| When I speak to writers' groups and writers' | | | | You don't want your child to lose his friends, do |
| classes, the questions I hear most often are | | | | you? Neither does your child! |
| about writer's block and how I come up with my | | | | Doesn't this sound like subject matter for a book? |
| ideas. | | | | You already have a major character facing a |
| I'm a screenwriter, but ever since a little girl came | | | | high-stakes dilemma that your reader (a child) can |
| into my life, my heart for writing has been in | | | | easily identify with! |
| children's books. | | | | Now take the negative outcome you imagined |
| If children are part of your life, you have a | | | | and plot BACKWARDS to the behavior. |
| boundless source for children's book material, | | | | For instance: |
| even if you don't realize it. | | | | |
| Want a children's book idea? Try this: think of one | | | | 1. Your son's friend stops coming over. Why? |
| of your child's problem behaviors. | | | | 2. Because your son no longer has his own room. |
| Do you have one? Good. Now think about what | | | | Why? |
| concerns you about that behavior. Sure, the | | | | 3. Because Dad turned it into an office. Why? |
| behavior is annoying. But think about how it might | | | | 4. Because bedrooms are for sleeping and your |
| play out negatively for your child rather than you. | | | | son is no longer sleeping in his! |
| For instance: let's say your child insists on sleeping | | | | That should be enough story arc for a picture |
| in your bed and not his own room. You might | | | | book! Wasn't it easy? I'll bet your children have |
| worry that such immature behavior will result in | | | | enough problem behaviors for you to write a |
| your child's friends thinking him a baby. They | | | | whole collection! |
| might stop coming over. | | | | |