Monday, December 5, 2011

The Year of the Monster- and Some Post PiBo Tips

PiBo 2009 was the year of Goldilocks for me.  2010 was the year of the dinosaur.  (I had at least a dozen dinosaur titles, though I didn't end up writing any of them!)  This year, nearly half the items on my PiBo list are in some way connected to monsters.

Is it because I am dying to write a monster story?  Well, monster stories are certainly fun and appealing.  But it's more than that.   It helps me move my list along if I brainstorm one specific area- whether it's a character, a topic, or a theme.  I was able to hit 30 ideas way before Nov 30th, by narrowing my focus.

So PiBoIdMo is over for 2011, now what?

MAKING YOUR LIST.  Don't stop just because November is over.   I find once I am in idea-generating mode, the ideas continue to flow effortlessly for at least a few more weeks.  Keep your list in a handy place so you will have easy access when an idea pops into your head.

CHECKING IT TWICE.  Check your list.  Twice.  Three times.  Forty times.  Check last year's list (if you made one)  Are there ideas that can be combined?   Sometimes an idea by itself it too slight but when used in conjunction with something else on your list it's the perfect premise for a PB!

In 2009, I had the following two ideas on my list:
25. Golidlocks has a twin sister- Tawnylocks?
34.  Use fairy tale to teach fractions. Goldilocks and the three and a half bears? How can you have half a bear? Bear in Mommy’s tummy? Could mama bear deliver right in the middle of the story?

See? I wasn't kidding about the Goldilocks theme.

Neither idea went anywhere, but those two concepts nagged at me.  twins... fractions....twins... fractions... Both seemed like premises I wanted to pursue.

And then during PiBo 2010, it hit me!

TWINDERELLA

The perfect way to combine the two.

Cinderella and her twin sister share everything. Each does half the chores, half the washing, half the ironing, and each takes half the fairy godmother’s goodies. But when they each spend half the night dancing with the prince, and they both fall in love, they have a problem.

12 comments:

Shannon O'Donnell said...

So . . . does this mean you and agent have reached consensus and Twinderella is good to go?!

Susan R. Mills said...

Twinderella...I love it! I'd totally read that story. :)

Joanne R. Fritz said...

Oh, I really hope Twinderella makes it!

Fun post, Corey. I'm still working on all my dragon ideas from last year! I didn't participate this year but I still got at least 15 ideas, just from reading PiBoIdMo posts!

Great idea, to combine two ideas if they're slight. Thanks!

Tammi Sauer said...

You have such a gift for putting a twist on the familiar.

So glad you posted again. When I'm procrastinating, I blog hop. I had been waiting and waiting and waiting for this. :)

Unknown said...

LOVE IT!

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

I had a lot of monster ideas last year... none of which have come to fruition as yet...! This year, I don't think there was as much of a theme, and I'm also not as happy with my list, but at least I have 30 plus new ideas and you're right - sometimes they end up combining with other ideas to make a better one.

Elizabeth said...

Cute Blog Name.

NEW FOLLOWER

Elizabeth

http://silversolara.blogspot.com

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

You are brilliant, Corey! I'm glad you got lots of new ideas this year. Hopefully, I'll be one of your cps...

BTW, I ordered Hop Plop for Christmas for myself. :) I can't wait to read it.

Happy writing!

Kristin said...

You know I love it! :)
Happy to see you blogging.

I'll be offline for a bit... with general end of year craziness.

Kim said...

Hey there...hope you are doing well! You know I love your idea to narrow your focus like that. I bet that really does help. Still waiting to hear the fate of Twinderella. I so love that concept.

Wonder what new monster book you have up your sleeve. hmm....

C.R. Evers said...

Twinderella . . . I love it! :0)

Sounds like Goldilocks was good to you.

Best of luck to you and all your Goldilicious ideas! :0)

Lauren F. Boyd said...

Hey, Corey! I nope you are doing well!

Did you find the ending that you were looking for to Twinderella?