by Okay, so I have my picture book idea for today. Yay! But I kind of feel the need to get another one in…to get ahead, you know?
And then I worry if I am following the rules or not. Am I even allowed to think of 30 ideas in ONE day, or is it a MUST that I pace myself and only create one idea per day? And what happens if I get a good idea that’s so amazingly HOT that I must write a draft NOW? Not next month. Not next week. Not tomorrow. NOW.
I MUST DROP EVERYTHING AND FOLLOW THIS IDEA NOW.
And then I realize that PiBoIdMo is not about rules.
Break the rules if you need to. Just break ’em.
PiBoIdMo is about getting on a first name, maybe even nick-name basis with your muse.
(And really, some of the best children’s books don’t really follow the rules, now do they?)
I mean, some books have amazing vocabulary for being an easy reader. (Uh-hum….mine for example.) I put in the word “Methinks” in my easy reader series, Good Night, Good Knight. And I got to keep it in! I also put in some words that may or may not be real words, but they sounded so nice together and were words that are fun when they dance on your tongue.
Really, there is only one rule when writing a book for kids. It’s got to encourage the reader to TURN THE PAGE. It’s got to engage the child in the story enough that they WANT to learn to read it themselves.
(Well, maybe there are two rules…*Get Kids to Turn the Page* and *Inspire Kids to Read.*)
Shelley Moore Thomas is also known as the StoryQueen. I know what you’re thinking…does she really wear a ridiculous crown, fake jewels and a velvet cape? Does she really play with puppets? Well, er um…yes…and yes. But wait! Don’t go! It’s not as strange as it sounds. She’s a writer for children and, well, we do weird things sometimes. Her latest book is A Cold Winter’s Good Night.
11 Comments on PiBoIdMo Day 14: The StoryQueen’s One and Only Rule for Writing a Picture Book, last added: 11/14/2010
I had the worry over my brain storming so – I’ve sort of turned it into doing so much towards picture books each day. I’m really happy with the progress I’m making this year and as I got several stories written from last years I am v. v. happy with PiBoIdMo!
Sarah/Saffy
I love Shelley, and I love her advice!!!
Yay! (I am a little behind on generating ideas, too.) But I am loving playing around with the ones I have so far. There are 5 ideas so far that I ADORE….as in if I don’t write the book then SOMEONE should because I really want to read it to kids!
Shelley
Shelley,
It’s so funny because I worried about the rules so much at the beginning that I almost *gasp* asked Tara to clarify them. Then I decided, much like you, that this is more about letting creativity flow rather than erecting constraints around yourself.
I can’t wait for your next “Good Knight” book! My kids love them!
Thanks, Julie.
I got stumped on day 2 where I had an Idea that I felt was THE IDEA, but I only had so much time…..so the question came up: Do I abandon this idea to brainstorm more, or can I cheat and just work on it for a bit…..
I cheated.
But I felt good about it so I think it was okay!
In the realm of writing there are so many rules to be followed. How refreshing to have someone gives us the fun of “breaking” some rules — or at least not being constrained by so many. Thank you, Shelley! And, you too, Tara!
Encouraging post, Shelley. Thank you for sharing with us!
I was kind of wondering about that one idea per day, or could I stock up. I decided not to look up the rules, if there were any, because I could only do what worked for me.
Btw, at a Wisconsin SCBWI retreat years ago, someone gave a talk on easy readers, and she showed your Good Night book as an example. Went home, read it, loved it!
Thank you, Shelley for reminding us that not ALL books follow the rules. It works perfect for one of my PiBoIdMo ideas! So here’s to ‘rule breaking’.
Ha! Thanks for answering the questions of I heard others (and my own self) asking! I love being freed to.. be free! Truly, you are a queen after my own heart!
Great advice, Shelley! I tend to be a rule follower, but sometimes it’s best not to get hung up on things. Thanks for the reminder. (Love the crown!)