My 4-year-old asked me, “What’s 1 plus 1?”

“Two,” I said.

He laughed. “No. It’s eleven.” Then he asked again, “How much is 1 plus 1?”

“Eleven,” I replied.

“No, no, no,” he shook his head wildly. “It’s two! Mom, how much is 1 plus 1 again?” He could barely hold back his victorious smile.

“Two or eleven,” I said with a grin.

“No! It’s ten!” He showed me his math by lifting his right foot, then his left one, then counting his toes. Yes, he was right. Ten toes. Not one more, not one less.

“Now, what’s 1 plus 1?” he asked after I agreed that 1 plus 1 could equal ten.

Before I could figure out a smart answer, he shouted. “It’s ten again, but in Chinese! See,” he was eager to demonstrate his genius by drawing on a piece of paper. “Here is one stick, here is the second stick. You put them together. It’s ‘十.’ Mommy is s-i-l-l-y.”

My 8-year-old, who had been organizing her Pokemon cards, chimed in. “1 plus 1 also equals 4. There’re mommy and daddy first, then there’re me and Luca. But for Andrew’s family, 1 plus 1 equals 7.” Andrew is her classmate and his family just had their 5th kid.

What’s your equation of 1+1 as a writer?

A professor from the University of Nebraska has recently announced that there are only six basic fiction plots, a finding based on his computer-generated analysis. But if you’ve ever written a novel or are working on one, you know that possibilities of plots, characterization, and of choices of voice are endless. It can be confusing and overwhelming.

Be original. Your individuality is what makes your story unique. Your memory and your interpretation are the best ingredients for your book. Yes, indeed, everyone has a book in them.

Follow the inner logic of your characters. The more you understand your characters, the more convincing you are with your writing. Be straightforward or take detours or do whatever you desire. In some cases, 1+1 equals 2, in some other cases, the sum is 10 or even “十” in Chinese.

And be creative and enjoy the ride (you have to admit that even if you complain to all your friends about how difficult it is to write, you love to do it anyway).

Who says 1+1 must equal 2?