Technique does conquer all! It’s not speed, size, or strength that helps us discover ideas or write well. It’s the technique, or craft, that helps us reach our goals of dreaming up and listing ideas – and then turning those golden ideas into projects.
In this blog post, Tim lists some techniques writers might use to brainstorm. He has some new ideas I want to try. But what popped into my mind was how I stare into space. It seems that helps me come up with new ideas. I also get ideas when I am outside in the mountains or going for a walk in my neighborhood. Now I just need to make sure to write down those thoughts.
Oh, I am amazed! Inspired. Ready to go. We just need to put on our “see the amazing” glasses and start writing down what really piques our interest, our passion. Ideas are hanging there, right in front of our eyes, ripe and ready for plucking.
Thank you, Jess, for the invigorating post. Ready to go, yes I am. Thank you, Tara, for STORYSTORM!
I’ve always loved doll houses, so I was instantly attracted to This Is My Dollhouse.
A young girl uses an old box, craft materials, and toys to create and decorate her own doll house. Her imagination is in full swing as she makes food, clothes, and props for the little family that lives in her dollhouse.
Her friend, Sophie, also has a doll house. It’s a fancy store-bought dollhouse with pretty furniture and a family. When the girl goes to visit Sophie and play with the dollhouse, their imagination is stilted and comes to a stand still.
After seeing Sophie’s doll house, the girl is afraid of showing her own dollhouse to her friend. But one day, when Sophie came to play, Sophie discovered the hidden house and was delighted. Many hours of creative play followed and the girl was once again pleased with her own dollhouse.
I don’t think this book is against store-bought doll houses at all, but rather This Is My Dollhouse celebrates creativity and ingenuity of those who build from scratch.
It was so much fun to see the creativity of the young girl and the way she used her imagination to create scenarios and adventures for her little family. This book will inspire little ones to create from miscellaneous materials found around the house.
This is a little sewing room I made in a wooden box. Can you find the tiny mouse?
KID KANDY:
Make A Doll House
Materials: box (any size will work), cardboard, paper scraps, fabric scraps, ribbon, markers, scissors, tape, glue, toy figures, wood scraps or blocks
1. Make a doll house. You can use ANY type of container to make a little house. I once made one from a teapot! Cut cardboard and paper to make walls and floors. Ask for help in cutting a door and windows.
2. Use craft scraps and other materials to decorate your house. Add curtains, rugs, furniture, and whatever else you want. Use markers to add color.
3. Make your little family comfortable. Cut blankets, clothes, and other household necessities from your supplies.
4. Give your family (and their pets) names. You are now ready to imagine adventures for them!
P.S. This would be a fun activity to do with a sister, brother, or friend!
Corey speaks like a true recycler, digging out past files, lists, notebooks, and manuscripts…and then hunts out the perfect idea for a new picture book project from old materials. Corey also suggests that we writers keep our eyes and ears open when we read other books, sing songs, watch TV, and repeat those nursery rhymes. One never knows when inspiration will strike!
Thanks, Corey, for the great tips! Thanks, Tara, for putting together Storystorm 2018!
Day 2 of Storystorm features Tammi Sauer, who shares how she uses songs and chants to come up with new ideas for picture books. You might recognize the title from her new book, BUT THE BEAR CAME BACK (book birthday in April), which originated from “But the Cat Came Back,” a song she heard on the radio. I can’t wait to read this picture book.
Any song or chant can spark an idea. So let’s get to it. Dig out those old songs you used to sing as a child (or to your child or with your students). I can’t wait!
Today begins the first day of Storystorm! January is a month for new beginnings. That includes brainstorming ideas and making lists for future writing projects: picture books, chapter books, poems, early readers, blog posts…
Let’s do this, my friends. Follow the link below to read the post of the day. Be sure to sign up and comment to be entered to win writerly prizes. 🙂
Children’s author Julie Hedlund, challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post SUCCESSES (rather than resolutions) on our blogs this year. She believes the way New Year’s resolutions are traditionally made come from a place of negativity – what DIDN’T get done or achieved in the previous year. Instead, she suggests we set goals for the New Year that BUILD on our achievements from the previous one. I decided to participate in this Anti-Resolution Revolution! Here is my list for 2017.
My 2017 writing successes:
I worked hard editing a handful of stories. Several are nearly ready to submit.
I completed StoryStorm last January and came away with a notebook full of project ideas. (Looking forward to StoryStorm in January. You can join us here.)
I attended my first (in a long time) SCBWI conference. I volunteered to help, met other writers, learned good things, and found my critique partner! That is a big thing, since my location puts me in no-man’s-land for critique groups.
My critique partner and I have been meeting monthly since the conference. We live half an hour distance from each other, but alternate driving to meet. Her critiques have been invaluable in sharpening my stories.
I enjoyed my work-for-hire projects and completed contracted pieces.
I read MANY picture books, logging them all on Goodreads. I also enjoyed reading chapter books, young adult, and adult novels. The only way to write is to read!
I participated in ReFoReMo in March and learned much about picture book structure, characters, setting, plot lines, and more. This reading for research adventure is worth the huge piles of picture books tottering over in the RV. You can join here.
My critique partner (thanks, Katie!) says several of my picture books are ready for submission.
I’m still dreaming up great ideas for picture book projects.
I work with several wonderful editors for my work-for-hire projects. This helps me view my writing from a professional standpoint and take myself seriously.
I applied for several writing fellowships. Though I was not chosen, I was encouraged by one group to apply again. I’ll take that as good news!
I’ve become more organized and structured in scheduling for completing my contracted pieces.
I’ve met and networked more with other writers. What a wonderful group of people!
In spite of a terribly stressful and emotional year, I still love writing! I cannot be without paper and pen, just in case.
You can learn more about the 12 Days of Christmas for Writers here.
31 days of inspiring posts to help writers brainstorm story ideas. Picture book ideas will be my main focus, but I bet many others end up with ideas for poems, chapter books, articles, stories, blog posts, and all sorts of other writing projects. STORYSTORM is worth every second!
Let the STORYSTORM rage on!
A great big thanks to Tara Lazar for all of the hard work, planning, and organizing for us! You can find her at here..
Love, Laughter, and Life 