Fresh Ideas
A Fresh New Year
By Jan Fields
So, what kind of fresh ideas can we dig up on a frosty February?
February is actually a month jam packed with great idea starters. Just a
glance at your calendar can bring up a few:
Ground Hog Day – Sure, a boring piece on ground hogs is likely to
fall pretty flat, but surely we can dig up something wilder. How about a
story about a little boy who lives where there are no ground hogs? How
could he come up with a unique way to determine when spring is coming by
scaring something else with its shadow? I can see it now: “My Sister,
The Groundhog.” And for an “any time of year” story, what would happen
if all the holiday animals had a party – black cats, easter bunnies,
groundhogs – what conflict might arise in that kind of crowd?
Valentine’s Day – Ah, love is in the air. How about a craft that
preserves all those Valentines kids get every year? What could you do
with a sack full of Valentines? Equally, what could a kid do to show
his/her family some love in a unique kid-easy way? Heart treats?
Valentine’s is a great “how-to” article starting point. What how-to
piece can you brainstorm today?
Presidents’ Day – It seems the one constant on every
Highlights wish list is a lively anecdote from the life of a
president (someone besides Lincoln or Washington). There are actually
tons of funny president stories out there waiting for you to dig them up
– so tell a short, lively story about a president.
Boy Scouts Day – 100 Years of Scouting. This month I’m looking at
the boy scout birthday issue of Boys’ Life, but they aren’t the only
possible market for scout stories. This group has been around for a
hundred years, you know there must be some great stories out there. What
could you dig up?
Black History Month – Editors always want to honor this event, so
dig a little so you can bring us an exciting slice from the life of a
Black American who played a part in history. Whether it’s someone well
known or someone barely known, it’s the story that counts – whose untold
story can you tell today?
This page last updated on 01 February 2010
|
