by Joan Holub
Yay, you guys, for taking part in PiBoIdMo 2015! Below are 3 things that work for me in my writing, and I hope you’ll find something in here that works for you.
1. Need a fresh way of inspiring new book ideas? Start with a title:
- This is what R.L. Stine often does according to his interview with NPR. And about one third of my 130+ books began with a title (Goddess Girls series co-authored with Suzanne Williams; Zero the Hero).
- Sources for titles you could tweak, mix-and-match, or reshape to inspire your next story include TV Guide, movie titles, book titles, idioms, fairy tales, folk tales, and nursery rhymes. Keep a list of intriguing, catchy phrases you dream up or overhear. Think: What could a book with this title be about?
- Joan says to self: Little Red Writing. What could a book with this title be about? First thought: Main character is a red pencil. Second thought: This pencil is a student at Pencil School. With a teacher named Ms. 2 who tells her class to write stories. Next: I looked up positive attributes of the color red. Bravery is one. Aha! Now I knew what my Little Red pencil wanted—to be brave. Result: My Little Red Writing character is so brave that she foils the Wolf 3000, a crazed pencil sharpener pretending to be Principal Granny.
2. How do you decide which of your many ideas to spend your precious creativity and limited time on?
- Try choosing an idea that is “interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. [Those two things] can be very different.” That’s a slightly paraphrased tweet I found, attributed to Emma Coats. I don’t think it means you should not have fun writing. I translate it to mean: What unmade movie would you really like to see, or unwritten book would you like to read? Write that idea. Make it the premise for your book. If your audience-self wants to read it, chances are good that there’s a broader audience for your idea as well.
- Joan to self: “Wouldn’t it be funny if 3 silly knights would not let Santa into their castle to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve?”
Result: The Knights Before Christmas. Knights rebuff Santa. Santa catapults gifts over the castle walls. This book unfolded in my brain’s eye, scene after scene like a movie, and I think it reads that way.
3. Book idea just not working?
- Maybe it’s too thin or needs pizzaz. Try enriching your project by combining two of your non-working ideas into one idea that works. (Don’t hoard ideas. You’re not wasting them by combining them. And you’ll get more ideas.)
- Joan to self: “This dog story of mine desperately needs a twist. And this school-picture-day premise of mine is just lying there on the page, boring me. What if I combined them?” Result: Shampoodle, in which dogs go wild at the groomer’s before dog picture day.
Does every idea have the potential to become an amazing story? I think so. When you’re finished, you may not recognize it as the same idea you began with, but who cares? What matters is that you’ve successfully re-molded that original idea into a finished, great book. Here’s hoping PiBoIdMo 2015 gets your ideas flowing and zooms you all the way to the “finished” line!
Joan Holub is the author and/or illustrator of 130+ books for children including the acclaimed picture books Little Red Writing, The Knights Before Christmas, and Mighty Dads, a New York Times bestseller. Joan co-authors 3 series with Suzanne Williams: Goddess Girls (ages 8-12, Greek mythology with a middle school twist, 22 titles), Grimmtastic Girls (ages 8-12, fairy tale adventure), and Heroes in Training (mythology adventure chapter books). Coming in 2016: This Little President (NF board book) and What Was Woodstock? (NF chapter book).
Where to find Joan online:
http://www.joanholub.com/
Twitter @joanholub
http://www.facebook.com/JoanHolub
http://www.facebook.com/goddessgirlsbooks
https://www.pinterest.com/joanholub/
https://www.goodreads.com/Joan_Holub
Joan is generously giving away this hinged, unpainted wooden castle, ready for the little knights in your castle to decorate and enjoy!
Here’s how Joan transformed her castle into a prop for The Knights Before Christmas events and school visits:
This prize will be given away at the conclusion of PiBoIdMo. 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 will have to sign the PiBoIdMo Pledge at the end of the event.)
Good luck, everyone!
571 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 1, 2015 at 9:31 am
Robyn Campbell
Joan, thanks for an inspiring post. That tweet says it all. THINK of your audience and you’ll know if that idea is a great idea. I love your writing. Your books are the books I wish I’d thought of first. But then, you were destined to write them. Love the castle and the tips.
November 1, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Joan
You’re welcome, Robyn! And thanks for your kind words. xo
November 1, 2015 at 9:33 am
Christine Connolly
Great ideas – especially like starting with a title! And my daughter adores the Goddess girls series!
November 1, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Joan
*waving* to your daughter, Christine. Mega-happy to hear she’s a Goddess Girls reader!
November 1, 2015 at 9:34 am
Rebecca Colby
Loads of great ideas here! Thanks, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 9:35 am
pathaap
Love how your mind works, Joan! These are all such great ideas that will definitely helpful to me.
November 1, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Joan
Hooray! I hope so.
November 1, 2015 at 9:35 am
Melissa McDaniel
I love the “combining 2 stories” idea. And your Shampoodle book looks adorable! Thanks for the post!
November 1, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Joan
Thanks so much, Melissa. Tim Bowers did a fabulous job with that cover, didn’t he? xo
November 1, 2015 at 9:36 am
Donna Hart
Thank you Joan for your advice. I always try to think of the title first before starting a new project. Then I build off of that because a good title works wonders! And to be aware of your audience makes such a difference too. I love the castle. Great prop for your story!
November 1, 2015 at 9:37 am
Sue Poduska
Very good thoughts! I especially like the comments on ideas being too thin or needing pizzazz. That’s where I often find myself. Just because I’m chuckling inside my head, doesn’t mean it’s coming forth. Gotta get the kids laughing too.
November 1, 2015 at 9:37 am
melissamiles1
I am so impressed! I’ve followed you on Twitter and have some great new ideas for Christmas gifts for the young readers in my life. Thank you for sharing your strategies on coming up with ideas. I also love the covers of your books. Thanks again!
November 1, 2015 at 9:38 am
Laura K Zimmermann
Thank you for the great advice!
November 1, 2015 at 9:39 am
Katie Engen
Ooh, I love the insight into how your thoughts became books! Well done. And anything with a clever pun is aces to me as well.
November 1, 2015 at 9:39 am
Deborah Allmand
Joan,
Great ideas! I have seen your presentations at SCBWI Carolinas conference. It seems you never run out of ideas! Thanks for sharing!
November 1, 2015 at 9:39 am
Lisa Connors
Lisa Connors I love Little Red Writing- wrote a lesson plan for it on my blog – I need to check out The Knights Before Christmas! Thanks for the ideas.
November 1, 2015 at 9:42 am
Linda Carpenter
Many thanks for the great post! Already using the idea of combing two ideas…might be just what I needed!
Off to a great start this first day with you Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 3:08 pm
Joan
So glad to hear combining may work for you, Linda! xo
November 1, 2015 at 9:42 am
Helen Cooper
I love the ‘title first’ idea – I use that one a lot. Never tried combining stalled ideas though – must give that a go!
November 1, 2015 at 9:43 am
erikammon
Oh, I love the idea of using titles first! I’m not sure I’ve tried that, yet! Thanks for the wonderful idea 🙂 That castle would be great help with ideas, too…especially mixed with lego figures…
November 1, 2015 at 9:43 am
kathalsey
Whoa, Joan, what a rich post to get us started! I many times start w/ideas; I love the combining of 2 ordinary ideas, and LITTLE RED WRITING was a favorite in the K-5 school where I volunteered in Phoenix. I gotta look at your chapter book series now. TY for all the help on Day1.
November 1, 2015 at 9:43 am
Debra Katz
Great ideas.
November 1, 2015 at 9:45 am
saputnam
Great post, Joan!! I love the idea of “combining 2 stories.” Will definitely have to go through my list and see which ones I could use
November 1, 2015 at 9:45 am
Carole Calladine
Great fodder for generating ideas . . . titles, mash-ups, and idioms. Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 9:46 am
Juliana Lee
This is something I really need to practice. So this month I’m determined to collect all my silly ideas and see what happens when I combine them later!
November 1, 2015 at 9:49 am
Ginger Weddle
Joan, Thanks for the great advice! I enjoyed reading how you created Little Red Writing. You make it all sound so easy.
November 1, 2015 at 9:51 am
Michele Prestininzi
Great post, Joan. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 9:51 am
ptnozell
Joan, Such wonderful, practical tips! The suggestion to combine two ideas really resonates – I think I’ll look back to some of those ideas simmering way back on a burner from last PiBoIdMo & see which ones want a friend. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 9:51 am
Kelly Bennett
Boy doing I have boring stories–I’m going to try jazzing them up ala SHAMPOODLE! Thanks!!
November 1, 2015 at 9:54 am
Valarie
What a great beginning to PIBOIDMO. Thanks so much, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 9:55 am
supermario6
Love the idea of writing the book you want to read.
November 1, 2015 at 9:56 am
Lenora Riegel
Thank you Joan! Great tips!
November 1, 2015 at 9:58 am
Tina L. Wheeler
You have some great ideas! I’ll definitely be trying some of them!
November 1, 2015 at 9:58 am
ritaborg
130+ books…I can only dream. Thanks for the ideas
November 1, 2015 at 10:00 am
Teresa Robeson
I love the way Joan dove right in and presented these terrific ideas in simple and to-the-point ways, illustrated by a personal example. My brain is a little fried this morning so this was much appreciated. Hubby will be grousing about “where can we put this?” if I win the castle, but OMG I SOOOO want that thing! (I have an obsession with miniatures and dollhouses.) LOL!
November 1, 2015 at 10:01 am
Stefanie Hohl
Great ideas! I’ve read many of your books and love them. 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 10:02 am
Stephanie Fitzpatrick
Thanks for the inspiration! I’m excited to get started on my second PiBoIdMo journey!
November 1, 2015 at 10:03 am
jennfowler
Excellent, practical tips. I’m intrigued by Little Red Writing Hood so I’ve put a hold on it at my local library.
November 1, 2015 at 10:03 am
Barbara Cairns
Thank you , Joan, for your excellent tips and for including examples for each one from your own works.Such an amazing, funny, clever, repertoire!
I can only hope to come up with some wonderful combinations as you did each time in your delightful picture books..
November 1, 2015 at 10:03 am
Reena Balding
Good advice. Thank you for sharing such a good post. I will look for your books in my kids’ school library.
November 1, 2015 at 10:04 am
Samantha Altmann
Hi Joan, that was some of the best advice I have read so far! My biggest roadblock is always determining which idea I should focus on. You are the first person that has articulated a clear answer. Thank you!!
November 1, 2015 at 10:05 am
Laura Gallant
This post injected a little inspiration into my morning. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
November 1, 2015 at 10:05 am
Kara
“Joan says to self: Little Red Writing. What could a book with this title be about? First thought: Main character is a red pencil. Second thought: This pencil is a student at Pencil School. With a teacher named Ms. 2 who tells her class to write stories. Next: I looked up positive attributes of the color red. Bravery is one. Aha! Now I knew what my Little Red pencil wanted—to be brave. Result: My Little Red Writing character is so brave that she foils the Wolf 3000, a crazed pencil sharpener pretending to be Principal Granny.”
Now this is clever. I wouldn’t have thought of that before. I’m going to have to try it. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 10:06 am
Anna Levin
Wonderful ideas Joan! I especially like the one about finding an idea that I would want to read about/find interesting as an audience. Many thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 10:11 am
Pat Miller
Your personal examples after each bit of advice were most helpful. Even your castle headdress gave me an idea! Thanks, Joan.
November 1, 2015 at 10:15 am
Freckled Daisy Creations
Bam! What a way to start off the 1st and one of my newest favorite books! Working on a title! Let’s get writing group!
November 1, 2015 at 10:15 am
Sue Morris @ KidLitReviews
What wonderful ideas for finding ideas. I love this post and your books (130+ my goodness that is a lot) are terrific.
November 1, 2015 at 10:16 am
Lee Walker
Thank you so much for sharing! I enjoyed reading your experiences with ideas. What a great giveaway! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 10:17 am
Sharon Langley
Wow! What great suggestions for tweeting a stubborn idea…I laughed out loud when I said, “Shampoodle.” Ha! Love it
Sharon Langley
November 1, 2015 at 10:17 am
wfedan
Thank you, Joan, for your ideas! Very good advice – and what a great giveaway! I like the idea of combining ideas if one just isn’t working. I could use that one when I feel stumped, looking at my PiBoIdMo ideas from last year to see which two I could possible combine to make a new idea!
November 1, 2015 at 10:18 am
Li'vee Rehfield
Here we go…off to a great start! I would like win the castle, and go inside that castle and hang out with everyone that lives there…I am sure I would never want to come back out, so I will just stay inside there and see what I can find…Thank you Joan for the generous ideas and your time and care for all of us…see ya around PiBoIdMo… 😉
November 1, 2015 at 10:20 am
julie rowan zoch
Don’t hoard ideas! Thanks, Joan. I needed that!
November 1, 2015 at 10:20 am
Linda Baie
Thanks for wonderful ideas to begin this month’s journey, Joan. Audience is important, will remember!
November 1, 2015 at 10:22 am
Lynn A. Davidson
Joan, this is a wonderful start to PiBoIdMo.
I love your book, Shampoodle, which I discovered in December ’12 while book shopping for a little girl I know. Of course I got it for her; it’s adorable.
Thank you for excellent tips. I will try combining some of my MANY PiBoIdMo ideas from previous years to see what can be unearthed. Could be some gems hidden there.
November 1, 2015 at 10:22 am
Katelyn Aronson
Utterly inspiring. Thank you so much for these tips, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 10:22 am
Lee Walker-Brockman
Joan-thank you so much for sharing! I really enjoyed reading how your ideas ‘became’. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 10:27 am
Pj McIlvaine
I have two little Knights in my life who would adore the castle. Love the idea of mashing ideas together into one delicious brew.
November 1, 2015 at 10:27 am
Nancy Churnin
Joan, thanks for the great ideas! I love playing with titles and your suggestion to mash ideas together is inspired, too.
November 1, 2015 at 10:27 am
kylie burns
This was excellent! Thanks, Joan. Kylie Burns
November 1, 2015 at 10:29 am
authordeb
The link to the idiom site really gets my wheels turning. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 10:31 am
Jim Chaize
And we’re off! Especially like the idea of combining two ideas. Thanks.
November 1, 2015 at 10:32 am
Rosie Taylor
Great ideas, Joan. It was fun to see how your successful book ideas started. My ideas are always cute but often not very unique; combining things in ways you suggest might just do the trick. Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 10:35 am
danielledufayet
I love your advice! I never thought of combining two ideas…but why not? Don’t hoard ideas – yes! Love your books. Congrats!
November 1, 2015 at 10:35 am
Anna Smith
Thank you for the tips on mish-mashing ideas and looking outside the box!
November 1, 2015 at 10:38 am
Pat Scruggs
Thanks, Joan, for your tips. Love the idea of combining ideas for that needed twist. Great start to our month.
November 1, 2015 at 10:41 am
Lisa Black
Great post to start the month.
November 1, 2015 at 10:42 am
elainekielykearns
Love mashing ideas! Thanks for the tips!
November 1, 2015 at 10:42 am
Genevieve Petrillo
Great post. Plus – G-GAH! Dog Picture Day!?? My dog, Cupcake is wild about this idea. Shampoodle is at the top of my #INEEDTOREADTHIS list.
November 1, 2015 at 10:44 am
Rebecca E. Guzinski
Wow, Joan! I love your use of wordplay and enjoyed your inspiration on how a title can evolve into a story! Thanks for today’s post! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 10:46 am
Patricia Alcaro
I love that Joan said that every idea has the potential to become an amazing story.
(Hey, Tara, how do I stop receiving everyone’s comments? I want to receive the posts from you, but all the comments are flooding my email box. Egad!)
November 1, 2015 at 10:49 am
katrinamoorebooks
Thank you, Joan! I love Little Red Writing! What great advice you’ve shared with us 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 10:50 am
Thornton Blease
Great ideas! I especially love mixing ideas into one viable project.
November 1, 2015 at 10:50 am
katiemillsgiorgio
Thanks for the inspiration…what fun! Here’s to a great month ahead!
November 1, 2015 at 10:55 am
Dorothy
Great article. By the way, I have a dog named Zero and we often call him Zero the Hero. 😊
November 1, 2015 at 10:55 am
Michelle Fandrich
How fabulous! Little Red Writing is one of my all time favorites – thanks for all the inspiration, both here and in your books!
November 1, 2015 at 10:56 am
kevanjatt
Best advice yet: Don’t hoard ideas.
Thanks, Joan!!!
November 1, 2015 at 10:56 am
Andrea Wang
Thanks for all the wonderful tips! I love the reminder to write what our audience-self would want to read!
November 1, 2015 at 10:57 am
Michele Blood
Love this. Creating from the title outwards is my favorite way to work. I keep a running list whenever a come across a fun, interesting phrase or play-on-words that screams “somebody should write this into a story!”
November 1, 2015 at 10:58 am
Susan Latta
Wonderful idea to begin with a title. Thanks for the great post!
November 1, 2015 at 10:59 am
Nancy Armo
Loved, loved this post. Will be printing it out and keeping it in my writing journal. Simple yet effective steps to think outside the box for fresh ideas.Thank you!!
November 1, 2015 at 11:00 am
Gregory E Bray
I think I found a new Christmas classic for my son. Grest article. Thanks.
November 1, 2015 at 11:07 am
M Lapointe Malchik (@imartytweet)
Thanks, Joan! I will be sure to look for This Little President! Your custom castle for home visits looks engaging and fun! I love it when props bring great picture books to life. Loved your distinction between the book you’d love writing versus the book you would love to see as a movie with scenes you’d love to see. All the best as you continue your writing journey!
November 1, 2015 at 11:08 am
Kathy Doherty
Fabulous advice! Thank you! I’m off to think up a few good titles.
November 1, 2015 at 11:08 am
sledyard
I love the idea of combining two non-working WIPs into one new idea.
November 1, 2015 at 11:09 am
hermanator33
Great way to kick off the month! Thank you for helpful suggestions, and a bit of validation as well.
November 1, 2015 at 11:09 am
Kristi Bernard
Great suggestions! I’ve got a few ideas already!
November 1, 2015 at 11:10 am
ManjuBeth
Joan, thanks for sharing your brainstorming ways. I love your castle prop for The Knights Before Christmas.
November 1, 2015 at 11:11 am
LaurenKerstein
Thank you for this very helpful perspective on ideas and writing. I love the quote you adapted: “Interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. [Those two things] can be very different.”
November 1, 2015 at 11:11 am
sledyard
I love the idea of combining two non-working WIPs into one new project!
November 1, 2015 at 11:11 am
Kathy Ceceri
Good advice, awesome castle!
November 1, 2015 at 11:14 am
Sylvia Liu
This post is so inspiring! I love coming up with fun titles and that’s a great way to spark book ideas.
November 1, 2015 at 11:14 am
Carleen Shreeve
Loved your ideas, Joan. Very inspiring! Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 11:14 am
deborahholtwilliams
Hmmm…so there’s a chance for my talking nail polish bottles that want to save the closing salon? (One of my worst ideas ever.) Great post!
November 1, 2015 at 11:16 am
Jill Richards Proctor
Loved your post, Joan. Thank you for the great suggestions!
November 1, 2015 at 11:19 am
Debbie Austin
What a fantastic way to start PiBoIdMo! Thank you, Joan, for these great ideas and for giving us a peek into your creative process. Love the castle!
November 1, 2015 at 11:19 am
rrmalin
Writing down the title is a great idea.
November 1, 2015 at 11:19 am
Mary McClellan
Joan, thanks for these ideas! I’m looking forward to reading many of your books. I LOVE the cover of your upcoming “What was Woodstock.” 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 11:20 am
Shelly Hawley-Yan
Wow! Great ideas here – thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 11:22 am
Meghan Daniels
Good stuff! Loved Little Red Writing!
November 1, 2015 at 11:23 am
ajschildrensbooks
What a perfect start to day one of PiBoIdMo! Thank you, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 11:25 am
Leslie Leibhardt Goodman - Writer
I often come up with an idea I think might work into a picture book but run out of gas somewhere around the middle. Your suggestion of combining two ideas is a brilliant solution. Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 11:25 am
Sherri Jones Rivers
Joan, when do you ever sleep? Your creative output is amazing. Some great pointers here that will certainly come in handy.
November 1, 2015 at 11:26 am
Jane Hawkins
Very useful brainstorming ideas. Thank you. Where’s my pencil and paper?
November 1, 2015 at 11:26 am
Angela Cullen
Love your train of thought from title ‘Little Red Writing’ to finished story. Great inspirational post. Thanks.
November 1, 2015 at 11:26 am
writerjodimoore
Love the concept of combining ideas, teamwork all the way! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration. Hugs! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 11:27 am
Andreina
Really enjoyed today’s post!!!! Definitely got me inspired to jolt down my idea for day1! My little knights would love to decorate this castle 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 11:31 am
Vicky Wirkkala
This is brilliant! As a beginner, this is beyond helpful! Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 11:32 am
Bonnie Adamson
Yay, Joan! Very helpful–especially the reminder to pay more attention to our audience-selves.
November 1, 2015 at 11:33 am
LovableLobo
We’re big fans of your books, Joan. Thanks for sharing your super duper tips and the chance to win an entire castle. 😀
November 1, 2015 at 11:34 am
Monique
While reading your post I was inspired by two more titles:) love the way you think.
November 1, 2015 at 11:34 am
storyfairy
Great post, Joan Holub! I LOVE “Little Red Writing,” being a fan of both word play and fairy tale retellings. I can’t wait to come up with some cool titles! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 11:34 am
Joan Waites
Such practical advice on generating story ideas-going to print this out to save! Thanks.
November 1, 2015 at 11:35 am
Janie Reinart
Joan, what fun combining ideas and doing mash ups. Thanks for the post.
November 1, 2015 at 11:37 am
Brianna Zamborsky
Love the title first odea. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 11:38 am
Cindy C.
Love your idea generating process. Also love Little Red Writing (illus. by my fave: Melissa Sweet). Thanks Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 11:40 am
polly Owen
Thanks Joan, you’ve inspired me and I am well on my way now to my PiBoIdMo list!
November 1, 2015 at 11:40 am
Kim Piddington
I just created a PiBoIdMo journal & after reading Joan’s post-made one of the tabs TITLES.
November 1, 2015 at 11:40 am
Brandi Payne
Great post! Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 11:41 am
Kerrie
Great post! I never thought about combining two ideas! Thank you. 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 11:42 am
Karen Brueggeman
Joan,
What great advice. My daughter and I love your books and wow what an amazing castle. You are so generous.
November 1, 2015 at 11:43 am
Buffy Silverman
Great ideas for ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 11:43 am
Jeni Kocher Zerphy
Thanks! Have a great day!
November 1, 2015 at 11:44 am
Karen Kane
Wonderful Joan! I am inspired!
November 1, 2015 at 11:44 am
Janice Brown
Thank you so much Joan! Very inspiring to me. I love the idea of combining.
November 1, 2015 at 11:44 am
Darlene
So Many great tips that I can use. Thank you Joan.
November 1, 2015 at 11:46 am
Pamela Hamilton
Love this! I am bookmarking it for future reference!
November 1, 2015 at 11:46 am
Heather Greene
Great post! Inspiring to introduce ideas that just need a boost to really go somewhere! 130+ books…W
ow!!
November 1, 2015 at 11:49 am
Carol Gwin Nelson
Great ideas. I’m on the lookout for catchy phrases.
November 1, 2015 at 11:50 am
mermaidrain
Excellent advice! I’m brimming with ideas now. And a castle would be an excellent addition to my classroom.
November 1, 2015 at 11:51 am
claireannette1
Joan, thanks for the great post. I love Little Red Writing and I am writing all my ideas down this month with a little red pencil!
November 1, 2015 at 11:54 am
ggolant
Great ideas. Thank you for the encouragement.
November 1, 2015 at 11:57 am
Santiago Casares
Three great ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 11:58 am
DaNeil
Fabulous advice! Thank you so much.
November 1, 2015 at 12:01 pm
tphumiruk
Thank you for your suggestions!
November 1, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Marileta Robinson
You are like, the idea-generating queen! Thanks for the inspiring advice.
November 1, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Shari Schwarz
Love Shampoodle and now, hearing how it came about! Thank you for the inspiration and giveaway!!!
November 1, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Debbie Vidovich
Great article. Day 1!!
November 1, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Jacquie McGregor
Awesome ideas, Joan. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Brittany Orrico
Awesome advice! This post alone gave me several strong ideas for today! Thanks so much!
November 1, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Sharon Nix Jones
Thank you for the insight into your creativity.
November 1, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Stephen S. Martin
your idea is so “Tit-le-ing” great advice and fun!
November 1, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Bethany Roberts
Thanks for all the ideas to get our creativity moving this month!
Bethany Roberts
November 1, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Teresa Daffern
Thanks for this Joan! I think you are right – every idea has the potential to be an amazing story, but it may not resemble the original seed. And I LOVE your book, Little Red Writing!
November 1, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Debra Shumaker
I loved Little Red Writing. Thanks for a great post!
November 1, 2015 at 12:12 pm
theresastales
I love your enthusiam, your spunk and for giving me ideas to run with as I take on this challenge.
November 1, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Sharalyn Edgeberg
I love the idea you shared today. Who knew you could get so much out of titles — you know that’s who. Definitely on my list to do. Thanks for sharing.
November 1, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Cathy Stenquist
Thank you for sharing your process of writing your stories. This kind of example is really helpful to those of us starting out. You showed us in many helpful ways to get “over the hump” and get thinking in a new way.
November 1, 2015 at 12:23 pm
viviankirkfield
Hello Joan…I’ve known Suzanne Williams for many years…and LOVE your Goddess Girls series. But I had no idea you had authored all of these amazing picture books…you’ve been so generous to share these writing tips with us. With this one post, you’ve helped me see there may be potential in a couple of stories I’ve written that were just ‘missing’ something…maybe I can mash up two of them and create that special ONE. 😉
November 1, 2015 at 12:26 pm
mariagianferrari
I’m a HUGE fan of Little Red Writing–it is such a funny book, and Melissa Sweet’s art makes it even more hilarious. Thank you for the great advice, Joan. As a dog lover, I can’t wait to read Shampoodle 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 12:28 pm
David McMullin
Thank you, Joan. I’ve never combined ideas. That could be fun to try.
November 1, 2015 at 12:29 pm
vickireinhardt2014
All great ideas! I often come up with a title first and go from there. I loved the idea of combining ideas, too. Thanks for the inspiration, Joan! And all your great examples!
November 1, 2015 at 12:29 pm
M. Lauritano
Here to comment only (no room for a castle in my New York apartment)! I can’t really think of a time that I have worked from title to story before. I’ll have to give it a go.
A general question to Joan and/or anyone that reads this: how do you go about puns and wordplay when writing children’s books? Seeing how several of your example titles are punny, I was just wondering if more puns make their way in to the story. I have been told that very young children (5 years old, we’ll say) may not understand or appreciate puns and wordplay. Being a pun-addict, it was disheartening. Is there a limit to what you can put in there? Are they designated for cute book titles only? Curious to know anyone’s thoughts on this.
November 1, 2015 at 12:30 pm
sfsing
I love it, I love it! There is something about PiBoldMo for stirring up my pea brain. This one is definitely an inspiration, and an energizer for getting my creative juices flowing again. Whoa, Tara!!!!
November 1, 2015 at 12:33 pm
colleenrkosinski
Great ideas!!!
November 1, 2015 at 12:33 pm
gayleckrause
Titles always come to me first. Great inspiration.
November 1, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Derek Trimmer
Great advice. Great castle. Great choice for the first day of PiBoIdMo.
November 1, 2015 at 12:35 pm
mkcolling
What was Woostock? That’s a “must read” if every there was one.
I nodded my head all through the article because Joan’s insightful explanation makes so much hilarious, aha!, good sense. I can’t wait to find out what she did with Woodstock.
November 1, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Charlotte Dixon
Thank you, Joan, for these great tips to brainstorm those ideas! I had not thought of combining ideas to make a functioning idea. I’ve got my work cut out for me.
November 1, 2015 at 12:39 pm
skeerswriter
Wonderful tips — I especially like combining ideas to see what happens! Thanks for the inspiration!
November 1, 2015 at 12:39 pm
ssuehler
What a great start! Thank you Joan! I’ve seen your books and I love to ‘study’ them. You are an inspiration.
November 1, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Carrie Charley Brown
Thanks for sharing how your ideas developed, Joan! I love your use of puns. 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Pamela Courtney
My goodness Joan, you are a creative thinker. And I love the way you think. Getting into that mindset will be fun, fun, fun. Thank you for this creative outline.
November 1, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Daryl Gottier
Thanks for the great suggestions and links!
November 1, 2015 at 12:41 pm
yetteejo
You know I got to thinking about some of my ideas that are sitting there and what a great idea to combine 2 duds and see what pops.
November 1, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Marty McCormick
Appreciate the specific examples for each of your suggestions. It’s always so helpful to see how an author’s mind works through an idea.
Many thanks, Joan.
November 1, 2015 at 12:50 pm
theresenagi
Joan thanks for giving such great tips to encrich writing manuscripts!
November 1, 2015 at 12:53 pm
amysase
Love your ideas! So clever. Thanks for sharing.
November 1, 2015 at 12:57 pm
chrisynthia
Little Red Writing….this is fantastic. And it has sparked an idea that I am trying to shape right now. Great post!
November 1, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Carrie Tillotson
Thanks, Joan! I already got an idea from your tip about looking for possible titles!
November 1, 2015 at 1:03 pm
leandrajwallace
The Knights Before Christmas sounds like a perfect holiday book! And right down my kidlet’s alley. Thank you for the tips, very helpful!
November 1, 2015 at 1:05 pm
amievc
Thanks so much for your great ideas for what to do with our ideas (and how to find them!)
November 1, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Carolyn Farina
Thank you for the good advice!
November 1, 2015 at 1:11 pm
MaryLee Flannigan
Thank you Joan for your inspiring tips!!!
November 1, 2015 at 1:11 pm
iamteresabeeman
I have found the creative process to be different every time. Sometimes I have a title, but no story. Other times I have a great story, but no title. In the end, it all works out. Thanks for your insight!
November 1, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Rosi Hollinbeck
Thanks for this post. It’s true that a story can come from only a couple of words. I have a story coming out in the December Highlights that came from the phrase “Lucky Duck.” Great hints in this post.
November 1, 2015 at 1:13 pm
marcusewert
Joan, you had me at THE KNIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. And I couldn’t agree with you more about the power of a title. My book MUMMY CAT was wholly born title first.
Thanks for your post!
November 1, 2015 at 1:15 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Simple and straightforward, but exactly the kind of idea generators that writers can mine for gold. Thank you, Joan.
November 1, 2015 at 1:15 pm
romans122kw@gmail.com
I’ve read Shampoodle to my granddaughter several times. Great to hear how it became a picture book.Thank you for all the inspiration information!
November 1, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Chris Regier (@cmregier)
Thank you! The ideas are popping now!
November 1, 2015 at 1:17 pm
garyalipio
Thank you, Joan. Combining ideas is great advice to give your stories tension and layers. Love this exercise.
gary
November 1, 2015 at 1:17 pm
kjfoote
Really really great tips!! Thanks for sharing!
November 1, 2015 at 1:23 pm
triciacandy
What a fun first challenge!
November 1, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Tracey M. Cox
Thanks for all your ideas. I like to mash up two or three ideas sometimes. It can make a wacky combination.
November 1, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Yunita Phillips
Thank you Joan for sharing your ideas. I found it is interesting because encourage me to find ideas for my story in different way. I like it 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Lori Dubbin
Joan, thanks for injecting your “pizzazz-y” ideas into the first day of PiBoIdMo and getting us off to an enthusiastic start! When you say: “What matters is that you’ve successfully re-molded that original idea into a finished, great book” it reminds me to keep thinking outside the box and to reach and take risks.
November 1, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Cheryl Woodward
Great ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!
November 1, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Zainab Khan
Thanks for the idea of combining two different ideas together. I’m off to write my first idea!
November 1, 2015 at 1:40 pm
rena traxel
The Knights Before Christmas, I love it!
November 1, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Didi Wood
I laughed aloud at the premise of Knights – will have to read that one. The “Joan says to self” parts of your post are particularly illuminating – thanks! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Margaret
i loved the pencil being brave – the combining of 2 ideas is a great tip!
Thank you
November 1, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Polly Renner
Inspired…and found new books to read:> Fun!
November 1, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing
Thanks Joan, I enjoyed hearing about your research into red, it’s attributes and how this lead you to your brave, strong character!
November 1, 2015 at 1:53 pm
skiffer
Hi Joan – I love all of the fun word-play with your titles! “Shampoodle” – “Knights Before Christmas” – a cute little, inventive twist. I always try and incorporate some fun word play too. I also, can’t believe we are writing about Woodstock like it was ancient history *sigh*… Great post and thank you so much for your insight and upbeat outlook with writing. (btw – I am up to 15 new PB titles on my list. I am sure I will hit the wall soon, though)
~sheila
November 1, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Judy Cox
Hi Joan! Great post on gathering ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Celeste
I love the idea of combining stalled out ideas into something new and fresh that works!
November 1, 2015 at 2:05 pm
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner
I Love knights and Christmas…who’da’thought to combine the too. All inspiring ideas, Joan. Thanks for sharing them.
November 1, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Rebecca Wise Eklund
It’s so refreshing and inspiring to hear how your ideas began and developed! Thank you, Joan, for sharing yourself with all the rest of us.
November 1, 2015 at 2:10 pm
mollywog2015
I love your ideas about ideas! — the idea that combining ideas creates more ideas. And the idea that any idea can become something. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Melanie Kyer
This is my first PiBoIdMo and it’s looking like a lot of fun and inspiration. Thanks for the great ideas. Love the concept of “Shampoodle”– I think my son would enjoy it!
November 1, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Jessica Burnam
I LOVE this suggestion Joan ~ to write an idea that’s interesting to us as the audience (and not just what’s fun to write). What a great perspective! Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Liz LeSavoy
Great ideas. Love the evolution of Little Red Writing.
November 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Melanie
I love your ideas and believe they will help me create ideas these next 30 days!
November 1, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Gabi Snyder
I love all of these ideas, especially starting with a title. My favorite idea last year came from a wine bottle label. Thanks, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Hope Lim
Wonderful to read your process of getting great ideas and turning them into stories. THANK YOU!
November 1, 2015 at 2:28 pm
cherylsec
Great advice! Thanks so much, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 2:29 pm
LJ Laniewski
The titles of your books are awesome! Your post has me thinking in a whole new way. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 2:31 pm
CindyC
Thanks for these great suggestions, especially combining two ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 2:32 pm
BHandiboe
Besides forcing me to write down my ideas instead of being lost to forgetfulness, helpful blog posts like these make PiBoIdMo a great experience for me, especially when I’ve just begun to call myself a writer. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 2:37 pm
studiojcd
Joan, your post is inspiring because it reminds us that creativity is accessible if we are open to possibilities.
November 1, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Robin Robinson (@RobinRobinsonia)
I’m ready to take on this challenge!
November 1, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Robin Robinson (@RobinRobinsonia)
Starting from a title sounds like a great challenge. When I had just learned to read, I used to stare at my parents’ (rather eccentric) bookcase and read the titles, imagining what the heavy tomes were about.
November 1, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Kimberly Marcus
Great post to start PiBoIdMo! Thanks for the inspiration!
November 1, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Paula Cohen-Martin
Great post. I heard the RLStine interview on NPR too and made note of that same comment.
November 1, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Diana Murray
Great post! And I just want you to know, Shampoodle is a huge favorite of both of my kids! I read it to my daughter’s K class last year and we did a Shampoodle craft with yarn hair. I’ve probably read that book a zillion times. We love it.
November 1, 2015 at 2:56 pm
kate
GreAt start to an exciting month.
November 1, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Bethanny Parker
Great tips. Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Alexis Larkin
Going with the title start for today. Thank you so much!
November 1, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Tracy Molitors
Thanks, Joan. Titles often come to me, so it’s good to know that they can be turned into successful stories!
November 1, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Marilyn Garica
I so love the idea of using idioms as a source of intriguing titles. Who wouldn’t want to read a cock and bull story about, IDK, a cock and bull? Using that! Thanks.
November 1, 2015 at 3:10 pm
kdveiten
Thanks for the very inspiring post! Now off to see what I can”mix up” for the day.
November 1, 2015 at 3:13 pm
mwebb32
Love your ideas, Joan. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Joan
I really hope some of these ideas inspire you guys. I think PiBoIdMo is such a great idea. Thank you, Tara, for inviting me to post and for hosting this event. I wish everyone a creative, productive PiBoIdMo 2015!
November 1, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Laura Mulvey
Thanks for the great tips. I’ll be working on tweaking titles today to play with. That castle is also very inspiring!
November 1, 2015 at 3:19 pm
jdewdropsofink
Great tips. Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 3:21 pm
tinawissner
It’s great fun reading everyone’s comments!! I for one will have a great time combining ideas and allowing myself to let ideas ‘toss-n-tumble’ and fall upside down. Thanks for a Fantastic Kickoff!!!
November 1, 2015 at 3:23 pm
barbarabockman
Hi Joan. Love your tips and your titles. I hope to win the castle because I’ve written a book about the knights in my family.
November 1, 2015 at 3:25 pm
andreesantini
I love your thought that all ideas can potentially become amazing stories. Thanks for the encouragement!
November 1, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Susan Nicholas
Great ideas! I always come up with titles last…now I will try creating those first.
November 1, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Heidi Yates
Joan, Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful tips for story ideas. I think starting with a title is a fun switch from how I usually approach writing. I am definitely going to give it a try! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Cathy Breisacher
I love these writing tips, Joan! They will help to generate lots of fun ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Priya
Thanks for the ideas. I never started a story with a title. Will give it a try.
November 1, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Laura Blumenstiel
130 books – that is inspiring! Nice to know that there is not a shelf life on creativity in writing.
November 1, 2015 at 3:38 pm
tpierce
Great kickoff to PiBoIdMo, Joan! Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 3:46 pm
lindaschueler
Thanks for going through how you got the ideas for your books. Great info!
November 1, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Bruna De Luca
You make it sound so easy! Thanks for the tops.
November 1, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Sydney O'Neill
Thanks for the ideas, Joan. I enjoyed your What Was the Gold Rush? today and it directly or indirectly inspired several new story ideas. 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Joan
Just realized that the R.L.Stine NPR interview link got lost in translation in my post. It’s http://www.npr.org/2015/10/18/449748255/attack-of-the-spooky-script-r-l-stine-in-life-and-on-the-screen
November 1, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Joan
Glad to hear that, Sydney! I really enjoy writing NF and biographies. I wish that ‘big head’ biography series from Grosset & Dunlap had been around when I was chapter-book age. Glad it’s around for kids now.
November 1, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Joanne Sher
What a FABULOUS post – with some great ideas! Love all the potential – especially here on the first day of PiBoIdMo! Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 4:01 pm
mrsbulls2ndgrade
Sad day…the Knight Before Christmas is on my list of possible ideas lol! Guess I’ll take her advice and combine it with something else now. Looking forward to reading her take on it 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Barbara DiMarco
You have given me a lot to think about Joan. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 4:04 pm
kirsticall
Thanks for some great ideas for making great books! I can’t wait to read more of your books…my daughters love goddess girls!
November 1, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Patricia Corcoran
Thank you, Joan, for your wonderful inspirations. I look forward to reading The Knights Before Christmas and Shampoodle because they sound so funny and clever. Several of my stories have begun with a title or just one unusual word.
November 1, 2015 at 4:15 pm
writeknit
Joan, Thank you for the great ideas and sources we can use the glean inspiration!
November 1, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Laurie Daley
130+ books and counting? That is inspiring before even getting to the advice!
November 1, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Beth Blee
Joan, I like your thought process and combining two ideas. Thanks for the inspiration. Great post!
November 1, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Val McCammon
Great prompts for idea-generating, especially the potential for combining 2 ideas into one manuscript. Thanks, Joan.
November 1, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Yvonne Klinksick
I love the idea of working off the inspiration of a title- thanks for the tips!
November 1, 2015 at 4:33 pm
nicolepopel
Genius! Thank you, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Lynne Marie
WOW — so good to see PiBoIdMo starting off with a bang!!! And one of my favorite authors starts it off 🙂 Thanks for the amazing insight, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 4:41 pm
Laura Lowman Murray
Great idea to combine two ideas that weren’t really working separately. I enjoyed using your books in my classroom when I taught, Joan – thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Stephanie Farrow
Choose what is “interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer”–yes!
November 1, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Michelle Cusolito
Great ideas. Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Kelly Hochbein
Love it! Thanks, Joan. Off to tweak some titles and think like an audience!
November 1, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Darlene Ivy
Love the idea that combining ideas is not a waste – just maybe a new creative layer!
November 1, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Joan Swanson
Your creativeness is astounding! Showing us how you developed Little Red Writing by the title first and then step by step was so interesting. I really hadn’t thought to do this. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
Just read SHAMPOODLE a month or two ago–hysterical. Thanks for the tips!
November 1, 2015 at 5:07 pm
Chana Stiefel
Love this post! My dad and I used to play a game to come up with funny book titles A-Z. Wish I could find that list.
November 1, 2015 at 5:17 pm
julieamurphyJulie Murphy
I especially love the “punny” titles!
November 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Catherine Friess
I love the idea of combining two non working ideas to make one that does. Thank you for the suggestion Joan 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Mary Jo Wagner
What a brilliant concept for Little Red Writing — not to mention Zero the Hero. Three titles trickled in while reading!
November 1, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Caren Cantrell
Thanks for the great idea suggestions.Wonderful start to PiBoIdMo.
November 1, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
You are so clever. Thanks for all the ideas to mash things up a bit for book titles. The castle is darling, perfect for promoting my mouse book.
November 1, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Angie Cherney
These are such excellent and inspiring tips! I love the writing world that I finally stepped brave into. I look forward to the daily inspiration for the month of November.
November 1, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Beth MacKinney
Some of my favorite stories started with a quirky title. Great post!
November 1, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Ann Kelley
So true…why not combine two non-working ideas, you can always come up with more. Thanks for sharing your writing tips!
November 1, 2015 at 5:45 pm
rupalimulge
Wonderful post! All those titles going on my to-read list this winter. Thank you for such wonderful tips.
November 1, 2015 at 5:45 pm
laura516
I love the idea of combining two non-working ideas. Shampoodle is hysterical! It is so fun learning where an idea came from. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Stephanie Shaw
Whoa! Combining ideas! Who would have thought about THAT? Thanks! Now I can take several years of PiBoIdMo ideas and start mixing them up! Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Ashley Bohmer
Three great tips.Thanks so much! 😃
November 1, 2015 at 5:50 pm
Emily Wayne (@emilywayneart)
great post Joan! thanks for the reminder not to hoard ideas! sometimes you get so attached to them individually and forget they might be better together!
November 1, 2015 at 5:50 pm
mona861
Combine two of my non working ideas? Or, maybe three or four?!?!?! Thank you. This is brilliant!
November 1, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Pamela Haskin
Thanks, Joan, for some great ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 5:53 pm
steveasbell
I had seen several of your books before but had no idea that they were conceived using nothing more than a title! What a great way to get out of a rut and use otherwise forgotten ideas.
November 1, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Lynette Oxley
Joan, your titles sure have the Wow factor. Thanks for sharing.
November 1, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Maria Barbella
Great idea to blend titles to percolate and meld. Thank you, Joan, for sharing.
November 1, 2015 at 6:00 pm
kaziemann
What great ideas! It is so important to view the topic/book as your audience would. I love the description of the scenes of your book unfolding like a movie.
November 1, 2015 at 6:00 pm
jshaklan
These are such great suggestions! Thank you for the inspiration!
November 1, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Anne Iverson
Thank you for sharing! Wonderful tips, suggestions, inspirations and challenges to follow through! How can you NOT go forward?
November 1, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Karen Calloway
Such brilliant advice for the first day!
November 1, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Jennifer Ali
Just recently combined disparate ideas for a PB. Makes great sense!
November 1, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Audrey Hackett (@AudreyHackett0)
Thank you for sharing this great advice.
November 1, 2015 at 6:20 pm
nymediaworks
Particularly like the idea of combining two ideas that might not work on their own, but work well together. Thank you for the advice — DAY 1 done!
November 1, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Juliann (Juli) Caveny
I love your little castle! (And your great advice too!) Writing titles first always throws me for a curve though. I’m typically a character person, but I’ll try your advice!!!
November 1, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Beverly R. Marsh
Thanks for the tip on choosing an idea that is interesting to me as an audience, not just what is fun to do from a writer’s perspective. It’s so obvious, yet I never thought about it.
November 1, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Midge Smith
Love your ideas–especially about using titles as inspiration–
November 1, 2015 at 6:33 pm
rgstones
Great post! I just reserved The Knights Before Christmas at my library and can’t wait to read it.
November 1, 2015 at 6:33 pm
sunroksus
Joan, These are great tips. 130 books! Wow! My new idol!
November 1, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Hayley Barrett
Thank you, Joan! Little Red is adorable and I can’t wait to meet the Knights!
November 1, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Kaye Baillie
Great tips, Joan. gotta get brain working.
November 1, 2015 at 6:41 pm
Christine Pinto
Thanks, Joan, for the tips, especially the reminder not to hoard ideas. From now on I’m going to think of all my “failed” ideas as a treasure chest of ideas to dip into whenever I need too.
November 1, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Maria Marshall
Oh my gosh, I love SHAMPOODLE and the KNIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Thank you for spurring some great combination ideas. 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 6:51 pm
Deborah MacAusland
your books look interesting 🙂 that castle is gorgeous. this is my first time trying something like this and hopefully I come up with something interesting.
November 1, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Caroline
Combining ideas is something I really need to experiment more with when I’m stuck on a manuscript that’s not quite working. Thanks for the inspiring post!
November 1, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Louann Brown
Ah ha….now to write a story that will have a really cool prop to use.
November 1, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Annie Cronin Romano
Thanks for the great suggestions, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Jennifer Coughlin
Wonderful post, great ideas! I am not kidding when I say I think of Little Red Writing a lot when I’m writing – “stick to the story path, Jen,” I remind myself! Looking forward to putting your ideas into practice, thank you, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Kelly parker
Awesome ideas! Thank you for sharing!!!
November 1, 2015 at 7:02 pm
katmaz2012
I love combining ideas. I have trouble coming up with “good” titles. Thanks for the encouraging words.
November 1, 2015 at 7:04 pm
purimenaya
Good ideas to make ideas, thanks Joan. I use to think tittles first, It’s a good way to open your mind.
November 1, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Sue Gagliardi
Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas, Joan! I love the idea of combining topics. Thanks for sharing examples from your work. Love your books! Your ideas are so inspiring!
November 1, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Rachel Smoka-Richardson
Thank you for sharing your “titles first” concept – PiBoIdMo is a good time to try it!
November 1, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Mary Jane
An excellent post. Inspiring start to November’s challenges. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Amy Hansen Harding
Great suggestions! I’m glad to hear such great stories have come from title ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Donna L Martin
I LOVE the idea of your Little Red Writing book! MUST add to my collection!
Great post!
November 1, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Amy Hansen Harding
Great suggestions! I’m glad to hear such great stories have come from title ideas, as many of my ideas are titles!
November 1, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Seth Ruderman
Great Post!
November 1, 2015 at 7:30 pm
alexiamandoni
Great ideas. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Marcela
Joan,
Thank you for the advice and great ideas. Truly inspiring!
Marcela
November 1, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Laurie J Edwards
Love how you come up with your ideas, Joan! Great plays on words for your titles. Sorry I couldn’t be at the Knight signing. Looks like it was fun!
November 1, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Annalisa Gulbrandsen
This post was excellent, thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Cassie Bentley
I love how you take ideas and run with them.
November 1, 2015 at 7:41 pm
lindamartinandersen
Joan,
Great post. I love how you combine ideas to create books such as the example of a dog story and picture taking day. Also, I can almost see Christmas gifts being catapulted into the castle. That’s fun.
November 1, 2015 at 7:43 pm
Elizabeth Brown
Thank you for the inspiration! Happy day 1!
November 1, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Nori Underhill
This post helped me get my idea for today! I started with “Goodnight Moon” and tweaked it to “Goodnight Night” and that gave me the idea for a story, “When Night Took a Vacation”, which I just wrote a first draft for! (Because that’s what I’m doing this month: not just coming up with ideas, but writing fist drafts for each of them.) Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Mari
I love the idea of combining “sleeper” ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Joan
Combining ideas . . . Sounds like common sense but as we all know, common sense is not so common. Thank you for highlighting this suggestion 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 8:09 pm
Meg Miller
Love PiBoIdMo and need the inspiration and motivation. Thanks Tara! Thank you Joan for the excellent advice, particularly coming at the story from the audience perspective!
November 1, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Barbara Messinger
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
November 1, 2015 at 8:19 pm
Keila Dawson
Crazy, wacky, mix and match ideas are the “funnest”. Creativity at it’s best. Can’t wait to read The Knight Before Christmas. That title is the hook!
November 1, 2015 at 8:19 pm
bunnyminer
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing. I’m so excited to be part of PiBoIdMo this year!
November 1, 2015 at 8:21 pm
Carrie Moore Chan
What wonderful inspiration! Now my goal is to publish 130+ books. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Yvonne Mes
Thanks for a wonderful start to catapulting those ideas into my notebook!
November 1, 2015 at 8:28 pm
Mylisa Larsen
Nifty castle. Nifty ideas.
November 1, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Mary Worley
Fantabulous tips! I have to say 130+ books is incredible. Thanks for sharing how you play with your original ideas. Shampoodle made me laugh. It’s going on my list. 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Bonnie
Such wonderful inspiration from Joan. What a great kick off to the first day. That castle looks like it could be a lot of fun.
November 1, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Rona Shirdan
Great ideas for brainstorming! I have a few new ideas just from reading the post. Thanks for sharing the tips!
November 1, 2015 at 9:09 pm
kateywrites
Great inspiration to kick off the month!!
November 1, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Trine
I often being with a title. Thanks for suggestions on how to turn them into the stories I want to tell.
November 1, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Christine
Love the mash-up of titles idea. I’ve got more titles than I know what to do with, but can’t always flesh them up. Bring on the masher!
November 1, 2015 at 9:14 pm
Pam Buck
Thanks for the suggestions…I’ll give it a try!
November 1, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Elizabeth
I really like the idea of coming up with a title and then asking what the story is about. I’m going to use it! Thanks!! Also, I’m about to read The Knights Before Christmas:)
November 1, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Lane Arnold (@lanearnold)
Ready to write after all those good tips. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Pat
Thanks for sharing your wonderful tips, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Cinzia
Great inspiration. Thanks fir the ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 9:32 pm
hmmmmm
Good to think about what you’d like as READER as opposed to as a WRITER. Thanks for that thought.
November 1, 2015 at 9:34 pm
Deirdre Englehart
Joan, I love the ideas for brainstorming. Great inspiration on our first official day! Thank you.
November 1, 2015 at 9:34 pm
Brook Gideon (@brookgideon)
Like the idea of taking two lame ideas and mashing the together! Thanks for all the great info!
November 1, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Jeanine Potter Lovell
Thank you for sharing and congratulations!
November 1, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Thanks, Joan! Ideas often come to me in title form, too. I told my 6 year old this morning that I was starting PiBoIdMo, and she said, “Oh, you should write a story called The Leash That Chewed Gum.”
November 1, 2015 at 9:47 pm
Pat Gramling
Great ideas!
November 1, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Rene Aube
Thank you, Joan, for the reassurance that if our original idea for a story doesn’t look anything like the final product, its OKAY! Especially if it becomes a great book. And I love the idea of combining two ideas into one story…I’ll have to stop hoarding and start playing with those undeveloped ideas from previous PiBoIdMos. 🙂 Happy PiBo! 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 9:58 pm
nycalison
Love the idea of starting with a title!
November 1, 2015 at 10:00 pm
teresa m.i. schaefer (@TMISchaefer)
130+ titles, great ideas, cool castle–thanks for all your contributions.
November 1, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Lisa Charlebois
I usually write the story first and wait for the title to come to me… Thanks for the simple suggestion to think otherwise. Great! (and great castle!)
November 1, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Laura Bellina
I like the concept of combining ideas to beef up the story. Thanks!
November 1, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Mary Warth
Thanks Joan, this is a great way to start off the month! I love the idea of combining stories.
November 1, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Kari Benjamin
Love the Brave Red pencil!
November 1, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Kim Chaffee
What a great post to start off the month! Feeling inspired already!
November 1, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Kaitlin Hedberg
I love your comment about writing for the audience-you. It’s such a small way to re-calibrate, but an eye-opener for me! Thanks for a great post!
November 1, 2015 at 10:37 pm
orthodoxmom3
Thank you so much for the tips! I’m looking forward to using them!
November 1, 2015 at 10:40 pm
bleakx
Found myself quoting point number three to my husband as we were picking up leaves. Combining two non-working ideas to make another working idea has multiple applications. Inspired.
November 1, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Michael Lawrence Vogel
These are three very good ideas. I may need to try and combine some from last year and some from this year and see what I can come up with. Thank you!!
November 1, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Christine M. Irvin
I often start with just a title and then try to work a story around it.
November 1, 2015 at 10:48 pm
lymartinez
Thanks for an inspiring post! I love the word play (: And…Um… I really… really kinda really… really want that castle… I wanna play with it…
November 1, 2015 at 10:50 pm
Candy
My head is spinning! So glad I found this challenge through twitter.
November 1, 2015 at 10:50 pm
Michael Karg (@michaelkarg)
I love the “don’t hoard ideas” sentiment! There is a Stone Soup aspect of story writing-that first one may be a clunker but once you empty the hodge-podge idea pantry, it gets very tasty.
November 1, 2015 at 10:56 pm
Jamie LB Deenihan
Thanks for the inspiration Joan! You’re books are SO clever and engaging. Congrats on all your success!
November 1, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Cassandra Federman
GREAT POST! Thanks 🙂
November 1, 2015 at 11:00 pm
Traci Bold
Thank you Joan. 🙂 Great way of thinking to get the story out even though it may not be what I originally started out with.
November 1, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Rebecca L. Snyder
Inspiring!!! I like the idea of titling first. 2 titles are bouncing around my mind, now to decide which one I would enjoy reading more than once.
November 1, 2015 at 11:05 pm
Jessica @ Play Trains!
This gave me my first idea for the challenge — thanks for the great tips!
November 1, 2015 at 11:09 pm
ingridboydston
Oh, I needed to hear #2! Than you!
November 1, 2015 at 11:26 pm
Leanne Shirtliffe
I can’t write a manuscript until I have a title. The title may change (unlikely, though), but it’s what focuses me, not unlike an elevator pitch. As a result, I loved hearing that I’m not alone in this.
I also love the idea of combining two ideas…
November 1, 2015 at 11:30 pm
tallison7
Good advice, especially #2… write/illustrate for YOU as your audience. Thank you!
November 1, 2015 at 11:30 pm
Maria Bostian
Joan, Thanks,so much for getting us started on Day 1. I love your idea about combining ideas. I think I’ll review last year’s list and see what I can do to combine some of those.
November 1, 2015 at 11:31 pm
undercoverwonders
Thanks, Joan! I love Little Red Writing and your cleverness in titling your books! I also found “combining your ideas” to be a duh!/aha! moment for me. Sometimes that’s all it takes is someone to share something as brilliantly simple as that for us to say “why didn’t I think of that?”
November 1, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Andrea Mack
Great suggestions! I get some of my best ideas by combining snippets I’ve already written in my writing notebook.
November 1, 2015 at 11:39 pm
Susie Sawyer
Such good advice! Thank you Joan, and congratulations on all your success!
November 1, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Jacque
Hi Joan, *note to Jacque… take note of what Joan says.
November 1, 2015 at 11:41 pm
sherry
Great ideas especially starting with a title.
November 1, 2015 at 11:42 pm
marlainagray
Love this – combining ideas feels eco-friendly. 🙂 Thanks, Joan!
November 1, 2015 at 11:43 pm
Keeping the Me in Mommy
Thanks for sharing your thought processes of how u developed some of your ideas. It helped flesh out your suggestions in a practical way.
November 1, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Laurie L Young
So many great insights, and what a treat to learn how you came up with Little Red Writing!
November 1, 2015 at 11:46 pm
Sara Kvols
So great!
November 1, 2015 at 11:47 pm
Sandy Perlic
Lovely ideas to start off the month! And so impressed with your clever spins.
November 1, 2015 at 11:48 pm
Kim
Great idea for beginning this journey. Thanks.
November 1, 2015 at 11:52 pm
Christine McDonnell
Using a title as a prompt is very helpful– brainstorming titles feels different from brainstorming plot ideas, quirkier and looser.
November 1, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Joan: PiBoIdMo is off to an exciting beginning. Thank you for the fresh start filled with words of encouragment and tips.
~Suzy Leopold
November 1, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Mary Greer
I love the idea of combining two books.
November 1, 2015 at 11:59 pm
Laura Lee Malesh
Thank you! I have my first idea! I started with a title like you suggested and was able to layout a general plot to go with it. So excited!
November 2, 2015 at 12:01 am
Danna Smith
I loved reading how your books came about.
November 2, 2015 at 12:02 am
schriscoe
Great inspirational post Jpan. I will be remembering the combining of ideas come December. Love your giveaway too!
November 2, 2015 at 12:03 am
schriscoe
Sorry for the name typo. I meant Joan. 🙂
November 2, 2015 at 12:18 am
Elaine Le Sueur
What. Fantastic ideas. My mind is fizzing today. Thankyou.
November 2, 2015 at 12:18 am
Denise Wydra
My son loves everything mythology-related (he probably knows D’Aulaire’s by heart!) and he enjoyed your Goddess Girls series! Thanks! And thanks for the interesting and practical tips! (I”m going to share this with him too — he will think it is especially neat that I can send you a message!)
November 2, 2015 at 12:20 am
Kirsten Bock
Thanks for the great advice! I too often come up with the title first.
November 2, 2015 at 12:23 am
Jenna Woloshyn
This is how I get a lot of my ideas, too.
November 2, 2015 at 12:24 am
Damon Dean, SevenAcreSky
Joan, what great approaches and insight. I tend to let my ideas ‘freeze’ and not morph or melt into what they become. I need to loosen up and let them change…thanks for that reminder.
November 2, 2015 at 12:27 am
Heather Pierce Stigall
What a great way to kick off PiBoIdMo 2015! Thanks for the great tips. I’m going to look over last years ideas and see which I might be able to combine to make a better story.
November 2, 2015 at 12:48 am
Zoraida Rivera
Very interesting ideas, now written in my idea book and my mind will churn on them tomorrow.
November 2, 2015 at 12:50 am
kimlynnp
Every idea having the potential to become an amazing story… I love that! Thanks Joan for an encouraging and inspiring post!! 🙂
November 2, 2015 at 1:01 am
Leah Perlongo
Fantastic! 🙂 -Leah Perlongo
November 2, 2015 at 1:06 am
Annelouise
I love your positive well of inspiration. Thank you Joan for sharing with us.
November 2, 2015 at 1:23 am
Sandy Powell
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!
November 2, 2015 at 1:36 am
Christine Rodenbour
I want to run out and get The Knights Before Christmas right now! That premise cracks me up. I want to meet those knights and the Santa who hurls presents over a castle wall immediately.
November 2, 2015 at 1:37 am
Susan Schade
I love your advice on what to do if your book doesn’t seem to be working. Thanks for the inspiration!
November 2, 2015 at 1:44 am
wendymyersart
Really creative, helpful ideas! Thanks a bunch.
November 2, 2015 at 1:47 am
childrensbooksonadime
Thanks for so many great ideas, Joan, especially combining ideas. Waste not, want not, right?
November 2, 2015 at 2:11 am
dfrybarger
Thanks,Joan! You gave a very different, fresh approach to gathering ideas.
Really enjoyed your post.
November 2, 2015 at 2:18 am
rythmicrhyme
Thank you for sharing the clever and quirky flow of your writer’s brain. I can’t wait to read the books you’ve written! And today, I too, started writing with a title and actually got to the end of a story.
November 2, 2015 at 2:41 am
aimee haburjak
Thank you Joan. Great post and creative ideas on combining story ideas.
November 2, 2015 at 3:00 am
Kim Richards
These are great tips! Thank you Joan.
November 2, 2015 at 3:28 am
pearlz
I love the idea of smashing ideas together. Just applied some of your great suggestions to my notebook today.
November 2, 2015 at 3:28 am
pearlz
Reblogged this on Pearlz Dreaming.
November 2, 2015 at 3:50 am
Jill
So many great thoughts. Thank you.
November 2, 2015 at 5:54 am
Janet Smart
Great ideas here! Thanks for the post and the prize.
November 2, 2015 at 6:39 am
Elaine
Thanks for sharing your ideas with us. Great post.
November 2, 2015 at 7:12 am
jenstaves
Great post! Thanks very much.
November 2, 2015 at 7:56 am
K. Callard
Excellent writing ideas, and what great-sounding books. Can’t wait to check them out!
November 2, 2015 at 8:00 am
Rebecca Sheraton
Great idea to start with a title
November 2, 2015 at 8:28 am
Derick
Great post, Joan! My ideas tend to come as some twist, so I often end up “starting at the end”. So starting with the title is a wonderful, new approach for me!
November 2, 2015 at 8:41 am
Diane Kress Hower
Great Ideas for ideas! Thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 8:46 am
Sharon Giltrow
thanks Joan for showing me how to turn my “catch phrases” into a fleshed out PB
November 2, 2015 at 8:53 am
peonyblue
Titles are so hard for me, once I’ve already got the story in mind. I’m definitely going to try going title-first for this PiBoIdMo challenge now. 😀 Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 9:00 am
Kim Pfennigwerth
Your twists and mashups are great! Thanks for showing us what has worked for you!
November 2, 2015 at 9:06 am
Monica Stoltzfus
Loving this! Title first:D Thank you, Joan! Can’t wait to check out The Knights Before Christmas! ❤️👏
November 2, 2015 at 9:22 am
Micki Ginsberg
Joan Holub, I salute you! I’ve rarely seen so many super ideas in one place. Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 9:22 am
Janice Milusich
Great ideas !!
November 2, 2015 at 9:24 am
Pascale M.
Thank you Joan! Great tips!
November 2, 2015 at 9:25 am
aliciaminor
I agree that successful picture books begin with intriguing titles to hook readers first and foremost. Begin with titles. Thanks for sharing.
November 2, 2015 at 9:29 am
Erin O'Brien
Wonderful tips! And I loved reading how they worked for your stories. Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 9:32 am
Pamela Berkman
Love the idea of combining two non-working ideas into one. And your examples also inspire me to try wordplay and puns as an inspiration. Thanks, Joan.
November 2, 2015 at 9:37 am
Christie Allred (@ChristieAllred)
Starting with a title is one of my favorite ways to brainstorm. And your advice to write what my audience -self would like to read is golden. Thank you 🙂
November 2, 2015 at 9:53 am
onathought
I love this idea! So often, we tell our students to just use a working title… not to worry about the title… but for some it can be the inspiration we need!
November 2, 2015 at 10:01 am
Rebecca G. Aguilar
Wait a second… you wrote a children’s book about Woodstock? What a fresh idea! Now on my radar!
November 2, 2015 at 10:04 am
csheer18
You have proven-once again, Joan, how extraordinarily generous members of the kidlit world are with SHARING ideas, information, and inspiration!
I will return to this post again and again when a stagnant or stuck idea needs a jumpstart! Many thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 10:09 am
Jennifer DuBose
So many great ideas! Love the “Shampoodle” idea. Must look up your Woodstock book 🙂
November 2, 2015 at 10:20 am
lauren scheuer
Fabulous ideas!
November 2, 2015 at 10:29 am
winemama
Thanks for the inspiring post!
November 2, 2015 at 10:42 am
booksbyanacrespo
Love the idea of starting with a title. It is not something I usually do, but I can see how that could work well. Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 10:48 am
Naana Kyereboah
Thanks, Joan for great tips on getting story ideas.
November 2, 2015 at 10:53 am
Emily Goldstein
Thanks – I often have titles in my head and wonder if that’s enough to start work on that idea.
November 2, 2015 at 11:02 am
Marla
I’m sitting on a story idea/title right now & hoping to find another idea this month to pair it up with.
November 2, 2015 at 11:06 am
Jay Polowski
Little Red Writing story, I love it. It’s a combo of how to write, comic, picture book with a twist. Thanks for the other great ideas.
November 2, 2015 at 11:12 am
A. P. Alessandri
Such wonderful advice! I often start with a title, which I’ve found helpful when trying to figure out what the story is about. I love the other pieces of advice, too. I’d never considered trying out combining ideas when something’s not working…that’s brilliant! Looking forward to applying that to some of mine. Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 11:12 am
Joanne Fritz
These are such inspiring ideas. Thank you so much! I especially love the thought of combining two ideas that aren’t working. Genius!
November 2, 2015 at 11:13 am
Sheila Lynch-Afryl
Thanks for the great ideas.
November 2, 2015 at 11:14 am
Jessica Nims
I love this post! And, I can’t wait to buy your books for my nieces and nephew.
November 2, 2015 at 11:16 am
tanjabauerle
Great post to begin this year’s PiBoIdMo challenge. Thank you for the suggestion that combining ideas can strengthen a story concept. There are several from previous years that I have not used, that might be revitalized by an idea mash-up. So excited to see what this month will bring. 🙂 Thank you. T
November 2, 2015 at 11:20 am
F. G. M. Kalavritinos
I have a whole page of titles. I’m glad to know that other writers start that way too.
November 2, 2015 at 11:42 am
Sheri Radovich
Thank you for the encouragement as I try to revive and rework some old manuscripts that just aren’t fun anymore. I will look for new things and try to let the others go. Already have two new ideas on day one.
November 2, 2015 at 12:00 pm
billiesgirl
I love the idea of taking a phrase and tweaking it to create a fun title; I have a brain full of twisted phrases already! Thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Karen Lawler
Thanks for the ideas… This first day already has my mind roasting with ideas!!! I love that castle too. 🙂
November 2, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Brandi Payne
Great post! I love these ideas!
November 2, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Kassy Keppol
Fun Ideas
November 2, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Veronika Magali-Marosy
I was a little late to the game, but after reading this wonderful post, I’m on to 4 ideas on my list! Fun fun fun!
November 2, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Lois Wickstrom
good ideas. Please give the castle to someone else.
November 2, 2015 at 12:22 pm
shiela fuller
This is my very favorite take away from this post, …”every idea (has) the potential to become an amazing story…” Thank you , I loved reading this post and learning about your books!
November 2, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Rebecca Van Slyke
I love the “start with a title” idea. Oftentimes, the title is the first thing to come to me when I begin a picture book. (On the other hand, I have a MG novel manuscript that is STILL not named.)
November 2, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Erin Nowak
I often have trouble getting out of my own way…idea wise…so I like the idea of just listing titles, and returning later to see which ones resonate. Thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 12:44 pm
jeanjames
This is a great kickoff of fantastic ideas!
November 2, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Kerry Ariail
I love the way you looked up characteristics of the color red. Great idea! The Knights Before Christmas looks great! Can’t wait to read it to my kids.
November 2, 2015 at 12:54 pm
heidimrogers
Great ideas!
November 2, 2015 at 1:06 pm
JEN Garrett
The ideas are beginning to bubble up… Hmm… could that be a picture book? Thanks for a great start to the month!
November 2, 2015 at 1:18 pm
cantsing1
Fantastic! What a great way to look at possibilities and bumps int he road. Refreshing! Many thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Tim McCanna
Ditto what those other thousand people said, Joan. Great post. Thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Anita Banks
Thank you for the ideas!
November 2, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Gracie Idzal
Your creativity is inspiring. Thank you for posting!
November 2, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Tony Williams
I’m already a day behind!
Thank you for the great advice!
November 2, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Kim MacPherson
I love the idea of combining lackluster ideas to make one great one! Thanks for this inspiration!!!
November 2, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Linda Hofke
Thanks for the advice and Shampoodle looks adorable!
November 2, 2015 at 2:57 pm
City Sights for Kids
Definitely plan to revisit some back-burner projects to see if any ideas can be combined to enrich one another! Thank you!
– Amanda Sincavage
November 2, 2015 at 2:57 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
Thanks for the tips, Joan. I LOVE Little Red Writing soooo much. It’s exceptionally clever!
November 2, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Ashley Bankhead
Thank you so much for this post. You suggested so many good ideas for writing stories. It really got me thinking. I am ready to find some new ideas through titles, combining ideas, and deciding what is interesting to me as an audience. Thank you.
November 2, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Lauri Meyers
I’ve got to spread some ideas on the floor and see if there are some winning combinations.
November 2, 2015 at 3:21 pm
artsyandi
What wonderful advice. I’m already looking through old ideas seeing if there are ways to add some life into them. And my kids would LOVE that castle as much as I do!
November 2, 2015 at 3:22 pm
artsyandi
I’m already looking through old ideas for unique combinations! Would love to decorate that castle with my kids too. How fun!
November 2, 2015 at 3:23 pm
annamarras
Joan, my granddaughter insists on being Joan of Arc every time she dresses up. She’d be crazy about THE KNIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. All of your ideas made me laugh, then ponder the genius. Thanks for sharing your imaginative inspirations.
November 2, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Dee Knabb
This is a fabulous strategy and your titles so intriguing and clever. Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 3:51 pm
lgalaske
Thank you for the encouragement and the tips!
November 2, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Rich Jean
You are one of my little girl’s favorite writers (ours too)! You sent her a personal note once that she cherishes till this day. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
November 2, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Jill Tadros
Wonderful advice and love the customized castle!
November 2, 2015 at 4:42 pm
yangmommy
I love the idea of knights not allowing Santa in–how clever! Thanks for taking the time to post and share your strategy
November 2, 2015 at 4:47 pm
jodelle55
This was a great article. I loved how you mentioned combining ideas for a twist or to make a good idea great!
November 2, 2015 at 5:19 pm
sschwartz28
Great suggestions for combining taking a fresh look at things from a new perspective. Thanks!
November 2, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Matt Tesoriero
I love the combo platter idea of mashing up two PB concepts. Well played!
November 2, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Bethany Mandich
Inspired by your process for creating stories you would want to read as an audience…and clever word use with your titles/concepts!
November 2, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Dani Duck
Great ideas! I need to go through some of my ideas and edit them into workable ideas. Some aren’t quite there. Thanks for all the help shaping up my ideas!
Also, love the books. They all look like great stories (will have to look them up). Love the great castle. I need this… wait, do I have to let my kid decorate it, or can I do it myself?
November 2, 2015 at 6:02 pm
gretchengeser
I learned about PiBoIdMo only yesterday and was thrilled to read about writing from you on Day 1. Thank you!
November 2, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Cathy Biggerstaff
Thanks for the great ideas, Joan! Loved the thought of combining two stories to make a better storyline.
November 2, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Janet Halfmann
Wow! Every idea has the potential to become an amazing story! That’s great inspiration, all right!
November 2, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Carolyn Cory Scoppettone
Loved the concept of combining ideas. Shampodle is precious.
November 2, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Mrs.HallidaysClass (@MrsHallidays4th)
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas and giving insight to your process! I’m going to see what my 2nd graders think about starting with a title tomorrow during writer’s workshop!
November 2, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Pamela G. Jones
Many great ways to get those ideas started, and a great first post to begin!
November 2, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Maria J Cuesta
Yes!!! Great ideas! Thanks a lot!
November 2, 2015 at 7:23 pm
becki wilson
I love the way your mind works, Joan; i’m grateful for the pleasure of eavesdropping on said process (Joan to self:)!
November 2, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Lorraine Bonzelet
The Knights Before Christmas – the title makes me smile! Great post. Thanks.
November 2, 2015 at 8:20 pm
Kristen C. Strocchia =)
Titles often come to me first. I love to see if the story that follows lives up to the original idea. =)
November 2, 2015 at 8:28 pm
Kjersten Hayes
Loved this post! Thanks.
November 2, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Heather Merrill
I love the idea of not hoarding ideas. I also loved the thought that every idea can be great. Great practical and inspirational advice!
November 2, 2015 at 8:52 pm
hdmerrill
I loved the idea of not hoarding ideas. I also loved the thought that all ideas have the potential to be great. Thanks for the half practical and half inspirational post!
November 2, 2015 at 8:56 pm
Rick Starkey
Thanks for sharing with us.
November 2, 2015 at 10:47 pm
Sheri Dillard
Great post! I love a good title, too! Thanks for the tips!
November 2, 2015 at 10:58 pm
Kim Erickson
The Knights Before Christmas is a brilliant idea! I can’t wait to read it.
November 2, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Victoria Chang
Thank you! Love the title idea.
November 2, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Susan L. Roberts
My ideas tend to grow and get too big for a picture book. How can I take a big idea and trim it down to size? (Like a story I have, the circle of women. Could it be a circle of girls? and have them solve a pint-sized problem. Hmmm. Let me ponder that one….
November 3, 2015 at 12:03 am
Tina
Wonderful start! Thank you!
November 3, 2015 at 12:56 am
Jenifer McNamara
Thanks for the interesting post to help spurn my creativity to get those 30 titles for November.
November 3, 2015 at 2:33 am
Sarah Harroff
I could definitely benefit from consulting with my audience side. Thanks for sharing your successful tactics with us, Joan. The Knights Before Christmas, what a fabulous title and idea!
November 3, 2015 at 6:43 am
Lori Mozdzierz
Titles are a good stepping off point into a story yet to be created.
November 3, 2015 at 7:28 am
Doris Stone
Thank you, Joan for an inspiring post full of fabulous ideas.
November 3, 2015 at 10:41 am
Kelly Vavala
Love the idea of combining two ideas into one!! Write the story that you would like to read….great writing tips here and thank you for sharing!
November 3, 2015 at 10:57 am
writersideup
It’s the “combining” of ideas I love. They typically help things come alive. It’s why I write down everything and throw nothing away. Great stuff, Joan 😀
November 3, 2015 at 11:04 am
Vanessa Roeder
Such wonderful advice!
November 3, 2015 at 11:31 am
Laura Rackham
Just what I needed to kickstart my month!
November 3, 2015 at 11:41 am
Sara Pistulka Weingartner
Thanks, Joan for sharing your great tips. Can’t wait to read Knights before Xmas too.
November 3, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Donna Rossman (@RossmanDonna)
Love the combining of ideas! Your titles are wonderful! 🙂
November 3, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Colleen Sims
Love the idea of being inspired by a title – thanks Joan! My daughter LOVED the Goddess Girls series, she couldn’t get enough! Thanks for introducing her to one of her (now) great passions – Greek mythology. (These days she spends her time grappling with Percy Jackson and friends. . . .)
November 3, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Kirsten Carlson (@kirstencarlson)
I adore and own Little Red Writing. Love the castle!
November 3, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Dana Murphy
Okay, I feel inspired. Seriously, I do. I usually sit around waiting for an idea to smack me in the face. I see now that I have some work to do…
November 3, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Dawn Young
Great post, great ideas – loved it!
November 3, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Frannyb
This is clever, Joan. Superb post, thank you, cheers, merci, gracias!
November 3, 2015 at 2:11 pm
karadhya
As a huge fans of your books, it was so much fun to read how you come up with some of your ideas. Thanks for this inspiring and entertaining post!
November 3, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Louise Aamodt
You just gave me a great (I hope!) idea for a new twist to a story I was considering, thanks!
November 3, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Carrie Finison
I really liked the advice to write what’s “interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer.” That’s important to remember, thank you!
November 3, 2015 at 2:47 pm
svaisnoras
Great ideas to start the month. I love the castle.
November 3, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Anjali Amit
What a great idea. Thanks.
November 3, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Emily Ford Cook
I’ve enjoyed all of your books and found your suggestions particularly helpful when describing how you fleshed out your ideas from a simple, catchy title. Thanks so much!
November 3, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Shirley
Joan, you are a hero to me in the world of children’s books. I am so grateful for your insights here. It’s incredibly cool to read of your thought process with the examples above (love Little Red Writing and Melissa’s amazing illustrations), and can’t wait to get my copy of The Knights Before Christmas. Your work always makes me smile (and my kids smile too). 🙂 Thanks Joan!!
November 3, 2015 at 5:18 pm
shirley Johnson
Great suggestions! Enjoyed this post.
November 3, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Lisa
Great tips, Joan. An excellent way to start off the month!
November 3, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Helen Matthews
Thanks for these tips, Joan, brilliant. Love the way ideas metamorphose in our minds and you’re right, who cares if the final is far from the original. They’re all great ideas that breed more great ideas.
November 3, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Kathryn Kass
Great tips!
November 3, 2015 at 8:10 pm
kmshelley
Thanks so much for your great ideas and suggestions!
November 3, 2015 at 8:44 pm
KASteed
Great tips. Thank you!
November 3, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Mark A. bentz
Great post Joan, Thank you for your suggestions.
November 3, 2015 at 10:57 pm
Pam Miller
Thank you Joan for clever, funny, outrageous ideas. One growing 🙂
November 4, 2015 at 2:27 am
carolofparis
Thanks!
November 4, 2015 at 10:40 am
kmajor2013
Great ideas for PB writers. Thanks, Joan
November 4, 2015 at 11:35 am
ammwrite3
Thanks for your advice, Joan. I took 2 pages of notes. I look forward to putting your advice into action! 🙂
November 4, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Elisa Karp
This really spoke to me– Try choosing an idea that is “interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer.” It’s so true– thank you! I will have to keep this in mind in the future..
November 4, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Kathy Cornell Berman
Such great ideas you have, the better my stories will be. Thanks Joan. I love Little Red Writing!
November 4, 2015 at 3:55 pm
lisa patten
Write the book you want to read – like it! I also often start with titles so can relate to that. Thanks
November 4, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Kelly Parker
I love the idea of playing with existing titles to make something unique! Thanks!!!
November 4, 2015 at 6:20 pm
missvidalia
Your resource list for ideas is great. But doesn’t it make you wonder where those folks got their ideas? Like mirrors in a fun house at the carnival.
November 4, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Mary Jo Tannehill
I loved Zero the Hero.
November 4, 2015 at 8:55 pm
saundrasstudio
Great ideas! Thank you!
November 4, 2015 at 9:58 pm
donnacangelosi
Love your idea to write a note to self! What a fun way to put thoughts together after coming up with a title.
November 4, 2015 at 10:11 pm
kamikinard
Excellent advice. You never know where a title might lead you!
November 4, 2015 at 10:54 pm
Natasha Wing
I like the idea of combining two boring books and pizazz!
November 5, 2015 at 12:57 am
Sharlin Craig
Love your ‘Don’t hoard ideas’ concept and the idea of combining them. That’s the beauty of writing for kids. We can think completely out of the box. Great advice and so fun!
November 5, 2015 at 3:21 am
Cindy E. Owens
Thank you for the great advice, Joan. The three questions you asked, and followed with an answer, really gets one thinking. I will have to borrow your idea and use this as a guideline for my writing. This is my first time participating, and this article was extremely helpful. I even took notes on it. I especially liked the notes you made to yourself! Thank you again!
November 5, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Jen Carroll
Great ideas … and fun prize!
November 6, 2015 at 12:31 am
Joanna Szeto
I think combining ideas is great. This will provide endless ideas. Thanks!
November 6, 2015 at 4:11 am
anniebailey7
Love the castle! Great post!
November 6, 2015 at 10:31 am
Keesha Steed
interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. [Those two things] can be very different.” This line jumped out at me and definitely adjusted my perspective. Thank you!
November 6, 2015 at 10:32 am
KASteed
(Not sure why this posted as Keesha Steed instead of KASTeed like all of my other posts). It’s me. Thank you!
November 6, 2015 at 11:08 am
Joni Klein-Higger
Love the idea of combining two story concepts!
November 6, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Rachel Anderson
Can’t wait to read your fun loving books. You are very creative.
November 6, 2015 at 1:52 pm
angeladegroot8
Knights before Christmas – genius title and concept! I kneed to read this one.
November 9, 2015 at 12:11 am
Eric Adler
Thank you, Joan.
November 9, 2015 at 6:26 am
Fran Price
Great advice. Love the idea of mixing and matching story ideas. Have already started doing it!
November 9, 2015 at 11:03 am
jenniferkirkeby
Thank you for these great tips and examples, Joan!
November 10, 2015 at 2:59 am
michellemmead
This was really heplful, I enjoyed it very much.
November 10, 2015 at 11:46 am
Daniela Weil
My daughter is a mega fan of your goddess girl books and I’m beyond myself to have had the privilege to hear your advice!
November 10, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Anna L. Russell
You have challenged me.
November 10, 2015 at 6:57 pm
jhayslett
Great info. Thanks, Joan!
November 10, 2015 at 10:20 pm
RaChelle
I’m going to start combining! Thanks, Joan!
November 13, 2015 at 9:21 pm
fishpatti
I absolutely adore your titles, and loved the advice to combine ideas that aren’t working on their own. Thank you so much for this encouraging post!
November 14, 2015 at 10:56 am
ducks33
Just the name, Knights Before Christmas, makes me laugh! Really helpful post, thank you.
November 17, 2015 at 6:35 am
Jabeen Chawdhry
My daughter loves your Goddess Girls series! Great suggestions, thank you
November 18, 2015 at 6:19 pm
sallie wolf
I always wanted a castle. Great post, Joan. Sallie Wolf
November 22, 2015 at 8:43 am
angelapadron
These are great books- thanks for the post!
November 24, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Janice Brown
Thank you so much Joan! This is wonderful information for me.
November 30, 2015 at 11:26 am
tinawissner
I can’t believe I forgot to comment on this very 1st post!
Just so you know, I was challenged by your advice and it
helped push me through the month! Thanks a million!
November 30, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Dee Engle
Joan, when you suggested to start with a title, I felt empowered. And not to hoard ideas left me roaring! Humor keeps us going, adults and children, so starting this journey with a few laughs made my day. The idea of Santa catapulting into a castle took my brain in a whole different direction into the perspective of a child. Thank you for the wonderful post in PiBoIdMo 2015!
November 30, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Myrna Foster
Thanks for sharing your experience. I especially like the quote you shared about pursuing ideas that are “interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. [Those two things] can be very different.”
December 5, 2015 at 9:41 pm
Nancy Kotkin
I’m embracing the thought that “every idea has the potential to become an amazing story.” And I’m going to try to combine some of my ideas, especially some of the weaker ones. Thanks! By the way, I love Little Red Writing.
March 22, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Joan Ho-Ho-Holub, Author of the Month (and giveaway) – ONLINE AUTHOR VISITS
[…] write. November was Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), and I posted on Tara Lazar’s blog about three ways I get book ideas. Here’s a fourth way: I think up schemes to deal with things in the world that confused me when I […]
March 22, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Good News from the Online Author Visits Team! – ONLINE AUTHOR VISITS
[…] is Picture Book Idea Month and Joan Holub helped kick off PiBoIdMo 2015 with three ways she comes up with ideas. And she’s giving away a wooden castle to celebrate idea #2, which inspired her new picture […]