Children's Book Writer

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Twenty Five Words for June

A writing exercise I like from my Brown Bag writing group is “Twenty-Five Words.” We go around the table and, one by one, say a word (or short phrase.) It can be any word that comes to mind, or sometimes words based upon a pre-determined theme. The object of the exercise is to write a story using as many of the words (or short phrases)as possible. Here are twenty-five words for June. Set your timer for thirty minutes and try to write a picture book or children’s short story. Remember to try and use as many of the words as possible:

Gloom
Dust
Wonderful
Craggy
Topaz
Amber
Run away!
Plum
Elephant
Consternation
C'mon, get happy!
Intoxicating
but then...
Genius
Sentimental
Coffee shop
Through the window
Under the table
Letter
Bark
Mutt
Cat
Fish gotta swim
No birds, please
Ta-dah!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Bad Seuss Writing Prompt

This prompt was inspired by the International Imitation Hemingway contest in which writers attempt to write in the style of Hemingway - a bad Hemingway. For this prompt, write 200-500 words in the style of one of the following children's book authors:

Dr. Seuss (oh the things you can think!)
Barbara Park (as Junie B. Jones)
Margaret Wise Brown (can you parody "Goodnight Moon"?)
Alyssa Satin Capucilli (can you write a bad Biscuit?)

These authors have a way of writing that is instantly identifiable. Dr. Seuss' books feature made-up words and unique imagery. In the Junie B Jones books, Barbara Park uses humor, short sentences, and child-like phrases. Alyssa Satin Capucilli uses repetition ("Oh Biscuit!") as well as short sentences with a lilting, playful rhythm. What characterizes your own unique writing style?

Point of View Writing Prompt

The POV you use in a story creates a particular feel, helps to set a tone, and defines your narrative voice. For this exercise, try rewriting a short story or well-known children's book in a different POV.

Quick review:
First Person POV - the "I" form of narration. From the POV of a particular character.
Second Person POV - the "you" form of narration, not commonly used. Puts the reader into the center of the story.
Third Person, limited omniscient POV - the "he" or "she" form, but limited to a specific character or characters view point. Not panoramic.
Third Person omniscient POV - the panoramic viewpoint. Gives the reader a grand view of the story, but limited in that the reader doesn't know the intimate details of the main character's thoughts, feelings, motivations.
Unreliable narrator - a first person viewpoint from a character who either is deliberatly lying to the reader, or has a mental defect or disease so that his viewpoint is considered to be unreliable.

Here's an example of "Little Red Riding Hood" told in second person POV:

There is a little girl you know, near the woods where you have walked many times. You see her wearing that same red riding cloak every day, and so you have come to name her Little Red Riding Hood.

One morning, you see this girl with her mother. You try to get closer to hear what the mother is saying. The mother points in the direction of the woods, then hands Little Red Riding Hood a basket filled with goodies. You watch as the mother covers the basket with a cloth. You are fairly certain that the mother has asked Little Red Riding Hood to go visit her bedridden grandmother, who lives alone, deep in the woods. So, when the girl takes the small covered basket and skips off into the woods, you have no choice but to follow her.

Creepy, huh? Try this exercise for yourself and explore point-of-view!