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717
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719        </div>
720
721      
722
723    </div>
724
725  </li>
726
727
728  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19069154">
729
730    <div id="moduleContent19069154">
731
732              <a id="moduleLink19069154" class=" " href="http://debbieohi.com/books" ><span>Books</span></a>
733      
734
735      
736
737    </div>
738
739  </li>
740
741
742  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper18251000">
743
744    <div id="moduleContent18251000">
745
746              <a id="moduleLink18251000" class=" " href="http://debbieohi.com/debbie-interviews/" ><span>Press &amp; Visits</span></a>
747      
748
749      
750
751    </div>
752
753  </li>
754
755
756  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19522596">
757
758    <div id="moduleContent19522596">
759
760              <a id="moduleLink19522596" class=" " href="http://debbieohi.com/debbie-faq/" ><span>FAQ</span></a>
761      
762
763      
764
765    </div>
766
767  </li>
768
769
770  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19597792">
771
772    <div id="moduleContent19597792">
773
774              <a id="moduleLink19597792" class=" " href="http://debbieohi.com/sitemap/" ><span>Site Map</span></a>
775      
776
777      
778
779    </div>
780
781  </li>
782
783
784  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper12890456">
785
786    <div id="moduleContent12890456">
787
788              <a id="moduleLink12890456" class="offsite-link " href="http://DebbieOhi.com/contact" onclick="this.target='new';"><span>Contact</span></a>
789      
790
791      
792
793    </div>
794
795  </li>
796
797</ul>
798
799        
800
801      
802  
803    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
804
805  
806
807    <div id="sectionContent8165544" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
808
809      
810
811      
812        
813          <div class="content-passthrough"><div id="moduleContentWrapper19576901" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-page"><div id="moduleContent19576901">
814
815
816
817
818
819  <p><strong style="font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-size: 150%;">THIS SITE HAS MOVED. Inkygirl posts are now part of <a href="https://debbieohi.com/">DebbieOhi.com</a>.</span></strong></p>
820  <p>====</p>
821  <p><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://debbieohi.com/me/">Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a>&nbsp;reads, writes and illustrates for young people. Every once in a while she shares new art, writing and reading resources; subscribe below.&nbsp;<a href="http://debbieohi.com/news-archives">Browse the archives here</a>.<br /></p>
822  <p><!-- Begin MailChimp Signup Form -->
823  <link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/slim-081711.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
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825  <div id="mc_embed_signup"><form action="//DebbieOhi.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=a5406f3ff164c61c12bae26ab&amp;id=09b39623fc" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate>
826      <div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll">
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831      <div class="clear"><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" name="subscribe" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" class="button"></div>
832      </div>
833  </form></div>
834  <!--End mc_embed_signup--> 
835  <table>
836  <tbody>
837  <tr>
838  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="http://instagram.com/inkygirl"><img src="http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/605335/28259795/1582385726797/Instagram_circle-flat-color64.jpg?token=xF0u0ZTcTydeKkiaibTaX1V%2FGms%3Dhttp://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/601505/28260072/1582463002913/Instagram_circle-flat-color64.jpg?token=bEK4OKICEguq3rX3K9%2B8Mjb0ddY%3D" alt="Instagram" /></a></span></td>
839  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="http://twitter.com/inkyelbows"><img src="http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/601505/28260071/1582463002763/Twitter-circle-flat-color64.jpg?token=lJ%2BJbKbbVrMvJnzMC7dXALPNpO4%3D" alt="Twitter" /></a></span></td>
840  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DebbieOhi/"><img src="http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/601505/28260073/1582463003067/Facebook_circle-flat-color64.jpg?token=eqtJYBd6fktBt4FItO1b40TVhY8%3D" alt="Facebook" /></a></span></td>
841  <td><a href="http://youtube.com/debbieohi"><img src="http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/601505/28260070/1582463002267/Youtube_circle-flat-color64.jpg?token=lJ%2BJbKbbVrMvJnzMC7dXALPNpO4%3D" alt="Youtube" /></a></td>
842  </tr>
843  <tr>
844  <td colspan="4"><a href="http://debbieohi.com/debbies-social-media">My other social media.</a></td>
845  </tr>
846  </tbody>
847  </table>
848  <p>
849  <link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/slim-081711.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
850  </p>
851</div></div></div>
852
853        
854
855      
856  
857    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
858
859  
860
861    <div id="sectionContent8182813" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
862
863       <div class="caption">Search Inkygirl.com</div> 
864
865      
866        
867          <div class="content-passthrough"><div id="moduleContentWrapper19704530" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-search"><div id="moduleContent19704530">
868
869
870<!-- <form method="get" action="/display/Search">
871	<div class="search-form-pt-wrapper">
872	  <div class="search-form-pt">
873	    <span class="queryFieldWrapper"><input type="text" class="text queryField" name="searchQuery" value=""/></span>
874	    <span class="queryButtonWrapper"><input type="submit" class="button queryButton" value="&raquo;"/></span>
875	    <input type="hidden" name="moduleId" value="19704530"/>
876	    <br class="clearer"/>
877	  </div>
878	</div>
879</form> -->
880
881<form method="get" action="/display/Search">
882	<input type="hidden" name="moduleId" value="19704530"/>
883	<table class="search-form-pt-wrapper search-form-table" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
884		<tr class="search-form-pt search-form-row">
885			<td class="queryFieldCell search-form-cell">
886				<span class="queryFieldWrapper">
887					<input type="text" class="text queryField" name="searchQuery" value=""/>
888				</span>
889			</td>
890			<td class="queryButtonCell search-form-cell">
891				<span class="queryButtonWrapper">
892					<input type="submit" class="button queryButton" value="&rarr;"/>
893				</span>
894			</td>
895		</tr>
896	</table> 
897</form></div></div><div id="moduleContentWrapper19704532" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-page"><div id="moduleContent19704532">
898
899
900
901
902
903  <p>You can also use my <a href="http://debbieohi.com/display/Search?moduleId=19704531&amp;searchQuery=">DebbieOhi.com Search</a>.</p>
904</div></div></div>
905
906        
907
908      
909  
910    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
911
912  
913
914    <div id="sectionContent8183405" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
915
916       <div class="caption">Recent projects</div> 
917
918      
919        
920          <div class="content-passthrough"><div id="moduleContentWrapper19709243" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-page"><div id="moduleContent19709243">
921
922
923
924
925
926  <p>*NEW!* Also see my <a href="https://www.debbieohi.com/broken-crayon">Broken Crayon resource</a></p>
927  <p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="https://www.debbieohi.com/broken-crayon"><img src="/storage/books/aCover-GurplePreen-300.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1594992624663" alt="" /></a></span></span></p>
928</div></div></div>
929
930        
931
932      
933  
934    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
935
936  
937
938    <div id="sectionContent3165367" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
939
940      
941
942      
943        
944          <div class="content-passthrough">
944<div id="moduleContentWrapper7340773" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-page"><div id="moduleContent7340773">
945
946
947
948
949
950  <p>&nbsp;</p>
951  <p><a href="http://debbieohi.com/books"><img src="/storage/headers-sidebars/2018sidebars/Sidebar-SamEva-WAMB-v2-350.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1514661208539" alt="" /></a></p>
952</div></div></div>
953
954        
955
956      
957  
958    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
959
960  
961
962    <div id="sectionContent3132503" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
963
964      
965
966      
967        
968          <div class="content-passthrough"><div id="moduleContentWrapper7255504" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-page"><div id="moduleContent7255504">
969
970
971
972
973
974  <table style="height: 44px;" width="268">
975  <tbody>
976  <tr>
977  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-wordcount-challenge/"><img style="width: 80px;" src="/picture/1000words_150w.jpg?pictureId=5696526&amp;asGalleryImage=true&amp;__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1278338102440" alt="" /></a></span></span></td>
978  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-wordcount-challenge/"><img style="width: 80px;" src="/picture/500words-150w.jpg?pictureId=5696569&amp;asGalleryImage=true&amp;__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1495105875395" alt="" /></a></span></span></td>
979  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-wordcount-challenge/"><img style="width: 80px;" src="/picture/250words-150w.jpg?pictureId=5696596&amp;asGalleryImage=true&amp;__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1495105846883" alt="" /></a></span></span></td>
980  </tr>
981  </tbody>
982  </table>
983  <p><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-wordcount-challenge/">Main Wordcount Challenge Page <br /></a></p>
984  <p><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FWriting-Challenge-250-500-or-1000-Words-A-Day%2F116107045128353%3Fv%3Dinfo&amp;width=250&amp;colorscheme=light&amp;show_faces=false&amp;stream=false&amp;header=false&amp;height=62" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:250px; height:62px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></p>
985  <table>
986  <tbody>
987  <tr>
988  <td>
989  <p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-golden-cupcake-award/"><img style="width: 150px;" src="/storage/icons/awards/BlogAward-200w.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1278944982627" alt="" /></a></span></span></p>
990  </td>
991  <td><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="/inkygirl-golden-marmot-award/"><img src="/storage/icons/awards/GoldenMarmot-v3-150.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1441114021404" alt="" /></a></span></span><br /></td>
992  </tr>
993  </tbody>
994  </table>
995  <p><a href=" https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><img src=" https://nerdybookclub.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/sketch113194837.jpg " alt="Member of the Nerdy Book Club" width="125" height="125" /></a></p>
996</div></div></div>
997
998        
999
1000      
1001  
1002    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1003
1004  
1005
1006    <div id="sectionContent3058913" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1007
1008       <div class="caption">RSS Feeds</div> 
1009
1010      
1011        
1012          <div class="content-passthrough"><div id="moduleContentWrapper7097096" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-rss-syndicate"><div id="moduleContent7097096">
1013
1014
1015
1016  <ul class="feed-list-inline">
1017    
1018          <li><a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/rss.xml" class="feed-link">Inkygirl: Guide For Kidlit/YA Writers & Artists RSS</a></li>
1019        
1020  </ul>
1021
1022</div></div><div id="moduleContentWrapper7097105" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-rss-syndicate"><div id="moduleContent7097105">
1023
1024
1025
1026  <ul class="feed-list-inline">
1027    
1028          <li><a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/wwfc/rss.xml" class="feed-link">Will Write For Chocolate RSS</a></li>
1029        
1030  </ul>
1031
1032</div></div><div id="moduleContentWrapper7097113" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-rss-syndicate">
1032<div id="moduleContent7097113">
1033
1034
1035
1036  <ul class="feed-list-inline">
1037    
1038          <li><a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/ipadgirl/rss.xml" class="feed-link">iPadGirl RSS</a></li>
1039        
1040  </ul>
1041
1042</div></div></div>
1043
1044        
1045
1046      
1047  
1048    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1049
1050  
1051
1052    <div id="sectionContent3028557" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1053
1054       <div class="caption">Admin</div> 
1055
1056      
1057        
1058          <ul class="content-navigation">
1059  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper6980478">
1060
1061    <div id="moduleContent6980478">
1062
1063              <a id="moduleLink6980478" class=" " href="https://www.inkygirl.com/login/?returnUrl=%2Finkygirl-main%2Fcategory%2Ffeature-articles" ><span>Login</span></a>
1064      
1065
1066      
1067
1068    </div>
1069
1070  </li>
1071
1072</ul>
1073
1074        
1075
1076      
1077  
1078    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1079
1080  
1081
1082    <div id="sectionContent3069627" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1083
1084       <div class="caption">Popular Posts</div> 
1085
1086      
1087        
1088          <ul class="content-navigation">
1089  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper7237136">
1090
1091    <div id="moduleContent7237136">
1092
1093              <a id="moduleLink7237136" class=" " href="/a-writers-guide-to-twitter/" ><span>Writer&#39;s and Illustrator&#39;s Guide To Twitter</span></a>
1094      
1095
1096      
1097
1098    </div>
1099
1100  </li>
1101
1102
1103  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper7132758">
1104
1105    <div id="moduleContent7132758">
1106
1107              <a id="moduleLink7132758" class=" " href="/inkygirl-wordcount-challenge/" ><span>Inkygirl Wordcount Challenge (1000, 500, 250 wds)</span></a>
1108      
1109
1110      
1111
1112    </div>
1113
1114  </li>
1115
1116
1117  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19430221">
1118
1119    <div id="moduleContent19430221">
1120
1121              <a id="moduleLink19430221" class=" " href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/11/7/why-picture-books-are-important.html" ><span>Why Picture Books Are Important</span></a>
1122      
1123
1124      
1125
1126    </div>
1127
1128  </li>
1129
1130</ul>
1131
1132        
1133
1134      
1135  
1136    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1137
1138  
1139
1140    <div id="sectionContent3058959" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1141
1142       <div class="caption">Before using my comics</div> 
1143
1144      
1145        
1146          <div class="content-passthrough"><div id="moduleContentWrapper7060983" class="widget-wrapper  widget-type-page"><div id="moduleContent7060983">
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152  <p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a rel="license" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/comic-use-policy/"><img style="border-width: 0;" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" alt="Creative Commons Licence" /></a></span></span></p>
1153  <p>Writer comics by <span>Debbie Ridpath Ohi</span> are licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/comic-use-policy/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License</a>.</p>
1154  <p>More details: <a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/comic-use-policy/">Comic Use Policy</a></p>
1155</div></div></div>
1156
1157        
1158
1159      
1160  
1161    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1162
1163  
1164
1165    <div id="sectionContent3056557" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1166
1167       <div class="caption">Archives</div> 
1168
1169      
1170        
1171          <ul class="content-navigation">
1172  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper7051785">
1173
1174    <div id="moduleContent7051785">
1175
1176              <a id="moduleLink7051785" class=" " href="/categories/" ><span>Categories</span></a>
1177      
1178
1179      
1180
1181    </div>
1182
1183  </li>
1184
1185
1186  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper7061063">
1187
1188    <div id="moduleContent7061063">
1189
1190              <a id="moduleLink7061063" class=" " href="/archives/" ><span>Inkygirl Archive Index (2010+)</span></a>
1191      
1192
1193      
1194
1195    </div>
1196
1197  </li>
1198
1199
1200  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper7054798">
1201
1202    <div id="moduleContent7054798">
1203
1204              <a id="moduleLink7054798" class=" " href="/wwfc-index/" ><span>Will Write For Chocolate index</span></a>
1205      
1206
1207      
1208
1209    </div>
1210
1211  </li>
1212
1213
1214  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper7099980">
1215
1216    <div id="moduleContent7099980">
1217
1218              <a id="moduleLink7099980" class=" " href="/inkygirl-comic-index/" ><span>Inkygirl Comic Index</span></a>
1219      
1220
1221      
1222
1223    </div>
1224
1225  </li>
1226
1227</ul>
1228
1229        
1230
1231      
1232  
1233    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1234
1235  
1236
1237  
1238
1239</div></div></div></div></div></div>
1240  <div id="sidebar2Wrapper" class="verticalNavigationBarWrapper"><div class="iw-vnb1"><div class="iw-vnb2"><div class="iw-vnb3"><div class="iw-vnb4"><div id="sidebar2" class="verticalNavigationBar">
1241
1242  
1243
1244    <div id="sectionContent8162780" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1245
1246       <div class="caption">Three Questions For Children&#39;s Book Writers and Illustrators</div> 
1247
1248      
1249        
1250          <ul class="content-navigation">
1251  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19557818">
1252
1253    <div id="moduleContent19557818">
1254
1255              <a id="moduleLink19557818" class=" " href="/3-questions/" ><span>3 Questions For Kidlit Writers &amp; Illustrators</span></a>
1256      
1257
1258      
1259
1260    </div>
1261
1262  </li>
1263
1264
1265  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19625601">
1266
1267    <div id="moduleContent19625601">
1268
1269              <a id="moduleLink19625601" class=" " href="/advice-young/" ><span>Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators</span></a>
1270      
1271
1272      
1273
1274    </div>
1275
1276  </li>
1277
1278</ul>
1279
1280        
1281
1282      
1283  
1284    </div></div></div></div></div></div>
1285
1286  
1287
1288    <div id="sectionContent8178869" class="sectionWrapper  "><div class="iw-s1"><div class="iw-s2"><div class="iw-s3"><div class="iw-s4"><div class="section">
1289
1290       <div class="caption">Contests</div> 
1291
1292      
1293        
1294          <ul class="content-navigation">
1295  <li class="module   " id="moduleContentWrapper19673803">
1296
1297    <div id="moduleContent19673803">
1298
1299              <a id="moduleLink19673803" class=" " href="/contest-rules/" ><span>Official Inkygirl Contest Rules</span></a>
1300      
1301
1302      
1303
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1329              <a id="moduleLink19677635" class=" " href="/2017-scbwi-nyc/" ><span>Extra Notes: Finding Online Peer Support</span></a>
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1359              <a id="moduleLink19689074" class=" " href="/keiko/" ><span>Keiko</span></a>
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1393      <div class="header"> <p>Welcome to <strong>Inkygirl: Reading, Writing and Illustrating Children's Books</strong>&nbsp;(<a href="http://inkygirl.com/archives/">archive list here</a>) which includes my <a href="http://DebbieOhi.com/pbcreation">Creating Picture Books</a> series, <a href="http://inkygirl.com/advice-young/">Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://inkygirl.com/a-writers-guide-to-twitter/">Writer's and Illustrator's Guide To Twitter</a>,<a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-interviews"> Interviews With Authors And Illustrators</a>,&nbsp;#<a href="http://inkygirl.com/bookaday-archives">
1393BookADay</a>&nbsp;archives,&nbsp;<a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-survey-archives">writing/publishing industry surveys</a>,&nbsp;and <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-wordcount-challenge/">250, 500, 1000 Words/Day Writing Challenge</a>. Also see my <a href="http://inkygirl.com/archives/">Inkygirl archives</a>, &nbsp;and <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/category/comics-for-writers">comics for writers</a>. Also check out my <a href="http://DebbieOhi.com/printready">Print-Ready Archives for Teachers, Librarians, Booksellers and Young Readers</a>.</p>
1394<p>I tweet about the craft and business of writing and illustrating at @<a href="http://twitter.com/inkyelbows">inkyelbows</a>.&nbsp;If you're interested in my art or other projects, please do visit <a href="http://DebbieOhi.com">DebbieOhi.com</a>. Thanks for visiting!<em> -- Debbie Ridpath Ohi</em></p>
1395<p><a class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/inkyelbows">Follow @inkyelbows</a> 
1395<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
1395</p> </div>
1396  
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1420  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Tuesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Jan</span><span class="date">26</span><span class="year">2021</span></div>
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1431        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html">Video interview with Basil & Kevin Sylvester about THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON!, which launches&nbsp;*TODAY*</a>  
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1437       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html" data-text="Video interview with Basil & Kevin Sylvester about THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON!, which launches&nbsp;*TODAY*" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
1437<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
1437 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
1438<script>(function(d, s, id) {
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1446<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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1459        <p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Uz1Drzz5Mc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
1460<p>&nbsp;I am thrilled to be interviewing Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester about their new middle grade book, <a href="https://quillandquire.com/review/the-fabulous-zed-watson/">THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON!</a>, which launches *today* from HarperCollins. You can attend the virtual launch party tomorrow (Jan.27) courtesy <a href="https://www.gladdaybookshop.com/?q=h.calevents">Glad Day Bookshop</a> and HarperCollinsCanada: see the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/731646407725944">Facebook Event Page</a> and <a href="https://www.gladdaylit.ca/gdtv">Glad Day Lit TV page</a>.</p></p>
1461  
1462        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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1471      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 11:07 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36341258"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2021%2F1%2F26%2Fvideo-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html','Video%20interview%20with%20Basil%20%26%20Kevin%20Sylvester%20about%20THE%20FABULOUS%20ZED%20WATSON%21%2C%20which%20launches%20*TODAY*');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2021/1/26/video-interview-with-basil-kevin-sylvester-about-the-fabulou.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1472      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/advice-for-young-artists-and-young-write"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Advice for young artists and young writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-interviews"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Interviews</a></span></span>  </div>
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1491  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Tuesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">
1491Oct</span><span class="date">20</span><span class="year">2020</span></div>
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1502        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html">Three Tips For Those Interested In Illustrating Children's Picture&nbsp;Books</a>  
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1508       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html" data-text="Three Tips For Those Interested In Illustrating Children's Picture&nbsp;Books" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
1508<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
1508 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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1517<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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1530        <p><p><span class="thumbnail-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="javascript:showFullImage('/display/ShowImage?imageUrl=%2Fstorage%2Fpost-images%2F2020%2F2013-SCBWI-PortfolioShowcaseCrowd-DebbieOhi.jpg%3F__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION%3D1603198041857',812,1600);"><img src="/storage/thumbnails/6980474-28361046-thumbnail.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1603198080571" alt="" /></a></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 600px;">I took this photo during the SCBWI Portfolio Showcase</span></span></p>
1531<p>From time to time, I answer a question on Quora about children's book illustration. I do this partly because I like to pay it forward but also because I find it a good writing exercise.</p>
1532<p>------</p>
1533<p><strong>Q: "<a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-become-an-illustrator-or-artist-for-childrens-books">How do you become an illustrator or artist for children's books?</a>"</strong></p>
1534<p><strong>My answer on Quora:</strong></p>
1535<p>As the others who have answered this question so far have pointed out, there is no one right route to becoming a children&rsquo;s book illustrator.</p></p>
1536  
1537        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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1546      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 8:24 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36320272"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2020%2F10%2F20%2Fthree-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html','Three%20Tips%20For%20Those%20Interested%20In%20Illustrating%20Children%27s%20Picture%20Books');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/10/20/three-tips-for-those-interested-in-illustrating-childrens-pi.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1547      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/advice"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />advice</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/advice-for-young-artists-and-young-write"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Advice for young artists and young writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element">
1547<a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/childrens-book-illustration"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Children's Book Illustration</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/illustrators-and-illustration"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Illustrators and illustration</a></span></span>  </div>
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1566  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Friday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Sep</span><span class="date">18</span><span class="year">2020</span></div>
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1577        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html">Copyright Infringement and Sharing Art&nbsp;Online</a>  
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1583       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html" data-text="Copyright Infringement and Sharing Art&nbsp;Online" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
1583<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
1583 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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1592<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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1606<p>I recently got tagged on a post by someone sharing one of my writing-related comics on Twitter. I usually don't mind this, but this time I discovered that the person had purposely stripped out all of my copyright info, name of my comic, URL to my comic and my byline, THEN ADDED THEIR OWN BRANDING.</p></p>
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1608        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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1617      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Friday, September 18, 2020 at 8:51 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />2 Comments</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36313010"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2020%2F9%2F18%2Fcopyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html','Copyright%20Infringement%20and%20Sharing%20Art%20Online');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/9/18/copyright-infringement-and-sharing-art-online.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1618      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/copyright"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />copyright</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span></span>  </div>
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1635<div id="item36299490" class="journal-entry">
1636
1637  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Monday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Aug</span><span class="date">17</span><span class="year">2020</span></div>
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1648        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writer
1648s-music-and-more-an-i.html">On Illustrators, Advice For Young Writers, Music and more: An Interview With Josh Funk ~ Short & Sweet (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #4) Book&nbsp;Tour</a>  
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1654       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html" data-text="On Illustrators, Advice For Young Writers, Music and more: An Interview With Josh Funk ~ Short & Sweet (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #4) Book&nbsp;Tour" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
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1654 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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1663<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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1676        <p><p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/tour"><img src="/storage/interviews/2020/joshfunk/Header-JoshFunkShortSweetTour-v3-500.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1597666126488" alt="" /></a></span></span></p>
1677<p>I am super-honored to have Inkygirl be the first stop on <a href="https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/tour">Josh Funk's <strong>SHORT &amp; SWEET book tour</strong></a>! Not just because I'm a big fan of his <em>Lady Pancake &amp; Sir French Toast</em> picture book series with Brendan Kearney and his other books, but also because Josh is such a great champion of fellow book creators, educators and indie booksellers. I met Josh through Nerd Camp Michigan years back.</p>
1678<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/short-and-sweet">Short &amp; Sweet</a></em></strong> is the fourth in the <em>Lady Pancake &amp; Sir French Toast</em> series. In this new adventure, Pancake and Toast fear they are going stale and visit Professor Biscotti, whose faulty gadget transforms them into toddlers, sending them on an adventure in the refrigerator. Praises so far include <a href="https://www.bookweb.org/news/fall-2020-kids-indie-next-list-preview-578045">Top 10 Indie Kids Next List</a>, and a <a href="https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=short-and-sweet">*starred* review in <em>School Library Journal</em></a>! You can attend the virtual book launch party on Sept. 1st hosted by <em><a href="https://www.anunlikelystory.com/event/josh-funk-virtual-launch-party">An Unlikely Story</a></em>.</p></p>
1679  
1680        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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1689      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:16 PM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36299490"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2020%2F8%2F17%2Fon-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html','On%20Illustrators%2C%20Advice%20For%20Young%20Writers%2C%20Music%20and%20more%3A%20An%20Interview%20With%20Josh%20Funk%20%7E%20Short%20%26%20Sweet%20%28Lady%20Pancake%20%26%20Sir%20French%20Toast%20%234%29%20Book%20Tour');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/8/17/on-illustrators-advice-for-young-writers-music-and-more-an-i.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1690      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/josh-funk"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Josh Funk</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/picture-book-writing"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />picture book writing</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/advice-for-young-artists-and-young-write"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Advice for young artists and young writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-interviews"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Interviews</a></span></span>  </div>
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1709  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Friday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Jul</span><span class="date">17</span><span class="year">2020</span></div>
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1720(Updated) Want to support an author's or illustrator's new book but can't afford to buy it? Here's what you can&nbsp;do.</a>  
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1725      
1726       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/7/17/updated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html" data-text="(Updated) Want to support an author's or illustrator's new book but can't afford to buy it? Here's what you can&nbsp;do." data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
1726<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
1726 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/7/17/updated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
1727<script>(function(d, s, id) {
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1735<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/7/17/updated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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1749<p><em>(Updated July 17, 2020 - also see reader comments in reply to <a href="https://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html">the original post</a>)</em></p>
1750<p>The quandary: You want to support someone's new book and as much as you'd like to buy it, you can't. Perhaps you can't justify the cost of the new book right now. Perhaps your author friend is prolific and has multiple books coming out, and you can't afford to get them all. Perhaps you have so many author and illustrator friends that if you tried to buy all their books, you'd need to sell your car first. Or your house.</p></p>
1751  
1752        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/7/17/updated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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1761      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Friday, July 17, 2020 at 7:15 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/7/17/updated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36298638"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2020%2F7%2F17%2Fupdated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html','%28Updated%29%20Want%20to%20support%20an%20author%27s%20or%20illustrator%27s%20new%20book%20but%20can%27t%20afford%20to%20buy%20it%3F%20Here%27s%20what%20you%20can%20do.');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/7/17/updated-want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1762      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span></span>  </div>
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1779<div id="item36247879" class="journal-entry">
1780
1781  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Sunday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Jan</span><span class="date">05</span><span class="year">2020</span></div>
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1792        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html">My morning writing routine in&nbsp;2020</a>  
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1798       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html" data-text="My morning writing routine in&nbsp;2020" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
1798<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
1798 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
1799<script>(function(d, s, id) {
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1807<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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1821<p><em>Finding it a challenge to carve out time for your writing because of other work or life commitments? I encourage you to join me in my <a href="http://inkygirl.com/dailywrite">Daily Writing Challenge</a>. Even 100 words a day adds up! I also have an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dailywrite/">Inkygirl Daily Writing Challenge Facebook Page</a>.</em></p>
1822<p>One of my goals in 2020 is to not only be more diligent about writing something FIRST THING in the day, but also not to be so picky about what I write (social media posts don't count, though :-)).</p>
1823<p>Reason: Last year, I was always trying to work on my middle grade novel first thing in the morning. While my goal of morning writing worked sometimes, there were many mornings when I just had too much going on. I'd be distracted because I'd be on the road, or have morning appointments, be stressed about book illustration deadlines.</p></p>
1824  
1825        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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1834      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 9:17 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36247879"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2020%2F1%2F5%2Fmy-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html','My%20morning%20writing%20routine%20in%202020');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/5/my-morning-writing-routine-in-2020.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1835      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/time-to-write"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />time to write</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/advice-for-young-artists-and-young-write"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Advice for young artists and young writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/health-amp-time"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Health &amp; Time</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-writing-challenges"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Writing Challenges</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/writing-habits"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Writing Habits</a></span></span>  </div>
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1854  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Wednesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Jan</span><span class="date">01</span><span class="year">2020</span></div>
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1865        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/1/how-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2020.html">How To Find Time To Read More Books In&nbsp;2020</a>  
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1871       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2020/1/1/how-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2020.html" data-text="How To Find Time To Read More Books In&nbsp;2020" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
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1891          <p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><img src="/storage/illustrations-spot/OHI0565-FOUND-ShadowMorningTeaReader-3-600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1466218994588" alt="" /></span></p>
1892<p>The best way to get young people to invest their time in reading is being willing to invest time in it ourselves.</p>
1893<p>At the beginning of every year, I reevaluate my reading habits. I love to read but sometimes I find that reading gets put on the back burner more often while other activities take priority. Sometimes these activities, especially family-related and work-related, NEED to take priority, but I find there are still ways to find more time to read. <strong><a href="https://inkygirl.typeform.com/to/frBRga">How do YOU make more time to read? Answer my survey here</a></strong>. I'll post results in this blog.</p>
1894<p>This year, I've signed up for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11621-2020-reading-challenge">Goodreads 2020 Reading Challenge</a>. I'm starting out with a goal of 100 books. This includes picture books, so I'm actually aiming for MORE than 100. In addition to being realistic, however, I also don't want to be tempted to speed-read. With picture books, for example, I want to start going through new and not-so-new picture books and read them more thoughtfully, both for enjoyment but also more analytically (how the text and illustrations interact, etc).</p>
1895<p>Anyway....I've updated my post below in case one or more tips might help others. You might also want to check out what parents suggested in my "<a href="http://inkygirl.com/wwfc/2006/2/22/finding-time-to-write-even-if-you-have-kids.html">Finding Time To Write (Even If You Have Kids)</a>" survey.</p>
1896<p><strong>1. I have multiple print books on the go, and keep them around the house.</strong> I usually have print books that I'm in the midst of reading in our bedroom, my office, living room, dining room, etc. Print books have the advantage over ebooks here in that just SEEING them reminds me to read them.</p>
1897<p><strong>2. I read books on my iPhone.</strong> Yes, the screen is small but I enlarge the text to make reading comfortable. This is super-handy for reading when I may only have a few minutes, like when I'm in a line-up or waiting for someone. Or when I'm in a super-crowded subway train and am holding onto a support pole with one hand....but I can easily reach into my purse, pull out my iPhone and flip through pages with my other hand.</p>
1898<p><strong>3. I read books on my iPad.</strong> I have an iPad Pro and find it a bit too heavy to hold for reading unless it's propped up somehow, but I find that using a pillow or my knees works fine. I prefer print books for the esthetic experience (turning print pages, feel of of a physical book etc.) but I do find that the backlit screen on my iPad enables me to read even in places with dim lighting. Some are ebooks I've bought, some are borrowed from the Toronto Public Library.</p>
1899<p><strong>4. I read books on my Kindle.</strong> Because the Kindle is lightweight and loaded up with a lot of my ebooks, I can avoid angsting over what book to take on out-of-town trips ("I'm 3/4 of way through this book so if I finish it on the plane, what do I read next? Should I bring an extra just in case? But I'm trying to travel with just carry-on augh" etc.), I just take my Kindle and I have access to many books-on-the-go.</p>
1900<p><strong>5. I listen to audiobooks</strong>. I remember avoiding audiobooks in the beginning because I never considered it REAL reading, plus I didn't think I could really enjoy a book by just listening to it. Then my husband played an audiobook (I can't remember the title...something about divers and scavenging in deep waters) on a long car trip and I was surprised to find it an immersive reading experience. The narration is important, though -- a bad narrator will totally turn me off a book, so I make it a habit of always listening to a sample first. I have an Audible subscription but I also borrow audiobooks from the Toronto Public Library. Whenever I'm at certain stages in book illustration, I listening to audiobooks as I draw.</p>
1901<p><strong>SUMMARY:</strong></p>
1902<p><strong>As long as the story is good, I am willing to read it in any format. </strong>I do make a point of buying books from indie bookstores but I have found that my appetite for reading makes it impractical (from a budget standpoint) to buy all my reading material. The Toronto Public Library is a wonderful resource, with print and ebook and audiobooks available.</p>
1903<p><strong>Also, I squeeze in reading whenever I can.</strong> While I'd love to save my reading stints for when I have an entire afternoon to curl up on the couch with a good book, reality is that if I always waited for The Perfect Reading Day, I wouldn't be reading nearly as many books as I do now. Before my recent eye surgery, I also found it a challenge to read a regular print book.</p>
1904<p>And as summer approaches, consider participating in <a href="http://inkygirl.com/bookaday">Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge</a>!</p>
1905<p><strong style="font-size: 150%;"><span>SURVEY:</span></strong></p>
1906<p><strong style="font-size: 150%;"><span>How do YOU make time to read? <a href="https://inkygirl.typeform.com/to/frBRga">Answer my 3-question poll here</a>.</span></strong></p>
1907<p>OTHER RESOURCES ON HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR READING TIME:</p>
1908<p><a href="https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/11-ways-busy-people-make-time-read.html">11 Ways Busy People Make Time To Read</a> - by Eva Lantsoght on Lifehack.org</p>
1909<p><a href="https://fs.blog/2013/09/finding-time-to-read/">The Best Way To Find More TIme To Read</a> - on FS Farnam Street's blog</p>
1910<p><a href="https://medium.com/@strandbookstore/how-to-read-even-more-in-2019-16f97e7015bc">How To Read Even More In 2019</a> by Strand bookstore</p>
1911<p><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/501036/5-ways-find-more-time-read">5 Ways To Find More Time To Read</a> - by Kristin Wong on Mentalfloss.com</p>
1912<p><a href="https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/25-ways-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year.html">
191225 Expert Tips To Reading WAY More Books This Year</a> - by John Rampton on Inc.com</p>
1913<p>&nbsp;</p>
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1928      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at 8:48 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/1/how-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2020.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36247131"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2020%2F1%2F1%2Fhow-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2020.html','How%20To%20Find%20Time%20To%20Read%20More%20Books%20In%202020');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2020/1/1/how-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2020.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
1929      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/reading"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />reading</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/reading-habits"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Reading Habits</a></span></span>  </div>
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1948  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Thursday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Jan</span><span class="date">03</span><span class="year">2019</span></div>
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1986<p>Now that <a href="http://debbieohi.com/eyesurgery">my eyes are fixed (woohoo!)</a>, I have started reading print books again, in addition to other formats. I'm also reevaluating my reading habits. I love to read but sometimes I find that reading gets put on the back burner more often while other activities take priority. Sometimes these activities, especially family-related and work-related, NEED to take priority, but I find there are still ways to find more time to read.</p>
1987<p>I've updated my post below in case one or more tips might help others. You might also want to check out what parents suggested in my "<a href="http://inkygirl.com/wwfc/2006/2/22/finding-time-to-write-even-if-you-have-kids.html">Finding Time To Write (Even If You Have Kids)</a>" survey.</p>
1988<p><strong>1. I have multiple print books on the go, and keep them around the house.</strong> I usually have print books that I'm in the midst of reading in our bedroom, my office, living room, dining room, etc. Print books have the advantage over ebooks here in that just SEEING them reminds me to read them.</p>
1989<p><strong>2. I read books on my iPhone.</strong> Yes, the screen is small but I enlarge the text to make reading comfortable. This is super-handy for reading when I may only have a few minutes, like when I'm in a line-up or waiting for someone. Or when I'm in a super-crowded subway train and am holding onto a support pole with one hand....but I can easily reach into my purse, pull out my iPhone and flip through pages with my other hand.</p>
1990<p><strong>3. I read books on my iPad.</strong> I have an iPad Pro and find it a bit too heavy to hold for reading unless it's propped up somehow, but I find that using a pillow or my knees works fine. I prefer print books for the esthetic experience (turning print pages, feel of of a physical book etc.) but I do find that the backlit screen on my iPad enables me to read even in places with dim lighting. Some are ebooks I've bought, some are borrowed from the Toronto Public Library.</p>
1991<p><strong>4. I read books on my Kindle.</strong> Because the Kindle is lightweight and loaded up with a lot of my ebooks, I can avoid angsting over what book to take on out-of-town trips ("I'm 3/4 of way through this book so if I finish it on the plane, what do I read next? Should I bring an extra just in case? But I'm trying to travel with just carry-on augh" etc.), I just take my Kindle and I have access to many books-on-the-go.</p>
1992<p><strong>5. I listen to audiobooks</strong>. I remember avoiding audiobooks in the beginning because I never considered it REAL reading, plus I didn't think I could really enjoy a book by just listening to it. Then my husband played an audiobook (I can't remember the title...something about divers and scavenging in deep waters) on a long car trip and I was surprised to find it an immersive reading experience. The narration is important, though -- a bad narrator will totally turn me off a book, so I make it a habit of always listening to a sample first. I have an Audible subscription but I also borrow audiobooks from the Toronto Public Library. Whenever I'm at certain stages in book illustration, I listening to audiobooks as I draw.</p>
1993<p><strong>SUMMARY:</strong></p>
1994<p><strong>As long as the story is good, I am willing to read it in any format. </strong>I do make a point of buying books from indie bookstores but I have found that my appetite for reading makes it impractical (from a budget standpoint) to buy all my reading material. The Toronto Public Library is a wonderful resource, with print and ebook and audiobooks available.</p>
1995<p><strong>Also, I squeeze in reading whenever I can.</strong> While I'd love to save my reading stints for when I have an entire afternoon to curl up on the couch with a good book, reality is that if I always waited for The Perfect Reading Day, I wouldn't be reading nearly as many books as I do now. Before my recent eye surgery, I also found it a challenge to read a regular print book.</p>
1996<p>And as summer approaches, consider participating in <a href="http://inkygirl.com/bookaday">Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge</a>!</p>
1997<p>OTHER RESOURCES ON HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR READING TIME:</p>
1998<p><a href="https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/11-ways-busy-people-make-time-read.html">11 Ways Busy People Make Time To Read</a> - by Eva Lantsoght on Lifehack.org</p>
1999<p><a href="https://medium.com/@strandbookstore/how-to-read-even-more-in-2019-16f97e7015bc">How To Read Even More In 2019</a> by Strand bookstore</p>
2000<p><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/501036/5-ways-find-more-time-read">5 Ways To Find More Time To Read</a> - by Kristin Wong on Mentalfloss.com</p>
2001<p><a href="https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/25-ways-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year.html">
200125 Expert Tips To Reading WAY More Books This Year</a> - by John Rampton on Inc.com</p>
2002<p>&nbsp;</p>
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2017      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 10:07 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2019/1/3/how-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2019.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36144759"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2019%2F1%2F3%2Fhow-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2019.html','How%20To%20Find%20Time%20To%20Read%20More%20Books%20In%202019');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2019/1/3/how-to-find-time-to-read-more-books-in-2019.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2018      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/reading"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />reading</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span></span>  </div>
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2037  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Wednesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Oct</span><span class="date">03</span><span class="year">2018</span></div>
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2048        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html">Interview with book creator couple Sarah McGuire (THE FLIGHT OF SWANS, Oct.1st) and Fred Koehler (GARBAGE ISLAND,&nbsp;Oct.9th)</a>  
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2054       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html" data-text="Interview with book creator couple Sarah McGuire (THE FLIGHT OF SWANS, Oct.1st) and Fred Koehler (GARBAGE ISLAND,&nbsp;Oct.9th)" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2054<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2054 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
2055<script>(function(d, s, id) {
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2060  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
2061}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
2061
2062
2063<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2076        <p><p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="/storage/interviews/2018/sarah-and-fred-koehler/Header-Books-FredSara-v3-flat600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1538344489335" alt="" /></span></span></p>
2077<p><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.sarahmcguirebooks.com/">Sarah McGuire</a> and <strong><a href="https://www.ilikefred.com/">Fred Koehler</a></strong> were once both awkward teenagers who mostly grew out of it. Each draws on their unfortunate adolescence to write stories for young readers. They met at a writers conference and decided to get married. In common they share: love of travel and adventure, dogs over cats, and sci-fi movies. They most often disagree about Oxford commas, whether or not Florida has hills, and who gets the fuzzy blanket. You can find out more about Sarah at <a href="https://www.sarahmcguirebooks.com/">her website</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/fireplusalgebra">Twitter</a>, and more about Fred at <a href="https://www.ilikefred.com/">his website</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/superfredd">Twitter</a>.</p>
2078<p>Sarah and Fred are not only both children's book creators with middle grade books coming out this month, but they're a married couple (they got married last year on St. Patrick's Day)! Here's some info about their new books, and the pros and cons of being book creator couple.</p></p>
2079  
2080        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
2081  
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2086  </div>
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2088      <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-body">
2089      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 9:58 PM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36103428"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2018%2F10%2F3%2Finterview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html','Interview%20with%20book%20creator%20couple%20Sarah%20McGuire%20%28THE%20FLIGHT%20OF%20SWANS%2C%20Oct.1st%29%20and%20Fred%20Koehler%20%28GARBAGE%20ISLAND%2C%20Oct.9th%29');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2018/10/3/interview-with-book-creator-couple-sarah-mcguire-the-flight.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2090      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/middle-grade"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />middle grade</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/advice-for-young-artists-and-young-write"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Advice for young artists and young writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/illustration-writing"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Illustration & Writing</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-interviews"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Interviews</a></span></span>  </div>
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2107<div id="item36051106" class="journal-entry">
2108
2109  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Wednesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Mar</span><span class="date">28</span><span class="year">2018</span></div>
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2120        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html">Social media tips for authors and illustrators (Part&nbsp;1)</a>  
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2125      
2126       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html" data-text="Social media tips for authors and illustrators (Part&nbsp;1)" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2126<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2126 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
2127<script>(function(d, s, id) {
2128  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
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2130  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
2131  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=171416852939475";
2132  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
2133}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
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2134
2135<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2149<p>I've been using social media since before the term existed and though I am far from expert, I have learned a great deal along the way. I'm going to start posting some social media tips for authors and illustrators on my blog from time to time, in hopes of helping some of you avoid the (many) mistakes that I made.</p></p>
2150  
2151        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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2160      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:14 PM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />1 Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/36051106"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2018%2F3%2F28%2Fsocial-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html','Social%20media%20tips%20for%20authors%20and%20illustrators%20%28Part%201%29');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2018/3/28/social-media-tips-for-authors-and-illustrators-part-1.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2161      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/social-media-tips"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />social media tips</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/social-media"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Social Media</a></span></span>  </div>
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2178<div id="item35873116" class="journal-entry">
2179
2180  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Tuesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Mar</span><span class="date">28</span><span class="year">2017</span></div>
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2191        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html">
2191Interview with Vijaya Bodach, who sold her TEN EASTER EGGS picture book mss to Scholastic through an Inkygirl&nbsp;post</a>  
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2197       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html" data-text="Interview with Vijaya Bodach, who sold her TEN EASTER EGGS picture book mss to Scholastic through an Inkygirl&nbsp;post" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2197<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2197 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
2198<script>(function(d, s, id) {
2199  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
2200  if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
2201  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
2202  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=171416852939475";
2203  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
2204}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
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2206<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2219        <p><p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="/storage/interviews/2017/04-vijayabodach/Header-VijayaBodach-600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1488645445812" alt="" /></span></span></p>
2220<p>Back in 2013, <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/5/20/interview-with-celia-lee-assistant-editor-at-cartwheel-books.html">I posted an interview with Scholastic editor Celia Lee</a>, who invited Inkygirl readers to submit picture book manuscripts for a limited time. Two book contracts came out of that, including Josh Funk's PIRASAURS! story (<a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html">see my interview with Josh Funk and the illustrator, Michael Slack</a>).</p>
2221<p>I'm delighted to interview the author of the other book that sold. Vijaya Bodach's story, <em>Ten Easter Eggs</em>, illustrated by Laura Logan, published by Scholastic in 2015. For those in the Mt. Pleasant, SC area, <a href="http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780061856805-0">Vijaya Bodach will be doing a <em>Ten Easter Eggs</em> Reading at the local Barnes &amp; Noble</a>.</p></p>
2222  
2223        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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2231      <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-body">
2232      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 2:04 PM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />5 Comments</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35873116"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2017%2F3%2F28%2Finterview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html','Interview%20with%20Vijaya%20Bodach%2C%20who%20sold%20her%20TEN%20EASTER%20EGGS%20picture%20book%20mss%20to%20Scholastic%20through%20an%20Inkygirl%20post');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/28/interview-with-vijaya-bodach-who-sold-her-ten-easter-eggs-pi.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2233      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/scholastic"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />scholastic</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-interviews"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Interviews</a></span></span>  </div>
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2250<div id="item35879619" class="journal-entry">
2251
2252  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Thursday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Mar</span><span class="date">16</span><span class="year">2017</span></div>
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2263        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html">Tips for busy bibliophiles who have trouble finding time to&nbsp;read</a>  
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2268      
2269       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html" data-text="Tips for busy bibliophiles who have trouble finding time to&nbsp;read" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2269<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2269 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
2270<script>(function(d, s, id) {
2271  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
2272  if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
2273  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
2274  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=171416852939475";
2275  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
2276}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
2276
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2278<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2291        <p><p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="/storage/post-images/2017/OHI0568-FOUND-PencilReader-v3-600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1489670063641" alt="" /></span></span></p>
2292<p>When I was a child, I remember looking around my school library and vowing to read every single book on the shelves. As a grown-up, I've discovered it can be a challenge sometimes to find time to read. I rarely get the luxury of reading an entire book at one sitting.</p>
2293<p>What I've learned: that it's not so much about <strong>finding</strong> time to read as <strong>making</strong> time to read. And<a href="https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/On_Writing"> as Stephen King pointed out in his <em>On Writing</em>&nbsp;book</a> (which I'm rereading right now), writers need to make time to read. "If you don't have the time to read, then you don't have the time (or the tools) to write."</p></p>
2294  
2295        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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2304      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 8:03 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />3 Comments</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35879619"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2017%2F3%2F16%2Ftips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html','Tips%20for%20busy%20bibliophiles%20who%20have%20trouble%20finding%20time%20to%20read');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2017/3/16/tips-for-busy-bibliophiles-who-have-trouble-finding-time-to.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2305      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/bedtime-reading"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />bedtime reading</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/comics-for-writers"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Comics for writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/literacy"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Literacy</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/reading-habits"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Reading Habits</a></span></span>  </div>
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2323
2324  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Monday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Nov</span><span class="date">28</span><span class="year">2016</span></div>
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2335hort-does-no.html">Misconceptions about writing picture books: why short does NOT mean&nbsp;easy</a>  
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2341       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/11/28/misconceptions-about-writing-picture-books-why-short-does-no.html" data-text="Misconceptions about writing picture books: why short does NOT mean&nbsp;easy" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
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2341 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/11/28/misconceptions-about-writing-picture-books-why-short-does-no.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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2350<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/11/28/misconceptions-about-writing-picture-books-why-short-does-no.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2364<p><em>NOTE: This is an updated version of a post I made a while back. For those illustrate as well as write, feel free to use my <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/11/4/free-picture-book-thumbnail-templates-for-writers-and-illust.html">free picture book thumbnail templates</a>.</em></p>
2365<p>So many people think that short = easy, especially when it comes to picture books.</p>
2366<p>And while yes, it's easy to crank out a picture book manuscript in terms of wordcount, writing a picture book story that a publisher will want to acquire is an entirely different animal.</p>
2367<p>At this point, I can imagine a number of you leaping up and saying, "You shouldn't worry about the market! Just write the story that you were meant to write!" &nbsp;I partly agree.</p>
2368<p>However, if your goal is to be PUBLISHED, then I strongly advise you to go to local children's bookstore and &nbsp;library; I guarantee you will save yourself much heartache and wasted effort. Familiarise yourself with what's being published. Let yourself fall in love with some of these picture books and then ask yourself why you enjoy them so much.</p>
2369<p><strong>A few common mistakes that new picture book writers make:</strong></p></p>
2370  
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2380      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Monday, November 28, 2016 at 11:00 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2016/11/28/misconceptions-about-writing-picture-books-why-short-does-no.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35817446"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2016%2F11%2F28%2Fmisconceptions-about-writing-picture-books-why-short-does-no.html','Misconceptions%20about%20writing%20picture%20books%3A%20why%20short%20does%20NOT%20mean%20easy');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2016/11/28/misconceptions-about-writing-picture-books-why-short-does-no.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2381      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/writing-picture-books"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />writing picture books</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/picture-books"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Picture books</a></span></span>  </div>
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2399
2400  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Monday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Aug</span><span class="date">29</span><span class="year">2016</span></div>
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2417       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html" data-text="Behind-the-scenes: How new picture book PIRASAURS! was created, with insights from author Josh Funk and illustrator Michael&nbsp;Slack" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2417<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2417 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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2426<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2440<p>Back in May 2013, <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/5/20/interview-with-celia-lee-assistant-editor-at-cartwheel-books.html">I posted an interview with Celia Lee</a>, an editor at Cartwheel Books / Scholastic, and Celia invited Inkygirl readers to submit manuscripts for a limited time; apparently Celia received over a thousand submissions (!). A couple of years later, I met <a href="http://www.joshfunkbooks.com/">Josh Funk</a> at <a href="http://nerdcampmi.weebly.com/">nErDcampMI</a> and found out that he had sold one of his picture book manuscripts to Celia as a result of my Inkygirl post, and it was being illustrated by Michael Slack.</p></p>
2441  
2442        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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2451      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Monday, August 29, 2016 at 5:01 PM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />4 Comments</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35760966"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2016%2F8%2F29%2Fbehind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html','Behind-the-scenes%3A%20How%20new%20picture%20book%20PIRASAURS%21%20was%20created%2C%20with%20insights%20from%20author%20Josh%20Funk%20and%20illustrator%20Michael%20Slack');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2016/8/29/behind-the-scenes-how-new-picture-book-pirasaurs-was-created.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2452      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/interview"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />interview</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/nerdcamp"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />nerdcamp</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/picture-books"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />picture books</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/scholastic"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />scholastic</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element">
2452<a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/childrens-book-illustration"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Children's Book Illustration</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/craft-of-writing"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Craft of writing</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/picture-books"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Picture books</a></span></span>  </div>
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2471  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Wednesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Sep</span><span class="date">30</span><span class="year">2015</span></div>
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2488       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/9/30/on-picture-book-translation-rights-an-interview-with-curtis.html" data-text="On Picture Book Translation Rights: An Interview with Curtis Brown's Jonathan Lyons and Sarah&nbsp;Perillo" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2488<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2488 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/9/30/on-picture-book-translation-rights-an-interview-with-curtis.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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2497<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/9/30/on-picture-book-translation-rights-an-interview-with-curtis.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2511<p>I'm thrilled that my books have been translated into French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese, and am grateful to the <strong><a href="http://www.curtisbrown.com/">Curtis Brown </a></strong>Translation Rights department for all their help. Jonathan Lyons and Sarah Perillo have kindly agreed to answer a few questions for me about the picture book translation rights process at Curtis Brown.</p></p>
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2522      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 9:05 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2015/9/30/on-picture-book-translation-rights-an-interview-with-curtis.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />1 Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35487297"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2015%2F9%2F30%2Fon-picture-book-translation-rights-an-interview-with-curtis.html','On%20Picture%20Book%20Translation%20Rights%3A%20An%20Interview%20with%20Curtis%20Brown%27s%20Jonathan%20Lyons%20and%20Sarah%20Perillo');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2015/9/30/on-picture-book-translation-rights-an-interview-with-curtis.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2523      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/curtisbrown"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />curtisbrown</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/translation"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />translation</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-interviews"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Interviews</a></span></span>  </div>
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2540<div id="item35422675" class="journal-entry">
2541
2542  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Friday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Sep</span><span class="date">04</span><span class="year">2015</span></div>
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2553        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html">Three Questions For Barney Saltzberg: Advice For Young Writers, Pencil Sharpener Inspiration and INSIDE THIS BOOK (ARE THREE&nbsp;BOOKS)</a>  
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2559       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html" data-text="Three Questions For Barney Saltzberg: Advice For Young Writers, Pencil Sharpener Inspiration and INSIDE THIS BOOK (ARE THREE&nbsp;BOOKS)" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2559<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2559 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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2568<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2581        <p><p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="/storage/interviews/2015/24-barneysaltzberg/BarneyHeader-CoverHeadshotOnly-600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1440501885251" alt="" /></span></span></p>
2582<p><strong><a href="http://www.barneysaltzberg.com/">Barney Saltzberg</a></strong> is the author and illustrator of close to 50 books for children, including <em>Beautiful Oops!</em>, <em>Arlo Needs Glasses</em>, <em>Andrew Drew and Drew</em>, and the bestselling <em>Touch and Feel Kisses</em> series with over one million copies in print. Not only that, but he's also recorded four albums of music for young people (!). See the children's concert clip later in this post.</p>
2583<p>I was lucky enough to meet Barney at ALA earlier this year and more recently discovered his BEAUTIFUL OOPS!...I can't believe I missed this wonderful book before! Those of you who've seen my found object art demos can guess why I fell in love with this book. </P></p>
2584  
2585        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html">Click to read more ...</a></p>
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2594      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Friday, September 4, 2015 at 9:05 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Post a Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35422675"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2015%2F9%2F4%2Fthree-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html','Three%20Questions%20For%20Barney%20Saltzberg%3A%20Advice%20For%20Young%20Writers%2C%20Pencil%20Sharpener%20Inspiration%20and%20INSIDE%20THIS%20BOOK%20%28ARE%20THREE%20BOOKS%29');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2015/9/4/three-questions-for-barney-saltzberg-advice-for-young-writer.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2595      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/3questions"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />3questions</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/inkygirl-interviews"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Inkygirl Interviews</a></span></span>  </div>
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2612<div id="item35380318" class="journal-entry">
2613
2614  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Friday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Jun</span><span class="date">19</span><span class="year">2015</span></div>
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2625Want to support an author's or illustrator's new book but can't afford to buy it? Here's what you can&nbsp;do.</a>  
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2630      
2631       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html" data-text="Want to support an author's or illustrator's new book but can't afford to buy it? Here's what you can&nbsp;do." data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2631<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2631 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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2640<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2654<p><em>(Updated September 18, 2015)</em></p>
2655<p>The quandary: You want to support someone's new book and as much as you'd like to buy it, you can't. Perhaps you can't justify the cost of the new book right now. Perhaps your author friend is prolific and has multiple books coming out, and you can't afford to get them all. Perhaps you have so many author and illustrator friends that if you tried to buy all their books, you'd need to sell your car first. Or your house.</p></p>
2656  
2657        <p class="journal-read-more-tag"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html">
2657Click to read more ...</a></p>
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2665      <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-body">
2666      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Friday, June 19, 2015 at 7:49 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />20 Comments</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35380318"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2015%2F6%2F19%2Fwant-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html','Want%20to%20support%20an%20author%27s%20or%20illustrator%27s%20new%20book%20but%20can%27t%20afford%20to%20buy%20it%3F%20Here%27s%20what%20you%20can%20do.');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2015/6/19/want-to-support-an-authors-or-illustrators-new-book-but-cant.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2667      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/authors"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />authors</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/community"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />community</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/finances"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />finances</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/illustrators"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />illustrators</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/promotion"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />promotion</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/promotion-marketing"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Promotion & Marketing</a></span></span>  </div>
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2684<div id="item35315383" class="journal-entry">
2685
2686  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Wednesday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Apr</span><span class="date">22</span><span class="year">2015</span></div>
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2697        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2015/4/22/its-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html">It's easy to write a picture book. It's much harder to write a picture book that will&nbsp;sell.</a>  
2698     
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2703       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/4/22/its-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html" data-text="It's easy to write a picture book. It's much harder to write a picture book that will&nbsp;sell." data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
2703<script type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
2703 </span> <span class="post-snippet-2"><g:plusone annotation="none" href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/4/22/its-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html"></g:plusone> </span> <span class="post-snippet-1"><div id="fb-root"></div>
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2712<div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/4/22/its-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html" data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-width="450" data-show-faces="false"></div> 
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2723          <p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="/storage/comics/comics-rejection/OHI0045-WRI-FoxWriters-v3-600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1429704860082" alt="" /></span></span></p>
2724<p><em>(Updated February 9, 2016)</em></p>
2725<p>So many people think that short = easy, especially when it comes to picture books.</p>
2726<p>And while yes, it's easy to crank out a picture book manuscript in terms of wordcount, writing a picture book story that a publisher will want to acquire is an entirely different animal.</p>
2727<p>At this point, I can imagine a number of you leaping up and saying, "You shouldn't worry about the market! Just write the story that you were meant to write!" &nbsp;I partly agree.</p>
2728<p>However, if your goal is to be PUBLISHED, then I strongly advise you to go to local children's bookstore and &nbsp;library; I guarantee you will save yourself much heartache and wasted effort. Familiarise yourself with what's being published. Let yourself fall in love with some of these picture books and then ask yourself why you enjoy them so much.</p>
2729<p><strong>A few common mistakes that new picture book writers make:</strong></p>
2730<p><em>(Also see <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/7/9/mini-interview-simon-schuster-childrens-publisher-and-editor.html">advice for aspiring picture book authors from my Simon &amp; Schuster Children's editor, Justin Chanda</a>)</em></p>
2731<p>- Not reading many, many picture books before they try writing their own.</p>
2732<p>- Talking down to kids, using a style and language that comes across as awkward and lecture-y.</p>
2733<p>- Writing what is basically a short story rather than a picture book text. If you don't know the difference, you need to read more picture books.</p>
2734<p>- Assuming that the illustrator's job is just to draw what is in the text, and therefore including lots of detailed art notes ("Sandy's hair is blonde and her eyes are green, and she is sitting half-crouched with her hand reaching out for the rabid squirrel" etc.).</p>
2735<p>- Including lots of physical details in the text that could be shown in the illustrations, or left up to the illustrator.</p>
2736<p>- Assuming that a picture book story HAS to rhyme. Writing a good rhyming picture book is very difficult. Don't use rhyme as a crutch.&nbsp;</p>
2737<p>- Not reading their story out loud to make sure it IS fun to read out loud.</p>
2738<p>- Having a story that is overtly message-y, pushing a lesson the author want young readers to learn. This is a very very VERY common mistake.&nbsp;</p>
2739<p>- Assuming that because their grandchildren / niece / neighbor's child / students loved their story, that it's ready to send out to publishers.</p>
2740<p>- Their story won't easily fit into a standard picture book format (eg 14 pages instead of 32 or 40 pages, etc.). While it's possible to sell a non-standard format picture book, it usually costs the publisher more money....making them less likely to want to take a chance on a first-time author.</p>
2741<p>- Adding their own illustrations. If you're a professional illustrator and you're sure your style suits the story, then go for it...but be aware that publishers usually prefer choosing their own illustrators.&nbsp;</p>
2742<p>- Not having a unique twist or concept. It's ok to write another "Don't give in to peer pressure. Be yourself!" story as long as you do something different and fun to show editors how your story will stand out in the marketplace. Again, READ MORE PICTURE BOOKS and you'll see some great examples.</p>
2743<p>- Writing in the style of picture books that they remember reading as a child. This usually happens because they're not familiar with picture books being published today. Again, I recommend going to your library or local children's bookstore and READ MORE PICTURE BOOKS.</p>
2744<p>As you might have guessed from the above, my main piece of advice for aspiring picture book authors is to READ LOTS AND LOTS OF PICTURE BOOKS. If you don't like a picture book, ask yourself why. If you love one, figure out why. Make notes about wordcount and format. Analyze pacing and page turns. Enjoy the illustrations, look at how they complement and enhance the text.</p>
2745<p>And if you do read lots and lots of picture books and still find you don't really enjoy them, ask yourself if you should be writing one.</p>
2746<p>If you're looking for extra inspiration, I strongly encourage you to <a href="http://picturebookmonth.com/">read some of the great "Why Picture Books Are Important" essays in the Picture Book Month website</a>. If you're new to the genre and are looking for an overview of the basics of writing, illustrating and publishing children's books, <a href="http://underdown.org">visit Harold Underdown's The Purple Crayon website</a>.</p>
2747<p>Good luck!</p>
2748<p>------</p>
2749<p>Do you disagree with any of the above? Do you have anything to add? Any other related topics you'd like me to write about? Feel free to share in the comments section.</p>
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2764      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 8:14 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2015/4/22/its-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />1 Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/35315383">
2764 <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2015%2F4%2F22%2Fits-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html','It%27s%20easy%20to%20write%20a%20picture%20book.%20It%27s%20much%20harder%20to%20write%20a%20picture%20book%20that%20will%20sell.');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2015/4/22/its-easy-to-write-a-picture-book-its-much-harder-to-write-a.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2765      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/writing-picture-books"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />writing picture books</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/comics-for-writers"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Comics for writers</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/craft-of-writing"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Craft of writing</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/illustration-writing"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Illustration & Writing</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/picture-books"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Picture books</a></span></span>  </div>
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2784  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Thursday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Apr</span><span class="date">03</span><span class="year">2014</span></div>
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2801       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2014/4/3/advice-on-finding-a-writing-or-illustration-mentor.html" data-text="Advice on finding a writing or illustration&nbsp;mentor" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
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2821          <p>I've been gradually updating my <a href="http://debbieohi.com/debbie-faq">FAQ</a>, including answering questions I'm frequently asked about <a href="http://debbieohi.com/debbie-faq/getting-into-the-business/">getting into the business of writing and illustrating children's books</a>. Here's the most recent update:</p>
2822<p><strong>Q. You've talked about having a writing and/or illustration mentor. Do you have any advice about how I can find my own mentor?</strong></p>
2823<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://debbieohi.com/debbie-faq/getting-into-the-business/how-do-i-find-a-writing-or-illustration-mentor.html"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014/2014-04/Mentorship.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1396532591283" alt="" /></a></span></span><br /><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><br /></span></p>
2824<p><strong>Background to my own mentorship experience:</strong></p>
2825<p>One of my first writing mentors was <a href="http://www.leewardlaw.com/">Lee Wardlaw</a>, a Santa Barbara children's book writer who was kind enough to read one of my first novel manuscripts and critique it for me. Then she worked with me on the manuscript and eventually recommended me to her agent at Curtis Brown, Ginger Knowlton. Ginger became my agent.</p>
2826<p>I will always be grateful to Lee, who agreed to read my mss after hearing about me from my father-in-law, a friend of hers.</p>
2827<p>In illustration, I entered the SCBWI Illustration Portfolio Showcase in 2010 in L.A. and won a Mentorship Program Award. That was a different type of mentorship: as part of the program, I receive 15 minute sessions with each of the six Mentors that year. I also received permission from some of the Mentors to send them occasional questions and updates after the convention.</p>
2828<p>There is no formal application for the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship Program -- everyone who enters the Illustration Portfolio Showcase at the annual SCBWI conference in LA is considered. <a href="http://scbwi.blogspot.ca/2012/08/the-scbwi-illustrator-mentorship-program.html">Here is information about the 2012 SCBWI Illustration Mentorship Program</a>.</p>
2829<p>CANSCAIP also has a <a href="http://www.canscaip.org/Mentorship">Mentorship program for aspiring children's book writers and illustrators</a>.</p>
2830<p><strong>How to find your own mentor:</strong></p>
2831<p>- Decide why you want a mentor. Are you looking for specific advice? Someone to recommend you to people in the industry who might help you? etc.</p>
2832<p>- Start by asking for one (possibly two) piece(s) of specific advice. That way you can see how the information is delivered, if it makes sense to you, whether your personalities are a good match, how receptive the person is to helping you. Avoid starting with a mega-long detailed e-mail that will require a lot of time and effort to answer.</p>
2833<p>- Choose a mentor you truly respect. When you approach them for advice, explain why you are asking them specifically. Flattery helps :-) but only if it's honestly given.&nbsp;</p>
2834<p>- I'd advise against saying you are looking for a mentor. That implies a ton of responsibility/commitment upfront and will probably make them uncomfortable. Understand that asking someone to be your mentor is like asking someone to go steady; DON'T ask unless you already have a good relationship with that person, because it puts them in an awkward position.</p>
2835<p>- Remember that it's okay to have more than one mentor.</p>
2836<p>- Don't waste their time. Don't ask them for advice that you could have easily looked up yourself online.</p>
2837<p>- Don't assume that everything your mentor suggests is right for you. You still have to think for yourself.&nbsp;</p>
2838<p>- If your mentor tends to always make you feel bad about yourself, get away from them!</p>
2839<p>- If someone's advice works for you, let them know. They will appreciate the thanks and will be more likely to want to help you in the future.&nbsp;</p>
2840<p>- Don't take it personally if someone doesn't have time to help you. Good mentors are often very busy.</p>
2841<p>A few suggestions about where to meet potential mentors:</p>
2842<p>- Small writing or illustrator groups that interact regularly in person or online.</p>
2843<p>- Local writers' or illustrators' organizations that meet regularly.</p>
2844<p>- Conferences, then keep in touch afterward.</p>
2845<p>- Writing classes.</p>
2846<p><strong>
2846When people ask me, "Will you be my mentor?"</strong></p>
2847<p>I've had aspiring writers and illustrators ask if I'll be their mentor. In almost every case, the question comes from someone I have just met, or have never met. Some offer to pay.</p>
2848<p>My answer: With my own career just starting to take off (my first children's book was published in 2012) and multiple book deadlines coming up over the next few years, I lack the time to be a proper mentor. I also find that the older I get, the more curmudgeonly, and I get impatient with those who ask basic questions whose answers could be easily found online.&nbsp;</p>
2849<p>While I don't have time to be a formal mentor, however, I do what I can to encourage aspiring writers and illustrators, especially those whom I like. I also try to summarize things I've learned along my career path and post them online, like my <a href="http://inkygirl.com/a-writers-guide-to-twitter/">Twitter Guide For Writers and Illustrators</a>.</p>
2850<p>I no longer have one formal mentor. Instead, I learn from several, especially the people I work with. I also am learning so much from my writer and illustrator friends, and share what I can with them as well.</p>
2851<p>Don't stress if you can't find a mentor! Attend conferences and other events where you can meet others in the industry. Form meaningful relationships. Share your own experiences and what you've learned.</p>
2852<p>Related resources:</p>
2853<p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/01/13/13-tips-on-finding-a-mentor">13 Tips On Finding A Mentor</a></p>
2854<p><a href="http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/the-right-actions/44-ways-how-to-find-a-mentor/">44 Ways To Find A Mentor</a></p>
2855<p><a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/mentors.htm">How A Writing Mentor Can Help You</a>&nbsp;- by Julie Rayl</p>
2856<p><a href="http://goinswriter.com/find-mentor/">How to Find (And Keep) A Mentor In 10 Not-So-Easy Steps</a></p>
2857<p>You can find the above entry in my FAQ entry: <strong><a href="http://debbieohi.com/debbie-faq/getting-into-the-business/how-do-i-find-a-writing-or-illustration-mentor.html">How do I find a writing or illustrator mentor?</a></strong></p>
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2872      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line1"><span class="posted-on">   <img title="Date" alt="Date" class="inline-icon date-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 9:42 AM</span> |  <span class="post-comments"><a href="/inkygirl-main/2014/4/3/advice-on-finding-a-writing-or-illustration-mentor.html#comments"> <img title="Comment" alt="Comment" class="inline-icon comment-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />1 Comment</a></span> |  <span class="email-item"><a href="/inkygirl-main/recommend/34734287"> <img title="Email Article" alt="Email Article" class="inline-icon email-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Email Article </a></span> |  <span class="share-item"><a href="javascript:noop();" onclick="Squarespace.Interaction.shareLink(this,'%2Finkygirl-main%2F2014%2F4%2F3%2Fadvice-on-finding-a-writing-or-illustration-mentor.html','Advice%20on%20finding%20a%20writing%20or%20illustration%20mentor');"> <img title="Share Article" alt="Share Article" class="inline-icon share-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Share Article </a></span> |  <span class="permalink-item"><a class="permalink" href="/inkygirl-main/2014/4/3/advice-on-finding-a-writing-or-illustration-mentor.html"> <img title="Permalink" alt="Permalink" class="inline-icon permalink-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Permalink </a></span> </div>
2873      <div class="journal-entry-tag-post-body-line2"><span class="posted-by">by  <a href="/inkygirl-main/author/inkygirl"> <img title="Author" alt="Author" class="inline-icon user-registered-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Debbie Ridpath Ohi</a></span> <span class="tagged-with">tagged <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/tag/mentor"> <img title="Tag" alt="Tag" class="inline-icon tag-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />mentor</a></span></span>  <span class="posted-in">in <span class="tag-element">
2873<a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/craft-of-writing"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Craft of writing</a></span>, <span class="tag-element"><a rel="tag" href="/inkygirl-main/category/feature-articles"> <img title="Category" alt="Category" class="inline-icon category-icon" rel="dark" src="/universal/images/transparent.png" />Feature articles</a></span></span>  </div>
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2892  <div class="journal-entry-float-day"><span class="name">Sunday</span></div><div class="journal-entry-float-date"><span class="month">Feb</span><span class="date">16</span><span class="year">2014</span></div>
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2903        <a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="/inkygirl-main/2014/2/16/part-2-of-my-big-news-judy-blume-simon-schuster-childrens-au.html">Part 2 of my BIG NEWS: Judy Blume, Simon & Schuster Children's, audition process info & why I can't attend SCBWI-NYC this&nbsp;year</a>  
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2909       <div class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"><span class="post-snippet-3"><a href="https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://www.inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2014/2/16/part-2-of-my-big-news-judy-blume-simon-schuster-childrens-au.html" data-text="Part 2 of my BIG NEWS: Judy Blume, Simon & Schuster Children's, audition process info & why I can't attend SCBWI-NYC this&nbsp;year" data-count="none" data-via="inkyelbows">Tweet</a>
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2929          <p><strong>UPDATE: To see sample illustrations, final covers, photo of me meeting Ms. Blume in person, see <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2014/2/16/part-2-of-my-big-news-judy-blume-simon-schuster-childrens-au.html">DebbieOhi.com/judyblume</a>.</strong></p>
2930<p>So <a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2014/2/6/judy-blume-simon-schuster-childrens-and-my-big-news-part-1.html">in Part 1 of my Judy Blume news</a>, I mentioned that I was thrilled to be illustrating the covers of the seven middle grade editions of classic Judy Blume novels that are being reissued by Simon &amp; Schuster Children's.</p>
2931<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2014/2/6/judy-blume-simon-schuster-childrens-and-my-big-news-part-1.html"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/7mgJudyBlumeBooks-600.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392501682443" alt="" /></a></span></p>
2932<p><span style="font-size: 150%;">Well, that's not all. </span></p>
2933<p>Just got word that I can make this public: I am also excited to be illustrating the covers of three Judy Blume classics that are being reissued as chapter books <strong>AND PROVIDING THE INTERIOR ILLUSTRATIONS AS WELL</strong>.</p>
2934<p>These books are <strong><em>Freckle Juice</em></strong>, <strong><em>The One In the Middle Is The Green Kangaroo</em></strong> and <strong><em>The Pain And The Great One</em></strong>. <strong>(***Edit May 12, 2014: Hardcover editions come out June 3rd, paperbacks on May 27th, 2014***)</strong></p>
2935<p>&nbsp;</p>
2936<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/2014-02-MyJudyBlumeNews-Part3v2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1395760708153" alt="" /></span></span>&nbsp;</p>
2937<p><strong>My history as a Judy Blume fangirl:</strong></p>
2938<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/AreYouThereGod1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392554516407" alt="" /></span>Like many others reading this, I'm a longtime fan of Judy Blume's work. Her books reassured my younger, angsty self that I wasn't the only one having all these bizarre thoughts and feelings and impulses. I was way too insecure and introverted to ever talk frankly about many of these topics with anyone. Books like <em>Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret</em>&nbsp;comforted me, helped me gain the confidence to ask questions, to not feel so much like a freak. Reading her books, it seemed as if Judy Blume knew me.</p>
2939<p><a href="http://ruthohi.com">My sister</a> helped introduce some of Judy Blume's work to me, like <em>Deenie</em>. Ruth read the book just before she was diagnosed with scoliosis herself, and told me later that Deenie's experiences with wearing a Milwaukee Brace were very similar to hers. "Except I didn't have a guy fall in love with me while I wore mine. :-)"</p>
2940<p><a href="http://scbwiconference.blogspot.ca/search/label/Judy%20Blume">At the SCBWI Summer conference in 2011, Judy Blume was on the faculty</a> and I was struck by her down-to-earth good humor and easygoing manner. I was too nervous to consider approaching her during the weekend, but as I was about to head off to the airport, I came across Richard Peck and Ms. Blume in front of the hotel. On impulse, I asked if they minded if I snapped a photo and they kindly agreed:</p>
2941<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/6024786610/in/photolist-aboBad/lightbox/"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/2011SCBWI-LA-RichardPeckJudyBlume.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392506834553" alt="" /></a></span></p>
2942<p>Fast-forward two and a half years later. LOOK what Judy Blume tweeted a few days ago:</p>
2943<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="https://twitter.com/judyblume/status/434101492858224640"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/2014-02-14-JudyBlumeTweetCropped.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392507007159" alt="" /></a></span></p>
2944<p>&nbsp;</p>
2945<p>I have, of course, printed this tweet out and put it up in my office. I'm also going to print out and laminate a smaller version which I plan to carry around with me FOREVER, to remind myself that childhood dreams sometimes do come true.</p>
2946<p><strong>How I became the illustrator of Judy Blume's revamped middle grade &amp; chapter books:</strong></p>
2947<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/12/2/a-thank-you-to-justin-chanda-and-simon-schuster-childrens.html"><img style="width: 200px;" src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/JustinChanda-bySonyaSones-credit.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392507275933" alt="" /></a></span>On Dec. 19, <strong><a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/12/2/a-thank-you-to-justin-chanda-and-simon-schuster-childrens.html">Justin Chanda</a></strong> (my editor at Simon &amp; Schuster Books For Young Readers and also publisher) emailed to see if I was interested in auditioning for a book project "of great proportions" but that also had a very tight deadline. Intrigued, I said I was interested. Here is a transcript of the email exchange that followed...</p>
2948<p>---- Transcript begins ------</p>
2949<p><em>9:07 pm, JUSTIN:</em></p>
2950<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Did you perhaps read Judy Blume growing up?</p>
2951<p><em>9:08 pm, ME:</em></p>
2952<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGHOMHOG<br /> OMG</p>
2953<p><em>9:10 pm, JUSTIN:</em></p>
2954<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ok good. We'll talk tomorrow morning.</p>
2955<p><em>9:11 pm, ME:</em></p>
2956<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OMGOMGOMGIMGOGGGGG<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Very much looking forward to chatting tomorrow<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG</p>
2957<p>---- Transcript ends ------</p>
2958<p>What I needed to do: come up with cover illustration sketch ideas for three of the books. Justin and I brainstormed and I also had notes from brainstorming sessions that took place at S&amp;
2958S Children's with Namrata Tripathi. Thanks also to some of my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TorKidLitNews">Torkidlit</a> friends (whom I swore to secrecy) and a few others for helping me come up with some extra sketch ideas.</p>
2959<p>I had been warned that I may not get the job, so I knew that there was a good chance I'd be working through the holiday season and still get passed over, but I couldn't say no. I mean....JUDY BLUME!!!</p>
2960<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/11506798496/"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014/2014-02/2013-12-TorontoIceStorm.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392513540624" alt="" /></a></span></p>
2961<p>Shortly after I began sketches, however,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blogto.com/city/2013/12/photos_of_the_2013_toronto_ice_storm/"> the Toronto ice storm</a> hit and we lost power in our house. My friend, Cathy Rutland, came to the rescue and offered to let me stay at her apartment until our power came back on. Jeff (MY HERO) took a break from trying to keep our water pipes from freezing and moved my scanner, iMac, Wacom stuff and other hardware I needed over to Cathy's apartment.</p>
2962<p>Meanwhile, Justin and I were in constant touch. He and I were exchanging emails, sketches, feedback on sketches pretty much every day throughout the holidays except for Christmas Day and New Year's. <strong>[Correction: Justin reminded me that we actually did exchange email on New Year's as well. :-)]</strong></p>
2963<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/2014-02EarlySketchesDec.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392514476165" alt="" /></span></p>
2964<p>Because the books were coming out in April and they had not yet found the right illustrator, timing was tight. I estimate I drew over 150 sketches during that time and sent Justin 50 of those. When everyone else got back after the holidays, I continued the brainstorming and sketching process with Justin, Dan Potash, Namrata Tripathi and Lauren Rille.</p>
2965<p><span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/LaurenRille-v3.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392558866260" alt="" /></span>Side note: I've noticed some mistakenly think that I did the cover redesign. I want to emphasize that <strong><a href="http://laurenrille.blogspot.com">Lauren Rille</a> did the wonderful new cover designs</strong>, not me. I just provided the illustrations.</p>
2966<p>Up to this point, I had mainly been focusing on hand-drawn sketches that I scanned into Photoshop, but Dan Potash asked if I could redraw some of their favorites into vector-line style. This wasn't my usual illustration style but I love creative challenges. :-)</p>
2967<p>Finally we came up with some cover samples that were good enough to send to Judy Blume, and then I waited to hear if she liked them or not. This is when I posted the following on Facebook:</p>
2968<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/inkygirl/posts/10152153204470196?stream_ref=10"><img style="width: 600px;" src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/Jan10-2013-FBhoping.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392514273638" alt="" /></a></span></p>
2969<p>The waiting was AGONY. I was such an airhead at home, forgetting where I put things, only half paying attention to what was going on around me. I burned meals. I also put dish soap in the rinse agent compartment of our dishwasher....there were suds everywhere! Jeff was incredibly patient. :-)</p>
2970<p>Justin called me on January 16th, 2014. I remember noticing the 212 area code and immediately thinking newyorknewyorkohpleaseohplease and then picking up the phone and JUSTIN TOLD ME THAT JUDY BLUME LOVED THE COVERS YAAAAAAAAY *AND* that they wanted me to also do the interior illustrations for the three chapter books. (!!!!)</p>
2971<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/_DebbieJumpJudyBlumeCropped.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392561031463" alt="" /></span></p>
2972<p>I freaked out. I became aware I had started screaming at Justin, tried to calm down and be professional, but then started screaming again. At one point, he had to reassure me that "Yes, this is really happening." After the call, I 
2972immediately called Jeff at work and screamed at him and then I emailed my sister and my agent at Curtis Brown, Ginger Knowlton (by that point my throat was sore from all that screaming :-)).</p>
2973<p>Some of you may have seen my "Blooming"<a href="http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/12/13/found-object-doodles-aka-sometimes-its-ok-to-play-with-your.html"> found object doodle</a> recently:</p>
2974<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/sets/72157638485312866/"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/2014-01-24-FlowerBloomsHaCathy1000.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392571793092" alt="" /></a></span></span></p>
2975<p>The material came from a congratulatory bouquet of flowers from my friend Cathy, who said they were blooms for my Blume news. :-)</p>
2976<p><strong>And this brings me to why I can't attend SCBWI-NYC this coming week:</strong></p>
2977<p>Because the chapter books are coming out in May, the deadline is tight. Cover details are still being tweaked. And I've been madly working on the b&amp;w interior illustrations, which need to be finished in the next couple of weeks. I'm using a much looser illustration style for the interiors; I'll post samples when I can.</p>
2978<p>I had to cancel my trip to NYC and the SCBWI Winter Conference and have been working through weekends and many evenings, turning down social invites. Jeff treks down to my basement office every once in a while to check on how I'm doing. He and I have been getting takeout a lot lately.</p>
2979<p>But every so often I'll force myself to press pause, sit back and appreciate the moment. I AM ILLUSTRATING BOOKS BY JUDY BLUME.</p>
2980<p><strong><span style="font-size: 300%;">JUDY BLUME.</span></strong></p>
2981<p>My husband has gotten used to me sending him random texts during the day consisting of just the following:</p>
2982<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><img src="/storage/post-images/2014projects/judyblume/JudyBlumeText.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1392561275173" alt="" /></span></p>
2983<p>Early in the process, Lauren Rille and I were chatting about being Judy Blume fangirls, and how absolutely COOL it was we got to read and reread Judy Blume books and say it was part of work.</p>
2984<p>One thing I noticed as I was rereading her books:&nbsp;<strong>Judy Blume books are as relevant and inspiring now as they were years ago</strong>, dealing with universal issues and feelings while growing up.&nbsp;At the L.A. Times Festival Of Books, <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/04/festival-of-books-judy-blume.html">Judy Blume had advice</a> for grown-up fans of her work who want to introduce their children to her books.</p>
2985<p>"First, invest in one with a new cover," she says. "Even if you like the old, original covers. Second, don't give it to them. Just leave the books strategically placed around the house and then occasionally say: 'Oh no, you're not reading that -- you're not ready for it yet.' " Heh.</p>
2986<p>You can find out more about Judy Blume and her work at &nbsp;<a href="http://judyblume.com/">JudyBlume.com</a>, including tips for aspiring writers.</p>
2987<p>Meanwhile, I'd better get back to work. THANK YOU for all the kind words, congratulatory messages and encouragement. They are so much appreciated.</p>
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