Today we have Ame Dyckman with us. Tickled pink to have you with us, Ame!
Can you give us a little background about yourself?
I admit it: I ate paste in school. But I'd pretty much stopped by junior high. By the time I was in high school, I was telling people I wanted to write books for kids when I grew up. (Not sure if this had anything to do with the earlier paste thing.) Most folks told me my dream of becoming a published children's book author was never gonna happen. But Boyfriend Guy said, "You can do it!" I liked that. So I married him. After a bunch of alternative occupations (Costumed Character, Brownie Taste Tester, etc.), I joined my local SCBWI chapter, where I learned how to write for kids, met my Super Agent and rock star editors, and made a bunch of awesome friends. I got a fabulous Writing Buddy, too. And now all these amazing folks (and The Kid) come to my book signings and cheer me on. I am SO lucky. They're my paste.
How do you determine if a story idea is worth pursuing/revising?
There's a complex scientific algorithm that goes like... "HELP! I CAN'T GET THIS STORY IDEA OUT OF MY HEAD!" And then it's worth pursuing. Because often, I can't write anything else until I see that idea through its opening lines, sometimes to a full draft. Gotta be done, even if whatever gets done then gets tossed right into the Bad Manuscripts Drawer. (Or in the REALLY Bad Manuscripts Grave in the backyard.) But once the initial Make It Real exercise is over, if the idea’s still waving its hand in the air and squealing, “Ooh, me! Me! Choose ME!” there's a whole slog of homework (title/similar story check, marketability stuff, family/Writing Buddy thumbs-up, etc.) before it makes it to the Revisions stage. And then I place a standing order with our local Pizza Joint so we have something to eat for a week or two and get to it.
What is your revision process?
Besides the pizza? I’m a print-it person. I print out the latest version of my manuscript and keep it in my pocket, so no matter where I am (bank, grocery store, roller coaster, etc.), I can take it out and scribble on it and put it back in my pocket and repeat the process and even sometimes remember to take it out of my pocket before I do the laundry. (Sometimes.) And for a few weeks, I make my family and Writing Buddy play endless rounds of “Of these two sentences where I only changed one phrase/word/comma, which sentence is better?” Inevitably, there will be a 3 AM tantrum because “My new story ISN’T ANY GOOD!” Then I make baked goods for my neighbors to apologize for throwing a tantrum at 3 AM, and take a nap. And finally, I see that my new story is better than I thought, and I send it to Super Agent.
Any other thoughts for fellow writers?
Check your pockets before you do the laundry. Stock up on muffin mix for your neighbors. (I mean, stock up on recipes and flour. ‘Cause we bake from scratch. *wink wink*) Read mountains of books. And never, EVER give up! How will I get to buy your books if you do?
Thank you so much Ame!
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author of:
· BOY + BOT, ill. by Dan Yaccarino (Random House’s Alfred A. Knopf, 2012).
· TEA PARTY RULES, ill. by K. G. Campbell (Penguin’s Viking, October 3, 2013).
· WOLFIE THE BUNNY, ill. by Zachariah OHora (Little, Brown; Spring, 2015).
· HORRIBLE BEAR, ill. by Zachariah OHora (Little, Brown; Spring, 2016).
You can follow Ame on Twitter (@AmeDyckman), where she Tweets picture book reviews and pretty much everything that pops into her head.
You can follow Ame on Twitter (@AmeDyckman), where she Tweets picture book reviews and pretty much everything that pops into her head.
Ame Dyckman's book trailers:
BOY + BOT:
Ame generously donated:
*A signed copy of TEA PARTY RULES
*TEA PARTY RULES prize pack: bookmark, sticker, button, and squeeze cookie.
To enter giveaway:
BOY + BOT:
Ame generously donated: *A signed copy of TEA PARTY RULES
*TEA PARTY RULES prize pack: bookmark, sticker, button, and squeeze cookie.
To enter giveaway:
- Scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post.
- Under the prize listings, click on the “Revised PB MS Today & Commented on Today's Post” button. If you have revised a PB manuscript and commented on today's post, click ENTER and you're entered! Remember you are on the honor system!
Each day you
revise and comment (Jan. 12-18th) you can enter for chances to win. The
winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter January 19th. There will be a
final giveaway January 19th for those of you who revise 5+ days! Good
luck everyone!
115 comments :
Thanks Ame (and Meg) But I have one more question : is the hat a must ?
Might keep our ideas in the right location and avoid them flying away ! ;)
Thanks for sharing your tips Ame, I'm a print it person too!
Great post. I always print out too, then scribble away all over it. Fortunately not left anything in coat pockets for the wash - yet!
"They're my paste." What a great 'never give up' tool because others believe in us even when we may waiver.
Ame, you make me smile. You have such a positive energy! I bet kids love you at school visits!
I am a print-it-out/ carry it around girl too. I was laughing when you said that about the pizza for the week. I feel that way when I am deep into an idea that I can't let go of. So true! Thanks for the great post.
Ame :)
I loved your post and I am a Print-It-Person too!
Awesome! I love "picture book in the pocket" technique. I did a revision this morning, but I'm going to print out a clean copy and carry it with me now.
Your draft rolled up in your pocket made me smile. I find old drafts and scrappy bits of paper in my bag all the time! Thanks for the encouragement.
Good stuff, Ame!
That's a really good suggestion: printing out your story and taking it everywhere with you. I am going to start doing that too.
Thanks so much, Ame! I almost gave up last night, so I needed to hear this. Instead I will go buy muffin mix and head back to the drawing board.
Got a chuckle from your post! I need to hold my story when I revise. Something about seeing and touching the words. even taken scissors in hand and cut the story up to help with revisions. thanks for your advice.
Thanks, Ame. I love your complex algorithm! and the graveyard in the back yard... and the reminder to check our pockets. I often find scraps of paper with things scribbled.
I love that you've always wanted to be a children's writer, and because you never gave up, you now are! Also love that you married the guy who said you could do it. :) Thanks for sharing your revision process. I'll have to try the baking goodies for my family thing. :)
Great post Ame. Fun,too. Sometimes it's easy to forget that when working with a stubborn manuscript.
What a joy to "know" Amy Dyckman. As a retired reading specialist, I volunteer in a preschool and read her books to the kiddies. Thanks for the fun, Amy!
What a joy to "know" Ame Dyckman. As a retired reading specialist, I volunteer in a preschool and read her books to the kiddies. Thanks for the fun, Ame!
Hi Ame - So fun to peek behind the curtain and learn a bit about what works for you as you are creating such great stories. Thank you!
Don't ever give up. Thank yo Ame for the encouragement. PS: I enjoy your sense of humor. (that is what it was, right? LOL)
Thanks for this post, Ame and Meg! I also love to carry my stories around in my pocket so I can write all over them. I probably come across as wandering around in a fog half the time, but really I'm just thinking about my story. :-)
Thanks, Ame, for a good morning laugh and the encouragement to keep going. I particularly like the advice to just get that persistent idea written out in a first draft BEFORE checking on similar titles/ideas that are already out there. If it demands to be written, we have to listen, even if we find out it's been done already.
So many laughs! A few thoughts : I did not eat paste but maybe I should have. I'm a paper person, too and every draft of every idea is in a folder (nuts, I know) but sometimes it's necessary to glance back at where you were to see how far the piece has come. But most importantly, I need to know more about how you talked your husband into the standing order at the pizza shop. A girl can get a lot more done that way!
What a fun read, thanks for sharing Ame!
Thanks for the peek into your world, Ame! Love the keep-it-in-your-pocket idea. It would be a little more difficult with a novel, but sometimes you need to change the scenery to get a better perspective.
Every time I an ready to revise, I think of your smack down workshop, Ame! It was super dee duper. And somehow the words stick with me when others didn't. Thank you for that and another great post.
Ame, you just crack me up. I married my boyfriend guy too. He's been my number one champion from the start.
Thanks for sharing your process! Boy + Bot is a big favorite at our house. We act out the story frequently!
Loved hearing your story. I have printed my story and put it in my pocket. Hoping for great things.
I need to do more printing out. Great idea, I'm on it!
OMG, I think I'm in love with Ame now. Her mind is definitely twisted, to quote The Eagles…and if she drinks champagne on ice, I'm moving in (permanently since "you can never leave;" and, yes, somebody can kick me for signing Hotel California at the top of my lungs on your blog, Meg).
The line "There's a complex scientific algorithm that goes like... "HELP! I CAN'T GET THIS STORY IDEA OUT OF MY HEAD!"" -- absolutely priceless!
Okay, I'm off to put some finishing touches on my revision for the day. :)
Great post! I have crumpled up pieces of paper full of scribbles in all my pockets and lots of stories in the bad manuscript drawer. And plenty that should head to a grave in the backyard. Maybe I'll marry the boyfriend guy too if it would help!
This was such a fun post to read. Thank you for sharing your encouraging words, Ame!
Thank you for sharing, Ame. I loved your responses. They made me chuckle. I am going to start printing my stories and keeping them with me while revising.
Wowzers! What a fun and helpful post! I happen to love your work, Ame! Thanks for your positive attitude and spirit!
Thank Ame for making me laugh! I keep my drafts on google docs so if I have my phone with me, I can revise and think about changes. That's kind of like a printed manuscript?
What a fun and whacky post from a very interesting author. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing, Ame! I really connected with the line "There's a complex scientific algorithm that goes like... "HELP! I CAN'T GET THIS STORY IDEA OUT OF MY HEAD!"” Your keep-it-in-your-pocket idea is terrific!
Day 3 – I have revised 2 manuscripts…actually 1 and 3 chapters of another. One of them was a picture book from last year’s PiBoIdMo, and the other one was my MG… I’m still trying to make the ending connect with what I see in my minds-eye. Yes, it’s the one I mentioned yesterday which has the 3 different endings.
I LOVE the idea of printing it out and taking it with me. I am DEFINITELY gonna start doing that. AND making sure all my pants have pockets. :::eyeroll::: What a fun post - AND writer!
Off to do some revisions!
Ditto to all the positive comments - this was great! Printing it out right now to have in my back pocket. . .
Ahh...Ame Dyckman, my favorite robot-creating comedian. So thankful for the morning smiles. :)
Always a pleasure to smile with Ame Dyckman! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and inspiration!
I'm a big fan of scientific algorithms and I think, "HELP! I CAN'T GET THIS STORY OUT OF MY HEAD!" is what propels us all onto greatness. Thanks for sharing your formulas for success. Roger, Roger! And out! :)
Love your Boy and Bot book! Thanks for the fun post. It's good to know others go through processes of self-doubt and "yes I can" moments too.
I ate paste too! I mean it came with that little shovel spoon... I appreciate so much the idea to chose the story that keeps talking to you and seems to want to get to work. Thanks for the good advice!
: )
Thanks, Amy! Love Boy and Bot! Love Tea Party Rules! Can't wait to love your upcoming books!
I changed the ending of a story that I just can't get out of my head! That, of course, involved revising some middle parts, too! Progress!!!!
Yesterday's mind child called, "Wait! We're not done, and it was right. So here we are, back again, with so many changes ready to revise.
Ame - I'm so disappointed ...How is it that we have to wait until Spring of 2015 for your next book?! Boy + Bot's storyline and art were wonderful then you completely topped it with the humor in Tea Party Rules along with the K.G. Campbell's illustrations. I over-the-top love Tea Party Rules - but nothing in 2014? Wolfie the Bunny needs moved to the fall lineup! :D
Following Ame on Twitter always cheers me up! This post did too! Carrying today's story around in my pocket. :-)
Boy + Bot is simply genius! I love, love, love the book! Great blogging today. I thought I was the only person in world that printed and took my pieces on a journey all week long wherever I go.
I wish I looked good in hats and could rock them the way Ame does. I love the Print-it carry-it notion. I have classically done part A but never carried it with me--will be doing so from now on and, of course, checking my pockets on laundry day. Thanks, Meg and Ame
I'm a print-it gal too! Anytime I'm out I tend to have 4 kiddos that need watching which leads to me not thinking about a whole lot else. I do have a running list of voice notes I have left myself while running around though. :) Great post. Thanks.
You can just hear Ame's sense of humor in her interview. No wonder her books rock!
You just know Ame's successful because she stresses out about things like whether sentence A or sentence B with only one word changed is better. That's attention to detail.
I still like scribbling on paper, too. Thanks for permission!
And thanks, Ame, for making me laugh.
Love the idea of printing and carrying around for a week. When I am in the middle of a story it is like a special friend anyway; what a great way to connect with that friend!
I revised today and my family didn't like it! - the working on it. I didn't dare share the story yet.
Funny stuff, but also great advice. Thanks!
Ame, you rock. I can relate to almost everything you wrote, except the eating paste, that is crazy! Thanks for an insight into you revision process.
The print-out idea inspired me, especially since I sleep with a light-up pen next to my bed!
Ame is always inspiring, thanks. I am so happy with the revisions so far this week. I don't know what magical pixie dust you've been spreading, but keep it up, because I have solved problems in two manuscripts I've been avoiding. Thank-you and best to all the other participants. May you make as much progress and more!
I love your determination in getting that story out of your head and into an almost full draft. I also love having that story on paper so I can jot down changes. But I never thought about carrying it around. Thanks for a great post.
Hahahaha, lucky you met boyfriend/hubby cause you may have pooped out on writing. Love, love, love Boy + Bot. Thanks for giving us the jewel of an idea of printing our story out and making notes about changes on it. Gee. Who'da thunk?? *waving*
Oh my, I print off everything but never thought to stuff it in the pocket. thank you!!!
Hee hee, loved it! Thank you for sharing... I enjoyed the late night laugh (as I'm in Germany) and am grateful for hearing your journey.
Ame, I love that you shared your "journey" with us using humor. Some parts seemed quite familiar, not the 3am tantrums, though. (Mine run around noon.) Good to hear your thoughts on when you know a story idea has potential. That's been an issue for me. Thanks much!
Another 50 words gone - the noose is tightening around this story. Meg had already pointed me to the pocket trick, but I think folks at the steel mill would frown at me if I pulled out a PB manuscript during meetings. I'll have to think of a way to modify it; today I mostly recycled Miranda's tips from yesterday.
A fellow printer here! Something about holding it, reading it out loud, etc. leads to better editing for me.
Thanks, Ame. Your post brought back memories of putting glue all over my hands and trying to pull it off in one big sheet. :)
I cut 140 words from a manuscript I was certain was polished . . . right. . .
I cut my MS word count in half and submitted it to my critique group. Gulp!
Thanks, Ame! Your humor made my day. I love that you can laugh at yourself and obviously find such joy in what you do! Your work is inspirational.
Ok, I chewed on my hair in school. Great post! Working on a poetry collection and if I get this one poem to sound good I'll be overjoyed!
Wow, wow! Can you hear my hands coming together. I printed my ms out and it all came together for me today. Thanks, Ame!
Thanks Ame!
Ame, I love your picture books but you really, really, really need to write a chapter book or middle grade novel. It seems like it would just pour out of you. And thanks for admitting you have my-new-story-isn't-any-good tantrums. I thought I was the only one...
Thanks, Ame! Great Post! Very inspiring!
Thanks, Ame! Another reminder about the importance of joining SCBWI when we decide to get serious about writing. I revised a printed manuscript at the coffee shop today, and I share your love of pizza! So your post spoke to me. ;-)
I love the idea of taking your manuscript everywhere. You never know when an idea will strike.
Lol great post! Fun and inspiring. Thanks Ame!
Thank you, Ame :) I printed one of my stubborn ms and carried it around all day. I appreciate your energy and determination to not throw that good idea in the round file.
Lucky me had a critique group meeting this morning...it was awesome and we were all able to help each other improve our stories. I agree with Ame, nothing like the support of some writing buddies Revision for today is done!
First of all...LOVE the hat, Ame...made one just like it for my new granddaughter who will be nine months old later this month.:)
Second...thanks for sharing your story...and I love how you describe all of the people who are close to you as the 'paste'...what a beautiful image.:)
Third...I also carry a manuscript around with me everywhere...you never know when you will have a few minutes and a spark of an idea of how to make it better.:)
Meg...I'm loving ReviMo! What an awesome challenge! Even though I'm still trying to get that Highlights contest entry ready, I'm going to dive into the third ms I pulled out for this week...when the week is over, I'll feel like I made progress on all of them.:)
Loved reading this, Ame! I can absolutely identify with the way you work - though, as an author/illustrator, my print-outs have doodles all over them and look a bit crazy! All part of the fun!
Ame, I do the same thing--carrying around a manuscript and scribbling on it all the time! Love your hat!
Loved reading your post, Ame! It's so nice to hear from published authors and how their experience has been! Love Tea Party Rules. :)
Thanks for the great post. It took a 3 hour plane trip, but I got 70 words cut!
Hi Ame! I've never eaten paste, but I love the analogy! I have been a computer only kind of writer…. until now. I copied the story I'm currently working on and am carrying it around with me for those aha moments of inspiration! Thanks for the doable advice!
Amy, love Boy + Bot, but I haven't caught Tea Party yet. Others look intriguing. I know the sound of a story that won't be quiet. But I have yet to put a story in my pocket and revise on foot...great idea. Thanks!
I did revise today, worked majorly on a PB dummy for the text I revised yesterday, and guess what! CHANGED some of my spread changes, and a word and order sequence. It's better. But I never knew PB dummies were so hard...even with stick figures. Eraser's half gone.
Wow! What great ideas! I love the idea of taking a printed copy with. I always have a notebook or my phone with to jot down story ideas but have never carried a manuscript in pocket.
I took a story that has been sitting for a long, long time and revived it with a revision! I have always liked the character but the story wasn't working at all! Extracting the character and only a few lines of repetition...gave the character new life and a new story! Yea!
Your post is full of passion Ame, I love it - not met you but the voice here is SO 'YOU" !!! Thanks for sharing your 'everything' for us and our journey (tantrums and all :) )
Thanks for this post! I love the description of your process! So funny and so familiar in many ways. I revised an old PB manuscript today. I must have five different versions of it on my computer. And now I suppose there are six because I revised it and cut 150 words. It hurt a little, but I think it's a better story now.
Ame, I didn't eat paste as a kiddo, but I DID take a bite out of my cola scented lip balm! Funny, I was just telling my kids about that tonight, after my daughter broke open a new Coca-Cola scented lip balm! Eric: "How old were you?" Me: "Third Grade." Eric: How do you have a memory that good? That was a loooooong time ago!" Me: "Some things just stick with you!" Tonight was probably my most productive night yet! Got my MS under 500 words and I feel happy! We will see if I feel the same way after sleeping on it! If not, I may have to offer the neighbors the caramel pecan rolls from my counter. Hmmm, I better be quiet. I want those rolls all for myself! :)
This was such a fun post to read. Making sure to see if there are other titles like yours during the revision stage is such a good idea. I'm busy cutting out words. Brutal, yet strangely enjoyable. I can see my mc taking shape. Thank you for sharing with us.
Helpful and humorous. I was inspired to reread all my drawer stories--sure enough, one of them was raising a feeble hand--"Pick me". Working on it!
Love the humor of this woman! Thanks for a great post. After writing a first draft of another story, and trying several new endings for one manuscript (none of which I entirely happy with)... I'm calling it good for today.
Thank you for this hilarious and helpful post. I loved the idea of walking around with the ms in your pocket. That is a lot easier than carrying your laptop EVERYWHERE, which is what I do. I shall be printing and pocketing from now on! Thanks.
I love the print&carry method; things really do look different on page vs on screen. I find it easier to spot mistakes on paper too, which is why I tend to "forget" to print it out...(I sometimes find it better to feel artificially good about mediocre WIP than to face the reality of crud...)
Thanks, Ame. Your post made me laugh and taught me lots!
Marcy, good to see you here again! If one of your MS make it to where you want feedback, let me know (and I might let you know, too, if progress continues...).
I saw this post at 1am and freaked out because I couldn't figure out how I missed a whole day. My fault for checking my email after you posted for the day.
I am also a firm believer in the Print it method of revising. There are some things I can edit after reading on the screen, but to really delve in deep I have to print out my manuscript. I don't take my manuscripts with me though, and maybe it's a mistake. I think I've come to the mode of thinking that my son takes up too much of my time, but to make a 2 minute or even 2 second editing change? I could so do that.
Great advice. I actually do bake from scratch. You can taste the difference as my 3 year old always wants to "help". He adds that extra special ingredient... we'll call it "love".
Amy brings such a joy to kid lit! Thank you for your humor and insight. It was a pleasure.
I both love and hate it when I get story ideas that scream at me until I write them. I love it, because those are usually the ones worth working to perfect, but hate it (only a little) because I know it means oodles of work ahead for me (time when my husband starts getting snippy about all the time I spend on the computer).
Thanks for the tips.
That'd be so great! Yes, so good to see you too! And likewise, I hope you will let me know! This has been REALLY great.
Thanks for the print-it and carry it everywhere tip. I need to stock up on muffin mix.
Thank you! I think I want to be your best friend! Your process makes me feel better about the way I think (like maybe I'm not the only one who...). <-should another period even go there? It seems like overkill but I know it should.
I appreciate the way to determine if an idea is worth pursuing. I like the idea of keeping the manuscript with your all the time. Many thanks!
It *has* been great. I might do a little more tonight, offline, and then chances are you'll be getting an e-mail soon. (Why wait four weeks until I have fresh perspective if I can get fresh perspective from others? Oh, right: others don't have unlimited time...)
Amy, I love your post and I love your books! Thanks for being a part of this week of revision!
Great post Ame, you had me laughing! And I love your books, thanks!
You really print it out and pocket it every day...talk about consistently on the mind priority! Ok. Can try.
Love Ame's books! And the standing order at the pizza joint sounds like a plan to me!
Oh, by the way, I was reading your ReviMo Classroom and this was one of those "You might also like:" suggestions at the bottom of one of the Classroom posts. Since I'm struggling with revisions lately :-( I had to come back by and read this again....couldn't resist commenting again, too!!!
Perfection! Ame's post is sure to inspire. :D Hope it fueled your revisions Penny!!!!
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