Kids Say and Do Funny Things

Apparently, my nephew needs to read the book Being Frank, and I recommended it to my mother-in-law so they could check it out.  My nephew loves books and I think he'd enjoy that one.  He needs it because he is being a bit too honest with anyone and everyone he encounters. Ha!

At my 10 year high school reunion, several of my classmates shared stories about funny things their children had done or said.  One girl stated that her five year old was at church when this man walked in with his mobile oxygen tank (it was on wheels).  The room was silent when her daughter asked, "Mommy, why did that man bring a vacuum cleaner to church?"

Another classmate revealed that her daughter sometimes stared at people with physical disabilities.  In particular, they saw a man that only had one arm.  The other arm was absent past the elbow.  My classmate said her daughter knew she wasn't supposed to stare, but couldn't help herself.  It was as if her eyes were glued to the man's arm.

What funny things have children done or said around you?

Busy Week

Hey everyone!  Yes, I'm still alive here, but I've been busy entertaining out of town guests, exercising, and don't forget my 8-5 job that keeps me busy Monday-Friday.

Be sure to check back on Tuesday.  I will resume my regular daily posts and update you on more books I have read recently.  Until then...

Debut versus Established Authors

I will be blunt, I often read children's picture books and immediately know it's not the authors debut book.  How do I know this?  Because the book is... terrible!  Significantly terrible books are usually written by established writers.  The day I get published, I will vow to only write equally good material for the rest of my life.  No junk!

In my opinion, a writers first book is probably genuinely good.  No, great!  Then, it seems because the agent/publisher thinks they have already made a name for themselves, they can just publish anything from that day forward.

In the past few months, I have read picture books, and afterward said, "You are kidding me, right?"  As a person who loves picture books and who will one day have children to buy for, I can't help but turn down most of the books on the market today.  They are just... boring and dumb, even for children.  It's true that authors today will ALWAYS compete with old picture books like Dr. Seuss books and Curious George books.  The oldies are still some of the best books on the market.

What do you think about the changing picture book market?

Do Perfect Query Letters Exist?

Writing query letters are not very fun.  Why?  It's because there is no consistent advice on how to write query letters, except for the rule that you must type it. Ha!

When I became serious about getting published, I began researching how to write query letters.  I, of course, did a Web search and found site upon site with advice on how to write them.  Here's the problem with query letters:

You see, some agents post submission guidelines along with specific instructions as to what they want in the query letter.  The problem is that many do not and you must know how to write them without guidance.

In my research, I found many inconsistencies.  Some Websites state that if the writer is unpublished, they should say so specifically in the query letter.  Other Websites say not to mention being unpublished.

Another inconsistency is including personal information about the agent I query.  For example, if I query Mrs. Rogers, do I state in the query letter that I have read books by her clients, and I believe my book would interest her as well?  Duh, right?  The reason I am sending him/her a query is because I believe it will interest them.

Other random inconsistencies are that some sites say to always use Courier font, while others say you should always use a sans serif font.  Some sites say you should put your name on every page of your manuscript, while others don't even mention doing that.

Why can't there just be a universal query format that every agent MUST follow? (Ha!)

Happy Friday everyone :)

Characters that are Inanimate Objects

Sometimes your main character is a human, sometimes they are an animal and sometimes they are... things.

One of my current manuscripts features characters that are things. Now, when I play out the story in my head, I see it flowing smoothly with the characters doing each action gracefully.  Then, I think to myself, "If these things walk, won't they need legs?  Wait a minute!  They can't have legs, that's just weird."  I have no clue what goes on in the illustration world, so my fears might be totally unfounded.

After having these thoughts, I went to the library and checked out the book Chopsticks, which of course is about two human-like chopsticks.  In the story, many other objects have arms and legs, and this helped me see the future of my characters.  I guess objects can have arms and legs.  Reading Chopsticks also made me realize that I might like writing about objects as much as humans or animals.

What are some of your favorite books that feature main characters that are objects?

From Brain to Paper

Sometimes I think I have a great idea for a picture book, but it the idea doesn't successfully transition from my brain to my paper.  It's as if something happens to the awesome idea in midair.

I'm working on a manuscript right now that has been critiqued, but I haven't really made my first set of revisions yet.  It's funny how I visualize it being some amazing, ground-breaking story, but I feel like when my thoughts hit paper, they turn into a single-scoop vanilla ice cream cone.  My goal is usually for a Rocky Road type of concoction.

Do you often struggle getting your awesome ideas to transition to text?

Finding Inspiration in Pet Stores

As a picture book writer, I look for inspiration everywhere.  It doesn't matter if I'm at a gas station or the grocery store.  Good stories are all around us.

While out shopping with my parents this weekend, I told them I wanted to visit Pet Smart.   Kids are always in pet stores acting... well... kid-like.

We walk over to the fish tanks, where a little boy and his mom stood, observing the various tanks of goldfish.  One tank was very full.  Lots and lots of fish!  Then, the little boy pokes the glass with his finger and the fish frantically scatter.  He finds it fascinating that he made them do that.

Standing just two feet away was his mother, I am assuming.  After he pokes the glass, she scolds him, warning him not to do that, but he can't resist.  The problem is that his mother is standing right there!  What does he do?

He pokes the glass again... with is elbow.

What funny things have you saw kids do lately?