Helloooo everybody! This is an exciting time because it’s not only check-in day, it’s also the last day of registration for the 2016 challenge. That means as of tomorrow, our community will be complete and we’ll get onto the business of getting to know one another even better and digging in for the remainder of 2016. If you have picture book author and/or illustrator friends you think would benefit from joining us, today is the day!
I am pleased to say I am 2 for 2 in the challenge so far! I actually wrote two new drafts this month, one that I will definitely keep working on and one that is already drawered. But the drawered one was a challenge to myself to write a super-short story that still had a story arc, and I did it! It weighed in at 24 words, and while it’s not a keeper, it was fun to write. I also did some revisions on a couple of other manuscripts. All this while attending SCBWI-NY and hosting our five-year anniversary party. Speaking of which, if you haven’t seen the video highlights from that night, you can click here and join the fun.
Onwards!
Now tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in February? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. This month’s winner will win a critique from February’s Featured Author Melanie Florence.
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 critique from Melanie Florence” at the top.
- Click on the “Comment on Melanie’s Blog Post” button. It will reveal the task, which is to comment on Melanie’s blog post. If you haven’t comment yet, you can click HERE and comment.
- Commenting on Melanie’s Featured Author post and clicking enter in the Rafflecopter will get you one entry in this month’s drawing whether you completed a draft or not. When you click ENTER on that option in Rafflecopter, the next two options will open up.
- Click on the “Wrote a PB Manuscript” button. This will ask if you completed a PB draft in February. If you did, click ENTER, if you did not, move on to the next step.
- Click on the last “Revised a PB Manuscript” button. This will ask if you revised a PB in February. If you did, click ENTER. If not, move on to the next step.
- That’s it! Rafflecopter will track your points.
We’ve created a quick video to walk you through your monthly check-in. You can view it in the Video Tutorial section of the forum HERE.
You have until midnight Eastern on March 1st to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and I’ll announce it on the blog on March 2nd.
Two months down, but it’s never too late to start! Turn those ideas in to drafts in March!
74 Responses
Thank you for explaining rafflecopter again in the e-mail. I am happy to say I am keeping up with the challenge so far.
Woohoo. Drafts and revisions complete for February. Now to get ready for March!
24 words?! That’s amazing. What an excellent exercise. I’m happy to say I completed 2 new drafts and several revisions this month. When the suns away…I write all day. Hope I can keep up the momentum as the weather gets better and lures me outside!
All you bears on this board wish for a disaster, the reality is much better, US consumer will figure out a way to make and spend moyae.Wnll St. will find another way to make money and you will try to convince old ladies to sell their homes and move to FL.
I thought that as a poet, I’d have an easier time shaving away at things, but it is hard. I want the narrative to remain. It is also hard for me to give up descriptive words, since I see the images as I write. But anyway. I worked very hard on revising a story called “Nanny Goat and the Purple Coat”, and then wrote several short stories that are far too long for PB, but I am enjoying writing them anyway.
I just joined yesterday but in this month of February I had already completed a draft and in January I had revised a draft of a PB that I wrote in November. I am very excited to get started and learn from everyone here!
So far I’m 2 for 2 for revisions. But no new drafts, which is unusual for me. Oh well, I am sure that it will come.
Hello! I’m ecstatic because the ideas have been coming and I have several drafts in different stages. I wrote one drafts in February but I plotted (without actually fleshing out) two additional story ideas. I did three revisions in all this month; two on the draft I wrote and one on something I wrote a long time ago but just recently dusted off again. 12×12 is a miracle worker!
I wrote a new draft and revised an older one. I,ve been busy.
One new MS written and two others revised. Has been a busy month. 🙂 Looking forward to starting #ReFoReMo tomorrow as well to help me with March’s goals. 🙂
Finished my draft this morning!
I am so happy that I joined again this year. I am 2 for 2 so far and have some great ideas I am looking forward to working on.
I hope I’m doing this right! I read Melanie’s post about darker picture books and commented. Loved it! We don’t hear enough about these important books!
I wrote my ms for February and worked on 2 revisions. The year is in high gear and I thank 12X12 for helping keep my BIC!
I’m digging up a few old manuscripts, dusting them off and completely revising. Shared one with my group this month & received good feedback. My agent’s submitting another new ms of mine this week. Fingers and toes crossed.
I did 2 drafts this month. getting lots of helpful feedback on 12×12!
Just finished revising my January draft. Still don’t like it. 🙁 But onward and upward! Revising is my middle name! (Well, not really, but it should be! 🙂 )
February was full; marching towards more in March.
I had to finish mine this morning, but I did it! This was a tough one, but I’m happy I’m in 12×12 to motivate me to work on something I would have otherwise abandoned.
Success for February!
I wrote a new draft this month and did major revisions on one manuscript! It’s been a productive month!
I revised my PB twice this month!
Congrats on the two new drafts! I’m 2 for 2 this year as well! Wahoo!
I can’t say I completed anything, but I did some serious work on a long picture book bio, so I feel it counts towards February progress! Also doing Reading for Research Month with many of you. Looking forward to the great webinars and enjoyed hearing from Andrea Loney, a super supportive and generous writer here in L.A.
New draft. One major revision. Yay!
Me parece bien…muy bien que hagan un pelicula porque los ex8moñaras&#t230;pero mejor seria que hagan una nueva serie siguiendo la secuencia con las edades que tienen a la fecha …. me divierto mucho con Friends ¡¡¡¡¡¡
Thank goodness for an extra day this month!! Just wrote my PB draft today, and revised another earlier this month. Whew. That was a close one. LOL
I completed a revision for an earlier in the month draft and revised an older draft for a PB writing contest.
Wish me luck! This group keeps me going!
I revised a rather stilted tale into a more slapstick picture book version 🙂 – with inspiration from Laurel and Hardy 🙂
I wrote 2 new manuscripts and revised two past manuscripts.
A new draft and a revision. Thankful for 12×12 and ready for March!
I did not do as well as I’d hoped this month… once again it was taken up with more tests and Drs appointments! I had one scheduled for this afternoon but canceled it… It’s 50 and sunny and I need some outside time for myself.
I revised 3 picture books and added 2 new rough drafts thanks to PiBoIdMo. I’m not sure how this coming month will go as I’m also doing ChaBooCha as well as ReFoReMo, which is something new for me… and of course 12 x 12!
Congrats on everyone’s drafts! Rewrote January’s draft and wrote a new first draft this month. Workshopping with my SCBWI critique group. Woot woot!
Well, I revised two manuscripts but no new writing this month. I hope to make up for it with two new manuscripts in March. In fact, it’s on my to-do list and I have time already planned out for accomplishing this.
So happy to be a new member to 12 x 12! I completed two new picture book manuscripts (one for January and one for February!) and revised one. Thanks for a great challenge and so happy to be a part of this supportive group!
Loving my draft for this month. Hope someone else will too.
A bunch of revisions–no new drafts, but that will happen. A good month for me! So glad I rejoined.
My February draft may end up in the back of the drawer, but at least I stuck with it. I always learn something from every writing attempt. Also, was able to work on some revisions during February.
Thankful for these check in points! Happy writing authors!
Loving being being part of community.
I will right away seize your rss feed as I can’t find your email suibrcsption link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Got a new draft done *today* (whew and woo hoo!), and I think I worked on revisions on three different manuscripts over the course of the month. Glad for the push via 12×12 to make sure I got a new draft written this month!
Am working on a draft but it’s not finished yet. I’ll be counting it in March!!! So glad to be back! Better late than never!!
Thank you so much dear Patty. And I love that you will share these with your dear husband on your special day coming up soon! Hubby and I went away for a few days and are now back and redhfsree. So that is the reason for the delay here. Hugs! Gina
I finished my ms early so I would have time to gear up for ReFoReMo and continue with my 1000 books in 2016 plus a couple other items…I had more time on my hands than I thought so I revised two manuscripts! Not sub worthy but closer!
Hooray – I wrote and revised! Thanks for the encouragement.
Julie, it’s good to know one may consider a story “not a keeper” but still enjoy and learn from the experience of writing it. I’m sure many of my first PB stories will fall into that category! But I’m excited to have both a revised draft (from January) and a new draft completed in February. And I completed a poem for the ICL Poetry Contest this month too! Thanks to 12×12 for giving me the momentum!
Linda
You had a busy month!
I wrote one new draft and revised six oldies. We started critiquing in our new 12×12 critique group this month, too, so that was fun.
Hvilken glimrende idé Ã¥ lage godteri til fuglene i stedet, sÃ¥ kan du heller ta dem frem senere for Ã¥ lage créme brulee nÃ¥r du fÃ¥r lyst pÃ¥ noe søtt!Det siste bildet er prtafkullt 🙂
I’m also 2 for 2 this year! It’s a great start! 🙂 On to March!
I agree, Heather. Got the idea early but scrambled for the deadline to get it written this month! Revisions underway though, and some progress on an MG in process. Glad for the group to keep me on track!
Just joined today – nervous and excited about the 12 x 12 challenge.
Better late than never…. 2016 is my time to get started!
if youve ever smoke be4 u will remeber the smell and also idk about the seeds because my dealer doesnt place any seeds in mine just a couple stems ocloaianscy but that might be cuz i bought from him for a long time
newbie here! super psyched to be part of the tribe! 🙂 Thanks!!!
Another ms draft this month! 2-for-2! HowEVER… I have yet to post a ms for comments, which I must DO for March. I want help, but I can truly see how the idea of earning a “Bravery” badge occurred! AH!
I completed a draft and revised another story in February!
completed a draft!
This is my first check-in! I revised a PB manuscript. Looking forward to March.
I did some “good” writing this month but also questioned this dream a lot. However, I’m not ready to give up yet!
A very rough draft with two others in the wings. Loads of revision work. And a NEW critique group to help as I revise. Feeling happy & inspired!
I wrote a PB holiday draft this month and revised January’s draft. I’ll be doing much more revision on both. I also have a good ideas for another PB to work on in March and a synopsis for an MG book. I have company coming though so that may slow me down considerably.
Although the manuscript I wrote this month needs more work, I discovered that a contest deadline served to motivate me towards completing a solid draft. Think I’ll keep my eye out for more contests.
I wrote a first draft, started an outline for another PB idea and wrote a free verse poem for a friend.
It was down to the wire, but I got the February draft done. Another draft that I started in early February just wasn’t going anywhere–maybe I can hammer it out in March. Love the external motivation! Also did some revising on WIPs.
I was able to write 2 manuscripts this month (mss that I’m actually proud of!) and revise quite a bunch, too. Fellow members in the Full Manuscript Forum were a HUGE help!! Oodles of gratitude!!
A breakthrough moment for me this month was trying my hand at illustrating one of my pieces for the first time ever. It was very liberating, because I always visualize everything I write so clearly but am too afraid of actually drawing what I imagine. I ended up having a ball with it!
THANKS 12×12 !!!
Good month! Revised PB rhyming story with the help of a published author’s great critique. Worked additionally on a PB in the making. 12×12 is a great program to help pushing me forward!
Many thanks!
2 for 2 so far!
I completed a manuscript draft and received a lot of great feedback from people on the forum. I’m planning to use February’s draft to revise and get it to a publishable state. I think it is my favorite one so far!
I almost didn’t make it this month! I’m so glad I signed to 12×12 because otherwise nothing would have driven me to do this!
I, too, was completely driven by 12×12 this month! Thank you for the motivation and support! Looking forward to becoming involved in the months to follow.
Keep up the pressure and the support. We will all sucred?
Too quick with the finger – “We will all succeed! “
This was my first month of 12×12… I joined on Jan 31. I had a great idea for a book, and started writing, but some things came up and I didn’t get to finish. I am looking forward to getting back on track for March.
Second one down! Just 10 more to go!!! 🙂