Character/Situation Mash-Up

Week of June 24, 2012—Reflections from SCBWI, Orlando

Thursday, June 28, 2012—Another Idea-gathering Graphic Organizer

The inspirational and prolific, Tammi Sauer, got everyone in the SCBWI Orlando Picture Book Track fired up. As I mentioned yesterday, Tammi’s presentation inspired me to create two graphic organizers to help generate writing ideas. Today’s graphic organizer is a CHARACTER/SITUATION MASH-UP. Situation could also be defined as the theme, event, or problem of a story. Tammi shard this quote with us:

“The trouble must be trouble on a big scale.” —Mem Fox

If I write a story about kittens being born, that is a situation or event, but it’s not a problem, and it’s certainly not a problem on a big scale. Lost kittens would be a bigger problem. And lost lion cubs would be an even bigger problem. As you think of characters—think of unique ones . . . and when you’re thinking of situations--think on a big scale.

How to Use the Character/Situation Mash-Up:

R Across the top of the sheet, list intriguing characters who could live in picture books—alien, ballerina, leprechaun, rooster, and so on.

R Going down the left-hand side of the sheet, list interesting situations/themes/events that could affect a character in a picture book—bullying, first day of school, manners, bedtime fears, and so on.

R Then MASH-UP your ideas. What would happen to a rooster on the first day of school? What would scare an alien at bedtime? (NOTE: Not every combination will be inspiring, but push the limits as much as possible.)

R Now choose your favorite MASH-UP and plot out that picture book!