This week's lesson is a longer total lesson split up into 2 parts because I had to do a follow-up where I corrected something from the first lesson.

Our newest Initiate to the Creative Illuminati is @Ashley Bertrand. Welcome ye who enter this sanctum of arcane and hidden creative knowledge. Tell us more about yourself. What are your creative arts goals? Share with us, so that we may know how best to support your creative growth!

Recently been binging "The Leftovers". Yeah, it's one of those shows I missed by a few years. LOL. Just starting season 3 now. Anyone else watch this? Any thoughts? I'm interested to see where this whole mindbending rapture/apocalypse storyline is going. What are you watching, reading, playing? Tell us about what you enjoy, even if it isn't an entertainment-related activity. Let's bond over the things we like!

We’re back to #150 in hobbies today, owing at keast partly, to my illness causing reduced activity, but we’re going to change that direction and get closer to the 100 mark this week! Also, we have 88 members now! How ong until we hit that 100 milestone? What do you think? Give your prediction below!

So you have a picture book idea bouncing around in your head. Maybe it is a story you have been telling your kids at bedtime, or a concept that just will not leave you alone. The good news is that you do not need years of experience or a big publishing deal to bring that idea to life. With the right approach, you can go from a loose concept to a finished picture book in just a few weeks. Let me walk you through the entire process, step by step. First Things First: Understand What You Are Making Before you dive into writing and drawing, take some time to understand the format you are working with. Picture books are not just short stories with images slapped on top. They are carefully crafted experiences designed for young readers and the adults who read to them. Standard picture books run about 32 pages and contain roughly 500 to 750 words total. That works out to about 25 to 40 words per page. The target audience is typically ages 2 to 7, which means your story needs to be simple, engaging, and visually driven. Here is a tip that will save you headaches later: visit your local library or bookstore and read a bunch of current picture books. Not just the classics you remember from childhood, but what is being published right now. Pay attention to pacing, page turns, and how text and images work together. This research phase might feel like procrastination, but it is actually essential groundwork. For the complete article visit #How to Turn Your Idea Into a Finished Picture Book