For picture book writers, January equals Storystorm!
Storystorm, an adventure in brainstorming new picture book ideas, is Tara Lazar’s kicking-off-the-new-year-of-writing-picture-books project. I can’t even remember how many years I’ve been doing Storystorm, but it is worth every second. And I have the dog-tagged notebooks to prove it.
Thanks, Tara, for planning this creativity-inspiring month of posts for building a bank of picture book ideas. Let’s go, 2022!
On Day 29 of Storystorm (https://taralazar.com/2021/01/29/storystorm-2021-day-29/), Amanda Davis shares a fun way to get your creative juices flowing. In the post “Amanda Davis Keeps Creative Juices Flowing with Haiku from Two,” she tells how she started a process of using two books she is currently reading, choosing one word from each, and then creating a haiku from those two words. The resulting haiku sometimes leads to new writing projects.
How fun! I love writing haiku, though I usually pair it with one of my photos. I was immediately on board with trying this creative idea. Thanks, Amanda (https://www.instagram.com/amandadavis_art/)!
First word: solitude
Book: The Powerful Purpose of Introverts, Why the World Needs YOU to BE YOU by Holley Gerth (Revell, 2020)
Second word: moonlight
Book: Lemonade Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka (Roaring Book Press, 2011)
What a fun creative writing exercise! Let me know if you decide to try this one. I’d love to read your haiku!
I’m a Storystorm winner!
Storystorm is a month-long brainstorming project for writers of picture books organized and hosted by Tara Lazar. Mark your calendars for January 2020 when Storystorm will blast off the new year with daily posts, ideas, tips, and interactions with other writers. It’s that good.
Everyone who participates in Storystorm is a winner. I have a full notebook of ideas from this past month of Storystorm and previous years of Storystorm. I just began my second notebook. Those notebooks are gold mines for writers of picture books. Really!
I can’t tell you my ideas. They are SECRET. For now. Let me tell you there are some real gems lining those pages.
Whoop!
What do you do to brainstorm?
Oh, I’ve had my share of embarrassing mistakes. Now if I only had the courage to remember them and transform them into stories…
Thanks, Doreen and Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Final Day: Doreen Cronin Makes Embarrassing Mistakes (and you can, too!)
Collecting those ideas is just like gathering eggs. You have to watch where you’re walking, keep your eyes peeled, and collect those golden orbs of inspiration and place them in a sturdy basket to incubate for hatching up a great story.
Thanks, Jane and Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 29: Jane Yolen Cultivates the Wild Idea
Way to prime the pump! Thanks, Stacy and Tara!
Ideas wait for no clock. It’s now or never, baby! Write down those great ideas, whenever they appear!
Thanks, Josh and Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 27: Josh Nash is Always on the Clock
I’d love to come home and find ideas on my deck, just waiting for me. But usually all I find are dead mouse parts and fluffs of bird feathers (no bird attached).
Thanks, Jeanette and Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 26: Jeanette Bradley Invites You to Tea
This post is full of wonderful tips for staying the course in writing picture books for kids. AND Vivian shares suggestions on where to collect new ideas for future projects!
Thanks, Vivian and Tara!
via STORYSTORM 2018 Day 25: Vivian Kirkfield Kicks Back and Kicks Butt
On the GO writing is my favorite type of writing! That’s why I feel anxious when I don’t have paper and pencil with me at all times…what would happen if I had extra FREE time waiting or something and NO paper or writing utensil??? The horror!
Thanks, Susan and Tara! Great post!
Love, Laughter, and Life 