Session 2 Imagining Stories We Wish Existed in the World Many times when any one of us looks through the library shelves for a book, we are looking to find ourselves in a story. I may find myself wanting a book about a kid like me who is afraid of the dark, or about a kid like me who is put last on the batting list because I don’t hit softballs very far, or about a kid who has parents that are divorced. Many times when any one of us looks through the library shelves for a book, we are looking to find ourselves in a story. I may find myself wanting a book about a kid like me who is afraid of the dark, or about a kid like me who is put last on the batting list because I don’t hit softballs very far, or about a kid who has parents that are divorced. Maybe one of you look for books about a kid who has one friend, or about a kid who gets into trouble during Science class because he wanted to burst a balloon. Maybe one of you look for books about a kid who has one friend, or about a kid who gets into trouble during Science class because he wanted to burst a balloon.

How to use the strategy to come up with a story idea When I am thinking about books I want to read, I wish there were more about kids who has parents that are divorced, or about kids who are afraid of the dark, or about wanting to be an only child. When I am thinking about books I want to read, I wish there were more about kids who has parents that are divorced, or about kids who are afraid of the dark, or about wanting to be an only child.

Pretend that you think to yourself, “I wish there were books about kids like me who aren’t that good at sports.” Remember to make that wish into a story idea, you need to invent some details. You can do so by asking questions of your story idea. Why isn’t the kid good at sports? Which sports? What has happened lately which shows these struggles? Pretend that you think to yourself, “I wish there were books about kids like me who aren’t that good at sports.” Remember to make that wish into a story idea, you need to invent some details. You can do so by asking questions of your story idea. Why isn’t the kid good at sports? Which sports? What has happened lately which shows these struggles? Tell your partner how could you turn this into a story idea. Remember to think about the character, his or her character traits, the character’s very particular struggle, about what he or she wants, and about what the character does. Tell your partner how could you turn this into a story idea. Remember to think about the character, his or her character traits, the character’s very particular struggle, about what he or she wants, and about what the character does.

Continue to collect story ideas. You can use any of the strategies learned. Continue to collect story ideas. You can use any of the strategies learned.

How to Find Ideas for Fiction Observe the world or reread entries. Mine your notebook for story ideas. Observe the world or reread entries. Mine your notebook for story ideas. Ask, “What books do I wish existed in the world?” Let this question lead you to invent a character with traits, struggles, actions. Ask, “What books do I wish existed in the world?” Let this question lead you to invent a character with traits, struggles, actions. Think about an issue that is important to you and create a character who struggles with that issue. Think about an issue that is important to you and create a character who struggles with that issue.