Roald Dahl wrote down his ideas in a series of notebooks. These became known as his Story Ideas Books.
We have two of these books in the archive at the Museum, and we always have one out on display for visitors to see. As we're closed, we thought we'd put it on digital display instead.
In these books we can see the beginnings of some of Roald Dahl's most famous stories. Roald often went back through his notes and ticked ideas when he had used them.
Can you guess which Roald Dahl stories these ideas became? Answers at the bottom of the page.
Above: sections of one of Roald's Story Ideas Books
Roald Dahl loved collecting ideas, facts and snippets of information. His Story Ideas Books contained notes, scribbles and cuttings. He knew that inspiration could come from anywhere, and it might be years before an initial idea was developed into a book.
Sometimes, when I am trying to think of new twists and turns to a story, it actually feels as though long tentacles are reaching out from my head and groping around in the air, trying to pluck ideas of our nowhere, and these tentacles pop in and out, grasping their little bits of rubbish or jewellery and it is very exciting.
Roald Dahl
Stop scrolling! You can find out more about how much Roald Dahl liked collecting facts here.
When we re-open you can come and see a Story Ideas Book for yourself! Come and visit us at the Museum in Roald Dahl's home-village of Great Missenden.
1 = The BFG
2 = The Twits
How did you get on?
© The Roald Dahl Story Company Limited / Quentin Blake 2018.
Roald Dahl is a registered trademark of The Roald Dahl Story Company Limited.
