Inspired by The Great Grrrr
A writing exercise...
(A quick note if this is the first email you’ve received from me in a longtime. I just found hundreds of contacts stored in Squarespace. Who knew? I added those names. If you want to unsubscribe, feel free. Or download the app and set up your Substacks to skip your invoice and read this newsletter in your browser or on your phone when you have time. That’s what I do with the Substacks I subscribe to. But I do hope you’ll stick around. We’re building something pretty amazing here!)
This month we’re look at The Great Grrrr. This picture book hails from France, but translates well for the American market, because dives into one of our favorite topics: big feelings. The story is about a monster (the grrrr) who is delivering a package. He arrives with a smile, but when no one answers the door, and it starts raining, and STILL no one answers the door, he really GRRRs, destroying everything around him.
(The online version of the cover art does not show how BRIGHT that pink is. This book is black and white and pink, so I’m guessing that pink was done with a separate pass at the printer. It’s delightful!)
The story ends with a kindly grandmother making the monster a pot of hot chocolate, but the monster is alone for nearly ninety percent of the book. So here’s this month’s writing exercise…
Try This
Write a version of your story where your main character is alone for most of the book. What happens if your character misunderstands the situation? What kind of emotional rollercoaster will they go on all by themselves? How does your character respond to the absence of action?
If writing a full draft like this sounds too hard, try drawing thumbnail sketches, write a quick summary, or talk in your voice memo app about what might happen. Don’t let worries about word choice or pacing stop you from trying this exercise.
Let me know if you try it!
If you enjoyed this post, please 💛 it so others can find it or share it with your favorite creative mothers.
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.
