Files
Start with a three-ringed notebook binder that uses 6 ¥ 91 / 2 -inch paper. (It’s an easy size to
keep with you most of the time.) When it gets full, transfer the material to files. You’ll need
one notebook section or file for characters and another for plots. Keep one for snips of ideas
or idea starters. Make another one for themes. You’ll need one for people and animals, one
for places, and another for props used by your characters. (I keep one for clichés, but if you
have a good book on clichés, then you might not need the file). You might want a file for
your dreams, and you might want to keep lists of interesting characters from funny real-life
occupations, unusual behavior, and interesting or funny real-life details. You could keep a
list of funny situations or descriptive or humorous names you’ve made up. How about a list
of funny original titles? You’ll want a file for design styles and other artwork. Keep anything
that may be of help in a file.
Brainstorm
I found that when I was freelancing, I would run into the same kinds of categories over and
over again. Cartoons were focused on the school environment, or there were stories about
dogs or cats. There were others about the circus. There were mysteries and westerns.
Each time I had to brainstorm ideas about a category again from scratch. So I made lists
of things that centered on each concept. Under “school” I listed teacher, student, desk, pencil,
eraser, chalkboard, dry-erase board, chalk, marker, recess, homework—you get the idea.
Pay particular attention to things you can use as props. This will help with the gags. The lists
also help with plots and titles. I kept these files in my notebook for the next time I needed
them.
Brainstorm ideas about a setting. What’s funny about it? What’s its history? What hap-
pened there? Make up stories about objects. How were these objects used? Did they
somehow have a place in history? Did someone else play with that toy long before? What
was that glass bottle before it was recycled? And that sheet of paper—where was the tree
that provided it? What may it have seen in the forest?
Ask yourself, “What would happen if...?”Make up relationships between two
strangers. Give personalities and stories to toys and other inanimate objects. Imagine
what could happen if your pets could talk or what would happen if an important event
turned out differently? What if two people had never met? What would happen if your
hero had made one different choice in his life? Make up a complete fantasy world with
fantasy creatures and technology. Lay down rules for how the world operates, and stay true
to them.
When you’re brainstorming, don’t edit. Write down everything as fast as you can, and
edit out the unusable stuff later. If you edit as you go, you may destroy the good ideas along
with the bad. You’re looking for as many ideas or as many different ways of looking at your
creative problem as you can find. Include the unique, the impractical, and the silly. Take a
new and different approach; look at things from different perspectives. Come up with vari-
ations on a theme. Combine ideas. The more ideas you initially produce, the better chances
you have of coming up with something unique, personal, and good.
Finding Ideas 41