On my (mobile) desk

Once a week I escape (yes, that is exactly how it feels) to work outside the house. If I'm lucky, I get 2 hours before heading back to reality. Today is one of those days. I have a bag packed with scribbled up manuscripts in varying states of progress. Lately, they only emerge once a week, which actually makes them more interesting to tackle. I think I have 6 manuscripts I'm juggling in this manner. And for now, it works. Participating in the 12x12 in 2012 challenge and PiBoIdMo in 2011 has been a huge motivator. I jot down notes, and try not to dwell on the endgame (publishing) so much that I'm paralyzed by anxiety. And with that, I must get back to work! And so must you, dear readers!!! :)

Making use of the minutes, not hours

I've hit another patch in parenting where I don't have much time at all to work. I know this too shall pass, but in the meantime, I'm trying to turn those minutes in progress. Forgive this scattered post - but it's honestly how I work now too:

Full disclosure: 1 morning a week I have in-house help so I get a break. Most weeks I escape for a minimum of an hour to a coffee shop to work. I try to make the most of my time. I bring lots of notebooks, sketchbooks, printouts of manuscripts in progress, etc. Some weeks I get stressed that I haven't 'accomplished' enough. But I'm beginning to understand that these little victories do add up. A sketch here, an edit there. Alicia's post yesterday sums it up WAY better than I can, so go watch THIS if you haven't yet.

The above is a first pass at character sketches for a manuscript I've been hammering away at. The idea feels solid, but the words are a wobbly mess. I took a break today from writing on this to sketch a main character.

Today I also cranked out a few versions of a 140 character pitch for a picture book. Are you participating in the 12x12 in 2012 project? Don't miss out on this amazing chance to win a critique from Tamson Weston. It's really also a chance to hone your pitch skills. Or, if you're like me, to give it a first pass.

What to do in 2012? Write, write, write

There are so many wonderful challenges for picture book authors and illustrators. I was so happy to complete the amazing Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) this past November, so I'm keeping the ball rolling with 12 x 12 in 2012. (#12x on twitter)

What's that, you say? The challenge is to complete 12 picture book drafts over the course of the year, one each month. There are inspiring posts from guest bloggers, and prizes to make any writer's heart skip a beat. Go to Julie Hedlund's blog and check it out for yourself.

I'm using my PiBoIdMo ideas as a jumping off point, to make it easier (in theory) and make me accountable for bringing those ideas to the next level.

I've already sat down this week and put together a hideous draft for an idea I really liked in it's more primitive state. Does this mean I'm done for the month? Hardly. I might work on a second draft or switch to a different idea entirely. Do I feel comfortable sitting down and just writing? Not one bit. But since my 'theme' for 2012 is Leap, I'm just doing it anyway!

Oh, and didn't Linda Silvestri do a great job on that badge?!?