by James Burks
It’s day 18 of PiBoIdMo and I’m here to give you inspiration or at least a small push towards the finish line. I’m sure that, at some point in your life, most of you have put together a puzzle. It could have been a small puzzle with only a hundred pieces, or a ginormous puzzle with a bazillion pieces. Regardless of the size, if you can put together a puzzle then you can put together a story. So let’s get started.
To put together a story puzzle, the first things you need are the pieces. That’s where your ideas come in. Every single idea you come up with is a piece of the story puzzle. This includes characters, settings, or lines of dialogue; you name it, they are all pieces of the puzzle. And here’s the best part: there are no wrong pieces. If a piece doesn’t seem to fit into the puzzle you’re working on, you can set it aside to use later.
Here’s an example of a recent story puzzle that I put together:
About a year ago, I sat down and tried to come up with my next great idea. I had just sold my first two stories to different publishers and was trying to come up with a third story that my agent could send out. I had the first piece of my story puzzle: a squirrel. I spent the next few days creating more pieces. I gave the squirrel a name (another puzzle piece), and I came up with a bunch of stuff that he loved to do (more puzzle pieces). After a few days I took all the pieces and arranged them into a simple story, drew some rough drawings (for illustrators, these are more pieces), and sent it off to my agent. My agent thought it needed something more, though, and at the time I didn’t know what that was. So I set the entire puzzle aside and went off to work on another project.
After about a month, my agent called and asked if I had come up with any new ideas. I hadn’t. Or at least that’s what I thought. After hanging up the phone I started running through a bunch of random ideas while surfing the internet. I remember contemplating Amelia Earhart (I think the biopic was coming out or had just came out), went from there to Penguins, then to the South Pole, and from there to a bird migrating south for the winter. (It’s always a good idea to let your brain off its leash once in a while and let it run free. You never know what it might bring back.) Something about a bird flying south for the winter ended up sticking with me.
I didn’t know it just yet but I had just found another piece to my story puzzle.
From there, everything seemed to magically fall into place. I took the bird migrating south for the winter and stuck him with the squirrel from my earlier story. A small part of my story puzzle took shape.
Then I started to ask myself a series of questions to fill in the rest:
Why do they have to migrate south together for the winter? There had to be a reason and it had to be big. I asked myself what would happen if Squirrel was forced to go along after he unintentionally sacrificed his entire winter stash of food to save Bird from an attacking cat. He would have no other choice; if he didn’t go with Bird then he’d starve.
But, where was the conflict? What was going to make my story interesting? Maybe they were like the odd couple. I imagined Bird as a total free spirit who just wanted to have fun, while Squirrel was a bit neurotic and was all about responsibility. Squirrel can’t stand Bird, but they’re stuck together. A natural conflict of personality that would provide for some humorous scenes.
This left one last question. How would the two characters change by the end of the story? What would their character arc be? In the case of this story, I decided to have Bird learn to be a little more responsible and Squirrel learn to have a little more fun. The story, at its heart, would be about finding a balance between having fun and being responsible. And by the time the journey ended, they might even become friends.
At that point I could pretty much see the overall structure of my puzzle. The edges were complete and all the major parts were coming together. All I had to do was fill in the missing pieces in the middle, which solidified as I wrote the outline and got to know the characters better. Two weeks later I sent it off to my agent, we made some minor tweaks, and eventually sold it to a major publisher. (Deal announcement pending; I’m drawing and writing the book for release sometime in 2012.)
I hope you find inspiration in my recent experience and are able to put together some great story puzzles of your own. Just remember that there are no wrong pieces. You may not use every idea or piece you think of right now, but every piece (used or not) helps you build your puzzle. Now go forth and conquer the book world!
James Burks has spent the last 15 years working in the animation industry on various movies and television shows, including The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Home on the Range, Space Jam, The Iron Giant, Wow Wow Wubbzy, and most recently on Fan Boy and Chum Chum. His first graphic novel for kids, GABBY AND GATOR, was published by Yen Press in September 2010 and is a Junior Library Guild selection. James is currently working on a picture book with Lerner/Carolrhoda entitled BEEP AND BAH (2012), and the graphic novel mentioned above.
James is giving away a signed copy of GABBY & GATOR! Leave a comment to enter. A winner will be randomly selected one week from today.
Thanks to James for the PiBoIdMo 2010 logo and badges!
81 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 18, 2010 at 10:51 am
Donna Earnhardt
I’ve been working in “puzzle” mode for a few of my picture book ideas for the last week or so. I just didn’t know there was a name for it! 🙂
Congratulations on the new book!
November 18, 2010 at 10:57 am
Sandy B
This entry made me want to comment even before I reached the bottom line and found a book give-away! Fabulous- crossing my fingers that I could win it.
I’m a big fan of analogies and the “puzzle pieces” approach makes great sense. I’m a “piler”, not a “filer” and my mental framework is like that, too. Odd bits lie about in my brain where I can usually find them as I need them, but this approach makes me want to pick up several of those bits and try them in new frames. Loved this post!
November 18, 2010 at 11:01 am
LadyJai
That is the absolute BEST advice! I’ve always found it fascinating how my brain can go from something so simple to WAY off tangent! LOL I will definitely have to play with this more! Could be fun!
November 18, 2010 at 11:06 am
Alyssa
I love hearing/seeing how people make things (grew up watching This Old House, PBS cooking shows, and the German painting guy with the Happy Little Yellow). Your post has really inspired me to just start WORKING on things instead of hemming and hawing and wondering whether what I have will really work. If a few puzzle pieces get put back in the box for later, so be it! Thanks for a sneak peek at your process.
November 18, 2010 at 11:19 am
tammi sauer
Great post!
It’s magic when all of those puzzle pieces come together.
November 18, 2010 at 11:21 am
Lynn Alpert
I love this! I’m going to try this today and see where it takes me. I love the look of the bird and the squirrel – looking forward to seeing the finished book. Thanks James!
November 18, 2010 at 11:22 am
Catherine Denton
Oooh! I love the idea of a puzzle. Makes it seem less daunting and more like a game. Thank you, James.
Catherine Denton
November 18, 2010 at 11:27 am
Tom M Franklin
woohoo! pick me! pick me!
— Tom
November 18, 2010 at 11:42 am
James burks
Thanks everyone. Glad that I could provide a little inspiration. There’s no better feeling than when your brain puts two random ideas together and gives you something unique. Good Luck.
November 18, 2010 at 11:43 am
Lynne Marie
I say: Fly, Bird! Soar, Squirrel! & Go Gabby & Gator! Love these ideas and am a fan of the Gabby & Gator Book ❤ Thanks for sharing!
November 18, 2010 at 11:47 am
laura brown
Thank you for connecting my brain’s puzzle pieces. Very enlightening and entertaining.
November 18, 2010 at 11:52 am
pam Jones
I love the puzzle idea (very appealing because I’m a puzzle addict) and so easy to identify with. Every piece can fit…I like that. 🙂 Thank you!
November 18, 2010 at 11:58 am
Bonnie Adamson
As a lifelong puzzle addict, I love this analogy; and also the underlying message that this, like all creative endeavors, is a process–very few things emerge full-grown from the brow of Zeus.
Thanks, James–and whether I win the drawing or not, I WILL have a copy of Gabby & Gator!
November 18, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Diandra Mae
Love the puzzle analogy. I agree that there is less pressure when you realize sometimes you have to let missing pieces come at their own time. I’ve tried forcing a story to complete itself and it’s always fallen flat. When the pieces align themselves organically, it’s always a much more satisfying story. Look forward to the squirrel and bird book. I’m keeping an eye out for Gabby&Gator. They look like fun!
November 18, 2010 at 12:09 pm
laurasalas
Love the metaphor of the puzzle. I tend to think linearly, but I love the idea of throwing out pieces on the table (of my brain) and just seeing what connections or new pieces I can find. Thanks–and congrats on your forthcoming book!
November 18, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Mike
James, thanks for sharing your process. I see myself as an illustrator first and a writer second and often start with an image and work backwards. Your puzzle analogy is perfect!
November 18, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Marcy Pusey
what a great idea! Makes me want to go list my puzzle pieces and start to see where they fit together. Thanks for that awesome tip!
November 18, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Heather Kephart
Oh, how I love a creative post about creativity! I love the idea of saving puzzle pieces and occasionally trying a new piece or two to see if we can complete a puzzle. Your drawings are fabulous, too.
Gabby and Gator are spanktabulous! Can’t wait for your newest release. 🙂
November 18, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Beth MacKinney
Lol! Love the quirky art of your characters. : )
November 18, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Kristen Schwartz
Thinking about all this as a puzzle really resonates with me. I often think of life as a puzzle I’m building with pieces I find along the way. Why not think of stories and illustrations that way too? And I guess it’s best not to force the pieces into place if they’re just not quite right…
November 18, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Holly C.
Thank you for giving us a peek into how the puzzle technique worked for you. I’ll be looking at my PiBoIdMo ideas through new glasses now.
November 18, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Dana Carey
Thanks for a very helpful blog post, James.
I enjoyed reading how your puzzle pieces came together. Gives me a little hope concerning the box of mismatched pieces that is my brain right now.
Your books look like a lot of fun– can’t wait to read them.
November 18, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Mona Pease
Wow! A puzzle-of course!
Thanks
November 18, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Rachel
Thanks for sharing your process. I find myself doing similar things, but it does help to have someone spell it out in such a clear way. Good luck on your squirrel and bird story, it sounds great and your art is amazing!
November 18, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Lynn
I’m amazed at how people think, and the many different ways there are to do the same thing. Thank you for this post, James. I guess I was sort of doing this and didn’t know it, but … now that I know I will be paying more attention to the seemingly disconnected ideas that come into my mind, and writing them down to ponder later. They may fit together in some way I haven’t yet realized. Who knows how many have escaped me because I let them?
This is very helpful information for a beginner. Thank you!
November 18, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Holly Boker
James, this was a very helpful post. I’m going to try your method. I never really thought of just starting with a character. I’m always putting pressure on myself to come up with a complete idea all at once. I’m comforted that this is not only unnecessary, but sometimes too difficult. Thanks!
November 18, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Stephanie Shaw
James, thank you for helping me abandon my linear thinking. Sometimes it’s really better to turn off the GPS and just enjoy the journey.
November 18, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Catherine Johnson
Thanks James for letting us know it is okay to go with our gut rather than always thinking in terms of what is commercial. I have a couple of MG characters who change over the course of the book and hopefully are funny too, so I should read your book for tips! Great competition!
November 18, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Loni Edwards
Love this post! When you wrote about the brainstorming, it reminded me of that my daughter calls it a “Wiki walk”. Like when you go on Wikipedia and find yourself going from one subject to the next. 🙂 I love puzzles and I think it would be a blast to do a puzzle book. Thank you for the inspiration!
November 18, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Pat Miller
First off-thanks for the badge–I feel nearly published by simply having it on my website. Coming up with full-fledged ideas is becoming harder as the month progresses. Your idea of jotting down puzzle pieces is appealing, and even better, very doable! I’m going to use note cards so I can sort them by character/title, setting/dialogue, plot elements. I’ll start with the active little girl I saw this morning while we waited for the public library to open. She discovered 4 ways to use a stone bench–none of them involved sitting. Day 18–Done!
November 18, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Rebecca Colby
I like it! Stop being puzzled and start puzzling it out!
November 18, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Jodi
I was just thinking of this exact idea for my own blog today! I was putting together the peices of a pillow I was making for my daughter and noticed how it related well to writing. I loved the post…….you read my mind today!
Jodi
http://www.jodisousek.wordpress.com
November 18, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Jodi Sousek
That is exactly what I was thinking about today, puzzle pieces! I was putting together pieces of a pillow I am making for my daughter and thought how similar it is to writing. That is exactly what my blog post was going to be about today! You read my mind! I love the thought, it really does work.
Jodi
November 18, 2010 at 2:34 pm
nina seven
excellent post! i’m definitely going to use the puzzle piece idea to put together my next story.
November 18, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Sheri Dillard
Fun post! I love how you phrased it — that you “stuck” two characters from different stories together.
I decided to try it out, so I went to my 2009 PiBoIdMo folder, found two characters, and stuck them together. I laughed out loud and thought NO WAY! But I laughed, so the idea sticks. PiBoIdMo 2010 idea #18! Thanks! 🙂
November 18, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Diana Murray
That’s really inspiring and your story sounds fantastic. I’m going to go read through my lists and see what sticks. Thanks!
November 18, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Diana Murray
Also… nice pop hat! 🙂
November 18, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Corey Schwartz
OMG, I love it! I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to do some sort of “odd couple” story myself! Can’t wait to buy it!
November 18, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Stephenie Hovland
I wish I could do jig saw puzzles, but they just frustrate me! Story puzzles or putting together a rhyme – that’s more my style.
November 18, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Carolyn Rohrbaugh
Your concept is very interesting. Thanks for the help
November 18, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Laurie L Young
You just gave me a great idea. Thanks! (Really great post, btw—the puzzle analogy makes so much sense to me, especially in this format. Now to gather up all my missing pieces . . .)
November 18, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Megan K. Bickel
I love it! This is kind of how one of my PiBoIdMo ideas is shaping up right now. It has been bouncing around in my brain for a while and pieces are starting to fall into place!
November 18, 2010 at 4:10 pm
JonnyB
it’s the first time i have seen one of my favourite words – ginormous – written down.
November 18, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Christie Wild
I really liked the puzzle analogy. I love puzzles and I love writing. And I have 10 story puzzles floating through my mind. Thanks.
November 18, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Julie
This was a great post for me to read because I’ve noticed that many of my ideas are based on singular characters. I like the idea of taking two mis-matched characters, throwing them together and seeing what happens!
November 18, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Debbie Austin
Thanks for this post. I have a picture book that needs a little something, too, and have been “puzzling” about it for awhile. Thanks for the encouragement.
November 18, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Janice Green
Fascinating concept and approach to creating a story idea. Now to chase after some likely (or unlikely) character ideas…
November 18, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Ana Jones
Love your work!! Keep it up 🙂
November 18, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Boni Ashburn
Great post! The puzzle analogy is perfect 🙂
November 18, 2010 at 8:56 pm
ccgevry
What an awesome post. I feel like I am working that way right now as I try to come up with 30 ideas for this month. Thanks for the great badge. I love it!
Best of luck with your books.
Cheryl
November 18, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Jessica E. Young
The idea of the puzzle really resonates with me, and I love how you described the process of adding the plot and the character arc. For me, the ideas are the easy part, but pushing and pulling them into a story with these components is sometimes hard. Very inspiring! Now off to brainstorm…
November 18, 2010 at 9:07 pm
M. G. King
Love it when all the pieces come together! Thanks for the analogy!
November 18, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Nicole Zoltack
How awesome. I love your creative process.
November 18, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Linda Dimmer
Incredible analogy of using pieces of a puzzle to create a story! Love your PiBoIdMo badge too!
November 18, 2010 at 9:32 pm
James burks
Wow, thanks for all the great comments.
Jessica – A couple of books that I really like that deal with plot and the story arc are the Syd Field books. One is called Screenplay and the other is The Screenwriter’s Workbook. They’re mostly geared towards film but character arc, plot and conflict are pretty much universal. Even a 32 page Pb needs conflict and some kind of character arc. Might be worth a read.
I’m honored that I could provide a little inspiration for all of you.
November 18, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Alrius Toliver
This was inspiring! I am officially a fan now. Wow!
November 18, 2010 at 9:48 pm
MaDonna
Thanks for a great post. I liked the idea of the “puzzle pieces”…now to find some other pieces to my puzzle! =)
November 18, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Christine Poreba
Great analogy.
If only I could be as focused as I can be when putting together a puzzle the next time I sit down at my desk to “write!”);)
November 19, 2010 at 12:42 am
Kjersten Hayes
This is just really solid advice. One of my favorite posts from PiBoIdMo. Thanks!
November 19, 2010 at 12:49 am
Amy D.
Great post! I love the idea of trying out different pieces until you find one that fits. Thank you!
November 19, 2010 at 1:28 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
My story brain works in puzzle pieces too. Thanks for validating this method of writing. I loved following your journey, your puzzle story!
November 19, 2010 at 4:41 am
Kathleen Isaac
I thought this was fantastic, thank you so much! So many of my ideas are parts of a story and not a fully formed manuscript idea and I knew somewhere that I may be able to pull them together but love the analogy of the puzzle! Thank you 🙂
November 19, 2010 at 4:52 am
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[…] Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) by Tara – “PiBoIdMo Day 18: Solve Story Puzzles Like James Burks (plus a prize)“ […]
November 19, 2010 at 6:58 am
kathy stemke
I enjoyed the puzzle explanation of how your story came together. I have a few dead ideas that need another piece of puzzle. I’ll keep a lookout for it. Thanks.
November 19, 2010 at 7:15 am
Kimberly Lynn
I love the cover for GABBY AND GATOR. Congrats!!
November 19, 2010 at 7:20 am
Ellen L. Ramsey
I’m having trouble putting together a plot for some of my characters, so the puzzle piece analogy is most helpful! Maybe I need to take character a, combine with situation c, add character x, stir up the conflict, and create a story!
November 19, 2010 at 9:07 am
Ame Dyckman
“It’s always a good idea to let your brain off its leash once in a while and let it run free. You never know what it might bring back.” This is the best writing advice EVER. I like you.
November 19, 2010 at 11:14 am
Kathryn
Looking forward to seeing your completed puzzle in 2012.
November 19, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Angela De Groot
I like this methodology. I think it’s a great way to combat writer’s block which I seem to be having with some of my PB ideas. I’m going to put the characters, setting, etc. onto index cards and then play with them puzzle-style and see what develops. Hold thumbs for me!
November 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Courtney Pippin-Mathur
Love your art. The stories sound pretty awesome too! 🙂
November 19, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Karlee
Love the story puzzle idea. Thanks.
November 20, 2010 at 12:09 am
Melissa
That was a neat way to describe coming up with a picture book idea…thanks!
November 20, 2010 at 1:40 am
Judith
Puzzle pieces come together randomly. Each of us may attack the puzzle of a story with a different perspective, but when it’s finished the order of the pieces hold the story together in a pleasing picture. Thank you for sharing your way of piecing a story together. It’s always good to try new methods.
Judith
November 20, 2010 at 8:44 am
Mary M C
I love your idea of throwing together an “odd couple” and seeing where they lead. It’s kinda like that writing game played at conferences where people draw out two characters and see where the combination takes them. Thanks for the brainstorming boost!
November 20, 2010 at 10:43 am
Kristen Hilty
Thanks for the great advice. That’s the best thing about PiBoIdMo…letting your brain off the leash. It’s those little thoughts that won’t let us go that often provide the best fodder for books. I hit an idea around #14 that won’t let me go…I hope it turns into something, but I’m letting it root around in the ole’ synapses for a while.
November 20, 2010 at 1:47 pm
janelle
Great article! Thank you!
November 21, 2010 at 11:00 am
Hallee Adelman
I can’t wait to see your upcoming project (and find out why bird has a bandage on his arm)! 🙂
Hallee
November 22, 2010 at 2:38 am
Ishta Mercurio
What a progression from your initial sketch to the finished illustration! Thanks for sharing your process, and your tips; thinking about picture book manuscripts like unfinished puzzles just waiting for the right pieces is a great way to look at it.
November 22, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Doris Fisher
I love puzzles of any kind and often create them for websites and authors. All can be solved with a pencil, and the dare of the challenge is what keeps us all going…in solving and writing!
November 26, 2010 at 6:06 pm
tara
The winner of GABBY & GATOR is Stephenie Hovland. Congratulations! I sent you an email to confirm details.
November 26, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Stephenie Hovland
Thank you!!