Paula Yoo and NaPiBoWriWee

Y is for Yoo*

NAPIBOWRIWEE is coming!

Be prepared. National Picture Book Writing Week is nearly upon us, thanks to the talented Paula Yoo.

Are you ready for the week-long writing event?
There are still a few days to get organized.


Here are some ways make your week a success:

• Pre-post a few key posts for your blog, or put aside your regular schedule and blog (briefly) about your progress. 
• Buy lots of Hot Pockets and Ramen noodles.
• Read picture books. Paula's fabulous Shining Star, the Anna May Wong Story or Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, the Sammy Lee Story are great books to start with. 

Illustrated by Lin Wang

Illustrated by Dom Lee

• Find seven story seeds now. Grow those seeds into ideas May first through the seventh. This is the week to put in the sweat equity.  
• Don't panic if you don't have fleshed-out ideas, pick great endings or great beginnings. Scour your PiBoIdMo Journal. Work toward that great beginning, or find a happy ending before the day is finished. 
• Allow yourself a wretched first draft. That's all you are working toward each day.
• Start early in the morning. Try to get a draft on paper. If it flows, great, if one or more parts are a little fuzzy, rewrite. If that does't bring a part into focus, do the dishes, bake cookies, or mow the lawn.
• If all else fails, free write and see what happens.

As Paula would say,
"Write like you mean it!"

Here's a pudding cookie recipe from Chef in Training for you to try. I hope it gets the creative juices flowing.

If the Shabby Creek Cottage can make 30 freezer meals in one afternoon, you can make 7 to sustain your family while you write . . . just in case.



NaPiBoWriWee logo courtesy Sandy Tanaka