Spilling Ink Day 6: Ripe for the Pickin'

I fell off the wagon yesterday.  I made the choice to play a game of Scrabble before dinner instead of writing.  (I was still working with words!) 

So.  Here is the big idea from Section 6 of Spilling Ink:  Ideas are everywhere, like berries ripe for the pickin'.  Anne Mazer gives lots of tips for kids to tune into the ideas that they already have.  She talks about turning off your brain and turning on your ideas.  Ms. Mazer encourages kids to look at the world through the eyes of a writer.  I've often talked with students about this.  I encourage them to keep journals, people watch, and write down interesting things that they hear, read, and see. 

Along those lines, I was listening to a radio show (I'd like to say I was listening to something remotely cerebral, but I must confess it was one of my guilty pleasures-- Cosmo Radio on Sirius XM.) and this question was posed:  "If you could have any type of superpowers, what would you choose?"  My first thought was, "I wonder if James Dean (the character I wrote about the other day) has any superpowers?" I was pleased for even having that thought-- it must mean that I am making an effort to turn off my brain and turn on my ideas!

The thought of superpowers made me think of Wake, by Lisa McMann.  In this compelling young adult novel, the main character, Janie, has the ability to visit other people's dreams. (Intense book!)   Ever since then, I've been racking my brain, trying to think of a cool supernatural ability for James to have, but I'm stuck thinking about Janie...

I'm going to make a salad for dinner and hang out with my kids and maybe, if I'm really observant, a "berry" good idea will make itself known and I'll pluck it right up.