I have a hidden talent that I’ve kept secret on this blog.
I can recite approximately 24 Teletubbie episodes by heart.
No, this isn’t an ability that I’m particularly proud of. I know that parents are not supposed to put their toddlers in front of the magic box.
But when my now-13 year old son was 2, he took to getting up each day at 4:00 a.m….for the day. This continued for a whole year.
Now, I do get up at 5:00 every morning. But to me, 4:00 is ‘morning’ only by a technicality.
The show made life at 4 a.m. bearable for me—because my son was enchanted by it. And, grudgingly, I became fascinated too. Why was this baby’s face in the sun? What was this semi-buried spaceship house they lived in? Where were these things’ mommies? I became hooked into the story.
One thing that was interesting to me—these shows had a basic plot to them. They were designed for babies to watch, so the plot was simple…but the fundamentals of a story were there. Each episode focused on one Tubbie protagonist. They encountered a problem/conflict (LaaLaa’s ball in the tree! Dipsy’s hat isn’t the right size! The Tubbie toaster has gone berserk!) and then the story reached a resolution.
Those 24 Tubbie stories join the thousands of other stories—books, TV shows, movies, stories people have told me, stories I’ve overheard—that I’ve absorbed over my life.
We all start out that way—with fairy tales and nursery rhymes and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and the Wizard of Oz. We hear stories from our parents about the day we were born or the day the tornado hit and everyone had to take cover in the basement.
Everything is a story. I think writers frame life itself as a story. When I was a kid I loved the Dr. Seuss book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street. Why? Because when I’d be asked about my day at school, I thought how cool it would be to make up a response! The real day might have made a less interesting story.
So sometimes I wonder how the rest of the world doesn’t write.
Most writers, I think, avidly appreciate a good story—a book, tall tale, a well-written TV show or movie, a play. And we want to entertain that successfully, too.
Sometimes the need to focus on promo or on honing our queries…sometimes the business of writing (which is very necessary these days) can really take a lot out of us.
But then I remember—it all comes back to the story. And that’s what rejuvenates me.
What helps you focus on your writing and rejuvenates you when you write?
I think one of my favorite kid shows I watch with my son is The Backyardigans. The music is catchy and every episode is a story. Better yet, it’s kids making things up and creating a story together. A great introduction to roleplaying. I can’t help watching until the end when I catch one I haven’t seen before. Did I mention the catchy music?
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street is a fabulous book. My dad used to read it to me.
Recharging my writing battery best comes from rereading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Soon I will make my yearly trek to her adult home here in MO and see where she wrote her stories. It’s a very peaceful setting.
I love watching kids’ tv shows! I still love Sesame Street and Bear in the Big Blue House (are they still showing that one on tv?) and The Big Comfy Couch and all sorts of things like that. Good memories, you know?
But what rejuvinates my stories? The Shiny New Idea Syndrome. Whenever I’m stuck on a WIP, I jump to my Shiny New Idea for about two pages, and by the end, I’m ready to jump back. It’s helpful when writing has stopped being fun.
I really want to go watch Sesame Street now! :D
I cannot remember tv shows for my three. We did not watch much tv when they were young. Winnie the Pooh was a huge hit in our home. Whenever I see a child with a Pooh bear or eyore, I am transported back to the 1980’s and my babies.
I loved making up a bedtime story for my children. A story could be about anything that they thought of. They would give me the object and I would chat away about it. Magical moments in my life, yes it is about the story. :)
You are absolutely right: it comes down to the love of a good story. I find I get a big burst of writing energy whenever I read a really great book. When the story just works, it makes me excited to go back to my own writing.
I think kids’ shows and kids’ book can teach us a lot about story if we really pay attention. And like you said, it is good because the story lines in books aimed for the very young are usually simple plots. A beginning writer can learn a lot about plotting from analyzing those shows and books.
To answer your question, reading a really good novel or watching a well-made movie can rejuvenate me.
Jaleh –I like that one and the one with the child who’s a writer…Pinky Dinky Doo.
Bethany Elizabeth–Oh, my son loved “Bear!” I did, too. I don’t know if it’s still on or not.
That’s a great idea! Write about the exciting project for a little while before getting back to the one we need to hammer out. :)
Glynis–I love Pooh! Always makes me feel relaxed and takes me back to a simpler time. :)
I make up stories at night for my daughter (son feels a little old for it.) I like your idea of having them give me something to frame the story around.
Anna–It’s inspiring to me, too! I usually don’t read my exact genre when I’m writing–I’ll read police procedurals or thrillers but not cozies–but the reading of a good book definitely gives me a creative burst.
Teresa–My daughter is reading those now! She’s still on “Little House in the Big Woods”…the first one.
Conversations, listening to other’s stories, whatif-ing. I love doing this with kids. They’re still fluid in their imaginations. Adults can get caught up on what it really is or why it’s really there. I like to wonder whatif something else were the story.
I thought the tubbies had annoying voices, but my little boys thought they were great.
We start out with stories, and most of us end with stories. It seems to me that gatherings with older aunts and grandparents seem to end up discussing things that happened long ago. We begin to learn about our elders’ lives and trials.
Stories from birth to death. To me, that’s soothing and right.
Straight From Hel
Stories are everywhere! It’s fascinating to me how writers see a story in everything, but non-writers don’t unless you point it out to them. Even then they might not get it. I suppose that’s because writers are always tuned and ready for that next marvelous idea!
I loved Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ when I was a kid. It was the only TV we were allowed to watch! I still get a kick out of Sesame Street when I watch it with my nieces or nephews. Those muppets are so funny and adorable!
Ah yes, the Teletubbies. I wasn’t fond of that baby sun – but they amused me. To this day, when I make custard it is referred to as ‘telecustard’. I couldn’t recite episodes, but I can give you the entire text of “The Cat in the Hat” if you’re interested – complete with voices for the cat and Thing 1 and Thing 2.
The passion of something new – which I am desperately trying to find again.
And I am SO sorry you had to watch Teletubbies. The one with the purse creeps me out.
We recently stayed overnight with our 2 year old grandson so his parents could have an anniversary getaway. I’d never heard of Team Umi-Zoomi, but he wanted to watch episode after episode–actually, he wanted to watch 2 episodes over and over. I don’t know if it was the story that appealed to him, though, or just the bright colors and shapes.
My own kids loved made up stories — they called them “ponce a time” stories.
Yes! What an insightful post…!
Right now, it seems deadlines are the drive for my writing, but I know that deadlines or no, gotta empty out my head! *laughing*
The covers for your books are gorgeous, by the way!
Mary–What-iffing is a great way to get inspired. And you’re right about kids–they have the most amazing imaginations. We can learn a lot from them!
Helen–I always *loved* hearing those kinds of family stories. Great way to pass down family history!
Laura–Everything is a story!
I love Sesame Street, too. I’m a big Cookie Monster and Grover fan.
Maryann–I think you’re right–the story itself really stands out because it’s so simple.
Diane–Wrapping up a series like you’ve done would be really hard. Good luck finding a new story to be passionate about!
Elspeth–I would LOVE to hear you recite it. We call our cats Thing 1 and Thing 2 some days…yes, they can be that destructive. :)
Kathryn–Yeah, those deadlines are a powerful motivator! And thanks about the covers. :)
Terry–See? I’m already outdated. :) No, I don’t know Team Umi-Zoomi either. But I remember my kids wanting to hear the same story over and over and watch the same movie a million times in a row. Would drive me a little crazy after a while.
This has nothing to do with your post, but touches on a similar post you wrote some weeks/ months back. The one about getting kids to tell you how the day went.
I’ve been doing that for a bit now, and I find their Daycare is not the safe place I thought it was. They wrestle pythons, and have rocket chases almost every day, and at least once a week, a kid is kidnapped and needs to be rescued.
Should I be happy or worried?
Ah, looks like you and me were blearily mothering our two-year-old sons to pre-dawn episodes of Tellytubbies at the same time! Mine didn’t get up at four, though – he rose just before six. And we’d tromp right on through to the living room to see what Poe and the gang were up to. Thanks for taking me back!
Your teletubbies mastery is too funny! I absorb lots of things I never planned to (like information on the latest video games, which my husband is obsessed with), but everything is food for story!
When I get weary of my revisions, I remind myself of the story I’m trying to tell, and I get excited all over again.
Rayna–I love it! It’s just like “Mulberry Street.” Sounds like a budding writer to me!
Zoe–The amazing thing is that he’s 13 and he’s STILL getting up at 6 a.m.! Not 4:00, but 6:00 is pretty early for a teen. Thank goodness he doesn’t want to watch the Tubbies anymore. :)
Lorel–And the story is the best part!
this was so well articulated! To me, reading is one thing that inspires me to write. If I’ve got a really good book going, even if it’s not in the ‘genre’ of the one I am writing, it doesn’t matter…its the story that connects!
And thank you for pointing out that story is everywhere…books, tv, cartoons, etc. Humans seem to need to create narratives. Its a very intriguing aspect of ourselves, really.
Julie Johnson
busywriting.wordpress.com
Julie–Thanks so much for dropping by! It does seem to be a basic human need to tell stories, doesn’t it? I guess, like art, it’s a creative urge that just has to be satisfied…even by people who might not realize they’re doing it!