[UPDATE: PiBoIdMo 2010 sign-up has begun. Do not sign up on this post. Go to the PiBoIdMo 2010 kick-off post, scroll to the bottom and leave a comment to sign up.]
It’s here! Picture Book Idea Month!
Welcome!
Sharpen those pencils, open a Word document, grab a crayon. It doesn’t matter what you use, what matters is that you get an initial idea down. You might get such a great idea you can’t help but write the story immediately, or you might just record the first entry in this month’s idea file and leave it for a future burst of creativity.
I had so much fun doing this last year, but I was all by myself. I’m happy to have you join me. Four of the ideas from November 2008’s idea file turned into picture book manuscripts and one is out on submission. I expect you to have even better results.
So how is this going to work?
Stop here once a day in November for a new inspirational little tale. We’ll have guest bloggers and giveaways. And at the end of the month, if you’ve collected 30 ideas, you’ll get a PiBoIdMo badge for your blog (based on the logo above by Ryan Hipp) and a special super-secret prize. (You’ve guessed it, “super-secret” is code for “I don’t know what it is yet.”)
Now, get out of your seat.
That’s right.
I advocate butt-in-chair for getting writing done, but now I want you to jump up.
Go lift up that area rug.
Peek underneath.
What would you expect to find there? Footprints, dust bunnies, a penny, a plastic board game piece missing since 2003?
What would you NOT expect to find there?
Now go stand in the far corner of the room.
(Don’t worry, you’re not being punished.)
Turn around and face the room.
Have you ever looked at this room from this angle? Probably not. What’s different about the room?
Now run outside.
(You get a rain check if it’s pouring.)
Stand beneath a clump of trees.
What would a child create out of this little spot? Now imagine this same clump of trees in a different season. Did the child’s creation change?
OK, I hear you breathing hard. You’re tired of running around. And your neighbors are starting to gossip.
I think you get the point.
Change your perspective. Do things differently this month.
If you walk your kids to school every day, take a different path.
If you shop at a particular grocery store, go to a different one.
Start looking at your world from strange new angles.
When we settle into a routine, we take things for granted. The teaspoon you use to stir your morning coffee is just a spoon, but Amy Krouse Rosenthal turned that spoon into the main character of a picture book.
Go sit now.
Open your notebook or Word document.
Write something down—a working title, a character’s name, a location, an unusual object. Something that may someday sprout into a story. You don’t have to write the story now, you just have to file the idea away for another day.
And you don’t have to stop at one idea a day. If you get a non-stop flicker of flashbulb moments, just keep writing.
All month long that idea file will grow. Maybe today’s idea will connect with an idea on November 14th and you’ll start building a plot in your head. Who knows? Anything can happen this month.
That’s the idea.
So, how’s it going?
89 comments
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November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
Corey Schwartz
Love the badge! Might have to steal it… NOW!
November 1, 2009 at 1:07 pm
tara
Steal away! That logo was courtesy of the talented Ryan Hipp. He’s awesome!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/ryan.hipp.is.awesome?ref=ts
November 1, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Dana
well, here we go! thanks for doing this, tara. now i’m off to the corner….
November 1, 2009 at 1:07 pm
tara
Good girl!
November 1, 2009 at 12:59 pm
savanvleck
Love this idea. I’m on it.
November 1, 2009 at 1:08 pm
tara
Cool! Glad to have you join us.
November 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm
beckylevine
Thanks, Tara, the start. You know I’m just doing one PB this month, trying to do a first draft. I’ve never worked in this genre before, but an idea came–probably the picture book idea I’ve been wanting to do since my son was young. Under the rug today for me will be the sense of working with a few words at a time, for finding the different pace from novels–where you can just bleed words onto the page and know you’ve got oodles of time to change them. I know I can “bleed” words here, but it’s going to be pretty quick till I get to the total word count, and then what… That’s what I’m going to find out.
November 1, 2009 at 1:05 pm
tara
Have fun with it, Becky!
November 1, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Sarah Dillard
Thanks Tara!
Changing perspective is always a good idea and something I’m often too lazy to do…
ytrewq great just spilled tea on my keyboard…. maybe my first idea will come from that!
November 1, 2009 at 1:06 pm
tara
Maybe you can read the tea leaves.
November 1, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Jennifer
So excited to begin! Thanks for motivating us, Tara. Now, off to write. Maybe I’ll take my laptop to beach.
November 1, 2009 at 1:10 pm
tara
Hey there! My husband just walked a package over to my desk…your book!
November 1, 2009 at 1:21 pm
lynbardwell
This is fabulous! Thanks for some good ideas.
November 1, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Debbie Meyer
Just the kick in the pants I needed! Thanks! I’m sooo in!
November 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm
tara
Consider yourself kicked.
November 1, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Lynn
love this idea. Got my word document open and today’s idea (which worked itself into a little poem for now) is on the page. Thanks for such a fun challenge/idea.
November 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm
tara
An over-achiever in our midst!
November 1, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Diandra Mae
I’ve already had my first idea hit me as I was waking up! I hope the rest of my month goes like this!
November 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm
tara
What a nice way to start your day!
November 1, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Debbie
Ok, I’m in. I’m crazy (I’m also doing NaNoWriMo and Poem A Day and creating a comic a day for NaNo) but I’m in.
November 1, 2009 at 2:39 pm
tara
You’re crazy! Crazy like a Fox in Sox!!!
November 1, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Amber Alvarez
Hi Tara, thanks for the great comment on my blog! I’m so excited about this shin-dig. I’m keeping ideas and illustrations on my private journal blog so that they’re on my fingertips. I’m also doing NaNoWriMo and keeping a Google Doc so that I’ve got easy access whenever inspiration strikes. Of all the pies I have my fingers in these days this seems like the most fun!
November 1, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Sweet Pea
This is certainly inspiring, if a little intimidating. I usually just paint the pictures, so this will be my first attempt at putting words together … jumping in…sploosh!
November 1, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Sweet Pea
Very happy to give you some artwork to post – just let me know what you would like. You can email me at: susan(at)susan-mitchell(dot)com 🙂
November 1, 2009 at 3:39 pm
tara
I will be in touch. Thanks, Susan!
November 1, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Carrie
Hi, Tara. I followed the link here from Twitter. I’m usually not a PB writer but have been reading them and thinking about working on one for a while. I’ve put it off because I don’t know as much about writing them as I do about writing novels. This will be great incentive to learn!
November 1, 2009 at 3:38 pm
tara
I know more about writing PBs than I do about writing novels. Maybe we can swap brains.
November 1, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Carrie
Sounds great to me. 🙂 I’ve been compiling some resources for PB beginners, so feel free to let me know of any you recommend!
November 1, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Laurie Young
Idea down, day 1 in the can! (And thanks for your new perspective ideas!)
November 1, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Kathy Tierney
Hi Tara, What a great idea!! I’ve already written ideas for today and tomorrow. Just think a place were I can find 30 PB ideas already on my computer.
November 1, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Get Off Your Butt and Write This Month « The Spark Lab
[…] the idea of writing an entire novel gives me a panic attack, I’m taking part in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), over at Tara Lazar’s blog. The goal of one picture book idea a day is very attainable, so I […]
November 1, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Gail Handler
Great idea, Tara! Being a PB writer, I don’t have the nerve to try NaNo month, but I’m game for PiBoIdMo!
Gail
November 1, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Brandi Dougherty
Thanks, Tara! I’m in.
November 1, 2009 at 5:43 pm
tammi
Woo-woo! Here we go…….
November 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm
natisha
Great idea, Tara! I’m ready to go with it!
November 1, 2009 at 6:25 pm
paige
Okee doke, got my butt-in-chair, pencil-in-hand and I’m raring-to-go!
November 1, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Southpaw
Oh, so cool I love it. Hum… I have my first entry in my PB idea.
Thanks!
November 1, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Loni Edwards
Great idea Tara! I love it!
November 1, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Jennifer Thermes
Great post, Tara. I have a new, *special* notebook, just for this. 🙂
November 1, 2009 at 9:33 pm
tara
Oooh, I love shiny new notebooks. And I love them even more when they’re filled!
November 1, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Sheri Dillard
One idea down, twenty-nine to go. Hopefully, this Halloween sugar high will carry me through the month of November… 🙂
November 2, 2009 at 12:38 am
Laura
Tara,
What a great post. Just what I needed today!
Thanks!
Laura
November 2, 2009 at 1:32 am
Cathy June
Great idea Tara! An idea came to my mind earlier today, but I didn’t really think about what to do with it. I’ll just jot it down for my first entry. I’m glad I noticed the buzz about PiBoIdMo today!
November 2, 2009 at 3:31 am
Anna Serra i Vidal
Great idea Tara,
First I thought I could not manage both PiBoIdMo and NaNoWriMo but as I gave a great kickstart on NaNo and started to have more ideas… I’d do both.
Writting two entries, one for yesterday and one for today and on to my NaNo… again 🙂
November 2, 2009 at 9:02 am
Beth Coulton
Hi Tara- do we all swap ideas at the end of the month, or just work from our own lists? I love the whole month/brainstorming idea! I have a notebook full of titles and topics, so I can put one a day in easily! Thanks – Beth
November 2, 2009 at 9:16 am
tara
Hi Beth. No swapping. Your ideas are your own!
November 2, 2009 at 9:24 am
Easter
This sounds like fun! I’m doing Nanowrimo, but I’d like to join this challenge, too. Is it too late to hop on board?
November 2, 2009 at 9:35 am
tara
Anyone can join at any time! Welcome!
November 2, 2009 at 9:46 am
Beth Coulton
Ok, that’s what I thought – just checking! Thanks for doing this. I’m looking forward to reading what Aaron Reynolds posts- I first met him when I scheduled him to come do a weekend conference for our teachers at my church and he was excellent. He’s been a great help along the way!
November 2, 2009 at 10:02 am
Rebecca C
I don’t have a blog for the logo, but I won’t let that stop me from participating. You’ve got some great writers lined up this month. Thanks so much for sharing your idea!
November 2, 2009 at 10:36 am
tara
Who says you need a blog? Print it out and slap it on pin! You’ll be the hippest cat in town!
November 2, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Jane Miller
I’m glad PiBoIdMo is here! I have so many ideas swirling around in my head. This will make me get them down on paper. Got Day 1 and Day 2 down. Wish my NaNoWriMo was going as well. : )
November 2, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Jenn D.
Thank you Tara! I have 2 girls too – what fun! =)
November 2, 2009 at 5:55 pm
heather
Well gee, I think I’ll jump on this crazy train too. Just what I need for a little daily dose of inspiration!
November 2, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Sarah
I’ve ended up compiling ideas even though I was just going to do a sketch a day for existing ideas – I just couldn’t resist! On about 8 ideas at the mo 🙂
Sarah/Saffy
November 2, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Kara
Ok, finally sat down and got caught up. Now this is a challenge I can actually follow through on!
November 3, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Kara
Rule question: if we have more than one idea in a day, can we ‘type ahead’ to the next day? I don’t want to cheat!
November 3, 2009 at 10:37 pm
tara
I figure that it works like NaNoWriMo. If their goal is 50,000 words in a month, it doesn’t really matter how much you write per day, as long as you get’r done! I suppose someone might write 4,000 words on one day and only 400 on another.
So if you have three ideas today and none on the 15th or 29th, I won’t tell anyone.
The idea is 30 ideas in 30 days!
November 4, 2009 at 2:36 pm
AZ
Yea!
November 4, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Kelly Fineman
I am late to find this, but I’m going to join up.
November 4, 2009 at 6:44 pm
peg366
Tara,
My day four idea/story starter is up on my blog. Thanks for motivating me to do a little something every day this month.
Peg Finley/http://peg366.wordpress.com
November 5, 2009 at 7:29 pm
November writing challenges — MiG Writers
[…] PiBoIdMo, or Picture Book Idea Month: come up with a picture book idea a day and 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: poem a day […]
November 5, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Jill Esbaum
Good Lord, am I late to the party. But sounds like SO much more fun that NaNoWriMo. I’m in!
November 5, 2009 at 9:48 pm
tara
No, you’re not too late! Jump on in!
November 6, 2009 at 10:25 am
Friday Five: Thoughts on Picture Books « Becky Levine
[…] November 1st, in tandem with NaNoWriMo and Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo, I dug out the one idea I’d really been thinking about, opened up Ann Whitford Paul’s […]
November 7, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Lynn
I am so glad I found this – I already have 8 ideas! Never thought I could do this. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have the badge proudly displayed on my blog. : )
November 11, 2009 at 10:49 am
The Adventures of Whimsical Walney » Blog Archive » We Interrupt The CPSIA Programming…
[…] get the ideas flowing again, I signed up to participate in Tara Lazar’s Picture Book Idea Month which is happening throughout November. It is great fun to open up my Word document every day and […]
November 19, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Mimi Cross
Hello, hello! Party crasher here! Better late than never!
Just read about your brilliant idea today Tara – fantastic!
Found out on Kathy Temean’s blog – I seem to get all of my best info from her these days – I think of Kathy as Our Fearless Leader at njscbwi (-;
I’m doing nanowrimo so my pump is primed. I’m up to date on my word count, but am often coming up with ideas that have no place in my novel,
This may be just the thing to keep me organized.
Thanks for doing this!
Best,
Mimi
November 19, 2009 at 7:16 pm
tara
Hi Mimi! Glad you decided to crash!
November 19, 2009 at 8:05 pm
A NaNoWriMo Alternative for Picture Book Writers « Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)
[…] September 24, 2009 in Children's Books, Children's Writing, Picture Books, Writing for Children | Tags: NaNoWriMo [11/1/09: UPDATE! PiBoIdMo has launched! Click here for details!] […]
November 23, 2009 at 11:17 am
Jennifer
What a great blog you have here. I always wondered where the other aspiring children’s writers hung out. Thanks for creating a place to share ideas….Good Luck to all:)
November 23, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Kirsty
What a great idea! It’s a shame I only found out about this so late in the month as I’m sure our aspiring writers would have loved this. I’ve put it in my calendar for next year to help spread the word.
December 7, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Picture Book Promotion for the Self-Published « Official Blog & Website of Women Who Write, Inc.
[…] book author who blogs about kidlit at Writing for Kids (While Raising Them). She hosted PiBoIdMo (picture book idea month) in November 2009 as an alternative to NaNoWriMo for picture book writers. […]
December 9, 2009 at 12:25 pm
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[…] you’d like, link the badge back to the first PiBoIdMo post, so curious visitors will know what it is. This isn’t a requirement, just a […]
December 16, 2009 at 11:18 am
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[…] and sketches and art, oh my! Several children’s illustrators participated in November’s PiBoIdMo challenge by moleskining their way through the month. Below you can see what makes an […]
December 20, 2009 at 10:56 am
OPINIONATED ANT » Break time is over… get back to work!
[…] was your month? Did you participate in NaNoWriMo, NaBloPoMo, PiBoIdMo or Movember? I tried to convince my human to do the Mustache bid. She didn’t like that […]
January 8, 2010 at 8:42 pm
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[…] headed for the circular file, but you never know what ideas will emerge. If you participated in PiBoIdMo last November, you’ve already got all those spanking concepts rolling around in your […]
June 25, 2010 at 8:41 am
Unique Kids Chairs
This is a really great idea! I am super late 😦
July 6, 2010 at 11:23 am
PiBoIdMo Success Story! « Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)
[…] Writing for Children | Tags: Barbara Karlin Grant, SCBWI Last November this blog hosted “Picture Book Idea Month,” a daily exercise for picture book writers. The object was to create one new picture book […]
September 29, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Sheryl Tilley
Getting excited about PiBoIdMo 2010!! This will be my second year and I’ll be doing NaNoWriMo (National NovelWriting Month – my 4th year) at the same time so with gratitude I expect a busy inspirational month!
Thanks so much for hosting.
Sheryl Tilley
September 29, 2010 at 4:04 pm
tara
Great to have you on board, Sheryl!
November 1, 2010 at 6:05 am
jan godown annino
Tara, if you can organize this AND work on your ideas each day – not to mention writing & revising, then I can certainly kick the keyboard & the yellow legal pad into high gear. Thanks for everything.
Jan
November 2, 2010 at 8:34 am
Lisa Tomaselli
I’m in!!! Can’t wait to get started!
November 2, 2010 at 10:58 am
Catherine Denton
Thank you for hosting this! I’m in!
Making Life a Work of Art!
November 9, 2010 at 11:20 am
Why I Love NaNoWriMo « Channeling Words
[…] already ironed out most of them. This year I’m also taking part in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo.) Thirty days, thirty ideas. If all goes well, I’ll enter December with most of a novel draft […]
November 11, 2010 at 8:56 am
Robin
Hope I can get caught u! This is great. Robin
December 1, 2010 at 7:15 am
rosie perez
ok…what a month…Decemember 1st is here! where do I check in?
December 1, 2010 at 10:27 am
tara
Rosie, go to the “Take the PiBoIdMo 2010 Pledge” post.
January 29, 2011 at 10:23 pm
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