Setting a Challenge
I teach a distance learning course How to Write A Picture Book for Women On Writing (do take a look it's a great site and eZine) and they sent me a link for Picture Book Ideas Month.
The concept is to come up with 30 ideas for picture books over a 30 day period. Thankfully those who take part don't have to complete 30 manuscripts in 30 days or even write a potential best-seller. You simply have to come up with an idea that can be used in a picture book. Perhaps a title, a character, an idea based on something you overheard or a fact. The idea was devised by children's author Tara Lazar and is meant to 'exercise' your writing muscle and create a pot of ideas you can plunder when you need to.
I must admit having to coming up with 30 new ideas over a 30 day period scared me and excited me. I debated for a week or so if I should take part but finally took the plunge. I'm now 14 days into the exercise and have surprised myself by coming up with a new idea each day. So far I have ideas that involve something to do with:A young hare (inspired by a book written by Dennis Hamley called 'Hares Choice' - well worth a read)An apprentice fairy who loses her powers (inspired by a news piece about apprenticeships) An old dog being taught new tricks by a younger dog (inspired by my dogs new best friend, who is six years younger than her)I'm hopeful by the end of the exercise I'll have 30 ideas scribbled down. I realise some will never become a manuscript and those that do may never be published. However I'm enjoying the process and if I get just one published title based on one of the ideas generated I'll be a very happy author.
Lynne GarnerI'm also part of the blogging team on:Do Authors Dream of Electric Books?An Awfully Big Blogging Adventure
The concept is to come up with 30 ideas for picture books over a 30 day period. Thankfully those who take part don't have to complete 30 manuscripts in 30 days or even write a potential best-seller. You simply have to come up with an idea that can be used in a picture book. Perhaps a title, a character, an idea based on something you overheard or a fact. The idea was devised by children's author Tara Lazar and is meant to 'exercise' your writing muscle and create a pot of ideas you can plunder when you need to.
I must admit having to coming up with 30 new ideas over a 30 day period scared me and excited me. I debated for a week or so if I should take part but finally took the plunge. I'm now 14 days into the exercise and have surprised myself by coming up with a new idea each day. So far I have ideas that involve something to do with:A young hare (inspired by a book written by Dennis Hamley called 'Hares Choice' - well worth a read)An apprentice fairy who loses her powers (inspired by a news piece about apprenticeships) An old dog being taught new tricks by a younger dog (inspired by my dogs new best friend, who is six years younger than her)I'm hopeful by the end of the exercise I'll have 30 ideas scribbled down. I realise some will never become a manuscript and those that do may never be published. However I'm enjoying the process and if I get just one published title based on one of the ideas generated I'll be a very happy author.
Lynne GarnerI'm also part of the blogging team on:Do Authors Dream of Electric Books?An Awfully Big Blogging Adventure
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