When Tara launched this party, she quoted the fantastic Mr. Dahl:
And above all,
watch with glittering eyes
the whole world around you
because the greatest secrets
are always hidden
in the most unlikely places.
Those who don’t believe in magic
will never find it.
That’s just plain inspiring, no?
Well. Here’s my favorite sentence that man said, from THE BFG:
But let’s ignore that sage advice and gobblefunk a bit. That pretty much sums up what we do as writers anyway, right? Stir this, mix that, add in this word, trash those dumb ones, those unneccessary ones, those boring ones.
I’m always (always!) noodling around words in my brain. Odd I know, especially because my day job is all about pictures and graphics and effects. So at work recently, one dude asks the Boss Man, “Boss Man, what shot number is the one with the volcano?”
Too easy. I pipe up with, “Probably number e-LAVA-n.”
Maybe that was a bit of a groaner, or even a lot of a groaner if you have no funny bone. But since you are on the other side of the internet, and because I know we are all best friends, I have a feeling you laughed a little.
Did I write down “Punny Counting Book about Earth Science-y Things” in my PiBoIdMo notebook that day? Maybe.
(My honey’s fantasy football team is called the Favre Fig Newtons. Runs in the family.)
I figure if you look at the world like it’s one monster crossword puzzle, something unexpected is bound to tumble out.
Gobblefunked.
And why limit the gobblefunking to words? Why not gobblefunk with pictures?
I’m really no different than your average preschooler, because all day long I think about shapes and lines and color.
It’s when this:
Becomes this:
Which could easily become this:
OK, well maybe that’s boring unless you are in my line of work. But!
Couldn’t that same gobblefunking help us with ideas?
And since words are just pictures in different shapes, let’s do some of those, too.
This is the high school football stadium up the road from me. I am obsessed with their signage. It’s strong and pretty, and it sparkles on Friday nights. I can’t explain my love for this tiny part of my town, I’m just drawn to it. (I secretly think Tami Taylor is in those bleachers, which may explain part of the love.)
So, switch around some letters, fire up the gobblefunking, and the leftovers might just be a flash of an idea.
Gobblefunked.
Every day when I leave my house, these are the stepping stones I hop.
I hate them. They are awkwardly spaced, so in order to avoid the dewy grass I have to mosey with some serious cowboy swagger to land on each one. But remember that whole thing about being like a preschooler and thinking of shapes all day?
Maybe instead of stone circles they are actually…
Gobblefunked.
Or this:
All I see is a pet rock factory. Or a cement skyscraper. You?
This will be the only time I ask you to listen to me and not Roald Dahl. But go ahead and ignore that advice above, and get busy gobblefunking.
Carter Higgins is a motion graphics designer and a former elementary school librarian. She spends her days creating graphics, teaching, gobblefunking, and writing picture books. All of these interests combine in her blog at Design of the Picture Book, or you can find her on Twitter @CarterHiggins.
Carter is generously donating a picture book critique to PiBoIdMo. And you don’t have to wait until the end of the month to win it! Anyone can enter, right here, right now. Just leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected in one week. Good luck!
214 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 13, 2012 at 12:17 am
Rebecca Colby
Just when I was starting to get stuck for ideas, you’ve given me a whole new way to see the world! Thank you, Carter! I’ll be gobblefunking soon! And telling everyone what I’m doing as I love that word and want to use it now. 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 12:33 am
LeslieG
PiBoIdMo posts just keep getting better and better! Or, as the BFG would say, “We is having an interesting babblement.” 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 12:40 am
carterhiggins
Yes, a very interesting babblement!
November 13, 2012 at 12:38 am
Gary Masskin
Perspective, imagination and creativity are many splendored things
November 13, 2012 at 12:46 am
Talynn Lynn
Oh my! What an incredibly inspiring way to come up with gobblefunking ideas. Thank you for sharing these:)
November 13, 2012 at 12:51 am
Larissa Marks
Your post made me realize I love people’s ability to gobblefunk, but need to work on my own gobblefunking skills. I’m skibberdeedipping off to brush up on my Dahl reading!
November 13, 2012 at 1:12 am
Kerry Mazengia
Your ideas of taking everyday objects and making them magical is truly inspiring. Especially after listening to my 17 year old tonight talking all about her ideas for creating art out of combing two things together that aren’t combined in the natural world. What a coincidence!
Thanks for the post and the great tips!
November 13, 2012 at 1:24 am
Sandra C
I love the permission that Gobblefunking gives. And life as a crossword puzzle. yes! That is genius. Thanks
November 13, 2012 at 1:42 am
Yvonne Mes
What an interesting mind you have! You must never be stuck for ideas.
November 13, 2012 at 1:44 am
Hannah Holt
Thanks for helping me shake out of my word funk, Carter. You are splendiferous!
November 13, 2012 at 1:47 am
Anjali Amit
Love gobblefunk. And muddling through. Thanks.
Anjali
November 13, 2012 at 2:05 am
Kim Mounsey
I am so looking forward to doing some gobblefunking of my own. My fingers are itching with excitement….
Thank you for the inspiration!!
November 13, 2012 at 3:09 am
Tim McCanna
Great, great thinking here, Carter. Thanks for sharing. BTW, some anagrams for “Carter Higgins” include… It’s Recharging! Crashing Tiger! and Her Tragic Sign.
November 13, 2012 at 12:21 pm
carterhiggins
AMAZING.
November 13, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Richa Jha
There you go gobblefunking, Tim! Carter’s post is bound to have this effect on all of us. Picture book world, brace yourself for some serious impact 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 3:09 am
karenkallischeesman
Thanks for the fun post. BTW, I love your website!
November 13, 2012 at 3:47 am
cjfriess
Your Gobblefunking post has given me a great idea for today’s PiBoIdMo. Thank you for the inspiration, I’m off to play with some anagrams!
November 13, 2012 at 4:24 am
Marcy P.
Ha! That was great! I’m about to walk to the market… going to be looking for fun shapes and words 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 4:42 am
theitaliancob
Great ideas!
November 13, 2012 at 5:22 am
Cath Jones
Exunckly right! A whole new splendacious way to look at the world…
Another inspirational post. The ideas are tumbling out of my head like cat nipped kitties.
Thanks:)
November 13, 2012 at 5:27 am
M. G. King
Still laughing about a-lav-n. Thanks for the inspiration! Hoping to find something magical in the house dust or the pile of laundry today.
November 13, 2012 at 5:43 am
mona
OMGoodness, the aloe vera plant by my sink is turning into something else! Eyes and mind open to anything and everything.
Thanks for sharing, Carter.
November 13, 2012 at 5:56 am
Lori Mozdzierz
“e-LAVA-n” Genius! Gobblefunking is tons of fun!!
Love you, Ronald Dahl, but Carter wins this round 😀
November 13, 2012 at 5:58 am
lindamartinandersen
Carter,
I’m so glad you decided to go for gobblefunk. I plan to also.
November 13, 2012 at 6:28 am
Michelle Barnes
Well I declare, I’ve been gobblefunked.
Loved your playful post!
November 13, 2012 at 6:30 am
rlkurstedt
Thanks for the reminder to observe the world with the wonder of a preschooler. I find sometimes it’s just about slowing myself down to notice.
November 13, 2012 at 6:39 am
Marcie Colleen
Gobblefunking! Love it! Thank you, Carter! I can’t imagine anything that would keep you pre-schoolish more than those stepping stones. So awkward but begging for play!
November 13, 2012 at 6:47 am
Andrea
What fun! I definitely need to do more gobblefunking to boost my creativity!
November 13, 2012 at 6:49 am
Elaine Kearns
My new favorite word: Gobblefunk.
How cool is that! Thanks Carter! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 6:57 am
Angela Padron
I love Dahl so any post that tells us to gobble funk is ok with me. Thanks for the laugs
November 13, 2012 at 6:58 am
Julie
EXACTLY what I needed today. Thank you!
November 13, 2012 at 7:02 am
Catherine Johnson
That is a fun word. Off to do some serious gobblefunking today. Thanks Carter!
November 13, 2012 at 7:09 am
laurasalas
So fun when you visual type people share stuff like this. Thanks!
November 13, 2012 at 7:10 am
Diane Kress Hower
It’s all in the word! Thanks.
November 13, 2012 at 7:15 am
Kelly Light
Love this!!! Always have to remind myself to simplify!
November 13, 2012 at 7:17 am
novalibrarymom
Roald Dahl and some Tuesday morning inspiration, all in one go? Just awesome! Thanks, Carter!
November 13, 2012 at 7:22 am
Julie Falatko
I just can’t stop cracking up about ELF LIMO. Yay, Carter!
(Also, I originally interpreted the title of this post as thought Gobblefunks was your new last name. Like you married Mr. Gobblefunks. “Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Carter Higgins Gobblefunks.”)
November 13, 2012 at 12:21 pm
carterhiggins
I secretly have always wanted to marry someone whose last name is Carter. Carter Carter. That would rule.
November 14, 2012 at 10:38 am
Julie Falatko
I would have agreed with you two days ago, but now I’m rooting for Mr. Gobblefunks.
November 13, 2012 at 7:24 am
Gayle C. Krause
Gobblefunked, huh? What an inspirational word. Thank you so much for brightening my rainy morning. Will keep Dahl’s and your sage advice at hand. 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 7:29 am
debraaelliott1960
Love the post and thanks so much.
November 13, 2012 at 7:32 am
Cathy Ballou Mealey
My favorite excerpt: words are just pictures in different shapes
Love this glimpse of the world through your eyes Carter!
November 13, 2012 at 12:22 pm
carterhiggins
They are! Thanks, Cathy!
November 13, 2012 at 7:42 am
patrickguindon
What an awesome way to open my eyes so dang early this morning. I am going to use this article with my Gr. 5’s to shake up their boring writing!!! 😛
November 13, 2012 at 7:47 am
Erin
Great post.
November 13, 2012 at 7:56 am
Alexa
Great ideas! Thank you.
November 13, 2012 at 7:58 am
queenwriter
I wouldn’t walk on those squares.. Fire may gush up!
November 13, 2012 at 8:01 am
Nina Goebel
Inspiring and interesting approach to turn photos into graphics and of course gobblefunk them. I will try that too.
November 13, 2012 at 8:03 am
laurimeyers
Carter this post gobblefunked my brain. Three separate times it sparked something, I wrote it down and then said “what was I doing? Oh yes, reading this lovely post.” And thank goodness giants don’t play tiddlywinks.
November 13, 2012 at 12:20 pm
carterhiggins
But if they did…
November 13, 2012 at 8:05 am
Jarm Del Boccio
Thanks for helping us see the world in another light, Carter!
November 13, 2012 at 8:10 am
Terri
Carter, You have a very interesting eye! Thank you for sharing.
November 13, 2012 at 8:14 am
janelle
Loved it!
November 13, 2012 at 8:20 am
Doreen E. Lepore
Thanks for the inspiration!
November 13, 2012 at 8:26 am
Jodi Moore
Splendiforous post! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 8:28 am
Laura Kassner
No borings! Love it, Carter! So proud of you. 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 8:33 am
Jenn DesAutels Illustrator
You rock!! No wonder you are a teacher. =)
November 13, 2012 at 8:34 am
julietclarebell
Thank you, Carter. And I’ve got an idea for today just by reading (well actually misreading) the names of people commenting on the blog post. Yay!
November 13, 2012 at 8:35 am
Lisa Osiecki
Pick me! Pick me! I could use some more gobblefunkery in my life!
November 13, 2012 at 8:36 am
Jacqueline
Can’t wait to try this on my run today! I wonder how many ideas I’ve run past a thousand times without seeing them, like those giant’s tiddlywinks? Thanks!
November 13, 2012 at 8:38 am
Susan Hughes
Nice to see the world of inspiration through an artist’s eyes!
November 13, 2012 at 8:39 am
Natasha
I am crossing my fingers, toes, and eyes for a critique.
November 13, 2012 at 8:45 am
Elisa Robinson (@elisaitw)
And I’m off to re-read my daughters’ Roald Dahl collection! Thanks for the inspiration.
November 13, 2012 at 9:00 am
cocoanqueso
Thanks for the fresh perspective!
November 13, 2012 at 9:03 am
Sue Poduska
Gobblefunk = word of the day. Thanks!
November 13, 2012 at 9:03 am
Diana Murray
You had me at “e-LAVA-en”. 🙂 I think I’m in lava with this post! Very inspiring.
November 13, 2012 at 9:09 am
Hilary Leung
Lovely post Carter! Thanks for sharing!
November 13, 2012 at 9:10 am
Jennifer Faragitakis
Thanks for the inspiring post!!
November 13, 2012 at 9:11 am
Danny Kyzer
Hey! I’ve always wayed around with plords,,,I mean…played around with words. Thank you for the laugh(e-lava-n)!!
November 13, 2012 at 9:14 am
Gail Kamer
It’s the “slant” in our mind’s eye that makes us good writers. I guess that’s the same as gobblefunk.
November 13, 2012 at 9:21 am
Carolyn
The word “gobblefunk” gave me todays picture book idea. Thanks
November 13, 2012 at 9:24 am
Corey Schwartz
Wow, never heard that quote before. Gobblefunkng. Love it!!!
November 13, 2012 at 9:30 am
Lori Alexander
Was just talking to the kids about the date 12-12-12 and how we wouldn’t have a cool number like that again for a long time because there aren’t thirteen months. Six yr old said, “You forgot about Fleptember.” Yay for Gobblefunking!
November 13, 2012 at 12:20 pm
carterhiggins
Oh, I love your six year old. FLEPTEMBER!
November 13, 2012 at 9:32 am
Wafa
My favorite children;s author and Gobblefunking! I love it! Yet another inspirational post !!!
November 13, 2012 at 9:34 am
Liz Miller
Thank you Carter. I love the idea of gobblefunking pictures and images. Very inspiring post and what wonderful tiddlywinks. The world is going to seem much more interesting this afternoon 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 9:41 am
Ashley Bankhead
I think it is time for me to do some gobblefunking. Thanks for the post.
November 13, 2012 at 9:41 am
Kate Rose Johnson
Great post!!
Sometimes my favorite part is how well Blake was able to gobblefunk too
November 13, 2012 at 9:54 am
tcanny
One form of gobblefunking (thanks for giving it a name) I participate in is to type three to five random letters and/or numbers into Google and see what comes up in the web and images results. It almost never fails to produce some mind bending link that helps get the idea generator jump started. Go ahead. Try it.
November 13, 2012 at 9:58 am
C. C. Gevry
Can fuddy duddies like me gobblefunk? I’m not sure. There might be a rule against it somewhere that I can’t break because rules are meant to be followed, not broken. Thanks for the inspiration.
November 13, 2012 at 9:59 am
loriannlevyholm
I like the way you take snapshots from your environment and use them as design templates. This will take a while for me to ingest it and apply it to my own work. Maybe we all need to channel our child within and bring it to our work tables. Thank you.
November 13, 2012 at 10:03 am
Kelly Parker
I am a graphic designer too, and this is an AWSOME idea!!!
P.S. I love me a good corny joke! Was just reading some jokes with my daughter and one that had her rolling was: How do you get a baby astronaut to sleep? Rocket!
Have a great day!
November 13, 2012 at 10:09 am
cekster
I would love to win a critique with Carter’s gobblefunking ways. We can’t get enough clever eyes to read our work. Critiques and revision are key to producing our best work. Thanks for your post, Carter. Thanks for hosting, Tara.
November 13, 2012 at 10:09 am
sharann
Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving is nigh, but I’ve never realized the way ‘Gobblefunk’ sounds like it could be the word to define 60s turkey music. Time to off to get on the good foot and go do the Gobblefunk….
November 24, 2012 at 9:51 pm
carterhiggins
Get down!
November 13, 2012 at 10:10 am
Valarie Giogas
I love the word gobblefunk. Thanks for the reminders and the offer of a critique.
November 13, 2012 at 10:13 am
Joanne Roberts
Yikes! A critique?! Thanks for your generosity and your always exceptional way of looking at things.
November 13, 2012 at 10:15 am
susan crites
fun and thought provoking post. thank you. i especially liked the example of making words out of other words we see. time to do a little gobblefunking!
November 13, 2012 at 10:23 am
Sally Matheny
Thanks Carter, for giving us a new view. Imaginations should loom large!
November 13, 2012 at 10:39 am
Debbie Austin
Thanks for your generosity and the new word for the day!
November 13, 2012 at 10:39 am
Kristin Gray
Sharann, Bahaha! “60s turkey music” You must use that!
Thanks, Carter, for a super post!
November 13, 2012 at 10:39 am
Angela De Groot
I laughed a lot. I think we have similar funny bones.
I like your gobblefunk technique – I’m going to give it a try and see where it leads. And if it goes nowhere, at least I will have had some fun and stretched my imagination.
November 13, 2012 at 10:45 am
laurieajacobs
Fabulous post. I almost always pay attention to words, much less so to images. Thanks for opening my eyes.
November 13, 2012 at 10:56 am
Carrie Finison
Roald Dahl may have invented that verb, but you are popularizing it, Carter. I LOVE it! It’s a great technique. We are in the middle of the BFG right now — will have to search for that one.
PS, those stepping stones do look unbelievably annoying!
November 24, 2012 at 9:52 pm
carterhiggins
They are! And I even have long legs!
November 13, 2012 at 10:57 am
Penny Klostermann
Your mind is awesomeness!!!
November 13, 2012 at 11:01 am
Annie Silvestro
Yay Carter! Thanks for an inspiring post!
November 13, 2012 at 11:13 am
B.J. Lee
Great post, Carter. I’m not an illustrator, but now I’m tempted to look at the world as if I were. Here’s to gobblefunking! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 11:19 am
Cheryl
Great article! I’m off to gobblefunk!
Cheryl
November 13, 2012 at 11:26 am
White Wolf Studio
Love this article, really!! As adults, we really need to find the magic in the everyday. Thanks for the reminder.
November 13, 2012 at 11:27 am
The Ink Pond
Thank you for the awesome post! Keeping up with all the ideas from PiBoIdMo-ing (love that word!) guest bloggers is inspiring! Time to press on and write/sketch my next idea:)
Tia Svardahl, The Ink Pond
November 13, 2012 at 11:30 am
Judy Cox
Gobblefunk is a great addition to my vocabulary! I also enjoyed the way you take real images and “graphicize” them.
November 13, 2012 at 11:30 am
wendy greenley
Love you, Carter! You are sunshine on a cloudy, rainy day.
November 13, 2012 at 11:31 am
Dawnyelle moore
Ab – soul- lutely fabulous! Having two little ones making up words is my game of fame! Thanks for the push!
November 13, 2012 at 11:33 am
Carrie Ann Brown
Gotta start Gobblefunking! I love this….thank you!
November 13, 2012 at 11:40 am
Ashley N. Bohmer
What a great challenge to view the world around us differently!–Gotta love seeing it from the eyes of a child.
November 13, 2012 at 11:57 am
Laura Anne Miller
I just read the BFG for the first time 2 weeks ago!! I don’t know how I had missed it all these years. I found it at a garage sale. I drove my family carzy all week trying to use giant-speak. My favorite was his ‘is that right or is it left?’ Thanks, Carter for reminding us to be brave and see things a little gobblefunked.
November 13, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Jennifer Hawes
Thank you, Carter, for the inspiration!
November 13, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Sue Heavenrich
Gobblefunk – and just in time for Thanksgiving! love it – thanks for reminding us how fun it is to jump in and get messy with words, paint, photos, mud….
November 13, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Sally Phillips
No snozzcumber here! It’s fun to see things in a different light and bring that joy to others. BTW- I loved your “e-LAVA-n” joke. LOL Thanks for sharing your insight.
November 13, 2012 at 12:14 pm
LuAnn KernLuAnn
Great ideas and good excuses when words Gobblefunk themselves!
November 13, 2012 at 12:19 pm
carterhiggins
You guys. I am GOBBLEFUNKED. I seriously thought there might be crickets here this morning…which is funny, cause aren’t crickets noisy and chirpy and loud? This is the best bunch of crickets ever. I would carefully trap you all under a glass and set you free outside. Nobody gets stomped or smashed here!
November 13, 2012 at 12:22 pm
julie rowan zoch
Rollin’ with the gnomies in yo’ limo, baby!
Your post has rung all the giggle bells in my heart!
November 13, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Angie Breault
Thank you for this great post. I’m pretty sure I gobblefunk all the time too. 🙂 And thank you for the opportunity for the critique as well. 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Kerri Kokias
My ideas almost always come from words (or thin air) but rarely from images. Thanks for your perspective, today I hope to look for ideas in the images around me.
November 13, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Elizabeth Stevens Omlor
Good grief lil Bob…which I am pretty sure is the gobblefunk translation for… gobblefunk. Okay, so maybe not. But now you’ve got me thinking. What an awesomely original post Carter. I have said it before and I will say it again…I just love that brain of yours! And I love that your man’s fantasy football team is Favre Fig Newton! HA! I have to share that with my guy. =) Thanks so much for sharing this. xoxo
November 13, 2012 at 1:06 pm
mikelaprevost
Love Dahl’s kid equivalency to swearing 😉 Thanks for such a great post for helping us look at the mundane and turn in on its side!
November 13, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Tim Young
As someone who is also a bit skewed, I like how you see things!
November 13, 2012 at 1:16 pm
angelapenadahle
“A giant’s tiddliwinks”….LOVE IT! You really have quite the imagination Carter. Thanks for sharing your adorable, and creative self with us. I know I’m inspired. All it takes is perspective and a bit of fun.
November 13, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Joanna
I Love your visual thinking, Carter, you got me all in a gobblefunk tiz this morning!
November 13, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Selena Spain
Thanks for the inspiration!
November 13, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Rebecca Walton Evans
Ha, I have to admit your post reminded me of my kids brains – all confused and turned around so that I wonder where half of what comes out of their mouth is coming from! Perfect way of looking at it if you are writing for kids!
November 13, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Sue Frye
Awesome word! Thanks for sharing:)
November 13, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Julie
Carter, I wish I could live inside your brain for a day or two. Then I would have no trouble coming up with crazy, original, fabulous ideas! Fantastic post!!
November 13, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Deb Lund
To see and then resee—that’s the answer!
Thanks, Carter. I knew this one would be fun. Off to gobblefunk now…
November 13, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni)
Gobblefunk words and pictures and giant tiddlywinks – love this post!
November 13, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Heidi Fiedler
This got my mind playing. Thank you. Just thought of a fun possibility on my morning walk!
November 13, 2012 at 2:26 pm
viviankirkfield
I see now why everyone flocks to sign up for PiBoIdMo…thanks, Tara, for providing this amazing framework for the sharing of ideas!
Carter…I so agree…we spend our childhood learning to grow up and not to be children…but as picture book writers and illustrators…we must recapture the magic of childhood and reenter the world of ‘if you believe in fairies, clap your hands’! Carter…you deserve a standing ovation for this one…thanks for adding another golden nugget to my PiBBoIdMo treasure chest. 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Mary Flynn
I think gobblefunking is a wonderful idea. I do it occasionally, but I think I’m going to try to do much more often. Thank you
November 13, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Yona
So much fun to read that thanks! Getting inspired all over the place today. Going to go look at your blog now for even more inspiration.
November 13, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Darshana
Loved the post. Thanks for the inspiration and teaching my mind to stretch.
November 13, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Kim Enderle
oh boy… Time to get Gobblefunking! Thanks!
November 13, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Sharon Putnam
I love the word gobblefunk, almost as much as I love the word, Twitterpated. Thanks for reminding us that there is magic everywhere if only we look for it… and for the offer of a critique.
November 13, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Jennifer Lee Young (@ItsJennyYoung)
You’re so awesome Carter. I’m going to try and do some gobblefunking now for my next PiBoId. 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Laura Renauld
This whole month has been helping to open my eyes wider and wider to the amazing ideas hiding in the world around me. Thanks for your inspiring addition. Here’s to gobblefunking!
November 13, 2012 at 3:16 pm
kirabigwood
Truly some great techniques for filling the well. Thx for the inspiration!
November 13, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Debra Shumaker
Another great post. Tara, you’ve got a fantastic line-up! Thanks so much!!!!
November 13, 2012 at 3:32 pm
S.H. Sherlock
snozzcumber and frobscottle are my two favorite BFG gobblefunks!
November 13, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Cindy Breedlove
This time of year, anything that starts out gobble makes me hungry for the coming turkey dinner! Here’s to mashing up words and potatoes.
November 13, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Renée Kurilla (@reneekurilla)
This is really fun! Giants Tiddliwinks! I love that 🙂 Thanks for sharing your secrets, you make it look so easy!
November 13, 2012 at 4:31 pm
bucherwurm65
I love to see that you are a “former”. I hope to be a “former” one day soon, too, so I can list my current occupation as “gobblefunker” and “children’s picture book author”.
November 13, 2012 at 4:32 pm
DaNeil Olson
Another day, another inspiring post. Thanks for reminding me to seek the magic, the fun, and the sights no one else sees!
November 13, 2012 at 4:43 pm
mvwriter888
Wow, Carter! You make looking at the world so much fun! I’m going to put on my googly glasses and get out there! Thanks for twisting my idea of funny.
November 13, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Christie Wright Wild
So I have a new term to add to my dictionary: gobblefunk. I just KNEW there was a term for all those scrambled word games in elementary school. So the next time I’m asked to see how many words I come up with from Happy Valentine’s Day, I’m going to shout, “Yea! It’s gobblefunking time!”
And I just got myself a copy of BFG from a yard sale a week ago. It’s on my “to read” list. (I know, I know…I call myself a writer?! And I haven’t read it yet?!)
What a fun post; thanks for sharing.
November 13, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Sheri Dillard
Ha! Carter, you are so funny! 🙂 Thanks for the helpful post! Oh, and you inspired me to google Dahl quotes – (which is a lot of fun, by the way!) – and I found this:
“When you grow up and have children of your own, do please remember something important: A stodgy parent is not fun at all! What a child wants – and DESERVES – is a parent who is SPARKY!”
You, Carter, are definitely sparky! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 8:11 pm
carterhiggins
Sparky! Love it.
November 14, 2012 at 10:40 am
Julie Falatko
The “Sparky” quote comes at the end of my most very favorite of all time Dahl book, Danny the Champion of the World. It is astonishingly amazing, and is a very good lesson in how to be a sparky parent (even if, or especially, if that includes poaching pheasants).
November 13, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Sylvia Liu
This post was a joy to read. I love your design aesthetic and artistic sensibility, Carter.
November 13, 2012 at 6:06 pm
tinamcho
Love this post, Carter! Your examples are awesome! I’ve been reading Dahl’s books but haven’t made it to the BFG yet. I’ll have to check it out. I’ll try to gobblefunk today!
November 13, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Jenny Boyd
It’s official. I have Gobblefunkitis. The doctor prescribed a fun and punny way of looking at the world. (Thanks, Dr. Higgins!) I loved your prescription…I mean blog post.
November 13, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Denise Richter
My favorite post so far…read in a coffee shop while suffering writer’s block. Off to gobblefunk! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Desiree Batson
Visual thinking is soooo not my thing! Thanks for the challenge.
November 13, 2012 at 6:38 pm
The Backdoor Artist - Mary Livingston
You would fit right in with our household!
November 13, 2012 at 8:11 pm
carterhiggins
When’s dinner?
November 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Let’s hear it for the groaners! 🙂
November 13, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Ramona
One of my favourite words is ‘gobbledgook’ and now ‘gobblefunk’ is my second! Thank you for your lovely insight to words and their wonderfulness.
November 13, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Claudia Broglio
Awesome!
November 13, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Bill Bibo
Gobblefunk! Full speed ahead!
November 13, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Dorothy Wiese
I loved this.
Today, late in the afternoon, I started a “writer’s class” at the Elgin, Illinois, YWCA. Nine kids, ages 11-15, volunteered to come to the class, and they were very enthusiastic.
I gave them small composition books and mechanical pencils, and they immediately began to write.
Could I please have your permission to copy this and share it with the class in two weeks?
Dorothy
November 14, 2012 at 12:20 am
carterhiggins
Please do! Such an honor!
November 13, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Amanda Smith
Your perspective inspired me. What a fun challenge to look at the every day a bit less literally.
November 13, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Laura Thieman
You’ve got me a-thinkin’!! Thank you.
November 13, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Rick Starkey
We have stepping stones in front of our shop/home (a magic shop) that makes everyone zig-zag to walk on them. It keeps them on their toes. We could straighten them. But why? It’s fun.
Thanks for the post and thoughts.
Gobblefunk-on!
November 13, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Linda Graden
You are the definition of creative, Carter! What talent you have! I just had a blast reading through your website! Thank you!
November 13, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Bea Bellingham
This is GOLD! New word enters vocabulary. “Just gobblefunk it!”
November 13, 2012 at 10:24 pm
renajtraxel
Haha gobblefunk!
November 13, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Kristiane Pedersen
What a wonderful reminder to look beyond what we see. I’m learning so much, in such a friendly, safe environment. I better get writing in case I win!
Thank you!
November 13, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Tanja Bauerle
Awesome post! Reminded me of when I first took a design class (eons ago) that really opened my eyes when it comes to looking at things. Thank you for the re-inspiration. T.
November 14, 2012 at 12:46 am
Kevin J Doyle
So when I need a character, place, or monster name, I’ll just feed “real names” to our 2y/o lil boy and use whatever gobblefunked names he spits out. Brilliant! Loved this post!
November 14, 2012 at 12:51 am
Jan O'Neil
Carter, you rock. Love your post!
-Jan O’Neil
November 14, 2012 at 12:56 am
Bethany Telles
It’s official… Carter is 100% my most favorite person. EVER. Can I just meander in your shadow for one day? I think that’d gift my soul so much tenacity and spunk, I’d finally achieve the level of awesomeness I’ve been yearning for.
Great post, doll. I’ll never look at the world the same,
November 14, 2012 at 1:15 am
Boo Stad
He-he-hee, gobblefunk! I’m going to teach my three year old that one; she’s sponging up everything right now, she’ll be ‘gobsmacked!’
November 14, 2012 at 7:31 am
Janet Smart
gobblefunking! I wonder if that’s in the dictionary? Sounds like a word for turkey talk. Good post.
November 14, 2012 at 8:48 am
erin o'brien
Love your perspective, Carter! Inspiration really is everywhere. It’s our job to take notice. Great post!
November 14, 2012 at 9:33 am
Michelle Levin
And from the title I thought Gobblefunk was going to be some kind of thanksgiving post. So glad it wasn’t! Well done + thank you.
November 14, 2012 at 9:37 am
Melanie Ellsworth
I like the idea of turning a small piece of scenery into a vision for a children’s book – thanks for the unique perspective from the graphic design world.
November 14, 2012 at 9:41 am
Jen Carroll
Images really spark me too. Thanks for reminding me to tinker with them.
November 14, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Sharon Calle
I guess I’m not the only one to find visual ideas in odd places. I tend to see images in towels or floor tiles. It’s kind of like those 3D optical illusion puzzles.
November 14, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Kendra Lindell
I love this. One of the best advantages of practicing art is that it helps me see the world differently. Did anyone else see a T-Rex in that cloud pic?
November 14, 2012 at 2:51 pm
stephseclecticinterests
That was a fun post to read. Many thanks!
I must have a little graphic designer gene hiding away in me somewhere ‘cuz I love the way you went from the first pic to the last in the first series of three. And the one about a giant’s Tiddleywinks . . . genius!
November 14, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Jo Dearden
A cement skyscraper for sure!
November 14, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Elizabeth McBride
Carter, I enjoyed your post. I think I am more comfortable gobblefunking than putting on a good face and being realipstick! Nice to meet a like-unminded individual! I’d love to hear your thoughts on a picture book I have that has met with…..silence……! I never know if it is too strange, or not strange enough! Since I want to make it into a series, it’s a bit of a wild commitment! Thanks again.
November 14, 2012 at 7:42 pm
marylouisealucurto
Excited about stepping into the World of Gobblefunking! Thanks for the inspiring post!
November 14, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Diandra Mae
I enjoy a delicious word as much as the next gal, and gobblefunk is going on the list! Great post about looking at things in a new way, Carter!
November 14, 2012 at 11:25 pm
kidlitgail
Wow, Carter, I came up with three new ideas just from your inspiring post! Gobblefunkers Unite!
November 15, 2012 at 8:50 am
Veronica Bartles (@vbartles)
I love this! Some of my best ideas come from playing around with words. In fact, my favorite picture book idea so far came from the title of the YA novel I was writing at the time! Inspiration is everywhere 🙂
November 15, 2012 at 9:04 am
thiskidreviewsbooks
AWESOME! I love how you think! 🙂
November 15, 2012 at 9:42 am
h1jackson
Recipe for PB
1 cup gobblefunk
1/2 cup whizzlepop
2 snozzcumbers
and wash it down with frobscottle
Ta-DA!
Thanks for sharing!
November 15, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Loni Edwards (@LoniEdwards)
Awesome post, Carter! Loved it!
November 15, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Lauri
Great post! I constantly see faces and shapes in even the most mundane of patterns-in the linoleum on my bathroom floor, in the ruffles of the curtains, in the shadows on the ceiling-everywhere. Am I crazy?!
November 15, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Sarah
Love the wordplay!
November 15, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Lois Sepahban
Thank you for a great post! I love all the fun with words!
November 16, 2012 at 7:01 am
Felicia Lilley
loved the post. Thanks for writing it !!
November 16, 2012 at 11:15 am
Jill Proctor
What great inspiration! I need to “mess with my head” more. I’ll give it a try. Thanks!
November 16, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Erin Fennell
I love the idea of gobblefunking with words and pictures. Thanks, Carter!
November 16, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Jennifer Glahn Reck
I saw a pet rock factory…Or maybe even a jail for pigeons who stay up too late!
November 16, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Debbie Mickelson
What a great thought, “…words are just pictures in different shapes…” I love this and the thought of gobblefunk. Thanks for your great thoughts.
November 16, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
What a fun post! And a reminder to turn life around and look at things a little differently. You never know what you will come up with!
November 16, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Kim MacPherson
Wow, what a fantastic post, Carter… As someone who’s not naturally “punny” (yet amazingly “alliteration-y”, which is not nearly as cool, I applaud your gobblefunky sensibility!
November 16, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Priscilla Mizell
This post was so awesome. I love that you find ideas in design and illustration, too–honestly, that’s not something I try too much. I will now! Thanks for sharing, Carter!
November 16, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Lori Grusin Degman
Carter – I loved your e-lava-n pun 🙂 I also love playing with letters and sounds! You’ve just sparked a great idea – thanks!!
I love the word “gobblefunk”! Is that when a turkey’s in a fowl mood? Sorry, couldn’t help myself!
November 18, 2012 at 1:58 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Very fun! Thanks for pushing us to “gobblefunk.” I love the way you play with the words and the visuals. I’m definitely going to see how I can put this baby into action!
November 18, 2012 at 10:27 am
Laura Hamor (@LauraHamor)
Awesome! Playing with words, playing with the visuals… inspiring!
November 18, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Lisa Anchin
Such a great visual post; I love the idea of gobblefunking things! Thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Lynda
Loved this post whilst simultaneously envying you for your obvious genius and natural talent. (Giant’s tiddlywinks? Hate you for that 😉 Am now trying to work gobblefunking into daily routine.
So, in other words, very inspiring and motivating post!
November 18, 2012 at 3:54 pm
SevenAcreSky
Love gobblefunking! Your whimspecable view of randomettical images in your world is inspirthinkable and fun! Thanks for your post!
November 18, 2012 at 6:11 pm
evelynchristensen
Gobblefunking sounds like a great way to generate new ideas. Thanks for sharing, Carter!
November 19, 2012 at 9:39 am
Lynn Anne Carol
Great thoughts, Carter. I love looking at things in a different reality than they really are.
Lynn
November 19, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Jennifer Ali
Thanks for the advice and the generous offer! What you call gobblefunk is what happens to me when my filter is off. I know I’ve spoken my musings aloud when eyes look at me askance.
November 20, 2012 at 1:49 am
Lisa Olson
Thanks for helping us to see objects in a different way.
November 20, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Beth Stilborn
Because I’ve been away, and am frantically playing catch- up, I’m delighted to say that I’ll be seizing the gobblefunked dresses and finding shiny treasures among them… mixing posts, metaphors, and who knows what will result? Perhaps some giant’s tiddleywinks (love that image!) or a concrete ladder that, when you start climbing horizontally as it appears to be, you find yourself in another dimension where horizontal is vertical and vice versa. (I think I need sleep. or my idea notebook…)
November 25, 2012 at 9:25 am
Robin Bulleri
Thanks for the advice.
November 30, 2012 at 2:49 am
Kathryn Ault Noble
I love the way you look at graphic objects and imagine what else they might be. That probably keeps city streets from being quite so boring.
April 12, 2013 at 9:07 am
A Short Film and a Sweet App « Design of the Picture Book
[…] was gobsmacked. Gobblefunked. Or […]