Brainstorming Children's Book Ideas for More Unique, Saleable
Stories
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WRITING, BRAINSTORMING...
HOW TO GENERATE
GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOK IDEAS
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GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOK IDEAS RESULT FROM HOW YOU THINK ABOUT STORY
As with any artistic field of endeavor, there are many more
children's book authors trying to "break in" than there are actually
room for.
What are YOU doing to set yourself apart?
HOW WILL YOU MAKE SURE YOUR IDEAS STAND OUT? Publishers aren't only
looking for quality writing. They're looking for stories that they
HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.
Are all the best children's book ideas already taken? Of course not.
So how can you brainstorm a story that stands out?
I happen to know a little something about that.
I SPENT OVER A DECADE WRITING FOR HOLLYWOOD
My name is Steve Barancik. (This is my site.) I broke into film by
writing a story with a twist. My main character was the villain.
That's right. In story terms, she was the protagonist, instead of the
antagonist.
PRO·TAG·O·NIST, n.
The main character or hero in a drama or other literary work.
AN·TAG·O·NIST, _n._
The principal character in opposition to the protagonist or hero.
That unusual choice was enough to get my story noticed. And
produced. And the movie's success bought me a career.
That same type of creativity could help you get a children's book
published.
START WITH BIGGER, MORE CONCEPTUAL CHILDREN'S BOOK IDEAS
Want to hear something counter-intuitive? It's never too early to
think about your query letter.
If you've ever tried to sell a story or book, you know about query
letters. Essentially, you have one short paragraph to persuade an
agent, editor or publisher that they should read your work!
Dear Sir or Ma'am:
I've written a great book about a little animal who loses its
mommy...
Hello, wastebasket!
Think about it: the only way to make an impression with a query
letter is to describe a children's book idea that sounds unique! That
editor sifts through hundreds of queries, deciding which few to read
BASED ON A SINGLE PARAGRAPH.
_
Mo Willems has the most unusual children's book ideas. And guess
what? He wrote for Hollywood for a decade!_
Let's say YOU'RE the editor. Do you read the children's book
manuscript about the animal who lost its mommy...or the other one
about the pigeon who wants to drive a bus?
Hmm. Score one for the pigeon.
WRITING, REWRITING, AND PREWRITING
What people call "writing" is actually two things: let's call them
"plotting" and "penning." Penning is merely the ability to use prose
to express thoughts.
Plotting is the ability to invent and structure a story. Plotting is
the skill it takes to assemble something pleasing, complete,
structurally sound AND ORIGINAL from a lot of component parts.
Professional writers plot before they pen. I call this stage
PREwriting.
SEE YOUR STORY AS A COMPILATION OF LOTS OF _LITTLE_ CHILDREN'S BOOK
IDEAS
Let's consider a story's structure. Structure includes:
* setting in time and place
* viewpoint
* character
* character motivation
* character objective
* plot
* storytelling style
Now, most of these components of structure can be further broken
down, and it is these pieces I like to call "story elements." For
instance:
SETTING - your story is likely made up of separate scenes, each in
its own time and place
CHARACTER - your story has numerous characters, and each of these
characters should have a number of identifiable character traits
MOTIVATION AND OBJECTIVE - each character has his or her own reason
for doing what he/she does
PLOT - every twist and turn - every choice a character makes - is a
story element
When you get right down to it, even a picture book can have hundreds
of story elements. In other words, hundreds of children's book ideas
that contribute to the whole.
These are the molecules from which YOU assemble a story!
And if you're choosing only the most COMMON molecules - I mean,
_story elements_ - then you're going to have trouble getting a
children's book published.
So how can you invent an original story, or fix one that's coming
across as just a bit too ordinary? Well, it starts with recognizing
that many of your story elements aren't written in stone. They can be
CHANGED.
CHILDREN'S BOOK IDEAS
My time in Hollywood gave me a unique skill set that I bring to all
my storytelling.
THE MATERIAL, n.
The "material" can be a book the studio wants to adapt, an old movie
they want to remake, or a new one they want a sequel for. It can be a
rewrite of a script on which another writer got fired!
Hollywood is all about prewriting and rewriting. Before a
screenwriter lands an assignment, he has to "pitch" his "take" on the
material.
Pitching means telling the bosses how you propose to arrange and
rearrange all the story elements. Your "take" on the material is
compared to the "takes" of all the other writers who have been invited
to pitch.
The most clear and creative PREwriting wins the assignment!
PLAYING WITH STORY ELEMENTS WHEN PREWRITING, REWRITING AND ADAPTING
This process turns folks in Hollywood into experts in story
structure. Even an executive who can't write prose any better than
your six year old knows the most important skill in structuring a
story:
* Always ask, "What if...?"
"What if" means, "What if I change this or that story element?"
"What if" is any writer's tool for generating new ideas.
What if I move my Western into outer space? What if the villain
turns out to be my hero's father?
Hmmm.
TIME OUT!
HOW AM I DOING?
This is supposed to be a "pitch page," the internet version of an
infomercial. There's supposed to be lots of \"WOW!\" and \"I CAN'T
BELIEVE IT!!!\" and crazy claims like, \"I'LL MAKE YOU A PUBLISHED
AUTHOR IN JUST SEVEN MINUTES!\" If I do it correctly, you almost
expect a washed up celebrity to appear on your computer screen and
tell you this is the most amazing thing he's _ E__VER SEEN_!!!!!!
Well, if you've spent any time on this site, you know that's not
me. It's not that I don't believe in what I'm about to pitch you; my
writing package actually _rocks_. It'll give you the secrets to
generating children's book ideas like never before. But it's just a
tool, a one-of-a-kind tool. In the end, it's all up to you.
One other thing: the experts tell you never to give away any useful
information on the pitch page; save it all for the books. Well, you
may have noticed I'm disobeying that rule too.
Don't tell anyone!!!!!
THE _\"WHAT IF...?\"_ WRITING PACKAGE
LEARN WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT MANIPULATING STORY ELEMENTS
My time in Hollywood gave me something special to offer children's
book authors in search of better children's book ideas.
My writer friends who didn't serve time in film are often in awe
when they ask me to critique their work. I start throwing out "What
if's?" and their heads start spinning!
"That never occurred to me!" "Of course that'd fix the problem."
And, \"WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?\"
Why didn't they think of "that"? Probably because they never sat
around a table with a director, a producer and two sheepish studio
executives trying to figure out how to rewrite a story now that the
studio head was insisting on a 22 year old female star instead of a 45
year old male one!
I find that when I consider a story, I think of many more
possibilities than the average writer. Am I more creative? No. I just
have different training.
\"WRITER'S BLOCK\" SHOULD BE CALLED \"WRITER'S BLINDNESS\"
Writer's Block is simply the condition of being blind to all the
story elements that can be changed.
And even if, as a writer, you're not feeling blocked, it still
doesn't mean that you're weaving the best story you could. Chances are
that, as you plow ahead, there are opportunities for story improvement
that aren't even occurring to you. Children's book ideas just
waiting...for you to think of them!
The ideas you didn't have can easily make the difference between a
children's book that gets published and one that doesn't. So let me
tell you how I can help. For starters...
BOOK I: 44 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM FRACTURED FAIRY TALES?
Fractured Fairy Tales are one of the hottest genres in children's
books today. Maybe THE hottest.
Consider:
* Mary Jane Auch's THE PRINCESS AND THE PIZZA
* Margaret Haddix's JUST ELLA (about Cinderella)
* Gail Carson Levine's ELLA ENCHANTED
* Jon Scieszka's THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID
TALES
* Jane Yolen's SLEEPING UGLY
What is a fractured fairy tale? It's a retelling of a familiar story
with certain elements changed. The result? A whole new story. And
guess what?...
The skills used in "fracturing" a fairy tale are precisely those I
learned in PREwriting for Hollywood. "Fracturing" means giving
yourself permission to change elements of a story to create a fresh
new version.
Some people learn best by example. In 44 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY
TALE, I take ONE familiar fairy tale (can you guess which one?) and
present 44 different restructurings of it.
One inspiration. 44 different directions. An _eruption _of
children's book ideas.
You see, I decided the most effective way to convey the skill that I
learned over a decade (from some of the most creative storytellers in
the world) was to provide examples.
A LOT of them.
And to make sure my examples were as clear and simple and FAMILIAR
as possible, I decided my examples should be set in the world of fairy
tales.
And just to be certain that you, the writer, can appreciate the
power of this method, I decided that my examples should all pertain to
a SINGLE fairy tale. That way, you'll realize how many different ways
a single, simple story can be told, retold and remade.
READ WHAT WRITERS WHO HAVE READ THE BOOKS SAY
(Hover above a name for comments)
CHILDREN'S BOOK IDEAS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD IN YOU!
A real writer never stops brainstorming better solutions and more
creative storytelling. At every stage of the process, that means
questioning your assumptions.
* Does my main character really have to be a boy?
* Is the threat against my hero substantial enough?
* Could a different setting make my story more powerful?
Use the examples in my book to inspire you to a better sense of ALL
the ways in which you can improve a story.
You'll have better children's book ideas. You'll have MORE
children's book ideas.
After all, a writer with ten options has a much better chance to
write a great book than the writer with only two!
44 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE
Everyone knows the tale of The Three Little Pigs and their encounter
with the Big Bad Wolf. If you're like most people, you think of the
story as written in stone.
Not me. I see it as a lump of clay.
Are my ways the ONLY 44 ways to alter The Three Little Pigs? Not
even close. But my hunch is that 44 is enough to open YOUR mind to a
new and improved way of looking at story and generating children's
book ideas. You'll spend less time blocked and more time
writing...writing BETTER.
I give each new conception of the story its own title. Here's a
taste:
* My Story, by B.B. Wolf
* A Little Pig's Guide to Not Getting Eaten
* The Wolf Strikes at Midnight
* Sister Pig
But now, let's talk about the second book...
BOOK II: 22 WAYS TO RE-THINK A STORY
_44 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE_ teaches by example. _22 WAYS TO
RE-THINK A STORY_ teaches the _principles _of generating children's
book ideas at the story element level. You'll understand conceptually
how I managed to fracture one fairy tale so many times!
In fact, you'll learn to tease new story options out of all your
fiction by examining
* viewpoint
* setting
* character
* plot
* character actions
* style
Essentially, _22 WAYS_ is a long list of story element categories
that are potentially CHANGEABLE. Each one is a reminder of the
numerous ways in which you can change your story for the better. The
22 Ways can be used at any point during your writing process.
Once you finish _22 WAYS_, you'll be a certified master of "What
if"!
I'LL EVEN THROW IN A FREE STORY ELEMENT CHECKLIST
I want you to be equipped with these skills for LIFE. So just to
make sure you keep these tricks in your toolbox for the rest of your
writing career, I've compiled a STORY ELEMENT CHECKLIST that you can
keep at your side whenever you're writing.
The Story Element Checklist is the "What if" button you push to
generate new children's book ideas almost automatically!
The checklist consists of each of the _22 WAYS_ boiled down to a
single sentence.
(And by the way: I lied. I actually give you _28_ Ways, but
twenty-two _sounds _better.)
Print out multiple copies of the STORY ELEMENT CHECKLIST and keep
them handy wherever you find yourself thinking about your fiction!
And just to clarify...
All of the WAYS will help you generate more children's book ideas,
but EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM can be applied to _any_ kind of
fiction...not just kids' stuff!
AN EMBARRASSING STORY
Early in my career, I had writer's block. I actually bought story
software that promised to help me dream up new stories and improve old
ones. It wouldn't be right for me to name the program (it's still
being sold), but it cost me about $300 at the time!
It was a "memory hog" and practically destroyed my computer. Looking
back, I realize that (aside from all the bells and whistles) the
software's only real value was in making me, the writer, appreciate
all the various elements that comprise a well-written story...and how
easily they can be changed to create something entirely new AND
improved.
Story Enhancement Software? Overkill. Use
* _44 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE_,
* _22 WAYS TO RE-THINK A STORY_, AND my
* STORY ELEMENT CHECKLIST
...to open up a whole new world of possibility for your writing. But
hey--
I'M NOT DONE!
I have one more embarrassing story to tell...and a bonus to offer.
My writing career almost crashed to the ground before it even
started. You see, I took a college workshop in short fiction
writing...before I'd studied short fiction. I'm going to keep the
horrific details to myself, but suffice it to say I was _shamed_ by
the professor in front of the whole class.
My first short story? I thought I'd written a masterpiece; he
thought I'd wasted my fellow classmates' time and insulted their
abilities by even presenting it to them.
He was right. And the experience turned me into a real writer.
Most of the unpublished children's book manuscripts I read are
almost as poorly written as my work was, and I feel awful for the
writers. It's clear to me that they think a lifetime of reading
qualifies them to be writers.
It doesn't. Reading is one thing. _Studying_ is another.
Well, since most of us don't have the option of dropping everything
to take a college course in children's literature, I'm going to
provide the next best thing...
This is great.
I've taken the text of Beatrix Potter's classic _The Tale of Peter
Rabbit_ and ANALYZED the heck out of it! If you're new to writing
children's books, this is _essential_ information. If you've been
writing children's books for awhile...
I'm confident you'll still get an eye-opener. (And if you don't,
keep reading. I offer a money-back guarantee.)
Why a century old book? Well, for one thing, it's a classic. For
another, its copyright has expired. I couldn't do this for you with a
more recent book!
What's _The (Annotated) Tale of Peter Rabbit_ all about? Well, it's
like me looking over your shoulder as you read, whispering, "Look what
the brilliant Beatrix Potter did here," and, "Check out how she really
raised the stakes there."
With a lengthy Overview and 45 separate footnotes for this tiny
little story, you'll get a real sense of the craft that goes into a
publishable children's book. You'll also get my explanation of all the
essential elements of fiction and where they occur in Ms. Potter's
work.
THERE YOU HAVE IT!
The price for my entire children's books idea package is $24.95.
That includes:
* _44 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE_,
* _22 WAYS TO RE-THINK A STORY_
* _THE (ANNOTATED) TALE OF PETER RABBIT_, and my
* STORY ELEMENT CHECKLIST
And that guarantee I mentioned?...
All products are delivered as PDF files. (If you don't have Adobe
PDF software, you can download it for free.) You will be able to
download the entire writing package as soon as you complete your
purchase. (You'll also have the option of downloading it as one big
ZIP file.)
Now I'm supposed to put a big splashy graphic here with a button
that says, "BUY NOW TO MAKE YOUR LIFE _PERFECT_!, or at least, \"LET
ME GIVE YOU THE CHILDREN'S BOOK IDEAS THAT WILL MAKE YOU THE NEXT DR.
SEUSS!\" But we're grown-ups, right? I think you can just click on a
link.
Remember, I offer a 60 day money back guarantee.
Open your story horizons. 3 books PLUS the checklist. .
