Radical Creativity by Marsha Diane Arnold

July is the month we celebrate our country’s freedom. So, it's fitting to talk about celebrating our artistic freedom, our freedom to invent new forms of story and new styles of poems and lullabies, to move from the main stream into a new rivulet, to be radically creative.

When I think of radically creative writers and artists, Pablo Picasso comes to mind. He was famous for creating entirely new forms of art.

 Jessica Stillman celebrates Picasso for his “ground-breaking weirdness” and she suggests that if we want inspiration for unusual ideas we should look to truly radical innovators, like Picasso.

Picasso said, “Every act of creation is an act of destruction.” 

Often, at the beginning of a project, I slap far too many words on the page. Then, in order to find what I really want to say, I take away.  I deconstruct. I eliminate. I simplify. 


Try this, radical writers: As an exercise, cut all the sentences in your working manuscript in half. What do you have? Are at least some of the sentences improved? Is the story different now?

Stillman writes that instead of always trying to think outside the box, Picasso gave himself a “small box to work within.” He gave himself constraints, such as creating a painting with just one color. 

Try this, radical illustrators: Paint with just one color.

Picasso also thought that action is the key to success. He produced thousands of variations of his ideas until he got it right, until he got it the way he wanted. Many of us spend far too much time protecting the first story idea that came to us. Question that first thought. How can we make it better, more radical? How can we manifest our true ability? As many little girls of a certain age knows, one way is to “Let it Go.” Let your first precious idea go. That’s what Queen Elsa did.

When I think of radical creativity in picture books, a few names come immediately to mind. 

Jon Scieszka, the first-ever National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, turned fairy tales upside down and inside out.    

Mac Barnett has made a splash on the picture book scene with books both unusual and varied. Considering Stillman’s belief that you must study true genius to aid your own breakthroughs, it’s interesting that Mr. Barnett studied under Pulitzer Prize nominee David Foster Wallace. 
 
I wonder how Mac Barnett’s The Skunk began? I don’t know the answer, but let’s imagine that a skunk crossed your path. What might you think about the skunk? What if you followed that skunk? Where would the skunk lead you? What is the skunk thinking? Or...as Mr. Barnett seems to have wondered: What if that skunk followed you?

If you explore picture book writers from other countries or visit the Bologna Book Fair, you're likely to see some radical creativity.

The Big Question by Wolf Erlbruch was originally printed in France, as was Death, Duck and The Tulip, about a duck who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Death. Both consider important life questions as does the minimalist Scandinavian The Flat Rabbit by Bardur Oskarsson.  

For some of us, radical creativity might not mean changing publishing or a world view. It may mean simply stepping away from our comfort zone.

My upcoming book Lost. Found. is a big departure from my previous picture books that were long and filled with what some described as beautiful narrative. Lost. Found.’s story is made up of only two words. That for me is radical. Still the story keeps to what I’m known for - stories of value, of kindness, of hope. A traditional story in an untraditional vein.

One definition of  “radical” is an action or thing that's especially impressive – awesome, cool, extreme. There is power in our unique perspectives. So combine your vision with a bit of talent, a lot of courage, and the willingness to go the distance to create something unexpected. Then you too may be “radical.”

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An award-winning picture book author, Marsha's Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books course has helped published and aspiring writers to write stronger characters. Check it out here: http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-character-driven-stories.html or visit Marsha at www.marshadianearnold.com.

Please share your favorite "radical" writers and illustrators or how a story of your own took you on a slightly radical path.