I’m behind on the Picture Book Marathon and have some serious catching up to do, so I’m going to make this short, but thanks to this Picture Book Marathon blog post, I discovered some great new story idea resources that I just have to share!
Author Rick Walton has some great tips for coming up with story ideas here. He lists a bunch of different ways you might get started with a story. For example, choose a character, a quest, or even just a phrase–just about anything that comes to mind–then follow it, and see where it goes.
To help with that, he’s also compiled lots and lots of amazing brainstorming lists for children’s book writers, which you can find here. A few of my favorites include:
- 457 Creatures and Things of Fantasy, Mythology, and Magic
- 651 Things Kids Do
- 470 Issues in Kids’ Lives
- 419 Common Proverbs
If you can’t find some story ideas in there somewhere, you might want to try a new career. Maybe brick laying or air traffic control? (Oh wait, that’s what MY high school aptitude test said I should do. I guess you’re on your own.)
7 thoughts on “Oodles of story ideas!”
Thanks for posting this, Laurie! I like that you are doing the post a week thing too. Very cool.
Hey, me too on the Air Traffic Controller, but keeping track of plot, characters, setting, theme, etc. is a lot like ATC. Come to think of it, building a story is like laying bricks, too. See? That aptitude test was right! It was the media they got wrong. Thanks for all the resources, Laurie.
Glad you guys liked it, KJ and Deb. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Ha, Deb, I guess you’re right! And here I thought they were trying to tell me I had absolutely no creativity. I much prefer your way of looking at it! 😉
great finds, Laurie — thanks!
I hope I get to see some of your ideas soon, Kevan! Miss you at crit group!
Thanks, Laurie, this really is a find!
Glad you found it useful, Helen! Thanks for visiting! 🙂