Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

I’m working with an illustrator in New York City to create a children’s book. It’s about a young boy, Philip, who feels threatened when his younger sister, Phoebe, shows up on the scene.

I wrote this story years ago, but the idea of hiring an illustrator to bring it to life is new.  Still I’m enjoying working with Annie and find her input invaluable.

For instance, we’re looking for synonyms for the word ‘silly.’ She thinks Philip would be complimented for being silly, while I think it’s a criticism.  Goes to show what different generations see.

So for the sentence, “And whenever he laughed, someone said, ‘My, but you are silly,’”

I’ve come up with pesty, annoying, foolish, stupid, mindless, small, trivial, childish, and immature.  After all, Philip is only four or five years old.

Any thoughts?