[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

Hello everyone! November will soon be here and that means it's almost time for Picture Book Idea Month!

For those of you unfamiliar with the event....

Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) is a November writing challenge specifically for picture book writers. Unlike the NaNoWriMo challenge for novelists, PiBoIdMo participants don’t have to write a manuscript (but you can if the mood strikes!). The challenge is to create 30 new picture book story ideas in 30 days. Those who do are eligible for prizes at the end of the month, like a consultation with a literary agent, signed original art, autographed picture books, and story critiques. And everyone wins this prize: a fat file of ideas to help inspire your stories throughout the year.

To help participants with this journey, I post a daily guest blog from an author, illustrator, editor or other picture book professional.

FYI, here's who I've booked thus far:

Kelly DiPucchio
Tammi Sauer
Robert Weinstock
Aaron Reynolds
Ward Jenkins
Deb Lund
Debbie Ohi

...and many more. If you have any suggestions for folks you'd like to see guest blogging, please let me know! I'm booking up the final slots.

Sign up will begin on my blog on October 24th, with a week of pre-PiBo festivities.

See you then!

http://taralazar.wordpress.com

[Sheri D. Posts: 82 Status: Offline]

 

I love PiBoIdMo!  I'm looking forward to it!

[Jean Reidy Posts: 724 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

Can't wait!
jean

[Kell Posts: 1,202 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

I fell way short of 30 last year, but it was still so much fun! I'm definitely going to do it!

[crookedbook Posts: 108 Status: Offline WWW]

Oooo how fun! Count me in

[carterhiggins Posts: 45 Status: Offline K-6 librarian, PB/MG author, blogger WWW]

Oh snap. Can't wait!

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

  Love PiBoIdMo!! 

[AmyD Posts: 147 Status: Offline WWW]

Looking forward to another great year of ideas! Thanks for hosting such a wonderful event, Tara!

[Cali Posts: 187 Status: Offline Twitter: (csuefrye) WWW]

Count me in, Tara! I've learned so much from this event. Thanks for all your efforts:)

Hugs, Cali

[Jayca Posts: 1,734 Status: Offline]

I'd love to try this, Tara. I've been pulled away from writing the last few weeks and anxious to dive back in with some fresh ideas soon. I understand it works on the honor system...so is there anything we have to do (publicly) to participate? Thanks for all your hard work, hosting this event! 

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

Yes, it's honor system....BUT....you must register within the first week and then confirm (take the 30-idea pledge) at the end of the month. If you don't register AND confirm, you aren't eligible for the big prizes. (There's often other prizes in daily posts.)

Don't worry, I'll give you plenty of reminder to do so!

[Just Jodi Posts: 368 Status: Offline Children's books are hard-bound hugs! WWW]

Can't wait! I've turned so many of my PiBoIdMo ideas into manuscripts!!! 

Thanks for hosting this again!!! Hugs, Jodi  :

[DebraG Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

Looking forward to it, Tara!

[CarrieF Posts: 201 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks so much for doing this again, Tara. I'm really looking forward to it!

[poet Posts: 120 Status: Offline WWW]

I'm looking forward to it as well!  The PB I just sold came out of my 2010 participation in PiBoIdMo!

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

OK.....so......

I have secured three agents already for PiBoIdMo grand prizes:

Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency
Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency
Marietta B. Zacker, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency

And since the last few years I've always had three agents, this year I'm extending it to FIVE. So I'm on the agent prowl...

[TH Posts: 221 Status: Offline]

I am onboard this year. SOOOO looking forward to it.

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

Just got a HUGE picture book personality to guest blog. My mind  is BLOWN. This year's list of guests is lookin' pretty spectacular!

And there's at least four PiBoIdMo success stories that will be revealed.

[stacebee]

Looking forward to this !

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

Hey everyone, the PiBoIdMo 2012 line-up is....well, up!

http://taralazar.com/2012/10/01/piboidmo-2012-guest-bloggers-and-mascot/

[crookedbook Posts: 108 Status: Offline WWW]

This will be my first year participating - can't wait

[Kami K Posts: 43 Status: Offline WWW]

I love that you started this Tara. It is a great idea... and I'm pretty sure you're famous for it in the kid writers world... deservedly so.

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks, Kami.

It was an idea borne out of boredom and jealousy...I saw all my novel-writing friends having a blast in November and wanted to be in on the fun (but didn't want to write 50,000 words to do so!). So I challenged myself to 30-ideas-in-30-days in 2008 and put it on my blog in 2009. I thought *maybe* 10 people would join me, mostly those in my crit group! I had *no idea* it would get to be this popular!

I'm grateful to all who participate! I wouldn't do it without your enthusiasm.

I have made so many great friends every year via PiBoIdMo. Can't imagine what I'd do without it now.

 

[AliceMustache]

This contest sounds right up my alley! I have almost series planned out in my head with characters and titles and loose plots...is this something that would be good for that, or should I keep these ideas I hope to have published later to myself and come up with new PB ideas for this contest?
 
 
-A. Mustache

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,323 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

I can't wait!  PiBoIdMo has inspired so many amazing ideas for me.  Thanks so much for all you do to help us keep the picture book ideas coming, Tara. It's amazing how the ideas start flooding in once you get used to looking for them daily.

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

This contest sounds right up my alley! I have almost series planned out in my head with characters and titles and loose plots...is this something that would be good for that, or should I keep these ideas I hope to have published later to myself and come up with new PB ideas for this contest?

Alice, PiBoIdMo is for completely fresh, new ideas. You might think of new stories/situations for your series, but you can cannot count old ideas in your November PiBoIdMo idea tally.

[AliceMustache]

Thanks Tara (:

[taralazar Posts: 261 Status: Offline WWW]

Registration for PiBoIdMo 2012 begins today:

http://taralazar.com/2012/10/23/piboidmo-2012-registration-begins-now-sign-up-here/

[crookedbook Posts: 108 Status: Offline WWW]

All signed up and ready to go. Thank you!

[Donna J. Shepherd Posts: 1,074 Status: Offline Ava's Secret Tea Party WWW]

Signed up!