What's Your Game Plan for Your November Challenge?

By Stacy S. Jensen

October is a busy month.

In addition to stockpiling candy for my late night writing (or neighborhood kids in need of a treat), it's the month before one of the biggest writing challenges of the year PiBoIdMo.

I don't participate in National Novel Writing Month. I pledge my November writing allegiance to PiBoIdMo or Picture Book Idea Month. It's one of the many spin-offs from the fabulous NaNoWriMo event that gets writers...writing.

PiBoIdMo, created by author Tara Lazar is a blessing for me. The challenge is to write a picture book story idea each day of November. The daily ritual of thinking about stories and writing them down carries over throughout the year. If an idea strikes, I write it down.

Tara also hosts a wide variety of published authors on her blog to share tips about writing picture books and to inspire all the participants to keep writing.

This will be my third year as a participant and, hopefully, another winner!

In October, I'm going through my previous year list of ideas in preparation for the challenge. I plan to organize them into types of books — like concept, fiction and non-fiction.

I want to expand at least five ideas by completing some pre-writing work, including character sheets, titles, and pitch lines. My goal is to find five solid ideas that are fresh — not recently on the market. I may write a draft, but I have a few others under revisions. This goal is to keep me moving forward as I get ready for November.

When PiBoIdMo begins on November 1, I want to add another layer to my daily idea challenge. I will add titles and loglines for my manuscript ideas.

In the past, I've looked at some ideas post-PiBoIdMo and thought, "Now what was I thinking?"

My goal is to dig a little deeper when I write down an idea. More information gathered with my idea should help me create a better first draft. Yes. It will likely still be a "vomit" draft, but I'm hopeful it will be better.

Are you participating in a writing challenge in November? What are you doing to be ready for November 1?

About the Author: Stacy S.Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and toddler.

What Happens the Morning After a Writing Challenge?

By Stacy S. Jensen

Deadlines used to be part of my daily work schedule. There were news and advertising deadlines. Then, we had production and delivery deadlines. I began my shift at the newspaper and knew that by the end of my workday there would be a newspaper ready for readers.

Today, as a writer and stay-at-home mom, my deadlines are more flexible. They are what I make them to be and sometimes, I’m pretty lenient with myself.

Enter: Writing Challenges.

I’m not the kind, who fares well in the National Novel Writing Month-kind of challenge, especially not after the NaNoWriMo Disaster of 2009. While I have 100 pages and an outline on my computer, I never won that challenge. When December 1 arrived, I knew I had failed.  I vowed not to do that again — the failure part.

When I was ready to try again, I picked a more reasonable November challenge: PiBoIdMo. That’s Picture Book Ideas Month created by children’s author Tara Lazar. The challenge: write 30 picture book ideas in 30 days. The result:  more than 100 ideas.

So what did I do after PiBoIdMo?

Well, I woke up on December 1 and signed up for another writing challenge.

Julie Hedlund created the 12 x 12 in 2012 Challenge.  Participants write a picture book draft each month. This challenge was the deadline I needed. I’ll have around 20 picture book manuscripts when I welcome 2013. 

A pile of picture book ideas written during  the 2011 PiBoIdMo Challenge

Both of these challenges helped me in different ways. The PiBoIdMo Challenge made me get into the habit of writing down story ideas as they pop into my head. If I don’t capture it on paper or my iPhone, I’ll lose it forever.  The 12 x 12 in 2012 Challenge reminds me to write my stories. Silly sounding? I’ve had phases of my writing career where I’ve spent more time talking about writing than on the actual work.

Some people don’t need challenges, but I like them for their deadlines and the writing communities formed around them.

I know I’ll participate in several writing challenges in 2013. Will you? If so, what will it be?

About the Author: Stacy S. Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and toddler.

Blog: http://stacysjensen.blogspot.com 

Twitter: @StacySJensen