Paul Czajak on Picture Books, Creative Prompts, and the Magic of Revision | Picture This Podcast
Join host Adam Lehrhaupt as he welcomes his good friend, author Paul Czajak, known for beloved books like the Monster and Me series and Trees Make Perfect Pets. Paul shares his incredibly unique journey from a decades-long career as a chemist to a passionate children's author, driven by a desire to make readers laugh and root for the underdog.
In this insightful episode, Paul and Adam dive deep into the creative process, emphasizing why the first draft is rarely good and why revision is where the magic truly happens (with one story taking seven years to perfect!).
Key Takeaways & Writing Sparks You'll Love:
- The Power of Guardrails: How strict word counts and clear constraints can actually free up a student’s (or author's) creativity.
- Monster Prompts: Paul shares his go-to writing prompt for school visits "Monster needs to bake" and how it guides kids to explore conflict and resolution.
- Growing a Book Tree: A fantastic idea for turning student stories into a visual, growing classroom project.
- Brand New Sentences: A simple, powerful exercise that proves to kids they can create something brand new that no one has ever heard before.
- Music as Inspiration: Discover which song line inspired Paul's published book, A Peculiar Haunted House, and how to flip a story's perspective for a better result.
- Picture Book Deep Dive: Paul highlights his favorite picture book for demonstrating how rules (like meter in rhyme) can be broken with purpose.
Whether you're a writer looking for revision motivation, or an educator seeking innovative ways to inspire young storytellers, this episode is packed with practical advice and heartfelt conversation.
Find Paul Csajak:
- Website: PaulCzajak.com (Link: https://www.paulczajak.com/)
- Instagram: @PaulCzajak (Link: https://www.instagram.com/paulczajak)
Find Adam Lehrhaupt:
- Website: AdamL.rocks (Link: https://www.adaml.rocks/)
(Don't forget to check the activity guides on Adam's website for writing exercises inspired by this episode!)
Chapters
0:00 Introduction to Paul Czajak & The "Monster Needs to Bake" Writing Prompt
1:02 From Chemist to Children's Author: Paul's Unique Path to Picture Books
2:22 Finding the Creative Spark & Why You Have to Start Writing
3:43 The Power of "Just Write It Down" and The First Story
5:01 Idea vs. Story: Using Fears and Worries as a Writing Prompt
6:59 The Importance of Creative Guardrails (Word Count & Constraints)
10:02 Overcoming Writer's Block: Just Get the Hand Moving
11:35 The Magic of Revision: Five Minutes a Day
13:29 7 Years of Revision: The Long Road to a Published Book
16:17 The Book Tree and Inspiring Creative Projects
17:49 Detailed Breakdown of the "Monster Needs to Bake" Prompt
20:57 Activity 2: "What Do You See?" (Creating Brand New Sentences)
22:49 Activity 3: Illustrating the Text (Understanding the Artist's Process)
24:25 Adam's Book Bag: Paul's Favorite Book for Analyzing Rhyme and Meter
26:49 Story Sparks: Using Music for Creative Inspiration
30:53 Kill Your Darlings: How to Flip a Story's Perspective
32:23 Wrap Up & Where to Find Paul Czajak
Host
Adam Lehrhaupt
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