Random thoughts on getting started with story: have a character find something unusual in an unexpected place.

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Carol Jones

For example:

Two seven-year-old boys discover a strange looking bottle in the school sandpit. When one of them wipes it on his shirt to clean it a genie appears in the middle of the schoolyard. (chapter book)

When twin eggs hatch in a magpie nest the new parents are very surprised. One chick is black and white and much like them, the other is very large, very strange looking and won’t learn to fly. (picture book)

About Carol Jones

Carol Jones is the author of 'The Concubine's Child', set in 1930s Malaya and The Boy With Blue Trousers set in 1850s China and Australia. Born in Brisbane, Australia, she taught English and Drama at secondary schools before working as an editor of children's magazines. She is also the author of several young adult novels as well as children's non-fiction.

View all posts by Carol Jones →

This entry was posted in books for girls, Carol Jones, fiction, story ideas and tagged chapter book ideas, picture book ideas, story writing help for kids. Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Random thoughts on getting started with story: have a character find something unusual in an unexpected place.

Sarah says:

February 16, 2012 at 3:54 pm

My daughter loves your work!!!!

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- caroljones says:
  
  February 16, 2012 at 7:21 pm
  
  Thanks Sarah. I hope she looks for more of my books in her local library. ‘It’s True: Women Were Warriors’ and some of my non-fiction books are also available to purchase at on-line bookstores.
  
  Reply
Kit says:

February 17, 2012 at 10:49 am

Inspiration to my writing

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mel says:

February 17, 2012 at 5:52 pm

I can’t express enough how much my twin daughters love it when I read to them your work. It is a breath of fresh air compared to many of the books I read today. 🙂

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