Inspired by Alma and the Beast
Try this writing exercise...
“Orginality of vision. Someone who has something to say and a fresh way of saying it. Do not look for pyrotechnics, for someone who can make a big slambang picture book out of very little. Look for the artist who thinks idiosyncratically.”
As the creator of Ooko, Pickle Toad, and other fantastical creatures, Esmé Shapiro is most definitely one of those authors. If you haven’t already read Alma and the Beast, I want you to pause for a second and guess what it’s about.
Here’s the cover in case you want a little more to go on…
If you guessed the book is about a girl named Alma who meets a friendly, hairy beast, you would be wrong. The book is actually about a furry friend named Alma who meets a hairless human girl (also known as a beast). It’s a funny twist on a classic friendship story. The premise is surprising, and the book is filled with imaginative details. The story takes place half in Alma’s world and half in the human world, and the two friends’s lives mirror each other in a way that makes even the format of the book feel original.
Try This
Think about how you would put your own totally unique spin on a classic picture-book theme:
Feeling small
Making friends
Asking for help
Being curious
Going on an adventure
Celebrating differences
What elements can you bring together that will surprise and delight readers? Let’s make Maurice proud!
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PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert.
My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard.
