When I tell people that I have a mechanical engineering degree and that I’m also a picture book author, they look at me like I’m trying to mate two different species. Like I’m part alligator and part butterfly. (That would be one scary insect/reptile.)
But as an engineer, I relied heavily on my creative gifts and as an author I can use engineering skills to organize and tackle writing projects. November and PiBoIdMo were about the creativity. Now in December, let’s use our engineering skills to tackle the what-is-next problem. (Don’t worry. You DO have engineering skills. You just don’t know it.)
When I worked as an airline seat engineer I had to create a bill of material (called more affectionately a BOM). A BOM was used by purchasing to order all the parts needed to create an airline seat—everything from nuts and bolts to cushions to motors. (These were the awesome first class seats that fully recline and offer in-flight entertainment.) I’m suggesting a BOM could also be used to create a children’s picture book.
Let’s look back at our ideas from November. This is our inventory from which we can create a BOM. I like to use a spreadsheet, but you can do the same thing with paper, pen and a straight edge. Make a list of all the characters that sprung to life in November and put them in column A. Then make a list of other components needed in a book: settings, problems, titles, goals, situations, emotions, other, etc. It’s OK if you have fifty characters listed and only five settings.
(click to view chart at full size)
Now we have a list of components we can use to build a story. By creating your spreadsheet, you might see that you have a great character and interesting problem that you do not previously consider putting together. Your cookie-loving shark might be the perfect hero to free Mars of aliens.
Or maybe not.
Engineers—like authors—also go through numerous revisions. And every part you need to build your picture book will not be in your inventory list. Your BOM for each story will require the creation of new components. Your goal and your setting may work, but you may need to create a new character (a character not created in November, but in December).
So don’t be afraid to engineer your picture book. In the end, creativity and structure can live happily ever after.
Stacy was a mechanical engineer for 8 years before becoming a full-time writer. DEAR SANTASAURUS, her first picture book, was released in October from Boyds Mills Press. She has also engineered two other picture books to be published in 2015 by Random House and Knopf. Stacy lives in a messy house in North Carolina with her 3 messy kids, 2 messy dogs, and 1 messy husband. Visit her at StacyMcAnulty.com.
Stacy is giving away a signed copy of DEAR SANTASAURUS and a picture book critique. Leave a comment to be entered.
You are eligible for this prize if:
- You have registered for PiBoIdMo.
- You have commented ONCE ONLY on today’s post.
- You have completed the PiBoIdMo challenge. (You have signed the PiBoIdMo Winner’s Pledge.)
Good luck, everyone!
304 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 4, 2013 at 9:29 am
Lisa Robinson
Dear Santasaurus, I’d love to win this prize! 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 9:30 am
nicole snitselaar
great article ! i am going to try and to be an engineer ! what a promotion ! 😉
thanks !
December 4, 2013 at 9:30 am
Kimberly Vogel
I love your author description! So relatable!
December 4, 2013 at 9:31 am
jheitman22
Stacy, I think some participants have already created something like this, but I have not, and I think it’s a great way to process those ideas and send some more sparks flying! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 9:31 am
Cathy Ballou Mealey
Love the analogy of engineering a book outline!
Did you engineer a comfy seat for your little red wagon? I’m nervous that you’re going to slide off those granite steps!
Thanks for a fun post Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:32 am
cat jones
A BOM sounds like a gret tool. Thanks for the tip 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 9:32 am
Janet
Love this-very helpful to have in my toolbox!
December 4, 2013 at 9:33 am
Alexa Kaufhold
Great ideas, Stacy. As a former chemist, I appreciate the formulaic approach, but live for the whimsy in creating stories.
December 4, 2013 at 9:34 am
cantsing1
Your BOM approach is “the bomb”! Thanks – and chart, to boot!
December 4, 2013 at 9:34 am
dzipeto
Stacy,
Thank you for your chart!!! I work in an engineering company and am familiar with BOMs!! Brilliant to use them here.
Best,
Diana Zipeto
December 4, 2013 at 9:35 am
skeerswriter
I LOVE your book and took it to share with my writer’s group last week! I also love lists, charts and graphs and look forward to expanding my ideas from November. Thanks for the helpful post!
December 4, 2013 at 9:35 am
Sue Poduska
I want to know more about the donut. Is it a famous donut of a one-eyed fish under the bed? Also, are you in the messy category too, Stacy?
December 4, 2013 at 9:35 am
Juliana Lee
I love how you married engineer with creativity! As the favorite aunt to a creative female engineer, I can truly appreciate the connection! Way to go Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:35 am
rosemary basham
Thanks for another great organizing idea!
December 4, 2013 at 9:35 am
naturewalkwithgod
I’ll have to give that BOM a try. So different from anything I’ve done before. 🙂 Thanks for the explanation. –Kim
December 4, 2013 at 9:36 am
Donna Mae Pasiczniak
You have sparked my interest in a new approach and I thank you for that
December 4, 2013 at 9:37 am
Pam Jones
I too, have that mechanical/creative thing and I can totally relate to this! Thank you for sharing and this is very helpful to visually organize all the pieces and parts. Love it!
December 4, 2013 at 9:38 am
deborahholtwilliams
Wow! A totally new approach. Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:39 am
Bonnie AdamsonBonnie Adamson
Awesome, Stacy! My father was an engineer, and I’ve often felt an irrational impulse to organize things that must be genetic. I love the BOM chart. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 9:39 am
Debbie Mickelson
I love this! I was an aerospace software engineer for about 20 years so I can relate to this way of thinking too. I can’t wait to try itv with my PiBoIdMo ideas. Thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to read DEAR SANTASAURUS.
December 4, 2013 at 9:40 am
tanyakonerman
Oh, wow…the organizing personality in me just sat up straight! Thanks for a great idea!
December 4, 2013 at 9:42 am
Courtenay Schurman
Interesting perspective I hadn’t considered before. The more I learn about the art and craft of writing the more I realize EVERY PERSON OUT THERE provides something — story, quirk, conflict IN the story, as well as CREATORS of the story — the world is a gold mine for all us creative engineering types! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 9:43 am
Lauren Greenberg
Great advice. This definitely appeals to the organizer in me. Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:43 am
Jessie Oliveros
I studied nursing, and I believe that creativity plays a role in the more scientific field as well.:)
December 4, 2013 at 9:44 am
rlkurstedt
Love this idea. Will certainly give it a try.
December 4, 2013 at 9:45 am
kristivaliant
What a great idea! That would be an easy way to do PiBoIdMo, by the way. Make the chart at the beginning of November, and just fill it in. Easy peasy. And probably will end up being funnier than individual picture book ideas.
December 4, 2013 at 9:45 am
Penny Parker Klostermann
Thanks for the spreadsheet visual. Dear Santasaurus looks adorable. I can’t wait to read it.
December 4, 2013 at 9:48 am
danacarey1
That’s one fun organizational tool. Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:48 am
heatherj
Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:49 am
gayleckrause
Congrats on the new book. Love your spreadsheet idea. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 9:51 am
Cheryl Mansfield
Stacy, love your post…and the chart. I work with mechanical engineers so I agree…there is overlap.
December 4, 2013 at 9:52 am
S.H. Sherlock
I need a little organization to look at my ideas with new perspective. Thanks for the tool!
December 4, 2013 at 9:52 am
fashionistaphilly.tumblr.com
I loved this posting from an engineer!!! So cool and so logical but very methodical loved the advice thanks Stacy!!!
December 4, 2013 at 9:53 am
Lori Alexander
This is a great way to put some order to all of my choppy thoughts from last month–will give it a try! Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 9:55 am
LeeAnn Jensen
Thank you! I sure need structure in my mixed up schedule. These are great ideas and helps.
December 4, 2013 at 9:57 am
Wendy Greenley
Thanks for the post, Stacy. As a fellow science nerd turned to “the dark side” of humanities, I appreciate the order of your spread sheet. You are a bundle of energy. Santasaurus is at the Columbus zoo and you are everywhere!
December 4, 2013 at 10:00 am
Teresa Daffern
Wonderful! I love making connections between different things and I love how you found so many important similarities between writing & creativity and your engineering profession. Thank you for sharing your process!
December 4, 2013 at 10:01 am
Alicia van Thiel
Great! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 10:06 am
Nancy Armo
Oh, I like this chart! Anything that will organize and help move things along is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
December 4, 2013 at 10:08 am
mona861
I’m creating my BOM. Thanks so much for this post.
December 4, 2013 at 10:08 am
Jacki Morris
this chart is a great idea – love it! may even do it!
ps – i find it hard to believe someone SO organized like yourself is still so messy!
December 4, 2013 at 10:08 am
Kathy Moncrief
As someone who has a totally underdeveloped organizational side of the brain, WHAT A GREAT IDEA!! Thanks!!!
December 4, 2013 at 10:08 am
Jennifer Gibson
love the spreadsheet idea- I am going to try it!
December 4, 2013 at 10:09 am
Jen Doherty
Congratulations on your new career! I will definitely try this spreadsheet. Thanks very much for sharing it with us.
December 4, 2013 at 10:09 am
Hayley Barrett
Your post was the BOM, Stacy! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 10:11 am
sjdoherty1
Congratulations on your new career! And thank you for sharing the chart. I will definitely give it a shot.
December 4, 2013 at 10:12 am
Lori Dubbin
My husband and I sat in those amazingly comfortable airline seats you helped design on the way to our oldest son’s wedding (using all our points)! It was a 5 1/2 hour flight and we felt like we were lounging in our living room the whole time. I’ve already drawn a chart and am filling in the blanks. Maybe it will help me design a story as creative and awesome as those seats! Thank you for this very helpful tool. And congratulations on “Dear Santasaurus.”
December 4, 2013 at 10:13 am
cherylsec
I love this! Thank you so much, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 10:14 am
Michele Norman
Great post! I love learning names for all the crazy charts that PiBoIdMo inspired me to create – last week was a meter chart and now BOM. Woot!
December 4, 2013 at 10:18 am
Doreen E. Lepore
Great idea – thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 10:19 am
Johnell
Love this. Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 10:19 am
MichelleLynn
Thank you for the nod to organization. I also have an organizational chart of picture books, but this one allows me to see several stories on one page. Love it!
December 4, 2013 at 10:19 am
Natasha
Saw your book just yesterday in Boyds catalogue. Congratulations!
December 4, 2013 at 10:21 am
artsyandi
My husband is an engineer but I never would have thought to apply his organized ways to what I do. Great post!
December 4, 2013 at 10:24 am
Lynn Alpert
What a great idea! Thank you, Stacy for adding a little left-brain thinking to a mostly right-brain process.
December 4, 2013 at 10:26 am
Rebecca
I think I might actually enjoy making a spreadsheet for once!
December 4, 2013 at 10:27 am
Melanie Vickers
You inspire me with the opening on your web page: I hated to read too. Today, I can’t get enough. The free stuff on your web page is good stuff.
Thanks
December 4, 2013 at 10:29 am
lindamartinandersen
Terrific mix of talents and skills!
December 4, 2013 at 10:31 am
Angela Padron
Great advice – and love the chart! Thank you
December 4, 2013 at 10:33 am
Janet Smart
A spreadsheet sounds like a good idea. Congratulations on your books!
December 4, 2013 at 10:33 am
sueheaven
BOM! now I’ve got a new term to add to my list of arcane stuff… I would have just called it a spreadsheet (how boring!) or a chart (boring-er still).
But now I can say: Picture books got the BOM!
December 4, 2013 at 10:34 am
emazza1217
Thank you for the reminder to use Excel! I need to pull my ideas from my notebook and onto my laptop.
December 4, 2013 at 10:34 am
Theanna
Santasaurus ( Love it!) – Great ideas Stacy. Love the spreadsheet and Love your author description as well. Love your mix of talents! Also congrats on your books. Best wishes to you.
December 4, 2013 at 10:36 am
Ashley Bohmer
Wow! What a neat comparison. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 10:37 am
Stephanie Shaw
I’m imagining the BOM needed for seats other than first class was much, much smaller — LOL. Thanks for the great idea, Stacy. I’m thinking a white board might be the best place to keep this chart going so that it could be continually changed.
December 4, 2013 at 10:40 am
Dawn Young
Wow Stacy…I’m a mechanical engineer, turned Picture book writer as well and I totally get this! Lucky for us we don’t have to write a Change Order to go with every revision! lol
December 4, 2013 at 10:40 am
kirsticall
Stacy, what a great post! Now I have an organized way to make my ideas better!
December 4, 2013 at 10:42 am
littledbl
Love the BOM idea! 🙂 Thank you.
December 4, 2013 at 10:43 am
melinkee
Thanks for the tips, Stacy.
December 4, 2013 at 10:43 am
Susan Eyerman
Love the book outline – so helpful! Thank you.
December 4, 2013 at 10:45 am
Pia Garneau
Santasaurus looks adorable! Thanks for the post PiBo post. There is an engineer in all of us. Thanks for the reminder.
December 4, 2013 at 10:46 am
shiela fuller
Thank you for the post today. I like how you compared piecing stories to engineering.
December 4, 2013 at 10:46 am
Kim Erickson
This is such a great idea. Thanks for your insights!
December 4, 2013 at 10:47 am
rebeccaehirsch
Thanks, Stacy. I have a background in science, too, and your post really appealed to that half of my brain.
December 4, 2013 at 10:47 am
Sandi Lawson
Thank you for your post. I loved reading that you were a mechanical engineer, not a teacher or library media specialist. I often feel unqualified when I tell my writer friends I am a dental hygienist. I guess writers come from all backgrounds!
December 4, 2013 at 10:49 am
rgstones
I love the chart idea. I’m going to play with that today.
December 4, 2013 at 10:52 am
Jennifer Kaap
I will have to give that BOM a try… thanks for your post!
December 4, 2013 at 10:53 am
Shanda McCloskey
Cute post!
December 4, 2013 at 10:54 am
debra daugherty
I’ve never tried a spreadsheet before, but I love the idea! Thanks for the enlightening post!
December 4, 2013 at 10:58 am
Kerry Mazengia
What a great idea. I will definitely give it a try. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 10:59 am
robinghoward
I LOVE spreadsheets! Thank you for teaching me how to use them when my writerly hat is on 😉
December 4, 2013 at 11:02 am
Lynn Anne Carol
Love the little red wagon, Stacy. It’s the only way to fly. Thanks for the BOM sheet. I copy/pasted it into my PiBo file.
I look forward to reading your book. Christmas and dinosaurs . . . could it get any better?
Thanks,
Lynn
December 4, 2013 at 11:03 am
Michelle @ Fitztopia
Oh, my inner bookkeeper is jumping for joy… I love me some colorful spreadsheets! Great tips for organizing and developing our ideas – Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 11:04 am
Ashley Pedigo
This is a really fun idea that I’ve been meaning to try to get some of my ideas out of the Land of Cliché. Thanks for reminding me about this instant Idea Freshener, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 11:05 am
Holly Bliss
Great idea!
December 4, 2013 at 11:08 am
Jenn Bower
I love this template. Super tool to add to the worksheets I used during the challenge. Going to fill it out tonight and use it as a discussion tool with my agent.
December 4, 2013 at 11:13 am
Dawnyelle
Love this! So useful! Thank you a million times. I wish this would meet end!
December 4, 2013 at 11:14 am
Karen Sipps
Stacy. I love you. 15 years of automotive industrial and mechanical engineering here. I want to reach through the computer and hug your neck.
December 4, 2013 at 11:15 am
Buffy Silverman
Great chart–I hope it helps all of us engineer our ideas into stories!
December 4, 2013 at 11:16 am
erin
Such a great tool! I often view my ideas as independent, but playing around with combinations could definitely help. Thanks for the post!
December 4, 2013 at 11:16 am
Kirsten W. Larson
Oh, I love a good Excel spreadsheet. It must be the MBA in me. 🙂 Stacy, we got Santasaurus yesterday, and it’s a big hit. We read it twice. My seven-year-old commented on your unique framework (the letters).
December 4, 2013 at 11:18 am
Karen Mae Zoccoli
Thanks Stacey for showing us our left and right brains can actually work together and create beautiful things! I love the spreadsheet idea, too ~ thanks for sharing!
December 4, 2013 at 11:19 am
Jewel Sample
Great idea to help structure the story arc…thank you for sharing…
December 4, 2013 at 11:19 am
Mary Crockett
I like this idea for a prompt. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 11:22 am
Laura Zimmermann
Great post!
December 4, 2013 at 11:23 am
Jennifer Young (@ItsJennyYoung)
Stacey, thank you for introducing the BOM. Looks like a very helpful tool. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 11:24 am
Cindy Cornwall
Though every fiber of my being resists spreadsheets etc. I can definitely see an advantage to cataloging the ideas. Thanks so much for the engineering perspective Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 11:26 am
Tracey M. Cox
I knew I liked you Stacy!!! SPREAD SHEETS!!!! Thanks for the idea and now to get to making my own BOM!
December 4, 2013 at 11:28 am
Denise Bowman
I love the BOM idea! What a great way to merge the creative with the organized! Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 11:29 am
jdrury002
I LOVE to be organized I will definitely try your spreadsheet approach!
December 4, 2013 at 11:29 am
Eileen
Thanks for sharing.
December 4, 2013 at 11:30 am
Joanne Roberts
Thanks, Stacy and Tara. Thanks for throwing some logic into the mix of right-brained creativity. I love the deliberate way you craft your story ideas into solid storylines. The spreadsheet will be a great critique tool as well. I’m off to engineer some manuscripts!!
December 4, 2013 at 11:32 am
Rene Aube
Thanks for this great tool! 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 11:33 am
Carol Munro
Wow…this is a fabulous idea. And works with the part of my mind influenced by my former corporate life — charts, graphs, structure, fact gathering, evaluating, etc. Plus, I’ll bet once the chart is done, it inspires many more ideas. Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 11:34 am
renajtraxel
Cool. It’s fun to try new approaches.
December 4, 2013 at 11:36 am
Lucy
I use calendars and spreadsheets like a fiend, but never thought to apply them to organizing my creative thoughts
December 4, 2013 at 11:40 am
Ashley Bankhead
Great post. Thanks.
December 4, 2013 at 11:41 am
tpierce
Love this post, Stacey. My husband is an part-time engineer and teaches engineering full-time. He’s always suggesting more “mechanical” approaches to me on how to organize my writing so your BOM idea fits right in!
December 4, 2013 at 11:46 am
Marianne Knowles
Yippee! Engineers are creative too. Thanks for pointing that out. I’m married to a engineer-poet, and am mom of an engineering student who won a big prize in a writing contest back in high school.
December 4, 2013 at 11:50 am
theitaliancob
Brilliant idea, thanks.
December 4, 2013 at 11:51 am
Sandie Sing
What a wonderful resource for writers. Thank you for sharing the BOM template. Wahoo! I love it!
December 4, 2013 at 11:51 am
Jackie Wellington21
I like this. A-L-O-T!!! Being a math major and visual learner, I am always looking through statistical eyes and merging things via spreadsheet. I am glad to see that others oroganize their thoughts and process as I do. Thanks for sharing this. It was great!
December 4, 2013 at 11:52 am
Bev
Great idea to organize all the ideas from the pst month – should generate a whole bunch more ideas!
December 4, 2013 at 11:53 am
Sheri Roloff
This looks like a great way to find connections between all my random ideas. Thanks for the help!
December 4, 2013 at 11:56 am
Linda Hofke
Spreadsheets can be helpful. Thanks for your example.
December 4, 2013 at 12:02 pm
Evie Hjartarson
Love the BOM idea. Thanks for a great post.
December 4, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Christy Mihaly
Thanks for the idea. I’m hoping December is a month of doing research for my nonfiction ideas, and organizing my crazy list of PiBoIdMo topics.
December 4, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Jill Siegel
Excellent! This is motivating me to create a spreadsheet right now. Thank you.
December 4, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Margaret Greanias
Thanks Stacy for the great analogy. I love the spreadsheet idea. Congrats on your two new PB coming out with Random Houes and Knopf.
December 4, 2013 at 12:11 pm
msmo1958
Great spreadsheet and advice. Thanks so much.
December 4, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Pat Haapaniemi
Love this chart, Stacy – thanks for the idea!
December 4, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Manju Howard (@ManjuBeth)
My chart includes the first four columns. Thanks for making me take the next step in the PB thought process.
December 4, 2013 at 12:24 pm
angelapenadahle
Quite Clever…using a BOM. I like it! A butterfly-alligator wouldn’t be so bad…my kids would agree on that. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Janie Reinart
Stacy, thanks for the post! Charts are great! You are one smart cookie!
December 4, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Marcie Rinka Wessels
I’m married to an engineer and one of the things I admire most about him is his ability to think outside the box and view the big picture. The spreadsheet chart is an inspired tool. One to add to my toolbox. Off to build a story.
December 4, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Perfecting Motherhood
Writing a book does follow the engineering process. Many engineers are very creative, I’m not sure why they get such a bad rep. I could totally picture one of my kids becoming a mechanical or a design engineer. And I’d love to see an alligator with butterfly wings!
December 4, 2013 at 12:37 pm
RadSheri
Sat right down Stacy and created a grid or an outline to fill in the ideas from November. Now I will make it bigger and sideways to fit all the into in that I need to do handwritten not computer driven, Thanks for your practical help.
December 4, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Dorothy Wiese
Thanks for a great idea. I have been told that I am organized, but my house is messy too (as hard as I try to make or keep it neat). Thanks for sharing the messy information too. I don’t feel like I’m the only one. (I have a lot of neat members of family and friends).
December 4, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Jessie Miller (@pigknit)
I love finding people who changed routes, and I would get excited when I’d see someone who went from animation to illustration (like myself), so imagine my excitement to find someone who went from engineering to illustration! It’s very inspiring to say the least 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
This so appeals to my charty/listy personality! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Stella Jane Stauffer
Love the chart idea. Great post! Thank you
December 4, 2013 at 12:45 pm
anita banks
Love, love, love the spreedsheet. Great post.
December 4, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Donna L. Sadd
I think it’s wonderful that you can take what you know and apply it in a different way to spur your writing. It’s like kismet! Much success with Dear Santasaurus, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 12:46 pm
DianeKHower
I love your spreadsheet…brilliant! Thank you, Stacy.
December 4, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Susan Nicholas
Great idea. I think I can do this.
December 4, 2013 at 12:50 pm
RaChelle Lisiecki
Thank you, Stacy. Your chart is the BOM! Can’t wait to use it and see what happens. My kids loved “Dear Santasaurus”! Best of luck to you.
December 4, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Julie
Thanks for the helpful way of looking at the story ideas.
December 4, 2013 at 1:01 pm
julie rowan zoch
I do like the idea of being able to say, ” I am developing a book BOM.”
December 4, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Sarah Maynard
Brilliant! I think I have my weekend project. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Ariel TS
And I thought spreadsheets were just for tracking my agent queries! Thanks for this excellent post 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Lauri
Stacy, I read Dear Santasaurus and all I can say is, it was the BOM! Thanks for the great post!
December 4, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Santiago Casares
Great idea of how to expand on those ideas we’ve accumulated this past month!
December 4, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Sandy Perlic
Ah ha! As a former accountant, I dig the spreadsheet idea! What a great visual to tie together all of the elements we may have come up with. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Sherry Walz
Stacy, thanks for the pointers about the engineering part of picture book writing. Interesting!
December 4, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Iris Diamond
Dear Stacy. love your engineering apporach. Finally sombody speaking to my left brain. Being a math-geek, your post is the answer to my question in an understandable form 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Kaye Baillie
Thank you, Stacy. Any information on how to create is wonderful.
December 4, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Phyllis I Turner
After diving in and finishing my first attempt at PiBoIdMo successfully, and never having written a children’s picture book or ANY book for that matter, your spreadsheet was the missing piece of the puzzle for me! I’ve printed the photo and will get to work on making my own as soon as I’m finished with this comment! I’m so excited I can hardly stand myself! Writing picture books has been a dream of mine for almost 30 years now and it’s finally within reach! Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Jenn DesAutels
Great cribsheet, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni)
This is a fabulous chart! Thanks Stacy, You da Bom(b)!
December 4, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Laurie Young
Thank you so much for your post. It will be very helpful for me 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 1:48 pm
LovableLobo
Such a crafty post! Thanks for the inspiration!
December 4, 2013 at 1:49 pm
viviankirkfield
What a super-helpful spreadsheet, Stacy! This is a tool that will spark lots of creative story ideas and is perfect for all the scribblings that are filling my PiBoIdMo notebook. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Malena Fuentes
Truth is that it looks like building a house,
December 4, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Suzy Leopold
Time to do some engineering for some picture books. Thank you for the words of wisdom and the inspiration. ~Suzy Leopold
December 4, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Sarah Kilfoil
Great idea for organizing my ideas!
December 4, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Naana
Thank you for sharing the spreadsheet. It will be very useful in creating stories
December 4, 2013 at 2:06 pm
miki
I immediately created a spreadsheet and pooled two story ideas. Thanks for the suggestion!
December 4, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Madeline Barr (@MadelineBarr)
What a great idea! I’m sure this will spark some new and interesting story ideas.
December 4, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Kelly Vavala
This is a great idea! I love the mix and match approach and depending on your mood, serious or silly, you will probably get a different reaction each time. Thank you for the great post and for sharing. Congrats on your book! It looks adorable! I wish you continued success:)
December 4, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Myrna Foster
Thanks for sharing your spreadsheet idea! It’s the BOM! 😉
December 4, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Hana
How wonderful that you can apply your engineering background to your writing. Engineers are often highly creative people….but they’re also organized and systematic. A great combination.
December 4, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Janet Halfmann
Love your “bill of materials” idea. Thanks for sharing.
December 4, 2013 at 2:25 pm
janelle
Thanks so much!
December 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Daryl Gottier
Any tool to help organize my ideas is a wonderful thing…thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 2:36 pm
kpbock
Thanks for the great tool! I heard you speak at the fall conference in Charlotte this year and I learned quite a lot, so thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 2:37 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
Love to hear how your two worlds collide! Thanks for sharing!
December 4, 2013 at 2:41 pm
lmconnors
Congrats on taking the leap to full-time writing! And thanks for the engineering advice.
December 4, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Catherine
I have started a spreadsheet and find it really useful. Two of my PiBoMoId ideas have now become one story thanks to this approach 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Heather Greene
Thanks, Stacy! Love the BOM!
December 4, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Erin Fennell
Cool idea! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Kathy Doherty
Thanks! Very sound advice!
December 4, 2013 at 2:57 pm
happyidiots
Great analogy! Thanks for your contribution and spread sheet, I’m going to give it a go.
December 4, 2013 at 3:00 pm
donnashepherd
Great chart! Love the book, too.
December 4, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Catherine Johnson
Now that is da BOM! Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Flower
Thanks for the insight, Stacy. I love charts, tables and little red wagons.
December 4, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Angela Turner
Anything to help me get organized is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 3:23 pm
danielledufayet
Great advice – mixing “logic” and creativity for the best results! Thank you for sharing.
December 4, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Christine M. Irvin
This is one idea I can definitely use. Thanks!!!
December 4, 2013 at 3:34 pm
keepingthemeinmommy
I love the suggestion of mix and matching your story/story elements ideas. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 3:39 pm
Michelle O'Hara Levin
I used to be an engineering major! (Then I turned into a philosophy major then I ran business, then I taught kindergarten, now I write…) I like this post!!!
December 4, 2013 at 3:42 pm
mkokeefe
Engineering and picture books makes sense to me as a combination! A great post. Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Rachel Smoka-Richardson
I love spreadsheets. Thanks for the great idea!
December 4, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Ashley Potts
Great idea with the spreadsheet! Thanks for reminding me to use my poor, neglected left brain.
December 4, 2013 at 3:44 pm
creationsbymit
This is really funny, Stacy! I create BOMs all the time at my day job in product development/manufacturing, but never considered using them for picture books! Now I’m looking at them in a whole new light! Thanks for the tip!
December 4, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Lindsay Bonilla
This is a good way to teach young writers how to develop story ideas that I have employed in some of my workshops. Funny how sometimes we just need to go back to the basics! Thanks for sharing!
December 4, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
This spread sheet is what has been missing from my life. That’s why I can’t get this list organized. Or maybe it’s because nothing in my life has EVER been organized. Yeah… That could be it. Spread sheet. Yay. I’m on it. How do you like me now??
December 4, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Mary Warth
Thanks Stacy! Your technique just might be the approach that I need to make sure all my ideas shine.
December 4, 2013 at 3:54 pm
klmcmorranmaus
Great approach to story crafting. Thank you for sharing.
December 4, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Mary A Livingston
Excellent approach!
December 4, 2013 at 4:07 pm
amievc
Stacy, thanks for you practical suggestions–another piece for the organizational tool kits that help us build our dreams!
December 4, 2013 at 4:19 pm
kelmcdonald
Love the spreadsheet. hubbies an engineer and has them for everything.
December 4, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Shirley
What a novel approach. Thanks for the tip.
December 4, 2013 at 4:35 pm
Pam Brunskill (@PamBrunskill)
Love this chart! I already created my own. Thanks, Stacy!
December 4, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Patrick Waldron
WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! That’s a lot of ‘wow’s but I cracked a code. Thank you Stacey for your methodical inspirational essay.
December 4, 2013 at 4:49 pm
childrensbooksonadime
Very nice, I love lists and charts and organizational approaches, thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Kelly Parker
Great idea mashing up the different pieces we have written down. Definitely going to try this!
December 4, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Meg Miller
Neat idea, love it! 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Kjersten Hayes
Great idea. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 5:35 pm
bnkupetz
Thanks, Stacy, for sharing your chart. Sounds like it might generate a lot of great ideas.
December 4, 2013 at 5:38 pm
Jarm Del Boccio
Stacy, your chart will be most helpful in creating new scenarios. Thanks so much for inspiring me!
December 4, 2013 at 5:38 pm
cathy john biggerstaff
Thanks, Stacy! I work with numbers and spreadsheets so this approach spoke my language. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.
December 4, 2013 at 5:38 pm
Robyn Campbell
What a bodaciously rad chart. Now I just gotta do one. Organization is the THING these days. *wink* Thanks so much! *waves peace sign*
December 4, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Christine Cowan
Good Advice!
December 4, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Susan Cabael
Looking forward to organizing ALL my ideas, not just from this PiBoIdMo, but from my past writing journals too. Fun mash-ups to come!
December 4, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Debbie Austin
I love the idea of this spreadsheet! I am trying to be more organized in the planning stage and this will help. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 6:07 pm
Janny J. Johnson
I can’t wait to read Dear Santasaurous! I’ve got my straight edge out and have begun my spreadsheet!
December 4, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Erin Kerr
What a great idea, Stacy! I use something very similar to this, though I use a long roll of paper and coloured inks and highlighters to keep everything organized so I don’t suddenly fall off the chart. ^_^ Your book looks so adorable, my reading list gets bigger by the day. Cheers!
December 4, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Carol Nelson
I love the spreadsheet idea. What a great way to come up with even more possibilities from the PiBoIdMo generated entries.
December 4, 2013 at 6:29 pm
sherry alexander
Love the suggestion–can’t wait to try it. Thank you
December 4, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Cindy Schumerth
Thanks for the post.
December 4, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Laurie L. Young
The chart is such a good idea! You could even put random things in the columns and then mix and match!
December 4, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Cecilia Clark
I love the chart
December 4, 2013 at 7:10 pm
lindaschueler
Hmmm, interesting possibility.
December 4, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Carolyn Rohrbaugh
I like the idea of a spreadsheet.
December 4, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Jim Hill (@heyjimhill)
The chart is a great idea. I think any tool that helps visual data is helpful. As the son of an electrical engineer turned watercolor artist, I appreciate people that use both sides of their brain.
Or as I like to say, “the corpus callosum is super awesome!”
December 4, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Leslie Colin Tribble
I love the organization! Makes me think more critically about my stories and opposed to just “winging it.” Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Amy Cohas
Stacy, thank you for the extremely useful chart, I’m definitely going to try this approach. I too, have three messy kids, so it is encouraging to see that you have become a successful writer despite the demands of family life 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Marty McCormick
Can see lots of benefits to intermixing skill sets from the various jobs and roles we have in life. Thanks for that thought, along with the chart idea, and the glimpse into a mechanical engineers day!
December 4, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Alisha Gabriel
I love the idea of charting it out. That’s the type of thing that works for me, too. thanks for the ideas!
December 4, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Pat Miller
Your chart is an excellent way to mash-up the ideas I came up with in November–giving me lots more possibilities. Thank you, Kristi!
December 4, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Karen Williams
I think it is our other experiences that make our writing all the more rich. Thank you for sharing!
December 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Deb Dunn
I’ve never thought to do this and I’ll give it a try – thanks for engineering that idea!
December 4, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Jacqueline Pearce
Thanks, the chart looks like it also might be useful for teaching story writing to kids.
December 4, 2013 at 9:05 pm
intheirownwrite
I’d never thought of doing something like this, Stacy. It opens up all sorts of possibilities…
December 4, 2013 at 9:17 pm
Shannon Anderson
I think it would be interesting to hear what other authors started out doing before giving in to their passion to write full time. I am still working as a teacher and stealing away time to write whenever I can.
December 4, 2013 at 9:28 pm
DaNeil Olson
Love, love, love the chart! Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Tina Cho
Wow, I didn’t know this engineering part about you! Thanks for the idea of making a bom for writing!
December 4, 2013 at 9:37 pm
storyfairy
This sounds like a great idea!
December 4, 2013 at 9:53 pm
writersideup
Oh, I don’t know, Stacy—an alligator and a butterfly would be like an alligator fairy 🙂 Not so scary! 😀
December 4, 2013 at 9:53 pm
Charlotte Gunnufson
The chart is ingenious! I am so-oh going to try it! (BTW, my son is an ME and very creative and a true visual thinker.)
December 4, 2013 at 9:57 pm
Yvonne Mes
I always thought engineering and creativity work really well together. They both involve problem solving! Lovely post.
December 4, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Noel Csermak
I love lists, maps and charts. Thank you for outlining yet another valuable tool to use in the development of our craft.
December 4, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Jennifer Voigt Kaplan
Such an organized, useful framework and what great boots! Thank you.
December 4, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Lynn A. Davidson
This is a good way of looking at it. Perhaps this will help to fit together some of my ideas generated in November.
Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 10:17 pm
Andrea K. Lawson
I love the molding of different species and talents. Thanks for the post!
December 4, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Patricia Tilton
Love hearing all the stories about how people combine their talents. She has both the creative side and the nuts and bolts to organize. Great interview!
December 4, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Kathleen Mazurowski
Love your ideas! Thanks
December 4, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Donna Black
I am all about spreadsheets and thank you for reminding me that authors coming from many different fields relate to kids on their way to many different fields.
December 4, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Kim Mounsey
I am actually going to try this. From your example I can see that having everything on one page may inspire me to come up with some crazy previously unthought of combo. Thank you!
December 4, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Gaye kick
A spreadsheet is a Great idea! BTW I work for an association for engineering firms in Illinois. My favorite Christmas cards are from one of our mechanical engineering companies. They pop open into ornaments for our tree!
December 4, 2013 at 11:17 pm
Jenny Blum
Thanks Stacy for this very practical advice. I had put my PiBoIdMo ideas into a 2 column table, characters and outcomes, but these extra columns make all the difference!
December 4, 2013 at 11:23 pm
kroberts24
I like this approach!
December 4, 2013 at 11:30 pm
City Sights for Kids
I had created a spreadsheet with characters, setting, conflict and misc. details. I am going to have to add columns for goals and emotions. Thank you! – Amanda Sincavage
December 4, 2013 at 11:42 pm
ccbooks
Adding this to my to-do list now. Thanks!
December 4, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Tracey Jackson
I’m loving my new BOM spreadsheet! Thanks for sharing such a great idea taken from your ‘previous life’ experience from as an engineer. Such a great reminder that we can still use all those skills from other areas for life for our writing 🙂
December 4, 2013 at 11:56 pm
Lacey Gunter
I am a statistician who enjoys writing picture books. So I know exactly the look you are talking about. Thanks for sharing.
December 5, 2013 at 12:44 am
vijikc
Terrific idea! thank you!
December 5, 2013 at 12:45 am
Sharon Nix Jones
Structure in writing does not come naturally to me. Thank you for the advice. I will try to use it.
December 5, 2013 at 12:50 am
Caroline
Oooh, this is a great strategy to mesh two (or more) ideas. It might just work! Definitely bookmarking this idea for later use. Thank you!
December 5, 2013 at 1:26 am
B Lee Draper
This is helping my (forced) evolution from pantser to plotter – cheers! 🙂
December 5, 2013 at 2:58 am
Charlotte
I love the organizational spreadsheet! That’s exactly how my mind works 🙂
December 5, 2013 at 4:26 am
Juliet Clare Bell
Thank you. This is what I need (someone to organise me)! All the best, Clare/
December 5, 2013 at 5:34 am
Lori Mozdzierz
I can appreciate being of detail mind-set as I’m an corporate accountant/HR. Creativity meets analytical is a good marriage. Sometimes a struggle as they fight for their right to be heard. Other times a waltz to dazzle you. But when the project is perfected, the song they dance to delights the reader.
December 5, 2013 at 6:20 am
Samantha Grenier
That Stacy! This will come in handy!
December 5, 2013 at 6:26 am
Joy Moore
I think you list of components chart will be useful to me.
December 5, 2013 at 6:56 am
helen dening
I love your spreadsheet idea. Thanks for reminding us that melding all our talents, even our “engineering” ones can be a strength in creating that fantastic story. Thanks for the encouragement!
December 5, 2013 at 7:08 am
Andrea
Ooh! Your spreadsheet idea looks like so much fun! So much easier to make creative leaps!
December 5, 2013 at 7:43 am
Peyton Leung
Thanks for the structured advice, Stacy 🙂
And again, thanks to Tara for bringing all these wonderful posts together!
December 5, 2013 at 7:48 am
Melanie Moschella
I’m going to try your spreadsheet idea. Much easier to organize than index cards for me!
December 5, 2013 at 8:34 am
Gail Kamer
Love the organizer. My husband’s an engineer and I know how differently they see the world. He has great advice for my writing.
December 5, 2013 at 9:17 am
RadSheri
My left brain is organizing and making the flow chart for the new ideas. I think this is a great way to start and then get focused. Thanks Stacy.
December 5, 2013 at 9:21 am
Therese Nagi
Thanks for providing the organizer, having it in a spreadsheet format. It’s a great idea that can jog more creative writing ideas.
December 5, 2013 at 10:10 am
Jill Lyttle Tadros
I love, love, love organizing my ideas this way! Thanks!
December 5, 2013 at 10:33 am
Micki Ginsberg
Thanks so much for your BOM idea. Can’t wait to try it! (And, hopefully, my BOM won’t bomb…)
December 5, 2013 at 10:43 am
Maria Gianferrari
Great metaphor and process. I agree structure is the skeleton of our stories. Thanks for the practical chart too, Stacy. Dear Santasaurus looks funny–can’t wait to read it! Time to BOM!
December 5, 2013 at 10:56 am
Quinn Cole
I can relate. Trained as a microbiologist, I write children’s books and have gotten the odd stare as well. Your BOM reminded me of the how scientists use the scientific method to observe, record, analyze, and conclude. Does the data (story structure and content) make sense? What conclusion does the reader get when they reach the end? Is it strong enough? Funny enough? Unique enough? Thanks for a very helpful post!
December 5, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Stacy – thank you for the chart! My husband’s an engineer, and I’ve learned a lot from him about organization and goal-setting, not always my areas of strength. They are definitely important in a writing career. I was in a bookstore in Camden, Maine yesterday and saw your Santasaurus book – very exciting!
December 5, 2013 at 12:24 pm
suzanne kaufman
great post…now to make a chart!
December 5, 2013 at 12:35 pm
June Smalls
I love the controlled chaos.
December 5, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Rosi Hollinbeck
This is really a helpful post. Thanks!
December 5, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Mary Jo
If only we could engineer our kids’ problems in the same way…. 🙂
December 5, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Daniela Weil (@Daniela_Weil)
Thanks Stacy, for the engineers perspective, something I am definitely blind at! But will definitely try!
December 5, 2013 at 3:05 pm
LeslieG
Love your mash-up ideas. Thank you!
December 5, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Holly Gatrell
Great, I love this idea, I’m gonna use it too, thanks
December 5, 2013 at 5:40 pm
belindambrock
nice marriage of the creative and the practical. thanks for sharing and congrats on your books!
December 5, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Rick Starkey
I like the spreadsheet idea. Thanks.
December 6, 2013 at 1:08 am
Crystal McIntyre
So great to have an analytical mind point of view! And so great to have new ideas to create new ideas! Thanks Stacy!
December 6, 2013 at 2:34 am
Kathryn Ault Noble
Thanks, Stacy! I had seen ideas for using columns to generate ideas, but not to break down the ideas we already have. I’ll definitely do that.
December 6, 2013 at 8:03 am
Marcy P.
I actually understood most of what you said… and liked it! 🙂 I really like the idea of taking apart my ideas and categorizing them. That is something I have NOT done with my last three years of PiBoIdMo ideas… and I’m gonna. Thanks!
December 6, 2013 at 11:03 am
Angela De Groot
I love the spreadsheet BOM. It’s clever and organized AND creative. Thanks for sharing.
December 6, 2013 at 11:04 am
Dana Atnip
I love the idea for a spreadsheet, it puts the ideas in perspective (plus it looks like fun!). Thanks Stacy!
December 6, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Sally Matheny
The BOM is a great idea. I plan to try it!
December 6, 2013 at 2:28 pm
heather sisson
Thanks for sharing! I think having multiple talents are what makes great artists 🙂
December 6, 2013 at 4:53 pm
blanchebaxter
Thank you for this chart! I can’t wait to try it out!!!
December 6, 2013 at 11:38 pm
laura516
What a great organizational tool. Thanks!
December 6, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Carrie Brown
This is a great idea, Stacy! Thank you!
December 7, 2013 at 2:19 am
Amelia Shearer
Reading the way you use the talents from the other areas of your life to push forward the writing side of life causes me to start pondering my own skill sets, and how some of them might be able to cohabitate in ways I haven’t considered before. Thanks for the thought-provoking post!
December 7, 2013 at 2:39 am
wendymyersart
Great post, Stacy! I’m going to use the chart. I do know how you feel, as I am a commercial pilot, horse trainer, author/illustrator of picture books. It’s a confusing world! The main thing mine have in common is none of them pay too well. 🙂 That, and you have to solve problems well if you want to come out in one piece.
December 7, 2013 at 7:54 am
Lauri Meyers
Stacy, I was a comptroller at a toilet paper plant once upon a time, so after initially recoiling at the word BOM (“don’t make me go back!”), I realized you’ve got a great idea here. Especially for my, um, weaker ideas. Like the day I just wrote down “butter.” I don’t know if that is the character, the setting, or the problem, but heck I can just put it all the columns to see what happens!
December 7, 2013 at 9:54 am
thiskidreviewsbooks
Great chart! 😀 Very good idea… To the Chart-mobile, Robin! 😉
December 7, 2013 at 11:53 am
writersideup
lol…Batman on the Brain, Erik 😉
December 7, 2013 at 12:09 pm
thiskidreviewsbooks
Holy neurons, Batman! 😉
December 7, 2013 at 12:17 pm
writersideup
PRECISELY, Robin! 😉
December 7, 2013 at 10:46 am
mbeaversillustration
This is a really lovely way to start processing the mountain of ideas we all accumulated in November. I’m sure many people that do have a way to do this already, but your process is new to me, thanks!
December 8, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Alan Stacy
Great way to organize the ideas. I worked for an engineering firm as a draftsman, artist and creative writer. I was asked to spice up the engineers’ dull writing styles for presentations so I appreciate the mindset involved. Thanks.
December 8, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Donna L Martin
Hi Stacy!
Your BOM idea is DA BOM!
Great post!
Take care,
Donna L Martin
December 9, 2013 at 10:09 am
Kathy Cornell Berman
Thanks for sharing your fantastic spreadsheet. I’m certain that it will spark more creative idea. Looking forward to reading your books.
December 9, 2013 at 11:19 am
Susanne Whitehouse
Love your wonderfully colorful website and blog! Thanks for the post!
December 9, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Debra Shumaker
Love this! Thanks!
December 10, 2013 at 1:43 am
Judith Snyder
The chart is a gift that will keep on giving. Thanks.
October 28, 2014 at 6:30 am
Pre-PiBo Day 3: Lauri Meyers Summons the Muse (plus a prize!) | Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)
[…] problem finding your muse during PiBovember, but in other months try these tricks (Meditate, Play, Build, Ideate, Pass Gas) which have been highlighted in amazing PiBo posts of the […]
October 30, 2014 at 9:04 am
aliciaminor
Authors come in all shapes, sizes, careers etc. The more engineered, the better. Nice to read about you, your books and the chart. Thanks.
November 19, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Mark A. Bentz
Stacy, I love your way of thinking…big help!!!
Thank you
October 28, 2015 at 10:10 am
Meghan Daniels
Interesting idea!