Category Archives: Writing & Drawing Exercises

Summer Writing Prompts

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Laura Bowers

“I enjoy, in the summer, getting back to writing in my own voice.” –Mike O’Brien I really like this quote, since summer is such a lovely time to relax, renew, and think about what truly makes you happy, as a … Continue reading →

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50 Ways to Gather Book Ideas | Third Thursday #SCBWIsocial Blog Link Up

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Laura Bowers

Okay. Don’t panic, but for those of us who plan on participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month,) … we only have 46 days until it begins. Well, 47 if we count today. (I’m totally counting today.) Perhaps 47 days … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing & Drawing Exercises, Writing Tips | 3 Comments

Creating Picture Books

Posted on June 30, 2016 by susandilldetwiler

Well, this is the last day of June, and our theme this month has been Picture Books, so I thought I’d write about my understanding of how to create in this genre. I joined the SCBWI in 2003, and it … Continue reading →

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Illustration Inspiration Two

Posted on November 20, 2015 by susandilldetwiler

Illustrators, I wrote about a couple of ways to get your creative juices flowing in Tuesday’s post, and want to continue that discussion. I mentioned looking at books by illustrators you admire, but there are also other ways to motivate … Continue reading →

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Preparation for Illustration

Posted on October 9, 2015 by susandilldetwiler

Happy Friday, everyone! In the interests of getting ready for next month’s NaNoWriMo/PiBoIdMo, I thought there might be interest in one of the aspects of children’s book illustrating: specifically, the research an illustrator does for a non-fiction  picture book.

Posted in Book Talk, Illustrating & Cover Art Tips, NaNoWriMo / PiBoldMo, Writing & Drawing Exercises | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Summer Writing Prompts

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Laura Bowers

“I enjoy, in the summer, getting back to writing in my own voice.” –Mike O’Brien I really like this quote, since summer is such a lovely time to relax, renew, and think about what truly makes you happy, as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing & Drawing Exercises | Tagged | 2 Comments

What A Character!

Posted on June 16, 2015 by susandilldetwiler

Hello everyone, I hope you are staying cool through this mid-June heatwave. In keeping with the picture book theme this month, let’s explore the very important element of character development. I’ve recently read a couple of helpful blog posts on … Continue reading →

Posted in Illustrating & Cover Art Tips, Writing & Drawing Exercises, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stimulating Creativity

Posted on November 21, 2014 by susandilldetwiler

If you are participating in PiBoIdMo, I hope you are having as much fun as I am with the challenge of coming up with a new picture book idea every day. I look over my growing list of ideas and … Continue reading →

Posted in Author/Illustrator Events, Guest Contributors, Illustrating & Cover Art Tips, Writing & Drawing Exercises | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Conference Tip: Perfecting your Book Pitch

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Laura Bowers

I’ve been asked to dig up the following previously posted article on book pitches for those who might need a little help before this weekend’s Spring: Nature’s Revised Draft conference! Of course it wouldn’t be if I didn’t give it some tweaks … Continue reading →

Posted in Conference Information, Conference Tips, Writing & Drawing Exercises, Writing Tips | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Camp NaNoWriMo anyone?

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Laura Bowers

There are three things I’ve always wanted to do, three things that I view as extremely hard or partially impossible: Running a full marathon. Finishing P90X, a fitness program that’s been on my resolutions list for … oh, at least six years. And … Continue reading →

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