Cory Shaw - Author & Illustrator
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Santa's Bell Maze Game

12/22/2021

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Hey! You can download my Santa's Bell Maze Game right here for free. Just in time for Christmas.

This is a new game for me, so I would be happy to hear what you think in the comments below.

Download Here!

You can select between the PDF and the JPG below.
santas_bell_maze_game.pdf
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If you are interested in more mazes, coloring pages, and activities for kids, please visit my shop! I appreciate your support.
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Show and Tell

12/7/2021

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Show And Tell
I ran across a profound chapter by Gail Carson Levine in Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly. "Writers are often advised to show, not tell. You need to do both," she says. Then she lists when you should show and when you should tell with your writing.

Show when you want your reader to draw their conclusions from the story. Show when you want to pull the reader deep into the text or magnify a detail.

Tell when you want to give your reader direct answers, or deliver details faster. Perhaps you don't want to draw attention to them or away from something else.

Determine which you need by evaluating the usefulness of details or the importance of the scene to your story.

Telling may work well in picture books where space is limited, and writers can leave the details to illustration.

Oral stories, fairytales, folktales, and fables often rely on telling rather than showing because direct messages are more digestible, easier to remember and repeat.
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Of course, this flies in the face of conventional wisdom. But conventional wisdom is not always wise.
If you like this blog, please subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss out on one.
xx Cory
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Autumn Outdoors Coloring Page

11/23/2021

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"There's a reason we don't see the world in black and white." -Celerie Kemble
I finished another coloring page for the holidays, this one celebrating Fall and Thanksgiving. A few years ago, a series of sketches inspired me to illustrate in a wimmelbook style with landscapes that seem to stretch across the entire page. So I decided to start an ongoing series.

Thematically, they all focus on nature. For this one, I drew on nature close to home. So you can find Junipers, dead Black-Eyed Susan's, a mountain lion, a turkey, a fox, a rabbit, a squirrel, and a cold-weather bird.
The harvest is mostly the typical Thanksgiving spread. Pumpkins, apples, corn, mushrooms, grapes, a warm pie, leek soup, mashed potatoes, and the Utah favorite, Jello.
I imagine a young child asleep at the dinner table as curious critters gather around to see what is happening or perhaps join the feast.
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Whether it is real or dreamed up by the sleeping boy, to me, it represents our connection with the natural world, with the places we live, the animals we share it with, and the foods we eat.
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On this coloring page, there are no barriers between us and the natural world. I think that is a Thanksgiving image that is worth saving and remembering.

There are many different Thanksgiving narratives, personal and historical. Learning about them, even those very different from yours, adds nuance to the world.

There is a beautiful article in Time about alternate Thanksgiving narratives that I'd like to share with you. Follow the link here.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
​Get a printable copy of this coloring page today in my shop!
xx Cory
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3 Tips to Quickly Finish Your Picture Book Dummy

11/6/2021

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3 Tips to Quickly Finish Your Picture Book Dummy
Complete your manuscript first and build the dummy from your text. The text requires the least revision effort in your dummy process. It is easy to move text around, cut it, and add to it.

Furthermore, avoid jumping ahead or multitasking. Your dummy won't get done any faster by getting ahead of yourself.

Organize your manuscript across the pages of a physical dummy. Avoid working digitally at this stage. Now is the best time to finalize critical decisions, like how many pages you need to tell the complete story, where your page turns are, and how you are building drama with the text placement.

When you've finished your "text dummy," review and revise it carefully, then move on to the art.
Sketch spots for every character in as many poses, actions, and circumstances as you can think up. Since sketching twelve or so spreads is an intimidating task, it helps to break them down into many smaller sketches.

Organize the spots across your dummy. You've already established the order and cadence of the story during the "text dummy" stage.

I usually have so many spots that I don't use them all, but they can be combined with other sketches or used in the background.
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At this point, sketch around the spots, leaving some as-is, and decide which will be full-page illustrations or spreads.

Let's Recap:

3 Tips to Quickly Finish Your Picture Book Dummy
  1. Complete your manuscript first and build the dummy from your text.
  2. Keep a physical dummy.
  3. Sketch spots for every character in as many poses, actions, and circumstances, as you can think up.
Thank you for reading! If you are interested in more tips, check out my other blog posts by using the Category List on this page.
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Build Off Your Influences

11/2/2021

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All artists have influences. Nothing is new under the sun and all that. Everything they experience will influence them in one way or another.
Art is the synthesis of life in materialized form." -Alvar Aalto (Architect)
An excellent BBC sitcom called Red Dwarf is about the ragged crew of a deep space mining vessel, aimlessly wandering the universe. In one episode, "Legion," a highly intelligent being, defines itself by the sum of consciousnesses in its field. If only one consciousness is available, then the being manifests itself as an exact original copy.
My notes from the classes I took at SVS Learn state, "your style is the sum of your influences."

​Just like Legion, the larger your pool of influences is, the greater your originality and variety. So I think it is helpful to recognize and identify them. Then build off them.
"What a good artist understands is that nothing comes from nowhere. All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original." -Austin Kleon (Writer and Artist)
If you like this blog and don't want to miss a single post. Sign up for my newsletter!
xx Cory
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Free Halloween Coloring Pages

10/30/2021

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This year I participated in Mab's Drawlloween challenge in a limited capacity. One of my favorite things about Mab's Drawlloween is that there are prompts for those who want to participate on as little as a weekly basis.
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I was left wondering what I would do with the art I created over this period, and I decided to convert them to Halloween coloring pages. I will offer these for free below.

Monster Self-Portrait

At my house, the vampire is a tickle monster. I hold my fingers up to my mouth like fangs and wiggle them around as my kids giggle. I make slurping sounds and cover them in kisses.
The original image uses an abstract watercolor painting for the background and translucent digital colors for the vampire.
Monster Self-Portrait By Cory Shaw
Monster Self-Portrait By Cory Shaw
monster_self-portrait_bycoryshaw.pdf
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Classic Horror

The classic horror film, The Shining, makes for a unique children's coloring page. This scene is iconic and powerful. I love it.
Classic Horror By Cory Shaw
Classic Horror By Cory Shaw
classic_horror_bycoryshaw.pdf
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Fairytale

Literary and film traditions, rather than generational beliefs, customs, or folklore, inform American Halloween aesthetics. As a result, Halloween in the United States is constantly evolving.
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I chose to use Princess Langwidre for this illustration because the Wizard of OZ is the oldest and most recognized American Fairytale.
Fairytale By Cory Shaw
Fairytale By Cory Shaw
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Omen

Omen Black cats are one of the only omens that affect me. I can't help but notice when a black cat crosses my path. However, I see it as a good omen because black cats are adorable.
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The original background was painted by my 5-yr old. I applied digital linework and color over the top.
Omen By Cory Shaw
Omen By Cory Shaw
omen_bycoryshaw.pdf
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omen_bycoryshaw.jpg
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Download Instructions:

If you are interested in coloring these pages on your iPad or tablet, download the JPEG so you can import them into Procreate or other apps that do not recognize PDFs. You can color underneath the linework by setting the JPEG to a "multiply layer" and coloring on a new layer. If you are printing them out, you may get a higher quality print if you download the PDF.
​If you enjoy these coloring pages, I have more at my shop. There is an additional Halloween coloring page there as well. Please visit!
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Using Focused Drafts

10/18/2021

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Using Focused Drafts
Focused Drafts are, in my opinion, the most effective way to revise a manuscript because they allow you to examine a single aspect of your manuscript in isolation.

That focus will help you finish the editing process quicker, with more excellent quality than editing everything at once.

If you decide to map out your Focused Drafts, then they can also give you a sense of direction and progress during your revision process.
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Keep a checklist handy, such as my Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet, as you revise.
"If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one." -Russian Proverb
I take this same approach when I am critiquing or studying some else's work. It is challenging to keep a critical eye when everything moves through you at once.
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Here is an example of a Focused Draft list by Jack Gantos, from his book, Writing Radar:
  • Point of View Revise for consistency and explore different perspectives.
  • Structure Make sure everything is in its proper place.
  • Physical Action Revise for believable movement and rising action.
  • Interior Life Look for the Internal plot in character motivations, thoughts, and imagination.
  • Dialogue Create dialogue that builds well-rounded, believable characters and moves the action along.
  • Descriptions Create poetry, and analyze the mood.
  • Words Clean out the junk. Jeff Gantos suggests removing 'ands', 'ifs', 'buts', etc. Revise for engaging vocabulary.
  • Clean Up and Polish Look for spelling and punctuation errors. Fix the rough parts and remove the repetitious parts.
Check out my Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet for a complete focused draft map by me.

​xx Cory
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Every Word Matters

10/9/2021

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Every Word Matters
To a picture book, every word matters. Just like a poem, a picture book is short and sweet, leaving little room for superfluous content.
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Consider the importance of a word in We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade.
“My people talk of a black snake that will destroy the land. Spoil the water. Poison plants and animals. Wreck everything in its path…Its venom burns the land, courses through the water, making it unfit to drink.” -We Are Water Protectors, Carole Lindstrom
We Are Water Protectors is a non-narrative story. A call-to-action to stop the Dakota Pipleline. But instead of calling the pipeline by its name, Carole calls back to Indigenous folklore and refers to the pipeline by a metaphor, the "black snake." The illustrations help make the connection.​

​Imagine if she had chosen a more literal direction. It would have significantly less impact on the reader. The cultural imagery is a window into the ways indigenous people develop a connection with nature through stories. Now, the audience can also interact with the story and develop a connection with the cause as well.
"Words are the model, words are the tools, words are the boards, words are the nails." 
—Richard Rhodes
Consider every word choice carefully, with intention, keeping a goal in mind. What is the purpose of your story? What kind of structure is best suited for the purpose? And finally, what words will best support the purpose?
If you enjoyed this newsletter, consider signing up for my newsletter, so you don't miss a single post. You will also collect my Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet for free.
xx Cory
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You Cannot Work Alone

10/2/2021

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The best bit in Writing Radar, by Jack Gantos, appears in the book's last chapters. Jack tells a story about when he learned the concept of "Focused Drafts" from a teacher in grade school and how it helped him craft a captivating story. The instructor was there to encourage him and criticize him constructively and give him the tools to improve. He stuck with Jack through the entire process.

That experience was a gift in Jack's life. An invaluable leg up. I greatly appreciate teachers who take time outside of their usual activities to mentor a child in their care.

Growing and developing is all about getting outside your comfort zone and challenging yourself regularly.
When you step outside your comfort zone, getting stuck is inevitable. In that situation, it can be challenging to see the forest through the trees, as they say, and you may need someone who is in a position to know where you are at from the 300-foot level and point you in the right direction.​

​This kind of mentorship, a one-on-one learning model, is probably ideal for every creative person, but it is also tough to find outside of grade school and university. However, that does not mean that you have no other options.
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In Real Artists Don't Starve, Jeff Goins challenges common stereotypes. He argues,
​"Isolated individuals are not creative. That is not how creativity works."
Creative genius happens in groups. So connect with your peers in a collaborative, non-exploitative way.
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Here are a few ways you can collaborate with your peers:
  1. Join a critique group.
  2. Start a project with a team or partner, such as a story anthology or book collection. You may even market together through Kickstarter.
  3. Co-write a story.
  4. Guest post or blog (swap gigs).
  5. Share a book event.
  6. Write fan fiction.
  7. Make a Reel or Tik Tok together.
  8. Perform a live event together.
  9. Write reviews for other writers.
  10. Interview other writers.
I want to help you learn to revise your drafts! Subscribe to my newsletter and I will send you a Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet for free.
xx Cory
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Your Ideas Are Not Precious

9/25/2021

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Your Ideas Are Not Precious
"You can't make a poem with ideas—you make it with words!" -Stephane Mallarme (Degas...Manet...Morisot by Paul Valery, translated by David Paul, 62)
Ideas are overvalued. There is no such thing as a good idea or a bad idea. A good writer can use one concept or another, and perhaps a great writer can use any old idea without a hitch. But, on the other hand, a poor writer will make poor use of even the best idea.
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In my opinion, it is better to have many ideas and treat each one as if you can easily toss it away at a moment's notice. They are a dime a dozen.
Not everyone agrees with this approach. In Writing Magic, Gail Carson Levine says that she doesn't have many story ideas. She preaches,
"You don't have to have lots of ideas to be a writer."
Ideas are not precious, so if you are not the kind of person to whom inspiration comes easily, there is no need to worry.
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The craft is more important, so is consistency, dedication, and habit. With good craftsmanship, you can make any idea a masterpiece. With routine, you can complete your project and develop skills along the way.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, consider signing up for my newsletter, so you don't miss a single post. You will also collect my Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet for free.
xx Cory
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    Hi, my name is Cory Shaw. I am an author and illustrator of books and book covers for children.

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