Looking at the tile of this post, I think you can guess I have a couple of things to talk about today. 🙂
First – 12×12 Update.
For those of you who don’t know, I am trying to do Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Challenge. It is a challenge to write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months in 2012. You can click on the 12×12 banner on the right side bar or the one above to learn more about it. I asked Ms. Hedlund if I could participate even though I didn’t think I could do all 12 but I wanted to try to do at least one and she said it was OK to do what I could. Here is what I did this month.
Well the results of my poll from my last update are in (I asked if the main character of my book should be a boy or girl… or a monkey named Fred). Because there seems to be a huge bunch of monkey fans reading my blog, Fred won the poll, but alas, Fred really doesn’t fit into my book so I am going with the second place winner – a boy (and I’ve named him Louie). I have made an outline for my book – from beginning to end, a complete outline. Next month I am going to have a goal to write at least 5 pages and have ideas for illustrations. How are you doing if you are doing 12×12?
Next – My winter poem. I wrote this poem as an assignment for school. My mom thought it was really good and told me she thought I should post it. Before winter goes away for good this year, I thought I should post it. Please let me know what you think about it (even ways to make it better).
Snowflakes
By Erik
Snowflakes falling, glistening in the light.
Billions sparkle on the ground, covered in ice.
Making tree tops beautiful.
Each little flake counts when making a white masterpiece.
Covering everything on the ground.
Falling slowly, falling quickly, just falling.
Delicate when one or two, but strong when united.
Nothing stands in their way.
Tickling cheeks, but kind and cold.
Nature’s gentle blanket.
Now – Sue Morris of the Kid Lit Reviews blog gave me a Liebster award and challenged me to come up with 5 more things about me! You can see the post HERE to see who I passed the Liebster on to. So now the 5 things
1) I can’t whistle (and my sister can – really well)
2) I am a fan of art museums
3) I have a pet fish (a zebra danio) named Tommy
4) My favorite food is watermelon
5) I have one nose and two nostrils and a blog where I review books…OK OK I ran out of things about me!
AND FINALLY HAPPY LEAP DAY!!!
Categories: Other Stuff Related to Books and Reading
Happy Leap Day Erik. Your poem is beautiful, I particularly like the last line. I think you should join in Month of Poetry next january, you’d like it. And by the way boy books are in such demand that while you are young you can really tap into what boys like and get writing some fabulous boy books. Great stuff Erik!
Happy Leap Day Ms. Johnson! How do you join Month of Poetry? I am glad you like my poem (I just found a typo in it and fixed it – OOPS!). I am actually working on a book I think boys will like. It’s called… Wait for it… “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea!” 🙂
Thanks!
Happy Leap Day to you too! I LOVE your poem – really beautiful! And after reading your list of 5, I think we may be related – I was adopted too and I also have one nose and two nostrils! Coincidence…??? 🙂 Good luck with your 12X12. I am doing it to. I’ve got a couple mss for each month so far, but nothing I think is finished.
Thank you! I’m glad you like my poem! Good luck to you too! Wait, were you adopted from my home planet of Jduncuiashd? I think we may be related then! *hee hee*
Erik *giggle giggle*
Alas, I’m told I am Frisian – which is an actual place if you can believe it! – so perhaps we’re not related after all… although Frisia sprawls all over the coast of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, so who knows? Maybe it extends into Jduncuiashd! 🙂
Must google Frisian…
🙂
First of all, congratulations on your progress in 12 x 12. (You can console the monkey named Fred that he might have a chance to star in another book.)
Second, what a great poem. I love “Delicate when one or two, but strong when united” in particular.
Third, yay you on another Liebster! I, too, have that nose thing, but my home planet is Greebflinklenschwardle, so I guess I’m not lucky enough to be related to you. ;(
Thank you for the nice compliments Ms. Stilborn!
Erik
I think I’ve been to Greebflinklenschwardle – it’s really nice there 😉
Great poem !
Thank you Aunt India!
You have a real talent for poetry, Erik. I like the line about how each little snowflake counts when making a masterpiece. It sends a great message.
Thank you for the compliments Ms. Larson! 🙂
Love these lines:
“Delicate when one or two, but strong when united.
Nothing stands in their way.”
Reminds me of families and friends and the things we can accomplish with a bit of support. You’re a shining example of that!
Thank you Mrs. Isenhoff! You make a great point! I didn’t think about that!
Love the poem, Erik! Happy Leap Day to you too!
Happy Leap Day, “Your Cookie Jar Highness” ;)Thank you!
Erik, I really enjoyed your poem. Your write very well. Also,sounds like you’re making progress on your manuscript. Good for you!
Thank you for the nice compliments Ms. Tilton! I am working hard on my book!
“Falling slowly, falling quickly, just falling.”
Great line.
Erik, You keep amazing me. I had forgotten all about the Liebster, but you came through. Now, you are writing a book. I missed the poll but I would have picked Fred too, but . . . books with boys as the main character is in demand. Are we going to read “I have a contract!” next year?
I think your balanced life helps you so much. Can your mom send me that recipe?
Thank you! I guess Fred should have won… I’ll write a book about Fred… “The Monkey King” it will be called!
Very nice poem. I love snowflakes, though haven’t seen many this year…Snowflake was the name of my first teddy bear! Your blog is great, Erik, keep up the good work!
Thanks! I haven’t seen much snow either 🙁 I wrote the poem during a day when it did snow (a little). Maybe next year we’ll get more snow!
Erik,
Congratulations on your 12 x 12 progress. And I LOVE your poem. It’s just beautiful. Great job!
Thank you Ms. Hedlund! I am having a lot of fun with 12×12 and learning a lot!
You poem is thoughtful and layered in meaning (like a good snowfall?). It’s everything a good poem should be. Nice work. Also, good job finishing your February draft!
Thank you Ms. Holt!
Great snowflake poem! I bet it would be perfect next to a winter art picture too. 🙂 Did you get much snow this winter?
Thanks! That IS a good idea – a nice snowy picture! We only got 2 days of snow and it melted right away 🙁 Last year we got a lot. Maybe next year…
Love your Poem Eric! 😀
Thanks!
Great job on the poem, Erik. I already knew you could write well, and now you show us this. I like how you wrote it without a simple rhyme scheme. Many people, and not just kids, don’t try different forms when they write poetry. Thanks!
Thank you Mr. Granger! I’m glad you like my “non-rhyming” poem! My teacher told us not to rhyme for the assignment. I think rhyming in poems (at least making it sound good) is hard.
Erik, I love your poem. It is beautiful! You are very talented…I continue to be impressed.
Thank you for all the nice compliments Ms. Klosterman!