Writing tips | Mindy Baker Books

I’m so excited to introduce my special guest to you today. It is Bonnie Clark, debut picture book author of TASTE YOUR WORDS which is being released on April 7 by WorthyKids. It is illustrated by Todd Bright.

Thanks for joining me, Bonnie! First off, I LOVE the title and idea for your book. It seems so relevant for not only children, but all of us as we think about our speech. I have to ask you, where did the idea for this book originate?

The idea for TASTE YOUR WORDS originated with myself and my children when they were younger and learning to communicate with each other. (LOTS of sibling squabbles!) Inspired by Proverbs 16:24, I would tell them to taste their words before they let them out of their mouth. The idea that we could taste our words was fun and I was surprised at how quickly they understood the concept.

That really does make the concept more understandable. I love it! I am also wondering what sparks your creativity as you contemplate new ideas for your picture books?

I think all writers are noticers first, and I get inspired almost everywhere I look. But most of my inspiration comes from my personal experience and interaction with my children. If I discover something that is helpful or interesting, the writer/mother in me wants to communicate it well (simply and entertaining) through a picture book.

We really do write from our own experience, don’t we? I am also curious about your writing process. How do you shape a new book into completion?

After I’m inspired, I write my thoughts in an outline or first draft that I hope no one ever reads! I meet monthly with my kidlit Critique Group and at this point I may run the idea by them to get their opinion on the project. After I get the idea out, I begin creating the story. I usually know how I want to end it- the problem I want the main character to solve, but the challenge is creating the arc and timing of events. Again, I will get feedback from my group about what is working and what is not and eventually the story starts to emerge. I personally like to paginate my manuscripts because page turns are important in picture books and help with the pacing. When I start to feel good about a manuscript, I will then start trimming. Word Count is another important piece of picture book writing and I like to keep mine around 500 or less. When I feel like its getting closer I’ll read it to my kids (my OTHER critics!) and then I’ll send it to my agent Adria Goetz for her review (with my fingers crossed). 🙂

Very interesting! It is definitely a process, isn’t it? I have also found a critique group to be very helpful. I love the cover for the book. Do you have a favorite illustration in the book? What is it and why is it your favorite?

Oh wow. That’s a really hard question and you will understand when you see these AMAZING illustrations by my step-brother Todd Bright. He is an incredibly talented and accomplished animator and he has indeed made this story come to life on the pages. BUT if I had to choose, I think my favorite spread is the “ah-ha” moment in Amera’s bedroom after she has struggled through her day and finally discovered how to turn it around. It is an incredibly sweet scene and the light pouring in the window is just gorgeous. I love her expression and the way she is sitting on the bed. And the picture on the wall behind her has a special meaning for me personally. You’ll have to wait until April 7^th to see it!

I am really looking forward to “seeing” what you are describing! Now that you have a book published, do you have any inspiration or words of advice to share for other debut authors?

My biggest piece of advice for any aspiring author is to join SCBWI and get involved in a critique group that will give honest and kind feedback. For me, my group of Kidlit authors and illustrators have been an invaluable piece of my journey to publication. I couldn’t imagine making my way in this industry without their constructive criticism and timely advice. I joined the group to learn and as a bonus I’ve made some pretty incredible (and talented!) friends.

Do you have any other exciting news that you can share with us about upcoming books?

2020 will be a BIG year for me… TASTE YOR WORDS will launch on April 7^th and my second picture book CATCHING THOUGHTS will launch August 11^th. While TASTE YOUR WORDS is a book about speaking kind words, CATCHING THOUGHTS addresses mental health- a topic that I am passionate about and hope that kids who are struggling will find helpful.

Both are such important topics and issues. Sounds wonderful! I wish you all the best, Bonnie! Thank you again for answering my questions!

Thank you for having me Mindy! I hope your 2020 is full of yummy words and beautiful thoughts.

Pre-order TASTE YOUR WORDS on Amazon at this link.

Author Bio:

Bonnie Clark loves books that make her laugh, cry, or think for a long time. She enjoys writing for children because she believes that childhood is the most important time in a person’s life–the time that shapes who we become as adults. When she isn’t writing, Bonnie does yoga, reads books, raises three adorable kids, and drinks lots of coffee. Bonnie lives in Canton, Georgia, with her husband, their children, and two French bulldogs.

You can find out more about Bonnie Clark at her website.

Follow Bonnie on Intstagram, Facebook, and Twitter! See links from her website.

Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Curious about NON-FICTION KIDLIT and WRITING FOR HIRE? Author Cindy Argentine gives the inside scoop!

September 28, 2019September 28, 2019 admin

One of the best things about writing has been the friendships that I have made along my journey. Several years ago, I met Cindy through a SCBWI critique group. She is amazing! I really admire and respect her writing, and deeply value her thoughts and comments on my developing manuscripts. I invited her to stop in for an interview. I think you will LOVE her thoughtful answers to my questions.

1. Cindy, thanks for joining us! My first question is about ideas. As a non-fiction picture book writer, where do you get your ideas and inspiration?

So many places! Ideas really are everywhere. Often, I get ideas from what I’m reading. One of my current works-in-progress stemmed from a single sentence in an article in Smithsonian magazine. It mentioned a woman from Indiana whom I’d never heard of before. My curiosity led me to investigate, and I was excited about what I discovered, so I’m writing about it! Another picture book idea came from a speech given by a NASA administrator who was visiting my college. She mentioned a woman with a fascinating past whom I decided to write about. Other times, I draw inspiration from what I see in the natural world. I love to take walks without my phone or any other device and simply watch all the activity humming around me—the trees, wind, clouds, and animals. Probably the other main source of ideas for me is my memory. I like to remember what I was fascinated by as a child and build on that.

2. Very interesting! Also, do you have any tips on research? How do you keep your research organized?

I’ve noticed that most nonfiction writers love research. So, one of my tips involves something I continue to work on—which is knowing when to stop doing research and start writing. Until the book is done, the research never truly ends. But I reach a point when I realize I have enough facts and historical context, as well as an emerging sense of theme and voice, to envision or “feel” what I want the book to be. At that point, it’s time to write!

I keep my research organized in computer files and paper files. There are often dozens of sources for each project’s bibliography (including books, articles, interviews, videos, etc.). I keep track of them using tools like EasyBib. As I read for research, I take notes, sometimes on paper and sometimes on my computer. When I read sources online, I print out the most important pages. I file the notes and pages by topic—I have multiple file boxes per book sometimes!

For most projects, I footnote my early drafts as I go so that I know the source of each statement or quotation. I omit the footnotes as I edit and revise, but I can always go back to a saved version of that early draft if I need to check a source.

3. Sounds like a good system to try! Also, I’m curious, was your recent book STEAM Jobs in Cypersecurity a work-for-hire project? How did you discover this opportunity? What did you enjoy about this type of project?

Cover of Steam Jobs in Cybersecurity — Steam Jobs in Cybersecurity by Cynthia Argentine

STEAM Jobs in Cybersecurity was a work-for-hire project. I’m in a few online writers groups, and one day last summer I saw a well-known author post that she had met an editor at a conference who wanted to expand her pool of authors for nonfiction books. I submitted a cover letter, resume, and writing samples to that editor right away. A year later, I received an email from the publisher asking whether I’d like to write this book. I was thrilled!

I wanted to accept this project for a couple reasons. One, I had recently read Countdown to Zero Day by Kim Zetter. I was already intrigued by the concept of cyber-war and the need for national as well as personal cybersecurity, so I was happy to research this further. Two, I have a good deal of experience writing to a specific age range and word length with the journalism I’ve done, and I was eager to apply those skills to a longer work. It’s like a puzzle, really. You have all this information and all these ideas and you have to prioritize and choose and fit them into a set number of chapters and sidebars and photo captions. I found that challenge to be fun.

4. Very fascinating! Finally, what advice do you have for authors trying to break into publication?

Persevere, and enjoy each step of the journey. One of the joys of publication is knowing that readers will actually read what you’ve spent weeks, months, or years writing. That is fulfilling. And before that happens, there is a lot of work. There will be rejections. There will be bad first drafts. There will be moments when you wonder if you should be spending your time doing something else. So what makes this worthwhile during the waiting and hoping? For me, it boils down to three things:

· The joy of discovery—being engrossed in learning deeply about what I want to share.

· The joy of community—writing is often solitary, but I have made WONDERFUL friends through critique groups and conferences.

· The joy of creating—which is at the heart of this for me. When I think about gathering what I’ve learned, all the things about a topic that have angered or saddened or inspired me, or made me laugh—and I take all of that and shape it into something new, to share with others, using words and the sounds of language—that’s magical to me.

Thank you so much, Cindy. Your passion for your writing really shines through. I wish you all the best on your future projects!!

Thanks, Mindy, for interviewing me. I hope this is helpful to your readers!

You can find out more about Cindy and her writing by visiting her website at www.cynthiaargentine.com

You can purchase her latest release STEAM Jobs in Cypersecurity on Amazon at this link.

Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Mentor Text– Unique Structure–EL CHUPACABRAS by Adam Rubin

June 26, 2018February 17, 2019 admin

Analyzing Picture Books for Layers

I go to the library regularly and check out mentor texts. A mentor text is a recently published picture book that I analyze. I try to learn from the techniques that the author used, and apply my knowledge to my own writing.

My latest treasure is a book called EL CHUPACABRAS by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Crash McCreery. The book grabbed my attention because of the Spanish–I am a Spanish teacher, so of course I had to take a look at this book! The Chupacabra is a terrifying creature of Puerto Rico legends, and the word Chupacabra literally means “goat sucker.”

One strength of the story is in the CHARACTER. Instead of a terrifying monster, Rubin describes the Chupacabras a tiny gentleman who wore a bow tie and drank chocolate and ate churros. In the end of the story, he is the one to save the day. This is a huge flip to the usual terrifying chupacabras. I feel that this teaches children that they should get to know someone for who he is, not judge him based on a “rumor.”

The standout strength of the book in my opinion is the unique STRUCTURE.
Rubin first writes a sentence half in English and half in Spanish, then flips and writes half in Spanish and half in English. I adore the flow and the blending of the two languages!

Sample:
“Hector liked goats, pero Carla prefería las bicicletas.
A Héctor le gustaban las cabras, but Carla preferred bicicletas.”

I can definitely see myself using this in the classroom, especially as an example for preterite vs. imperfect, and of course introducing one of the famous legendary creatures of the Spanish speaking world.

Fun book!

Buy CHUPACABRAS on Amazon

Writing tips with Jackie Yeager, Author of SPIN THE GOLDEN LIGHTBULB

January 9, 2018February 17, 2019 admin

Thanks for joining me again today, Jackie. Congrats on the release of SPIN THE GOLDEN LIGHTBULB! I appreciate you being willing to share some writing tips with us. I would love to glean some wonderful words of advice from you!

First of all, I would like to talk about character development. As an author, how do you go about creating your characters to be unique and realistic?

That’s a great question and something that’s so important because a story may have the most fabulous plot, but if the reader doesn’t care about the characters or relate to them on some level, they’ll never read to the end. When I create my characters, I usually have some hard to define ambiguous quality that gets me wanting to write about them in the first place. It could be their way of speaking, their mannerisms, or their determination—something that pops into my head and makes me want to write about them. Once I have an idea like that in my mind, I can add on to it. The most important thing for me when creating characters is to make them memorable. So hair color or height is not so important but a unique characteristic is.

When I created Kia Krumpet, the main character in Spin the Golden Light Bulb, I knew that she was going to be a very determined and focused eleven year-old, with tunnel vision—a sort of one track mind when it came to the competition in the story, the Piedmont Challenge. From there it was easy to add characteristics like biting her nails—a lot and talking about the Piedmont Challenge—a lot in almost an obsessive way. I had to be careful not to make her stereotypical though, and instead unique. I guess that’s the challenge we all have when creating characters!

Secondly, I am curious about how to develop sequels. When you began this novel, did you plan it to have a sequel, or did that just come about naturally through the writing process?

I guess I would say it came about naturally through the writing process. When I originally began thinking about the plot for Spin the Golden Light Bulb, the first of THE CRIMSON FIVE books, I had no idea that it could turn into more than one book. At first, the story was simply about an over-the-top creative problem solving competition based loosely on my experience as an Odyssey of the Mind coach. But as the ideas began to solidify in my mind, I realized that the world I was trying to create was pretty big and it was going to be very difficult to fit all of my ideas into one book!

At what point then did you know you had sequel material?

As I molded the plot, I soon realized with certainty that it would take more than one book for me to tell the entire story of these five kids. Breaking the story into two books was actually quite easy because it revolves around a competition and the different levels involved. So I decided to write a stand-alone book only, leaving the door open for a sequel, and developed a loose outline for the second book right away.

Do you think there is potential for a third book?

Yes, I do think there’s potential for a third book! With these five kids and the world they live in, it’s very possible. With that said, the sequel, is also written as a stand-alone book. But, never say never. I do have a loose outline written for a third, so you never know!

I hope that happens! I think the whole process is fascinating. As a writer of picture books, I admire the skill of creating a “world” as you have done!

Once again, thank you so much for your willingness to talk with us and share your writing tips! I wish you all the best with SPIN THE GOLDEN LIGHTBULB and its sequel.

About the author:
Jackie has a Masters degree in Education, lives in Rochester, NY with her real life prince charming and two royally amazing teenagers, and would live in a castle if she could. When she is not living in her own fairytale world, she spends time reading, practicing yoga, and cheering for the crew at marathons, triathlons, cross country meets, track meets, and hockey and baseball games. She does a lot of cheering! She is also a former coach of a middle school Odyssey of the Mind team who once upon a time competed at the World Finals. They may or may not have been the inspiration behind the book, and even its sequel.

You can find Jackie at her website:
http://www.swirlandspark.com

Also on Facebook and Pinterest

Category: Writing tips

Interview with Bonnie Clark, author of TASTE YOUR WORDS

Curious about NON-FICTION KIDLIT and WRITING FOR HIRE? Author Cindy Argentine gives the inside scoop!

Mentor Text– Unique Structure–EL CHUPACABRAS by Adam Rubin

Writing tips with Jackie Yeager, Author of SPIN THE GOLDEN LIGHTBULB