every time I write a new manuscript, I realize how unfinished/unpolished/un-amazing my previous work is! I’m chugging along until I feel confident and in love with “three polished works”, and then will start submitting for real. My goal is to have at least one of those works by the end of 12×12 2017 ; )

  10. Sigh. This is the second month in a row that I haven’t written a new draft or even revised one. I had good intentions, but I’ve been busy enjoying summer activities while the warm weather lasts. My goal is to get back to writing as the days turn colder. And Anna reminded me in her post that I can turn my experiences into stories!

  11. Well Sept was a stressful month for me with the loss of my beloved dog, thirteen year old Sassy and traveling to visit the grand children. But I did manage to revise an old manuscript I refuse to give up on. It seems I jump around a lot with manuscripts, and I can’t come with a new idea until at least one is finished. A few people have told me write about Sassy and maybe that will be the new one.

  12. I’ve been in a bit of writer’s slump lately. My non-fiction writing for kidlit magazines resumed and that comes soooo easily to me. But I love the fiction writing more, yet some days–even weeks–it’s a struggle. I get down on myself when I don’t produce, but eventually I find myself back at the 12 x 12 boards, reading all the amazing stories people have written. Thank you, 12 x 12 community for your constant support & inspiration!

  13. I got married in September 🙂 And I read books, revised my own work, and critiqued my two critique groups’ manuscripts. No new draft for September, but I’m harvesting new ideas now in October. Forever forward.

  14. I wrote my first draft for my NF manuscript, revised a PB manuscript and got tons of critique experience at the SCBWI Dakotas conference! Great month!

  15. I did my first revision for 12 x12. I also illustrated something new for my website landing page and wrote a few paragraphs on my blog about it. Even submitted my first piece of artwork to an art museum! Also went vegetarian-feeling great!

  16. Pretty productive month, even with an old computer that keeps acting up. I’ll be posting a couple of stories soon (maybe one this week if all goes right).

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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).