INTERVIEW WITH CAROLYN CRIMI

Carolyn Crimi is the author of numerous picture books, including Boris and Bella, Where's My Mummy?, and Don't Need Friends. Carolyn Crimi received the Prairie State Award in her home state of Illinois for her body of work and her book, There Might Be Lobsters, won the Golden Kite Award in 2018. She was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and now lives in Illinois with her husband and pug.

We talk about:

- developing a manuscript inspired by a real life experiences.

- why you should put your manuscript away for a while.

- easy tips for seeing your manuscript in a new way.

Get your Success Journal, free, here: instituteforwriters.com/successjournal

PRE-WRITE YOUR SUCCESS

Planning a story or book can seem very counterintuitive to some writers who prefer a very organic process of simply sitting down and facing a blank page (or empty screen). There are very successful, professional writers who basically settle in and tell themselves the story as they write it. The story is born in the moments of writing.

You may find that works for you, but if you notice you’re consistently getting stuck while writing your story, or your manuscripts have a very uneven flow, let's consider how prewriting can help.

Get your Success Journal, free, here: instituteforwriters.com/successjournal

WHAT IS TIME BLOCKING?

Knocking out two birds with one stone. Most folks think that way about multitasking. You can get more done in a day, right? A post on our IFW Writing for Adults blog by Chaunie Brusie, reminded me of an interview I heard about how it was possible to actually get more done if you worked on one thing at a time, so I wanted to share part of that post with you today. After a fair amount of research and personal experience, I believe focusing on one thing at time is more productive. Let's talk about how time blocking can help keep you focused while getting more accomplished.

Get your Success Journal, free, here: instituteforwriters.com/successjournal

TRACK YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

It's easy to start the year positive and full optimism about your goals. It's hard to keep that momentum going as the year moves on. Today we talk about tracking your success throughout the year with actionable steps to keep you motivated all year long.

Get your Success Journal, free, here: instituteforwriters.com/successjournal

AN INTERVIEW WITH VIVIAN KIRKFIELD

Vivian Kirkfield’s career path is paved with picture books. She shelved them at the library during her college years. She read them to her students when she taught kindergarten. And now, she writes them. She makes her picture book author debut in 2019 with three, yes, THREE, new titles including Pippa’s Passover Plate (Holiday House, February 2019), Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book (PomegranateKids, March 2019), and Sweet Dreams, Sarah (Creston Books, May 2019). Vivian is a great example of how hard work and a willingness to learn can lead to success!

We talk about:

• Manuscript Wishlist
• Pitmad
• How to connect to the larger community
• Most important things to do as new writer
• What do you need
• 4 Ps that you need to keep going when you don’t feel like moving forward

Get your Success Journal, free, here: instituteforwriters.com/successjournal

IDENTIFYING WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK

When you look back on your year, what was the biggest obstacle to finishing your book? Most folks think it’s lack of skills.

You may be surprised that the most common obstacle that stops aspiring writers is a lack of time. Skills you can improve through courses, workshops, or a lot of practice, practice, practice. But if you have a family, a job, social obligations, if you keep putting that story or article aside, if you constantly find that you’re putting the day job, housework, yard work, volunteering, cooking, or cleaning ahead of your writing, you’re simply not going to get anywhere. You have to generate words…lots of words…in order to succeed in this business.

Let's talk about how to get ahead next year.

Ready to get your FREE Success Journal? - Set your goals. You're more likely to reach your goals if you write them down. - Celebrate your success! Document your successes throughout the year and reward yourself. - Plus, 10 tips for goal setting, checklists, printable quarterly, monthly, and weekly planners. Get your Success Journal, free, here: instituteforwriters.com/successjournal

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANN SHEYBANI

This is Ann.

“I began my practice as a book-writing coach, not just because I like bossing people around, which I do, but also because I know all of your sorry excuses for not settling down to write your book, because I invented them. In other words, I’ve got your number, cupcake. I may look nice, but don’t  let that fool you. You need to prepare yourself for  an ass kicking. It’s time to blindfold your sorry  excuses for not writing your book, hand them a lit  cigarette, then shoot them.”

We talk about…

• What rules do you make for yourself?
• How to cut yourself a break?
• Redefine what it is to be a writer
• How do you get things done?
• Best way to get the work done?
• What can you do in 10 minutes?
• What a music video can teach you about writing

First month is FREE for the Writers' Block! Go to writingforchildren.com/writersblock use code WBPOD18

WRITE A GRIPPING NOVEL

You want your book to be referred to like this: “Fast-paced.” “Gripping.” “A page-turner.” “I couldn’t put it down.” Why do some books get these comments, while others are called “slow” or “flat”?

Let's get to the bottom of the pacing dilemma in today's episode.

First month is FREE for the Writers' Block! Go to writingforchildren.com/writersblock use code WBPOD18

CHARACTERS, SETTING, AND THEME, OH MY!

This week is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so we are bringing you a rebroadcast of a popular episode. Time to take it back to the basics and discuss characters, setting, and theme in children's books.

First month is FREE for the Writers' Block! Go to writingforchildren.com/writersblock use code WBPOD18

BRINGING READERS BACK FOR MORE

I’ve been watching my nieces learning to read. They study the pictures. They beg for more, and readily cuddle up while we read together. I remember my then three-year-old son memorizing his favorite books and pretending to read (of course, we thought him a genius!) So how can you create great picture books with the identifying characteristics that will magnetize your readers and draw them to your work, again and again?

First month is FREE for the Writers' Block! Go to writingforchildren.com/writersblock use code WBPOD18