#DailyPrompt ~ SCAMPER ~ #MondayBlogs

I found a terrific writing site (thanks to my friend Sugana) — The Daily Post: Daily Prompts provides a NEW daily prompt every day to give every writer a way to put a spark in her/his creativity. I decided to join this group every so often...

Today's Prompt is SCAMPER

 The definition of SCAMPER: [verb] 
to run nimbly and usually playfully about  ~ also ~
An acronym for a Creative Thinking Process

When I tackle these word prompts I always start out by looking up the true definition of the word just to be sure that I am using it correctly. Today my first thought when I read the definition was of my year-and-a-half old grand-nephew “D” that I got to see today. With a house full of people “D” was of course confident that he was the center of attention — I think he was!

With an energy that all of the older folks envied, “D” ran back and forth through his parents’ house, scampering, hiding around corners and giggling which always gave away his hiding spot. It was a truly fun day with the inevitable question, “How can we bottle up some of that energy?”

I was also very intrigued when I Googled the word to find that S.C.A.M.P.E.R. is a mnemonic representing an innovative 7-step technique to brainstorm, “think out of the box”, solve problems, and kindle creativity. Imagine — Improve — Invent. [from Wikipedia]

1.      Substitute comes up with another topic that is equivalent to the present topic.

2.      Combine adds information to the original topic.

3.      Adjust identifies ways to construct the topic in a more flexible and adjusted material.

4.      Modify creatively changes the topic.

5.      Put to other uses identifies the possible scenarios and situations where this topic can be used.

6.      Eliminate removes ideas or elements from the topic that are not valuable.

7.      Reverse, rearrange evolves a new concept from the original concept.

Step one allows us to think in terms of what we know, something that already is. This can be a hard good, a service, a process, or anything.

Step two makes us think of what “parts” can go in to improving and creating. Can we put other items together to serve a different purpose?

Step three helps us to examine what we could do to use the item in some other way (similar to the butter knife being used as a screwdriver, lol)

Step four begs the questions, how can we make this better (either an existing or a new product)?

Step five examines again the use of this product in a different manner and how that might alter the original product, would its use as something else be better if it were modified?

Step six helps us to narrow our focus and be more concise about the purpose or use of the item or service. What is necessary (parts, material, design) for the intended purpose and how can we streamline it?

Step seven is basically rethinking the project and how it could change if you went through the steps in a different order.

The S.C.A.M.P.E.R. technique forces us to think in abstract, creative ways. Simply put it’s like (figuratively) reaching into our brains and pulling out those tiny, otherwise hidden, ideas and thoughts. It certainly gives us something to wrap our minds around.

Ideas for using SCAMPER    [from GiftedMMiller]
1. Read a simple story. What elements of SCAMPER could be used to rewrite the story? If you get stuck on a writing assignment, will the ideas from SCAMPER help you to keep going?
2. Create your own invention. Take any common object and think about how it might be changed or improved upon. Think about the history of a common invention, such as the telephone. Go back to the earliest phone you can find and see how the elements of SCAMPER were used to improve each generation of the communication device.
3. Take a current social or political problem and discuss how elements of SCAMPER might be applied to come up with possible solutions.
4. Use SCAMPER to analyze a Web site or a brochure. Can you find ways that the Web site or brochure might be improved?
5. Take any common object—a penny, a shoe, a table. How can you apply the elements of SCAMPER to come up with a new and creative use of the object? 

...

Love transcends bloodlines ~ #MondayBlogs

I was involved in a recent discussion about one of my books (Within the Law) and the subject of adoption; it’s a topic discussed in the story.

Most of us view adoption as the concept of bringing a child into your home that was biologically born to someone else and raising that child as your own, a member of your family, and loving and caring for that child as a parent should. The online Free Dictionary defines adoption as: “adoption - a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit)”. Some of these children are orphaned, other may have living biological parents who cannot, for health, finances, or age, provide a healthy home and choose to give their child a better chance at life.

Just as there are varied reasons why a child is available for adoption, there are also many reasons why parents seek to adopt. Some couples are physically unable to conceive, some choose not to conceive sometimes due to a hereditary condition, singles and same-sex couples often choose adoption over surrogacy or in-vitro, and sometimes people simply have room in their hearts and homes for another child. Whatever the reason, the result is a child growing up in a loving home and parents experiencing the joy and feelings of love that goes with raising a child. It’s a win-win for all. The concept of adoption isn’t new; it goes as far back as Moses being raised by Pharaoh’s daughter and other biblical stories.

In my book one of my characters worries about her future husband’s desire and willingness to raise and love “someone else’s child”. (He was all for it btw.) Do we really need a blood connection to love? No, not at all — millions of couples definitely not related by bloodlines manage to love each other just fine. Best friends are often found outside of the family structure and yet bonds are strong. And even the love shared between pets and owners can go tremendously deep. Blood is not a necessary ingredient; the ability to love is the only mandate.

Adopting a child is more complicated than just going to a store and making a choice. Thoroughly investigate your options and local laws governing the process. There are private and public adoption agencies. There are newborns where you actually get to meet the expectant mother [different states regulate expenses the new parents could or should contribute to the pregnancy], or arrange to meet the child shortly after birth. And there are older children, toddlers through teens, some who are recently orphaned, abandoned or have been in the foster system for a while. Meet with adoption counselors and a lawyer to fully understand what is ahead for you and the best options for both you and your adopted child.

Applying to adopt takes time, but then so does a pregnancy, and there is almost always a waiting period until that adoption is actually finalized. The child you adopt doesn’t need to be a matching race or religion; speak to your spiritual advisor if you have questions about raising your child in your faith. 

It’s all attainable and it is all rewarding.