Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Using Unexpected Connections to Generate Ideas

Week of August 21—Strategies for Finding Ideas for Writing
Tuesday—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 during his 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 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). 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.

4 comments:

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

Hi Rob! i stumbled on your blog following links from someone else's and boy am I glad I did! So many great ideas here! Oddly enough, Donna Farrell also designed my blog - small world :)

Rob Sanders said...

Welcome, Susanna. Glad you're here. (Isn't Donna fantastic? She also designed my web site and it is killer!)

Lori Ann said...

Hi Rob! I love your blog--your joy for writing shows and I always feel inspired after reading your posts. Today's about connections was one of my favorites. Thank you!

Lori Ann

Rob Sanders said...

Thans, Lori Ann! I needed that boost today. School has started back and I'm trying to keep the blog up-to-date in the midst of the busy first-of-the-year schedule! Keep coming back!