Author School Visit - My Interview

     Today, you can find me over at Rena Traxel's amazing blog On The Way to Somewhere.  Rena interviewed me and I answered questions about my very first author school visit. Thanks again Rena- it was a lot of fun. 

Coloring sheet by Lara Apponyi

     Also, I'm skipping this week's Let's Ask post on Thursday but I will be back with more answers on August 2nd with my writer friend and critique partner Kirsten Larson.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Let's Ask - Question 10

This week's Let's Ask question was for the talented Rena J.Traxel.

RJT- Thanks Jenn for having me on your blog today.


Me- Hi Rena! I'm so glad you agreed to help me out - thanks so much for the fantastic answers.

Me- You are a writer of more than one genre. Would you advise others to try to write in a totally different genre to improve their craft ? If so, why would that be constructive? 

RJT- YES! Take a look at the books on your shelves. I bet you that some of the books you own mix genres and form.  The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater mixes fantasy with romance with a dash of poetry. The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade mixes historical fiction with fantasy. Frankie Pickle series by Eric Wright mixes the graphic novel with the chapter book. Hugo Cabret by Brain Selznick mixes the art of the picture book with the art of a novel.  I could go on. The point is all these books are bestsellers.  Perhaps that picture book, or whatever project you are working on, needs a touch of horror or romance to make it stand out to publishers.  Perhaps your picture book would be better if it was a novel. Studying other genres will help you add in dashes here and there and will likely make your writing better.

Plus dabbling in other genres will help you assess your strengths and weakness. I can’t write romance to save my life unless of course it’s a satirical piece or a poem for a loved one. You will learn what you like to write. Maybe you have knack for writing humour or romance, but you’ll never know if you don’t give it a try.

Me- Which genre do you find to be more challenging to write for? Why?  

RJT- Every writing project comes with its own challenges.  One of the challenges I face is switching between projects. Most of the picture books I write involve animals and pre-school age kids while the novel I’m working on is for eight-and-up and is a fantasy novel/graphic novel hybrid. Going from the mindset of a three year old or a dog, to a mindset of a thirteen year old, or going from a picture book where you don’t typically tell the illustrator what to do to writing a graphic novel where you are suppose to give instructions to the illustrator can be disorienting.  Recently I was working on a concept series involving sounds. While I was writing this series, my novel set on the sidelines because I was stuck in non-fiction mode and couldn’t get into fantasy writing mode.

Writing for adults is much harder than writing for kids, at least when it comes to writing fiction. I find that there is more room for creativity when writing for kids versus adults.  Trying to find the balance between what a parent wants and what a kid wants to read in a picture book can be difficult versus MG novel where I’m only thinking about the kids.  Writing fantasy is much easier than writing non-fiction. I can stretch the truth when writing fantasy, but in non-fiction you have to stick with the facts.

Fantasy of the fairy tale variety is my preferred genre with poetry coming in second. Writing anything outside my preferred genres presents a challenge for two reasons—1) I don’t get enough practice writing in other genres. 2) Most of the books I read fall under the fantasy or poetry genre.

Me- Where does your inspiration come from while writing for children? Older audiences?


RJT- My inspiration comes from three places. 1) From the material I read. I generally like to spend a bit of time reading in a particular genre before writing in it.  I mentioned above that I had a hard time switching from non-fiction to fantasy well this usually doesn’t happen because reading in a genre before writing in it helps get my head in the game.  2) My husband. He is my muse.  I’m constantly bouncing ideas off him, which usually sparks new ideas.  3) Being challenged. Writing to me is about solving a problem akin to algebra (I know I’m one of the few writers out there that actually likes math).  Recently a writing friend posted a picture of basket full of socks. She said something along the lines of I bet you will think of some sort of monster story. Sure enough a week later I had produced a poem about a sock monster.  

Bio: Beware of the fiery haired writer that calls herself Rena J. Traxel. She spends her days brewing up a batch of fantastical stories. She also blogs about writing, shares poetry and downloadable activities @ www.renajtraxel.com

Thank you for your visit today!

A to Z Poetry Challenge (R - Z)

This is my third week of the A to Z Poetry Challenge hosted by Rena Traxel. The whole month of April I will practice writing poetry. Click here for all the challenge details

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Day 18 - Friday April 20th 2012

R is for Rhyme: Tips on Writing Stories in Rhyme






Challenge
--Write a poem for kids in rhyme. Come up with some actions that can go along with your poem (keeping in mind your audience).

Stuck in the Muck

So, you ran and you tripped, now you’re stuck,
Flat on your face with cheeks in the muck.
Have you lifted your hands?
Have you lifted your legs?
Buster, I think you might be in luck.
All you have to do is just jiggle.
Can you try it without a giggle?
Have you moved to the left?
Have you moved to the right?
All you have to do is just wiggle.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 19 - Saturday April 21st 2012

S is for Sonnet

Challenge

--Try your hand at writing a sonnet (you can be funny if you want). Or
--Using the 14 line structure above write a poem.
You can use the picture above or the word "season" as a prompt for your poem.



Sick of Bananas

My monkey family ate banana meals.
We hated having no or little pick.
Banana breakfast, lunch and dinner feels,
Like boring, yucky, mushy, gooey, ick!
We tried thinking up some things,
For earning treats like gum and crackerjacks.
The streets offered change for trying to sing.
They gave us peanuts working circus acts.
But happy came in dough, even in rolls.
I joined zoos because they’d paid some money,
For cheering up the sad and lonely souls,
And monkey comics telling jokes is funny.
Though, “laughs” I did not hear from stage,
Tomatoes pitched fast became my wage.

--By Jennifer Young
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Day 20 - Monday April 23rd 2012

T is for twitter

Challenge
--Write a twitter poem and posted it to twitter. Or
--Write a series of twitter poems that link together to tell a story.





The Answers

The sky flipped down/The light inside turned on/The secret is free#Poems#poetry

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 21 - Tuesday April 24th 2012

U is for Universal 

Challenge
--When you write your poem today think about your audience. You can use today’s word “universal” as prompt for your poem. And/or
--Write a poem that depicts your universe that you think others could relate to (Are you retired? Do you have kids? Are you student? Etc.). 

From left to right - Pumpkin, Princess and Bud

My Universe
My Bud is not a flower
He is a bouncing busy boy.
My Pumpkin is not a veggie
She is a blonde and bubbly joy.
My Princess is not a ruler
She is a brave and playful doe
My universe is not the cosmos
It is where my children grow.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 22 - Wednesday April 25th 2012

V is for Video

Julie Rowan-zoch

Challenge
--Since poetry is meant to be performed when you write your poem today I want you to perform it. No you don't have to create a video, but try performing your poem in front of your kids, spouse, or a trusted friend! Try writing a poem about something that is absurd like a vampire rabbit! Or
--Use today's word "vampire" to write a poem.

My Grandma’s a Vampire

My grandma’s a vampire
Her life is askew
Her vision is shot
And her dentures have glue.
Her hunger has weakened
Her flitter has faltered
Her pacemaker skips
And her memory's altered.
My Grandma’s a vampire
But not for too long
Her body is brittle
And her drive is all gone.
Her hair is neglected,
In need of a comb,
When vampires are old
They are put in a home
.
--By Jennifer Young

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Day 23 - Thursday April 26th 2012

W is for the W's

Illustration by Julie Rowan-Zoch

Challenge
--Using today's prompt "wicked" write a poem using the W's. Or
--Write a W poem on a topic of your choosing.

WWWWW

An aristocrat
Concealed his rat
In the morning to buy quiche
Tucked him snug in his hat
For it's taboo to walk him with a leash.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 24 - Friday April 27th 2012


X Marks the Spot

Challenge
--Create a found poem using bits and pieces from the source text on this page. Please leave some words in the comment section below so that I can create a found poem from your comments.



125, 000 wolves
Finished and waiting for salom and tuna
Sandra Boynton made them a promise
Instead she said,
“Go pick your beautiful dresses”
Surprised,
They ran after her
Faster than bullets
Over rocky ground
To hunt her down
She gave out wooden shoes
Filled with corn and peas
She said, “stomp, dance”
It was difficult
For these growling dogs
Sandra just laughed.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 25 - Saturday April 28th 2012

Y is for You

I'm called Jen
By my Vince
By my friends
Not by my mother
Or my sis.
They call me Jenny.
I go by Mom,
Mommy,
Or MA MA by my kids.
Call me Jennifer,
If you like,
I like that name too.
Though, as a kid it bored me.
I always wanted a name
Like Candace.
Like my sister.
I named my youngest after her,
Susannah Candace!
I'm a lover
of zombie films.
The more "End of the world"
The better.
Pie,
Pretzels,
And peanut M&M's
Are my weakness.
Find me drawing
Snug on my bed
A book on my nook
Or a pb in my lap,
A peek inside
My comfortable world

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 26 - Monday April 30th 2012

Z is for Zig Zag

Take a journey on a Zeppelin

by Bill Boudreau

Challenge
--Write a zig zag poem. (What is a zig zag poem?A zig zag poem is when you take the last word from a line and use it to start the next line in the poem so that it creates a zig zag down the page.- Rena Traxel) Imagine floating along in a Zeppelin. What do you see. What do you smell. What do you feel. Now write a poem and you are done!

Ants swarming a tiny chateau
Chateau teeming with busy bees
Bees bustling below
Below building hives in trees
Trees with leaves fluttering
Fluttering and flapping in the breeze
Breeze blasting in my face
Face squinting with unease

--By Jennifer Young

Perfect Picture Book and A to Z Poetry (L - Q)

It's Perfect Picture Book Friday and the third week of the A to Z Poetry Challenge hosted by Rena Traxel.


This review is part of Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book series. Visit her site to see the other books recommended. 

Title: Aliens Love Underpants
Author: Claire Freedman
Illustrator: Ben Cort
Publication date: September 1, 2007
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
Suitable for ages: 3 +
Themes: Silly

Opening Sentences:
Aliens love underpants,
Of every shape and size.
But there is no underpants in space,
So here's a big surprise...


A sneak peak inside Aliens Love Underpants

Why I like this book: It's my favorite type of children's picture book; quirky, funny, rhyming and very silly.

The synopsis is taken from the inside flap (back cover)

When aliens fly down to Earth,
They don't come to meet YOU...
They simply want your underpants--
I'll bet you never knew!
This zany, hilarious story is simply out-of-this-world--
you'll laugh your pants off!

Resources:

Want coloring pages, online games and more info on Aliens Love Underpants? Then visit this link ---> http://www.aliensloveunderpants.com/

Check here for many alien themed printables --> http://www.printactivities.com/Theme-Printables/Alien-Printables.html

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A to Z Poetry Challenge (L - Q)


This is my third week of the A to Z Poetry Challenge hosted by Rena Traxel. The whole month of April I will practice writing poetry. Click here for all the challenge details

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Day 12 - Friday April 13th 2012

L is for Limerick

By Niki Leonidou

Challenge
--Create a limerick about love. Or
--Use the illustration above to write a limerick.

The Goofy Heart

I tried to show her my goofy heart.
My life on stage was a work of art.
Jokes I gave full of love.
Painted face not proud of.
Clowns weren’t her thing so we had to part.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 13 - Saturday April 14th 2012

M is for Mother Goose

Challenge
--Create your own nursery rhyme. Or
--Write a fractured nursery rhyme. Children’s poet Kenn Nesbitt, over at Poetry 4 Kids has a neat exercise on how to write a fractured nursery rhyme. Instead of me re-wording his lesson. Click here to find out more.

It's Lonestar Lonestar
The fox and the guitar
The pig flew into a car
The rat snickered
At all the fuss
And the queen took a trip with the czar.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 14 - April 16th 2012

N is for Nature

Rena J. Traxel

Challenge
--Go into nature and write a poem.
--Look out your window and write a poem about the nature you see around you (even if you live in the city).
--Using the picture above as a prompt write a poem.
--Write a poem that uses nature as metaphor for the social injustices that you have observed.

Pinecones Have Seeds

It's surface jagged
Touch it, it pricks
It loosens it's hold
As it hangs from it's stick
It sways and it grows
It dries and it falls
Crunch goes it's shell
The seedlings and all
Into the ground
It spreads in the Earth
Pinecones have seeds
For a pine tree's rebirth

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 15 - April 17th 2012

O is for onomatopoeia 

By Kari-Lynn Winters
 Illustrated by Christina Leist.

Challenge
--There are all sorts of fun characters in Kari-Lynn's book like the horse. You can see some of those characters in the picture above. Today I encourage you to go for walk and write a poem about the things you see and hear around you.


Let's Go Vincent

Go batter-batter,
Clobber that ball!

Go batter-batter,
Once and for all!

SWOOSH...CRACK! GO! GO! GO!
Better round second!
Whistle, woo-hoo, whoa!

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 16 - April 18th 2012

P is for prose 

Challenge
--Today I want you to play with form (think about lines breaks and punctuation). Try writing a prose poem using a photo that inspires you. Or
--Use my photo of Raggedy and write a poem.

My Way
      I'm on my way, down a road. Exactly where I want to go. It's over the hill. It's through the woods. I skip, I run, but mainly I walk. Maybe it's to nowhere. Though, I sure do have fun. It clears my head. It sparks some thoughts- Will I find the way? Will I end up happy? I walk and I wish. My feet move fast, slow. I'm on my way down a road.  Towards...the unknown.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 17 - April 19th 2012

Q is for Query

Challenge
--Pick some of the poems you have written and think about submitting them for publication or come up with a title for your poetry collection. If you decide to share the title keep in mind that titles aren't copyright protect so you might want to keep the title to yourself.
--As for today's poem. I want you to write a poem using your preferred style.


The Fly Eating Contest

Stanley was eating his flies.

He ate in a hurry to be first.

His belly had swelled like a melon.

At the end of the race he had burst.

--By Jennifer Young

A to Z Poetry Challenge (F - K)

This is my second week of the A to Z Poetry Challenge hosted by Rena Traxel. The whole month of April I will practice writing poetry. Click here for all the challenge details.

    * * *

Day six- Friday April 6th 2012

F is for free verse

By Bill Boudreau

Challenge

--Write a fable poem, in another words, write a poem with a moral. Or
--Using the illustration of the three little pigs write a free verse poem. Or
--Pick your favourite fable and retell it in free verse.


The Boy Who Cried Sheep

A son of a shepherd,
Tended his sheep.
One day the sheep turned bad.
They teased and taunted,
And pushed him to the brink.

“Go and be gone,” the boy yelled.
But they stayed and they stared,
A mad evil stare.
“SHEEP,” cried the boy.
A wolf then appeared.

“What is the matter?” asked Wolf.
“I’m scared of my sheep,” he replied.
Wolf said, “Do not call sheep and lie."

The next day,
The sheep came back.
They continued to tease and stare.
“SHEEP,” the boy cried,
And Wolf then appeared.

“What is the matter?” Wolf asked.
“I’m scared of my sheep,” he replied.
Wolf was heated,
Then he repeated, “Do not call sheep and lie.”

The day after that,
The sheep were still bad.
They nipped, the bit and they stared.
“SHEEP,” the boy cried,
And Wolf then appeared.

"What is the matter?" Wolf asked.
"I'm telling the truth, they bit and nipped,
I'm scared of my sheep," he cried.

His arm showed signs of what was done.
So, Wolf licked his chops and ate each one.

-- By Jennifer Young


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Day 7 - Saturday April 7th 2012

G is for Glee : Music and Poetry

Illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

Challenge

--Imagine that you are member of the Glee club who has to write a song for sectionals. Write a poem that can be sung. Or
--Using today's prompt "geek" write a poem. Or
--Write a poem about something that makes you gleeful.

Take my Hand

Take my hand, take my hand.
Now take my heart and hold my hand.
It’s in you.
All up to you,
To take a chance,
And do what's true.

Don’t think it over.
Thoughts cloud the heart,
From opening up,
And letting it start.

Let go of the chains,
That bind you blind.
Now take a chance,
Your heart won't mind.

--Jennifer Young

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Day 8 - Monday April 9th 2012

H is for haiku.

By Bill Boudreau

Challenge

--Write a haiku about your childhood hero. Or
--Write a poem that explains why Spiderman and Wolverine, our waiting outside the principal's office. Or
--Writer three haiku's that link together to tell a story.
 
Thoughts from a Tulip

Soon I'll see the sun
Through the bare budded branches.
Slowly he will rise.

He will warm my stem.
He will relax my pedals.
I will soon open.

I will move and bend.
All day he'll move. I'll follow.
Dusk 'til dawn, I'll wait.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 9 - Tuesday April 10th 2012

I is for inspiration

Illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

Challenge


--Mark Twain once said, "don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live." Using today's word "illusion" and Julie's wonderful illustration write a poem about illusions.
--Inspiration can come from many different places. Pick something that inspires you and write a poem about it. Or
--Write a poem about a difficult time in your life.
Feel free to post your poem below, on your blog, or share it with the poetry Facebook group.


Teachers Inspire

Fitting in first grade
Was a bit of a ride.
I went with the flow.
I swam with the tide.

In my teen years
Teachers came and they went.
One stopped time in its tracks
And I learned my intent.

I’m not an outsider.
The inside’s not in.
We are all different.
I learned to hold up my chin.

I look back now
Without a regret.
The past makes me, me
And my future not set.

-- By Jennifer Young

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Day 10 - Wednesday April 11th 2012

J is for Jingle

Challenge

--Write a jingle that promotes your blog, website, or yourself. (You don't need the music).

Just Read

Castles in the sky
I'm not going to lie
Is a blog about writing
kids need to read,
First they need a seed
Visit the li-bra-ry
Gotta read
Find a book when the boredom set in
Re- ad, gotta read
Visit the li-bra-ry
Ahhh ahhhh, go read
Visit the li-bra-ry
Ahh Ahhh

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 11 - Thursday April 12th 2012

K is for Kids 

My kiddos

Challenge


--Please go to the online version of Poetic Magnetic Poetry Kit by clicking here. Use the words displayed to create a poem. You can click on the “more words” button if you need more words for your poem. If you have kids have them help you create a poem.







I decided to ask my eight old son Vincent to help me create a poem using Poetic Magnetic Poetry Kit. We had a lot of fun trying out this challenge. We couldn't fit all the words, but here it is anyway...


The Great Explorer

Remember the dark
There is a boy
Not fat
And never wild
Like a flowery younger sister
Exploring a dying tree.

--By Vincent and Jennifer Young

Don't ask me to interpret but I guarantee you'll have some fun with this website.
 Click here to try it with your kids

The A to Z Poetry Challenge (A - D)

During the week I wrote poetry for the A to Z Poetry Challenge hosted by Rena Traxel. The whole month of April I will be writing poetry. Click here for all the challenge details.

* * *

Day one- Sunday April 1st 2012
A is for Acrostic

Illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch
Click on her birdy to check out her blog

Challenge


--Using the picture above as a prompt write a poem about an animal. Or

--Try writing an acrostic poem.

Alligator

Across the swamp
Low in the grass
Lies a long scaly
Intimidating alligator.
"Gurgle,"goes his tummy
And a head peaks out.
Turtle eyes peer big.
Oddly they disappear
Right before the bite.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 2 - Monday April 2nd 2012
B is for Book

Author Bill Kirk.
Click on his book ot be directed to his blog.

Challenge


--Using the cover from Bill Kirk's book as a prompt write a poem about the brain. Or

--Try writing a rhyming poem. Or

--Try writing a rhyming poem about the body.




The Birthday Suit

His suit was worn without a tie
And it was soft and far from dry.
His mom counted his mouth and nose.
His dad had found his tiny toes.
His suit was washed and weighed.
His parents loved what they made.

--By Jennifer Young

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Day 3 - Tuesday April 3rd 2012
C is for Contest.

Photo by Rena J. Traxel

Challenge

Using the photo of the patchwork castle as a prompt:

--create a patchwork poem, (Pssss - A cento or patchwork poem according to Poets.org is "a poetic form made up of lines from poems by other poets) 
or

--write a poem about a castle, or

--choose one line from a favourite poem and use it to write a poem, or

--use the castle picture to inspire your poem in someway.

Castle Cracks

Just as the cracks in the castles appear
So do the winkles exposing our wear.
Just as the cracks in the sidewalks are made
So are the sunspots that never will fade.

---By Jennifer Young

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Day 4 - Wednesday April 4th 2012 
D is for Doctor

Challenge


Using the Dr. Seuss picture above as a prompt

--Write a poem in trisyllabic meter (Pssss- A trisyllabic meter means that every third syllable of his stories is more stressed than the others. - A Hatful of Suess.  Here is an example from Dr. Seuss' book Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories. The bold bits are the stressed syllables.

“And today the Great Yertle, that Marvelous he

Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see."

or

--Write a rhyming poem or

or
--Write a silly poem


Doctor of Rhyme

Do you know of the Doc that created his rhymes,
For the children to read and remember at times?
He would rhyme with the alphabet, B is for Bat,
He's the Suess! He invented the Cat in the Hat.

 -- By Jennifer Young

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Day 5 - Thursday April 5th 2012
E is for Epigram






Illustration by Julie Rowan-Zoch



Challenge


--Write an epigram poem (Pssss- An epigram dating back to ancient Greece, "is a short, pithy saying, usually in verse, often with a quick, satirical twist at the end" info from Poet's.org)

or
-- Using the illustrations above as a prompt, write a poem about empathy.


Each Leaf

Some people leave a mark
on trunks of trees.
The famous leave their mark
on all the leaves.

-- By Jennifer Young

My Poison Apple Pie is now Published!

     Good Morning everyone!

   
     I just wanted to share some writing challenges I’ve been up to lately, PLUS some very exciting news that I already gave away in my blog title. So excited to finally share! Below is my very first children's eBook published by MeeGenius.
I'll share more details about Poison Apple Pie at the end of this post.


Now here is a little summary of the writing challenges I've been involved in.

1)  Back at the start of this year I joined the 12 x 12 in 2012: Picture Book Writing Challenge over at Julie Hedlund's blog, Write Up My Life.
It’s been so much fun and very productive I must add! I’m excited to share that TODAY, yes today is my very first blog appearance and it's at Julie Hedlund’s blog, so make sure to go check it out. Here’s the direct link- http://writeupmylife.com/2012/03/27/tuesday-12-x-12-jennifer-young/

2)  Another writing challenge I just signed up for is at Rena Traxel’s blog.

I’m going to have to write 26 poems in the month of April. I do not usually write poetry so this is definitely going to be a challenge that I may have a hard time sticking with. I know I’ll definitely be doing a lot of research next month. The deadline to sign up for this ends April 1st. For further details go to Rena’s link here- www.renajtraxelblog.com/

3) Last but not least, I found out on March 23rd 2012 that MeeGenius published my very first eBook. I am now a published author ((YIPPEE)) and I’m still very much on cloud nine. I just wanted to thank everyone once again who supported me and my book. Check it out below. It’s called Poison Apple Pie. It’s illustrated by the talented Lara Apponyi. You can actually get a free preview of the book just by clicking on the book cover below.

 Poison Apple Pie is about a witch named Winka who quits her day job
 and tries out other jobs in fairy tale land that she might be more suitable for.

      Also I wanted to say how proud I am of my very good friend Bethany Telles’s for becoming a brand new author with her debut book, Waiting for James in a Sea of Pink, published by MeeGenius as well. Click on the cover for a sneak preview of the book.

Waiting for James in a Sea of Pink is about a boy named Gavin who is waiting
 for his best friend James at his little sister's girly and overly pink birthday party.

Thanks for your visit today

and remember to go check out my blog appearance at Julie's blog-

 Write Up My Life



Join the Fun - A to Z Poetry Challenge

 
    Rena Traxel is hosting a poetry challenge in April and a contest in May on her blog in celebration of National Poetry Month. Write a poem a day that corresponds to the letter of the alphabet. This challenge is open to everyone.

The Challenge During April 

Starting with the letter 'A' on April 1, 2012 write a poem based on that day's lesson and challenge. There are 26 letters in the alphabet so you will create 26 poems in the month of April. Take Sundays off to revise (except for Sunday, April 1). If you have kids get them involved.

Rules

Be a follower of Rena Traxel's site. Click here 

Grab the badge (the teddy above) by saving the picture and adding to your site.

Blog about the contest and link back to Rena's post.This link here www.renajtraxelblog.com/




Sign up by (ends April 1) See Rena's site for more details on how to sign up.

Promise to try your best to write a new poem each day in April except for the 4 revision days.

Optional Share your poem on your blog or in the Facebook group.

The Contest Starts in May 

On May 1 to 7 there will be a poetry contest in which you will submit ONE poem that you have created during the challenge. The winner will get to choose a prize. There will be a separate category for kids (14 and under).

Rena's Cool Prizes

Where the Sidewalk End by Shel Silverstein

2012 Poet's Market

One year subscription to Poets & Writers

On My Walk by Kari-Lynn Winters

More prizes to be announced.

Happy writing and best of luck to all that enter!

Rena's link

www.renajtraxelblog.com/