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12 x 12 January 2020 Check-In!

Wow! Can you believe we’ve made it all the way through the first month of 12 x 12 and to the first check-in? And what a month it’s been! More than 1000 of you have joined the challenge this year, two of our members won major ALA awards, and we had that epic webinar with Mac Barnett. I’m feeling good about how 2020 has started!

But of course, the check-in is about whether you wrote a draft and/or completed a revision. I am pleased to report that I did both this month! Plus, the new draft I wrote was one that has been on my list for years, but I could never find a way in to the story. It is the draftiest of new drafts, but I’m excited to finally have something on paper that I can work with.

Now, what about you?

Tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in January? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. January Featured Author Shannon Stocker is offering a signed copy of her book CAN U SAVE THE DAY?

Can U Save the Day by Shannon Stocker

Thank you, Shannon, for this great prize!

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 CAN U SAVE THE DAY?” at the top.
  2. Click on the “Comment on Shannon’s post” button. Commenting on Shannon’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 January. If you did, click ENTER, if not, click cancel and 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 January. If you did, click ENTER. If not, click cancel and move on to the next step.
  5. That’s it! Rafflecopter will track your points.

You have until midnight Eastern on February 5th to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and it will be announced on the blog on February 6th.

Remember, badges are not awarded automatically and must requested in the forum. Click here to request your January badge.

Good luck! Now go write your February draft!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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107 Responses

  1. I would be thrilled to win Shannon’s book! I wrote a new draft this month and while it needs a lot of revision, I am just happy to have something on paper.

  2. It’s great to see so many new picture book writers. I don’t know how we’ve gotten to February. I did get a new story and revision done.

  3. Woo hoo, chuffed to have done a first draft and revised a couple of manuscripts too. The draft only arrived after much kicking and screaming – after a speedy start, it became a bit like pulling teeth, but we got there in the end! One down, eleven to go!

  4. This is my first time commenting in 12 x 12 January 2020 Check-In. This community is great! It’s just the motivation you need to carry on writing 🙂

  5. I’m so glad to be a part of the 12×12 community! So far, the forums have been great for helping me through revisions. I have 4 new drafts this month thanks to storystorm inspration, so I’m sure I’ll be using the forums for help in revising those in the coming months. Thank you 12×12! (Oh yeah, and the webinar too! So great!)

  6. This is the best month I have had in a looonnnnggg time. Here’s hoping 2020 continues on this upwards trajectory.
    Congrats to the ALA winners and best of luck to everyone in the new year!

  7. Yay! Hard to believe we’re already a month into 2020. The family was bogged down with RSV, so I’m insanely impressed with myself that I finished a first draft! As we are on the mend, I hope for more in February! Keep up the great work, 12×12 community!!

  8. This is my first year doing 12×12 and I AM LOVING IT!v I wrote a Jan. draft and have revised 3 times! GO ME! BUT, I cannot find the “wrote a draft” nor the “revised a draft” button that I need to click on…. I already have the badges so perhaps this is why? I appreciate any help as I’m so new at this…

  9. I’m excited to be in 12×12 2020! I had a rough 2019, but I’m moving forward. I didn’t write a new draft, but I revised 2 mss! Feeling positivity 🙂

  10. Hi Julie and Kelli,
    Yes I completed a revision and a new draft this month.
    Yes I commented on Shannon’s new book – she’s so funny, I’d love to read it!
    Thanks for all you do!
    Nicole

  11. Really happy with the progress I’ve made this first month of 12×12. I revised two old pb manuscripts and completed a first draft of a new pb and started a second. Thanks for the motivation 12×12!

  12. Done! This is the last time I’ll say it (at least until the next time) but I’m so happy to be back in 12×12!

  13. I have done two revisions and one new draft this January 2020, but am far, far, far from being finished with those. 12X12 is just the commitment I needed and a lot less exhausting than the gym (even though I do go)!

  14. Off to a great start this year even though I left it to the last minute to join 12×12. Feeling inspired and very happy to be part of this adventure. Completed one draft and two revisions. Done!

  15. My year is off to a great start as well. It helped to start the year energized by 12 days of Christmas for Writers. That launched me into a great month with a new draft and dummy book, and a revised book. Oh also, Storystorm has helped establish a habit of reading a blog, comment, and write for 1/2 hour every day. Happy writing everyone!

  16. Wow, how wonderful to remain conscious this month and get some writing done! Finished a first draft and one and a half revision. So happy I took the leap into 12×12!

  17. Spent 2 weeks of the month in Egypt, but managed to write 23 poems and revised an old draft. This is my first time in 12 x 12. I’ve had a slow start but hope to pick up in February. Am also working on a MG chapter book on a suffragette from Nantucket, Lucretia Coffin Mott, a relative.

  18. Joined late, but your enthusiasm is contagious. Have 2/3 of a rough draft, and outlined 3 other story ideas.

  19. Hi Julie,
    I entered the Rafflecopter through FB. Didn’t receive an email about check-in. When I tried entering my email to sign in for the check-in through FB, it didn’t recognize me for some reason. I had no trouble last year. Also, when I went to the link for requesting January badges, there were no links on Kelli’s badge request site.

  20. So rewarding to take an older manuscript that has lingered for a while and feel some inspiration to have brought it to a next draft/revision due to all the energy on 12×12. So glad I joined, thank you.

  21. How January is over, is beyond me! I started the month halfway thru the 12 Days of Xmas, zoomed into StoryStorm then whammo–wrote 3 drafty drafts myself! I hope to keep up the good work all year long. Here’s to another tremendous year together!

  22. The new year started out crappy with me in the ER for over 7 hours while they did a variety of tests including another CAT scan, blood tests, and took urine for a culture.

    Even so, I did manage to write one draft of a STORYSTORM idea (I did STORYSTORM again this month and ended up with 86 new ideas.) I also revised an older STORYSTORM story which I may send out to the 12 x 12 agent this coming month

    1. Hi there… sorry to hear of your medical troubles. Your post called out to me since rRght after I signed up for 12 x 12 (for the first time) my husband was diagnosed with cancer so I’m feeling rather blither-ed. One thing that lifted me out of worry was revising my manuscript and illustrations for my dummy Butterflies for Rosie… wishing you all the best.

  23. This was a good start to the year with a draft and a revision, and lots of ideas thanks to Storystorm:)

  24. Squeezing in writing time wherever I can find it and got a new draft finished as well as some revisions!

  25. I didn’t have time to revise a story this month but I did manage a new first draft. Yay!
    Now comes the hard part…revision, revision, revision.

  26. This year is off to a good start. Not only have I joined a great community but I wrote a pretty good first draft, had it critiqued and am very happy with it. This doesn’t happen all the time so I feel that maybe joining the 12×12 community is good for the soul. I also revised four older manuscripts to submit to a contest so things are looking good.
    Thank you Shannon for the opportunity to win one of your books and for your welcome.

  27. Hello folks

    On my second day browsing though 12 x 12. Having trouble finding where the “wrote a picture book manuscript” button is… but I did write one : ) and revised another. I sure am looking forward to finding a few critique partners especially!

  28. I’m so happy with the way the year has started – I’ve written 2 drafts, revised one and am out on sub for a manuscript that I just LOVE!

  29. I completed and posted my first draft and 2 revisions. I Cut my word count from 976 to 600. Still tightening it up, I’m writing my second book now! watch out it gonna get Christmasy.

  30. This month has flown by! I was able to revise 2 drafts. Best wishes to everyone this year on their writing journeys.

  31. I did a draft this month – but not even worthy of sharing…but will write on!!
    Somewhere I saw a “request this badge” button but can’t find it now…

  32. Love the “realistic” bent of the article. Goes along with Elizabeth Gilbert’s idea of giving yourself permission to be in your creative zone – doesn’t have to be huge stretches of time, but a little bit often could work wonders for your creative self!

  33. My 1st month in 12×12 and I wrote my first draft of the year! I was going to skip January, as I didn’t have a full month (I’m good at putting off things that can’t be done ‘perfect’) but did it anyway and am so proud of myself. Thanks so much for helping me to be accountable to myself and my dreams! 🙂

  34. Wrote a draft of my Llamas PB & already working on the revision. Would love a critique as soon as I can figure out how to post.

  35. Just rejoined and am so excited to get back in the saddle after a month away. The book looks great!

    Working on a new draft already.

  36. Happy to have joined the 12×12 community this year, and looking forward to all it offers. Thanks, Shannon, for providing the prize and incentive to write that draft and revision–Here’s to many more!

  37. I’m a new member of 12×12 and joined in mid-January. I’m still working my way through the website to learn how to navigate through here.

    Completed the StoryStorm challenge of 30 ideas in 31 days, have worked on my personal blog, and accomplished research for several pb ideas. Many of those ideas are outside in my garden/yard, so I spend any sunny days in January/February collecting information.

    I’m looking forward to February and whatever it will produce. Thanks for your company on this journey!

  38. I finished a draft and a revision by Jan 31 (well, maybe Feb 1 at 1 am?), but it took me until today to figure out the Rafflecopter and commenting on posts and all – thanks for the grace period! I’m excited to be here at 12 X 12 and looking forward to being productive and learning a lot! 🙂
    Best
    Mary

  39. I completed a draft this month. I don’t usually think about illustrating my work, but this time I thought of so many ways it could be done.

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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).