Julie Hedlund – Ramona Davey

Writing Processes Blog Tour

Posted on April 28, 2014 by admin

Thank you to Penny Morrison for inviting me to be part of the ‘Writing Processes Blog Tour.’

Penny is the author of the Hey! series and is currently having her debut picture book illustrated (to be published by Walker Books Au). How exciting is that!

Have a look at Penny’s post for the ‘Writing Processes Tour.

So here are the following questions to explain my processes:

What am I working on?

Everything at the moment, which feels a bit hectic. But I am working for 3 deadlines/closing dates which are happening in the following week:

I have to submit manuscripts for appraisals at this years SCBWI Conference
submit a manuscript to CYA Conference Writing Competition
submit a manuscript to KBR Unpublished Picture Book Award Competition

Actually, the first one is the only job I have to do, but the second two are what I need to do to help me develop into a more satisfying and successful writer. Entering competitions helps you work towards deadlines. Some offer feedback sheets which are invaluable and help you to spot strengths and weaknesses in your own work.

So, what am I working on?

3 chapter books/ middle grade novels

1 rhyming picture book manuscript ( I know, rumour has it that they are not easy to sell to publishers, unless the ryhme is perfect – I intend to make it perfect 😉

2 prose picture books

and Tania McCartney’s 52 Week Illustration Challenge

How does my work differ from others of it’s genre?

I learnt a new word last year – scatalogical. I submitted a manuscript to an American Literary Agency for Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12 Writing Challenge (write 12 picture book manuscripts in 12 months). The agent replied to me with a very nice rejection letter explaing that ‘scatalogical’ humour was not her thing.

I don’t know why but many of my manuscripts seem to contain scatalogical humour in some shape or form including: cow pats, bird poo, super-glue poo. Maybe that’s how it differs.

I also have two manuscripts which have a connection to the island I was born on – Jersey, Channel Islands.

Why do I write what I do?

I have often read blogs that say don’t write to trends, write about what you know or enjoy.

Well, I know about Jersey, living on a tiny island and Jersey cows.

But I’m not an expert on a great variety of poos – although I have stood in dog poo (which isn’t lucky) and bird poo has landed on me (but that’s ok because it’s lucky.)

I love history and therefore I have two manuscripts that are historical. Both are based around real events. One is a picture book which made my daughter cry. She thought it was a horrible story as the father wasn’t going to make it back in time for his daughter’s birthday. (She threw the manuscript on the floor!)

The other one is a middle grade novel which is so exciting to write but difficult too. It is based in 50BC and as I wasn’t around then it is quite hard to make sure I am including details that would have existed then, eg: food, transport, tradition, clothes (or lack of – Gauls had been known to fight naked!), family life, rules, etc…

How does my writing process work?

In the past I have entered Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Ideas Month). Or I have seen something in the news or in the newspaper, on Facebook or something my kids have done – and Bingo! It has given me an idea.

I then go through the following quick checklist:

WHO is the main character?
WHAT is the problem/ inciting event?
WHERE is this happening?
WHEN is it happening?

I write the first draft. Spell check it. Read it out loud into my voice memo onto my iphone (this is especially useful for my rhymimg text)

I have recently come across this devise to help you hear your work: http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.php

I also get my 8 year old daughter to read out the manuscript aloud.

Then I meet up with my brilliant critique group and they give me valuable feedback on the good and the bad. And I rewrite, rewrite and rewrite until the writing feels polished and every word is needed. This can sometimes be hard to judge.

And now to introduce next week’s blogger;

Rob Harding

Rob Harding is a voice-over artist, TV presenter and kids author. You have probably heard Rob’s voice before – perhaps on the radio or TV for Coke or Optus or perhaps one of those ads where he shouts at you about a Massive Clearance Sale. He appears on the BBC’s pre-school channel CBeebies, where he gets to dress up as a gnome and speak in a pirate accent, although usually not at the same time.

Rob has also written several critically acclaimed children’s books. At this stage, none of these books have actually been published, so the critical acclaim only comes from Rob’s kids. His wife thinks they’re OK. His dog thinks they stink. (Which actually isn’t such a bad thing because she used to eat her own poopy.)

Find out more at www.robharding.com.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ramona x

Halfway through the 12 x 12 writing challenge!

Posted on June 26, 2012February 11, 2013 by Ramona

I woke up to a party going on in my writing blog world. It is official, we are half way through the 12 Picture books in 12 months in 2012 writing challenge. I have previously written about it here in my New Year – New Goals post.

The 12 x 12 writing challenge was the brain child of Julie Hedlund, visit her and join in her party too! While you’re at it, why don’t you click here and visit all the other 12 x 12 party goers too!

So, have I managed to write a picture book manuscript each month so far? Thankfully the answer to that is yes! And the very reason that I can keep coming up with new ideas each month is what is actually keeping me going. Because sometimes you do start to doubt yourself (am I wasting my time, am I actually any good at this, what if I run out of ideas, blah, blah, blah) But I do keep coming up with new ideas and this is what keeps me going. Here are some of the story ideas I have written about so far:

January – A young boy is looking for clean undies…

February – Florence loves the library but…

March – Farley the fox has trouble doing something that all foxes should be able to do.

April – A little penguin is determined to be able to fly just like his friends.

May – A caterpillar and a tadpole are the best of friends and help each other when something very strange happens to them!

June – Letters go back and forth between a father and his daughter in 1929.

DSCF3990 — A selection of the manuscripts written this year so far. Plus my PiBoIdMo 2011 notebook that I use for my ideas.

Happy writing and thanks for stopping by!

New note:

Due to a lot of discussion on our 12 x 12 Facebook page I have cut my story pitches back. This is because posting whole stories or pitch ideas may be copied by others or make them invalid for publishing as they have already been seen. This may mean that some of your lovely comments below might not make as much sense, sorry!

Guest post on Alison K Hertz’ blog

Posted on May 31, 2012February 11, 2013 by Ramona

Photo on 2012-03-30 at 13.04 — One of my rough sketches – inspired by a character I am writing about.

This week I appear as a guest on the blog of Alison K Hertz. A fellow writer and illustrator. I met Alison virtually on the 12 x 12 in 2012 Picture Book Writing Challenge organised by Julie Foster Hedlund. This challenge has become a huge community of aspiring and successful children’s writers/authors who are all giving each other support and great tips along the way.

On Alison’s blog I talk about my journey as a writer and my hopes and dreams of one day being published. The post also focuses on my artwork and the processes I go through to achieve my images. I felt quite privileged to be a guest as this is not something I have done before.

I also talk about the things I have done to proactively get my work out there, like entering competitions. Which reminds me to remind you that the closing date for CBCA Frustrated Writers Mentorship Program is on Friday 1st June 2012.

I thoroughly believe that:

“You’ve got to be in it to win it!”

I also feel that:

“This writing business is not a straight and easy Roman road, it’s more of a bumpy country lane!”

Tamson Weston 12 x 12 Pitch Contest

Posted on February 19, 2012February 26, 2013 by Ramona

Last week I entered my first ever pitch contest over at Julie Hedlunds – Write Up My Life Blog. The incentive for doing the pitch was to a) do something I hadn’t done before, b) challenge myself, c) it was a great opportunity to win a manuscript critique from Tamson Weston (a published book author), at $300 value!!! Thank you for the opportunity Julie and Tamson…

Here is my pitch, hope you like it.

Pitch:

Libby watches all the other young limpets play in the waves. She doesn’t feel she will ever be brave enough to join in, or will she?

First line:

“Incoming!” The young limpets squealed in delight as the wave crashed over them.

Author: Ramona Davey