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12 x 12 February 2019 Check-In!

I am in no small amount of shock that February is over already. I know it’s a short month, but still! Gah! Time goes too fast.

Anyway, I did a LOT of revising and researching this month, but no new draft. Nonetheless, I’m happy. I’ve gotten a good start on a new PB bio, and it’s at the shiny ball phase where everything is fun. 😉

Now, how about you?

Tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in February? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. Our February Featured Author Vivian Kirkfield is giving away a picture book manuscript critique!

What a wonderful prize! Thanks, Vivian!

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 “Critique from Vivian Kirkfield” at the top.
  2. Click on the “Comment on Vivian’s post” button. Commenting on Vivian’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 February. 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 February. 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 March 4th to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and it will be announced on the blog on March 5th.

(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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42 Responses

  1. LOL on the toilet paper analogy. It’s a good thing my cats aren’t into unrolling the rolls, or I’d have no time at all.
    Have been building muscles every few days clearing annoying 3 to 4 inch snow/ice storms, but also had time for both a revision and a new draft–thanks to deadlines for a local editor event next week, and to a title idea from Storystorm that wouldn’t leave me alone.

  2. I did write 2 new manuscripts and I have been working on these 2 for now. My first one, Luka vs the Giant, is resting for now. I will be looking at it in about 10 more days, so I can have fresh eyes, I hope.

  3. February always flies but it just means Spring is around the corner! I’m happy to have completed a major, MAJOR revision on a draft and to have started another one I’m liking. Back to work while it’s still raining!

  4. February is always a difficult month for me. I was able to write three drafts, but need to get back to some illustrations to compliment the writing. Look forward to seeing what takes shape!

  5. I wrote 3 manuscripts this month! I’m brand new to the industry but everyone has already been helpful, and I’m trying to learn as fast as I can. Once I’ve done some more research and reading, I’ll start sending out query letters.

  6. This month was quite as far as writing went. Still trying to get my strength back from my surgery. My son flew home from Seattle and the snow storm which had delayed his flight twice followed him. I could have done without the snow!

    I wrote 2 drafts and revised one of my historical manuscripts along with a query letter which I plan to submit to the March12 x 12 agent.

  7. I hate that this sweet and short month is gone, but I did revise and work on illustrations! All is good 🙂

  8. Yes, the year is flying. How did it get to be the end of February already?
    I wrote a new draft this month but won’t be entering to win a critique from Vivian because she is in my critique group. But I can tell you this, whoever wins is one lucky person because Vivian’s critiques are wonderful.

  9. Dug out an idea from PiBoIdMo 2015 and wrote the story that had been rolling around in my mind since I came up with the idea. Ahhhh. Just a draft, but such a good feeling! Revised 3 other manuscripts. A productive month overall for me. 🙂

  10. I wrote a new draft and also worked on a revision. My head is spinning with ideas, so it has been a great month!

  11. Man ALIVE, what a month. 5, count them 5 new manuscripts written! I worked away at some old ones too, just for fun and feel really good about where things are heading. What a great writing month. Plus, I finally got a dedicated writing space in my house, not the kitchen island! SO that’s a big win.

  12. Dear Vivian,
    Thank you for sharing your inspiring and courageous story, and for offering guidance! “Infinite patience” will be my mantra! Congratulations and best of luck with your next projects.

  13. February has ended on a bit of a high for me. I really struggled in January to do a first draft and was struggling with revisions on two previous stories where I wasn’t happy with either of them – and I thought I was losing my mojo. But then, while really struggling on my February first draft, I had a “what if” moment, which resulted in a new direction and a story that almost wrote itself! And then, following a 12×12 critique of one of the stories I’ve been struggling with, it helped me get more focus on the plot and boom, the revision started to flow! Am so grateful to the 12×12 community for keeping me focused and helping to inspire me! Keep on rolling …

    1. I queried, revised and wrote a draft in February. Hoping to keep the momentum going! Great prize from Vivian this month too!

  14. I wrote a draft based on a Storystorm idea, and then revised the same manuscript later in the month. Getting ready to post it for critique while I work on another. I signed up late so I have to catch up on January, too.

  15. I love reading your posts, Vivian, and I especially love PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE! Thanks for sharing your experiences and encouraging words with us 🙂

  16. February flew by, as always. Hard to believe spring is here, much its much anticipated, for me at least!
    I love spring! New beginnings. <3

    I wrote a new draft for 12×12, but completed many other revisions including novel edits for my agent, and picture books for my Hollins thesis, which I'll be plugging away on until May 8th when the hammer drops and my time is up!

    Happy spring, all!

  17. The winds of creativity are blustery this month! Many VERY EARLY mornings (3:00 sometimes), I woke up with words dancing in my mind. (Sugarplums would’ve been yummy, but new PB ideas have less calories!) One morning, I remembered a story that my mom told me about some kids called her names and threw rocks at her on her way home because her mom “couldn’t speak English very well” and “talked funny” and “came from another country.” Even though my posted February draft and later revision came from a lullaby that I wrote for my now 27-year-old son, my March draft and (with blood, sweat and tears) my revisions, will be a PB based on my mom’s true story. Even though I work and play in the world of words, there are no perfect words to capture the GRATITUDE I feel being a participant in 12 x 12. I’m learning SO MUCH and am growing my writing career with hope and fun! I LOVE Tara Lazar’s mantra: “Write with JOY!” Thank you, @Julie Hedlund and “elves” for your support, honesty, and hard work!

  18. Hanging in and finding my way:) This month- completed my second PB draft, entered the Valentine Contest, and submitted a story to a children’s magazine. Thanks for the encouragement from all the posts.

  19. I wrote a new draft that I’m quite excited about, and even did a couple sketches for! I also revised two drafts. Ta daaa! Good month.

  20. Just getting started on 12 X 12 website and learning to navigate it. I did not write a new draft but have revised a couple of them.

  21. I mostly critiqued others’ work, though I did write and rewrite one story and posted both this month. I came up with a few more ideas that need developing.

  22. In all fairness, February IS a short month. I just joined on February 28th so I did not manage to write a manuscript. I took an intro to picture book writing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and have struggled to find fellow PB groups that meet regularly or aren’t swamped with life. So here I am. I was listening to Picturebooking podcast and an ad for 12×12 came on and I thought, ooh I can do this. I DO have two rough manuscripts in the works, and I expect March will light a little fire under my backside so I can catch up with the herd. I am looking forward to meeting and working with everyone.

  23. I have been following Vivian’s career since I joined 12×12. She is thoughtful, kind and gifted. I hope to
    get a critique with her so I can polish up a story that I’ve been working on for more years than I care to mention. “Infinite patience will be my new mantra.” Thank Vivian for the example you set.

  24. February did go by so fast! I wasn’t able to complete an art challenge I had set for myself, but I was able to revise a manuscript and write a new one so I am counting February as a win.

  25. I wrote a draft of a picture book idea that I’ve been wanting to write for years! So exciting to finally write it. I worked on revising the one I wrote last month. Yay!

  26. February was less productive than January for me, but I wrote a draft on a difficult subject and struggled with how to make it age-appropriate and not too moralistic or teachy. A good challenge.

  27. I started a draft this month with a shiny new idea that I am still in love with and also worked on polishing a different draft from last year!

  28. I wrote a brand new picture book draft and revised my January creation. This is my first year as a 12 x 12 member and I love the motivation. Thank you all for all of it! Can’t wait to write another draft in March!

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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).