What inspired Michael Ian Black to write I'M BORED (plus info about YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT, which launches next week)

Photo credit: Martin Crook / SWITCHED

I asked Michael Ian Black what inspired him to write I'M BORED and the process, and here's what he replied:

I wrote I'm Bored as a reaction to my children constantly telling me how bored they are. How boooooored! They are eight and ten, and it seems as if there are not enough activities in the world to keep them occupied. Not going outside or staying inside. Not playing games or reading books. Nothing. So I thought it would be funny to imagine something even more boring than being a kid: being a potato! 

 Once I had the idea, the book was actually pretty easy to write. I'd written three previous children's books, but this was the first one I conceived  with some visuals in mind. Unfortunately, I am not an artist, but thankfully my editor Justin put me in touch with the amazing Debbie Ridpath Ohi, who really made the text come alive. Children's books are a collaborative medium, similar in a way to film and television. Because I do not have the ability to actually create the art I see in my head, it's so important to have people like Debbie who can not only translate my words to the page, but also make them so much better through their artwork. 

*blush* 

Thanks, Michael!

Incidentally, MIB's newest book, YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT: Tales Of Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations launches next week. It's received some great pre-release reviews, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Some related articles about the book:

Michael Ian Black On Middle Age | Chicago Sun-Times

Five Questions For Michael Ian Black | USA Today 

Huffington Post piece on MIB and his new book

Kirkus Review of the book

Where you can find out more about Michael:

Twitter: @michaelianblack

Michael Ian Black on Facebook

Michaelianblack.net

Wikipedia entry on Michael Ian Black

Justin Chanda picks Debbie as the illustrator for I'M BORED - yay!

Continuing my series on how I'M BORED was created...

I was approached about illustrating I'M BORED at the SCBWI children's book writer/illustrator conference in 2010. If you're an aspiring children's/YA book writer or illustrator, I strongly recommend joining the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators)!

Up to this particular event, I considered myself mainly a writer, doing a little bit of drawing on the side. Everything changed at this event, however. You can read the full story on KidLitArtists.com, but here's a summary:

My friend Beckett Gladney convinced me to enter the Illustrator Portfolio Showcase for the first time, and helped me put together my first portfolio. She also made me a gorgeous portfolio cover (see Beckett's Etsy shop for her other custom-made items). You can see my portfolio and its contents online.

Three amazing things happened:

1. I was picked for the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship Program by Penguin art director Cecilia Yung.

2. I won an Honor Award (one of two runners-up) in the overall Portfolio Awards.

And (insert drumroll here)...

3. Justin Chanda told me he had a picture book for me to illustrate. (!!!!)

Later on, I asked Justin whether he attended that year's SCBWI Summer Conference with the goal of finding an illustrator for I'm Bored. His answer:

I did not, actually. It was my first time at SCBWI-LA and I was really just trying to get my head around what to do while I was there. Judging the art show was actually something that came up the day I arrived. It was a last minute ask and I was really glad to fill in… but it wasn’t until I saw your portfolio that I instantly thought “Here’s the illustrator for I’M BORED”. And it was instantaneous.

Yayy!

I also asked Justin about what it was about my portfolio that made him think I was the right illustrator. His answer:

There was a sense of whimsy and definite style. I loved the assorted cast of characters, but I loved your point of view just as much.  I remember there was an illustration of a robot who had lost his arm and one of a little girl looking at these tiny monsters.  In both instances I got a clear sense of character, a sense of humor, and a sense of style.

I'll be posting more about more details about his decision process in KidLitArtists.com later this year.

Happily, Michael Ian Black was also in agreement about the choice of illustrator. From Justin:

Michael is one of the funniest guys I know, but he takes his kids books very seriously. We’ve done three books together prior to I’M BORED and the selection of the artist for each was a pretty long process. We sifted through all kinds of options and choices. With this though, it was a whole different story. I sent him your stuff and he wrote back 10 minutes later: “I love the minimalist style. Love her.” And that, as they say, was that.

:-)

Next post: Michael on what inspired him to write I'M BORED.

I'M BORED editor: Justin Chanda

Next, Justin Chanda started working with Michael on the I'M BORED text.

Since I'm just the illustrator, not the writer, I don't really know what went on in those editing sessions. I'll ask Michael and Justin, but it's possible that this part of the process will remain SUPER SECRET FOREVER.

How It All Began: The Story

Michael Ian Black, a Very Famous person, wrote the story for "I'm Bored."

Michael had already written some picture book stories for Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers:

as well as books for grown-ups.