The importance of "we" in this process inspired me to begin efforts for a reading challenge that has been tickling the back of my brain for a while. It is true that during the CYBILS I read the good, the bad, and the ugly, along with the great. As picture book writers, we really need to be reading the current greats and studying the form that speaks to multiple people. What would you gain from studying the books that are just... meh?
In October, just as the CYBILS were kicking off, I contributed a guest post to Meg Miller's Petite ReviMo. Titled, Revising through Research, I shared some of the ways I use picture books to help me with my writing. Reading current picture books, and I might a add-- gobs and gobs of them, is a necessity that picture book writers simply can't skip out on. Picture book writers will have something to look forward to this March when the challenge begins!
Helping Picture Book Writers Reform Writing by Reading
March 1-31
-Tips from professionals on how to use picture books for research
-Tons and tons of GREAT picture book recommendations
-A chance to learn from 105 books in three weeks
-A support community of writers to read and discuss recommended books
-Prizes
More details coming soon! Registration won't open until February 15, so subscribe for updates on the right. For all the eager beavers out there, here are some of my personal favorites from 2014 to get you started.