You Just Finish Writing Your Own Autobiography, What Would Your Title Be Of Your Book About Yourself? Why Did You Choose That Title? Please explain....

  Being a booklover, I just love reading cookbooks. I read them like a novel. At first, I only pick up cookbooks with pictures. I always thought... I had something to compare to when I finish making a recipe.  Sad to say sometimes my version did not compare to the high-tech food photograph in the cookbooks. It was not until I was drawn to cookbooks without pictures.  There are outstanding chefs and cooks that write poetically about their recipes and foods they are preparing. I got swept away with their descriptions, exotic foods they used and creative way they tie in cuisines and atmosphere. It became breath-taking the wording use as they prepare gorgeous recipes on a lovely lagoon a tropical fruit salad. You can even hear sounds of the rain forest in the background as you are preparing a baked papaya. Last, in a beautiful garden while making a delicious organic spring greens salad, you can visualize the flowers in bloom and taste the heavenly smells of herbs growing.  When you read a recipe without a picture, the wordings become so alive. All your senses are working overtime. You can just smell the recipe cooking, taste its goodness and even visualize it without a picture.  The cookbook author has created just the right ingredients of poetic words and descriptions to pull you in. Your mouth would be watering, and you cannot wait to try that recipe yourself. I hope you have the chance to wander in a library or bookstore cookbook sections. Pick a cookbook off the shelf with only a few pictures. Take just a moment to really get into the wording. You would see cookbooks in a new light. I am so sure you will.

Here is my new release for middle readers a fiction eBook called  Clear the Front Row. Here is a synopsis of Clear the Front Row.
What goes through your mind, when you must make a speech? Do you think, great I cannot wait; I love making speeches?  On the other hand, are you the opposite, fear sets in, nausea, a queasy stomach and the need to vomit comes to mind? The latter is what happens to the main character Tiffany last year in Clear the Front Row.  Tiffany tries to forget that day but when her teacher assigns to the class they need to make a speak or not go to art museum. Tiffany devastated. She so wants to go to the art museum, but a fear of last year makes her nauseous just thinking about it. Her family and friends tries to help, by giving Tiffany their own good luck charms to give Tiffany courage. Tiffany by Monday morning  has collected an assortment of good luck charms  they consist of; stinky socks, red boa, petite tutu, worn baseball cap, rip sweatshirt, etc... Will they help out or will the past repeat itself again for Tiffany? CLEAR THE FRONT ROW.  Find out and read Clear the Front Row a great read for middle readers or any age. It's full of family bond, friendship, and learning to face your fears head on.  Purchase Click Here
 

Find a picture in a magazine or online.Really look at that picture the colors, movement if any, the description of the characters if there are any. Really look at that picture. How does it make you feel, happy, sad or nothing? Now take out your journal and write 200 or less words describing that scene or picture.Describe everything using poetic words to describe the scene or object. Famous authors are known for their poetic description of scenes or objects. One that comes to mind is Maeve Binchy. Her description in her books, made you feel you actually see the image through her writings.

   Have you ever thought about writing a picture book? One of the struggles when I started writing for children was to keep the word counts down.  Usually a picture book should only be 200 and 1,000 words. Theory has it too many words... a child's attention wouldn't last. In our society of overkill of too much information even adults prefer shorter writings to longer.  How to get started:
First what's upmost is just sit down and write down what you want to say.  Take a break. Get back to your writings. I like to use Microsoft and do a word count immediately to check out word count. If I am over 1,000... that is when I start cutting out words and visualize what that scene would look like as a picture.  Be creative. See if using shorter sentences would work. Get to the point quicker with less words. Like my Mom always said, "Stop going around and around the block... just stop and get to the point." Same goes to writing. Do not describe to the point of overkill. Just get to the point. Some writers use thoughts or characters speaking using balloons with short expression over the characters head.  This is when I start sketching out the scene. It is amazing how you can tell so much more just in a picture. This is where illustrators come into play.  Instead of using words to describe an action or emotion draw your point of view. A picture can show more compared to lengthy descriptions or wording. Again, take a word count. If you brought it down... GREAT. If you still have too many words. Maybe your story just needs that wording.  Every writer has their own way of writing. Find your niche and stick with it.  The best fan is you yourself. If you feel you cut too much.  You feel you would lose the whole story, if you cut any more… stop cutting. Just go with what you have. If you are still worried about word count have a child read it or friend. See what they think of your story. If they like the story do not change a thing.  I hope this article will help you get started to write your own picture book.

I am part owner of this book. I am a person or company that prints and distributes printed material. I have the say what goes in and out of this book. I am called a __________.