Do You Want to Write 12 Picture Books in 12 Months?
In 12 x 12, you’ll get the
motivation and
accountability you need to get those drafts finished, all with the support of the friendliest writing
community on earth. Registration is closed for 2013, but you can
sign up here to get information about 2014 when it becomes available.
“I am one manuscript away from completing the 12×12 in 2012
challenge, and I cannot say enough good things about it. If you are
thinking you might like to do it — DO IT! If you are thinking you’re not ready yet — DO IT! If you are wondering where you will find the time — DO IT! I promise, you won’t regret it.” —
Carrie Finison
Already, 2013 participants are raving about 12 x 12. See what they have to say in this video. Then
Sign Up to get information about joining next year!
<br>
</br>
Need more inspiration? Watch this video from
Tim McCanna, one of this year’s participants. More FAQs are answered after the video.
WATCH ME! 
Have more questions? Read on for answers to the most common ones. Want more incentive to join next year? Check out some of the
testimonials from last year’s participants.
What is 12 x 12?
Simple. We set out to write twelve complete picture book drafts in a
given year. One picture book draft per month for each of the twelve
months of the year. This means a
first draft: beginning, middle, end. NOT a submission-ready piece.
Who is sponsoring the 12 x 12?
Author
Julie Hedlund launched the challenge at the end of 2011 after realizing she only completed one full draft from all 30 of the
PiBoIdMo
ideas she came up with in 2010. She decided to invite others to come
along for the journey for support and camaraderie. Don’t know what
PiBoIdMo is? Take thyself
over there at once!
Who is participating?
More than 450 authors and illustrators at all stages of publication —
multi-published, debut authors, pre-published authors and brand new
writers, joined the challenge in 2013.
Can I join?
Registration for 2013 is now closed!
Sign up here to get information about 2014 when it becomes available!
Who created the incredible 12 x 12 Participant Badge and Banner?
That would be
Linda Silvestri, an extraordinarily talented illustrator. Please be sure to visit
Linda’s website and her blog.
Do you have other questions? Contact Julie!
What 12 x 12 members are really paying for, however, is the year-long sharing of resources, getting direct feedback on their work, getting assistance and critiques, and the opportunity to learn from experts in the business – same as a writing conference.
Thanks, Jan Watford
Great questions, and I’ll add more information under the FAQs too.
The participating agents/editors have committed to READ each 12 x 12 submission. They were not required to commit to a timeframe for reading them or to give responses to each submission. That said, I know most of these agents personally, and I suspect they will do their best to respond one way or the other, perhaps even with feedback.
It is similar to attending a conference where you can put the name of the conference in the subject line of the email, and they know to read those first. It’s an indicator that the person querying is serious enough about their work that they’re investing in it.
In addition, the 12 x 12 submissions will get read sooner than those they are getting coming in from the slush.
So, to answer more specifically, I suppose it’s possible that you could pay for a Little Golden Book membership and not get any RESPONSES from the agents/editors (although I consider that unlikely), but each and every one of your submissions will be READ.
Does that help? Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Julie
My email is leeanimator@cox.net
Thanks,
LeeAnn Jensen.
Can you pls get back to me and let me know how to access members forum?
The days are ticking by and I’m eager to get started.
Many thanks
Diane L Wood
The Little GOLDen Book level would not work for agented authors then?
P.S. Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? was one of my all time FAVORITE books to read to my daughter when she was a preschooler. We’d just moved to Boulder, CO and I loved the idea of a spunky, outdoors-y character (and so did she). Just had to let you know.
As I understand Shel SILVERstein level would not create a conflict of interests for my agent either then… right?
P.S. SO delighted to hear the back story about your own hiking boot princess. Love it! (I can hardly believe I’ve written 5 in the ‘do princess’ series so far.:)
No conflict at all. There are plenty of agented authors participating in 12 x 12! Hope to see you there!
how exciting to meet you here!!! I love your “princess”! I am born and still living in Germany, but a part of my soul stays always back in the Southwest. The “princess wth the hiking boots” was one of my very first books that I carried back home after spending holidays in Texas. When I returned to TX in 2010 I guess I took the “frog kissing princess” with me in my luggage.
Warm regards from the snowy and frosty middle of Germany
Barbara
It’s nice to meet you here too! It’s always thrilling to learn the distances that books can go. Thank you for telling me how you originally came upon mine in Texas, then on to Germany. And now you are writing for children yourself? Wonderful!
My daughter, the inspiration behind the series, has traveled to Germany, loved it so, that she is now studying the language in college, with hopes to return there again one day.
Best always from a snowy and frosty city in Colorado,
Carmela
The number one rule in song writing is never pay someone to listen to your song or idea. I have sat in a room and written songs with the best in the buisness and never had to pay someone to play a song I co-wrote on the radio. But now I’m chassing my true dream and that is writing. Do all publishers in this buisness want you to pay them to look at your craft? Is there such a thing as co-writing a childrens book?
Julia – it’s the exact same concept as submitting to an agent after a writing conference. One of the benefits of attending those conferences is to get a chance to pitch your work or submit afterwards using a “get out of jail free” card – saying you attended. It’s a way for the agent to know that the submissions are coming from a pool of people committed to the craft of writing. You’re paying to attend the conference. Getting a chance to submit outside of the slush pile is a fringe benefit. Same with this group.
What 12 x 12 members are really paying for, however, is the year-long sharing of resources, getting direct feedback on their work, getting assistance and critiques, and the opportunity to learn from experts in the business – same as a writing conference.
This sounds like an amazing opportunity; however, I live in Africa with some pretty awful internet. Is it worth signing up so I can take advantage of this opportunity? Or do you think I will miss out on too much without being able to do the online conferences? My internet is just hit or miss, so I will never know when it will actually be working. Thanks for your help! Heather
I suggest you sign up at the level you want to join and try it until the end of February. After that time, if you feel you aren’t getting enough out of it due to Internet connection issues, I’ll give you a full refund.
Does that work?
Great question! If you are just beginning, I would advise you to try the BRONZE or SILVER levels. Work on your craft before you start submitting. At the SILVER level, you can post part of your manuscript for immediate feedback from members. At the BRONZE level, you can’t post your ms, but you can announce that you are looking for critique partners. I hope that helps!
Thanks.
If signing up for the Gold option, can we specifically ask that a particular agent NOT read the MS? I have a completed MS that I revised after attending the Andrea Brown writing conference, and then submitted the MS to her agency but received a “pass.” So I’m hoping that it just wasn’t their “cup of tea” and that perhaps a different agent might be interested. I’m working on several manuscripts and would like feedback as well. Thanks.
The agents don’t have access to the membership Forum. You would submit your work to them directly using a special code that lets them know you’re a 12 x 12 member (and therefore elevating it out of the slush pile).
Details on how the submissions process works is available in the Forum. For feedback, SILVER and GOLD members can post excerpts from manuscripts plus full pitches and queries for direct feedback from other members.
Hope this response helps!
Can aspiring writers from South Africa participate in 12 x 12?
I am keen to get on board with the Bronze package, providing motivation and structure to my early stages of writing. I have many ideas for picture books but I am a little unsure of the structure, word count and layout for my writing in this area. Does the membership offer information and writing tools as well as support. It sounds like a great project to be part of.
Regards
I have paid for a Little Golden membership, but did not receive information regarding how to log in to the membership forum. When might I expect to receive that?
Yesterday I paid for a bronze membership through paypal but wasn’t directed to a registration page. When you get a chance, I would love the link. Thank you!
Erin
I am very eager to get started but haven’t yet received any confirmation on how to access the information. I registered Monday and received payment confirmation for my Gold level membership a few days ago. I know you must be very busy. I appreciate you looking into this for me.
Best regards, Michelle
I am a new member of 12X12 and can’t log in! I know I am using the correct username and password. Help!
I signed up Sunday afternoon, but have not been able to sign in. As its Monday night, I thought I’d check. I sent an email to you, but hadn’t heard back yet. Just figured I’d touch base. Thanks!
And monthly you send a manuscript to that person? Thanks,Julie I was looking for those answers and couldn`t find them. Looking forward!
(I paid under the name Andrea A. Kanakaris) Thanx
I joined on the last day, Golden Level, with my phone, and then tried to complete the registration but could not see most of the fill in questions. I clicked submit, but am unable to log in. Says my username etc. doesn’t exist. I have the receipt. When will I be able to access the group? And when can I start submitting to agents? Thanks.