PiBoIdMo 2012

Picture Book Idea Month was a little more difficult this year (as compared to my debut effort last year) but I'm not one to give up on a challenge and got there in the end, so here is the pledge:

I do solemnly swear that I have faithfully executed
the PiBoIdMo 30-ideas-in-30-days challenge,
and will, to the best of my ability,
parlay my ideas into picture book manuscripts.

PiBoIdMo 2011 - What a month!

PiBoIdMo 2011 Winner

The stats

·         30 days

·         3 recording devices

·         140+ ideas recorded (including several potential series)

·         Undeterminable number of ideas MIA

·         30 writing prompts shared with the world

The lows

·         Within the space of a few days, finding that not one, but two of my ideas had already been published (with almost identical titles to those I had jotted down)

·         Thinking about what to do with all the ideas… how to record and organise them… how to prioritise them

·         Anxiety that I may have had ideas and forgotten them before having a chance to write them down (hold on a sec… did I or did I not have a brilliant idea floating around in my brain as I was drifting off to sleep? Was I just dreaming that I had an idea?  I DID have an idea!  I know I did.  It’s okay.  It’ll come back to me once I’ve had my coffee.  Hello… idea… where did you go?  FFS, GET BACK IN MY BRAIN RIGHT THIS MINUTE!)

·         Shock and dismay upon review of my list of ideas, that they would not all fit into my existing definition of Picture Books with Chutzpah

The highs

·         Realising that if a couple of my ideas had already been published, I might just be on the right track (possibly, maybe, perhaps)

·         Looking forward to Jodie’s 12x12 in 2012 challenge to help prioritise the ideas and start turning them into manuscripts

·         Getting over the ‘lost ideas’ anxiety by acknowledging that there is more than enough gold in what I do have recorded

·         Toying with ideas to expand my definition of Picture Books with Chutzpah in order to fit in the other gold nuggets in my list

·         Picking up some great tips for generating ideas and writing picture books in general

·         Meeting and exceeding Penny’s challenge of 11 ideas on the 11/11/11

·         Coming up with a non-fiction idea on the 2^nd last day

Ready to do it all again next year…

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 30

There is a writer/artist/musician hiding inside.

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 29

Perfect weather for _______

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 28

The most amazing thing in the world to touch is ________



PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 27

What could possibly go wrong at an ice sculpture exhibit?

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 26

The key turned in the lock and we opened the door.

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 25

And then the trail ended.

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 24

First came the BANG!

Then came the _________

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 23

Oops!



PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 22

What’s that dripping on my head?

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 21

Dig deeper and deeper and deeper.



PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 20

Make up a new constellation and associated legend.

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 19

What’s fallen down the back of the couch now?

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 18

Write about the first shape you see in the clouds



PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 17

Bet you’re surprised to see me



PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt

Take a universal theme universal, ie. to a newly invented planet with newly invented inhabitants

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 15

Hey hey hey hey HEY hey hey! No no no no no!

(quotes from Eddie Murphy in 'The Distinguished Gentleman'

& Gus Gould, Australian rugby league commentator)

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 14

Random toy ends up at the wrong holiday destination.

What is it and how does it get home?

PiBoIdMo Writing Prompt 13

Ask someone to suggest an animal. Someone else to pick a strong emotion.

Whack them together and see where it takes you.