The "In Just Spring" Contest

Susanna Leonard Hill has challenged her blog followers to write a children's story, in 350 words or less, about something that really says "spring" to us. Then, we post it on our blog, link it on her site and her readers will vote on their favorite.  The winner will have one of their picture book manuscripts read by Laura Galvin of KidsBooks! 

Spring used to be an exciting time for me - I hate the cold!  But, since having dogs, I find myself wishing the cold weather would last a little bit longer, so we wouldn't have the mud to contend with.  So, that's what really says "spring" to me - MUD!  

When you're finished reading my story, head over to Susanna's blog and read the others - there are some really great stories!!

Tell-Tail Signs of Spring

Winter brings both cold and snow.

Still, I’m sad to see it go.
 
Once the frozen ground warms up,

life gets messy, with a pup.
 
He’ll come bounding through the door.
Muddy paws across the floor.

Black dots splattered on the walls.

Murky puddles down the halls.

Up the stairs and down again.

Paw prints leading to the den.

On the couch, then quickly off.

Stops for munchies at his trough.

On the bed that’s not yet made.

Gives a shake.  The sheets get sprayed.

Dog-shaped mud begins to dry,

Like a scene from CSI!

Try to wipe him - no such luck.

He starts wagging.  Better duck!

Just like clockwork, every year,

Tell-tail signs that spring is here!

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March Madness Poetry 2013: Round - 1 Flight 1

I am thrilled to announce I am participating in Ed DeCaria's March Madness Poetry 2013: "an event designed to bring the excitement of the NCAA March Madness tournament to the world of kids’ poetry. 64 poets from around the world participate in the event; together, these poets write 126 new kids’ poems in just 21 days: IT’S MADNESS!"  

Last year, I discovered this awesome competition after it had already begun and have been waiting 12 long months to get a chance to be one of Ed's Authletes!

You can read the rules of the game here.

There are 64 amazing authletes playing, take a look at the brackets:

I was given my first word at 8:00 pm Monday night and I had 36 hours to complete it.  My poem, along with my opponent's, Mary Lee Hahn, will be posted at 8:00 am this morning. Once they are posted, the voting is open and, at the end of the voting time (one day), the authlete with the most votes moves on to Round 2!   I plan to post my poems for as long as I remain in the competition (this could be my one and only post, but I hope not).  

Now, without further ado, here is my poem for the word Claque:

A CLAQUE, BY ANY OTHER SPELLING

Clickety clack, along the track.  This poem will sure be easy!
What - not clack?  You spell it claque? Oh, now I’m feeling queasy!

Claque's a word I’ve never heard.  I need to check it out!
To quote Roget: “a group they pay, to clap and cheer and shout”.

I surely can’t have sycophants selecting mine for money.
I’d rather they would smile and say, “I picked it ‘cause it’s funny!”

**(of course, after reading it again here, I realized I should have made the first line of the third stanza: "I surely can't have sycophants select my poem for money." - so frustrating!!)  If I'm lucky enough to make it to the next round, I'll hold on to it a little longer to catch things like that!)

So, if you have the time and inclination, head over to Think Kid Think and vote!  May the best authlete win!!

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For Renn, the Brave Jedi Warrior

This post is for a Jedi Warrior named Renn, who is the bravest 5 year old I know!!  Renn has been fighting battles against Epilepsy as his doctors try to find a way to treat his seizures!  This week, Renn will be in the hospital undergoing more tests, so author, Susanna Leonard Hill asked that we post fun things  to help cheer him up and pass the time!  

The bloggers participating have links on Susanna's site, so go there and check them out!  And, if you're a blogger and want to post something for Renn, add your link to her list.  If you don't have a blog, you can always leave a comment for Renn on Susanna's blog.  To learn more about Epilepsy, check out the blog The Brain of a Jedi and join the facebook group Purple Day.

Now for Renn: 

Brave you are!  Do it you can!

Love from Lori, your biggest fan!

While your doctors try to put together the pieces, you can work on your own puzzle!

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Seeing Red

When I read the theme for this month's post on my glog, Word Disco, "Seeing Red", the first thing I thought of was Marnie!  If you've seen Alfred Hitchcock's 1964 movie, Marnie, starring Sean Connery and Tippi Hedren, you'll know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't seen it yet - you should (and not just because Sean Connery's in it)!  In the movie, whenever Marnie sees the color red, it brings back memories of a traumatic event in her childhood and she becomes paralyzed with fear.  I don't think watching the scene below will ruin the movie for you so, feel free to watch the clip (I'll wait).  

With Marnie in mind, I decided to write about facing our writing-related fears. More specifically, our self-promotion-related fears.  Once your manuscript is acquired, well before it's published, you'll need to start promoting your book and yourself.  You'll want to build your platform to create a presence to help reach your target audience.  You'll also want to build relationships with other authors, illustrators, editors and agents.  

To build your platform, and connect with fellow inhabitants of the kid lit world, you may have to do things that take you outside your comfort zone and make you see red (in the Marnie sense).  Things like:

• interviews with newspapers, magazines, radio or TV
• writing guest posts on blogs and websites 
• attending conferences, even when you don't know anyone there
• presenting at conferences
• book signings (sometimes with crickets chirping) 
• school visits in classrooms and sometimes  for the whole school
• skype visits
• joining a critique group 
• teaching about your craft to aspiring authors and illustrators
• volunteering at SCBWI events
• starting a website and/or blog and actually making them public
• participating in online writing challenges
• designing business cards, bookmarks and postcards
• creating a book trailer
• _____________(fill in the blank for the things I forgot to mention).

I've done everything on this list, in one form or another, and I've had second (and sometimes third and fourth) thoughts before doing them.  I was scared.  I felt incompetent.  I wanted my mommy!  I could have chosen not to do any of these things; to stay in the safety of my comfort zone.  But, I faced my fears and, instead of feeling afraid, I felt confident and empowered (ok, when it was just me and the crickets at a few book signings, I didn't feel so great)!  Still, I could have seen red and let myself wave the white flag of defeat. Instead, when I saw red, I added some cool blue and made purple! (Which just happens to be my favorite color.)

Goodbye 2012 - Hello 2013!!

Typically, we're several months into the new year when I learn about great ideas people had for making the year the best it can be!  Well, not this year!! I've been on the lookout for new ideas and am sharing them here.  If you have a fresh take on new year's resolutions, please share it in a comment!  Here they are, in no particular order:

Five Things To Do Instead of New Year's Resolutions:
"Tired of the traditional New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get fit, or get out of credit card debt?  Below are five fresh alternatives to help you celebrate yourself in 2012, and get to your goals in 2013."

1. Write yourself a letter from your future self, dated 1/1/2014.

2. List your favorite memory and triumphs of 2012, including the challenges you faced with courage or humor (even if things didn't turn out the way you hoped).

3. Imagine the highlights of 2013. Make a list of at least 5 things to look forward to in the coming year.

4. Make a list of what you are grateful for in your life.

5. Make a 2013 commitment to someone else.

Read more about it here.

Jar Full of Goodness!

Start the year with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen. Then, on New Years Eve, empty it and see what awesome stuff happened that year. Good way to keep things in perspective.


On days when nothing particularly good happens, I'm going to write something I'm grateful for, so I'll end the year with 365 notes!





The Tabata Protocol

My son told me about this and it looks very doable.  The Tabata Protocal is the best supra-aerobic cardio workout ever discovered! 
Read more here.


Here are a couple of alternative resolution ideas:

Ten Alternative New Year's Resolution Ideas

Five Food-Related Resolutions

Last thing - DO NOT forget to say RABBIT, RABBIT, RABBIT the first thing when you wake up January 1st and you'll have a lucky year!  If you do it the first thing every month, that month will be lucky.  Stop rolling your eyes and just do it - what could it hurt?

Again - if you have some ideas that are not listed here, please share them in a comment!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

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