Developing an Idea in The Whens

When Louisa Rempala and I started working on The Whens together, it was the first time I had ever worked with an illustrator. Because I had complete freedom creating the story, it was important to us both that she had as much creative freedom as well — but man it’s tough to give up control!

It was peculiar to watch my words come to live. I had vividly clear images about the book in my mind and her pictures were completely different (yet they matched the story just as well). For example, I grew up with dry, golden fields of wheat blowing in the dusty wind — but she came from a lush country of greens and blues… so it was quite a shock to see a cool color palette in the book instead of reds and yellows. But that was what I also liked about working with someone: she had so many ideas I would have never come up with on my own… and that made the book better than I could have ever done alone.

Here are some pictures of the first page as it transitioned from a raw idea to the finished product. Hope you enjoy!

My rough sketch to explain hills with signs pointing to happiness when i pitched the story to Louisa.

Louisa’s rough sketch for the first page… trying to figure out what the main character will look like and how prevalent to make the monsters.

We experimented with the story at night, but ultimately wanted the whole thing at day (because that worked better with the cloud watching).

The final result. Thanks Louisa for all your hard work!

Product Placement

I hate watching advertisements. It feels like a waste of my time, which is one reason why I don’t watch much television.

When I do watch television shows, I keep a piece of cardboard near my computer to cover the screen during ad breaks. I thought I had beat the system! I had tricked those marketers at their own game… until I realized how deeply interwoven the ads and television shows had become.

In a recent episode of New Girl, she pretended to be a model and spent two minutes hamming it up in front of a car while the announcer talked about how great the car was. I didn’t even realize I was being advertised to during the show until I was going to bed a few hours later. As I lay down, lots of other examples popped into my mind. If you removed the gift cards from Easy A, there isn’t even any plot left!

While I know that marketing is never going away, I don’t ever want to mix my stories with advertising. Creativity is more important than lousy money.

When to call it quits (The Office or Farside?)

Courtesy of The Far Side

I was extremely distraught when I was fifteen. Gary Larson announced that he would no longer be making the Farside. How could the greatest cartoonist ever just decide he’s done? Shouldn’t we be able to vote on a decision this important?

After that, I never read the comics as religiously. I felt like I had been betrayed — tricked into loving something was destined to break my heart.

But ever since I started writing, I understand where he is coming from. There is a real humility in admitting you’ve taken something as far as you can without jeopardizing its quality. I admire him for bowing out at the peak of his popularity instead of trying to cling desperately to any sort of cultural relevance. I try to remember that modesty while I’m writing.

This memory came back to me recently after watching an episode from the Farewell Season of The Office. I realized I no longer care about the plots. Everything I wanted to see has happened. I have gotten to know the characters as much as I wanted to. The new plot lines feel like they’re stretching reality so everyone can have one more paycheck.

Thank you, Mr. Larson, for never putting me through that.

The Art Of Being A Kid

Courtesy kimberlynelsonphotography.com

I was always a fan of the Corinthians “love” verse at weddings. In fact, I even read it as a teen at my cousin’s wedding (and got asked afterwards if I was considering the ministry).

But since becoming a father, it doesn’t sit as well with me:

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

I think being a child or a man is a false choice. You don’t have to be one or the other. The best path is the middle ground (a man child? :)

Kids are jubilant and energetic. They don’t worry about making their bed when they get up because they’re too excited about pirates or rocket ships. As an adult, I don’t want to put those dreams of stars behind me. I think ideally we should day dream about the cosmos while we throw the comforter over the bed.

I started putting away my adult ways of thinking when I took improv classes at Comedy Sportz. It was such a relief to leave my day job of meetings and long term plans to think of rhymes for noggin’ or soap. Through improv, I have realized that bringing comedy, a childish heart and passion to my job not only makes work more productive, but it helps comradery and creative problem solving. (After figuring out how to capture a jello monster with a fishing net on stage, planning for a difficult software release is a piece of cake!)

Writing kids books has also been a connection to the carefree world of children. Kids don’t want to read about brushing teeth or putting dishes away… not when there are princesses, trolls and dragons in the world.

So I ask you to reconsider the idea of choosing a childish or adult life. Remember back to your dreams as kid? Back when there would never be anything cooler than dinosaurs. Then figure out how to bring that glee into your daily life.

Why I couldn’t be a writer at fourteen

In English class when I was thirteen, we had to write a short (very short) novel. Here is the blurb I wrote about myself for the cover:

Steve wrote this novel when he was in the eigth grade. This is his first novel (or long story). He enjoys writing, but doesn’t think he will be an author when he “grows up.”

If you liked this novel and want to read more novels by this author then you are stuck. He hasn’t written any other others.

I feel very sad when I read that self description. I hadn’t learned anything about creative writing, but I had already told myself it wasn’t for me… even though I loved it.

As easy as it is to simply sit down and write, emotionally it took ten years to master. I needed to believe in myself enough to follow my passion.

Writing my first book was very cathartic. It helped me over come a lot of self-doubt…. my forcing myself to sit down and write I realized I was able to. The only person who had been stopping me was me.

So be grateful for passion. Whatever your passion is, enjoy it and never it for granted….

Writing What Kids Want

One of the best things about being an author is that I get to be playful and childlike. In most businesses, the importance of seriousness is expressed constantly by the formal clothes, sterile cubes and cheesy motivational posters.

But as an author, my job is to entertain. It’s really hard to remember that not all of life is dull!

The seriousness of being a grown-up always sneaks in. And for a moment, you think it’s a good idea to write about your characters taking out the garbage and doing other important chores that adults are saddled with because that makes your story more believable.

When I start writing about chores, I know it’s time to walk around, read something funny, IM a friend sit and smile. If a kid would find the topic boring, it’s probably not something to write about.

My First Book Signing

I don’t think you ever forget your first book signing. I had planned to drop off the book and be on my way, when I was asked for my first signature. I panicked, not really sure what to write. She had a point: what’s the point of knowing the author if you don’t get a signature. There was no way to wiggle out of it.

My heart fluttered like my first kiss… I wanted it to be special and memorable, but I was a bit embarrassed and didn’t know what to write. This was my first signing… my scribbles would be eternally etched to the page with no chance of a second draft.

After I finished, I thought off a hundred great things to write… but there was no going back… and thankfully, like kissing, you get better with practice….

Daily Morning Pages

About 5 years ago, I started writing daily morning pages. Morning pages are a journal of free-flowing thoughts.

It was most helpful for me to slip in some affirmations… mantras that helped me remember I’m an author and that it’s the little things in life that matter. Those have slowly morphed into sporadic lists of things I’m grateful for.

But I usually write on the bus to work, which made it all a bit awkward. I needed my favorite back corner bus seat or else I worried a nosey neighbor would question why I was gushing about myself.

It also meant my book of mental confessions was leaving the house. I always wonder what a thief would think if they stole a backpack filled with affirmations. Would they be inspired to like their self, or think they robbed a nutter?

Either way I have found morning pages are a great way to get everything off on the right foot. I can frame the day how I wanted it framed — instead of letting others tell me how my day will good. And best of all, a la Stuart Smalley, I’m always Good Enough, Smart Enough and Doggone It — People Like Me!

Tag: writing