Over on Julie Hedlund’s blog she has set a challenge: write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months–a picture book a month for every month of 2012. I thought this sounded like a great challenge as I love writing picture books and am often inspired with picture book ideas, so I joined up.
Julie has done a fabulous job of organising this challenge. There are monthly prizes for participants, guest posts from those in the picture book industry (the first guest post from picture book author and founder of Picture Book Idea Month, Tara Lazaar, went up yesterday) and a great community of fellow participants in the Facebook group Julie has set up for the challenge. You can also follow the #12x12in2012 hashtag on Twitter. (Edited to update: the new Twitter hashtag is #12x)
For anyone who is interested in writing picture books this challenge is a great opportunity to learn, grow and connect, so I would encourage you to join up. You can join at any time throughout the year, but to be eligible for prizes you need to have signed up by the 29th January 2012 (you still have nearly a month to sign up). You can find details on signing up here (it’s super easy and completely free).
With a baby due in a month, I hope I can stick to the challenge. Like Julie, I also intend to do NaPiBoWriWee (National Picture Book Writing Week) again this year. Am I up to the challenge? I guess we shall see.
Jo Hart - Author 
Hi Jo – I’m doing 12X12 too! You will have your hands full with a new baby – but maybe it will give you lots of inspiration 🙂 I started writing picture books after I had my first child… something about reading so many to her made me realize I wanted to write them. Looking forward to 12X12ing with you 🙂
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I saw you on the Facebook group, Susanna! It was because of Julie and the Facebook group I discovered your Christmas contest.
I will certainly have my hands full, so we’ll see how I go. My other two children provide me with lots of inspiration, so I’m sure my new little bundle of joy will be inspirational as well. Looking forward to 12x12ing with you, too! 🙂
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Oh my goodness Jo, congratulations on your baby coming! If you manage to write a picture book every month for a whole year with a newborn, I pledge right here and right now to buy your baby a book of his or her choice in January 2013!
Just the fact that you’ve signed up amazes and inspires me. Good luck and please be sure to let us know once your little one arrives!
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Thank you, Julie! And wow, what a kind and generous offer! I’ll have extra motivation now. It’s going to be a busy year, with new bubs and my oldest starting school, but I’m going to endeavour to meet the challenge.
I’ll definitely let you know when bubs arrives (only a month to go!)
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Nice post! And congrats on the new baby arriving soon. Going to be an exciting time this year all round I guess! Happy writing and nice to meet you Jo.
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Thank you! I’m looking forward to a great year ahead. Nice to meet you too 🙂
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Hi Jo — another 12x12er here! Just signed up for your feed so I can keep tabs on how you get along, typing with one hand and cradling a newborn with the other. I have 22-month-old twin boys, am a full-time freelancer, and am launching a blog on Friday…so I’m a little concerned about writing time. I saw on FB that you’ve already gotten halfway through your first PB draft, so I have now adopted you as my inspiration muse…hope you don’t mind, haha! Looking forward to getting to know everyone this year.
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Hi Renee! Thanks for subscribing. It sounds like you’ll have your hands full this year! I hope you can fit in some time to write (I know all too well how demanding active little boys can be–especially at that age). As Susanna mentioned in the comments above, children can be great inspiration for picture book ideas though. I finished up my first draft yesterday (it was too hot to do much else!). It’s nice to have one written down before baby comes along. Good luck with yours! I look forward to getting to know lots of new faces, too.
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Hi, Jo! I am also signed up for 12×12. Will be interesting to see how I do-I was pretty disciplined for PiBoIdMo…A new baby coming-how exciting! Congrats 🙂 Looking forward to blogging with you in 12×12.
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Hi Kelly! I didn’t do PiBoIdMo because I did NaNoWriMo. I’m sure you’ll do well with 12 x 12. And thank you, I’m very excited about the new baby 🙂 I look forward to blogging with you, also.
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