Publishing Monday: What the heck is NaPiBoWriWee?

Remember my old friend NaNoWriMo (aka National Novel Writing Month), which inspired me to launch myself full blast into The Novel? Turns out that NaNoWriMo has a younger sibling with a longer name and shorter focus.

NaPiBoWriWeek — or National Picture Book Writing Week — challenges children’s book writers to pen seven picture books in seven days. The brainchild of author Paula Yoo, this is the second anniversary of the event. It begins at midnight on Saturday May 1, 2010 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday May 7th. So if  you’re tempted to participate, you’ve got a week to gear yourself up!

The semi-official rules:

Just write 7 complete and separate picture books in one week. Each picture book must have a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is no required minimum word count because picture book lengths can vary from 50 words to 2000 words, depending on the genre.

Caveat: This is NOT to say writing a picture book is easy. On the contrary, it’s EXTREMELY difficult and challenging to write a?complete story with a beginning, middle, and end, an original plotline, and a unique character with a compelling voice for the picture book genre. Every word has to count. Every image and every action has to speak volumes in terms of theme and deeper meaning… while still being kid friendly, fun, and appropriate for the tone of the book (be it a quiet literary picture book or a hilarious, laugh out of loud funny picture book).”

The complete rules are posted here on Paula’s blog.

While I won’t be participating in NaPiBoWriWee, I can vouch for the effectiveness of NaNoWriMo in pushing me off the high dive into my novel (80,000 words and counting). I’d been dreaming of writing a novel someday — but too often that day never arrives in our overstuffed over-busy lives.

The great thing about events such as NaNoWriMo and NaPiBoWriWee is that they offer us an excuse to put down our excuses and just do it. I know that a number of visitors to this blog have picture book aspirations. So, what are you waiting for?

If you do decide to participate in NaPiBoWriWee, let me know in the comments here. I hope you meet your goal! I’ll be watching and cheering you on!

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Our last Creativity Friday features an inspiring interview with Mary Sharratt, author of the acclaimed and bestselling DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL — it’s a truly wonderful novel. Plus there’s a giveaway of one copy of the book! To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is post a comment here.

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