Hi everyone!
How’s your week?
Here’s some links for you, and a picture 🙂
Video: Excellent and quick plotting advice from South Park creators.
Two words that will change the way you look at plot!
Oh my goodness. I want them all, and in all the colors.
I love Sean Wes. Here’s a post about how to make a name for yourself.
And hint, it has TONS of writing tips too!
Here’s another favorite. Kate Messner wrote this a while ago, but it’s great.
Stats behind how many picture books you really need to write before one gets published. Great read.
You can prune trees but also prune your life to help you refocus!
Video: Japanese Moms take their children in for their one year check up, then they’re surprised to see what greets them in the hallway on the way out.
She rewrote it about 15 times, and I loved it. Have you read this YA novel?
And this one is about a million links in one, so I’ll stop.
TONS of advice about writing.
From Nathan Bransford.
You’re gonna want to click if you already haven’t 🙂
Ok, I lied.
I have one more.
I’m doing The Night of Writing Dangerously as part of NaNoWriMo,
and all donations go to fund their Young Author program.
This year I’m offering rewards to people who donate!
Check out my page here to help!
The Instagram photo is of a poster I did for my friend’s wedding this past weekend.
My friend Melanie is also my boss at work,
and I knew the wedding was going to be special.
My co-workers are VERY talented; most everyone that does my job has a side gig.
For me it’s writing and art making,
but for many of the others, it’s acting, singing, dancing… all the Hollywood things.
Two of my co-workers put together a Flash Mob for Love Shack,
complete with dance moves and who sings what part
and chocolate coins for
“Hurry up, and bring your jukebox money!”
I was called on to make the props, three days before the wedding.
I was going to just make them quick, but then realized it’s A WEDDING.
The only one my friend is going to have.
I can’t skimp.
I made a huge LOVE sign,
a shack with their faces in the door,
a poster of Shaquille O’Neal because I couldn’t let the pun go,
and a Chrysler that was not as big as a whale,
but big enough for two people to fit in, behind the windshield.
All in all, it took two days.
The other day I spent making their presents, card, and wrapping paper.
On the way to LA for the wedding, I painted the poster for us all to sign.
I completely finished it and tried to erase pencil lines and it looked AWFUL,
so I started over.
I didn’t want to, but again, ONE AND ONLY WEDDING.
I’m no expert at drawing or calligraphy.
I just try and have fun with it.
But I felt like a rockstar at the wedding.
They loved my signs,
everyone adored the poster,
and at the end of Love Shack,
Melanie and her husband Andrew were in the Chrysler, kissing.
It made all that hard work worth it.
I may not make art for picture books ever, or make any money off of my art,
but I love that I can make it to be used as a gift for someone else.
All that being said, if you’ve ever wanted to draw, paint, or do any kind of art,
my suggestion is:
Start now.
Do a lot of art.
And don’t worry if you think it’s “bad.”
Only worry when it gets to be not fun anymore.
Until next time,
KE
