Sunday, August 19, 2012

My Blog has Moved - Come Join me Over Thither



at the Picture Book Academy

http://www.picturebookacademy.com/video-reviews.html

for my picture book teaching video reviews and other goodies

Do come visit and see the latest : )

Monday, July 16, 2012

Mondays with Mira - Teaching Picture Books - "Except if" by Jim Averbeck.

Hullo

In today's Teaching Picture Books Video Review we're going to explore Jim Averbeck's delightful children's picture book "Except if" and talk about what makes it so delightful,  briefly sharing how Jim went about structuring this book and his illustrating techniques. I hope you enjoy and forward to friends.

I'm also delighted to say that Jim is one of the featured contributors in the Art and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books e-course at www.picturebookacademy.com starting August 27th. Here he shares his writing process, which was super fascinating to me as it is very different than my normal process and one that I'll be experimenting with myself in the future. There are only 15 spaces left in this super innovative and empowering course so if you feel now might be the time for you to hone or explore your picture book writing skills click here http://tinyurl.com/7r54ejz (it's only 249 for early birds with the price going up to 350 in August). Let me know what you think about Jim's book and this video. I love getting comments and please share : )

Monday, July 9, 2012

Exploring four children's picture books and a currency of caring

Hullo all,

Normally, I feature a picture book or board book video review that includes teaching tips for aspiring authors or illustrators, parents, and teachers. But this week I came upon the finiteness of my computer and even tho I shot 3 enticing videos, I didn't have room to upload, edit, and transfer them (groan). I've been so busy generating juicy content for the Picture Book Academy course starting August 27th that I didn't notice how many gigabites I'd used (unfortunately video eats up hard drive storage and saving movies onto an external hard drive is more complicated than you'd think).

So just for this week (I'll have it figured out by next week) I'm sharing an article I wrote for a top art education journal about four picture books that have some deep content, exploring how they intersect within the contexts of time and culture and the visual culture of money. Hopefully you're intrigued.

Because I was a university professor at the time, some of the language is a bit intellectual and if you come across any dense bits, just skip them to get at the good stuff about how picture books often carry important messages.

I'm also redesigning my old website and working on the Picture Book Academy site, so to give you a teaser, here's some compilation images I put together of some of the many books my former students have published. When I have time, I'll create more of these fun collages.


Award winners Kathryn Otoshi http://www.kokidsbooks.com/ • Yuyi Morales www.yuyimorales.com


Award winners Deborah Underwood www.deborahunderwood.com • Youme Lansdowne  http://216.150.2.26/youme/ • Debra Sartell www.debrasartell.com • Felicia Hoshino http://felishino.com/category/portfolio/books/ 


Award winner Lea Lyon www.lealyon.com • Brian Gage www.briangage.com • Hugh D'Andrade www.hughillustration.com • Brooke Scudder www.brookescudder.com • Mati Rose McDonough www.matirose.com • Karen Stanton http://www.karenstantonart.com/

If you're ready to work with me and join a supportive group of picture book people, do sign up for the first online Picture Book Academy e-course on writing and publishing children's picture books with this link  - there are only 20 spaces left). Add to Cart

And just a little FYI - Picture Book Writing and Publishing is a fun and empowering online course that comes with a money back guarantee and walks you through the steps of writing and submitting a children's picture books using a workshop format and lots of individual attention. It features fresh content 5 days a week from August 27th through October 7th including templates, pdfs, step by step directions, alternative approaches, critiques, written and video interviews with award winning authors, editors, and agents and much more. It is unlike anything ever offered before. At the end of the course, you will have a completed manuscript and cover letter targeted to a specific appropriate editor or agent. Questions? Feel free to email me at miraguy@gmail.com or visit www.picturebookacademy.com

And here's the link to download the article.
Reisberg Currency

Monday, July 2, 2012

Mondays with Mira and some really exciting news!!!

Last week I promised to share some incredibly exciting news and here it is for anyone interested in learning how to write children's picture books or board books. The Picture Book Academy is now open for enrollment with it's first online course - Writing Children's Picture Books for Publication. The course runs from August 27th through October 7th (with a week off Labor Day week) and is limited to 30 students to ensure lots of individual attention and critiques. 

Today is my first official day of announcing this course and there are currently 24 spaces left in what will be one of the most comprehensive, cutting-edge courses ever.

So the question is
Do you have a picture book in you?
One that you've already started that needs help? Or one that's been rejected and needs reworking to get at its essence with less words and more elegance? Or perhaps you are a total beginner with a tender idea that's hiding in there somewhere, longing to come out into the world?
Then this course could be what you've been waiting for and dreaming of!
Guest contributors include Elisa Kleven, Yuyi Morales, Alexis O'Neill, Caroline Arnold, Ashley Wolff, agent Mary Kole from MoveableType Management, editor Brett Dubuque from Sterling Publishing, and Andrea Tompa from Candlewick Press to name a few. Course content includes everything from genres to easy ways of creating a dynamic plot, to creating compelling characters, to children's developmental stages, to creating concept and non-fiction books, to poetry and prose, to finding your ideal publisher or agent, to how the business works and much more. Wow - I hope you are as excited as I am and do tell your smarter friends.
Here's the link to the Picture Book Academy www.picturebookacademy.com and the link to the course details http://tinyurl.com/74ajmxw
And if you don't want to miss out and are ready to register now - click on the "homage to Maurice Sendak" button below to register for 5 weeks of incredible content in this life-changing and enriching adventure - for only $249 (it even has a money back guarantee).

Or you can always just click here: http://tinyurl.com/7r54ejz

Now for this week's delightful board book Two at the Zoo written by Danna Smith and illustrated by Valerie Petrone, where you'll learn about how Danna works with rhyme and the sweet relationship of a boy and his granddad as they go to the zoo and practice counting together. Wonderful text and equally wonderful illustrations. Lots to learn from this lovely book, which I'm sure you'll enjoy apart from the dreadful lighting making me look a little ghoulish : )

Monday, June 25, 2012

No No Yes Yes - Mondays with Mira -Teaching Picture Books

Last week I promised some more exciting news but it will have to wait until later in the week after my newsletter people get first dibs. Trust me it is super exciting and my apologies for not getting this out sooner, but life has been a bit too wonderful with my twin sister and nephew here from Australia.

Meanwhile I have something a little different for Mondays with Mira... it's a board book!!! And even tho it only has 2 words that are each repeated to make 4 words max., it is very far from boring. You'll learn a lot about board books and some of the many things that babies and toddlers need to learn to become socialized little people: )



And after that I'm including some pics that Leonie and I took of each other and of my nephew and our little vacation to Fort Bragg.We've had a wonderful time together and am so sad that it's coming to an end : (
 
 From our little vacay up North in Fort Bragg. This is Glass Beach
 Here's Leonie with one of her first mosaic pieces. Leonie's first Master's Degree was in Photography from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was the first person in Australia to earn an MFA and Polaroid sponsored her many decades ago, supplying her with all sort s of cameras to test and push. As you can see I'm pretty proud of her. Her next degree was in Art Therapy from Pratt Institure where she also taught. Now she works with kids in Sydney www.kidslink.com.au
This pic below is one she took of her son, my nephew Sam, with my hubby Guy in the background.

 Here's Guy and me and Sam holding little portraits that Leonie and I made

 Here's Sam with the one I made of him (of course he gets to keep it)
 
 
 
 We went to a café in Fort Bragg and brought art supplies for a little art café experience. Always lots of fun.
 Must remember to look at this one whenever I think I look fat.
 This was on Leonie's camera looking out from her bedroom. Wild eh! These are galahs and they tend to be quite cheeky.

 This was supposed to be a professional head shot. We tend to have too much fun together.

 Me and Sam

 Me and the unicorn at Paxton Gate in SF. I think there's a resemblance.
Another of Leonie's beautiful photos
 And another
Photos by Guy
And Leonie. I hope you enjoyed : )

Monday, June 18, 2012

Mondays with Mira - The Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit

Welcome back. I have some good news this week and even better news next week. But right now today's good news is that I just sorted through all my children's picture books, of which I had an excessive amount, have purged the ones that aren't spectacular, and made 3 big piles of truly wonderful books to share with you in this Mondays with Mira series.

I chose today's book because I wanted to talk a little more about how to create a plot driven narrative and this book is a terrific example. It also has some lovely onomatopoeia, which if you're not sure what that is you'll either have to look it up or watch the video. First, a little viewer warning, if you're at all disturbed about the idea of animal poop, you may want to skip this week's video because The Little Mole Who Went I Search of Whodunit features lots of animal poop in detail. Intrigued? I hope so.

Finally, if you don't want to wait until next week to find out about my exciting news, sign up for my free newsletter here -  http://eepurl.com/hJCmQ where you can always get the latest news, free gifts, and special offerings : )

Monday, June 11, 2012

Mondays with Mira: How to Write and Illustrate Picture Books - Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead

Hullo. Today's video for older kids showcases Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead. It follows the classic plot driven structure of introducing a problem in the beginning - here the very first page, and then having a series of obstacles that the protagonist or main character has to overcome before solving the problem. Where this book differs though is that there are no children, only adults, and the main character does not overcome the problem. Hmmm, you'll have to watch to see what happens.

What I like about this book is how the author takes a concept book and makes a plot driven narrative with it that teaches us everything we need to know about an orchestra in a really engaging way. It's a bit long - but then it's Lemony Snicket and I imagine he pretty much gets to do whatever he likes. I also LOVE the watercolor and pen and ink illustrations by Carson Ellis which manage to be both minimal and excessive at the same time.

Finally, I want to apologize for the video quality not being the greatest. We've been experimenting with filming in different spots in the apartment and I kinda got buried in the couch in this one and the light was not good. Marge was also a little overenthusiastic with the zoom for some reason. Next video we're trying a tripod and either back in the dining room, my studio, or outside. Having said all this, the video still has plenty of helpful information in it. I hope you enjoy it : )




PS If you want to meet the wonderful Marge - here's her website http://www.octo-mystic.com/

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Challenges in making art - My responses to dealing with self-criticism, developing a style, finding time for creativity & more

A couple of weeks ago, I ran a contest and one of the questions was about challenges in making art. I really wanted to address as many of these as I could that I thought might be helpful for others as well and that also had multiple variations on the same theme. So here they are:

1. self-criticism
I wrote an article about this, which was guest posted on The Abundant Artist, a terrific resource for artists here's the link http://www.theabundantartist.com/critical-inner-voice-monster/  which if iI do say so myself : ) is pretty helpful!
We also do a fantastic transformational project for concretely dealing with this in the Hero's Art Journey.

2. having compassion for yourself
My favorite quote for this is from Stephen Levine in one of his books or one of the workshops I took with him and his extraordinary wife Ondrea years ago to - Treat yourself as if you were your only child.”  Meaning that if your only child were learning something and wasn't a born expert you'd have tenderness and compassion for them and reassure them that they were learning and it was truly all OK. This beautiful thought also applies to any form of messing up, where you have compassion for yourself and then do whatever you need to make it as right as you can.


3. finding time for creativity, courage, and prioritizing
This is pretty core in our current overflowingly time-crunched culture. 
Here are several strategies:
  • get up earlier to dedicate creative time
  • work in small blocks of time
  • block out sacred creativity time days or hours - if you block out hours set a timer to hold you accountable and get away from your computer and turn off the phone
  • go away or get your family to go away so you can have a working vacation
  • take a course where you have external accountability and goals
  • imagine that your life depends upon it or better yet someone you truly love's life depends upon it because in a way - it does - listening to our heart's desires and acting on our innate creativity makes us happier and therefore healthier people and makes us kinder and more loving to the people around us making them happier and therefor healthier people
other time tips if you are a visual artist include: 
  • working smaller and more portable. For example, I carry around some sheets of heavy weight paper or a sketch book and a piece of heavier back cardboard from a 9x12" sketchbook that I've torn off to act as an easel or small table, and whenever I'm stuck waiting anywhere I just whip it out and start drawing. Believe me the time flies and I get very happy.
  • along the portable lines, I love preparing smaller wood panels with acrylic paint textures and shapes and then relaxing on the couch when I'm truly pooped and drawing on them with an assortment of pens and markers. I also sometimes take them in by bag with the pens and work on them when I'm waiting somewhere. The panels don't need any kind of support underneath and my knees work just fine.
courage
Yes it takes courage to be creative and to carve out time for something that may never have rewards that are commonly validated in our culture eg fame and fortune. But I do know from my dissertation research that art saves lives and that when you embrace that part of yourself, you're happier.

3. "getting past the fear of putting my art out there and fear of being successful"

Unfortunately the only way out sometimes is through. Do read the Critical Inner Voice article, which you might find helpful and take baby steps. Show your work in safe environments such as a course environment or among friends where you can get good helpful criticism. Learn as much as you can by taking courses where you improve your skills then start putting it out. Don't worry about getting successful. Your chances of that happening before you've put in a bunch of time and effort and work are slim. It does occasionally happen but it's rare. I love the extremes tho - am I good enough - to what if I get wildly successful. There's a middle ground worth seeking and always tell yourself -"I'm learning and growing." It really helps for whatever stage you're at both as a source of comfort and a reminder for humility.


4. how to teach art to others
Pay attention to what you like in how others teach and apply that to your own teaching. 
Read books on education and the art of teaching


5. "The fact that I can't paint or draw at ALL"
If you can drive you can draw or paint. It's as simple as that. Remember when you first learned to drive and how totally overwhelming it was and how reflexive it is now. It's the same with drawing. When you do one action e.g. putting down some proportional guidelines of where features sit in a face, and then you adapt them for a specific face, after a while you don't need those guidelines. You just know where they are supposed to be. The more you do it, the more skilled you'll become, especially if you have good teachers and really pay attention to what's around you and in front of you.


6. "Honing in on a style that truly feels my own"
Ah that's a challenge, especially if you like to experiment and try lots of different things. My style has definitely changed over the years but I think I have a specific look because I like bold shapes and color contrasts. I just do what feels right and true for me. Maybe put all your different styles together and see which speaks most to you or not worry about having one particular style and instead develop several bodies of work that are perhaps both conceptually and stylistically linked.


7. If my love for art will be overpowered by the reality of maybe having to put it aside to making a better living
This is where you have to decide what a better living is and how much you need. Here in the States we tend to sell our life blood for goods and it's not a good trade off. If there's any way you can swing working part time until you can either a) develop a following and decent financial return for your art, or b) come into a sweet inheritance, that's the best you can probably do (unless you have a partner who earns enough and is willing to support you). Reality sucks sometimes.


8. Someone mentioned the challenges of promoting creative works, which I'm not going to answer except to say it's all about social media these days - Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, Pinterest, and having a blog. All major time sucks but also very rewarding in other ways


I think I answered all the comments and hope they've been super helpful


love xox Mira

Monday, June 4, 2012

Mondays with Mira - How to Write a Picture Book - Baby Bear Sees Blue!

(Quick note - for those of you who participated in the contest, my next post will be for you but as it's already Monday - this one needed to come first.)

How to Write a Picture Book (and Illustrate it too)

I've been talking about "first seduction then deconstruction" as a technique for teaching about picture books but I've decided to simplify my titles to How to Write a Picture Book (even tho it also includes illustration). Right now my technique involves reading the story and then going back and talking about what makes it work!

So in that spirit, today's wonderful book is from my friend Ashley Wolff who you can meet briefly further down in another post and in any of my online courses.

As you will see in this seemingly simple story, Ashley packs a tremendous amount in for very young minds as they learn about all sorts of good things in Baby Bear Sees Blue, using spare rhyming text and beautiful and clever illustrations. I hope you like it. This video is also kind of a love letter to Ashley who is one of the many gifts in the world.


Thursday, May 31, 2012

Contest Prize Winners and a little more about mandalas and courage

Although I've won my share of prizes and awards, I always felt like a loser when I didn't so I created a contest where everyone was a winner and because some people had the courage to enter this contest and talk about things that were meaningful for them (fears or challenges around creativity), I made sure that they got even more bonuses. So, I sent hi res pics of some animal mandalas that were incredible fun to make along with instructions on how to make them using traditional materials as well as with Photoshop (more work putting that tutorial together than I expected). Here are some low res pics of some of their pressies/prizes. If you end up posting them please credit me and refer folks either to this blog or my FB page Mira Reisberg Art and Education : )
 
I love these weird funky peacocks and the negative spaces in between them.

This was a bonus worksheet from the Hero's Art Journey e-course teaching about symmetry and balance in composition (one of the foundational elements and principles of art taught in art school, or alternative art schools : ).

And my current favorite of abstracted flamingos that I created for the Photoshop tutorial today. As I wrote in the tutorial - it can be fun to really abstract things and see where they take your brain. This piece is called: "Dance of the Flamingos” or “Eight Birds Merge.”

And now onto the main contest winners. I used Rafflecopter for the first time and it wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be in selecting the winners. I think I confused it by giving everyone prizes. So I chose 2 of the big prizes randomly and 2 by comments.

Drum roll please .....

Julie Hedlund for the Hero's Art Journey e-course where she will learn to draw at last guided by lots of worksheets, video demos, me and the support of a small but super smart group of wonderful people.

Nicole Zoltack because I love her name and it sounds like a great fit for the journey (this is pretty random).

Skype Picture Book manuscript or art critiques:
Jennifer Young and Nadia Roldan - Hooray and congratulations to everyone who entered and still won something and Jennifer - thank you for your flexibility - it paid off.

In my next blog post, I'd like to address some of the really good comments that came up in response to the question about challenges in being creative. Right now I'm pooped and I have a movie to edit : )

Monday, May 28, 2012

Mondays with Mira: Teaching Picture Books Review - Elisa Kleven's Sun Bread

Major Blogger snafu, it didn't automatically post at midnight as scheduled or save and then Guy and I went out to see the Avengers in 3D (interesting mix of mythology and sci fi - but more and more I'm thinking all fiction is a form of myth telling). So anyway, here it is now - Mondays with Mira - First Seduction, then Deconstruction.

And today's picture book is the ever wonderful Elisa Kleven's Sun Bread. As you will see, this book is a type of myth making too and would be especially delightful to read to children on a cold wet day. Just a quick note that I didn't include in the video, although the rhymes are not perfect, the book pretty much is. The reason for this is that Elisa never loses the rhythm or flow in her language so that the words sail along like a good story should. I hope you enjoy. This book is one of my current faves.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Cool Contest Where Everyone is a Winner


Everyone loves to be a winner, so I’m running a contest from now until May 29th only. Everyone who participates gets to be a winner! So act fast!

Here are the prizes:

1st prize (there are 2) - Free admission into the life-changing Hero’s Art Journey e-course where you learn to access or deepen your art and life skills starting June 4th. Value $198.00 each! (More about this later)

2nd prize (also 2 available) - 1 hr free art or picture book writing or illustration consultation via Skype where I get to work my magic as the Picture Book Whisperer!

And everyone receives a free art gift of a totemic animal mandala made by yours truly with instructions on how to make them yourself just for participating.


Here's a low res peek at the totem animal mandala that includes some of the animals that are especially potent for me right now - sea-horses for love and fidelity and their ability to swim in and out of small places, leopards for strength and beauty, kangaroos because my twin is coming from Australia and I love how kangaroos can jump/aim high and bound across open spaces and they have a built in belly pouch that doesn't make them look fat : ), flowers because of the beauty they bring and the whole composition is about play - something I strive to have as much of as possible. 

I teach animal drawing and mandalas as part of the course but you'll get a sneak peek for making mandalas with this prize. I'm keeping it as a coloring page for you or your kids to play with and embellish in any way that you like using pencils, paint, glitter, whatever and am not sure yet whether I will refine it or not (kinda liking the roughness) and may play with it some more (not sure yet). You will also get instructions on how to make mandalas yourself either using Photoshop or by hand.

We do mandalas because they are incredibly calming and centering to both look at and make. Super easy and lots of fun!


 
Here's the easy peasy contest widget : )
a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Here's a little information about the course followed by a short sweet video.

The Hero's Art Journey is for Very Beginning to Advanced Artists, Children’s Picture Book Illustrators and Authors, Therapists, Mothers, and Teachers, and anyone interested in exploring or deepening their art and life skills. It starts June 4th and runs through July 16th with a week off beginning June 18th. It is hosted on a password protected blog and gallery with fresh content 5 days a week, gentle critiques that push you, and loving community interaction.

The course is inspired by Joseph Campbell's work on the hero's journey and Valerie Frankel's on the female counterpart, which provides a frame to really go on a journey together. The Hero's Art Journey is very much for progressive thinkers who would like to explore their creativity in meaningful ways while also accessing their intuitive sides.


During the hands-on 6-week e-course starting June 4, 2012, you will:
Explore how fine art, picture books and mythology connect
Discover how to work with a wide range of materials and techniques
Uncover your own style and symbol language
Adapt the projects for you own needs Create art suitable for exhibition, sales, or inclusion in your children’s book illustration portfolio
Learn about the narrative arc of most fiction in your own life!
Connect with supportive and like minded artists

You get to do as much as you like to discover your sweet spot with as many or as few of these materials and techniques as you like: acrylics, watercolors, Victorian silhouettes, mixed media, collage, mixed media, stamp making, transferring images, drawing people, gods, goddesses, guardian angels, animals dragons, monsters or landscapes. I'll be providing video and written demos along with worksheets and downloadable pdfs to help - you get to pick and choose what works for you. We also have fantastically helpful guest interviews and tons of other goodies. Visit www.herosartjourney.com for more information (and to read the inspiring testimonials) or contact me at miraguy@gmail.com : ) Good luck with the contest. It's a good one!


AND if you are not a contest person - You can still enroll now at half-off with this link http://bit.ly/InCDa0

Monday, May 21, 2012

And now for the video!!!

Major blogger technical frustration in the post below this one - do read it if you are interested in hearing about our fabulous (but unnerving for me) Illustrators' Day.

If not just sit back and enjoy and watch our short and sweet Mondays with Mira teaching picture books video review. After filming it I realized I really  should have spoken a little about the bold shapes and colors which are very appealing for young kids and the ways different elements "point to each other" as well as how effective and artful the minimal use of text is in conveying this clever concept. I hope you enjoy : )


SCBWI conference and Mondays with Mira - First Seduction then Deconstruction - Dog Food

I'm thrilled to say I have a very short video today about idioms, vernacular language or sayings, dogs and playing with food. Short and sweet. But I have a rather longish post about something really exciting that I was involved with this weekend -

The SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) first ever Illustrator's Day conference for our region. I had the honor of helping to organize this with my illustrator co-coordinator Kris Aro McLeod and wonderful mentoring and assistance from our Northern California Central regional advisers Erin Dealey and Patricia Newman. We also had fantastic help from Catherine Felt (assistant RA) and Robin Howard and a great panel of published peeps including Lori Mortenson, Kim Zarins, Lea Lyon, Patti Newman, and Joy Allen. Super informative and very fun.

Because it's really hard in our area to get illustrators to show up we ended up broadening it to be for both authors and illustrators so each got to learn from the other. This created some challenges for our illustrious guests who really rose to the occasion.

We had Rotem Moscovitch from Disney Hyperion (who is one of the stellar editors from their award winning trade book (rather than mass market Disney characters) side of their publishing, literary agent Mary Kole of Moveable Type Management and KidLit.com and Ashley Wolff author illustrator of over 60 books. Wow! The talent was amazing. We also had great audience participation which also helped make it very successful.

Ashley is an old friend who recently returned from doing a school visit in India (way to go Ashley) and she brought me back a magical parasol from India.


Well it turns out I really needed that parasol. The night before I had terrible insomnia and when I did finally fall asleep in the wee hours had the worst nightmares that I've had in years. The conference room was tripple booked and I was trying to get football players and performing kids and 6'5" tall drag queens out the room so we could have the conference and I wasn't being prepared to introduce the guests and had flesh eating bacteria on my face and of course I ended up naked, except for a piece of foam in front of me, and really grungy underwear wherein I said "well the lesson in this is always wear your best underwear because you never know if you might end up like me." (How's that for a run on sentence? : )

I'm happy to say that none of this came true but when I introduced the faculty I used the magical parasol and it really gave me strength and confidence (thank you Ashley). Whenever I was flagging, I touched the parasol, getting energy and inspiration and remembered how lucky I am that I have so many fantastic friends and get to do meaningful work. I had to do a lot of thinking on my feet and had a few embarrassing moments but not too many. Cannot tell you how relieved I was when it was over.

And here I am with Ashley. This photo doesn't do her justice. She's an incredibly beautiful amazon.



For anyone interested in learning about picture books www.SCBWI.org is a fantastic resource and I'm delighted to be part of this organization. I'm also delighted to be teaching in-person and online courses like the Hero's Art Journey which explores the classic narrative arc underlying most fiction and mythology in our own lives while teaching very beginning to professional artists and children's picture book people lots of art and life skills using fine art and you guessed it - picture books. It's totally unlike anything else out there and includes video interviews with Ashley and lots of other amazing folks. The journey starts in only 2 weeks on June 4th, visit www.herosartjourney.com for more information or if you are ready to sign up use this half off link http://bit.ly/InCDa0 for only 99.00 And if you have any questions feel free to email me at miraguy@gmail.com


Mondays with Mira: First Seduction then Deconstruction - Elisa Kleven's Sun Bread

I had some technical difficulties with this film but it ended up being fine. I hope you enjoy this 10 minute video of one of Elisa Kleven's picture books "Sun Bread." With thanks to Marge Kalhor for filming it.


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mondays with Mira - Teaching Picture Books Reviews - Bootsie Barker Bites

Each week as I make these videos, I think about what would be most helpful for people writing and illustrating picture books in terms of technique and what publishers are looking for these days. I think this book fits the bill even tho it was written in the 70s it would still in all likelihood be published today because it is still very relevant and both the writing and art hold up well. I imagine if it were published today, it would probably be designed differently with better quality paper (at least in my edition).

So without further ado, introducing today's video review featuring the delightful "Bootsie Barker Bites," written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann. It's a cleverly written story with a great plot that starts on the very first page with a major problem that our heroine has to overcome. The illustrations match and extend the text in fun ways as the author and illustrator deal with the timely topic of bullying. Wait for the twist at the end. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


Monday, May 7, 2012

Mondays with Mira: Pleasurable Picture Book Reviews - Our California

I'm so excited about this weeks review of the wonderful Pam Muñoz Ryan's Our California, beautifully illustrated with experimental acrylic techniques by Rafael Lopez.

This week you'll learn about rhyme, why editors hate it and one way to approach it, more about non-fiction and the experimental acrylic techniques that  Rafael uses in his illustrations and that I also teach in the Hero's Art Journey e-course starting June 2nd http://www.herosartjourney.com/

I hope you enjoy. This one is shorter than last week's. Whew!


Also thanks to Gurpreet Singh from http://www.tech-hacks.com/ for showing me how to make share buttons for my blog at last, and Elizabeth Stevens Olmor for holding my hand while I actually did them.

I also have a really embarrassing confessional guest post for her picture book blog of banana peelin slips ups. Her blog is awesome! http://bananapeelin.blogspot.com/2012/05/banana-peelin-with-mira-reisberg.html%20

So go forth, multiply and share : )

Monday, April 30, 2012

Mondays with Mira - Pleasurable Picture Book Reviews - Abe Lincoln Crosses A Creek

Today's pleasurable picture book review revisits the concept of postmodernism in this terrific unusual biography of Abraham Lincoln (and his friend) written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by John Hendrix, published by Schwartz and Wade.

It's a longer story than usual (biographies usually have more text) but both the text and images are super clever in themselves and in their relationship. I hope you can put aside 15 minutes to sit back and enjoy me mangling a Southern accent with my mid Pacific neither fish nor fowl hybrid Australian/American accent as you learn about this terrific book and what this author and illustrator did to make it so good.



I also wanted to share that it's difficult to write a good publishable picture book biography. They're a hard sell in today's market unless they're done in really unusual and innovative ways as this book is.

Here are some authors who do it very well - Marissa Moss,Jeri Chase Ferris, Lori Mortenson, Kathleen Krull, Pam Muños Ryan, Nikki Giovanni, and Barbara Kerley.

If you have a passion for picture book biographies here are some tips for writing one:
Use an unconventional narrator or point of view.
Make it lyrical or full of fun idioms and vernacular language.
Focus in on one particular grand incident to create a narrative arc of how the hero of the story overcomes obstacles to achieve their greatness (see the Hero's Art Journey)
Find a fascinating character who has contemporary relevance and bring them to life e.g. Steve Jobs or Rigoberta Menchu (Nobel and other big prize winners are good but you could also write about someone really bad too like Joseph Stalin as a bully or some other deeply flawed character).

Here's a title of a Barbara Kerlin story that also acts as a primer on writing biographies - The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According To Susy) 

I hope you've enjoyed today's free  video review/lesson on picture book writing and illustrating, postmodernism, and biographies. Thank you Deborah and John for your wonderful book.
Please share this series with anyone you know who is interested in picture books : )

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Mondays with Mira - Firefighters in the Dark and a little creative heaven

I had an amazing but exhausting weekend in creative heaven. First off was a truly fabulous Society of Children's Picture Book Writers and Illustrators conference on Saturday thanks to our awesome regional advisers Patricia Newman and Erin Dealey who happen to be super talented themselves, super smart and organized assistant RA Catherine Felt, my co-illustration coordinator Kris Aro McLeod, the many lovely volunteers and the fantastic speakers. Kudos to all (especially the leadership). I managed to film two of the editors (who I also fell in love with) asking penetrating and hopefully super helpful questions for my upcoming courses at the Picture Book Academy, and they were both super insightful and very generous : )

Then today I went to San Francisco with one of my students from the last Hero's Art Journey course and we took a class with Maya Gonzalez. Maya contributed to the Hero's Art Journey course and will also be featured in the Picture Book Academy. I did my first Mondays with Mira on her one of her books, My Colors My World, and absolutely adore her and her brilliance. Maya is also putting on what will be a fantastic mini conference on radical self-publishing May 12th in San Francisco and she even has some scholarships. Here are the links www.reflectionpress.com/conference and www.reflectionpress.com/scholarships

I've known and worked with Maya for over 20 years and everything she does is extraordinary.

I also want to give a shout out to folks about our upcoming Northern California Central Society of Children's Picture Book Writers and Illustrators Day in Rancho Cordova (near Sacramento). All I can say for now is it will be incredible and intimate. Here is the link http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5iax92k36da453f&llr=bvqcu5dab do check it out.

The class Karen and I took with Maya was on Ink and brush as teacher. It was intense and brilliant taking both of us places we didn't expect to go. We spent the day drawing and painting hands but connecting them somatically to the rest of our bodies using inks, which are kind of challenging as are hands. We meditated and painted and discussed and if I have time, I'll post my pictures and tell you about the process later this week. Of course I'm super pooped but I wanted to get this up and out for your viewing and listening pleasure first thing on Monday.

So it's onward and upward to Mondays with Mira, First Seduction then Deconstruction - Pleasurable Picture Book Reviews!!!!
Today we're going to take a quick peek at Postmodernism in Picture Books with the delightful book Firefighters in the Dark, written by Dashka Slater and illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli. So settle down and have a watch, learn a little about Postmodernism and be prepared to go where you don't expect to go. You can find out more about Dashka at www.dashkaslater.com



I hope you enjoyed Firefighters in the Dark as much as I did and do check out the Hero's Art Journey half-off special here www.herosartjourney.com and let your friends know : )

Friday, April 20, 2012

Hero's Art Journey Limited-Time Half-Off SPECIAL!!!

My last Hero's Art Journey course was so wonderful that I decided to give a limited-time half-off special. From now until May 3rd only, you can join this wonderful adventure for $99 for 6 weeks of inspiration, education, and empowerment that will last a life time, starting June 4th 2012 with a week off June 17th-24th. All course materials will remain available for another 3 weeks so folks can take it at their leisure.

This course is geared toward very beginning to professional artists, therapists and teachers, aspiring or experienced children's picture book creators, and adventurers on a spiritual path.  

Rather than tooting my own horn - here are some testimonials:

Hero’s Art Journey provided me with a bounty of information on art history, materials, techniques, and interpretation.  The projects elicited tremendous self-reflection in a nurturing environment.  The gallery of gently critiqued shared artwork, was one of the most valuable parts of the course—I couldn’t wait to see what everyone created each week. Mira fosters a nurturing and supportive environment in which everyone is comfortable being creative, vulnerable, and honest. This course is relevant to both skilled artists and beginners as you are free to work at your own pace and to focus on your own growth as an artist. 
~ Jennifer N. (elementary teacher and beginning artist)

Thanks to you, I've learned oodles about technique and come to the end of the course feeling richer in very deep and personal ways Thank you for all your hard work, but especially thank you for your honesty and for sharing your open-hearted generosity with us.  Nancy L.

If you need someone to push you outside your box I highly recommend taking Mira's course. Even if you're not sure you have the time, its still worth every minute you can squeeze in. Attending Mira's course is like having a personal trainer. And, the input from all the other students builds on the entire experience. Through her concept of 'hero' I was able to identify with the themes and truly take my 'journey' to the next level. I feel 'unstuck' after several years of spinning. Just do it! Really! ~ Kary L. (professional illustrator)

Your course is Fantastic! The depth and breath of it, in every direction, is really astonishing. Even though some of the course content is not new to me, I love the way you have organized it. I can see they way you are thinking and processing information and I feel so much admiration for you. I also love to see how many people dare to do art thanks to you!
 Thank you for including me is this journey. ~ Elizabeth G. (Fine artist, contributor, and children's book illustrator)

Wow, so many great demos. I think I'll do stamps, no, maybe water color, but maybe gouache would be better. Or texture and stamps. So many options. Since we have a breather week coming up, I'll continue mulling for a while. Loved all the demos. Thanks! ~ Sherry York (artist and picture book expert)

Because we are on-line [we] can go at our own pace, taking and leaving the parts we need or don’t, I like that there is lots to look at and think about.... You give so much more... than what you are charging for it.... 
I’m getting more courage, a little braver with each piece that I work on. I also really, really enjoy seeing everyone else’s work.  There are some amazing artists in our class! ~ Karen Jonsson 

 As a beginner, I love all of the content, the demonstrations and ideas. I am tucking it all away in parts of my new artist’s brain. I am a person who paces myself, so I see this being in my life for a long time.... I love the interaction on Flickr with many of the artists who have been at it for a while. I love how they use the big official words and I look them all up. It is like learning a new language. It is fun to listen to the critiques, as I learn that way.  What I do is from such an intuitive, non technique, non-classical, unsophisticated place, that when I hear what people are commenting, I learn it backwards! Its how I roll. I hope I will always maintain a beginner's mind.

I love your gentle, open spirit in this class and your willingness to be vulnerable and pass on your years of wisdom.  ~ Wendy Sullivan, Wind Gypsy (CowgirlzSpa)

Mira has been a great inspiration and has allowed openness and vulnerability in her class. Her honest approach and caring for her students is encouraging.  She brings knowledge and experience that is invaluable. This has been a wonderful course that has taught me valuable skills that I will continue in the future. - Carrie Thebo, therapist

The course has been a wonderful mix of 'everything'. Life happens and art happens, and this class is a wonderful catalyst for making art happen while life goes on it's busy-body little way. ~ Kirsten Carlson (artist)


I love teaching and empowering others. I create a safe and inspiring community to help people access or deepen their creativity, finding more joy to learn different ways of doing and seeing things. Do join us.


Add to Cart 

Everyone creates work that is uniquely theirs in the course. Here is a piece that I recently made from one of the pieces created for the last Hero's Art Journey. Yep, it's peeling the layers of the old onion getting deeper and deeper.Still not finished but I'm happy with my work in progress.


Monday, April 16, 2012

Mondays with Mira - A Pleasurable Picture Book Review of "Just a Minute" by Yuyi Morales

This week, I'm featuring one of my favorite author/illustrators - Yuyi Morales's Just a Minute. This is both a concept and plot driven book that deals with death and Mexican traditions in the funnest way. I hope you enjoy and if you have any specific books you'd like me to review, or you have a traditionally published book that you'd like me to review do contact me at miraguyATgmail.com or comment below : ) And don't miss Yuyi's website at www.yuyimorales.com

Other BIG NEWS - I'm offering an amazing half off my Hero's Art Journey e-course where Yuyi is one of the many contributors and people do amazing and unexpected things such as learning to draw, paint and collage, or deepen their existing skills, create picture book portfolio pieces and learn about the archetypal story underlying so much literature and film. Learn about multiculturalism, world mythology, children's picture books, contemporary and historical art and build a wonderful community as each person explores their own personal hero's journey. If you are here on my blog, you might be getting called to take this adventure. The special ends May 3rd and please tell your friends about it! www.herosartjourney.com

And now it's - showtime!!!  : )



Monday, April 9, 2012

Mondays with Mira: The Quiet Book Review

It's another Monday for  First Seduction then Deconstruction -pleasurable picture book reviews.And what a treat it was reviewing former student Deborah Underwood's NYT bestselling picture book - "The Quiet Book," which is really quite ingenious. It's another one of those seemingly simple books that actually has tons of teachable moments both for children and aspiring picture book creators.

After you've watched it, you might want to scroll down to watch some other picture book reviews or you might want to visit Deborah Underwood's website at http://www.deborahunderwoodbooks.com

I hope you enjoy this book and review and tell your friends about it : )

xxoxx yours in picture book love ~ Mira

Saturday, April 7, 2012

A Wonderful Week of Small Triumphs and Social Connections : )

What a phenomenal week visiting and filming the incredible Yuyi Morales for something really exciting that I have cooking. She is so brilliant and amazing and I am so blessed to have her as one of my friends. Her website needs updating (who's doesn't?) www.yuyimorales.com You'll love her as much as I do.

Got to work with Marge who I adore http://www.herosartjourney.com/about.html (scroll down) and www.octo-mystic.com

Also did some Skype consulting with a very gifted picture book author and illustrator who is going to be very successful. Skype is amazing in that I can bring her images into Photoshop and teach her Photoshop skills while teaching her more effective ways of guiding the eye, foregrounding what's important, creating visual relationships, positioning type etc.

Worked with my business coach Beth Barany who is teaching me how to leave my struggling artist identity behind and embrace the creative entrepreneurial spirit that I need to flourish.

Then I  got a lovely compliment from fabulous non-fiction writer Jeri Chase Ferris for the website that I designed for her www.jerichaseferris.com (yep, I picked that picture for her home page).

Did some work contacting presenters for our first Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Northern California Central Illustrator's Day (for both authors adn illustrators - next year it will be called Picture Book Day). My co-illustrator coordinator Kris Aro McLeod and I have worked really hard organizing it with help from our regional advisers for May 19th in Sacramento. It will be awesome with great speakers, opportunities, and door prizes, so don't miss out if you are in Northern California! http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5iax92k36da453f&llr=bvqcu5dab

And then finally, I received some beautiful emails from students from the picture book writing and illustrating course that just finished. What a wonderful week.

Sometimes I really love my life  : )

Monday, April 2, 2012

12x12x12 Contest Winners

In March, I held a contest for a free 1hr children's picture book Skype consultation on Julie Hedlund's 12x12x12 blog that went with a guest article on the 4 Ps of Publishing Children's Picture Books and asked folks to respond on which of the Ps they most needed help with to win the consultation with today being the deadline. I decided that I would wait and respond to all the comments at the end within the posting area which turned out to be a big mistake as the comments area is very limited. I wanted to respond and help each person in any way I could so I spent most of the day working on these. So now they're going in the main part. I hope this is OK with folks but here it is. The winners are at the end. And after that in the post below this is today's fabulous video picture book review in Monday's with Mira - First seduction then Deconstruction - The Pleasures of Picture Books.

Next time, I'm going to be more on top of things and respond to comments as they come in. Here they are...

Bobbie said... Great post. For me, the hardest 'P' is persistence. I love to paint, I love to write, but I fall short on selling. I find it hard to send out my work and one rejection makes me want to give up. March 5, 2012 6:57 AM

This is probably my greatest downfall too. I have a bunch of stories and a couple of dummies ready to go, but am I sending them out? Inspired by you am going to send out 2 dummies and cover letters today. Am thinking of doing a "Send it out Week" for picture book people in July with lots of support and suggestions for open houses to submit to and how to deal with rejection/strengthening letters etc. and maybe even a guest or 2 and prizes of course. What do you think?

Robyn C. said... I read your post and I am P for patience or should I say lack thereof. I truly loved reading your advice in there. It is now in a folder, lest I forget, I can read it anytime. As to how I can address this bad P of mine eludes me. I was thinking that I can practice my patience on every draft that I know must be redone. (Even though to me, every draft I write is perfect. Ha haaa) I especially loved your timely advice on joining Lawyers for the Arts, if I have one in my area and seeing an intellectual property lawyer. Thank you for taking the time. : )

Ah, you are lovely Robyn. Meditation might be helpful or just seeing yourself as if you were your only child as Steven Levine says, where you talk yourself thru that this is all a learning process rather than being frustrated that it takes time and multiple revisions to do something really good. Hope this helps.


Pam said... I'm a beginner, therefore ALL P's apply to me. Yet the one that resonated with me the deepest was, PRODUCT. I read and re-read this post. I want my work to be exceptional. Learning to do "...whatever it takes to have your work be the very best... whatever the characteristic" will be my mantra. I have much to learn and much to do. I thank you very much.

Pam - what a lovely response - thank you! 

Jennifer said... Thank you for all your advice Mira. I struggle with patience. I'm learning from my mistakes though.
  
Jennifer - see my response to Robyn. You are definitely not alone  

Elizabeth Stevens Omlor said... Mira! Teach me! I am learning to be more patient, however it is the P for product I struggle with the most. I love to write and read how to write and read what others write...I guess I am just waiting for my product to be ready and polished enough for the world to see!

Elizabeth, I have absolutely no doubt that you will get there. Your blog when you write is so funny and smart http://bananapeelin.blogspot.com/ just bring that to your kids books. Yes I totally want to be your teacher too but must read and respond to everyone else too to be fair  

Cindy said... Wow...all the P's have their own struggles for me, but I would have to say Patience is the hardest. Not just with Picture Books, but in other areas of my life as well I hurry to get to the next level, next thing, next goal. Taking the time to wait and see, to take deep breaths and have faith over time is my biggest challenge. Thanks for the wonderful post!

Cindy, I hear you about always rushing, but slowing down can be really delicious too. What works for me is to go away for a few days and hunker down at a friends house and just work. It's wonderful focused time without the distractions of my regular life. Also for some bizarre reason, I do some of my best most creative writing when someone else is driving, doesn't mater if the radio is on, I'm able to just screen everything out and be with my project. Can be hard to read what I wrote later - good car suspension helps  


Anonymous said... Mira, I'm willing to live by the law of the 4 P's - dedicated, devoted, and dutiful - but the hardest by far is Product, since I'm terribly hard on myself (dare I say "perfectionist"?) I hope and dream that time and experience will help to address this little "P" - and continued attention to the "P" for Patience. Thank you for the inspiration! NotAnonymously yours, Melissa K.

Melissa - this is great to read. There are places that perfectionism is good and this is one of them. You want your work to be the very best it can be. But you don't need to be hard on yourself with it. Hopefully you read the loving kindness thing earlier. Do take it to heart. I also want to tell you a story I heard a long time ago about how Persian carpet makers always pull a thread so that it's imperfect as the only thing that should be perfect is God. There's also a terrific book called The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown that you might enjoy. Thank you for your comment. 

Julie said... Your 4 Ps are so interwoven it seems impossible for me to discriminate! The way you describe passion is what I would call an affliction and I can't function any other way! It is the driving force for the rest. I feel good about all four P's, but Product is what I would choose here. I cannot afford to attend a conference anytime soon, so I am reading everything I can to make up for it as best I can; I write every day, draw every day - I don't go anywhere without my sketchbook! Thanks Mira, for prompting me to really think about the 4 Ps.

Julie, thank you for your comment! Sketchbooks are an awesome way to keep track and work out your ideas on the go, and yes, reading/researching whatever you can find is a good alternative when you aren't able to make conferences.

Gail said... Great advice, Mira. My P downfall is patience: Patience with myself when I'm frustrated feeling that I can't overcome whatever writing challenge I'm facing and Patience in waiting to here back from editors or agents, knowing that one person's work isn't right for all and that rejections are a part of the process. I have the Persistence to go on (after a little sniffling or cursing over a rejection). Have you considered adding PROCESS as another P? As in any profession, there is a process to learn and follow in order to master the craft. So many newbies (myself included sometimes) don't understand the process one needs to go through, first the writing/revision process, then the connection to agents/editors process, and finally the publishing process. It does truly require PATIENCE, PASSION, PERSISTENCE, and a good PRODUCT!

Hello Gail! I definitely feel you on the frustration in waiting to hear back from editors and agents, the key is to keep busy! If you draft something new and you're totally excited about it, the endorphins will carry over and make potential rejection a little less painful. I like the idea of Process being a total process gal myself, but kinda feel it's already woven in there. Hopefully my previous comments on patience will help  

Darshana said... Thanks for the post. My hardest P is persistence. I am a beginning writer and a perfectionist, so needless to say I have an impossible time writing first drafts and most days I feel like my writing is mediocre at best. Luckily through SCBWI and the 12x12er's I have made a lot of friends that keep me chugging along. My other downside is I get nervous when talking to strangers. I dread the day I have to pitch my book to an agent or editor at a conference. Hopefully by then I will have confidence.

Darshana - Confidence comes with doing it. As the saying goes "the only way out is through" So glad you've made a bunch of friends to support you on your journey. Hope you read my earlier responses on patience and persistence earlier. And it is a journey - welcome to the wild ride. 

Penny Klostermann said... Wonderful post. The “P” I struggle with the most is patience. In particular, the revising. I want to get it right the first or second time, but have learned that revisiting is unbelievably productive. It continues to amaze me how I see things differently after I let my manuscript “simmer” a few days or weeks. On a positive note, I want to mention the "P" that I feel is my strongest. That would be passion. I love picture books. I frequent the library and have 30-40 books checked out at all times. Some stay in my house longer so that I can reread and study the craft. I try not to bore others who aren't so interested in picture books, but really know in my heart that they are missing out on one of the joys of life. They sort of look at me funny when they are talking about their latest novel and I say I am reading picture books!!! I love novels, too. But my heart is taken by picture books.

Penny - I LOVE your passion. A great indicator for potential future success! 

Cathy M said... I do try to mind my P's and Q's - Product and Quality! Passion, patience and persistence are my pals. The last P is for Puzzle - putting all these Pieces together! Thanks for a fun post!

Brought to you by the letter P! Very clever. Thank you Cathy  

Kirsten L said... I think the biggest challenge is patience for sure. Children's publishing seems to move at a snail's pace compared to industries I've worked in: PR, marketing, fundraising and business. I think just reminding myself of the tortoise and the hare could help. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Love your attitude Kirsten. It will really help you. Maybe put a picture of the hare and the tortoise where you write to remind yourself. Ashley Wolff's Stella and Roy is a wonderful retelling with exquisite illustrations  

Genevieve said... Having patience is difficult for me. I live in fear of being a one-book-wonder. I TRY to be patient and look at each rejection as a stepping stone toward success, but aargh! It's tough.

Genevieve, what can I say? - the only way is through. You've done it once - you can absolutely do it again. The key word for you in persistence (to go along with patience). Don't give up! 

Vivian said... Thank you, Mira, for sharing a simple way for picture book writers to assess themselves so they succeed. I think these four P's could apply to any goal we strive towards. Passion: check! I've been passionate about picture books for over 60 years...cannot bear to leave a picture book at a yard sale...feel I have to rescue each one. Persistance: check! My husband says I am the most tenacious person he has ever met...and he has known me for almost 50 years. Patience: check! We are all given at least one great gift...I am patient with everyone and everything. Product: hmmmm. Yes, product is where I must concentrate my energies. Thanks to Julie. Susanna and the others in this amazing picture book community, I'm writing picture books again...can you see my beaming smile?

Oh Vivian - you know how to tug on a teacher's heart. It sounds like you've got what it takes, you just have to persist with your skill building. Attending conferences is also a brilliant way of learning lots and if you don't win the consult today - I'm going to be teaching an absolutely amazing picture book writing course in August that will teach you step by step in super innovative ways how to write a fantastic kids book.

Heather said... Persistence is where I fall short in my work. Ideas I jot down and don't pursue, sketches that never make it into finished pieces, half finished portfolio's. I am actively working on this aspect of my creative self. Your post on Julie's blog is wonderful.

Heather - thank you for this. Sometimes giving yourself a timer where you have to accomplish something in a specific amount of time can be really helpful. Perhaps breaking it down into timed incremental steps. I tend to do well with deadlines. Maybe you're the same? So glad that you are actively working on this. 

Wendy said... Thank you so much for sharing your passion with us, Mira! I don't need a picture book whisperer, I need a picture book hollerer. I have the passion (or I must be tetched to keep at this) and the persistence. It's a combination of patience and product placement (a double P!) that resonates with me. I'm not an illustrator, so my words have to leap off the page, past the agents who only want author/illustrators, straight into an editor's heart. It's a big jump, and I know I have to train like an Olympian. Ready, set, go?!

Wendy - I think the "editors only wanting author/illustrators" is an incredible myth and not sure who's putting it out. It's incredibly difficult to have both skill sets at a high level. While it's much easier and time effective to work with someone who does both, publishing houses would go out of business if they relied on that, so don't let that stop you. Having said that - yes your words do need to leap off the page, be succinct, lyrical, and flow like a mighty river telling an brilliant story. Let go of anything that isn't absolutely needed or that the illustrator can show. If it's absolutely essential make a notation in brackets like this [show that special friend is a dog] but otherwise let your language do the showing. Love your metaphor. Metaphors and similes make writing sing  

Stacy S. J. said... Enjoyed the 4Ps post at Julie's. I need more patience in my writing and in many aspects fo my life. Thanks and now linking over to explore your ecourse.

Thank you Stacy and good luck finding patience. Of course now I want to write a kids story called Finding Patience about a little girl called ... Patience.... hmmm. Please do read the other comments where I wrote about ways of developing more calm and patience.

Lisa B... Patience is definitely the hardest for me...patience to persist, patience to know that my writing will improve over time and practice, and patience to know that simply because it isn't right now doesn't mean it won't be right after another revision (or at least closer to right).

Lisa - when I read this it made me think of the word "faith" more than patience. Faith and trust that you will persevere and that good things will come out of your efforts. Something that has helped me a lot with this is to breathe in faith and breathe out fear. It's very grounding and affirming. I have absolute faith that if you continue down the picture book path something good will come out of it. It may not be in the form or outcome that you want right now or expect or it might. But something good will come from spending time in these creative and tender places. I know it. 

Tina C said... Mira, Thanks for sharing your 4 P's. My struggle is with Patience, as I always want that first draft to be really good. To counter that, I'm studying the craft, taking classes, being a part of writing critique groups, reading blogs, and trying to soak up as much as I can!

Good on you Tina! If you don't win today, I hope to have you in the Picture Book Academy at some point to help you with a trade book (picture books come in 2 types of marketing formats - Educational and trade. Trade are more like books you find in book stores and tend to be more whimsical tho not always while educational are geared towards schools. If you can write a trade book that has educational appeal or curricular connections - that's the sweet spot). Tina - Looks like you'd be a stellar student.

Beth said... Thanks for the post, Mira. I'm not sure which is the hardest. They seem to take turns. Lately it's been persistence, because it can be frustrating to come close and never quite make it. That's when you've just got to enjoy the journey and move along.

Thank you Beth. Love your attitude. It will serve you well. 

Jarm said... Thanks for the inspiring post, Mira! For me, it's passion. I love to read and write PBs, but, I don't take the time to enjoy them as often as I should. I am making an effort to visit our children's library each Friday to read picture books that are similar to my WIP. That way, I can compare and contrast them, gleaning good ideas for my own works.

Hi Jarm - Glad you are working on critical analysis and going to the library to feed your passion. Way to go! Do check out my Monday's with Mira blog posts here where I video tape reading wonderful books and then analyze what makes them so wonderful. 

Tim McCanna said... Patience with a capital P. I'm constantly reminding myself to relax and enjoy the journey. Thanks, Mira. Your post was helpful.

Tim - I went and checked out your website and blog. You are delightful. In your picture,you actually look like a picture book or cartoon character. Dang this judging thing is tough! Do I choose the best description or who looks like the most fun to work with? http://www.timmccanna.com/

Belinda said... Mira, I'd have the say my biggest "P" challenge is Product. I love words, books and children, and I have no shortage of ideas. I strive to elevate the quality of my writing and am very open to learning from the right teacher...maybe you?! Thanks for your interactive post! I'm so glad that I discovered you and Julie.

I'm so glad you found us too Belinda. Do keep checking back here on Mondays for weekly instruction and wait for the Picture Book Academy, which will teach you in ways that you cannot even begin to imagine! 

PJ said... Mira, thank you for your post. Persistence is my biggest "P" challenge. I have so many ideas and am interested in so many things, I feel I get sidetracked too easily.

PJ - Thank you for participating. Sounds like you have creative ADD. So here's what I'd suggest - Ritualize it. Sit down with a lit candle and a timer to work on a project for x amount of time. Before you do write a list of goals related to that project and be very realistic and specific about them in what you want to achieve during that session. Set your timer for a realistic amount of time to do all or most of them. Then do your best to honor that commitment. When you're done ie the timer goes off, congratulate yourself on however much you've managed to accomplished and then - this part is important - blow out your candle. I hope this helps. I know how hard it is to stay focused which is why I often go away to get work done in a concentrated way. See my earlier post if you can. 

Shai said... Hello Mira, Your 4Ps post was spot on. I was having trouble figuring out which one is the most challenging for me so I decided to go in the opposite direction. I think patience is the least challenging for me. Om. :-) In fact I have a Michelle Obama quote taped on my wall that reads "The only thing that happens in an instant is destruction. Everything else requires time." My Product is also improving. I started writing for children over ten years ago. Now, whenever I pull out those old drafts that I thought were so perfect and polished back then, I giggle at my naivete. I don't feel like I'm passionate. But everything that you described that a passionate author does, I do. I research all the PBs getting buzz and put them on hold at the library (twenty at a time). Each trip to the library then feels like Christmas morning when the librarian hands me a stack of all the things I asked for. So I guess that brings me to Persistence. While I do keep plugging at this dream of mine, I'm not doing it with all the gusto it deserves. I don't write everyday and I hate to admit it but there have been months, even seasons that have gone by without me bringing pen to pad. I think that's more of a confidence thing than anything else. But, I'm still here in the game and that's got to count for something. And now for my shameless plea: any help from you would be a huge push for me and would be greatly appreciated. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Shai

Wow Shai - you are hard to resist. And it sounds like you are pretty passionate to me. You are definitely going in the final contenders group but don't get disheartened if you don't win. You have some insanely tough competition. I'm definitely going to start the "Send it out Group" in my masses of free time for folks like you to get that final push. Do watch the Mondays with Mira book reviews here and maybe structure some regular writing time. Another thought is that sometimes we need to take breaks from our writing so we can return with fresh eyes so don't be too hard on yourself.

Erin ... Product is biggest challenge for me...getting a manuscript from good to great. After a while is can be hard to tell if I'm making it better or just different. I use my trusted readers to help. I also will put a manuscript away for a while until I can look at it with fresh eyes.

Hi Erin - from good to great is exactly what it takes. Interestingly, I just wrote about the fresh eyes above. I'm glad you have readers helping you. Taking courses and classes and attending conferences can also be invaluable. Thank you so much for participating.

Wow - that was totally epic. I spent a lot of time with these and also looked folks up online wherever possible to get a sense of who you are beyond these short submissions. It was really hard. Ultimately I decided to give 3 free 1hr crits instead of 1 spread out over the year (because it was sooo hard). I ended up with 5 on my list and it was torturous to narrow it down even further but here are the winners and why. Please don't hate me if you didn't make it. Everyone deserved to win and I'm hoping that just by discovering this blog and the free series of instructional reviews that I'm creating every Monday you'll feel like a winner too.

so... drum roll please ...
I chose Elizabeth Stevens Omlor because I love her blog http://bananapeelin.blogspot.com/ because it's helpful for others and funny and because she just about always leaves comments on my blog and for different things that I do and has entered and not won other contests I've done plus I couldn't resist her "teach me" plea. I loved Shae's shameless plea too but because of this online connection and Elizabeth's incredible persistence and tenacity in reaching out. So lesson here - shameless pleas can work with some folks and so does commenting on others blogs and tenacity AKA persistence. Elizabeth scored.

#2 Penny Klostermann because of her incredible passion and because she reminds me so much of myself. Way to go Penny! Other folks were incredibly passionate too and I wish I could work for free with all of you but I just couldn't do it.

Then #3 Was Tim McCanna - not so much for his description, which was fine, but because of his website and blog and the fact that he looks like a cartoon character. What can I say? I couldn't resist? http://www.timmccanna.com/ Another rationale in my selection is that I'm in the business of helping people publish children's picture books, so I also looked for folks that really really looked dedicated and there were quite a few of you. So don't give up. Hang in there. There will be other contests that you might win if you keep persisting and showing up! Hopefully my rationale might be helpful for some of you in crafting future contest submissions

And lastly, do sign up for my mailing list so that you can get first notice on specials and priority enrollment when the Picture Book Academy launches.  http://eepurl.com/cz7vE for Northern California and http://eepurl.com/hJCmQ  for everywhere else in the world. (My infrequent newsletter also comes with 2 free gifts).