Inspired by Leo and the Pink Marker
Try this writing exercise
One of the weird things about the internet is that you might know me for one thing (like my interviews with creative mothers) but not another thing (like the fact that I’ve written and edited hundreds of children’s books). If you’re new here, thanks for being here! I’m looking forward to getting to know you, and I hope you’ll hang around to meet all the different sides of me too.
Once a month I offer a writing prompt based on a picture book that I’m loving. This month, we’re looking at Leo and the Pink Marker.
In this book, Leo is hanging out at the junkyard, feeling bored, when he starts coloring everything pink. He starts with his coloring book and then moves on to a rock and the mailbox. He gets a little carried away and soon the whole junkyard is pink. Lots of books might use this story to show what happens when you “write on the walls,” but instead of getting in trouble, Leo parents want him to keep going. His mama says “This is just the refresher this old place needed.” Doesn’t that feel like a better ending? More modern and more inviting to kids? This book also features two moms, without making any kind of fuss about it, and the story is set inside a junkyard, which is as blue-collar as a setting gets these days.
Try This
Think of a problem you had as a kid. Maybe you wanted to eat popsicles for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Maybe grown ups kept yelling at you for daydreaming. Or you wanted to dig a hole to China in the backyard, but your parents made you stop when you hit a pipe. Now forget about what actually happened and try to remember what you WANTED to happen. Write the happiest ending you can imagine! Give yourself permission to break some rules and let the story reflect your values and what you believe in NOW. Comment below if you try this exercise!
Want to create your own picture-book character? I’m sharing inspiration and guidance in my four-week online class Finding Your Star: How to Write a Picture Book for Children. You’ll learn how to develop a picture-book character from scratch and take them on an adventure. Each week we’ll read modern picture books like Hortense and the Shadow, Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers, and Rot: The Cutest in the World. Then we’ll experiment with writing prompts, brainstorm, problem solve, and cheer each other on, as we create our own book magic.
We start October 1st, and I would love to see you there!
If you enjoyed this post, please forward it to your favorite creative mothers. And if you’re a writer on Substack, consider recommending Nebula Notebook, so your readers can join this warm community too.
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.
