Inspirations of a Storyteller

You may have read an author’s blog, or listened to a podcast, or attended a reading by a children’s author, and thought, “where do they get their inspiration from?”  Well, the most common reply I have heard is, “everywhere!”  ‘But where exactly?’ the little person inside you shouts, exasperatedly.

Inspiration can be drawn from objects, people, places, history, personal experiences, or everyday life.  Certainly, be aware of external trends too, but do not be guided by them.  You may be inspired to write a story which is light-hearted, has a subtle moral, or covers a serious topic.  Children need them all!  Children use books for all different reasons (education, support, fun), and sometimes escapism is underestimated. 

"Certainly, be aware of external trends, but do not be guided by them."

A good children’s author will adhere to the basics of storytelling: characters, plot, conflict, theme, narrative, entertainment and educational value, and connection with the reader.  These can easily be identified, but all these components must first develop from an idea, the author’s inspiration, and this can be unassuming or even completely unrelated!  Books rarely end up exactly as they begin and often change before their final version.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

You might assume that Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” was inspired by a curious child, or a caterpillar, or a butterfly.  These are not outrageous presumptions. However, it was inspired by a hole punch, and the original character was in fact a worm!  Also, the original title of the book was "A Week with Willi the Worm." 

In comparison, Emily Winfield Martin (author of “The Wonderful Things You Will Be”) stated the idea for this book come from, “the children around me, who made me feel the words.” 

"the reason I used a panda bear is not so obvious.  It was not because of the panda bear’s cute appearance (although this helped!)"

Character design by Jose Sanchez (Perrotrope)

My children’s board book, The Adventurous Panda Bear Visits Asia, was inspired by home-schooling my children during Lockdown and David Attenborough documentaries, and I make this known when I publicize the book.  However, the reason I used a panda bear is not so obvious.  It was not because of the panda bear’s cute appearance (although this helped!), but because it symbolizes peace and friendship, along with power and patience.  Spiritually, the panda bear is wise.  In addition, the black and white colour is associated with Yin and Yang—life’s equilibrium—and, like karma, teaches us how our actions determine our fate.  The panda bear is also an integral part of the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) logo, a charity close to David Attenborough’s heart.

Fairy tales and classic children’s stories are often used to inspire new stories and characters, but there is a stigma attached to reusing an idea.  Isn’t that copying?  Isn’t that cheating?  But even fairy tales and classic stories were inspired by something once upon a time. 

Illustration for Charles Perrault's La Belle au Bois Dormant

Walt Disney's film, “Sleeping Beauty”, is based on a collection of fairy tales by Charles Perrault's from 1697, specifically "La Belle au Bois Dormant," which is about a princess cursed to sleep for 100 years after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel.  However, Perrault's story is not the original source, but rather an adaptation of earlier folk tales, including the Italian story "Sun, Moon, and Talia" by Giambattista Basile.  Furthermore, Disney's 1959 adaptation also incorporates elements from the Grimm Brother’s which they collected and adapted into their own version of the Sleeping Beauty story.  Even the film's "Once Upon a Dream" piece of music is heavily influenced by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet "Sleeping Beauty".

Once, I used a classic story concept and turned the plot on its head.  Imagine the hunters becoming the hunted, or the hunters helping the hunted back home!  Being inspired by stories that children are already familiar with creates an expectation for the reader, and when this expectation is broken by something new and exciting, it creates intrigue. Having new ideas is great, but a repurposed story can be enjoyed all over again by the next generation of young readers if they are rewritten with a fresh perspective.

Julia Donaldson believes that traditional tales are a rich source of inspiration.  "The Gruffalo" was loosely based on a Chinese folk tale about a girl who tricks a tiger.   She often challenges the status quo too.  “Tiddler” is inspired by the fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", but with a reversed moral: instead of warning the reader against telling stories, it celebrates imagination and encourages children to create and share tales.  The original title of this book was "The Fish Who Cried Wolf."

 “Tiddler is inspired by the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf"

Julia Donaldson is also inspired by real life; the idea for her series of Princess Mirror-Belle books came from her oldest son, Hamish, whose imaginary friend Sammy was his reflection in the mirror, and her middle son, Alastair, who played in a teenage rock band, like Ellen’s brother, Luke.

Character-led stories are well suited to dealing with difficult topics because the author can support emotionally vulnerable readers by writing about relatable characters. It can be empowering for a child to read about characters like themselves overcoming similar challenges. It is a powerful way to connect with readers on a deeper level.

I love the variation of children’s stories, and the myriad of ways they can be inspired, written, and represented.  As a children’s author, I will continue to see the world through the eyes of the children I write for, supporting them how they need me to, and be as imaginative and open-minded as they are, because writing for children is a gift.

If ever you need inspiration, look around you, listen, daydream.  Never give up. The most important thing is to keep writing because children are waiting eagerly for us to welcome them into our magical worlds.