[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,385 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

I've written two blog posts about the incredible Picture Book Intensive I took with Lisa Wheeler and Alexandra Penfold at the FL SCBWI Workshop in Orlando.  It was such an amazing event, and I love how much the info has helped my writing!  Before the intensive, my mentor said that almost all writers are strongest in one genre, and that I was primarily a middle grade writer.  After seeing several manuscripts I've revised since the intensive, she said that I am definitely a middle grade AND picture book writer.  Wahoo!  Hard work, always looking for new techniques, reading and analyzing zillions of picture books, and belonging to several amazing critique groups really does pay off!  I hope the notes will help your picture book manuscripts, too!

Here's part 1: http://mindyalyse.livejournal.com/66416.html
And here's part 2: http://mindyalyse.livejournal.com/66756.html 

[JennaWren Posts: 1,781 Status: Offline WWW]

Mindy, I thought these were both great posts!!  I've been focusing on my first-ever MG these days, but now I'm all inspired to get back to my PBs in progress!  Thanks for sharing the experience with us!

[KatyD Posts: 844 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

Yes! I read part two today. Thanks again for posting these,  Mindy!

[Tina Cho Posts: 72 Status: Offline WWW]

   Thanks for sharing your blog posts! Your enthusiasm is catching. Good luck w/your stories!
~Tina

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,385 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

Thanks so much, Jenna, Katy, and Tina.  And you're welcome.  I hope the info helps you as much as it has helped me.

I know what you mean, Jenna.  I put my MG aside for a bit because it's so exciting to see how much stronger I can make my picture books now.  But now my MG is screaming for attention again, so I'll have to figure out the best way to juggle the genres. 

Thanks, Tina.  Good luck with your stories, too.

[stephg Posts: 17 Status: Offline]

Mindy, this is great!  So many terrific pointers. Thanks for taking the time to write it up.   

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,385 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

You're welcome, Steph.

[ShelliC Posts: 51 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks for sharing your posts. I attended a picture book workshop with Lisa Wheeler last year and it was fantastic! I'd definitely recommend her workshops to anyone.

[anom3 Posts: 147 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

   Both Lisa and Alexandra doing a workshop together has to be amazing!!!! I've taken a picture book workshop with Lisa. She gave me a whole new way of looking at a WIP. And, I was fortunate to have Alexandra as my critiquer at NESCBWI last year (middle grade manuscript)...how lucky am I to have met both of them!
 What I remember most from Lisa, other than the opener, is to trim trim trim unnecessary words - even the ones that seemed needed on the first draft. In other words...make every word count!
    Thanks Mindy for your posts.   
         (ps-did you see my news?)

[217mom Posts: 1,140 Status: Offline "Keep the child in view"- Charles Dickens WWW]

For those able to attend, these are fantastic top-notch editors. Lucky you!

[Stephanie Ruble Posts: 1,904 Status: Offline author/illustrator WWW]

Thanks for sharing your great notes Mindy! Happy to hear that the conference was so helpful for you.

[Becky Posts: 63 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks so much for sharing this, Mindy!  The info. is very helpful, and your enthusiasm is catching--I have been focused on my MG over the last few months, and this makes me want to revisit my PBs again!

   Becky

[Christy Posts: 615 Status: Offline Luck= preparation + opportunity WWW]

Thanks for sharing your notes! These are great!

[Ev Posts: 3,311 Status: Online Making learning fun! WWW]

You are wonderful, Mindy, to take the time to write up these posts and share all this helpful information with us! You're wonderful, too, to help get us excited about our writing.  Authoring can get discouraging, and it's easy to find ourselves at low points, but excitement like yours can be contagious.  Thanks so much for sharing!     I'm wishing you the best on finding homes for all your revised and improved stories.

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,385 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

Thank you all so much.  And yay that it helped get some of you excited about your picture book manuscripts again.  I love being able to see mine in a new way, and hope you all have magical moments with yours, too.

Shelli--I agree, Lisa is fantastic! 

Mona--Yay that you had a great workshop with Lisa and wonderful crit with Alexandra.  And huge congrats on your fantastic news!  I'm so happy for you, and hope an editor scoops up that manuscript soon.

Aw, thanks so much for your sweet words, Ev.

[Jodelle55]

Thanks so much for the links to your notes on the picture book intensive.  They were great and really helpful.

[Cathy Ballou Mealey Posts: 4 Status: Offline WWW]

I've written two blog posts about the incredible Picture Book Intensive I took with Lisa Wheeler and Alexandra Penfold at the FL SCBWI Workshop in Orlando.  It was such an amazing event, and I love how much the info has helped my writing!  Before the intensive, my mentor said that almost all writers are strongest in one genre, and that I was primarily a middle grade writer.  After seeing several manuscripts I've revised since the intensive, she said that I am definitely a middle grade AND picture book writer.  Wahoo!  Hard work, always looking for new techniques, reading and analyzing zillions of picture books, and belonging to several amazing critique groups really does pay off!  I hope the notes will help your picture book manuscripts, too!

Here's part 1: http://mindyalyse.livejournal.com/66416.html
And here's part 2: http://mindyalyse.livejournal.com/66756.html 

These are TERRIFIC!  I am printing them out and hanging it next to my PC.
PS - I wish I could figure out how to subscribe to a live journal blog!!!

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,385 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

Thanks so much, Jodelle and Covetcat.   I hope the notes help you as much as they've helped me.  I feel like my picture book manuscripts took a huge leap forward after this intensive.

Covetcat--I wish I knew how people could subscribe to an LJ blog, too.  I know that I can click a button on profiles and receive notifications when they post, but can't remember if you have to be a paid LJ member to do it.  I have a feeling there's some way to subscribe...but I haven't figured it out yet.

[Jeff Smith Posts: 88 Status: Offline The Boy Who Wouldn't Sit Still! WWW]

Great information! Thank you for sharing this.