OCTOBER 2019 -- Spokane SCBWI Conference Notes

My SCBWI “home” region, the Inland Northwest, held its Fall Conference September 20-21 at the Montvale Event Center in Spokane, Washington. Previously a one day conference, this year, an additional half-day was added. This Friday afternoon event offered the choice of two Intensive Workshops. One, with Martha Brockenbrough, was geared to middle grade and YA writers; the other, with Daria Peoples-Riley, towards picture book writers. I attended Daria’s session. Calling on personal experiences, Daria led participants through exercises that focused on recognizing what child we feel needs our book and how we want that child to feel when they are holding our book in their hands. After that, we focused on visualizing “scenes” from our story and creating some storyboard panels even if they were only stick figures. That can be a bit intimidating for non-artists, but the writers in the group (including me) seemed to survive and even had some fun.

For me, Saturday started way too early. As Conference Volunteer Chair, I had to be on deck to make sure all our volunteers and the chairpersons to whom they were assigned connected okay. Fortunately, we had a hard-working, enthusiastic bunch on both sides this year and since this conference runs on volunteer power, this was a big, big plus. We got everything set up and kicked off the day.

The main events started with a local author panel speaking on sustaining a long-term career, then moved on to the first of two morning breakout sessions. In the first session I attended, Christy Cox of Little Bigfoot gave participants an overview of her imprint’s regional focus and the opportunities that afforded writers.  Next, I chose a fast-paced but information loaded session with Sylvie Frank, editor at Paula Wiseman Books, who shared her perspective on the major characteristics of a great picture book character. To further this, she walked us through the final melding of text and illustrations that occurred during the editing of Ariel Bernstein’s “Where Is My Balloon.”

After the morning breakouts, there was time to visit the Illustrators Portfolio Showcase, do a little shopping at the bookstore, get those purchases autographed, and then sit down and chat a bit with fellow attendees and members of the faculty during lunch. 

The afternoon sessions kicked off with an agent panel featuring Adria Goetz, Laurel Symonds, and Courtney Radocaj fielding moderated questions about their backgrounds and their agenting preferences, information that comes in handy when considering submitting work to them. Courtney then followed this up with a talk on the differences in writing with versus about diversity and gave some great tips on how to incorporate diverse characters into our writing. The final breakout session was next up. I chose to attend a First Impressions Roundtable where six of us had a chance to read the first 250 words of a work and get feedback from a faculty member, in this case Adria Goetz. Getting some helpful feedback was great, but I also enjoyed the chance to hear what others were working on.

The afternoon was winding down as all attendees met back in the main room for the second local author panel. This one featured four authors sharing their perspectives on the revision process, something I found not only interesting, but entertaining as well. Yes, I’m looking at you, KMH!

Closing out this busy day, was keynote speaker Martha Brockenbrough. Martha encouraged us to embrace what our life’s journey brings to our writing journey, both highs and lows. Personally, I got a kick out of some of the photos she shared as they reminded me of some similar pics stored in a shoe box in my own closet. Note the picture of my muse to the right of this post.

All in all, a very full day and a half. Yet, as always when attending this type of event, I came away feeling inspired and re-energized. Not a bad way to feel at all. 

SEPTEMBER 2019 - Inland NW Fall Conference Time

This coming weekend is my SCBWI region's Fall Conference. And let me tell you, I think it is going to be a full but rewarding weekend. We have a great line-up of editors, agents, authors, and illustrators joining us. Plus, in addition to our full day of keynotes, breakouts, and panels on Saturday, we've added two Intensive Workshop Sessions on Friday. All of it put together by a hard-working team of volunteers. So stay tuned, I will be sharing my post-conference impressions in a future post. 

JANUARY 2019 -- A NEW YEAR OF POSSIBILITIES

Looking for ways to recharge your muse, re-energize any flagging spirits, and send writer's block tumbling? Here are two that I'm joining in on to start off my year:

This series is put on by SCBWI Inland Northwest, my  home region. For this third series, presenters are Alice McGinty, Jenna Pocius, Andrea Welch, and Corinna Luyken. Space is limited.

 More Information Here

 

A month of daily blog posts from authors, illustrators, and more to kick-start your commitment to generate 30 new story ideas. 

 More Information Here

May 2018 -- Taking a Brain Break at a Writers' Conference

~ yeowatzup

 

 

So, you’re going to attend a writers’ conference, eager to dive into some serious study of craft. Well, believe me, you will find plenty of that packed between inspiring keynote speeches and faculty panels. For example, I recently attended the Oregon SCBWI conference. Saturday’s breakout sessions found me facing a rapid-fire succession of strategic questions during a Character Boot Camp with agent Molly O’Neill, discovering ways to switch off a reader’s “default mode of traits” in editor Tiffany Liao’s Fundamentals of Writing Cross-Culturally, tracking the Secrets of a Great Synopsis with author Martha Brockenbrough, and quivering with nerves as I read and then waited for feedback during a First Page session with agents Natascha Morris and Molly O’Neill.

Sunday’s breakout sessions started with only slightly less quivering nerves as eight of us met with Natascha to read and critique up to 500 words of one of our picture book manuscripts. With that over and my nerves off the hook, I checked my schedule. And that’s when it struck me. My writer’s brain was tired, close to overloading. I really didn’t think I could keep focused through one, let alone three more breakout sessions if I kept doing what I had been doing. It was time to give myself permission to take a break and go off schedule. It was time to remember that an important aspect of attending a conference was enjoying the experience.

I stuffed my notebook (dutifully full of scribbled notes) back in my bag and headed to one of my favorite off schedule retreats: an illustrator focused workshop. Picture books are a collaboration between writer and illustrator, so I’ve always found seeing how the other half works to be both entertaining and inspiring. I’ve even learned more about the interplay of text and pictures from these sessions. I entered, fully prepared to sit back and observe. Wrong! It turned out that the presenter, Vanessa Brantley Newton, considered everyone in the room a participant. Our goal? Musical Creation. (Think musical chairs, but each time the music stops, everyone moves to a new table and either builds on something someone else started or starts a new something.) Tamping down the impulse to run like a scalded cat, I took a seat. And played. And found it both relaxing and re-energizing to stretch my creative muscles in a different direction. 

Then I did something even more revolutionary. I sat out the next session. Granted, there wasn’t a  topic I was particularly drawn to that session, but that didn’t mean that little voice in the back of my mind grumbling about wasted opportunities was easy to ignore. But I did. Torn between a short nap back in my room or finding a quiet spot to just veg, I compromised. First I visited the art portfolio displays, something I hadn’t taken time to do yet. Then I found a quiet spot and read back over my session notes, slipping added bits of clarity into mystifying scribbles while things were still fairly fresh in my mind. That part may not sound like resting my brain, but there really is a big difference between frantically jotting down notes during a fast paced session and going back over those notes at your own pace.

By then it was time for the last breakout session of the day (and conference). Relaxed and refreshed, I was able to focus on and enjoy Natascha Morris and one of the writers she represents offering their insights on Working with an Agent. I even managed to ask an intelligent question or two. Yet the best part of taking those off schedule breaks? I avoided those washed-out and tired-out doldrums that can hit just as the final keynote speech is about to begin. I heard every inspiring story and quote that SCBWI Executive Director Lin Oliver delivered. And missing any part of that would have truly been a wasted opportunity.

So, attend those writers’ conferences and soak up your craft. Just don’t forget to enjoy it. Let keynote speeches be a vicarious journey, more about listening than note-taking. Use mealtimes and breaks (even those long bathroom lines) to chat with other attendees and possibly strike up new friendships. Most importantly, don’t forget to give your brain a break. Take that nap, attend a session you might not normally consider, visit the bookstore or art portfolio displays, or even, gasp, just find a quiet spot and veg. You might just be surprised at how much more you get out of your overall experience if you do.

 

A LOOK AT THE INLAND NW's 2017 SCBWI CONFERENCE

September 16^th I attended the Inland NW SCBWI Conference: Plotting Your Course. This makes the ninth time I’ve attended this regional conference in Spokane, Washington and I’ve never regretted a single trip. Why? It’s a combination of things, I think.

The INW region has a great core group who put on this conference. Most may live in or close to Spokane, naturally, but they have never made those of us from further away feel like shirttail relatives. They are a welcoming group, a sharing group. A group who are always looking to give participants the best possible opportunities to learn and grow as writers.  

This conference is smaller, more intimate than many others. With fewer people, it’s easier to catchup with old friends while still leaving time to make new ones. Finding an opportunity to briefly chat with one or more of the faculty is also more likely. And there’s something to be said for the lower stress of a one-day schedule that takes place in one room. Sometimes it’s nice not to have to remember what topic you picked for which of multiple breakout sessions or not worry about finding the right rooms.

Yet even a one-day schedule can be packed. There were four main presentations, two table-talk sessions (each with a choice of 4 topics), two panel discussions, and even a short first pages critique session filling our day. The topics were industry current, highly informative, and had something for both the newbies and the more seasoned crowd. To give you an idea, here’s a glimpse at the main faculty presentations.  

Jennifer Mattson, agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, opened her talk by assuring us that despite the gloom mongers, juvenile sales are up. She then gave us an overview of the five big categories in juveniles, defining their characteristics (as well as noting some current changes in those), and then touching on the “ever-green” types of stories that sell best in each.

Agent John Rudolph, from Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret, shared his insights into how to hook a children’s book agent. His Big Three: Exciting Plot, Original Characters, and Unique Voice. He elaborated on those in reference to the three categories he represents (Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Books) and closed with tips on query letters and elevator pitches. John admitted up front that his talk would be based on his personal likes and dislikes, but as the “seasoned crowd” could affirm, there was ample universal truth in those.

Miriam Newman, Associate Editor with Candlewick Press, gave us an insider’s look at the revision process once a book gains an editor’s attention. From the back and forth of “Big Picture” structural revisions down to the final rounds of copy editing, it can be a very long voyage, but the destination is always to make the resulting book the very best it can be. Miriam also shared an important caveat, one that might be hard to follow when offered your first book deal. Be honest, if the feedback you get doesn’t meet your ultimate vision for the work, thank them and say you feel your visions differ, and then move on.

Author Amber Keyer (The Way Back from Broken; Pointe, Claw) spoke from a naked heart in her key-note address: Staying the Course in All Kinds of Weather. Pulling from her own life journey as it became her publication journey, Amber’s story was both gut-wrenching and up-lifting. The emotions in the room were palpable as we relived the events she shared. Nevertheless there were at least two very positive things I took away from this talk. Why write? Because there are stories that demand to be written, even those that come from our pain. And how do we keep on writing? By surrounding ourselves with a supportive family and the caring friendship of other writers.

Okay, now you’ve seen what a smaller conference can offer. What’s that? You’re still not sure it will suit you? No worries. That merely insures it will stay just the right size for the rest of us.

 

INLAND NW SCBWI CONFERENCE

 

 

       The Fall Conference for the Inland NW SCBWI region is coming Saturday, September 16, 2017. I hope to see some of you there for a fun and fabulous day of talks, networking, and recharging our writing batteries. Follow this link for more information: Plotting Your Course



LAUGH AT THE WEATHER - ATTEND A WEBINAR SERIES

In regions where winter travel weather rates far from optimal, attending any kind of event for writers and illustrators during those months can be a challenge. Or should I say it would be unless, like the Inland NW SCBWI region, you bypass the snow and ice by offering a 4-part webinar series.

On four consecutive Saturdays mornings between January 21 and Feb 11, participants in FROM BRIGHT IDEAS TO THE FINAL PAGE TURN lounged in their pajamas, sipped their tea, coffee, or cocoa, and left their cars in the driveway. For me, it also meant no worries about sharing my nasty winter cold. The nicest part, however, was that these live presentations were also recorded. No angst over scheduling conflicts. No problems if the kids interrupted. No regrets that you missed a golden nugget of inspiration while frantically jotting down another. Next to being there in person, what more could you ask for?

This particular series was on picture books and featured three authors and one author-illustrator. And what a line-up! That first Saturday, Tara Lazar’s (Little Red Gliding Hood, Normal Norman) effervescent personality and wacky humor shone through as she shared strategies from her years as the founder and moderator of Storystorm—formerly PiBoIdMo—to spark us into “Brainstorming Better Ideas.” My favorite takeaway: Think about your story idea next to current popular titles on a bookstore shelf. Will kids pick it up? Will parents?

The Northwest’s own Jessixa Bagley (Boats for Papa, Laundry Day) spoke to both illustrators and authors the following Saturday as she connected her journey to publication with thoughts on how each of us could “Polish Your Personal Style and Voice.” For Jessixa, the key is finding and mining your personal connection to the content—what inspires you, moves you, draws you in? My favorite takeaway: An exercise Jessixa has always remembered from a conference - visualize yourself at your favorite age as a child and write for that child.

You gotta love a guy who can turn breakfast foods into picture books characters. And tell their story in rhyme. Josh Funk (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, Dear Dragon) made known his views on the “To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme” debate while sharing several pithy tips on doing rhyme right. My favorite takeaway from Josh: Remember, rhythm and rhyme is not about whether it works for you, but whether it works for everyone else who will be reading it cold.

The series final presenter definitely does rhyme right. However, after twenty-one years of writing and 37 published books, “Strong Beginnings, Satisfying Endings—And Navigating from One to the Other” is also something Linda Ashman (Hey, Coach!, All We Know, The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books) does right. Linda’s hour was jam-packed with information, making me doubly glad I could view the recording again later. My favorite takeaways: the reading list Linda shared of mentor texts for further study of the story structures she spoke on and her motto (borrowed from a fellow writer?)—There are many ways to tell story. Just try stuff.

Following the series, a survey asked if we felt we came away with a) lots of new information, b) a little new information, or if c) we felt we heard it all before. I always find that a hard question to answer. I mean, let’s face it, after attending conferences, workshops, etc., for a number of years, chances are you’ve heard these topics before. However, what I see as the key that keeps me coming back is more about the presenter than the topic. Every writer or illustrator brings their own life experiences, their own unique viewpoint, and their own style of dissecting and imparting information to their presentation. Which is great because we all have our own unique way of learning. What I lose in the info-dump of one speaker, another will make so clear it literally pops like a light bulb. The writing exercise one shares leaves me uninspired while that of another is a genuine “ah-ha!” moment. Add in the marvelous variety of resource books, mentor texts, and inspirational anecdotes and quotes each presenter shares and hopefully you are starting to understand. Even if I feel I may not have come away with new information, I do come away re-inspired by even the most well-worn topic.

So would I participate in a series like this again? In a heartbeat!!

 

 

The Secrets to Writing a Great Picture Book - Followup

When I was asked to deliver not just myself but our presenter, Bonny Becker, to this workshop in a safe and timely fashion, I was a bit nervous. Spokane roadways are not my home turf.  But armed with Google Maps and Bonny’s vote of confidence*, I was up for the challenge, right?

(*She may have just been resigned to her fate.)

 

Okay, so my confidence wavered when we took a slight detour through a business park, but with a right instead of a left, success was ours. Almost. Bonny and I now faced the ultimate challenge of our trip: the dreaded parking pay-n in the backside station. Luckily, we were in good company. If it took more writers than we’d care to admit to unravel the mysteries of the machine, that teamwork readied us for our next challenge: “The Secrets of Writing a Great Picture Book.” Happily, that trip came with not just a map, but a guided tour as well.

 

Our tour started with the seed of all good books—the idea, the problem needing to be solved. Using several mentor texts (including The Last Puppy by Frank Asch and her own A Visitor for Bear), Bonny guided us through a series of questions that explored the core idea behind each. Was the problem to be solved simple but profound? Was it approached in a way that was fresh but familiar? Did it reflect an activity or emotion children experience in their own lives? Was the main character(s) someone children could relate to and cheer on? Bonny emphasized that these were the same questions we needed to ask of our own story ideas.

 Next, Bonny led us through the basics of story structure: a beginning that sets up a problem; a middle where the MC works through this problem, and an ending where the problem is resolved and the MC has changed somehow. With “Millions of Cats” as our guide book, we explored how author Wanda Gag not only started her story close to the problem, but immediately created empathy for the MCs by using core traits that children relate to. We saw how Gag’s story middle progressed in a logical sequence of cause and effect, paying particular attention to how that sequence escalated in both action and emotion. Bonny pointed out that a good middle propels a story forward to its end, the key touchstone of the story. In “Millions of Cats,” the very old couple get their cat, though Gag cleverly twists how that cat is finally chosen. Whether we choose to end our story with a twist or a straightforward conclusion, Bonny told us our aim should be an emotional kicker that resonates long after the last page is turned.

 

The tour portion of the workshop completed, we spent the rest of our day behind the wheel, putting our new roadmap into practice. Again, we started with ideas, then took time to start expanding one of our ideas into a story, and finished the day creating a book dummy of that story. During each segment, participants had an opportunity to share their work and Bonny’s guidance throughout was generous, informative, and honest. Her feedback, and that of our peers, had some of us bogged in traffic, needing to rethink our original idea. For others, it was the hazards farther down the road that they needed to keep an eye on. We all, however, came away better prepared to tackle those problems and road trip on to our own great picture book. Thank you, Bonny.

Bonny's website can be found here: https://bonnybecker.com/

 

 

 

Upcoming Event--Inland NW SCBWI



 

 

I've attended workshops with Bonny in the past at the now defunct PNW Children's Book Conference. I always came away with tons of useable information and a true appreciation for just how talented this lady is. Whether you are a beginning picture book writer or someone looking to hone skills, this is the place to be Saturday, April 23.  For more information, follow this link: Secret to Writing Picture Books  I hope to see you there.

 

A follow-up will be posted after the event.

 

 

SCBWI Insight Write This -- November

A few words before I post my November entry. (Which didn't make the top twelve, but after last month, I shouldn't be greedy, should I?)

Going forward, my plan each month is to continue posting a short piece, 50 words or less in length, that a writing prompt has inspired. What's changing is that I've decided to branch out from the Insight's "Write This" feature. I've been pinning writing prompts, inspiring illustrations, and character galleries at Pinterest for a couple of months now and think it's time to start utilizing this resource.

Want to join in? When I post my piece, I will include a link to the pin that inspired it. If the same prompt inspires you, I'd love to have you share it by posting a link or the piece itself in my piece's comment field. I think it will be quite interesting to see how one prompt can send multiple minds off in totally different directions.


The November prompt was: a stranger enters . . .

Miss Kittycat smelled trouble when the flea-bitten mongrel pushed through the swinging doors.  

Then Marshal Mutt Dillon walked in.  His big body leaned against the bar.

“Buy you a sodie pop, mister?”

A growl twisted the stranger’s lips.

“Drop the pleasantries, Marshal. I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

 

Turning a New Leaf -- SCBWI Oregon's Annual Fall Retreat

Eighty acres of garden. Yummy food. Cushy beds. And four days spent learning, writing, and sharing with fellow writers. This was the SCBWI Oregon Fall Retreat held October 15-18^th at the Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton, Oregon.

My retreat began with an unexpected meeting. By some quirk of fate, Sue Ford, former Co-RA of the Oregon region, and two of the Retreat faculty chose the same restaurant in Silverton for lunch as I did. Sue invited me to join them and, shoving my nervousness aside, I did. I even managed to chat and eat with some semblance of decorum (i.e.: I didn’t spill anything or let loose any embarrassing noises.). But then, Heather Alexander of Pippin Properties and Marie Lamba of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency made it easy. They were so relaxed and friendly, reminding me that the faculty at such events are just as interested in meeting and talking with writers and illustrators as we are with them.

But on with the Retreat. Thursday evening, Susan Blackaby, an Oregon writer with a fetish for narrow-ruled yellow tablets, and Carolyn Conahan, an illustrator with an affinity for hippy vans, opened the retreat with a look back at how this event had played a key role in the success of their collaboration “The Twelve Days of Christmas in Oregon.” On Friday morning, Andrea Welch, senior editor at Beach Lane Books, spoke to the ten essential elements she looks for in picture books. Heart and read aloud ability topped her list. Later that day, Marie cautioned us that nothing kills a reader’s experience faster than overwriting, a problem she sees as a failure to reel in our imagination enough to leave room for the reader’s. Saturday, Tiffany Liao, associate editor at Penguin Random House’s Razorbill imprint, shared some personal experiences that shaped her insights into bringing diverse characters to our work. She gave those of us belonging to the “unmarked state” a lot to think about. For our final workshop, we dissected sample letters as Heather offered liberation from query madness. Her rallying cry? K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Sunday morning was reserved for faculty-led roundtables arranged by genre. As always, I found this to be not only a great opportunity for feedback, but a chance to learn how a particular agent or editor approaches a manuscript.

Overall, though, I think what really stood out for me at this retreat was the relaxed schedule. Bravo to the organizers who allowed plenty of time to write, get feedback in a critique group, chat with other participants, or, my favorite, take a stroll or tram ride through the Oregon Garden. We even had time to sneak back to our rooms for a nap if so inclined. All in all, not a bad way to spend four days.

 

For more information on the beautiful Oregon Garden: http://www.oregongarden.org/

SCBWI Insight Write This -- October

October prompt: in 50 words or less, portray an inopportune time to get a case of hiccups.

My entry made the Top Twenty!!

I am clever, hiding in the savannah grass.

I am patient, watching and waiting.

I am muscles, crouching, coiled and ready.

I am—HIC!

I am—HIC!

I am IT!

Again.

Inland Northwest SCBWI Conference Follow-up

We were a packed house for the Inland Northwest SCBWI regional conference, but that's a good thing. Just under 60 of us gathered at the Spokane Club on September 19th to hear John Cusick, agent with Folio Literary Management, caution us to "skip the boring parts" when pacing our stories; author Jennifer K. Mann share how she visually analyzes picture books; and Viking editor Joanna Cardenas encourage us to explore the possibilities of genre bending. The day's events also included a panel of three local debut authors: Kris Dinnison (You, Me, and Him), Dan Gemeinhart (The Honest Truth), and A. L. Sonnichsen (Red Butterfly) who answered questions about their journey to publication. It's always inspiring to hear how perseverance and being open to the continual honing of our craft can payoff.

It's nice to sit with friends at conferences, but this year I was running late and ended up at a table of faces all new to me. You know what? That was another good thing. There were several conference newbies in the group and that gave us old hands a chance to answer their questions and make them feel welcome. It also meant that when my volunteer duty as a "lunch monitor," whose job was to make sure everyone got what they ordered, proved a bit trickier than imagined, I had several new friends telling me to relax, I was doing just fine.

Those of you familiar with conferences know that one of the best good thing these events offer is an opportunity for a professional critique. Your critique group is indispensable in helping you revise and hone a manuscript, but isn't it funny how a fresh set of eyes can have you seeing what you've written  from a totally new perspective? About mid-afternoon, I met with editor Joanna Cardenas to discuss one of my picture book manuscripts.  Joanna was easy to talk to, her comments a thoughtful blend of encouragement and honesty. Plus her typed notes will come in handy as I rethink and revise my story. Always a good thing.

Step Right Up for a Writing Conference

 

Heading out this weekend to the Inland Northwest SCBWI conference in Spokane, Washington. This is my home region and it will be fun to catch up with old friends. Perhaps I'll even meet a few new ones. I always volunteer to help with this event and this year I got assigned "lunch monitor." Oh does that bring back memories of grade school! Hopefully these adults who write for children will be above acting like children and I won't have to break up any food fights. Then again, the theme is a circus one and there could be some clowns in the crowd.

Click here for more information.

SCBWI Insight Write This -- September

September prompt: It's September, and that means BACK TO SCHOOL!  In 50 words or less, give us a first impression of your character's new teacher.

  

     Miss Harper, the new music teacher, is perfect. Perfect hair, perfect face, perfect clothes, and, of course, the perfect voice.

     Her heart’s perfect, too. Perfectly evil. With Orpheus hanging in my family tree, I couldn’t miss that. The rest of Emerson High is doomed to find out the hard way.

 

 (See the July prompt entry for an explanation of this SCBWI Insight feature.)  

 

SCBWI Insight Write This -- August

August prompt: In 50 words or less, create a narrative description of the weather which sets a mood for suspense, mystery and intrigue.  

 

At chow they told us Twelvers to expect it to rain cats and dogs today. Yeah, right! Those are saber-tooth tigers and dire wolves. Which makes “Hostile Environments” way more interesting.

            Don’t get me wrong. It still sucks . . . being slotted into McClaren. But this storm’s a point in survival’s favor.

(See the July prompt entry for an explanation of this SCBWI Insight feature.) 

SCBWI Insight Write This -- July

Included in SCBWI's new online newsletter, INSIGHT, is a feature called "Write This." Writers are challenged to submit up to 50 words based on a specific prompt. In the July issue, they published the first 500 submissions and I made the cut. In following months, they will only be publishing their selected "Top Twenty." You will probably want to check here for my attempts.

 

 

July prompt: write a character description in fifty words using the word "WART."   

 

When one old aunty whispered "Poor child, he's as ugly as a wart on a hog," Isaiah Broomfield's brothers laughed and called it payback for his arrival messing up their summer. Unfortunately, Wart was the kind of a nickname that stuck. As did the ugliness that fed on it.