by I don’t know about you, but I’m a little weird. I like to make up words and twist them around, and call things and people by funny names. Sometimes this amuses other people, and it always amuses me. That’s one of the keys to storytelling: having fun with words and concepts, and not being afraid to put in your own little bit of wackiness.
Now, I love picture books, but when it comes to writing I tend to be a novel person. I write long. So I was a bit surprised when an idea for a picture book popped into my head and demanded to be written. It was inspired by my dog Emma. (Isn’t she cute?)
Ever since my husband and I adopted Emma over the summer, it’s become a hobby of mine to come up with silly names for her. Miss Emma Dog. The Furry One. Emmakin Skywalker. She doesn’t seem to mind.
Emma gets very excited when she thinks she’s going for a walk. One morning, when she was trying to speed up the process by whimpering, I told her: “Hold on, Dogosaurus. We’re going.”
As we were on our walk, that word kept bouncing around in my head. Dogosaurus. And when I glanced over at Emma’s shadow, with its long snout and sharp teeth, it didn’t seem that far-fetched that a dog could turn into a dinosaur. And wow, what a whole lot of chaos that would be! Thus the idea was born.
At this point, the manuscript is still in its infancy. It’s gone through some major revisions, and I’m sure it’ll go through several more before it’s anywhere near done. But the initial idea, the initial weirdness, keeps me inspired to continue working on the story.
So as you’re thinking of ideas this month, why not try embracing your weirdness? Maybe there are things you do or say that people roll their eyes at? Use them! Maybe there’s a joke you made up that makes you laugh every single time you tell it? Mine it! The idea might be strange and silly, and it might entertain only you, but you never know where your inner weirdness can take you.
Anna Staniszewski lives near Boston with her husband and their adorably insane black Lab. She’s represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Anna’s debut novel, MY UN-FAIRY TALE LIFE, will be published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in September 2011. You can visit her at www.annastan.com.
11 Comments on PiBoIdMo Day 12: Embrace Your Weirdness Like Anna Staniszewski, last added: 11/12/2010
Weirdness is a gift!
During summer vacation I was an un-employeed 15 year with nothing to do. I wanted to go fishing, but there’s no water near my house. So I simply propped open a ladder in the middle of the driveway and cast my line out into the frontyard. I stayed in character as my eyes worked as a digital camera forever capturing the “what in the world…” looks.
I haven’t been able to turn that experience into a piece yet, but one of these days I’ll get a tug on the line.
Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
- Crave Cravak
http://www.cravewriting.wordpress.com
Thank you for embracing weirdness and freeing us all to do the same! There is plenty of weird things to take hold of…. I mean, whats normal anyway? I think its the “new” weird but I suppose thats embraceable too! Off to consider all my quirks (or my husbands) and share the laughter with the world!
Loved this — that’s the joy of meeting other writers online. We begin to believe that the way we think may be normal after all, even when our friends and families think we’re a little out to lunch sometimes! Can’t wait to read your book!
HeeHee, I am still giggling over Emmakin Skywalker. We adopted our cat, Reilly a few years ago – it is a wonderful feeling to adopt a friend.
Hee hee, so nice to hear authors talk like this. Both my husband and my dad have asked me if I’m on drugs recently. I can’t help what pops into my head! Oh and M. G. King I’m always out to lunch
Thanks for reminding us all that writing is a process, like clay! We should play with it, have fun with it, mold it, etc. until it’s finished. It’s clear that you are having fun and are as un-normal as the rest of us
. It looks like you are a picture book writer too LOL Best of luck to your with your successes.
Dogosaurus… that’s so cute! Good luck with it, Anna!
Emma is adorable, Anna! I think you and I are cut from the same cloth. I’m certifiably weird. My sensors are tuned to magnify the silliness that surrounds me. It’s been a wonderful challenge to learn how to express that silliness in the correct picture book format so it may inspire giggles, slapped foreheads, rolling eyes and laughter in the little ones we all treasure.
Thanks for the comments, everyone! It’s so nice to be surrounded by fellow weirdos.
Oh, yeah, I love weirdos. Did I mention I am one? Ask my kids. I made up a song about having hair on my backside. Don’t ask, it was one of my stranger moments.
Good luck with your idea. Keep embracing your weirdness!
Cheryl
Very fun read. Thanks for sharing your weirdness, Anna.
And good luck with your picture book idea–hilarious!