Wednesday, April 3, 2013

WRITERLY WISDOM: Diane Kress Hower







It's time once again for WRITERLY WISDOM where every Wednesday we sneak a peek into the world of writing and publication. This week's author enjoys doing analogies on her blog like I do and she came up with a great one this week.  Why didn't I think of this?  You can connect with Diane Kress Hower on her website (www.bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com), on her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/diane.kresshower?ref=ts&fref=ts) or through her Twitter account.  Take it away Diane...


Picture Books:  Too Sweet Or Magically Delicious?
By Diane Kress Hower


     Writing picture books is great fun and a good deal of hard work.  I often suggest to my readers and TV audience to visit my Book Wisdom by Diane blog to think of choosing books like picking a cereal for your child.  What do you want for your child?  What’s in their best long-term interest?  Thank you, Donna for giving me the opportunity to share this analogy with your readers. 

     Where on the cereal isle do you see your most recent picture book manuscript?  How does your story stack up?  What makes a picture book desirable food for the young child?  I am sure you have ideas about this.  We know what sells.  However, what does the child need?

     When was the last time you walked down a cereal isle and looked at all the options?  It’s mind-boggling.   There are the classics.  Oatmeal, Original Shredded Wheat, Rice Krispies, Cheerios, and Corn Flakes have stood the test of time.  Will your writing do the same? 

    There are the sweet treats.  Life, Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats, Frosted Mini Wheats, and Honey Nut Cheerios have some sweetness but still provide basic nutrition.  What level of sweetness does your story bring to a child?

   The poppin’ group flashes eat me from the shelf.  Honey Smacks, Frosted Flakes, Captain Crunch, Froot Loops, and Lucky Charms are packaged with inviting labels and colors.  They also make the top 10 list of the worst cereals for kids.  Is your story all flash and color?  Is it lacking something?

    At the end of the isle, the small granola group is shelved, a more recent arrival providing alternatives to classics and the poppin’ varieties.  Granola, Kashi Strawberry Fields, Barbara’s Blueberry Mini Wheats aim to provide the sustenance and kid appeal for discerning consumers.  How does your story sustain?  

    Options and variety abound on the cereal isle and in the genre of picture books.  Do you place limits on your writing based on fitting-in and selling?  Do you write with the child in mind? 







Diane Kress Hower is an author/illustrator who loves picture books.  Her professional background of nearly 25 years is in education, counseling, and art.  Currently, she is teaching part-time remedial reading at the middle school level in the area of special education while immersed in writing/illustrating/and photography.  In her spare time, Diane reviews children’s literature on her blog www.bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com, serves as local area coordinator for the West Slope of Colorado RMC, SCBWI, and is a commissioner for the City of Grand Junction, on the Arts and Culture Commission.  Diane recently received a merit grant from Colorado Creative Industries and the National Endowment for the Arts to support her creative endeavors.  You can find out more about her, dkhower, through her websites, Facebook, and Twitter.

26 comments:

  1. I LOVE the idea of Writerly Wisdom Wednesday! Is this a meme you do alone, or is there a sign up to participate? I'm thinking this would be a great addition to my OWN blog. Perhaps starting next month. Would you be interested in guest posting?? Please email me!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog 'B' post for the A-Z. Really appreciate it!

    Terri terrirochenski at yahoo dot com

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    1. Hi Terri and welcome to my blog! This writer's series is a product of my own imagination and my wanting to give back to a wonderful writing community that has give so much to me these past three years. I have a very extensive platform for the next year with authors covering everything from why even become a writer all the way to successfully promote your debut book. If you are interested in maybe participating in my series, I can certainly send you the list of available days I have left for this year...only 5 or 6 days left...;~)...and I would be honored to do a guest post on your blog...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. Really great post, Diane - I think it's a perfect analogy, too. Sweets are nice treats, but you can't learn and grow off them. As with reading, it can be fluffy, but some of it needs to be substantial too.

    And thanks for hosting this, Donna, and for stopping by my 'B' post for A-Z ^_^

    ____

    Find me:
    Blog: http://allysonlindt.com
    email: Allyson.Lindt@gmail.com
    Twitter: @AllysonLindt

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    1. Hi Allyson and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you enjoyed this week's WRITERLY WISDOM post. Please check out the rest of my great author line up every Wednesday for the next year!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. With picture books, art tends to draw me in before story. I don't know why that is.

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    1. Hi Melanie and welcome to my blog! I agree...great illustrations will capture my attention before anything else...unless of course someone sends me their story to review before the art is drawn...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. Hi Donna
    As Terrie said, I like the idea of adding Writerly Wisdom to my schedule - when April is over, of course.
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting on B is for Backstory. I appreciated it.
    Elaine

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    1. Hi Elaine and welcome to my blog! there is always more to learn about perfecting our skills as a writer. I have wonderful authors lined up for the rest of the year to help us all learn about how to survive in this writing world so please check it out each week!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. As far as cereal goes I'm a Honey Nut Cheerio kind of gal. I hope that my writing has nutrition and lasting power. I much prefer that to flash.

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    1. Hi S.P. and welcome to my blog! As a child I like Captain Crunch with the crunch berries but as an adult I love Honey Nut Cheerios...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. I'm not sure where my latest story falls, but I've got a wicked craving for Lucky Charms all of a sudden..... They're magically delicious!

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    1. Hi Genevieve! Didn't Diane do a wonderful post? I couldn't have done better myself...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. Picture books are wonderful. It would be awesome to write and illustrate, or be the writer with an artist making pictures for my words. Lots to think about in this post. Thanks.

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    1. Hi M.J. and welcome to my blog! I like to think my blog is a safe haven for writers and readers alike...a place to learn how to become a stronger writer and a place for anyone who loves reading as much as I do...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. First of all, I hate the cereal aisle. It's become ridiculous! Same goes for trying to pick out good books for my grandsons. Some – I wonder how they ever got printed. Others I love. I love the ones that repeat sounds or letters and combinations of letters. I like the ones that make my grandsons laugh and the ones that they choose to read over and over. I have written a few kids stories (nothing printed), and I take what my grandsons love and give it my voice.

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    1. Hi Karen! I have to agree...even though I walk down the isle for specific brands, I can't help but look at all the different types and think...my God that is a ton of sugar in each spoonful! I also agree about the books. I am NOT the greatest writer in the world but I DO write strong stories and I then see some stories being self-published as well as traditionally published and I think to myself how in the world did someone get up the nerve to print that! Lol...I guess if there are fans for THOSE books then I should never give up hope that MINE will find a place in this world as well..;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. What fun and great comments :) Donna, thanks for opening your blog up to guests. I hope your readers will check out my blog at www.bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com to learn about some wonderful books. I also have monthly giveaways for most books when readers leave comments or like the Book Wisdom page on Facebook. Thanks again everyone. Karen, I feel the same way about the cereal isle.

    I will have to tell you all that my manuscripts would be a cup of oatmeal, a cup of Life, a cup of Froot Loops, and a scoop of homemade granola, the kind made with love.

    Best
    Diane

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    1. Hi Diane! Thanks again for being part of this wonderful WRITERLY WISDOM series! It's authors like YOU that make me feel right about being a part of this wonderful community!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  10. Nice! I like both of you guys' analogies! :D

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    1. Hi Erik! I'm so glad I got a chance to meet you in this writing community. It's for people like you that I strive to become the best writer I can be and these WRITERLY WISDOM posts are helping me to do just that!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  11. I write the first draft for myself, and the rest for my ideal readers.

    Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
    Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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    1. Hi Darnyanti and welcome to my blog! I write basically in the same manner...first draft is to get the story out of my head where I'm talking to just myself...all other revisions are with my (hopefully) future readers in mind...;~) I'm now a follower of your blog...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  12. I love analogies. Great post. I like all the variety out there.

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    1. Hi Medeia and welcome to my blog! If you took a moment to check out some of my older posts, you will see that I LOVE analogies as well...;~)

      I just watched your trailer for your debut book, Best. Ramadan. Ever. and thought it was great! I will have to look for it the next time I'm in Barnes & Noble...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  13. Fun! Love the cereal analogy! I wanna be Wheaties and Crunch Berries at the same time, LOL.

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  14. Hi Tara! With a great story like the Monstore, I think you can be any cereal you choose...;~)

    Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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