tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34066771206016482602024-03-18T19:55:26.617-07:00Ashley BankheadChildren's Writer
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-87221570713428030722020-01-31T09:20:00.000-08:002020-01-31T09:20:47.306-08:00What I learned From My Mentorship with Tammi Sauer<br />
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When I found out I won the mentorship with Tammi Sauer, I
may have done a happy dance in the toy isle at Target. I could hardly believe
that Tammi had chosen me to be her mentee. Tammi is my favorite picture book
author, and the opportunity to work with her was a dream come true. I had to
pinch myself to realize I wasn’t dreaming. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Once the initial shock wore off, Tammi and I got right to
work. She had already seen three of my manuscripts, but she asked me to send
her three more. She also asked me to send her ideas for future manuscripts, and
she told me which ideas she felt were worth pursuing. This was extremely
helpful, and really gave me an idea of what I needed to do next, and where I
needed to focus my effort. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tammi then went on to edit three of my picture book manuscripts.
She took what appeared to be great manuscripts, and made them amazing. We would
email back and forth, until Tammi felt the manuscript was just right. She is a
master at revision. She helped me to dig deeper and write better than I ever
have before. I loved getting Tammi’s comments and feedback on each manuscript.
Every email from Tammi was a treasure trove of knowledge. I learned so much
about picture books from her. Tammi really knows her stuff, and she was more
than happy to share everything she knows with me. She made my manuscripts
shine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Working with Tammi was everything I imagined and more. Tammi
was kind, generous, and extremely helpful. She has so much knowledge and
expertise in the picture book industry, and she graciously shared anything and
everything with me. She was a true joy too work with. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I now have three strong manuscripts, and I am in the process
of researching and submitting to agents. Tammi has given me recommendations,
and told me which manuscript to submit first. I would not be where I am without
Tammi’s help. She has been the absolute best mentor. I truly am lucky to have
had this opportunity. I cannot thank Tammi enough for all of her help. But most
of all, I am glad to have made a new friend. Thanks, Tammi.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also want to thank Tara for creating this amazing
opportunity and program. Without her, none of this would be possible. She is
such a kind and generous person, and I am glad to have had the chance to get to
know her and to be a participant in WWTS. Thanks, Tara. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-4775567296777046722019-05-21T13:59:00.006-07:002019-05-21T13:59:51.421-07:00Writing with the Stars Contest<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In January I entered the Writing with the Stars
contest run by author Tara Luebbe. This contest is for aspiring picture book
writers and illustrators to win a free three-month-long mentorship with a
published author or author/illustrator. This is the third year this contest has
been running, and it is an amazing opportunity. It gives writers and/or illustrators
the chance to work and learn from someone in the industry. The mentors help
critique manuscripts, answer questions, and give valuable advice. This is not
something very many aspiring writers get to do. It is definitely a unique and
incredible opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I was looking over the mentors chosen for this
year, I was surprised and excited to find that my favorite picture book author,
Tammi Sauer, was on the list. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew immediately
that I wanted to enter. Tammi is an amazing author, and the thought of her
sharing her expertise with someone like me made me so excited. Of course, I had
reservations. I kept thinking about what were the odds that she would choose
me. However, I knew she had to pick someone, so why not me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Each person entering the contest can submit to three different
mentors. They can only win one mentorship, but they can apply to three
different mentors. I, however, only wanted to work with Tammi, so I only
submitted to her. I knew she would be the best mentor to help me improve my
craft and further my writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I got right to work reading and polishing my best
manuscript. When I felt like it was ready to go, I sent it off with the
application cover page. I tried not to think about the contest too much, but it
was on my mind every day. I kept thinking about how amazing it would be if she
chose me. I tried not get my hopes up, but let’s be honest, that is no easy
task. My mind tends to run away with all of the possibilities and opportunities.
It is probably the writer in me, but I definitely spent a lot of time
fantasizing about the what ifs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">About a week after I sent off my application, I got an
email from Tara Luebbe telling me that Tammi wanted to see more work from me.
She told me to email her two more picture book manuscripts for Tammi to review.
I was elated, but I also knew that Tammi had most likely asked for more
manuscripts from other writers. I tried to keep my excitement in check, but it
was hard. My mind was really running away with me. I just kept thinking that
maybe she would pick me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I then had the agonizing task of deciding which two
picture book manuscripts to send to Tammi . It’s hard to know exactly which of
my manuscripts were the best ones to send. I read and reread everything I have
ever written. I went back and forth. Finally, I knew which ones I wanted to
send. I sent them off, and waited for the day the winners would be announced.
It was so hard to wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When January 31 arrived, I could hardly stand it. I
checked Twitter every few minutes. I didn’t want to miss the announcements. I
was on my way to Target, when I finally saw the announcements being made. As I
scrolled down through each one, I could hardly breathe. When I came to Tammi’s
name, I could not believe that my name was next to hers. Tammi Sauer had chosen
me. Me! It was a dream come true. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
going to work with, and learn from my favorite picture book author. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am so grateful for contests like Writing with the
Stars. It gives people like me opportunities that we would not otherwise have. I
am so thankful to Tara Luebbe and Tammi Sauer for being so generous and kind.
They sacrificed and gave up their time to help others. They are amazing. I can’t
thank them enough. I am one lucky writer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now stay tuned for my next post, when I talk all about
my mentorship with Tammi. She is the most amazing mentor, and I feel truly
blessed to have worked with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-55330085093368010522018-07-31T08:39:00.002-07:002018-07-31T08:39:46.353-07:00Chronicle BooksIn June, while on vacation in San Francisco with my family, I had the opportunity to visit a Chronicle Books bookstore. It was so fun. My kids and I stayed for a long time reading as many picture books as we wanted. I love being surrounded by children’s books, and this little trip to the bookstore was perfect. I always try to take advantage of opportunities wherever I am. You never know what hidden gem is just around the corner. So go out, explore, discover, and enjoy.Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-12997088880073950792018-03-15T10:19:00.000-07:002018-03-15T10:22:51.665-07:00Inspiration in Surprising Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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Inspiration comes in all shapes and forms. Even amidst chaos. Just ask my four-year-old. She can wreak havoc in no time flat. I’m always amazed at what she can do in the few minutes that I am upstairs switching laundry. However, I found that I sometimes welcome her destructiveness. That might sound crazy, but her path of destruction has often brought me great inspiration for my stories. I am writing for children after all, and who would know children better than my messy four-year-old?<br />
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My husband thinks it’s funny that I take pictures of all of her chaos, but I just say that it is for research and inspiration. I never know when one of her crazy ideas is going to be the perfect idea for my story. <br />
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Some of the best stories have been inspired from everyday occurrences. We just have to be open and ready to the things that are around us. If our eyes are open to finding the humor and fun in everyday situations, than we will find our needed inspiration.<br />
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So embrace the messy, destructive chaos. It just might be the inspiration you’ve been needing.<br />
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Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-34198336837963507092017-10-12T07:48:00.002-07:002017-10-12T08:36:43.320-07:00Persistent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I follow a lot of writing blogs, and many of those blogs
have contests to win a variety of prizes.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I enter all of them, and most of the time, I do not win.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But that does not stop me.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I am persistent.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Well, I guess that persistence paid off, because a few weeks
ago I received an email from one of my favorite picture book authors, Tammi
Sauer, letting me know that I had won a copy of her new book, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Truck, Truck, Goose!</span></i><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was so excited.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not only did I win a book I had been wanting
to read, but it was from one of my favorite authors.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The book has arrived in the mail, and it is
adorable.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My kids and I love it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I think that writing is just like contests on blogs.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">They both take persistence and a little bit
of luck.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We, as writers, cannot give
up.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have to keep on being persistent
and put our writing out there.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We cannot
let rejection make us quit.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have to
keep writing, keep learning, and keep submitting.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If I had not continued to enter contests on
various blogs, I would never have won a book.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And if I do not continue to submit my work, and try to improve my craft,
then I will never get published.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have
to be … persistent.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-30340107920596321892017-06-12T08:04:00.001-07:002017-06-12T08:04:25.144-07:00SCBWI Idaho Conference on Youth and Children's Literature and Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In April, I had the opportunity to attend the SCBWI Idaho
Conference on Youth and Children’s Writing. It was a great day filled with many
authors, writers, and an agent and editor.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I learned so much, and made many new friendships and connections.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is always nice to have an entire day
dedicated to my writing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I always learn
new things, and I always make new friendships. I love attending this conference
every year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">For a good portion of the day, I attended an intensive
with the Bonny Becker.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She is the author
of the Mouse and Bear books. She taught us her secrets to writing a great
picture book.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She spoke a lot about
ideas, character, traits, basic elements of a story structure, endings,
research, audience, framework, and revision.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I learned a lot from her intensive.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It was very informative and helpful.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I always enjoy getting other authors perspective on the industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I also heard from the author, Leslie Patricelli.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She is the author of many board books about
opposites—Yummy Yucky, Big Little, and Quiet Loud.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She spoke a lot about her journey to
publication.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was very interesting to
hear her story about how she got her first book published.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I enjoyed listening to her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Also speaking at the conference was editor, Wendy
McClure from Albert Whitman Company.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She
spoke about what it means to dig deeper in our writing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I really enjoyed her presentation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was informative and fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Lastly, I heard from literary agent, Michelle
Witte.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She spoke about rhythm and rhyme
in our manuscripts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was interesting
to listen to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">All in all, I had a wonderful time at the
conference.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am glad that I went.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love this industry, and I love that I can
attend a conference that teaches me so much about it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I also love making friendships with other writers
and authors. It was a great day.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-4442812676993629552017-04-04T21:08:00.000-07:002017-04-04T21:17:10.466-07:00Motivation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find it funny that my kids will never willingly pick up
anything off the floor, but when the chocolate chip bag spilled all over the
kitchen, each child jumped up immediately to help me. They couldn’t shove the
chocolate in their mouths fast enough. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
made me laugh, and I had to take a picture.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who knew that all I needed was a little chocolate to get them moving?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The characters in our stories are just like my kids.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They need the right motivation to get them
going.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They need a little
chocolate.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We as writers need to figure
out the driving motivation behind our characters.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to know what drives them.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What excites them.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What gets them moving.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Motivation is important in stories.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It helps determine how the plot unfolds, and
brings out conflict.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without motivation,
the story falls flat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it’s time to spill a little bit of chocolate on the
floor, and see if you can find your character’s motivation.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-68151014591379598372017-01-03T10:32:00.001-08:002017-01-03T10:36:42.578-08:00Possibilities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4L-mj_OwLJuKFGBs6xQslNXLa7JcF3TCHAvjc9bbBDfKqllw0irgQa9usphkbj0LTqB3C0fDRaDNo8ioev88k2W0Xn9r9ilaPdgLk-SmylYggXt2RnZ1mEP1XtsLcyi3E6UJflRUG2I/s1600/DSCF2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4L-mj_OwLJuKFGBs6xQslNXLa7JcF3TCHAvjc9bbBDfKqllw0irgQa9usphkbj0LTqB3C0fDRaDNo8ioev88k2W0Xn9r9ilaPdgLk-SmylYggXt2RnZ1mEP1XtsLcyi3E6UJflRUG2I/s320/DSCF2908.JPG" width="240" /></a>It’s a brand new year with so many possibilities. I’m excited to see where 2017 will take me. I have many new writing goals, and I cannot wait to get started on them. With a lot of hard work, determination, and creativity, I know I can achieve these goals. <br />
<br />
I won’t stop writing. <br />
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I won’t stop learning. <br />
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And I won’t give up. <br />
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I’m going to make 2017 a great year, and I’m going to find as many possibilities as I can.Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-12632674897055614762016-12-30T21:19:00.000-08:002016-12-30T21:20:27.584-08:00Author Skype Visit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQEvCUF6bhze86R6jliEj_lcbok9pMXIzmWfvBu_oUBdiiCIL3Fy8GWtNdUhZIqkw0Obl8pUpg97hSw-qR2FvoJ-WBPhr3kpooDcHExobd68a1_lTsON_Z83O5qJ835DHIk0If3OSGRM/s1600/IMG_7450.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQEvCUF6bhze86R6jliEj_lcbok9pMXIzmWfvBu_oUBdiiCIL3Fy8GWtNdUhZIqkw0Obl8pUpg97hSw-qR2FvoJ-WBPhr3kpooDcHExobd68a1_lTsON_Z83O5qJ835DHIk0If3OSGRM/s320/IMG_7450.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6viQmsmPqLkxKsjn6dQE-zOKremXFJdbQ8RVP-tQ-5iPpvUD4ewxgEDpZ4sdnqP6QATiAdyvYTm4gX2Y3QyqBpUWXr2iDNpncqd9I4gMUvXw2bc4RajFrg7oYJXxn_q2k2d18l6lVaKc/s1600/IMG_7451.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6viQmsmPqLkxKsjn6dQE-zOKremXFJdbQ8RVP-tQ-5iPpvUD4ewxgEDpZ4sdnqP6QATiAdyvYTm4gX2Y3QyqBpUWXr2iDNpncqd9I4gMUvXw2bc4RajFrg7oYJXxn_q2k2d18l6lVaKc/s320/IMG_7451.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
I recently attended an author Skype visit with Suzanne Slade for my daughter’s 5th grade class. And let me just say, that it was amazing. My daughter’s teacher was blown away, and the kids loved it. Suzanne did such a great job, and kept the kids engaged the entire time. I, too, had a wonderful time, and I was so glad that I could attend.<br />
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As an aspiring author, I want to learn more about author visits, and there is no better way than by attending one. It was such a great opportunity for me, and I learned so much. It was fun to see what really got the kids excited, and what interested them. I also got to observe how an author sets up her visit, and things she incorporated and did. It was very informative for me, and I enjoyed it immensely. <br />
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Now I’m off to find my next opportunity. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-48064385318661990082016-12-30T21:03:00.000-08:002016-12-30T21:03:10.503-08:00Amazing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EItnTZQYjVos0Sc8_qU9iHAf26KZe-TC8UJRmtxTpW4y6kUJE4mrfu9N0fvEXfdgTbGJYKM9GZti3SDhQ2KMk-TWskHS8O2LTAW3BDOR5_F6Pp5jfy3HcRN-V2JljQoHb3Rji6Yxqa4/s1600/DSCF2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EItnTZQYjVos0Sc8_qU9iHAf26KZe-TC8UJRmtxTpW4y6kUJE4mrfu9N0fvEXfdgTbGJYKM9GZti3SDhQ2KMk-TWskHS8O2LTAW3BDOR5_F6Pp5jfy3HcRN-V2JljQoHb3Rji6Yxqa4/s320/DSCF2799.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHfZPpzfKkKoD0GrmWP-UUeMEudJla5eHD4OUop4MUh4XzCBYa3thsTDvlU3qa9GcBthoLYvDzxhmSy6eopE8UUX4Sl13Bo3SMGY6H7PqQOLHHG7z1Z8rFCHiOIOmaenrnhp4j3q19QU/s1600/DSCF2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHfZPpzfKkKoD0GrmWP-UUeMEudJla5eHD4OUop4MUh4XzCBYa3thsTDvlU3qa9GcBthoLYvDzxhmSy6eopE8UUX4Sl13Bo3SMGY6H7PqQOLHHG7z1Z8rFCHiOIOmaenrnhp4j3q19QU/s320/DSCF2796.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
Kids are amazing. They can come up with anything simply by using their imagination. When my youngest daughter was sad because she couldn't go inside Minnie Mouse's house in Disneyland, my older daughter built one for her out of a cardboard box. The two of them played for hours in the makeshift house. It was amazing. And my youngest was never again sad about not being able to go inside Minnie Mouse’s house. To her, she had been there, and now she could visit it anytime she wanted in her own room. All it took was a cardboard box and imagination. As a writer, I want to do be just like them. I want to take my piece of paper and imagination, and create something amazing. Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-44096528922146355862016-10-06T08:49:00.000-07:002016-10-06T08:51:25.700-07:00Student Council<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL25P0BEYlz85i5iqvYQe-hsUHS2gFyFVfrWq1QW79pIQN9PWcAnXpn-PQoVRTdzOy4z6BRG3yP8XKwcRRRwvkrTEftMkg8uXCgvRLhX-XifwDdwdK6UkhOk4L5P39_mXLbijpguqDp-4/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL25P0BEYlz85i5iqvYQe-hsUHS2gFyFVfrWq1QW79pIQN9PWcAnXpn-PQoVRTdzOy4z6BRG3yP8XKwcRRRwvkrTEftMkg8uXCgvRLhX-XifwDdwdK6UkhOk4L5P39_mXLbijpguqDp-4/s320/IMG_7134.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a></div>This girl just got chosen for student council in her fifth grade class. She is so excited. Only two kids from each class were picked, so she feels very honored to be one of them. But the funny thing is, she almost didn’t even try out for student council. She thought she would not be picked, so why bother. She almost let her fear keep her from doing something she really wanted to do. <br />
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I told her that we do not do things just to win. We also do things just to try. Just to see what we are capable of. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but the important thing is we are trying. Failure only means that we are one step closer to our goals. And the more we try, the more we succeed. We can learn just as much from our failures as we can from our wins. And we never know what our potential is, or what we might achieve, until we take that first step.<br />
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I am so glad that she didn’t let her fear rule her. She put in her application, and she won. Now she is doing something she loves. What if she had let that fear keep her from trying? What if she had never applied, because she thought she might fail? <br />
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We can’t give up. We have to try. We have to overcome our fears. We have to keep working towards our goals. Only then will we know and become our very best selves. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-14141000912933826682016-09-29T08:41:00.000-07:002016-09-29T08:41:47.482-07:00Winner!I am so excited! I just found out that I won an Author Skype Q&A visit for my daughter’s 5th grade class with Suzanne Slade. All I did was comment on a blog post on the blog, <a href="http://picturebookbuilders.com/">Picture Book Builders</a>, and then my name was randomly drawn. So exciting. <br />
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I was thrilled to email my daughter’s teacher and let her know what I had won. She was equally as excited. And I even get to attend the day they do the visit. That makes me really happy, because I want to learn more about author visits, and how to best do them. This will be a great opportunity for the kids and me.<br />
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It just goes to show that you never know what can happen, so it is always worth trying. I didn’t really think I would win, but I thought it was worth a shot. I am so glad I tried. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-6771467508152689242016-09-10T07:56:00.001-07:002016-09-10T08:01:00.263-07:00Quirks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEezBtKQFPlKpq4_US89q9e2OtKS7F1OJZwxNGL808Sd0gNfEDxVIG4y1gCsD-W89fibVl_QnMXgenrMM36hISgoCcDCLH2Chysd3O_O2ho3YC-0hgKvvGBLfTPwZimOyYZWlKRoKZ9Hc/s1600/DSCF2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEezBtKQFPlKpq4_US89q9e2OtKS7F1OJZwxNGL808Sd0gNfEDxVIG4y1gCsD-W89fibVl_QnMXgenrMM36hISgoCcDCLH2Chysd3O_O2ho3YC-0hgKvvGBLfTPwZimOyYZWlKRoKZ9Hc/s320/DSCF2579.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div>My son loves to collect rocks. Big rocks. Little rocks. Large rocks that I trip over on my front step. Rocks that go unnoticed in his pockets, and end up in my dryer clumping around. (That’s always fun.) Yes, my son definitely loves rocks.<br />
<br />
The other day, I went upstairs to clean the bathroom, and I found a fresh set of rocks next to his bathroom sink. I assume he found them at some point during his day at school, put them in his pocket, and brought them home. He most likely remembered them when he was brushing his teeth, and put them next to the sink. So thoughtful of him. <br />
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But as I moved the rocks so I could wipe the dried toothpaste smeared all over the counter, I couldn’t help but smile. This is my son. It’s his quirk. And it makes him him. And, at the end of the day, I love this about him.<br />
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So what are the quirks of your characters? What makes them them? And what makes you fall in love with them? <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-27195342758409017422016-08-25T09:32:00.002-07:002016-09-10T07:58:32.581-07:00Burned Toast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbqyMtZcZusNv5dVVgfkYgYR0qnp1vP7RXK6ep5osjvIEO3oeQ6MSJrIXsMa3BAyhbdGEuWnfSxz7QORC98eDsZ7RqkEeCr8k_WnwJO0wPXxJs-8w9zoU9j_P35NnqSlBcfu-les5HGs/s1600/DSCF2546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbqyMtZcZusNv5dVVgfkYgYR0qnp1vP7RXK6ep5osjvIEO3oeQ6MSJrIXsMa3BAyhbdGEuWnfSxz7QORC98eDsZ7RqkEeCr8k_WnwJO0wPXxJs-8w9zoU9j_P35NnqSlBcfu-les5HGs/s320/DSCF2546.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div>The other day my daughter asked me to make toast for breakfast. Our toaster had not been working all that well, and it would sometimes forget to pop the toast out. I would have to remember to pop the toast out myself by hand, or be stuck with burned toast. On this particularly morning, I was busy getting too many things done in too little time, and I forgot about my daughter’s toast. It came out black, and not very appetizing.<br />
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I told my daughter that I would make her new toast, because the first piece was gross. She told me that she still wanted it. I said, “No, you won’t like it.” She then proceeded to throw a tantrum (she’s two after all), because I would not give her the black toast. I tried to tell her again and again that she would not like it, and that I would make her a new piece. She was having none of it.<br />
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Finally, I gave up and gave her the burned piece of toast. She happily stopped crying, took her toast, and proceeded to eat the entire piece. I was shocked. I never would have eaten that piece of toast. But my daughter did, and she liked it.<br />
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As I thought about this moment with my daughter, it reminded me of my writing. Sometimes, as writers, we want to force our characters to act a certain way, because we think it is the way they should act. But we shouldn’t force our characters to do anything. We should let them develop. We should learn about them and understand them. And we should definitely let them decide whether or not they like burned toast. Maybe we wouldn’t eat it, but our character or daughter just might.<br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-26999780199342374372016-07-21T07:43:00.001-07:002016-07-21T07:43:18.449-07:00One of Those DaysYesterday was just one of those days. You know the ones where your two-year old eats an entire container of Bubble Tape, because it tastes like candy, and then you have to spend thirty minutes googling whether or not it will kill her. And then, while you are busy googling that the massive amounts of pink bubblegum will definitely not kill her, she sneaks upstairs, finds a pen, and proceeds to write all over her tiny little body. Since I was still googling in a panic and hadn’t seen her artistic ability, she proceeded to find one of my beaded bracelets and managed to break it and send beads all over my bedroom floor and the hall. Of course, those millions of beads could not be sucked up by the vacuum, so I had to get on my hands and knees and try to pick up every single bead that conveniently blended in with my carpet. <br />
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It was definitely one of those days. But guess what? It was funny. Even as I am writing this horrible chain of events, I can see the humor in it. And that’s a good thing. <br />
<br />
What!?<br />
<br />
You are probably wondering how bubblegum, pens, and broken bracelets could ever be a good thing. But trust me, they can. By finding the humor in everyday life, especially the unfunny, I-want-to-pull-my-hair-out situations, we are taking an important step to becoming a great humor writer. We have to find the funny in everyday life. We have to find the humor in even the worst of situations. And when we do, we will better be able to write that humor into our stories.<br />
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But for now, you’ll have to excuse me, because I have to go find some invisible beads and scrub some ink off my daughter. And I don’t even want to think about what the next few diapers are going to be like. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-91079121369493150512016-07-18T12:51:00.003-07:002016-07-18T12:55:17.913-07:00Get Your Silly OnRecently, our family made the long trek to Southern California to go to the beach and Disneyland. It is a long drive from Idaho, and has to be broken up in two days. With my youngest only being two, it is especially hard for her to have two longs days of traveling and only minimal stops. She does not like to watch movies, which is usually a good thing, but when one is stuck in the car for hours at a time, movies can be a life saver. <br />
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I knew the trip was going to be the hardest on her, so I tried to plan ahead. I brought different snacks, unusual snacks, and favorite snacks. I brought new toys, old toys, and favorite toys. I brought games, coloring, and crafts. But even with all this planning ahead, the car ride got hard. She was soon sick of the snacks, the toys, and the games. She was tired of sitting in the car. She was tired of her car seat. She was tired of the entire trip. What happened next, was no surprise. <br />
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She screamed. <br />
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She cried. <br />
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She threw tantrum after tantrum. <br />
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I tried to be consoling. I tried to distract her. I tried to reason with her. Nothing worked. In fact, it was turning out to be a disaster of a trip. She was miserable, and the rest of us were miserable, too. (Who wants to listen to a screaming toddler for hours out of the day while stuck in a minivan?)<br />
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It was at that point that I had to get creative. I dug out her Rapunzel and Anna Barbie dolls, and started playing with them. This brought her screaming down a notch. Encouraged, I started playing some more. Her cries slowly turned to sniffles. I kept playing. On an on I played, until she was no longer upset. <br />
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Soon, she was in love with me playing with her dolls, and she wanted to join in. For the next hour or so, my daughter and I made up the silliest stories with her dolls. We laughed and had a lot of fun, and there were no more tears. In fact, for the rest of our trip, anytime she got frustrated or tired with the car, I brought out her dolls and started playing. It made our trip a huge success.<br />
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So why am I telling you all of this? It is because I learned something as a writer while playing dolls with my two-year old. I learned that being silly and having fun brings out my creative side. And the sillier I am, the more creative I am. <br />
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I think as adults, we often sensor ourselves, because we are well … adults. We think that silliness is for kids. But that is not true. We need to allow ourselves the freedom to be as silly and as goofy as we want. We need to allow ourselves to be creative and carefree. The best way to really be creative is to not restrict ourselves. We need to not worry about what others think when we are writing. We need to not be embarrassed by what we write. Not everything we write will be publishable. Not everything we write will be something we love. But the more we write, and the more we allow ourselves the freedom to be silly, then the better and more creative our writing will become.<br />
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So stop restricting yourself. Allow yourself to be silly. Get out those Barbie’s, and let the creativity flow. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-22165719793364699042016-06-11T07:29:00.002-07:002016-06-11T07:39:02.398-07:00Father's Day Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXk_1Xs__lpBmquUsvOXESHDSfxP1ae_n-g2r8XJn2KUn6VFsYywa0a-DtoM56wpQcKWGa9RNW2st_JDvFjxSYxA1GgnyQSqyXBlnFr3mo_nH6PmAkKl6BMnK6QMUez67YMJaItoJ-RE4/s1600/IMG_6265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXk_1Xs__lpBmquUsvOXESHDSfxP1ae_n-g2r8XJn2KUn6VFsYywa0a-DtoM56wpQcKWGa9RNW2st_JDvFjxSYxA1GgnyQSqyXBlnFr3mo_nH6PmAkKl6BMnK6QMUez67YMJaItoJ-RE4/s320/IMG_6265.JPG" /></a></div>I have found a book that makes a perfect Father's Day gift: Hammer and Nails by Josh Bledsoe. It is cute, charming, and gives a perfect rendition of the relationship between a father and his daughter. It is heartwarming and relatable, and really will make a perfect gift. <br />
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I know what my little daughters will be giving their father this Father's Day. Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-15912095533208861522016-05-03T13:42:00.000-07:002016-05-03T13:42:07.559-07:00The 8th Annual Idaho Conference on Youth and Children's Literature and Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F5QLurxvefQ-lVmA-8ampfXYYzTus6JM2wshoFSzQpPMcyyhBKPx_aSVoPuJCNi1rl8fjQXWTiVxDEtB_8G884jJB5_I-Q7p7203v54rSCD0vF556jQEolH1D5pi1GkP3vZVZr7UlNI/s1600/IMG_6024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F5QLurxvefQ-lVmA-8ampfXYYzTus6JM2wshoFSzQpPMcyyhBKPx_aSVoPuJCNi1rl8fjQXWTiVxDEtB_8G884jJB5_I-Q7p7203v54rSCD0vF556jQEolH1D5pi1GkP3vZVZr7UlNI/s320/IMG_6024.JPG" /></a></div>In April, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the 8th Annual Idaho Conference on Youth and Children’s Literature and Writing. It is the annual conference for the SCBWI-Utah/Southern Idaho region. I loved having an entire day to immerse myself in all aspects of writing. There were fabulous speakers, guests, and attendants. I learned so many things, and I am glad I had the opportunity to attend.<br />
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One of my favorite speakers from the conference was Harold Underdown. I have frequented his website in the past, but to have the chance to hear him speak live was wonderful. His keynote talk was all about the top 10 things we need to know about children’s publishing. He covered things from market and social media, to craft and trends. It was all very fascinating, and I loved hearing his take on everything. <br />
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I also got the opportunity to do a revision intensive with him. In this 2 hour block, I, along with the other attendees, got a condensed version of what he does in his week-long workshop for Highlights. We learned how to approach our writing as an editor would. It was very informative, and gave us all better ideas on how to write and revise. One of the things he said that I really liked, was: “Revision is a re-vision.” I think this a great way to see why revision is important. It helps one get the best out of their manuscript. He also taught us tips, tricks, and useful ideas that I am excited to apply to my manuscripts.<br />
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Another great speaker that I was excited to learn from, was Angela Ruth Strong. Although she does not write picture books, she did a workshop on humor. She gave us different approaches she uses to make her manuscripts funnier. She talked about giving your character quirks, using different points of view, putting your character in silly situations, and doing something the reader is not expecting. Not only did I laugh a lot during her presentation, but I also learned many great tips and ideas for bringing out the humor in my writing. <br />
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The last speaker that I greatly enjoyed learning from was N. D. Wilson. He did two different presentations, and I found them both enlightening. In the first one, he focused on the power of concrete description. He talked about the importance of using the five senses to draw the reader in. He also talked about being an observer of the world, and then put those observations into words. It was fascinating to listen to him.<br />
In his second presentation, he talked about how words are physical. He explained to us that words are physical objects that hit you and give you a reaction. We as writers have to choose the words we use carefully, to elicit a response from the reader. He also talked about how a writer has to be a lover of words, which is very true.<br />
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All in all, I greatly enjoyed my time at the conference this year. I learned a lot, I met new people, and I found things I can take and apply to my writing. It was a beneficial experience, and I am glad that I went. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-89718566097136659622016-04-12T13:36:00.001-07:002016-04-12T13:36:51.287-07:00Online OpportunitiesThere are so many opportunities for writers online. There are groups, challenges, webinars, classes, and the list goes on. There are free opportunities, and paid opportunities. There is something for every writer, one only has to look and decide what is right and beneficial for them. <br />
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I, personally, happen to love all the opportunities available online. I try to take advantage of as many as I can. Time permitting. I feel like I learn so much from the various writing groups I am a part of, and the different challenges that I participate in. <br />
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One such challenge just finished in March: <a href="http://www.reforemo.com/">ReFoReMo</a>. This challenge is all about using picture books as mentor texts to better improve our own writing. I love this type of challenge, because this is an important part of my writing. I always use mentor texts when writing a specific manuscript. I also feel that reading in the genre you want to write in will make you a better writer. <a href="http://www.reforemo.com/">ReFoReMo</a> is fun, because not only are we challenged to read picture books every day, but we also get guest posts by authors, illustrators, editors, and other people in the picture book industry. I love learning from others. I felt the guest posts were filled with information writers can use and apply to their own writing. <br />
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But I have yet to tell you the best part of participating this year. I won one of the prizes. Since I read picture books every day, and commented on all the posts, I was randomly selected to win the online course: <a href="http://www.alaynekaychristian.com/page05.html">Art of Arc</a> from Alayne Kay Christian. I am very excited about this prize. It is yet another online opportunity for me to learn and grow as a writer. <br />
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So what are you waiting for? Go online, and find the next opportunity for you. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-72662147708466938582016-03-18T08:24:00.000-07:002016-03-18T08:24:20.477-07:00OpportunitiesI had the opportunity to attend a picture book workshop last Saturday. It was put on by local illustrator, Joseph Cowman. Even though I am not an illustrator, it was wonderful to have the chance to learn from one. As a picture book writer, I have to leave room in my writing for the illustrator to illustrate. That is why I was so excited to attend this workshop. I had the opportunity to learn more about the illustration process, and how the illustrator goes about illustrating a picture book. I also got to ask questions at the end, which I found very beneficial. <br />
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I’m glad that my local SCBWI provided this opportunity. There are so many opportunities to learn in this industry. You just have to take the time to find them. And if there are not as many opportunities where you live, there are many great online options. I have joined numerous online groups and challenges that have given me insight and knowledge. It has also given me the opportunity to meet picture book writers from all over. It’s fun to make connections with people you might have not otherwise met. But the very best thing that I have gained from joining online groups, is that I have had the opportunity to learn from picture book authors and ask them direct questions. This has really helped me to better understand picture books and how to write them. <br />
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I highly recommend seeking out and finding opportunities for your writing. Whether online or in person or both, you will be so glad you did. You will be able to learn, grow, and gain new insights. The connections and knowledge you obtain will be invaluable. Take the time. You won’t regret it. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-63100949516196998542016-02-24T13:43:00.000-08:002016-02-24T13:43:19.919-08:00Reading is MagicReading to children is magic. Together, with a book, we can discover new and exciting things. We can swim with sharks, sail across oceans, go to outer space, discover dinosaurs, uncover monsters, laugh until our sides hurt, and learn about things we’ve never seen before. The possibilities are endless. All it takes is one word, one page, one book at a time.<br />
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Lately, my daughter and I have been immersed in the magic of Harry Potter. Each night we sit down and read a chapter (or two or three if my daughter can help it). It is fun sharing this with her. She gets so excited each night. She cannot wait to see what happens next. And every night she gets to discover something new about wizards and witches, wands and spells, broomsticks and flying, potions and cauldrons, castles and sorting hats, and so much more. Without books, this would not be possible. We would not be able to share this experience together. She would know nothing of this exciting and magical world.<br />
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I am glad that there are so many good books. I love that all I have to do is open one, and my children and I can be taken to a place we have never been before. Or we can open a book and revisit a place we love again and again. There is no limit to the places we can go, or the things we can see. Reading really is its own kind of magic. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-66501258932572907782016-02-12T22:44:00.000-08:002016-02-12T22:44:15.324-08:00Cumulative Picture BooksI had the chance to go to my son’s classroom again this week, and teach more about writing and picture books. This time I taught them about the cumulative picture book structure. Cumulative stories add repeating elements as the story progresses. When a new event occurs in the story, the previous events are repeated. Basically, the plot builds on itself. These stories can rhyme, but they do not have to. <br />
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The kids really enjoyed the cumulative stories. We read: THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY by Lucille Colandro, and THERE WAS AN OLD MONKEY WHO SWALLOWED A FROG by Jennifer Ward. We then had an activity where the kids created their own cumulative stories. It was so much fun, and the kids really enjoyed it. There were a lot of giggles and smiles. And they were so creative. They came up with many unique ideas. Leave it to a kid to come up with the silliest and most outrageous concepts. That is exactly why writers need to think like a kid. That’s when creativity is at its best. <br />
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I am so happy that I get this chance to teach these children. I love being around them. I love their energy and excitement. I love how much they love books and writing. I love their zest to learn anything new. And I love that they love picture books as much as I do. <br />
Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-30335828356024160712016-02-02T22:54:00.001-08:002016-02-02T22:54:34.304-08:00Share the Love of Picture BooksI had the opportunity to go to my son’s classroom and talk, read, and teach about picture books. It was a lot of fun. His teacher even loved it so much that she asked me to come back twice a month. I am excited. I love picture books, and getting to share that love with children is the best. There is nothing like seeing a child’s eyes light up when they hear a story for the first time. Or the excitement they have when they see a book they love. Kids make books magical. They are the reason I write. I am grateful that I get to share this love of picture books with my son’s class. Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-7748249567317638482015-12-25T20:38:00.001-08:002015-12-25T20:38:30.796-08:00BooksLook what I got for Christmas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg1U899yMpUdLoePJAWXLxaZAIFDOAjQWLvsZ1IZ_5KlqODjyb8al5TBr2apw8o-ak0FA8yOKLLAcYgxKrpjf1PNBfT27xH07ISCjA5Q_HuJfBr-pyEjePZi0H1JcrofNcjVBCaXG4FA/s1600/DSCF2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg1U899yMpUdLoePJAWXLxaZAIFDOAjQWLvsZ1IZ_5KlqODjyb8al5TBr2apw8o-ak0FA8yOKLLAcYgxKrpjf1PNBfT27xH07ISCjA5Q_HuJfBr-pyEjePZi0H1JcrofNcjVBCaXG4FA/s320/DSCF2278.JPG" /></a></div>Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3406677120601648260.post-2955547420271439772015-12-18T12:34:00.000-08:002015-12-18T12:34:58.712-08:00I did it!<a href="http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWCdX_x2hoUFcMJYQ3e3q7n2o5HTpLunxenmFlmoIVRt-khJAnOzv22RDDooQBwQ0ZK7DC4p7WS7yoiXMZXqt3XVYtrirbaygPEjZw-wHTiID0n56AOUjCoX2N_5KhvCYA48guqun8Cc/s1600/th%255B7%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWCdX_x2hoUFcMJYQ3e3q7n2o5HTpLunxenmFlmoIVRt-khJAnOzv22RDDooQBwQ0ZK7DC4p7WS7yoiXMZXqt3XVYtrirbaygPEjZw-wHTiID0n56AOUjCoX2N_5KhvCYA48guqun8Cc/s320/th%255B7%255D.jpg" /></a></div></a>Ashley Bankheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921157699214615618noreply@blogger.com0