Well, where in the Blogosphere is Jon (and Tina and Heather)?!

Dear players,

We are not dead, although I thought I would be at one point.

We took a very long break during the summer and are now planning activities to keep you entertained by the time feet of snow are falling around you (Southerners may play too). Thanks for sticking around and come back soon for fun, games, and prizes.

In the meantime, what's the best book you read over the summer?

FYI: Next game is Wednesday, June 23

We have postponed this week's run, but will be back on schedule next week. Come join us in the ring, we may even add a freakshow peanut gallery.

Mark your Calendars: Next Game June 16th!

WIBIJ?! is the game where you follow the clues to very cool blogs, and if you do it fast enough, or leave the best comment out there, then you win an award! Next game posts Wednesday AM, sign up to play early in the day, or at 1pm eastern when the clues begin posting for the fast race. OR wait, you have 24 hours to play without the pressure! Also, more cowbell please!

And for your entertainment, dear people of WIBIJ: Perhaps we didn't know exactly what we were getting into?





So do us a favor over the next week, check out the fantabulous bloggers and authors of our last run, practice googling all over the place, love up Blogger because she has been having some hard days and check back in next wednesday to see who is around?

Will our reining champion be back, will there be rhymes in the comments, how will blogger behave, how will Jon behave?????? These are the things to look forward to!

Until then, LOVE YA!
Jon, Heather and Tina

The Official Recap and Award Ceremony!

The Recap (Presented by Tina):

It seems as if the universe, the Internet, Blogger, or was it WIBIJ gave us exactly what we needed on Wednesday. And on Wednesday, we needed a relaxed race. If you don’t already know, this training cats thing is a lot like writing, there are good days and there are bad days. There are days when Blogger uses the toilet as Heather has trained her, and then the days that you work with a cat’s more base instincts and you-know-what on the floor. Well, Wednesday was the day after such a day. The cat lounged around licking her fur. Pleased as punch. But the trainers were frazzled and ready for a drink by noon. Having no drinks, we settled for the next best thing. The circus tent.

The Stops

Mariah Irvin - (Jon's pitches are in green) Blogs about making book trailers, writing difficult dialogue, and dreamy men. And one of our very first game players; she gave WIBIJ a try before anyone!
she'll CONSTANTLY amaze you with word and with style
she's dasaloff and beautiful as she walks the long mile
towards RISKING it all, towards hope at it's best
Giving ABSURDITY a try when all else has rest.
Her posts are so vivid; they all come alive
like her classes on Making A book tRailer jIve.
she shows us cute guys and motion thAt's stopped
When you hop to her blog, you'll find yourself rocked!

Shannon O'Donnell - Not gonna lie, one of my most favoritist bloggers ever! For writers, she blogs inspiring quotes and sometimes translates or interprets them. We both love Dashner. A lot. 
she says that she's DREAMING but that's not really true
her quotes are informative and intereSting too
they inspire and teacH, excite and embrAce
our writing with tips for revisioN and pace.
her blog makes us woNder, her blOg makes us thiNk,
about BOOKs and our writing and how we really don't stink
she holds us all up with kind words and support
she provides the best kind of community rapport.

Carolina Valdez Miller - Loves John Green more than I do! She posts about things that inspire her. Her blog has links to resources and contests for writers. 
looking for a chuckle, a hearty lol?
about fairy bookmothers and taco bell?
i'm laughing so hard--you'll soon see why.
CAROL'S heartfelt too--oh, that post about pie!
She worries (don't we all) that her baby might be
just the world’s most hideous bat-monkey
but a PRINTS among writers and brave as well
come laugh, come nod, come hear, come tell.

Lisa and Laura Write - Everyone needs to follow their blog. It's helpful, fun, and inspiring.
these gals RO(E)CK and thEy also Roll
tag-team their dreams, and their fabulous goal
a pubLIshed book, queens of bLog nAtion
perkily putting the els in collaboration.
LIARs they aren't, but funny they are
supporting our writing SOCIETY by far
stop by and laugh, stop by and salute
play guess which writes what--that game is a hoot!


Phrase: GET YOUR PERK ON.

The Race

Play by play: Kari , our new friend, was there early and ready to go. And then there was Serenissima or Jeanne, if you can't say or spell that, showed up not to rhyme but to make good time. And they were quick, making it to the stops with record speed and then returning to the tent all quiet, while we waited for Blogger and Heather to wrassle up the next clue. But the first excitement came with the phrase. Kari brought it up, how do the clues work, H posted the comment that explained it all. There was submitting and then resubmitting and our pithy little phrases as obtuse as they can be sometimes prove to be the most difficult thing about the race (Heads up you future competitors). So there was a tiny sprinkle of excitement at the end of an otherwise exactly what we needed little jaunt over the paths of cyber commerce.

And then after that there was a trickle of folks showing for the even more relaxed version!

The Finishers (not in any particular order)

Kari

Carol

Jeanne

Sheri

Laura

Sarah

Kelly

Comments

At Mariah's

Jeanne said:Didn't some famous writer say you have to write a lot of &@#$ before you get to the good stuff? With this many novels under your belt already, you're waaaay ahead of the game.
BTW, what DO boys talk about at lunch anyway?

Carol said: Oh my goodness. That's fabulous!!! I love it, love it, love it!! Sounds like something I would've written as well at one point. Thanks for sharing that. Made me smile today.

Kelly: Wow! A novel at twelve. Impressive. I think boys tell fart jokes at age 12 while eating. And at age 39 at the dinner table. I have proof. ;)
At Shannon's:
Jeanne said: Yes, yes, yes!
So much more productive to throw yourself IN than to throw yourself OFF--the ledge. ;->
Love the delicious, mysteriouso photo you posted! Makes me want to go spelunking with fairies and other magical creatures.

Laura said: And bring a box of band aids too! Just in case.

Kari said: Great advice.
It does seem impossible that something I've written might actually end up in a bookstore someday--but that doesn't stop me from hoping! It's always good to hear I'm not alone! Good luck writing : )

At Carol's

Jeanne said: So you have a VLOG featuring a cookie monster voice, Prince-of-Persia hair, a dramatic farewell to signed books and chocolate--all with a Weezer soundtrack AND YOU'RE NOT POSTING IT?
A sad loss for your readers to cope with, especially those who didn't win a prize package. Just sayin'.

Sarah said: Just think how many people would be out of work if we weren't technodunces :) What fantastic prizes, congrats to those lucky winners!

At LiLa's

Jeanne said: I feel perkier just reading this. But a nap wouldn't hurt.

Sarah said: YES! The effects received from air quoting have long been underappreciated by the public at large. Thank you for helping address this gross oversight :)

Kari said: And to think--cheerleaders manage this perkiness everyday. Amazing...

Kelly said: Ha! Love the pic!
Thanks for the perktastic lessons in perkiliciousness!
It's too late to even fake perkiness today, but tomorrow I will def perk it up! I'll even shower!

The Awards Ceremony (Presented by Jon)

1st Place

The phrase proved to be a real puzzler and after a few resubmissions by the top contenders, we had a winner: Jeanne!  Well done, Jeanne, you make me smile and I know you made our hosts smile!!

Best Comment

This was uber tough because everyone had superfly comments and no one did poetry, which I normally choose, I just realized.  So, I read through the above comments and whichever one made me laugh the most won.  Now, this winner will surprise no one.  In fact, this award may be a little overdue for this person.  She's grand!  Congrats.  Oh, you want to know who it is?  Why, Kelly, of course!

Perky Bloggers, Race # 7 (Presented by Heather)

Newcomers, welcome to W.I.B.I.J.?! We appreciate you taking time out of your day to join our community. We hope you feel inspired to have fun and give the following bloggers some love! And if you're new, here are the directions:

Welcome friends from far and near,

Thanks for coming; for being here.

First, some business, before we play,

Disqualification for all who stray!

Sign in at the comments down below,

New clues, every 10, after you go.

Leave Respectful words at each new place,

Stay On Blog Topic--or you're out of this race.

Collect Jon's clues from the comment pile,

Visible by their CAPITAL style.

Return again, comment that you're done,

Submit your phrase, maybe you've won!

There's not much more for you to know.

Welcome to the circus; away we go!

Perky bloggers, we'll visit, this game.

Follow the clues; we're glad you came.

We wish you luck, get googling now.

To each player, we respectfully bow!

Jon's Secret Phrase: ___ ____ ____ __.

CLUE #1 posts at 1PM EST!

she'll CONSTANTLY amaze you with word and with style

she's dasaloff and beautiful as she walks the long mile

towards RISKING it all, towards hope at it's best

Giving ABSURDITY a try when all else has rest.

Her posts are so vivid; they all come alive

like her classes on Making A book tRailer jIve.

she shows us cute guys and motion thAt's stopped

When you Hop to her blog, you'll find yourself rocked!

CLUE #2 @ 1:10

she says that she's DREAMING but that's not really true

her quotes are informative and intereSting too

they inspire and teacH, excite and embrAce

our writing with tips for revisioN and pace.

her blog makes us woNder, her blOg makes us thiNk,

about BOOKs and our writing and how we really don't stink

she holds us all up with kind words and support

she provides the best kind of community rapport!

Clue #3 @ 1:20

looking for a chuckle, a hearty lol?

about fairy bookmothers and taco bell?

i'm laughing so hard--you'll soon see why.

CAROL'S heartfelt too--oh, that post about pie!

she worries (don't we all) that her baby might be

just the world’s most hideous bat-monkey

but a PRINTS among writers and she's brave as well

come laugh, come nod, come hear, come tell.

Last Clue @ 1:30

these gals RO(E)CK and thEy also Roll

tag-team their dreams, and their fabulous goal

a pubLIshed book, queens of bLog nAtion

perkily putting the els in collaboration.

LIARs they aren't, but funny they are

supporting our writing SOCIETY by far

stop by and laugh, stop by and salute

play guess which writes what--that game is a hoot!

ALL CLUES POSTED--SUBMIT YOUR PHRASES!!

***Pay attention to CAPS and check out the EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW PAGE if you need a hint!!***

Who will win the Award for First Place? Who Will Win the Award for Best Comment? Game lasts a full 24 hours--how creative can you be, out there in the blogosphere??!!

Thanks for playing, we hope you had FUN!!

Mark your Calendars: Next Game June 2nd!

YES, WIBIJ?!, is the game where you follow the clues to very cool blogs, and if you do it fast enough, or leave the best comment out there, then you win an award! Next game posts Wednesday AM, sign up to play when the clues begin posting (1pm eastern time zone) for the fast race. OR wait to play without the pressure! Also, more cowbell please!

And for your entertainment, who says you can't tame lions?

The Official Recap and Award Ceremony

Recap (presented by Tina)

Wednesday's game, what a beautiful thing?! Well maybe not, but here is how it all went...


Wednesday game morning dawned with Heather busting a move writing the clues. Jon and I scrabbling about the New England terroir seeking a fine metaphor for the phrase before J heads out to sprinkle the clues and the game begins. And la de da all is good. Thinking it's a relaxed game today. Dena not playing until the late game, Kris is the only one there on time and yes, different than last week, but oh well here we are with a book to give away and nothing better to do. Soon enough, Crystal Cook, Jeff, and sarahmullengilbert join the game. 


But Blogger's acting up. We think she may have ate something she shouldn't have, you know with all the different folks around the tent, there is no accounting for what this gal might get into. But she seems hungry swallowing comments, burping up extra spaces. It's getting ugly around here. But then we get to the end, the last clue, here the pressure's on folks, and the lovely blanks at the top of the page and the clues are not adding up. How do you make a phrase from that gobblygook? Kris, who was sorting through the evidence, ready to submit (we had already sent her through the hoops and the gallant player that she is, returned to go through the hoops again) alerted us to the discrepancy:


Kris said...
Just checking - are the phrases for #2 and #6 supposed to be the same?


Can you imagine what it was like in our green room (read: google chat room)???!!!
Ahhh ha! Have we said, it takes a whole blogosphere to raise a game??


Here is what Kris and Crystal did to cheer us up:
Kris said...Don't worry, from the stands here, it all looks like part of the show.
Crystal Cook said...You guys are doing great, I don't even know how you would organize all this, it's pretty amazing :)


Aren't they lovely?!


Well, luckily Jon was wearing his Tarzan suit for the performance. And you know exactly how that is! He went swinging off the fiber optics on his way outa here--we've got this tent wired!--and spread around the correct glitter.


Here is what he said on his return:


Jonathon Arntson said...
Ahem. Is this thing on?


Okay, I messed up and posted the wrong clue at one of the blogs. Like Kris said, were there supposed to be two WRITERS MAKE? No, there were not.


And the players keep coming: Kate, Elana Johnson, Creations By Lyndsay, Serenissima, Dena Daw


The stops are blogs of folks that recently met up at NESCBWI this past weekend, a little WIBIJ trickery: bringing together a real community, virtually. Or (strike that, reverse it) bringing a virtual community together, in real life (IRL)? :

Stop #1 Laura Pauling Exercising the Write to Ramble:

this new hampshire gal explores funny middLe grAde

Underwriting her fiRst drAft, then expanding her trade

she connects WRITEing with life; brings us tips on craft

at her blog, where you've found that you've already laughed.

she helps all to practice the EXERCISING piece

TO RAMBLE, to write, to draft, to increase

the knowledge as a writer, to learn, to grow

she's a wonderful writerly friend in THE know.

Stop #2 Nandini Notes From New England

this NEW ENGLAND gal writes of india and the mystery

of an unlucky girl, born under the wrong sign in history.

but math and horoscopes collide to provide

a sliver of opportunity when she can wed--the wrong guy.

she also collaborates with enchanted inkpot,

and writes middle grade adventures with an interesting plot

of kids taking NOTES FROM a reincarnated cat

to restore world balance and the book of life-stat.

Stop #3 Martha Calderaro Writer, poet, roving pen

this new england gal MAy be a wonderful friend

who keeps tuRning up again and again

THank goodness for whAt coinCidence cAn do

alLowing, DEteRmining, ARranging Our view.

you'll find her penning poetry and writing books,

walking and biking to explore n.e.'s nooks

visiting LIBRARYs on her ONE-CARD TOUR

allowing each spot to show her something more.

Stop #4 Kate Messner Kate's Book Blog

GIANNA postpones projects from beginning to Z

she'd rather run, than identify leaves fromTHE tree

a SPITFIRE, her grandmother has hold of her heart

will she FALL, will she race, will she complete her part?

an enemy, a friend, and complications abound

in the last moment, can all OF those leaves be found?

a BRILLIANT idea is necessary now.

can gianna fulfill her duties somehow?

Stop #5 Kris My Writing Journey

this new england gal writes sports books for girls;

with a golf backdrop in which her ya unfurls.

realistically written, ready for agent eyes

she knows ALL ABOUT THE 'how' to revise

down to EARTH, easy to relate

her for-hire book is fresh, informative, great

all SIGNS point to yes, before CAPSTONE's done

you'll learn about the earth, stars, moon, and sun.

Stop #6 Anna Staniszewski Author of Books for Children and Young Adults

she dips her pen in enchAnted ink

wants to make you imagiNe, to make you thiNk.

ya fantAsy, dystopia, fairy tale fun

she'll do it all before she's done.

stop by her blog, you'll soon underSTANd

the importance of world building for your land

and how characters can be written to jump and pop

with her kind support, your pen won't stop!

The phrase had a high level of difficulty, clearly as we, here under the tent, had a hard time making it come out correctly, and presumably we wrote the thing.

These Nor'Easter writers make the perfect storm of kidlit talent.

And there you have it. They sure do! Thanks to our lovely hosts!

Finishers with correct phrase and all that Jazz:

Kris

Crystal Cook

Elena Johnson

Lyndsay

Awards Ceremony (presented by Jon)

Thank you, Tina, for making me relive that experience.  :)

Wednesday's was fun, despite my follies, and the awesome comments you guys left prove it!

At Laura's blog

Jeanne(Serenissima) - social media
necessary marketing
or is life too short?

(That'll be my excuse, Jeanne!)

 At Nandini's:
 Crystal - Coolness in the eyes of your ten year old! That's the best :) It sounds like you had such an awesome time, it's so great to be with other writers who 'get' you.

Kris - I was at the conference, too! I'm super impressed you were able to revise during the conference -- I was completely wipe out, physically and emotionally from it! But it was incredible. It must have been cool to be a driver, even though it was too much time on the road. All those creative people in a small space.

Jeanne - i'll draft to my strengths
revise to my weaknesses
and whine to my friends

(You read my mind, Jeanne.)

At Martha's

Kris - I’m with you! I got totally mushy fangirl when I met Kate Messner and shook Cynthia Leitich Smith’s hand. Such cool talent and awesomely inspiring writers. I’m not sure if zoologists have the same level of awesome, but I might be wrong.  Allyn and Marlee’s talk had me all excited to put away my YA novel (well, not quite) and pull those old PB manuscripts off my computer. Maybe someday!  (I struggle with this everyday!)

Jeff - Getting Dentists to pay attention at conferences must be like pulling teeth since they only like to talk when they have someones undivided attention (i.e. when they have their hands in your mouth).Better that than feeling burned out like the home appliance manufacturers feel after their conferences.
Worst of all are the zoologists. I hear they spend their weekends getting monkeyed around!
(Jeff - You captured the true spirit of WIBIJ?!  Well done!)

Jeanne - dentists learn the drill
appliance guys get plugged in
writers just want booze ;->

(A fact that I consistently prove on a daily basis)

At Kate's

Lyndsay - I'm a teacher, too! I love how books place you right in the heart of history. Fiction that shows how life was at a certain time is so important to be correlated with history lessons. Have fun wrapping up your school year!

Jeanne - this sounds worth reading
if one line could sell a book
varnished faces would

At Kris's

Sarah - What a great quote! One thing I learned at our Iowa SCBWI conference is "if you slap a cute dog on any cover, it'll sell like hotcakes." And lots of good writerly things were learned too :)
How awesome that you're playing along with W.I.B.I.J.! This was my last clue to figure out and I saw your picture up top and was like, hey, she looks familiar :)

Kate - I've often heard of the first draft as the "down draft" cause you have to just get it down. Then the second draft is the "up draft" because you clean it up. I think your write to your strengths, revise to your weaknesses moto fits in with that. It's all a process and nobody can expect it to be perfect in the first go around.

(Srsly, Kate, words I need to start living by!)

Elana - Oh, that's great advice. The best thing I've heard recently is "You can do hard things." It's something I tell myself every day.
How lame am I, quoting myself? LAME.

Jeanne - hey, wait a minute
you had to find your own blog?
a conspiracy! ;->

Dena - Okay obviously all of my writer friends are in New England. Where the crap are all my REDNECK writers?!?!?! Seriously?! All of you guys are up north!!
GREAT advice about putting away a manuscript for a couple of weeks. It's crazy what a difference that makes. It's like I'm looking at it with fresh eyes!

(I'm not in New England and I am very redneck.  No, srsly, I forgot to wear sunscreen on my run yesterday.)

At Anna's
Crystal - Attack mode! Battle cry! Huzzah!! WIP, you may now fear me!

Excellent motivation, I’m with ya.

(This is the Crystal that sends me inspirational emails every week?)

Elana - Good luck with your goals. *insert battle cry* I’m with you! I will write a lot this week. How’s that for specific? Ha!

Jeanne - no more excuses!
i’ll start my next manuscript
and eat more salad

Dena - Yes Yes! I need the powers of the bunny!!!!! I have taken a break because I’ve been reading a buttload of YA books, but I have had a PB ready for submission for about a month now and I have yet to submit it! I must harness the powers of the bunny and get on it immediately!

(I have learned so many things about Dena via WIBIJ, nothing more prevalent than her affinity for the word 'butt'.)

Award Ceremony

Despite the mix-up, we have winners!

Best Comment has never been harder to award.  There were so many great options showing support, wit, and writing love. But the difficulty of the phrase made it easier to narrow. With her haiku-like comments, Jeanne wins the award for Best Comment!  She embodies so much fun in her comments and they make me smile when I am far from my computer.  Thanks, Jeanne.

First place was a nail biter since my mess-up left the players in a disoriented state. The first place winner finished after telling me what I had done wrong and cheering us along as we fixed the problems.  Yes, Kris is the winner of 1st Place AND a free book!  Kris, you get to pick out of these books.  Thanks and nice work!