Full steam ahead!

Full throttle! Top gear! Overdrive! Wooo hooo - here I go. It's my explosive start to writing for children. I am reading, studying, daydreaming, writing (well...just a little bit for now) and jumping feet-first into the world of children's literature. I had no idea it would be this thrilling! Oh, the possibilities. I am in a total head-spin thinking about it all.

I have a confession to make. I did not read fiction as a child. I remember my mandatory weekly visits to the school library. I used to look, bewildered, at a row of spines. What the heck was inside these books? I actually didn't really care. The fact was that these books were THICK, the words were SMALL and I could not possibly make any sense of them. I was not able to attend to the task of decoding all of these words while making meaning of the phrases, sentences and paragraphs. It was an absolute chore to me. I would pick one random book, stuff it inside my library bag and leave it there until the next visit.

I now realise what a shame this is. I never really overcame my fiction-reading deficiency. I can probably count on two hands (maybe even one hand) the number of adult fiction books I have read from start to finish.

Thanks to four years at university, my reading comprehension skills are much more advanced than they used to be. I love to read non-fiction articles about topics that interest me. However, I still have no idea about the kinds of fiction book I like to read. Well, apart from the fact that I actually did read Cloud Street by Tim Winton and absolutely loved it. I think I read another of his books but didn't finish it. That is typically me - not renowned for following through with a task! So why did I love Cloud Street so much? Which other books might I also love?

I am having a great time reading what is out there for kids at the moment. I am reliving my childhood, only this time I don't have the same obstacles in my path. I can READ fluently and I can skim a book to see whether I'll like it first. As a writer, it would be great to think that I could somehow reach some of those children who currently feel the same way I used to about books. I'd like to make stories that are highly accessible and relevant to children.

Until next time....
Caz :@)

Post PiBo

Hello to anyone who happens to check in after the big event NaPiBoWriWee 2010 has ended! I hope you enjoyed the challenge and are still on cloud nine. Congratulations to the winners of Paula's random prize draw! No, I'm not bitter that I missed out. I'll just have to get my credit card out and buy my own NaPiBoWriWee 2010 memorabilia, right? :)

I was a wee bit disappointed that I had so much on my plate by day seven of the event that I couldn't quite reach my goal of seven stories in seven days. Instead, I achieved a formidable 5.5 stories. Not bad for a beginner! Also, I was quite surprised at the great amount of pride I felt about the work I had written. I have fond memories of the making of these stories and thank my friends and husband for reading my drafts and providing instant feedback as I wrote from my secret location!

I was also surprised to find a new story idea pop into my head as I closed the cupboard doors of the vanity this evening. It had been a stressful day and evening, with two kiddies all snotty and miserable and no husband around to lend a hand (he's still not back!) I had just finished brushing my teeth and declared to myself that I was in need of some 'me time'. Within seconds an idea for a picture book had unfolded in my mind. In under a minute I was searching for the laptop to get started on this new project. At this stage I am 80% finished the first draft. How good is that!? A nice little bonus at the end of a day that sucked everything out of me :)

I had almost forgotten that you can write anytime, anywhere. You don't have to be signed up to a challenge, it doesn't have to be read by anyone else and it doesn't even have to make sense. It has to be the best hobby ever, don't you think?

Off I go to sleeeep. Good lord, I need it.

Night, night!

NaPiBoWriWee Day 6!

Ahhh, blissfulness. Sweetness. Love. This is story number six. Not thought, but felt. Very sentimental and meaningful. Perhaps not technically top-notch. But she is so lovely and that's all she needs to be for the moment.

Best of all, she simply exists.

I cringe as the door slams and a baby cries next door. Domestic trouble at the sleep clinic. An awful reality in comparison.

Sigh. Home tomorrow. Our little family at least has peace. I wish the same for next door. This is why number six exists.

Love to all PiBo's and your families.

Carolyn

NaPiBoWriWee Day 5!

Ah, draft number 5. Barely alive. So very sketchy. So very weak. Barely recognisable as a story at all. Plot ... there is not. Rhyme ... not this time. Meaning ... I could care less.
Good night everyone. I hope to generate some more creativity while I sleep!
Best of luck to all of you.
Carolyn

NaPiBoWriWee Day 4!

I am surprised and excited to announce the birth of NaPiBoWriWee story number four at 8.05pm this evening. I have named her "I Didn't Pick My Nose". I am a proud parent and she brings a big smile to my face. She was written over four separate writing breaks today. A very pleasant way to bring a story into the world, indeed.

Another gorgeous little thing is sleeping soundly in the adjacent room. He tossed and turned himself to sleep again tonight as I stood by, amazed :) I hope I have as much luck getting to sleep tonight as he's had! Last night was shocking for me, even though my little button-nosed boy slept almost right through the night. Hooray!

I can't believe I only have three more stories to write until I accomplish my goal! Wow, what will I do to celebrate?? Anyone got any ideas? I don't expect many NaPiBoWriWee'ers to be reading this because they are so BUSY right now ... but if there's anyone reading this - what will you do to commemorate the 7th story (or 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc... whatever you get up to!)?

I hope Paula Yoo rewards herself with a nice long massage or something equally relaxing. She's been so hard at work this past month mentoring we PiBo's! How do you do it, Paula? You are a legend!

Carolyn

NaPiBoWriWee Day 3!

Well, voila! Another draft for a story is done! I am soooo pleased that I have kept up the pace so far. Actually, the truth is that I had quite a bit of free time today because my little one and I are staying for the week at a sleep clinic. We almost don't need to be here, but ... shhhh, don't tell, because my meals are made for me, I have no chores and am getting a break from toddler taming for a few days. Perfectly conducive to writing four more picture books! To top it all off, my beautiful baby happily tossed and turned himself to sleep as I stood by! Couldn't ask for more - no drama, no tears, just cuddles and sleep. Beautiful.

I knew I really shouldn't have done this ... but I tried rhyming *blush*. But I SWEAR I didn't inhale, ok!? :D No really, I figured 'why not? Let's see what all the fuss is about.' Now I've seen first hand that yes, the fuss is because it is rather difficult! Nevertheless, Mr and Mrs Birdie are now nestled snugly in their poetic little home in my NaPiBoWriWee folder.

Thanks to anyone who reads this blog. Mega-thanks to Paula Yoo for a super challenge!

Cheers,
Carolyn

NaPiBoWriWee Day 2!

It's 3pm and we're on the way to my step-sister's wedding rehearsal. But that's ok, because filed away safely between the microchips of my laptop is my SECOND PICTURE BOOK!!! Hooray, hooray, HOORAY!

This one took about two hours to write, and was definitely trickier than yesterday's story. I just had to keep reminding myself - first draft, first draft! Plenty of time after May 7th to go back and edit.

The working title of this book is 'Mama's Squishy Belly'. I love it so far. As it turned out I broke my own rule - to orally tell my story and then transcribe it. Hey, I guess I'm just a rebel like that! I was less sure about the structure of this story, so I left it to my fingers to fix it up as I went along.

Well I'm getting car sick looking at this blog, so I better go revel in the excitement of having now written two children's picture books :)

Good luck, writers!