Good.
December 3, 2015 10:06 am
You’re done! Woohooo! you say to yourself, riffling through the pages of ideas you’ve concocted during Tara’s awesome PiBoIdMo. Rubbing your hands together gleefully (and maybe cackling, too), you can’t wait to start writing the zingy text for the next Caldecott winner, and then you stop. Stop dead, actually. *headdesk* Bewildered, you stare with glazed eyes at each idea you jotted down, some followed by questions you wrote (good), some followed by extraneous comments and ditherings (still good), and others followed by a vast blankness (not so good, but, hey, who said this was easy?).
Good.
Still good.
Not so good.
To prioritize and organize, it can help us to be disciplined *she says, shuffling madly through all the writing tips in search of the shiny ones* and apply some ‘litmus tests’ to see which of these ideas might actually fly. This is not to say that some of our golden ideas that don’t pass these tests won’t eventually spark other ideas, or that they can’t be reworked into something else, but to save time (and agony!), it can help us (our mileage may vary) to concentrate on three or four out of the thirty ideas just to begin with.
Test #1: Our first litmus test is thanks to Jean Reidy, author of fun picture books like TOO PURPLEY and ALL THROUGH MY TOWN. She asks in her Ten Power Premises: Will a kid like it? (Is it part of a kid’s world—real or imaginary? Is it relatable?) Aha! You may have seen this wonderful New York Times cartoon by Grant Snider, The Very Bad Picture Book.
Yes, the last frame in the cartoon can be a wake-up call, can’t it? Does our idea seem didactic? Are we trying to teach children something they “should know”? Once we go through our ideas, one by one, asking that question, a number of ideas get shelved. This isn’t to say that from one or two of them, a connection to a kid’s world couldn’t be made in time, particularly by asking, “What if…?”, but, in the interests of prioritizing and efficient use of time, those can be put aside for now.
Test #2: The next litmus test, if we’re writing a story, not a concept book, is thanks to David Mamet, he of playwriting (Glengarry Glenross, etc.) and screenwriting fame. ‘Who wants what, and why? Why now? What happens if her [sic] don’t [sic] get it?’ To give substance to that framework, a good example would be what Pat Z. Miller, author of the wonderful SOPHIE’S SQUASH said: “Sonia’s love for her squash gave me the initial idea for the book. But by itself it wasn’t enough. If I had written the book exactly the way things happened in real life, it would have been an amusing anecdote, at best. And that’s kind of what my first draft was. It took me a while to build out a full story and figure out the problem (the rotting squash, a long winter apart) and the resolution (baby squash).”
This step of plotting in our prioritizing takes more time, but the fun begins here. The metamorphosis from one of our daughters’ make-your-own pizza birthday parties (the amusing anecdote) to my most recent picture book SPAGHETTI SMILES took years to create, but, asking the right questions finally paid off. From my PiBoIdMo idea, “Click,” one of my written questions to myself generated the character of Little Bunny.
The story idea for TAIL-END BUNNY actually turned out to be the opposite of the thread of my initial questioning, but, that’s what’s exciting and mesmerizing(oh, and frustrating, too! ☺) about writing. We don’t often really know what we’re saying until we see it on the page.
Finally: Once we have a clutch of ideas that have passed our litmus tests of the moment, we can begin spending more time on each. Other good questions to ask about each idea are: (thanks, again, Jean Reidy!) “Is it highly visual? Can you imagine 14+ scenes coming from your story?; and (thank you, Tara!) Does it convey emotional truth? That is the kicker question! Ruminating, musing, writing as we think, taking a walk to clear our heads and letting ideas simmer on the back burners of our minds will end up helping us to cook up a great story.
Without Tara’s PiBoIdMo, though, we wouldn’t have thirty little lumps of coal, jostling each other to catch our attention, to rub and polish, so it’s with much gratitude that I thank Tara for continuing to inspire us and galvanize us as we embark on our own new writing adventures and pick just the right ones!
National Milken Educator Award recipient and author of twenty-nine books, Margo Sorenson’s most recent picture books are SPAGHETTI SMILES (Pelican Publishing) and ALOHA FOR CAROL ANN (Marimba Books/JustUs Books). Among Margo’s awards was being named a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in YA Fiction. She enjoys Skyping and meeting with readers from Minnesota to California, Hawaii, the Philippines and the UK.
You can find Margo on the web at MargoSorenson.com and on Twitter as @ipapaverison.
Margo is giving away two books–one copy each of SPAGHETTI SMILES and ALOHA FOR CAROL ANN.
Leave a comment below to enter. One comment per person, please.
These prizes will be given away at the conclusion of PiBoIdMo. You will be eligible for these prizes if:
Good luck, everyone!
Posted by Tara Lazar
Categories: PiBoIdMo 2015, Picture Books
Tags: ALOHA FOR CAROL ANN, Margo Sorenson, SPAGHETTI SMILES
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Margot! I love the Snider cartoon!
By tphumiruk on December 3, 2015 at 10:18 am
Thanks for the post, and sharing the Snider cartoon!
By Alison Goldberg on December 3, 2015 at 10:19 am
Thank you Margo – fab advice!
By Shelly Hawley-Yan on December 3, 2015 at 10:19 am
Thank you, Margo, for great advice with great examples!
By Jane Heitman Healy on December 3, 2015 at 10:20 am
Thank you! I will start applying these litmus tests to my ideas … and I’ve got to print out that cartoon – love it!
By Jennifer Bagan on December 3, 2015 at 10:22 am
Hooray! 🙂 More step by step suggestions! Very helpful, thank you!
By Leah Perlongo on December 3, 2015 at 10:22 am
“Without Tara’s PiBoIdMo, though, we wouldn’t have thirty little lumps of coal, jostling each other to catch our attention, to rub and polish,”…a think tank turns into a thanks tank when we see what the possibilities are!
By Lane Arnold (@lanearnold) on December 3, 2015 at 10:23 am
Great advice as we wade through our ideas! Thanks!
By Debra Shumaker on December 3, 2015 at 10:27 am
So much fun to read all your comments, everyone! A “thanks tank,” indeed! Happy writing, all!
By Margo Sorenson (@ipapaverison) on December 3, 2015 at 10:27 am
Thank you. I am continually amazed at the story that comes out when I finally put pen to page. This is such a great job!
By Chris Regier (@cmregier) on December 3, 2015 at 10:27 am
Asking the tough questions to make your ideas the best they can be! Sounds good.
By Sue Poduska on December 3, 2015 at 10:28 am
I laughed out loud at the cartoon of the adult writing the book. Plus, I was heartened that one of the PB’s took years to perfect. Thanks
By ducks33 on December 3, 2015 at 10:29 am
Here’s hoping my lumps of coal blaze into something wonderful:)
By Laura Rackham on December 3, 2015 at 10:31 am
Great advice! Thank you for this post. It will help as I choose from my ideas.
By Elizabeth Brown on December 3, 2015 at 10:33 am
One of my favorites is “Sophie’s Squash”. Great to see how each idea needs a lot of thought and tweaking before it can become a publishable picture book. Thanks for the reminders.
By Barbara Cairns on December 3, 2015 at 10:34 am
Thank you for your insight here. It’s inspiring to hear about your process how you and others transform their ideas to perfection!
By Kelly Schmitt (@ricek0) on December 3, 2015 at 10:35 am
Hahahaha, thanks for a good giggle (which I desperately needed). And thanks for sharing. As I read my ideas list and the notes I scribbled in, I realized I have some great stuff and the not-so-great stuff. Wish us luck. 🙂
By Robyn Campbell on December 3, 2015 at 10:35 am
Thanks Margo – I am ready to put some of my ideas to the test! 🙂
By writeknit on December 3, 2015 at 10:37 am
Thanks for the litmus tests and a great post! Cheers, Margo!
By Rebecca Colby on December 3, 2015 at 10:38 am
Thanks for the great advice!
By gweddle on December 3, 2015 at 10:39 am
Though adults are usually the ones buying the books, kids are the ones relating to it. Kid appeal is So important! Thanks for your advice.
By Sandee Yanke on December 3, 2015 at 10:39 am
Truly appreciate your post! Thanks for sharing.
By Jill Jeffries on December 3, 2015 at 10:39 am
Thank you Margo! So much to take away from this post.
By triciacandy on December 3, 2015 at 10:41 am
Thank you for sharing litmus tests for ideas, Margo! We strive to put so much rigor in our writing activity that we forget about stepping away for awhile. I greatly appreciate your advice: ‘…letting ideas simmer on the back burners of our minds will end up helping us to cook up a great story.’
By Rebecca G. Aguilar on December 3, 2015 at 10:41 am
Loved all the questions , especially is it highly visual and does it have emotional truth! Thanks for the post.
By Deborah Allmand on December 3, 2015 at 10:41 am
Hoping to turn one of my lumps of coal into a diamond-with advice from posts like this one.
By Kim Piddington on December 3, 2015 at 10:43 am
Litmus test questions are useful, especially “what happens if they don’t get it [what they want}.”
By tblease on December 3, 2015 at 10:45 am
This is great insight! Thank you for all of the litmus tests for ideas. And, yes, so grateful to Tara!
By LaurenKerstein on December 3, 2015 at 10:46 am
thanks, Margo!
By Bonnie Graves on December 3, 2015 at 10:47 am
The Very Bad Picture Book is the perfect example of how not to write a children’s PB story! I loved it because it was visual. I sometimes wonder if my brain ever completely developed into an adult’s because I tend to learn best with visual examples! Thanks so much for the great questions-suggestions! =)
By vickireinhardt2014 on December 3, 2015 at 10:50 am
interesting insights to your successful process. thx.
By Katie Engen on December 3, 2015 at 10:52 am
Wow, these test question are da bomb! I pulled out 10 that I feel are OK, pretty good – but using this criteria, I can winnow more. TY, Margo!
By kathalsey on December 3, 2015 at 10:52 am
I need to ask more questions with my ideas. Great advice!
By Kara on December 3, 2015 at 10:54 am
Thanks for the question suggestions. These should help me to go through the list and figure out which ideas should go to the top. With the holidays here, maybe some of the answers will take a festive bent!
By Laurie Daley on December 3, 2015 at 11:00 am
Excellent advice, thank you. I’ll be looking at my ideas today!
By Joan McKechnie on December 3, 2015 at 11:06 am
So many questions, so little time! It’s hard to be patient while considering the answers when you really want everything to come perfectly together NOW! Thanks for the advice!
By authordeb on December 3, 2015 at 11:09 am
Thank you for writing this. Great tips and advice!
By Kerrie on December 3, 2015 at 11:15 am
Great advice about making those idea nuggets into a great stories. Thank you!
By barbara kupetz on December 3, 2015 at 11:16 am
Oh, I needed this, this morning!
By Trine on December 3, 2015 at 11:16 am
Good tests, Margo! Thanks!
By timcanny on December 3, 2015 at 11:17 am
Excellent litmus tests to make a good, make that great, story! You’ve given me lots to think about.
My favorite line: We don’t often really know what we’re saying until we see it on the page.
So true!!
By Therese Kay on December 3, 2015 at 11:18 am
Great, specific tips that I will put into practice right away on my lumps of coal!
By Christine Rodenbour on December 3, 2015 at 11:20 am
Great questions and “tests” for our little nuggets of coal. May we all mold them into diamonds! 🙂 Hugs, Jodi
By writerjodimoore on December 3, 2015 at 11:25 am
Such great advice and worth filing away for those moments when I draw a blank.
By Fran Price on December 3, 2015 at 11:28 am
Thanks, thanks, thanks Margo! I’m just blown away from all I am learning from all you amazing people!
By Rebecca Wise Eklund on December 3, 2015 at 11:29 am
Great advice. Thank you so much!
By lgalaske on December 3, 2015 at 11:29 am
Wonderful, down to earth advice. Thank you!
By danielledufayet on December 3, 2015 at 11:30 am
Great advice. I love that image of the back burner in our minds, simmering away.
By mermaidrain on December 3, 2015 at 11:32 am
What great suggestions. Thank you so much.
By Cassie Bentley on December 3, 2015 at 11:34 am
Love the litmus tests! Thank you, Margo!
By Stephanie Shaw on December 3, 2015 at 11:34 am
With a mixture of hither, dither, and yon ideas, thanks for your helpful post about what we can do with them next. Today I am asking hard questions, finding emotional truths, and then definitely taking a mind-clearing walk.
By Lori Dubbin on December 3, 2015 at 11:34 am
30 lumps of coal…exactly! Love it!
By Jill Tadros on December 3, 2015 at 11:38 am
Many thanks for the great post and refreshing points!
It was s great month!
By Linda Carpenter on December 3, 2015 at 11:40 am
More than anything I liked “Will a kid like it?” After watching what my granddaughters love, I know that it’s important to write one that answers, “yes!” Thanks for all the questions!
By Linda Baie on December 3, 2015 at 11:48 am
Thanks for the valuable information, Margo!
By Polly Renner on December 3, 2015 at 11:48 am
thanks for the advice. We may love our story – but will a kid love it? Something we all need to think about.
By Janet Smart on December 3, 2015 at 11:49 am
Love the coal analogy. Such great advice. Thank you.
By jdewdropsofink on December 3, 2015 at 11:51 am
Delicious food for thought finely displayed… who’d have guessed the importance of such questions?
By Poupette Smith on December 3, 2015 at 11:56 am
Great litmus tests. Thanks so much.
By lindaschueler on December 3, 2015 at 11:58 am
Thanks for a great post Margo!
By dbyatt on December 3, 2015 at 11:59 am
Love that comic! Thanks for your post.
By twirlnextdoor on December 3, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Love the comic. Thank you
By Stephanie Padgett on December 3, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Thanks for the advice!
By Anita Banks on December 3, 2015 at 12:09 pm
This is a very helpful post, Margo! I can’t wait to try out some of your ideas and to read your books also!
By kirsticall on December 3, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Great advice on how to prioritize! That’s where I need the most help. 🙂
By JEN Garrett on December 3, 2015 at 12:13 pm
I’m going to put all my manuscripts through these test!
By June Smalls on December 3, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Thanks, Margo. Perfect post-PiBoIdMo advice!
By tpierce on December 3, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Rub Rub Rub shine shine shine hum hum hum hum hum…that’s how we pass the day away in the merry old land of Pi—–Mo… 🙂
By Li'vee Rehfield on December 3, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Great advice, Margo! Thanks for sharing Grant Snider’s The Very Bad Picture Book. And your picture book SPAGHETTI SMILES.
By ManjuBeth on December 3, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Writing is work! Thanks for taking some sweat out of it.
By Anna L. Russell on December 3, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Thanks, Margo, for the good ideas for wading through our ideas. And yes, thank you, Tara, for PiBoIdMo!
By karadhya on December 3, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Great ideas, thanks. Hopefully some of my brilliant nuggets will make it through your filter.
By andreesantini on December 3, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Thank you Margo for your post, very helpful at this point.
By Mark A. Bentz on December 3, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Thank you for helping me to know what to do when reviewing my picture book ideas. Nice to “meet” you!
By Amy Houts on December 3, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Great post about prioritizing the ideas with litmus tests on our “lumps of coal” that can be polished now. Thanks Margo.
By Val McCammon on December 3, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Great questions! Thanks. 🙂
By Colleen Paeff on December 3, 2015 at 12:49 pm
But all my ideas are perfect and pass the litmus test. (HA,HA,HA,HA) 🙂
By Meghan Daniels on December 3, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Thank you! Helpful and insightful.
By seekerjules on December 3, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Thank you for the advice/direction.
By Jillian Michel on December 3, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Thanks for this post of great advice. Exactly what I needed this week.
By Mary Jane Muir on December 3, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Thanks for the great ideas of where to begin with our picture book ideas. My Junior League committee (charity group) is collecting books to create free libraries for underserved communities. We would love to receive one or both of your books to add to our collection.
By Nila Jean Spencer on December 3, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Great advice–thank you!
By Midge Smith on December 3, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Great cartoon. Now to pass the litmus test!
By Heather Greene on December 3, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Thanks for all your advice! That cartoon was hilarious!
By Carinn Michele on December 3, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Some great info in this post. Questions we must ask ourselves. And I would be smiling if I could win one of these fabulous books.
By Sherri Jones Rivers on December 3, 2015 at 1:07 pm
LOVE the cartoon!!
By Kathy Grupe on December 3, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Thanks so much for all of these helpful, practical pointers to develop our ideas!
By fishpatti on December 3, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Great advice! Thank you for sharing.
By katmaz2012 on December 3, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Great advice and solid examples. Thanks!
By Amy Smith on December 3, 2015 at 1:15 pm
I feel like I’m in the middle of a classroom, filled not only with children, but animals, talking food, sarcastic plants, and they are all waving their hands in front of my face screaming “pick me, pick me!” 🙂
By yangmommy on December 3, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Well. I now see the wisdom in fleshing out my ideas as I go through PiBoIdMo. Sadly, all 42 of mine fall into the “not so good” category. But I am currently working on movign the most promising 5 or 6 ideas into the “good” category.
By Kristen Schroeder (@KLSchroed) on December 3, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Thank you! Now to litmus test my thirty 2015 PiBoIdMo ideas!
By jhayslett on December 3, 2015 at 1:21 pm
All this month I have been writing down so many gold nuggets of info…I truly have a wealth of info to create a really great book. Thank you so much!
By Pamela G. Jones on December 3, 2015 at 1:22 pm
The cartoon is great and so is the advice. Thanks!
By Mariama Ross on December 3, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Thank you for sharing
By kassy Keppol on December 3, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Thanks for sharing the litmus test points.
By angeladegroot8 on December 3, 2015 at 1:26 pm
Great post. I was intrigued by your mention of Jean’s Power Premises. I googled and found the link to Jean Reidy’s Ten Power Permise Question post on Julie Hedlund’s 12×12. http://www.juliehedlund.com/jean-reidy-may-12-x-12-featured-author/ Maybe someone else was wondering about the other questions.
By Marcie Rinka Wessels on December 3, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Love the cartoon and your advice. Will be trying out the litmus test on all of my ideas!
By pathaap on December 3, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Terrific advice, Margo. Thank you for sharing – I, for one, really need to sort through those ideas!
By ptnozell on December 3, 2015 at 1:30 pm
How to turn your lump of coal into diamonds. Thanks for sharing.
By Anjali Amit on December 3, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Good advice. There is so much to think about. Thank you for the tips.
By Mary Zychowicz on December 3, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Thanks for your insight! I definitely need to figure out how to sort through my ideas and this gives me a head start.
By Ann Kelley on December 3, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Thank you for the advice to apply to my thirty lumps of coal.
By Sharon Nix Jones on December 3, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Not too many of my ideas made the cut this year, but I am still working on some good ones from last year, so I’m happy!
By Judy Cox on December 3, 2015 at 1:38 pm
This is fantastic, Margo! These litmus tests come just as we were starting to ask “now what?” I see a clear path forward. Thank you!
By Gabi Snyder on December 3, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Thanks for the litmus tests – it definitely will help with the sorting but I particularly like the comic you threw in. That’s a wake up call.
By Caren Cantrell on December 3, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Great questions to ask our thirty some ideas. And I’m going to start working on . . . getting my butt in the chair and playing around. Thank you for your tips.
By Carole Calladine on December 3, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Margo thanks for shedding light on how to sift through many picture book ideas. I am keeping the questions is it relatable and is it real in mind while I go through my ideas.
By theresenagi on December 3, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Margo, you’ve given writers many good things to think about. Thanks!
By Cathy Stefanec Ogren on December 3, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Margo, thank you for the litmus tests we can use to help sift through our picture book ideas. And thanks for reminding us to present only our best work to such an honored audience.
By Kathleen Wilcox on December 3, 2015 at 1:51 pm
Great tests. Just what I needed to read. Thanks!
By Brianna Zamborsky on December 3, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Ahhh . . . such a delicious post! I’m off to read it again!
By Kathy Doherty on December 3, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Great advice.
By jennfowler on December 3, 2015 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for a great post. I think the test questions will help me move some of my ideas from a cute anecdote to a fully developed story.
By Carol Gwin Nelson on December 3, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Wonderful post, thank you!
By Lynne Marie on December 3, 2015 at 2:11 pm
This is all so helpful, Margo. It’s especially comforting to see that your idea pages are of various lengths, like mine. Thank you!
By Leslie Santamaria (@LSSantamaria) on December 3, 2015 at 2:14 pm
I realized awhile ago that I have to be careful not to sound like a grown-up when writing for a child. I didn’t like those books myself, they lost me quickly. Thanks for the reminder to ask the right questions.
By Lynn A. Davidson on December 3, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Nifty post.( I think I’ve got the dithering part down pat) Thank you so much:)
By Nancy Colle on December 3, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Margo, thanks for sharing how to test for the diamonds amongst all our little lumps of coal. Time to switch from hard hats and pickaxes to lab coats and bunsen burners.
By LeeAnn Rizzuti on December 3, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Thanks so much for your helpful tips and detailed information. Love the 30 little bits of coal analogy
By Darlene on December 3, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Time to start asking questions. Thanks for sharing this advice!
By Jacqueline on December 3, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Love this!
By nicolepopel on December 3, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Thank you for such clear advice, Margo.
By Elaine Le Sueur on December 3, 2015 at 2:47 pm
The cartoons were great examples. Thanks
By Carolyn Rohrbaugh on December 3, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Great ideas to get me going. If an idea is highly visual, it seems to take off by itself.
By Sandra Jenkins on December 3, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Thank you for the great test suggestions!
By Kathryn Kass on December 3, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Great stuff here. Thanks for all the tips.
By Rosi Hollinbeck on December 3, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Thank you for the testing tips, Margo!
By mariagianferrari on December 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Thanks for these great suggestions! I especially enjoyed Grant Snider’s comic!
By amievc on December 3, 2015 at 3:45 pm
Nice break down of how to test out these ideas. Thanks so much!
By Ali Pfautz on December 3, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Great suggestions, thank you!
By Daryl Gottier on December 3, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Fab weeding tips, thanks.
By Bruna De Luca on December 3, 2015 at 4:06 pm
Margo, thank you! Great inspiration for the post phase of developing ideas.
By Ashley Pierson on December 3, 2015 at 4:11 pm
I took notes on this one. Thanks, Margo.
By David McMullin on December 3, 2015 at 4:12 pm
“We don’t often know what we are saying until we see it”. Brilliant!
Margo reminds us there are cycles all writers & their creations must go through to get to a final product anyone wants to read. If we don’t want to go through the process-we don’t want to be a writer bad enough.
By KensieCooks on December 3, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Your litmus test is a very helpful way to critique ideas. Thank you!
By Barbara Carney on December 3, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Such great check in questions. Thank you!
By hdmerrill on December 3, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Nice questions! I need to jot those babies down! Thank you for your post.
By loriannlevyholm on December 3, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Love the litmus tests! Thanks for the great advice I know I will return to it often! 🙂
By Donna Rossman on December 3, 2015 at 4:18 pm
I’m working on a little lump of coal right now. Polish, polish, polish!
By Teresa Daffern on December 3, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Thank you for reminding us to put our ideas to the litmus test. Those are great examples!
By Tina Cho on December 3, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for the suggestions and examples.
By sschwartz28 on December 3, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Practical ideas and a double prize! Thanks!
By Sandy Lowe on December 3, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Great ideas! Thank you so much.
By Anna Smith on December 3, 2015 at 4:49 pm
I like the question, “Can you imagine 14+ scenes coming from your story?” Very helpful. Thank you for the great insight.
By Susanne Whitehouse on December 3, 2015 at 4:50 pm
time to get out the litmus paper 😊
By Candace on December 3, 2015 at 4:54 pm
I’ve seen the very bad picture book before but every time it makes me smile 🙂
good ideas, especially the 14+ scenes
By Linda Hofke on December 3, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Most of my ideas start out like Sophie’s Squash with a nice concept but not enough substance. What I have to do now with them is figure out the problem and then the resolution.
By Patricia Corcoran on December 3, 2015 at 5:12 pm
GREAT article, concrete advice. Thank you Margo, really appreciate this one in the “aftermath” of PiBoIdMo ;).
By Katelyn Aronson on December 3, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Thanks for the great reminder of what makes the best picture books work.
By Rajani LaRocca on December 3, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Thank you – great advice!!!
By MaryLee Flannigan on December 3, 2015 at 5:14 pm
What insight and strategic ways to examine your stories! The litmus test is a winner! Thanks, Margo!
By Anne Iverson on December 3, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Thank you, Margo, for the advice and the litmus test. I’ve got some pieces of coal to put through the tests!
By Charlotte Dixon on December 3, 2015 at 5:34 pm
Thanks for this. It’s a scary time right now trying to shape these mere morsels into delectable delicacies.
By mkresk on December 3, 2015 at 5:35 pm
This has been the most helpful post for me so far! Thank you!
By heidimrogers on December 3, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for the “next steps” advice! It’s easy to get lost in a pile of ideas…
By thduggie on December 3, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Yes! Now that we have all these little ideas it’s time to put them to the test/s! Hopefully at least one will be the next PB story I’ve been working for!
By Juliana Lee on December 3, 2015 at 5:54 pm
This is a keeper! Printing it out to hold up to my ideas. Thank you, Margo!
By Debbie Austin on December 3, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Oh, my goodness! I’ve been away from the keyboard for a number of hours and just returned to your gem-filled comments! Your comments have made me smile and giggle and pause for reflection, too. Obviously, you are all committed writers (not ready to BE committed!) and will prevail! Thank you so much for all your kind words! Aloha and grazie!
By Margo Sorenson (@ipapaverison) on December 3, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Thanks Margo. The questions are helpful.
By ann kronwald on December 3, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Awesome! 😎
By Ashley Bohmer on December 3, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Thank you for your helpful tests, frameworks & methods! Great post!
By mollywog2015 on December 3, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Oh boy! Drowning becoming wading now, thanks Margo.
By Artelle Lenthall on December 3, 2015 at 6:59 pm
I just know I’ll be coming back to these suggestions again and again. Many thanks!
By Steph Beth Nickel's Blog on December 3, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Wow! Thanks for your tips. Oh, I love that PiBoIdMo is still feeding my muse.
By mona861 on December 3, 2015 at 7:10 pm
Great advice! Thank you. Time to tackle all our ideas!
By lmconnors on December 3, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Margo, thanks for your great advice! I’ll be applying the litmus tests.
By Beth Blee on December 3, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Loved this post. Time to make some diamonds outta them lumps of coal. Thank you for the advice!
By Kelly Parker on December 3, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Thank you for sharing the cartoon and, particularly, the litmus tests to follow. Onwards and upwards!
By Reena Balding on December 3, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Great advice!
By Christine Connolly on December 3, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Thank you for sharing the great advice Margo! 🙂
By Heidi Yates on December 3, 2015 at 8:27 pm
Margo, thanks for sharing the litmus test.
By Lynette Oxley on December 3, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Love the cartoon and the advise is priceless😺‼️
By Stephen S. Martin on December 3, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Great tips for weeding through all the ideas!! Thank you!!
By Brook Gideon (@brookgideon) on December 3, 2015 at 8:50 pm
I’m writing this list down!
By BHandiboe on December 3, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Perfect, pertinent Post PiBo info to digest and use. Thanks so much, Margo!
By Marty McCormick on December 3, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Thank you, Margo! Your helpful hints will help me to move forward!
By Jill Richards Proctor on December 3, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Does it convey emotional truth?
I LOVE that question!! I think it’s wall worthy 🙂 Of course, I don’t sit at my desk anymore…
By erikammon on December 3, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Good advice and I love the cartoon, thanks!
By Shirley Fadden on December 3, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Margo – These are terrific questions. Now, getting started on sorting and writing those ideas doesn’t feel so overwhelming!
By Melanie Ellsworth on December 3, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Prioritize and organize! Yes! Love the graphics and the motivation to keep this train moving forward!
By writingtexas on December 3, 2015 at 9:47 pm
Prioritize and organize! Yes! Love the graphics and the motivation to keep this train moving forward! (Please disregard posting from writingtexas – duplicate) Denise Engle
By Dee Engle on December 3, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Thanks for the helpful ideas!
By Brenda Huante on December 3, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Thanks for your post–great food for thought! I look forward to applying your advice to my “little lumps of coal.”
By Kristen Browning on December 3, 2015 at 9:56 pm
This post is a keeper! Thank you! I especially love the cartoon. I will display it on my office wall.
By LJ Laniewski on December 3, 2015 at 10:02 pm
There’s still a long way to go.
By Hélène Sabourin on December 3, 2015 at 10:19 pm
The cartoon made me laugh out loud! I’m hoping I can polish some coal myself! Thanks so much.
By melissamiles1 on December 3, 2015 at 10:21 pm
Great questions to ask – thanks!
By Cinzia on December 3, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Great post, Margo! Thank you for allowing us a peek behind the scenes at how our lumps of coal can be turned into publishable picture books
By saputnam on December 3, 2015 at 10:25 pm
I love this post. It’s funny how ideas that were so mad brilliant a few weeks ago not only don’t “pass the litmus test” but have actually gone sour and grown moldy and are starting to stink up the place. #thestruggleisreal
By Genevieve Petrillo on December 3, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Test
By Paula Yoo on December 3, 2015 at 11:20 pm
A helpful post! Thank you!
By Annie Cronin Romano on December 3, 2015 at 11:23 pm
Great post! I’m off to see which of my ideas pass the litmus tests. 🙂
By rgstones on December 3, 2015 at 11:28 pm
Wonderful post. I’ll be using your litmus tests. Thank you.
By DaNeil Olson on December 3, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Oooh, good litmus tests! Must go through my messy notes now…
By Teresa Robeson on December 3, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Thanks for the great ideas. Loved the cartoon. And ditto – thanks to Tara!
By Carleen Shreeve on December 3, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Nice direction here. Thanks. A good way to remind ourselves of what might work best without getting stuck in “that was such a good idea”. Thanks so much!
By Christine Pinto on December 4, 2015 at 12:05 am
Thank you for the great questions I need to ask when working on my story. I especially like the emotional truth question. Great post!
By Heather Kelso on December 4, 2015 at 12:15 am
Grant Snider penned the best very bad picture book I have ever seen!
By 8catpaws on December 4, 2015 at 12:23 am
Great post!
By Donna L Martin on December 4, 2015 at 12:25 am
I love how each post has given us a focus on one of the many, many steps to successful Picture Book creation. This post was incredibly helpful. Thanks, Margo!
By awflitter on December 4, 2015 at 12:28 am
So many ideas, now we have to figure out which ones have the best chances. Thanks!
By Christine M. Irvin on December 4, 2015 at 12:39 am
Thank you, Margot! That process of prioritising is always a challenge and your suggested tests make it much easier.
By apmartin2014 on December 4, 2015 at 12:44 am
Thank you for all the “what if” moments.
By familystufftodo on December 4, 2015 at 12:49 am
Printing this now! Those questions are great.
By Keila Dawson on December 4, 2015 at 12:50 am
Your post really clicked with me. Such valuable direction! Thank you so much (and to Jean and gang too)!
By Julie Murphy on December 4, 2015 at 1:27 am
I really appreciate this continuation of accompaniment you offer post PiBoIdMo. Thank you!
By Viva Tomlin on December 4, 2015 at 1:31 am
The big question is how many ideas pass all those tests. What great screeners for developing concepts.
By Susan Cabael on December 4, 2015 at 1:39 am
Thanks for telling me about the Litmus test! I loved the comic strip!
By Cindy E. Owens on December 4, 2015 at 1:40 am
Seriously, everyone’s comments have made me smile, lifted my spirits, and encouraged me to keep on applying those litmus tests, myself. We are definitely all writers in this endeavor together and a strong community, thanks to Tara and all the guest posters and participants. Mahalo and grazie mille, everyone!
By Margo Sorenson (@ipapaverison) on December 4, 2015 at 1:43 am
Great questions to ask as we try to weed out the less stellar ideas. Thanks!
By kdveiten on December 4, 2015 at 1:58 am
Great suggestions, Margo. I may have a useful idea or two in my stack of 30.
By Lyn Miller-Lachmann on December 4, 2015 at 2:11 am
Thanks, Margo! Onward with tests!
By Carrie Charley Brown on December 4, 2015 at 2:11 am
Thank you so much! Great post!
By brandimpayne on December 4, 2015 at 2:13 am
Thanks for this! I’ve already written one idea into a manuscript, so I narrowed it down to the top five after that one.
By Myrna Foster on December 4, 2015 at 2:19 am
Shame on me, Margo…I don’t know your books…but I will remedy that very quickly! Thank you for a stellar post…you just helped me ask all the right questions of my stories…now I can make sure they pass the tests before I send them out. 🙂
By viviankirkfield on December 4, 2015 at 2:43 am
Thank you for the continued inspiration of on.
By Jill on December 4, 2015 at 2:54 am
Kudos to the wonderful Tara Lazar (by now a household name) and her PiBoIdMo efforts. No doubt, the informative and encouraging posts presented by your guests have guided us in generating some ideas worth pursuing. Margo, thank you for such an entertaining narrative which can guide us in selecting ideas we ought to continue working on. Many thanks to you both for the icing on our favorite cake.
By Shelley Marshall on December 4, 2015 at 3:13 am
Perfect timing for this advice! And thanks for including the NY Times cartoon…I hadn’t seen it before, it’s fantastic.
By StephMWard on December 4, 2015 at 6:59 am
Great ideas — thanks for sharing your litmus tests!
By Heather Pierce Stigall on December 4, 2015 at 7:52 am
Great post! Thank you. 🙂
I loved the cartoons. 🙂 so clear.
By Zainab on December 4, 2015 at 8:01 am
Thanks, Margo, for this post. It was helpful and much needed!
By ammwrite3 on December 4, 2015 at 8:30 am
thank you. I’m a former teacher…I love the idea of “tests,” Patty Bennett
By pepb16416 on December 4, 2015 at 8:43 am
Woe, alas! What a dreary, dull picture book–and magic doesn’t work! Like the idea of tests and avoiding the “very bad picture book” qualities.
By ellenramsey on December 4, 2015 at 8:47 am
Great motivation for looking critically and realistically at our 30 ideas.
By Nadine Gamble on December 4, 2015 at 9:09 am
That is what I love about writing picture books. The promise of a good story gets even better with revision.
By shiela fuller on December 4, 2015 at 9:31 am
Where do we start or go from all these ideas? The road is long, winding and narrow but with your tips, we will pursue and hopefully, a picture book will come true. Thanks for sharing.
By aliciaminor on December 4, 2015 at 9:46 am
This is so helpful to build/test your story. Thank you for these great tips.
By Dee Knabb on December 4, 2015 at 9:53 am
We just read All Though My Town last night before bed (and the night before that too). I am a horrible rhymer, and it’s something I’m working on, but it’s going slowly! And Spaghetti Smiles makes me want spaghetti right now- even though it’s breakfast!
By leandrajwallace on December 4, 2015 at 10:23 am
Thanks for the great post Margo!
By Lotus Ivak on December 4, 2015 at 10:26 am
Very helpful tips here! I love reading about the creative process….taking those ideas and asking a lot of questions! The cartoon was awesome…sounds like an adult wrote this lol Thanks for sharing!
By Kelly Vavala on December 4, 2015 at 10:42 am
Great post. Now to put some of these ideas to the test!
By Tracey M. Cox on December 4, 2015 at 10:47 am
Inspiring? Yes! Thanks Margot! I’ve taken notes!
By martylgraham on December 4, 2015 at 10:51 am
Great ideas! And thanks for the reminder of how much an idea can change and grow as we take time with it.
By Cindy Jolley on December 4, 2015 at 10:52 am
Great post-going to print this info out to save!
By Joan Waites on December 4, 2015 at 11:29 am
Those are great questions to ask before we write… and when we have a story that’s “missing” something. Thank you for the tips!
By Sandy Perlic on December 4, 2015 at 11:40 am
A perfect post-PiBo post — thanks Margo.
By hmmmmm on December 4, 2015 at 11:53 am
Great litmus test. Thank you. It solves the “now what?” feeling I had when I looked at my notebook.
By Amanda Smith on December 4, 2015 at 11:55 am
Litmus test – feels like I’m back in school, lol! I don’t remember much about chemistry, but I do know that your litmus tests are going to be very useful.
Thanks!
By kdveiten on December 4, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Fabulous ideas and ways to wheedle though the ideas. A keeper for sure!
By Joanne Sher on December 4, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Applying who wants what and why and why now. 🙂 thank you.
By Pam Miller on December 4, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Looking over all my wips and hoping to simplify them and make them fun with the litmus tests and unpredictable endings. Will kids like them? Hmmm, I need to ask some fresh kids.
By Sheri Radovich on December 4, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Thanks for helping us get to the next step with our ideas.
By Janet Halfmann on December 4, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Thanks for all your useful information!
By Joan Swanson on December 4, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Valuable advice on doing a litmus test. Great questions to use. Thanks!
By Jennifer Phillips on December 4, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Thanks, Margo. I love the idea of the 30 lumps of coal. Let’s get polishing!
By Carrie Finison on December 4, 2015 at 2:19 pm
I am grateful for these helpful questions. Now off to interrogate my lumps of coal!
By Pat Miller on December 4, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Time to get to work!
By Kathryn Cunningham on December 4, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Thank you, all! I have loved reading all the comments, and here’s another cheer for you: Kjør pǻ! — that is Norwegian for “drive onward” and “go for it” and pronounced “Cheer paw”! We are all in this together. Aloha!
By Margo Sorenson (@ipapaverison) on December 4, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Margo, thanks for the great post. I loved the New York Times cartoon. Congrats on your success!
By Jamie LB Deenihan on December 4, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Never imagined a David Mamet reference for writing children’s books, but some things are universal. Many great points here, thanks!!
By Laurie L Young on December 4, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Looking forward to polishing my lumps of coal. 🙂
By Peter Dargatz on December 4, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Thanks for the great post, Margo!
By Traci Sorell on December 4, 2015 at 11:07 pm
Thank you for the excellent post and two tests. Looking foward to reading Spaghetti smiles.
By Maria Marshall on December 4, 2015 at 11:09 pm
Thanks for the great questions. Loved the cartoon! Darlene Gaston
By dgaston0420 on December 4, 2015 at 11:10 pm
Taking it from anecdote to real, meaningful plot–that is the real task. Thank you
By Laura J. King on December 4, 2015 at 11:39 pm
Nice post, and cartoon.
By Jenifer McNamara on December 5, 2015 at 12:01 am
Thanks Margo, loved the litmus tests to put our pb up against. Especially like your graphic image of “The Very Bad Picture Book!”
By Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing on December 5, 2015 at 2:22 am
Thanks Margo time to look over those ideas 🙂
By Sharon Giltrow on December 5, 2015 at 7:37 am
Thank you for sharing, Margo!
By Pascale M. on December 5, 2015 at 8:56 am
Thanks for the great ideas.
By Sheila Lynch-Afryl on December 5, 2015 at 9:36 am
Thank you Margo for taking the time to post and share such great advice for us.
By Annelouise on December 5, 2015 at 10:35 am
Great suggestions for prioritizing, Margo. Thanks! During the month, I added a bit of yellow highlight to the ideas that seemed most exciting to me. It will be interesting to look at my list now that some time has passed to see if they still rev me up.
By carolmunrojww on December 5, 2015 at 11:17 am
Time to test my ideas. Thanks, Margo.
By Jim Chaize on December 5, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Good points! Thank you!
By Maria J Cuesta on December 5, 2015 at 1:49 pm
November was the single busiest month-ever! But I have my lumps of coal (thank you Tara!) and time on the near horizon to start playing with them in depth. Thanks for the truly practical “next steps”!
By ingridboydston on December 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I love this post! Thank you, Margo!
By Doris Stone on December 5, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Love the litmus tests:>)
By Laura Purdie Salas on December 5, 2015 at 4:42 pm
Thanks Margo, for an all-inclusive post with the litmus tests.
By Naana Kyereboah on December 5, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Going to test out my ideas!
By Buffy Silverman on December 5, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Good advice.
By Sue Morris @ KidLitReviews on December 5, 2015 at 5:29 pm
I love “Aloha and Grazie.” Thank you for your wonderful post. Lisa Riddiough
By Lisa Riddiough on December 5, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for sharing how to “test” out our ideas.
By Susan Nicholas on December 5, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Thanks for the push to follow-through with our ideas.
By Shirley Menendez on December 5, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Thanks for the litmus tests!
By laura516 on December 5, 2015 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for the litmus tests!
By Nancy Kotkin on December 5, 2015 at 11:04 pm
I’ll put my ideas to the test. Thanks.
By Jenna Woloshyn on December 6, 2015 at 1:58 am
“Will a kid like it?” I love this simple question . . . for it is the most important one to keep in mind, it seems. Thank you!
By Caroline Lee Webster (@uncoverthepearl) on December 6, 2015 at 2:20 am
Testing-Testing! How many of my ideas will past the tests?!?!? Thanks for your post, Margo.
By mona861 on December 6, 2015 at 6:13 am
Such great tips! Thanks for this post, Margo!
By kmshelley on December 6, 2015 at 11:01 am
Thank you, Margo!
By Erin O'Brien on December 6, 2015 at 12:28 pm
It’s fun when the ideas click together.
By reluctantspy on December 6, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Thanks, Margo. What a perfect way to test our ideas as they simmer on the back burner in our minds. We need to discover what ingredients should be stirred together to create a well-told story with the perfect plot. Good cooks and good writers know when to detour from the original recipe and add their own special flavor.
By Joannie Duris on December 6, 2015 at 5:47 pm
I like the Sophie’s Squash example of problem and the resolution. Keeping that in mind focuses the point of the story. Thanks, Margo.
By Kaye Baillie on December 6, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Great advice! I struggle sometimes with the depict-ability of my stories.
By mrsbulls2ndgrade on December 6, 2015 at 7:15 pm
I like your litmus test tips and will definitely use them!
By Rona Shirdan on December 6, 2015 at 9:54 pm
Great tips… look forward to putting them to the test!
By artsyandi on December 6, 2015 at 11:18 pm
It’s a good thing I don’t mind taking tests. Thanks for your very helpful post.
By Sandy Powell on December 7, 2015 at 1:36 am
Great test questions for this notebook of ideas:)
By Lauri Meyers on December 7, 2015 at 8:30 am
I am proud of my “30 lumps of coal” and can’t wait to take them to the test! Thanks for your time and help!
By Amy Bradshaw on December 7, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Great litmus tests, and super excited to distill the ideas into stories….especially if they go somewhere unexpected Thanks, Margo!
By Bethany Mandich on December 7, 2015 at 4:08 pm
I love the question, “Does it convey emotional truth?”!!!!
By Dee Engle on December 7, 2015 at 4:53 pm
Great advice! Thanks for sharing.
By shirley johnson on December 7, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Love the Sophie’s Squash piece. On-
word! (tee hee)
By Susan L. Roberts on December 7, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Thanks for sharing. Now, back to the drawing, I mean writing board!
By Sandi Lawson on December 8, 2015 at 10:10 am
Love the cartoon (so true!).
By renajtraxel on December 8, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Haha! I love that ‘very bad picture book’ cartoon. Thank you for the good advice 🙂
By Christie Allred on December 8, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Great points, Margo! Thanks! I love that Snider cartoon. Now, to see which of my ideas pass the litmus tests!
By Holly Ruppel on December 9, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Excellent thoughts and ideas on how to *test* our picture book ideas. Thank you, Margo.
~Suzy Leopold
By Prairie Garden Girl on December 9, 2015 at 1:08 pm
I was late reading this, but I’m glad I finally did. Thanks for your post! And I love your Hawaiian name!
By gretchengeser on December 9, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Thanks for the tests. Great food for thought.
By Penny Parker Klostermann on December 10, 2015 at 9:28 pm
Thanks Margo. A very helpful starting place!
By Tracy Molitors on December 11, 2015 at 11:58 am
Thank you!!
By goodfish78 on December 12, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Thanks for sharing your post!
By Jabeen Chawdhry on December 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Thank you Margo! Truly magnificent advice!
By Ashley on May 4, 2017 at 3:56 pm