tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post1564873077429016528..comments2023-10-23T18:26:13.400-06:00Comments on Rena Jones: Inspired to write --Rena Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02328844122193024220noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-4523799414557123342008-10-20T16:36:00.000-06:002008-10-20T16:36:00.000-06:00Keep going with Manny if you love him :)I was most...Keep going with Manny if you love him :)<BR/><BR/>I was mostly inspired to illustrate after seeing the movie (I think it was mostly about the illustrations, or at least that's what I remember). I never really thought I was a writer, because everyone always encouraged my art. I started writing PBs because I wanted ti illustrate them, but when I took writing kids books classes, several people suggested that my voice was older. I loved reading MG and YA novels, so this made sense to me.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I always wanted to illustrate. I didn't think I could write until much later!srublehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09258955808195282768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-59875558967228251932008-10-20T15:56:00.000-06:002008-10-20T15:56:00.000-06:00Stephanie -- That's great you were inspired to...Stephanie -- That's great you were inspired to write so early. Like I said in my blog, I loved to draw and did that all the time. I sometimes wonder if I should have pursued that more. My girls can draw really well and so can Nathan, who's 8 years old.<BR/><BR/>I don't want to give up on Manny yet. The last editor that saw the photo-illustrated version said they don't publish books with talking animals. Manny sort of narrates the book, trying to get kids to relate themselves to him (in things like jumping, snacking, walking, getting dirty, etc). So in that sense, he does talk. The other 2 editors that have seen the book both said they loved the pictures. I've thought about revising it so he's not narrating the story. I guess I'd have to give up on him having a name too, which would be sad. The fiction version is a lot different, which is the original story of Manny.<BR/><BR/>Me & my goats -- LOL!Rena Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02328844122193024220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-90705713675700586762008-10-20T15:44:00.000-06:002008-10-20T15:44:00.000-06:00Manny is so cute! I think the photo illustration t...Manny is so cute! I think the photo illustration thing is if they need to get the rights for the pictures. If you supply the pictures, I would think it would be similar to regular illustrations. They probably say not to do that to discourage regular people taking pictures and thinking they can use them to illustrate their book, but your pictures are professional quality, so it should be ok. (Of course this is my opinion, from what I remember - you might have to look for more current info, or include a couple of photos and a note with your story to see what they think. Non-fiction uses a lot of photos.)<BR/><BR/>I was inspired to create children's books when I saw a film in grade school that showed the PB process. I don't know who the illustrator was or if they were the author too, but I remember the pictures, and I still have the poem and illustration I made after seeing the movie. :)srublehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09258955808195282768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-37423508336593263272008-10-19T12:25:00.000-06:002008-10-19T12:25:00.000-06:00Brenda -- That's really funny how you'd make up yo...Brenda -- That's really funny how you'd make up your own book reports. I'm surprised your teacher never caught on, but that's still really cool.<BR/><BR/>Bish -- Thanks for the nomination. I think it's cool how your mother inspired you to write. It was because of my mom I became a fan of Elvis. Funny how we get different kinds of interests and inspirations from people.<BR/><BR/>Dee -- You should definitely get back into writing. It sounds like you have a talent for it. When I was little, I was more into drawing. I could doodle and sketch for hours. I liked to write too, but mostly got into letter writing rather than anything else.Rena Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02328844122193024220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-59989122432053327352008-10-19T09:47:00.000-06:002008-10-19T09:47:00.000-06:00When I was in the 8th grade, I use to make up my b...When I was in the 8th grade, I use to make up my book reports instead of actually reading any books...(from plot, characters, author, etc.)I didn't think my teacher knew, because I was getting good grades on the book reports, then at the end of the year, she had me stay after class and she handed me all of my reports (she'd made copies) and she told me I should be a writer...I took the reports, tossed them in the trash down the hall, and thought, "Yeah, right lady, like I have time for that"<BR/><BR/>Many Many moons later, I caught myself making up stories for my son to entertain him and one day I thought..."Hey, I should be putting these on paper." and the rest is still a struggling history...grin...<BR/><BR/>Love Manny...they are wonderful creatures...Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11938209711584620272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-62939027287953508682008-10-19T04:08:00.000-06:002008-10-19T04:08:00.000-06:00I started writing when I was 8 and my mother was m...I started writing when I was 8 and my mother was my first big supporter and inspiration.<BR/><BR/>PS: I've nominated you for the "I Love Your Blog" award.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-43053693341134718132008-10-19T00:37:00.000-06:002008-10-19T00:37:00.000-06:00My mum loves to write, shes done a few novels, but...My mum loves to write, shes done a few novels, but no luck in publishing anything big. <BR/><BR/>I probably got the interest off her, did a few short stories, submitted to local competitions etc. Got a 3rd place in one as a teen, HC on a poem.... I always had the best English essays at school, one got "published" in the school mag at teh end of the year. Have not done anthing since really, maybe I should get back to it.<BR/><BR/>I do remember in Primary, a writer came to do a workshop, I did a good story on Dinny the Bottle Nose Dolphin and Giddy the Naughty Goanna, but she took them and I can't remember them anymore...Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777307445206154909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-20008336074001826322008-10-18T21:05:00.000-06:002008-10-18T21:05:00.000-06:00Thanks Kelly! We just got home from a day in Glaci...Thanks Kelly! We just got home from a day in Glacier NP and we saw some goats, but they were way up on the cliffside. Still cool to see, but it's more fun when they're standing right in front of you.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with your poems and I hope you can publish your book someday. I got a rejection on my MG novel today, so that was a real drag. I've only sent 2 copies of it out so far, so now I'm waiting on the other that has a full.Rena Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02328844122193024220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2910901195415494293.post-32203806273083992122008-10-18T14:13:00.000-06:002008-10-18T14:13:00.000-06:00Manny's a cute goat!I always loved poetry, I'd rea...Manny's a cute goat!<BR/>I always loved poetry, I'd read Shel Silverstein's poems over and over as a child. But the impetus to actually start writing more as a hobby then try and get published was a Jane Yolen book of poetry with beautiful photograpsh by her son. (I hope to publish a book of poetry with photos by my dad).Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.com