Feeling stuck? Flip the script!
Writers, we’ve all been there — ideas aren’t coming…the plot won’t hold together…you’ve submitted and submitted yet no one is biting. You’re STUCK.
Sometimes you have to stay the course, patiently putting one foot in front of the other. But sometimes? You need to leap. Do something — anything — different.
Flip the script!
Flip the script:
to do something completely differently or in the opposite way from the way it is usually done (Cambridge Dictionary)
to do something unexpected or revolutionary (Oxford Dictionary)
Back in 2017, I tried an idea-generating exercise that involves taking a well-known story element and adding a twist. Turning it on its head. Flipping the script.
Fire-breathing dragons have long been featured in picture books. But what about…
…a dragon who’s scared of fire?
…a bubble-breathing dragon?
…a fire-breathing kitten?
Or maybe…
A fire-breathing KID.
Whoa. Talk about flipping the script! I was fascinated by the idea, but how to turn it into a story?
Well, every story needs a problem to solve, and three attempts to get there, right? (Wrong! But it’s a fine place to start. Learn the “rules” so you can break them!) Accidental fire-breathing certainly seems like a problem for a six-year-old. But how to solve it? Nothing I came up with seemed quite right.
Back then, I didn’t yet have a critique group. But I had joined an amazing community called — I bet you can guess! — 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge. And I discovered, as hopefully you all have, the Manuscript Makeover section where other writers read your story and give feedback and maybe they could help me get unstuck…except I’d never shared my work with strangers! I certainly hadn’t posted my writing publicly. It was just not the way I did things.
But I was stuck. I had to do something different. Time to flip the script!
I took a deep breath, posted a draft, and was blown away by the generous, helpful, and encouraging responses. New writers, experienced writers, even writers who were new at the time and are now multi-published award-winning authors chimed in (one of my favorite things about 12 x 12 — writers at all stages sharing this journey with each other!). Armed with all their feedback, I headed back to the drawing board.
And realized, with horror: I had been writing a book about taking away a little girl’s fire.
Suddenly, I saw the story in a whole new light. What if the problem wasn’t fire-breathing? What if the real problem was everyone else (including me!) trying to extinguish this little girl’s spark?
Time to flip the script.
I wrote a new draft. The first half had a traditional arc — a problem (girl breathes fire) and three attempts at a solution. But halfway through the story, Ignacia (or Iggy for short) flips the script. She embraces her fire, declares herself to the world, and the entire trajectory of the story gets turned on its head.
In the meantime, I’d joined a wonderful critique group (formed in the forum’s 12 x 12 Critique Connect category, of course!). I sent them an email asking — “could Iggy actually KEEP her fire?” And they sent back a resounding “Yes!”
I revised like an author on fire. The story grew and evolved as I came to deeper realizations of who Iggy was and what I was really writing about.
I also grew and evolved as a writer, pushing myself to do the unexpected again and again. In 2018, I attended a conference and, utterly out of character, entered a “First Look” event. I submitted my manuscript’s first lines to be read aloud to a crowd of hundreds plus a panel of agents, editors, and Dan Santat (RIP my nerves).
When Iggy was born, she purred.
When Iggy was three, she roared.
And when Iggy was five, she opened her mouth and instead of a holler, she breathed fire.
Hearing my words read aloud in that ballroom was surreal. And when an editor leaned forward and said into her microphone — “I would read more” — I knew I could not give up on Iggy.
I was writing other manuscripts too, and, at the end of 2019, I signed with my agent. She eventually sent IGGY WHO BREATHES FIRE out on submission. Editors were interested, and I did multiple revise & resubmits — Funnier! Darker! More heartfelt! — but it wasn’t quite landing. I kept working, one foot in front of the other, but eventually?
It was time to flip the script.
Maybe a fire-breathing girl would work better in a fairy tale setting. I started from scratch, rewriting Iggy as a princess in a make-believe kingdom. It was fun! I adored it! My agent sent it on submission in 2022. But I still loved my original vision and kept working on it in the background, using everything I’d learned from writing the princess version.
Then an editor contacted my agent. She loved Iggy, but a princess book wouldn’t fit on her list. Did we have a different version?
DID WE EVER.
The editor loved it! She was taking it to acquisitions.
And then an offer came in—from another editor, on the princess manuscript! Followed quickly by an offer from the first editor. By flipping the script something REALLY unexpected had happened! The book(s) went to auction, after which I had to make a choice.
Two brilliant editors. Two dream imprints. Two completely different stories, both of which I loved!
This time I followed my heart and the editor who shared my original vision. When the deal was announced, of course I ran to the 12 x 12 Facebook group to share the news!
And now, here I am sharing a sneak peak with 12 x 12 of how those first three lines turned out:
I learned so much about writing and about myself during the crafting of this book. When to stay the course, and when to do something different, something unexpected, something revolutionary.
So go on, flip the script.
You just might set the world on fire.
Carrie Kruck writes books for kids, including Iggy Who Breathes Fire from Disney Hyperion, plus the upcoming summer-camp-sequel Iggy Who Shines, both illustrated by Erika Meza and Alfred Blooms, coming in 2025 from Random House Studio, illustrated by Carmen Mok. She grew up in Canada, worked as a psychologist in Australia, and now lives in New England with her family and a delightful assortment of owls, foxes, and bears (oh my!).
Carrie is offering one lucky 12 x 12 member a swag-filled copy of IGGY WHO BREATHES FIRE.
Not a 12 x 12 member yet? Click here to be added to our waitlist for 2025 and get a free webinar!
12 x 12 may earn a commission from books purchased through the links in the post. Proceeds go to fund 12 x 12 diversity programming and scholarships.
41 Responses
Wow! What an inspiring post, Carrie! Flipping the script is fabulous advice; thank you for sharing your journey, and I can definitely see why your book went to auction. Congratulations!
Thanks Lauri! Happy writing!
Carrie, thank you so much for sharing your awesome journey with us. I think I really needed to hear it. I have yet to really share my work with other 12×12 writers…(I’m not there yet but getting closer)…Your share is helping to break down barriers I have for sharing my work. I work within the film industry and we are always so paranoid of someone stealing our ideas if we share our work before it’s ready to be pitched to the studios to perspective financial entities or partners. I just know now that when I finally do share with our supportive 12×12 family the results will be safe, constructive and helpful. Thanks again for sharing your story and wishing you much luck with all your writing.
Sharon, I’ve heard that about the film industry, it’s interesting that the two communities work so differently! I definitely understand it, but the rewards of sharing have always been well worth it for me. Writing is such a solitary endeavor – I love getting feedback and connecting with other writers through my work, and it always makes the work so much better. I hope you find similar rewards when you’re ready to share! 12×12 is here for you!
Thank you so much Carrie, I feel your words are helping to dissolve some age old barriers I have had about sharing my work and ideas. You have inspired me to take some baby steps that feel a lot more like stepping through the path made by the parting of the Red Sea…I just know that freedom is on the other side. Thank you again for sharing the map of your journey and I wish you continued success with all your creative adventures.
Each month the Featured Author’s posts inspire me. Yours is proof that following your heart can lead to publishing your book. Of course, you wrote, rewrote, edited, were patient and willing to make the changes. I’m so happy for you that your IGGY WHO BREATHES FIRE went to auction. It doesn’t get better than that. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.
Thanks Teddie! I love how you put it – it really is a combination of heart and hard work 🙂
Congrats! And I’m so glad how it all turned out. We must believe in the process!
Thanks Carol! Happy writing!
Amazing, Carrie! Thank you so much for sharing this and how you flipped the script! So glad you did, and I’m looking forward to reading your book! 🙂
Thanks for reading & commenting, Steena (and for connecting on instagram!) I hope you love Iggy!
Thanks for this Carrie. Really enjoyed your story of tenacity of constantly flipping the script. I want to learn from this.
Thanks Brenda! I hope it helps you breathe fire into your WIPs 🙂 Happy writing!
Wow! This lit a fire under me and I’m imagining a script flip on a story I’ve been stuck on for a while. Thank you for sharing your journey. I can’t wait to read your book.
Glad to hear it “sparked” some inspiration! Happy writing!
What a wonderful accounting of how Flipping the Script not once, but twice can make such a difference! I love how you found the “true” heart of your Fire! Thank you for sharing this. I have a few manuscripts that need flipping!
Thanks for reading, Nancy! Happy flipping!
Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story and this very inspiring post. I love the idea of flipping the script and enjoyed reading how you did so. Congratulations on your success!
Thank you Karin!
I love the advice to “flip the script”. But better yet are your examples of how you put that into action (over and over!) to land a publishing deal. Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for reading, Lisa!
Wow, Carrie! I had no idea of the super interesting backstory of your IGGY ms. It was captivating and inspiring! Love the idea of flipping the script. I can’t wait to read this book come release day!
Thank you, Kristi! And congrats on Alpacas, I love that we get to share a book birthday month! We’ll have to debrief about the experience 🙂
Carrie, I loved your post and the opening spread for IGGY WHO BREATHES FIRE is totally captivating! It was insightful to learn how your story morphed and developed over time by applying your “flip the script” strategy.
I am in my third year of 12 x 12 and only had the courage to post my first manuscript a few days ago. It’s always so helpful to find out that others were hesitant at one time too. Congrats on your success!
Go YOU, Susan!! I’m so happy to hear that you dived in. No matter how it goes, you took a hugely courageous leap forward in your writing!
Love these ideas. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you, Ashley!
Your comments are so inspiring. I was just looking at a couple of my PB drafts and wondering how to rework them. I was even contemplating how I could flip them, but unsure of actually what I wanted to do. Now I feel challenged to just jump in and go for it. Thanks for sharing.
I love to hear it, Diane! Happy writing!
I really enjoyed reading how your story came to life Carrie,with all the twists and turns. It really shows us all how persistence is key as well as believing in your vision for the story. I can’t wait to read your book Carrie. Iggy sounds awesome!
Thanks for reading, Evelyn! I’m excited for you to meet Iggy 🙂
Your book sounds fantastic! Thanks for the inspiring advice!
Thank you Kirsten! Happy writing!
This was so fun to read about the journey! Thanks for sharing! Your story also sounds super fun— I’d read more too!
Thank you for saying that Bridgette 🙂 🙂 I hope you get a chance to read it soon!
Carrie, you are a risk taker and doing well. Congratulations on your success Flipping a story is a great idea, but like you, it takes some thought and imagination. Glad you took a chance on submitting to 12 X 12 Manuscript. It really is scary first time, and equally scary critiquing others when you don’t feel like an accomplished writer yet. Keep stepping up and out in with writing. You are an author now.
Thank you Marjie! This is all so true! It’s nice to have a supportive group like 12×12 for trying all these scary things 🙂
Carrie, what a fantastic journey for Iggy and her story. Thanks for sharing the background on how your final version came about. Quite inspiring and encouraging. Can’t wait to read it and the sequel. Congratulations!
Thanks for reading, Marty!
Carrie, first, CONGRATULATIONS! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of both!
Thank you for your inspiring words. A unique “flip” indeed. Like most writers I have story after story in my “arsenal” waiting for a spark for the next round of revisions. I’ll try something new….who knows! It is so helpful to hear other writers struggle as much as I do and I applaud you for reaching, digging, and grasping ideas that turned to gold!
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you Nanci! Happy flipping 🙂