Using Unexpected Connections to Generate Ideas

Week of November 6—Strategies for Finding Ideas for Writing

Tuesday, November 8—Using Unexpected Connections to Generate Ideas

Chickens in a talent show who have to deal with their biggest foes—a bunch of smart-mouthed ducks. A boy who helps his best friend (an old woman) overcome her biggest nemesis—a fading memory. A gang of animals who help a zoo keeper who has taken a sick day. These unexpected connections have made three great picture books: Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer and Dan Santat, Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas, and A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead.

A combination of unexpected elements can create a unique story. Today I’ll show you one way to “force” unexpected combinations and produce an idea for a story. Begin by looking at the chart below.

Main Character (Protagonist)	Setting, Situation, or Problem	Nemesis (Antagonist)
Boy	First day of school	Bully
Girl	Dance recital	Ninja
Dog	Baseball game	Wrestler
Octopus	Grandma’s house	Big sister
Substitute teacher	Picture Day	Tattling sibling
Grandmother	Summer Camp	Big bad wolf
Doctor	Field trip	Scary sounds
Bully	Fishing	Substitute teacher
Cowboy	Talent Show	Shark
Duck	Homework	Inability to do something
Dad	Sailing	Feelings
Mom	At the beach	Insecurity
Big brother	4th of July	Weather
Younger sister	Concert	Dinosaur
Alien	Halloween	MC’s biggest rival
Talking tree	In the principal’s office	Witch
Princess	At the library	Dragon
Caveman	Castle	MC’s biggest fear
Witch	Outer space	Baby
Baby	Under the ocean	Cow
Momma bear	Rodeo	Sorcerer
Ghost	Foreign country	Alien
Penguin	Jungle	Wicked stepmother
President	Prehistoric times	Huge dog
Cat	Haunted house	Mangy cat
Football player	UFO	Warlock
Fairy Godmother	Stadium or arena	Spy

NOTE: You can add to the chart (or even create your own).

Make an Unexpected Connection

To use the chart to create an unexpected connection . . .

1.      Randomly choose one item from each column. For instance:

Witch—Concert—Tattling Sibling

2.      Squeeze the ideas you choose together to form a statement that describes the story you will write. For instance:

This is the story of Matilda the Witch who more than anything wants to play the flute in the school fall concert, but her tattling sister keeps getting in Matilda in trouble until Matilda finds the power music has over people, witches, and even tattling little sisters.

3.      Write the story for your newly-found connection.

Warnings!

1.      Don’t be afraid of strange connections. The stranger the better, and the more unique. Try it. Push the limits.

2.      Not every connection will end up being a story. But every attempt to force connections will get you closer to a new, fresh, unique story.

3.      Keep forcing those unexpected combinations in your writing. This is not just a one-time experience or exercise.

Listing Your Way to New Ideas

Week of November 6—Strategies for Finding Ideas for Writing

Monday, November 7—Listing Your Way to New Ideas

I teach creative writing in an elementary school. One of the things I hear most often from student writers is, “I don’t know what to write about,” OR “I don’t have any ideas.” Interesting, that’s also what picture book writers say often. One strategy I use with students is to collect as many ideas as possible. We often do this through lists (and we do it several times during the year). So today, I’m going to list many ideas for lists you can make to find ideas. Got it? Good!

Lists about Yourself

Jamie Morris of Woodstream Writers (http://www.woodstreamwriters.com/) uses prompts to get writers thinking and working. One kind of prompt she uses is lists. When you make lists about yourself, you list everything that comes to mind. Don’t judge yourself, don’t sensor, or screen yourself. Don’t worry about “How could this ever be a picture book?” One idea often grows out of another. Just list.

Things I love most                                        Things that scare me

Happiest memories                                      Saddest memories

Biggest worries                                             Biggest hopes

Biggest dreams                                             Most influential people in my life

Lists about Kids

Leonard Marcus told us at SCBIW, LA, that many concept books are actually lists. So let’s explore some topics that could inspire lists about childhood. Your lists (or one idea from one list) may serve as the next idea for a manuscript.

Favorite places                                   Best vacation destinations

Fears                                                   Joys

Sports                                                 Hobbies

Free-time activities                           Favorite school subject

Least favorite school subject           Heroes

Favorite time of year                        Favorite holidays

Favorite TV shows                            Favorite foods

Least favorite foods                         Best pets

Worst pets                                         Favorite books

Favorite book characters                 Favorite TV and movie characters

Things that embarrass                      Chores

Careers/jobs                                      Biggest nemesis at school

Biggest nemesis in neighborhood  Shopping list

Favorite jokes                                   Funniest words

What makes a great birthday           What makes an terrible birthday

Places kids would like to visit        Indoor games

Outdoor games                                 Clubs and groups kids belong to

Gross things                                      Creepy things

Slimy things                                      Field trip locations

School events/activities                  What makes kids feel better when sad

Finish the Sentence

I’m happiest when . . .

I’m angriest when . . .

I’m saddest when . . .

I’m excited when . . .

I’m bored when . . .

I’m afraid when . . .

I’m embarrassed when . . .

I laugh the most when . . .

Sometimes I wish . . .

My biggest secret is . . .

Top 10 or 10 Minutes

Now I’m guessing as you look at all the idea-generating lists you’re thinking: He wants me to complete all those lists? No, he doesn’t. Choose one topic from above and make your list. Make stretch yourself. Make yourself list the your Top 10 answers. Or set a timer for 10 minutes and keep writing until the timer rings. Many good ideas are buried deep. We have to work to get them.

When you have a list completed, add it to your writer’s notebook. Then work on another list. Eventually something will jump off of one of your lists and scream, “Pick me! Pick me! Write about me! Write about me!” And you will.

It’s Your Turn!

1.Start making those lists and get ready to find your next great story idea!

Coming This Week!

Week of November 6—Strategies for Finding Ideas for Writing

Quote of the week:

Opportunity waits between things ended and things begun.

—Kobi Yamada

Note: I am rerunning this week’s posts in honor of PiBoIdMo! ENJOY!

Some folks say ideas are a dime a dozen. The very idea! A new, bright idea is something every writer is searching for. So what’s the big idea about finding ideas? The truth is, finding an idea to inspire your writing isn’t all that easy, and most people don’t have the faintest idea of how to find an idea. This week I’ll float some strategies by you that can inspire you to find some new, big ideas. Who knows, you may even come up with a dozen of ‘em!

Monday—Listing Your Way to New Ideas

Tuesday—Using Unexpected Connections to Generate Ideas

Wednesday—What Ifs That Lead to Ideas

Thursday—Growing an Idea from a Title or Topic

Friday—Using Themes to Inspire Ideas

My Critique Service

Have you heard about my critique service? What you can expect in one of my critiques:

·   I begin with an overall list of the things I love about your story and your writing, possible concerns, and possible fixes.

·   Then I provide a line-by-line critique, which may include suggested cuts, additions, and comments.

·   I will also look at the big picture of your plot and story development.

For rates and availability, visit: http://www.robsanderswrites.com/Critique_Service.html.

The One Sign Every Writer Needs

Week of October 30, 2011—Signs of the Time for Picture Book Writers

Thursday, November 3—The One Sign Every Writer Needs

My agent, Rubin Pfeffer of East/West Literary Agency¸ recently sent me an email that included a great word of inspiration. I’ve typed out the comment and taped the sign on my desk. This sign reminds us of what we have to do every day to be successful as picture book authors. Maybe you need to make yourself a similar sign so each day you can focus on these two things that are in your control.

You Might Be A Picture Book Writer If . . .

Week of October 30, 2011—Signs of the Time for Picture Book Writers

Wednesday, November 2—You Might Be A Picture Book Writer If . . .

What are the signs that you’re a picture book writer? Oh, there are many, and most of them have nothing to do with signed contracts or published books. I know 15 signs—if you know more, please add them as comments!

You might be a picture book writer if . . .

. . . you love to read books aloud.

. . . you look at the pictures first.

. . . you have no idea what dystopian means.

. . . you own a collection of Little Golden Books.

. . . the books on your list of classics are all 32-pages long.

. . . you know that Coretta, Caldecott, and kite are more than alliterated 

     words.

. . . you long for denouement.

. . . you think all life experiences have three attempts and three failures

     before success occurs.

. . . you have more picture books than shelves.

. . . you send covers, not queries.

. . . you use alliteration in your daily conversations.

. . . you debate the value of rhyme.

. . . your favorite main characters include animals.

. . . you feel panic when your word count approaches 500.

. . . you work with a dummy, and it’s not a person.

Pinning Up a Proclamation

Week of October 30, 2011—Signs of the Time for Picture Book Writers

Tuesday, November 1—Pinning Up a Proclamation

Have you read in history books about decrees and proclamations being pinned to trees, pasted to poles, and glued on walls? It was the Facebook or Twitter of its time—a way to get a message out to the public quickly.

Recently, some picture book authors and illustrators posted a proclamation for the world to see. They posted it online, they posted it in periodicals, they posted it in the form of letters, emails, and blogs. The idea started with author Mac Barnett and quickly spread. I am happy to share this sign—this PROCLAMATION—with you.

To see the Proclamation full-size, visit www.thepicturebook.co.