Friday, July 8, 2011

An Hour Well Spent

While "Sponge Bob," and "Phineus & Ferb" echoed in the background, I jumped around reading writing questions for the Blog-O-Rama going on Deana Barnhart's site. There were a lot of great questions, and there are a ton of great aspiring writers out there. I really enjoyed the comments and input.

My writing time is very fragmented.
I am working on the illustrations for my next picture book, which are wonderfully challenging and very intimidating. I am also more then half-way through my novel revision which I'm sending to an agent based on their full MS request. 



I keep focused on the multiple projects by doing things like, organizing my novel's plot on sticky notes. This method was inspired by Martha Alderson, author of "Blockbuster Plots." Martha was a speaker at a conference I attended in San Rafael, CA last summer. 

I also included in my picture an ad I pulled from a magazine. I've had to change my protag's eye color recently. Another character in another book that has similar abilities as my protag has the same strange eye color (e
ven though I came up with the eye color without knowing the other existed. I swear.) Ugh.  Frustrating! It goes to show that there really are few original ideas in the world. The fun part is taking ideas and putting them together in a unique way. Right?


As far as my illustrations, if there is a blank canvas sitting at my easel that motivates me. I do to-scale sketches first, before I transfer them to canvas and paint. I have to paint my backgrounds first and then I can focus on the main subject-the animal. Of course, all of my animals are done in dots.

6 comments:

Angela Cothran said...

I hate it when you find similar idea to your own in books you've never read, and you know there is no possible way you could have over lapped somewhere.

Alleged Author said...

Luckily, it sounds like you are creative enough that this obstacle won't get in your way. I love your work when you use pointillism because I've always thought it such a hard way to illustrate/point. You got skillz, yo! :)

PK HREZO said...

Hi, Rachel! Nice to meet you. Great artwork there! And congrats on the full request. Best of luck! :)

Christina Mercer said...

So often we find similar aspects in other books, but you are the ONLY one that can write your story ;-))

Always looove seeing your art posted here, too!

RAD - Dot Painter said...

I never know if I post a comment whether the people that comment know that I'm commenting on their comments. Say that fast three times.

I just think it's so cool that people read what I wrote. It motivates me to add more to my blog.

Vicky Bruere said...

Wow Rachel, what beautiful paintings! You really are exceptionally talented and a true inspiration. I look forward to seeing how you get on with your novel. And thanks for the heads up on plotting - I'll be sure to look that book now.