"What If?": shaking up tired characters

Unlike some professions or industries where new technology and advances are always changing the playing field, storytelling is an ancient art.  For centuries it has always been the same.  And every class, lecture or seminar I have EVER attended basically teaches the same information.  Which makes me laugh because for some reason it seems that I need to keep hearing it over and over again, just the same. I guess the difference is in the way in which this knowledge is delivered to us and where we are in our writing process to use that knowledge.

As you all know, I am in the middle of Marsha Diane Arnold's self-paced e-course on "Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Children's Picture Books".  Well, yesterday I did Session #3: How To Write Your Great Character and WOW! Talk about helpful.

Perhaps it was because I was neck-deep in revisions of a certain little penguin story.  Perhaps it is the way in which Marsha presents the information with the many examples from existing picture books.  Or perhaps my muse just decided to give me an extra push toward enlightenment.  Who knows!  I am not going to complain.

Session 3 is chock full of a TON of useful information regarding character arcs and plot arcs.  In fact, I will be returning to this session time and tiem again for sure.  (Thank goodness for this self-paced e-course format!)

But there was one bit of information that really spoke to me yesterday.  Thinking about the "What If".

It is often said that there are no original stories.  That we just keep recycling the same premise over and over again.  But I think the secret to fresh storytelling lies in the "What If".

What if the bears in "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" were not bears, but dinosaurs who really want to lure Goldilocks to their home and eat her?  (Mo Willems rocks!)

Or

What if the Gingerbread Man who escapes from the old couple is ACTUALLY made of stinkey cheese and therefore no one wants to chase him? (thank you, Jon Scieszka)
Or

What if its a selfish Wolf who cries boy instead of the other way around?  (hilarious, Bob Hartman!)

And even though I used fairy tale examples, the what if can be used for any story.  You have a story about a kid who refuses to be potty trained.  Well, if its been done many times, what if the kid loves the toilet so much he refuses to get off of it?  Silly example, but you get my point.

So, shake it up!  Twist it up!  Have fun with the what if.  And if you get a chance, check out this e-course!  It truly is great!

Visit the Picture Book Academy for more information on "Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books". Its a self-paced e-course so registration is always open!

Inspiration Walks In: where characters come from

Its cold and rainy today.  I sit in my local coffee shop and will my muse to be kind and give me just a smidgen of inspiration.

I have had many conversations this week with writers about where we work best.  Its always interesting to me to hear those conflicting opinions regarding working in silence vs with music, working in public vs in complete solitude.  If anything these last few weeks of working fulltime on writing really have open my eyes to a few truths about me as a writer. 

I prefer to work in public.  I like to people watch.  I like to be a part of life as I am creating.  It generates ideas for me.  Characters walk by, sit down, peer into the window, drive by. 

Today, I "attended" the second session in Marsha Diane Arnold's self-paced e-course on "Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books" (Picture Book Academy).  This session focused on "Where to Find Your Great Character."  The cool thing is that I felt like I was totally just having coffee with Marsha and she was giving me all of this amazing inside information about where her characters come from.  Its a fun feeling.  Not many of us have the opportunity to hear such a highly-successful author dish (but in this course, we can be so lucky!)

Marsha's character exploration varies from mine.  In fact, I have never really looked closely at where those ideas come from.  I know a few have come from NPR stories.  Others just pop into my head.  But bottom line is that we need to look, listen and watch.  If we are lucky, a good character "will come and sit on your shoulders".  The key is to be receptive.

And then its our job to write a story about this character.  A former teacher of mine used to say your story needed to be about the characters BEST or WORST day.  I like that.

Now if you'll excuse me...I am off to write.  This little girl just walked in...and I think she is sitting on my shoulders right now. 

Visit the Picture Book Academy for more information on "Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books".  Its a self-paced e-course so registration is always open!

"Creative Habit": #7 Accidents Will Happen

The best laid schemes of mice and men / Often go awry  ~ Robert Burns, To a Mouse

Since starting to work through Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life" I have been stressed, perplexed and at times obsessed with routine and finding the creative routine that works for me.  It is this obsession that fuels my January, as I take time off from "work" to focus on writing.

The funny thing is, that as I looked to these weeks as a fulltime writer, I had many many plans.  I had my days mapped out.  I had my projects laid out.  I had my location spotted.   But, as the Robert Burns line says, these plans "often go awry". And they did.

And then I came to Chapter 7: Accidents will Happen. 

It seems that even Twyla knows that we cannot plan out every aspect of our creative work...that very planning can be the death of our creativity.

A plan is like the scaffolding around a building.  When you're putting up the exterior shell, the scaffolding is vital.  But once the shell is in place and you start work on the interior, the scaffolding disappears.  That's how I think of planning.  It has to be sufficiently thoughtful and solid to get the work up and standing straight, but it cannot take over as you toil away on the interior guts of a piece.  Transforming your ideas rarely goes according to plan.

Your creative endeavors can never be thoroughly mapped out ahead of time.  You have to allow for the suddenly altered landscape, the change in plan, the accidental spark -- and you have to see it as a stroke of luck rather than a disturbance of your perfect scheme.  Habitually creative people are, in E.B. White's phrase, "prepared to be lucky."

On the morning of January 3rd I set out for the main branch of the Brooklyn Library to work fulltime to be a writer.  To be creative.  What I encountered were some disturbances:

• The entire area I was looking to work in was occupied by a large group of mentally challenged adults.  I got the feeling that they spent every day there.  So it was not as quiet as I hoped.
• I planned to pack my lunch and eat as I worked.  But my salad exploded in my bag and I had to spend the first part of my day cleaning it up.
• I got hungry and mentally tapped by 1pm.  I needed a break.
• I had my day broken into 3 parts...but the first part took longer and I was quickly off schedule.

It was less than perfect.  I kinda felt defeated.

Today I sit at my local coffee shop.  Its closer to home.  I can take a break for some fresh air and lunch at home.  Serendiptiously I met a local (very accomplished writer) last week!  I've been able to get work done.  And for today its good.

Perhaps what makes us creative people is not just the work we create, but the way in which we are in a constant state of learning to go with the ebb and flow.  Life is in a constant state of change and so are we.

So today I am in total agreement with Twyla.  Surprising, right? 

Let go of your perfectionism.  Trust your preparation.  And then....who knows.

Scratching Away: Taking Class

Some time ago I made a list of everything I wanted to try and accomplish in January when I would be "in between" jobs.  Keeping in mind that I wanted to best use this time, I contemplated taking another writing class.  It has been awhile.  And I was not interested in taking another Picture Book 101 class or another class that lumped all Childrens Books together into one.  Alas, I was at a loss and really thought that a class was not going to happen.

Enter the Picture Book Academy's newest e-Course.

1)  It focuses on writing character-driven picture books. (Who hasn't heard that phrase used by an agent and editor in the last 6 months?!  I swear I have probably heard "character-driven 30 times!)

2)  Its four sessions.  (I have 4 weeks in January!)

3)  Its self-paced!  (As I struggle to figure out what my routine is this month, I can easiily find time that works for me to "'attend".)

4)  Its taught by the utterly fabulous Marsha Diane Arnold!  (Its like having a highly-successful, award winning author visit you in your jammies or in your local coffee house to privately tutor!)

Anyway, this week I took Session 1:  Understanding the Characters Kids Love. 

This session is billed as, you’ll explore what makes certain picture book characters so appealing to children. You’ll be introduced to a wide variety of characters that capture readers’ hearts, from a dancing cow to a garbage truck. When you finish this session, you will understand more clearly what makes certain characters so loved and relatable to children.

Perhaps the best "take away" for me was to look at my own characters and put them to the test.  Are they the kind of characters that someone would choose to spend time with if they were "stranded on a deserted island", as Marsha says.  What a powerful question. 

Anyway, I totally recommend the class and will be blogging about all four session as I take them.

Thanks, Marsha and Mira!  Scratching away...

For more info on the Picture Book Academy and Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books, visit http://www.picturebookacademy.com/writing-character-driven-stories.html.

Scratching for Ideas: Bottling Lightning

Monday I blogged about Twyla's 6th  Chapter on preparation in which she outlines ways to "scratch for ideas.  So, with the agenda to revise one of my "problem" manuscripts, I set out to scratch yesterday.

Scratching = preparation.  Its just that.

Twyla writes that a lot of this scratching can be done through reading.  Of course, for a writer this is pretty obvious.  But I love her concept of "archeological reading".  Basically she says that we need to do two things: 1) read the masters and 2) read chronologically to get deeper and deeper.

I made a list of all of the concepts in my manuscript.  I made a list of similar stories.  I made a list of influences of this story.  And then I started to dig.  I read book after book after book.  I looked at style and plot arcs and resolutions to conflict.  I read the newest of self-published stories of unknown authors.  I read modern classics by Oliver Jeffers.  I read the mastery of Beatrix Potter.  I was on a mission.  I was scratching and gathering ideas.  I kinda look at it like I was filling up my well from which I would draw ideas.

And then I looked at my manuscript again...and I wish I could say that magically all of the problems went away and the manuscript was revised and is perfect now.  But you know what?  I was still stuck.  So I packed up my laptop for lunch and I continued to marinate the ideas I had gathered throughout the rest of the day.

Today while sipping my morning coffee.  Before my morning run.  I got a visit.  Not from the "problem" character in my "problem" manuscript.  But from a character I had thought of during PiBoIdMo.  He had something to say.  In fact, I had his whole story written within 15 minutes.

You see, the work I did yesterday was preparation, but with creativity there is sometimes no way to tell the lightning when or where to strike.  Perhaps we just bottle the lightning for use later.  And in that bottle it simmers and sautees.  It transforms and melds.  It builds and builds til the pressure can no longer be contained and it erupts

Every blog entry.  Every book.  Every challenge.  Every conversation.  Every class.    Its all scratching.  As are the museum visits and conferences and critique groups. 

And someday....BAM!

Join me Friday as I continue to scratch.  I will be blogging about the first session of the fabulous new self-paced e-Course from the Picture Book Academy --  "Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books" (taught by the lovely Marsha Diane Arnold. 

"Creative Habit": #6 Scratching

Happy New Year, everyone!  Its good to be getting back to a more "normal" life after the travel and hub-bub of the holidays.  And of course, for so many the new year means setting new goals and aspirations...or resolutions, if you will.  I hope that 2012 if looked on fondly by you and that 2013 has started off to your liking. 

For me, 2013 is starting off with a little "experiment", shall we say.  After ending my job on December 21st, I have decided to spend at least January...if not longer...being a "fulltime writer".  I figure its the best time to do it seeing as I am in-between jobs. 

Its been interesting so far.  I returned from vacation last Wednesday and started my "new job" on Thursday.  I went to the library for a day of work...and the atmosphere was not what I hoped.  It was hard to get work done.  And then on Friday I was so tired from traveling that I worked a half day at a coffee shop and then went home to "do work" which equated to napping!

There is definitely going to be a learning curve.  In fact, I have joked that I will probably FINALLY figure out what routine works for me and then start a new job the next day.  :)

But hopping back into things, I am pleased to be able to return to Twyla's "The Creative Habit" and be able to further put  into practice some of her advice about living the "creative life". 

The way I look at it, working at being a fulltime writer includes: blogging, my Teacher's Guide business (which is flourishing, btw), creating my website to hopefully launch soon, maintaining presence in online writing communities, and taking some courses.  This stuff I find easy to schedule time for because there are concrete results that I can measure and deadlines to work toward.  What I have a really hard time with is my creative writing...my manuscripts. 

I currently have 2 manuscripts that I know are good but not good enough.  I need to revise.  They need some real overhaul and attention.  But I have a hard time figuring out where to begin or how to work on them.

Last night I picked up Twyla once again looking for some direction.  In Chapter 6: Scratching, she talks about this struggle with beginning and developing ideas.  Twyla calls it "scratching". 

"You know how you scratch away at a lottery ticket to see if you've won?  That's what I'm doing when I begin a piece.  I'm digging through everything to find something.  It's like clawing at a side of a mountain to get a toehold, a grip, some sort of traction to keep moving upward and onward."

She goes on to list the many shapes that "scratching" can take:  reading through books, museums, people watching, etc.  Its all stuff we have heard before...but it really is about allowing even the smallest microcell to inspire us.  Its being hyper-aware. 

But my problem is that I become way too passive in this pursuit.  I expect ideas to just come to me in due time, so I am not actively doing something daily to "scratch".  This is what needs to change.

Twyla refers to improvising as a way to scratch and create new ideas.  I know I have writer friends who sit down to write everyday even if what they write is "I have nothing to write" over and over again.  They say that the act of actually writing and keeping at it helps ease them into creation.

I think my problem lies in the short form that I work in.  As a Picture Book writer I am looking to revise two of my manuscripts that are only 300-500 words each.  I know they need revision (one needs a whole new climax and conclusion, the other needs some cleaning up).  But I really have a hard time understanding how to DAILY work on these pieces.  Maybe I need a daily assignment.  Maybe the size of the projects make them feel too restrictive to me.  I am not sure.

Anyone have any great daily "scratching" ideas that you use to work?  I would especially love to hear how you scratch at those existing pieces which need revising.

Throughout this week I will continue to blog about this idea of "scratching".  Be sure to stop by!

My Letter to Santa: one writer's wish

Tis the season, and seeing as the world did not end as the Mayans might have predicted, we need to look ahead to the new year.  With Santa's help, perhaps this year will shine a little brighter. 

Enjoy!

Dear Santa,

Its been awhile, I know. I have found it difficult to write ever since the Easy Bake Oven incident of 1979, however, I have finally let that go. From what I have gathered through the years, you saved me and my family from many a cake with the consistency of a hockey puck. However, I have to say at times I do feel a little unfulfilled, having never had the "cooking by lightbulb" childhood experience. But despite all of that, I am quite a good baker, as you know because of the milk and cookies I have left you over the years. And we will come back to that later.

I write today with a very specific want...desire...need! Santa, I WANT AN AGENT! I want a literary agent real bad.

There I said it.

To think that I could have that one person who believes in my work as much as I do and who has the professional clout and know-how to launch my career is wonderful!

To be able to say to other social invitations, "No sorry. I am not available Tuesday. I have a lunch meeting with my agent," would be grand!

To be "represented" to the Publishing BIG HOUSES in NYC...priceless. Well, not "priceless"...it'll cost me 15% of any earnings...but STILL! To even imagine having earnings from my writing is unfathomable!

I know what you are going to say. I know you are not in the business of giving people as Christmas gifts. I remember that letter I wrote when I was 10, requesting Rick Springfield to be my boyfriend. You answered that you had found that people did not take kindly to being shoved in your sack and flown around the world only to be delivered under a tree on Christmas, so you gave up the practice. Therefore, I had to be content with a Rick Springfield poster...hardly a substitute.

I know as much as I promise to take good care of my agent and treat my agent well, you are NOT going to shove one down my chimney. That's why I came up with Plan B.

When you arrive at my home on Christmas Eve, instead of the customary milk and cookies, you are going to notice three things: my computer with a window already open to a blank document in Microsoft Word, my printer all ready to go with plenty of paper, and a dictionary (agents do not like to see misspellings or misused words).

I am asking you, dear Santa Claus, to write a Query Letter for me! Who better than someone who supposedly spies on me all year round? You know all about me. You know what I've been writing. So pitch it!

They say to think of it as an elevator speech...or maybe in your case, a chimney speech. For example, if you suddenly ran into Steven Spielberg on someone's roof and had a script you wanted to sell to him, what would you say to Mr. Spielberg on the trip down the chimney? Get it?

Anyway, I will also include a list of guidelines. And Santa, please make sure you follow the appropriate guidelines so that your letter can be seriously considered. If I am interested in using your letter, I will certainly follow up by sending the appropriate milk and cookies. However, if you haven't heard from me within 6 to 8 weeks, please assume that I am passing on your letter and will be seeking help elsewhere.

Thank you in advance for your help. Oh...and Merry Christmas! Let's hope this is the beautiful beginning of the renewal of our friendship.

Sincerely,
Marcie Colleen