15 Creative Ways to Give Old Story Ideas a Fresh Twist
As I kept writing more and more, I found myself constantly searching for children’s books with stories similar to mine. At first, it felt a little discouraging like, has everything already been done?
But then I remembered: that’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it? To create something that doesn’t exist yet. To use your imagination no matter how wild, magical, or totally bonkers and make something that leaves everyone in the room laughing (or crying... or wondering... or all of the above).
So chin up BUTTERCUP! (My husband says that a lot, and it sticks.)
I’ve put together a list of ideas and examples that might help you freshen up a familiar story and turn it into something all your own. And hey—if you’re looking for a picture book or middle grade illustrator, feel free to reach out!
READY YOUR PENCILS. LET’S GO.>>
Here are 15 fun and practical ways to take a familiar idea and make it feel brand new:
1. Mine the Moments Only You Know
Think about small, strange, or funny things that happened to you as a kid.
Example: A story about a child who secretly talks to the moon every night because they think it’s their long-lost grandma.
2. Flip the Usual Perspective
Tell the story from a character most people wouldn’t expect.
Example: A lost mitten narrates how it’s trying to get back home before winter ends.
3. Bend the Rules of the World
Invent a reality with one unusual rule.
Example: A town where no one is allowed to say the word “banana”... and no one knows why.
4. Make it Funny on Purpose
Lean into the silly, awkward, or absurd.
Example: A worm who wants to enter a jump rope contest but keeps getting tied in knots.
5. Go Somewhere Unexpected
Change the location, and the whole story can change too.
Example: A tea party… at the top of a volcano.
6. Cross Two Unlikely Worlds
Mix genres or themes that don’t usually go together.
Example: A cowboy who trains pigeons for competitive skywriting.
7. Let the Characters Break the Fourth Wall
Let them talk directly to the reader or the author!
Example: A squirrel who refuses to be in any story unless there are at least three acorns on every page.
8. Center the Emotional Journey
Make the story about what the character is feeling, not just what they’re doing.
Example: A confident young penguin who suddenly feels small when it sees its first iceberg.
9. Tell it Out of Order
Play with how the story unfolds.
Example: Start with the ending, then show how everything hilariously went wrong to get there.
10. Zoom Way In or Way Out
Change the scale of the story.
Example: A single drop of paint trying to find its place in a mural. Or: Earth trying to win “Planet of the Year.”
11. Give a Voice to the Overlooked
Tell a story through the eyes of an object or background character.
Example: A coat rack tired of holding everyone’s stuff… so it runs away.
12. Use an Unusual Style
Write it as a recipe, a song, a weather report, or a set of instructions.
Example: “How to Hatch a Dragon Egg Without Getting Singed.”
13. Play With Expectations
Set up a familiar situation, then do the opposite.
Example: A birthday party where the cake throws you a surprise.
14. Invent Your Own Problem
Forget real-world problems make up your own!
Example: A town where shadows keep quitting their jobs.
15. Let Something Small Make a Big Impact
Sometimes, a tiny moment can carry big meaning.
Example: A child waiting for the first snowflake... because it means their mom will be home soon.
Bottom line: You don’t need to reinvent the wheel you just need to decorate it in your own weird, wonderful way. Let your imagination roam, follow your curiosity, and don’t be afraid to get a little weird.
