by Susan Taylor Brown (from 2009)
I’m a collector. I can’t go on a walk without finding something I have to pick up and take home with me for my idea box. A stick. A rock. A broken toy. I also have a hard time throwing things away so an item headed for Goodwill might find its way into my idea box. It’s a great way to jumpstart my tired brain. Whenever I find something new or old or interesting, I toss it in the box.
Does something in my idea box jump out at you?
What kind of creature has a purple feather? What would a little kid be carrying around in that black jewelry box? Does that green silk scarf belong to a magician? What would those sunglasses be if they weren’t normal sunglasses? Who lost their yo-yo?
By asking myself questions about things in my prop box I can get my writing motor revved up again.
Whose black gloves are these?
What kid is trying to solve the case of his grandmother’s missing brooch?
I know this is all about Storystorm 2009 and I know you haven’t had a chance to build an idea box of your own yet. But wait. You probably already DO have one. Or even two. If you have a junk drawer where you toss items that don’t have a home, you have a good start on an idea box. Here’s my junk drawer.
Your turn. Go open any drawer in your house right now, junk or otherwise, grab something out of it and then write about it as though it were something entirely different.
What if the box of matches was really a bed for teeny tiny fairies?
What if the string was a rope to help a princess escape from the castle.
What if the ribbon was a rare snake that had been stolen from the zoo?
That’s all it takes. An ordinary object and a question, “What if?”
You get the idea.
Susan Taylor Brown has authored poetry, fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults. She lives in San Jose, California with her husband Erik Giberson and their white German Shepherd, Zoey.
Susan is asked a lot about where she finds her ideas. She thinks this is a funny question because she never has to go looking for ideas, they find her. Sometimes she’ll read something and not even realize that an idea has burrowed into her brain. It might not pop up for weeks or months or even years. Then one day she can be eating breakfast and BOOM, the idea will jump out and say, “Write about ME!”
Learn more about Susan’s work at susantaylorbrown.com.
At the conclusion of Storystorm, prize packs will be given away (books, swag, writing tools). Comment once on this blog post to enter into the prize pack drawing.
You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm participant and you have commented once below.
Good luck!
604 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 6, 2019 at 8:05 am
Linda Mitchell
Just one junk drawer? Ha! No problemo, friend. I do find other people’s junk drawers more interesting because I don’t already know the history of the stuff. Thanks for the photo of your idea box. I already have a hunch that the pack of cards has special powers….but only when used to play cribbage!
January 6, 2019 at 8:09 am
Tara Hannon
Yes! The junk drawer what a good idea. Thanks for the inspiration! I just opened mine and looked with fresh eyes – loads of fun.
January 6, 2019 at 8:12 am
Eileen Meyer
Great post! With all of the junk drawers and disorganized closets in my house I should have oodles of ideas for new projects!
January 6, 2019 at 8:14 am
jennysarawrites
My junk drawer looks exactly like that, minus the realtor’s notepad!
January 6, 2019 at 8:15 am
Diana
I love the idea of doing this activity with student writers too!
January 6, 2019 at 8:16 am
Lori Dubbin
Opened up one of my junk drawers and found an old key. Could be the key to a new story…
Thank you for this idea.
January 6, 2019 at 8:21 am
junesmalls
Love the, “What if…”
What if all Storystorm participants sell a book…😁
January 6, 2019 at 8:22 am
Robin Jordan
I love this blast from the past! Yes, turn trash into treasure! Thanks for sharing this idea!
January 6, 2019 at 8:23 am
DaNeil Olson
Magnificent idea! Thank you for sharing.
January 6, 2019 at 8:30 am
authoraileenstewart
My daughter takes after you, lol. When she was little and went for walks she always brought home bits and bobs like old cell phones, bottle caps, acorn caps, rocks, broken blue plastic, etc… We also geocache so she has a pencil case for swag she trades out.
January 6, 2019 at 8:31 am
RebeccaTheWriter
Oh NOW I get it, all that random stuff filling up and spilling out of my kidS’ drawers are IDEAS! Thanks for the awesome tip!
January 6, 2019 at 8:32 am
Laura Hancock
I like the “what if” idea. Thanks.
January 6, 2019 at 8:36 am
Tina Cho
I will look at my junk with different eyes.
January 6, 2019 at 8:37 am
Katie B
Lol I can finally tell my husband there is a purpose for the junk drawers!! Thanks 😉
January 6, 2019 at 8:40 am
Lisa L Furness
I recently lost one of my black gloves and you’ve inspired me to write a story about it! Love your website!
January 6, 2019 at 8:48 am
MD Knabb
Who doesn’t have a junk drawer, closet, garage, etc. This is priceless. Thanks, Susan.
January 6, 2019 at 8:48 am
tanyakonerman
What a fun idea…my junk drawer has endless items for inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 8:54 am
Jane Heitman Healy
Oh, yes! Junk in the drawer can become treasure! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 8:58 am
Joana Pastro
I’m in the midst of cleaning my office and now I’m actually looking forward to tackling it again today. Thanks, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 8:58 am
Aimee Satterlee
I love this idea Susan! Especially the “What if . . .” prompt in combination with the junk drawer expedition. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 8:58 am
Laura Purdie Salas
I love Susan and her imagination. Though she has morphed more into a visual artist, her view of the world and her imagination are still inspiring!
January 6, 2019 at 8:59 am
Deborah Cuneo
Unfortunately (or now fortunately) I tend to “collect” so I have several “junk drawers”, Never thought to use it as inspiration though, great idea…Thanks!!
January 6, 2019 at 9:01 am
hallee2012
Susan, thanks for this post. I love the types of questions you ask yourself when you pick up the found objects! And as a side note, your junk drawer is very clean and organized. 🙂 I’m excited to open mine with a curious mind.
Ps I loved the hummingbird photos on your website!! Wow!
January 6, 2019 at 9:01 am
sarahheturadny
Great idea! I would have only to step into my husband’s “office” to find a BUNCH of shelves with story inspiration on them.
I agree with Susan, ideas come easy to me…I just have to always have a pen and paper ready. I have so many ideas, I have an ideas folder…I can’t keep up with writing them all into stories!
Thanks for the post!
I just realized, after StoryStorm, I’ll have even MORE ideas that need to be written up. Yikes! I need to be independently wealthy so that I can spend my days writing! Ha!
January 6, 2019 at 9:03 am
rosecappelli
“What if” is often a go to for me when I’m looking for a new idea. Thanks for sharing your junk drawer!
January 6, 2019 at 9:04 am
Mardi Edwards
Those precious stones and shells collected on long walks in the old marble jar.
January 6, 2019 at 9:05 am
Laura Rackham
I’m glad to know my collections now have a higher purpose😂
January 6, 2019 at 9:05 am
indalus3
Thanks Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 9:09 am
Andria Rosenbaum
I never thought to go spelunking for ideas in a junk draw? Can’t wait to give it a try.
January 6, 2019 at 9:09 am
Amanda Davis
I love how this exercise challenges us to keep our curioudity alive. Transforming everyday objects into inspiration. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 9:09 am
Connie L Van Horn
Time to go through those junk drawers. They do have a purpose
January 6, 2019 at 9:11 am
Sarah Tobias
I am a collector too. My office is filled with inspiration. I don’t always remember to ask what if? Or maybe more importantly I don’t respond with an answer that is not the average, ordinary, obvious answer.
January 6, 2019 at 9:11 am
teacherwriteracker
“What if…” is gold. My junk drawer(s) will get a good mining.
January 6, 2019 at 9:13 am
Katie L. Carroll (@KatieLCarroll)
Fun! I definitely have a junk drawer to explore.
January 6, 2019 at 9:15 am
mbhmaine
Thanks for the perfect excuse for not cleaning out my junk drawer! Just like I’ve been airing my bed for years instead of making it, I’m now cultivating story ideas, not clutter! I’m off to explore! Thanks for the new perspective!
January 6, 2019 at 9:17 am
supermario6
Found objects!
January 6, 2019 at 9:17 am
Alicia
This is a great idea, thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 9:21 am
ranessadoucet
I took your advice and I found a few ideas in my junk drawer! Thanks for the tip!
January 6, 2019 at 9:23 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you Susan for your post. Looks like you have a lot if ideas to be inspired by…that shiny broach could be worth two hundred, and seventy three dollars or more. . .
January 6, 2019 at 9:27 am
lizricewrites
Great idea! Thanks for the story sparkers 😎
January 6, 2019 at 9:27 am
Katie Engen
Ah…justification for amateur archivists, at last!
January 6, 2019 at 9:29 am
Bethanny Parker
Perfect! I definitely have lots of junk.
January 6, 2019 at 9:30 am
tamaragirardi
One thing I love about writing PBs is being able to connect my writing life with my family life. I love brainstorming ideas with my kids and also reading them drafts to gauge their interest. I can see this idea of making stories from random items as a fun game with the kids. We could play together! It could also be a great activity for school visits! Every child picks an object and Then makes up a story for the object. I’m excited just thinking about it!
Thanks for the post.
January 6, 2019 at 9:33 am
thecrowsmap
I’m happy to put my junk drawer to use! (Attics work well also:)) Gail Hartman
January 6, 2019 at 9:34 am
Amy Houts
Looking forward to looking through my junk drawers!
January 6, 2019 at 9:35 am
Cynthia Hawthorne
Thanks, Susan for the permission to collect. I have a treasure chest of ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 9:37 am
M Lapointe Malchik (@imartytweet)
My junk drawer beckons! I love your idea box. Thank you, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 9:39 am
Debbie Huard
Little scared to open my junk drawer but I’ll give it a shot. Ha! Fun ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 9:40 am
Shel ledrew
Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 9:42 am
June Sengpiehl
Interesting post. I have an idea file with random thoughts.
January 6, 2019 at 9:44 am
Ashley Congdon
I definitely have a junk drawer. Never thought of a prop box for writing. This is the writing exercise for my 5 year old son. He tries to keep everything. Thanks for the inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 9:46 am
Joan Longstaff
I knew there was a reason I kept random objects in case they “come in useful one day”. Great idea to use it for story ideas! Thanks for the tip.
January 6, 2019 at 9:46 am
Mary Warth
Thanks Susan! All those random visual cues waiting to be discovered… and right here in the house the whole time.
January 6, 2019 at 9:47 am
Margaret Flint Suter
My entire house is an “idea box” I put things together in “idea shrines” and sometimes they speak, sometimes they collect interesting dust bunnies, but they can always shift, change and give me a different idea!
January 6, 2019 at 9:48 am
Jennifer Bower
I have a box in my house right now that is Goodwill bound. I think I’d better give it another look through before dropping it off. Thanks for the inspiring post Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 9:49 am
Lucky Jo Boscarino
Opening the junk drawer is akin to opening the Journal of Misfit Ideas. I combined the advice from Days 5 & 6 and was prompted to draw and write a bit. Thanks Susan (and Mike Allegra). And Susan, brava on the work you do with incarcerated teens. Amazing stuff.
January 6, 2019 at 9:54 am
Kay lalone
great post. Ideas can be found anywhere just open our minds to the possibilities
January 6, 2019 at 9:54 am
Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth)
I’m in un-clutter mode. It helps clear my head.
January 6, 2019 at 9:54 am
Janice Woods
What a great way to jumpstart ideas! Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 9:56 am
ptnozell
I think I can find loads of ideas lurking in drawers, closets, under beds in my home – and that’s after multiple recent moves! Thanks for the reminder to turn that clutter into inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 9:58 am
Carolyn Currier
Thank you for sharing your interesting collection of ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 9:59 am
Anita Palmeri Overgaard
Oh, my my my. If you could see my house right now, you would know that I will NEVER run out of ideas with this strategy!! 🙂 Thanks!!
January 6, 2019 at 10:02 am
Andrea Mack
Finally, a good use for all those junk drawer items! Thanks for the good idea.
January 6, 2019 at 10:04 am
Barbara Senenman
I’ve got loads of junk drawers. It’s time I open them and talk to the objects. My husband will shocked because he’ll think I’m finally cleaning and leave me alone!
January 6, 2019 at 10:10 am
C.L. Murphy
Miscellanea mining! Great idea that could lead to organizing a few drawers along with way. Thanks, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 10:12 am
Polly Renner
Thanks for your inspiration, Susan! You should see my pantry; )
January 6, 2019 at 10:12 am
Sherry Howard
“What if?” Is my favorite writer question!
January 6, 2019 at 10:12 am
pathaap
Never thought of my junk drawer as inspiration for an idea. Can’t wait to get started on it now!
January 6, 2019 at 10:13 am
Linda Chavez
What a clever idea! This will work for me. I have multiple “junk” locations. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 10:16 am
amshahen1
What if is my favorite question to ask! Great post!!
January 6, 2019 at 10:18 am
Latasha Vernon
I get the idea! Thanks Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 10:18 am
nicolesalterbraun
I never thought of my junk drawer in that way before. Good idea
January 6, 2019 at 10:19 am
Stephanie Williams
Great idea! Thanks
January 6, 2019 at 10:19 am
Carole Calladine
What if and open junk drawer, purse, backyard–Great combinations for idea stirring. Thank you for sharing.
January 6, 2019 at 10:20 am
Rebecca Colby
I knew my junk would be worth something some day! 🙂 Looking forward to some interesting inspiration today. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 10:23 am
Garnett Natasha
We don’t have a junk drawer but we do have “the bowl of interesting things” that we will show our grandchildren some day- could be a treasure trove!
January 6, 2019 at 10:26 am
Cinzia
Uh oh. I think this enabled me to justify my messy house as for idea generation… Seriously, great idea! Thanks
January 6, 2019 at 10:29 am
Nadine Poper
I love this idea generator, Susan.
January 6, 2019 at 10:29 am
Cedar Pruitt
Ok, now I’m compelled by ‘the bowl of interesting things’ the previous commenter refers to. Also this post reminds me of the book The Beasties, which everyone should read. 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 10:32 am
Teresa Daffern
I have an idea box too! I’m so glad this is an actual ‘story-storming’ thing. Thanks for showing how these objects can be the spark for wonderful questions that lead to something more.
January 6, 2019 at 10:33 am
celticsea
I should have read this BEFORE I cleaned out our junk drawer, not that there still isn’t ample material in there. Lol. Thanks for suggesting a way to make the useless useable!
January 6, 2019 at 10:34 am
Joanna Rowland
Interesting. I have tons of junk drawers to help me ask What if.
January 6, 2019 at 10:35 am
Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri
I love the idea of using random items to jumpstart the creative process
January 6, 2019 at 10:35 am
Erik Ammon
GOod way to get ideas! Let’s hit that junk drawer and think, “What if?”
January 6, 2019 at 10:38 am
8catpaws
So procrastination pays off–not disturbing those junk drawers is actually a wise decision–who knew?
January 6, 2019 at 10:39 am
Ana Crespo
I have several junk bags waiting to be sorted…. I guess now I have a reason to do it. 😉
January 6, 2019 at 10:39 am
randilynnmrvos
I opened a drawer and found dog biscuits and birthday cards. What if…?
January 6, 2019 at 10:39 am
Natalie Banker
So neat to see such a variety of idea generators from such talented people! Thank you, Susan! Going to rifle through some drawers today…
January 6, 2019 at 10:40 am
Michele Helsel
My husband just last night said to me, “We are not hoarders.” Just because, like you, I have a hard time letting things go doesn’t make me a hoarder. I love the way your mind thinks. And you gave me a story idea. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 10:40 am
lindaschueler
Very cool! I’m going to go and raid my junk drawer.
January 6, 2019 at 10:44 am
rachelnrosenthal
I think this is a great idea!
January 6, 2019 at 10:45 am
Johnell DeWitt
I have a craft drawer with bits and bobs, maybe it’s time to go look through it. Thank you.
January 6, 2019 at 10:47 am
Cindy Faughnan
Great idea!
January 6, 2019 at 10:48 am
rjtraxel
Neat way to find ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 10:51 am
Midge Ballou Smith
Lots of possibilities here! Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 10:54 am
mlflannigan
Thank you for sharing Susan – 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 10:54 am
Tania Russ Hebert
Great idea. I collect small figures or trinkets for kids never thought of looking at them for a story. I have them all lined up and I call it my happy place. 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 10:55 am
Kelly Conroy
I just have to decide which junk drawer to start with! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 10:55 am
LaurenKerstein
I knew junk drawers were really just the portal to creative genius! I just knew it! That makes me so happy! I love your bio! It is funny how characters and ideas will suddenly pop up in our lives and say, “Write about ME!”
January 6, 2019 at 10:56 am
Betsy Parkinson
I love this idea-but I’m looking in my kids’ junk drawer instead. Should be way more interesting
January 6, 2019 at 10:57 am
Alice Carty Fulgione
Love the idea box idea! Tactile items should surely inspire some good ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 11:00 am
Jane Serpa
Another great place to find story ideas. Thank you for the inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 11:02 am
beckylevine
Fun ideas! I definitely need to look around more as I go through my day!
January 6, 2019 at 11:02 am
Robin Brett Wechsler
I certainly have “stuff” to peruse. Thank you for the helpful suggestion, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 11:03 am
Tempy
I never thought of having a physical idea file. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 11:05 am
writeknit
Since I am a packrat, I have a couple of places that just might be inspiration stations! Thank you for opening my eyes to a use for some of the misfit tidbits I have laying about. 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 11:06 am
thelmakat
What a great way to jump-start ideas!! My junk drawers have a whole new purpose now!! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 11:11 am
wingedtrish
This is going to be a hard one for me. Just looking at that box makes me uncomfortable. Hmmm . . . maybe I’ll have to raid my husband’s desk.
January 6, 2019 at 11:13 am
Mary Miller
I’ve been clearing out our attic. There’s lots of treasures up there and it’s the biggest junk drawer ever. Thank you for the post! Looking forward to implementing your approach.
January 6, 2019 at 11:13 am
Nancy Ramsey
Definitely a fun way to look for ideas! Thanks for this post!
January 6, 2019 at 11:14 am
Lori Alexander
Great suggestions here! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 11:15 am
lauriekutscera
I have ohh so many junk drawers. I should be able to write a series!! Lol
Great suggestions! Thank you.
January 6, 2019 at 11:15 am
Carol Gwin Nelson
My junk drawer! I’m sure it must be a goldmine of ideas. How refreshing, now I’ll be able to look at it as inspiration instead of a mess!
January 6, 2019 at 11:16 am
Carolyn Lucas
Thank you. Great suggestion for inspiration. I’m in declutter mode and need to change my mind set to see these things in a story way. 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 11:18 am
colleenrkosinski
I have many junk drawers!
January 6, 2019 at 11:21 am
studiojcd
Thank you for the suggestion!!
January 6, 2019 at 11:22 am
Lori Mozdzierz
Thank you, Susan for opening our eyes to idea possibilities hidden in plan sight! With a glance in my desk drawer a story idea generated; main character envisioned; an ending formulated. How the main character will play out her story . . . time will tell. For now, I’m grateful to have had the creative flood gates of the written word open once again.
January 6, 2019 at 11:22 am
chrisynthia
I went to our junk closet! I found several items I have no idea where they even came from. So I am gonna create a story for them. Thanks for the great tips.
January 6, 2019 at 11:24 am
Meilssa Chupp
Finally, my stashes of junk will pay off!
January 6, 2019 at 11:26 am
Kimberly Marcus
Thank you for empowering me not to clean out my junk drawer! Great idea. Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 11:26 am
Deb Sullivan
Great perspective…too much organizing hinders the creative process! Very liberating..thanks for the tip!
January 6, 2019 at 11:29 am
Sally Lotz Spratt - Badass 2019🦋 (@SallyLotzSpratt)
Oh man, I just cleaned out my junk drawer. All that’s in it now is packing tape, a hammer and twist ties…sounds like an adult novel idea. 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 11:31 am
Marcy Salenieks
Wonderfully creative fuel!
January 6, 2019 at 11:32 am
Mel Copeman
Thank you for giving me an excuse for hoarding, it’s not junk it’s potential ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 11:34 am
Aimee
I get the sense I should be embracing my youngest daughter’s collection habit a bit more🤣 I’m now feeling inspiration! Thanks for the fun post.
January 6, 2019 at 11:35 am
Amalia Reef
Thanks for this idea. You have put a fresh and positive spin on all the clutter I usually give myself such a hard time about 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 11:38 am
ingridboydston
😁! Thanks! Now I have an excuse, er umm, reason to keep my junk drawer!
January 6, 2019 at 11:39 am
Peggy Jaegly
Susan, I love your idea of giving purpose to our junk drawers. I think the cooking gadget drawer could also give me ideas by asking the what if question. Thanks for giving us this fun suggestion to find story ideas at our fingertips.
January 6, 2019 at 11:40 am
Beth Gallagher
Love this! Found a tiny plastic baby in the couch yesterday and my daughter shrieked with laughter! She said that that was “the baby that did all the bad stuff when she was little.” 😂😬😂
January 6, 2019 at 11:42 am
Shelly Hawley-Yan
Most of my studio is random “idea props” Thanks for making this okay!
January 6, 2019 at 11:44 am
melissamiles1
This is great! The images remind me of when I did “I Spy” projects with my fourth grade classes.
January 6, 2019 at 11:44 am
Suzanne Alexander
I’m a collector, too! A pack rat! Wow! That’s an idea for a character!
January 6, 2019 at 11:47 am
Jessica Kulekjian
What great ideas! I’m off to open a junk drawer and ask, “What if?”
January 6, 2019 at 11:49 am
Debra K Shumaker
Great idea and great post. Junk drawers are fed very well in my house!
January 6, 2019 at 11:49 am
Nicole Vuong
Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 11:50 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Susan, for sharing the contents of your idea box. Just imagine all of the stories waiting to be written that are hiding in your box.
January 6, 2019 at 11:50 am
Ashley Bankhead
I need to go open my junk drawer now! Thank you for sharing this post. So many good ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 11:54 am
Cynthia Harmony
Junk, who would’ve thought!
January 6, 2019 at 11:55 am
maryshorgan
Great excuse to clean out my junk drawer! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 11:55 am
Mecxa Caron
I love the idea if objects sparking stories!
January 6, 2019 at 11:56 am
carol w Munro
We’d be an interesting sight on a walk together, Susan. LOL Our pockets overflowing with treasures. My collections end up on shelves and in boxes & baskets in my office, but this idea-finding mission doesn’t need to begin in a box or drawer. What if those tiny ornaments on the Christmas tree were actually alien space crafts? What if the streets in my neighborhood were giant sleeping eels? What if, when that plane lands, it’s as tiny on the ground as it appeared in the sky? COOL…look what you’ve opened up for me, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 11:56 am
Annie Cronin Romano
Plenty of inspiration in my kitchen and coffee table drawers! Thanks for the spark!
January 6, 2019 at 11:57 am
Laurie Bouck
This reminds me that I need to use my imagination more when I look at everything, as I did when I was a child lol! Thanks for sharing!
January 6, 2019 at 11:57 am
Susan Johnston
Funny you mention a purple feather because my mom loves to tell this story about how when I was an arts-and-crafts-loving kid, I would always ask her for random art supplies around dinnertime. The example she used is: “Mom, I need a purple feather and a pink pipe cleaner RIGHT NOW!”
January 6, 2019 at 12:00 pm
angie9091
I moved this summer so basically my whole house is a junk drawer. 0.o
January 6, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Janie Reinart
Susan,
I love “the what -ifs”! Thanks for the great pics of your idea box and junk drawer.
January 6, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Marge Gower
Not only junk drawers. I have four drawers in the grandkids playroom full of mini story starters. Things like mini light sabers, soldiers, and many other mini’s I have saved. What a great use for these items. Will use this technique this week. This is a great idea. Thanks
January 6, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Juliana Jones
Junk drawer, here I come!
January 6, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Elizabeth C Steiner
I love the idea of using a junk drawer! thanks:)
January 6, 2019 at 12:13 pm
cath jones
Had never thought of hoarding as leading to new story ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Arlene Schenker
Thanks for this, Susan. I’ve got lots of junk drawers to look through!
January 6, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Anne LeBlanc (@AnneLeBlanc2)
Love the comcept of an idea box – nother justification for all the things I collect! Your junk drawer is much tidier than mine. As a teacher, I can see sending this concept home with my students to come up with at least one idea. As a child, I was always fascinated with what the Borrowers and the Littles turned ordinary items into. This is my first year doing Storystorm – an added bonus is that I get to learn about new authors too.
January 6, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Ryan Roberts
Cool prompt. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 12:19 pm
danesusawwii
I have several junk drawers so that part of the challenge is not a problem. Now on to writing…
January 6, 2019 at 12:19 pm
KRISTINA CASTILLO
Junk drawer to treasure chest!
January 6, 2019 at 12:22 pm
.
Great ideas! Great for students, and for us collectors of life!
January 6, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Sue Heavenrich
sometimes I open the junk drawer and say, “what the heck is this?” – next time I’ll say “oh, look, alien feathers, X-ray goggles, fairy bed, cloud snippers…”
January 6, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Jennifer Phillips
Fabulous idea!
January 6, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Debra Daugherty
An idea box is a great suggestion, and I have to admit, my junk drawer looks way worse than yours. Ideas jump at me, too. Thanks, Susan, for posting.
January 6, 2019 at 12:28 pm
bevbaird
What great inspiration in that junk drawer! or to make a trip to a thrift store to look for inspiration. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Sandi Arndt-Kohlway
I also have many junk drawers – lol! I love the ones with pictures and artwork that my kids did when they were little. Yes, lots of inspiration in those drawers!
January 6, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Sarah John
What a fun way to pull inspiration! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Lynne Marie
I have such a box, too! Well, actually a bag. It’s a story starter bag. Thanks for sharing and inspiring me to drag it out of hiding. Wishing you all the best! Loved meeting you at Highlights.
January 6, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Li’vee Rehfield
Susan thank you for you inspiration to us all. What a wonderful way to see things…😊
January 6, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Megan Whitaker
If a junk drawer is full of ideas, I may have just filled my month, I have a few junk boxes left from our remodel to still unpack-I wonder what I’ll find? Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 12:32 pm
bgonsar
👌🏻
January 6, 2019 at 12:39 pm
Kim Erickson
This is a great idea!
January 6, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Pamela M Miller
Susan, I loved your parenting writing about listening to a different drummer. And by the way, have you found my sunglasses? Thank you for your post.
January 6, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Nancy Ferguson
Thank you! I love the “what if?” for an object. What if this feather, rock, shell, rubber band are? I will look at my collections of things picked up as a source of stories.
January 6, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Pat Miller
Inspiration from the junk drawer. Of course! Thanks.
January 6, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Sharon Nix Jones
I recently cleaned my junk drawer. I will open it anyway and look for inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Carlie Cornell
Nice writing prompt. I didn’t even need to look at *my* junk drawer. Got three ideas looking at yours! Thank you.
January 6, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Lucretia
Going to see what “what ifs” my junk drawer is concealing right now! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 1:01 pm
Summer Quigley
I love the simplicity of this. From junk to story gem! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Julie Mondi
After all of the holidays my bedroom has become a junk room. Hiding our life from the eyes of our holiday company. This should be easy for me. Thank you!
Julie Mondi
January 6, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Michelle Kashinsky
Love the “what if..”. Opening junk drawers now. And bins in my daughters’ playroom too! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Heather Kelso
Heading to my junk drawer now. Thank you for the tip!
January 6, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Lisa Springer
I love the idea of the idea box. Actually it gave me an idea for a story!!!
January 6, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Erica Joseph
Very interesting! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 1:12 pm
denarose
Thanks for this great post and wonderful suggestions! When I get home, I plan to look for treasure in my “junk” drawers–what a great place to search for ideas! Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Pamela Harrison
“What if” is a great way to explore writing ideas. I’ll be looking for items on my daily walk to put in my new idea box. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 1:13 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
I like this treasure hunt!
January 6, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Anjali Amit
What a great idea. Jewels out of junk!
January 6, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Gretchen McLellan
Wow! What fun! Pick an object any object. I opened the closest drawer, because I’m all cozy and didn’t want to move. It was nearly empty—astonishing because entropy rules in most drawers in my house. (BTW, your junk drawer looks highly organized to me, Susan.) I grabbed the first thing I saw and was off on an amazing journey. I’m just pausing to say thanks. Adventure awaits—gotta go!
January 6, 2019 at 7:42 pm
photojaq
Okay, I’m going to a drawer right now, what will I choose?
Hmm, a lined, 4×6 bright pink note pad. What if it was a magic carpet, whatever you wrote on it with a magic silver-ink pen, would shrink you down and then fly you there. A place? Zoom away you would go there! A person’s name? Zoom, you are at their front door, school room, hospital bed, gravestone. What then would you do there? What were you to say or feel or do or make right, or change? And would you need another mode of transportation to get back home? Forget about Aladdin. I have my own flying magic carpet!
January 6, 2019 at 1:21 pm
Martha
My husband brings home junk he finds everyday. A crushed earring, four-leafed clovers, etc. He brings them home and drops them on the counter, an offering for my imagination. They must have a special home. Thank you for helping me see his offerings in a new and useful way.
January 6, 2019 at 1:27 pm
rimna
Thanks Susan, off to the junkdrawer I go!
January 6, 2019 at 1:27 pm
krbatti
I love the idea of junk being an idea treasure! Thank you
January 6, 2019 at 1:28 pm
matthewlasley
In my first grade classroom, we will ask questions to create higher level of thinking. We try to stay away from “What if?” questions since with first graders, the sky will not even limit them.
As we get into writing, which is the rest of this year, we will look at something and ask questions to figure out what it is, where did it come from, or what it might be used for.
We may not always have it “right”, but we can develop a story from it.
I also collect antiques. I will bring things in and have the kids figure out what it might have been used for. Sometimes the object is obvious, like a cup, but we think about the story of this cup that has been around for over a hundred years. Who do you think drank from it? Did it belong to just one family? What did they drink from it? What did they talk about? What happened to the other cups? How did the cup feel to be alone? How can we change that? Who made the cup? And so on and so on and so on…..
Questions are a great way to fish out a story.
January 6, 2019 at 1:28 pm
jenabenton
Great idea! I have tons of drawers full of random flotsam and jetsam. =)
January 6, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Ginger Meurer
I love this, and it is so true! My daughter and I recently cleaned out a storage unit packed with all her childhood memories, toys and mementoes. It was story gold. If you think a drawer is packed with possibilities, try a whole garage-size unit.
January 6, 2019 at 1:36 pm
James Arthur
Excellent idea and excellent post
January 6, 2019 at 1:37 pm
Jodi Mckay
Going through the junk drawer is a great idea (although it’s pretty scary in there😬). Thanks for sharing your method for finding inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 1:40 pm
sallie wolf
I’ve been a collector since childhood and I still have many of my original collections. What a good reminder this is that these childhood treasure could be the source of ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Lisa Billa
Great post, thanks! “What if?” plus random object = lots of ideas. I should find some more when I clean out my car, too 😉
January 6, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Rita Goldner
This idea would be even more fun if you went through someone else’s junk drawer, so the junk would be unfamiliar to you. Could we trade junk drawer exploration with another author friend or critique partner?
January 6, 2019 at 1:43 pm
betlw
Thanks, Susan, for the junk drawer idea. Terrific for writing ideas. My whole house is filled with junk. My husband is a hoarder, and my question would be “what if” this house was rid of the junk? What would I joyfully write about that? I guess I should look at the junk in a different light and try the “what if” idea on one of his pieces of stuff.
January 6, 2019 at 1:43 pm
setwiggs
Love this post. I créât junk drawers wherever I go. And I’m renting a house so I’ll go and look at THEIR junk drawer. Don’t tell on me please!
January 6, 2019 at 1:47 pm
Suzanne LaLiberte Lewis
What if…What if…What if…. YESSS!!!
Thank you, Susan for the reminding us of the power of the What if!
January 6, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Liz Steinglass
I collect things too, but I take pictures of the. Instead of keeping the actual objects. Thanks for the idea!
January 6, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Kathy Halsey
The infamous “junk draw” lives again as a story starter. I remember “back in the day” having a cigar box that was under my bed where I placed “social” things. It even had s distinct smell. TY,
Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 1:56 pm
moviemommie
I love the idea of rummaging for ideas in our very own nooks and crannies!
Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 2:00 pm
heidikyates
What a brilliant idea to ask “what if” questions with found objects. Thank you for sharing Susan! I’m sure this will help me come up with many more ideas to add in my notebook.
January 6, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Barbara Farr Renner
This is a great idea. I just looked in one of my junk drawers (I have several) and noticed all the keys I’ve collected throughout the years. I have no idea what they open, but there are a lot of possibilities for a main character to find out.
January 6, 2019 at 2:10 pm
Kate Peridot
A drawer of extraordinary (and ordinary but interesting) things is great. I just found an old dragonfly tablecloth holder. He might be my next character. x
January 6, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Tracy Hora
Great ideas here! And fun!
January 6, 2019 at 2:14 pm
chardixon47
Thank you for sharing your idea box, Susan 🙂 Your suggestion to look around led me to a red box that I’ve had since I was a child. WOW! Rediscovered lost treasure!
January 6, 2019 at 2:15 pm
heavenlyhashformoms
My daughter’s room looks just like your idea box!!
January 6, 2019 at 2:24 pm
jaclynsmiller
Thanks for the idea starters.
January 6, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Angie
I love this idea – thank you for the inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Sheri Radovich
I found 3 new story ideas from this post and my junk drawer. Thanks for the inspiration Susan. Back to the drawing board.
January 6, 2019 at 2:36 pm
writeremmcbride
Thank you, Susan! I like taking this idea outside as well: what has nature collected under the leaves, in the low spot in the ravine, or behind the broken down rock wall? Where did the animal go that left these prints on the muddy path? Thank you for the inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Carolyne Ruck
Wow…here I have been scolding my self for not throwing away all those odds and ends, and instead, I’ve been building a story idea treasure chest. Great reframing! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Jenifer McNamara
Read and enjoyed your post about how you used your imagination and junk drawer.
January 6, 2019 at 2:41 pm
Debra Katz
I never thought to look into a junk drawer for inspiration, but we certainly do have a junk drawer (or two, plus junk stored in closets) that could easily serve as inspiration.
January 6, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Sara A
“What if?”…the perfect story starter.
January 6, 2019 at 2:48 pm
paulabpuckett
Great ideas, to use found items as inspiration for stories. They jump out at me a lot, so now, I can put them in a place to use for later. Thanks for the suggestions.
January 6, 2019 at 2:55 pm
triciacandy
I love this idea! Thank you! So many drawers to choose from..:)
January 6, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Sallye O'Rourke
inspiring!
January 6, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Kathleen R Wilcox
“What if?” Thanks for reminding us of the story potential nestled in those two little words.
January 6, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Vicky Howard
Re-imagining, re-purposing, thinking outside the box!
January 6, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Gabi Snyder
Great idea generator! Thanks, Susan! With an endless supply of junk and “what ifs,” I should never want for ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 3:08 pm
jennielynnjohanson
Fabulous idea! I have idea drawers all over the place. My kids playroom is chock full of them. I just need to sit in there with my coffee and notebook and let the ideas flow. Thanks for the idea!
January 6, 2019 at 3:09 pm
Jane Dippold
I love your idea for working on new ideas! I have many junk drawers 😉 Sometimes walking through an antique store has a similar effect.
Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Gail Hedrick
Everything can tell a story if we are willing to set it free-thank you for reminding us not to close ourselves off to ideas, wherever they are!
January 6, 2019 at 3:12 pm
kathydoherty1
I love playing WHAT IF. Thanks for the inspirational post.
January 6, 2019 at 3:12 pm
kirsticall
I love the idea of mining my junk drawer for ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Stephanie Shaw
I’m not usually inclined to pick up the items I see discarded when I walk, but I agree they can be super inspirational! Thanks for the reminder to just look around — inside and out!
January 6, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Debbi G
Thanks for the great idea! I’m off to explore my junk drawer…
January 6, 2019 at 3:18 pm
Amy Harding
I’m looking in my junk drawer now!
January 6, 2019 at 3:18 pm
karengreenwald2985
What a fantastic idea! I plan on going “spelunking” in my junk drawer after my current wip is complete! Love this…:)
January 6, 2019 at 3:19 pm
Juliana Lee
Hi Susan. Ironically, I’m consciously getting RID of excess and unused things in my house! However, I have noticed that many items I keep bring back fond memories (story ideas), now I just need to open my mind to what I’m getting rid of. Thanks for the suggestions!
January 6, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Anna Levin
Ah the junk drawer….I find it so irritating but now can look at it differently:)
Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 3:33 pm
Val McCammon
An idea box is a fun idea; reminds me of the “junk drawer” my grandmother always had and it was a great place to explore and imagine. Thanks, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Gregory E Bray
We have several junk drawers. I’ll have to go digging through them.
January 6, 2019 at 3:41 pm
Joan Swanson
I have a craft room filled with things, I think this is my junk drawer 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Cathy Ogren
Thanks for the ideas, Susan. I certainly have LOTS of drawers and boxes filled with interesting junk!
January 6, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Elizabeth Brown
Thanks for this fun post! Great ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Cortney Benvenuto
IDEA BOX! I love it! Thanks for the inspiration Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 3:57 pm
yangmommy
The junk drawer–now there’s a place to look for ideas! Or the back room…or the garage…or the memory box tucked away from 20 yrs past…. 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 4:00 pm
shiela Fuller
LOL, I dont like any of the stuff in my junk drawer. It really is JUNK. Probably time to clean. Hmmm, maybe there is a place to start a story.
January 6, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Kaylynn Johnsen
Brilliant, think of something common in an unusual way. Thank you.
January 6, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Anne Bromley
I love the idea of looking at junk with new eyes! Today, I will have a feast! Thank you for your post, Susan. It helps get the juices flowing.
January 6, 2019 at 4:03 pm
leeanimator
What a great idea! I have a box of treasures that I go through once in a while and I love to dig in there now and then just to remember when n where I got that item. Now I can look at them in other ways too.
Thanks for the help!
January 6, 2019 at 4:13 pm
Aurora K
A “what if…” junk drawer hunt ❤️
Thank you, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 4:18 pm
karammitchell
I have jars of things all over my house I can’t seem to throw away. I keep them expressly for inspiration. Yet I haven’t looked at them once for sparking ideas. Thanks, Susan!!! By the way, that brooch is dreamy!
January 6, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Rhonda Whitaker
Hmmm… will check out my collections!
January 6, 2019 at 4:22 pm
M.A. Cortez
I love the idea of getting an object from a junk drawer. I’m running with this one. Great post!
January 6, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Krista Harrington
“An ordinary object and the question, ‘What if?'” That’s great advice!
January 6, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Alexandra Hinrichs
I love perusing antique stores with this sort of “prop box” mindset, so much fun! Thanks for the reminder about using tangible items as prompts.
January 6, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Le Anne Brown
I’ve moved into several houses whose owners have recently passed away. Their relatives allowed me to lived among the furnishing of their loved ones. What a collection of story ideas! I never thought about this as a source! Thank you.
January 6, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Deb Cushman
I started my Idea Box immediately this morning!
January 6, 2019 at 4:55 pm
storyfairy
Great post! I love doing writing prompts based on objects.
January 6, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Erika Henkart
I definitely have junk drawers! Great idea, thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Lucy Staugler
Susan, I am a collector of story tidbits, too!! Love the suggestions of the junk drawer and the “What If” question!
My brain is on fire!
Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Jocelyn Rish
Finally my junk drawer has a purpose!
January 6, 2019 at 5:11 pm
K.A.Steed
Onto my junk drawer. Thank you for the idea!
January 6, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Jamie L. B. Deenihan
Love this post and I have plenty of messy collections around my house so hopefully I’ll find some inspiration in them!
January 6, 2019 at 5:24 pm
cravevsworld
One person’s junk is a writer’s treasure. Thanks for resharing this gem!
January 6, 2019 at 5:27 pm
SuZan Klassen
I’m trying to clear out my junk, but there’s always more where that came from.
January 6, 2019 at 5:36 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Thanks, Susan. Objects are a great inspiration, and sometimes, they even make great characters!
January 6, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Monica Harris
Hmmm…..good inspiration but I got sidetracked cleaning out my junk drawer! (Damn compulsive behavior!)
January 6, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Rene` Diane Aube
Oooo! YAY! Junk drawers! Never thought of that one! Thanks Susan! 😀
January 6, 2019 at 5:51 pm
doreenbuchinski
This is great! Never dawned on me that my junk drawers are such a treasure trove of ideas! Wonderful!
January 6, 2019 at 5:55 pm
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
My grandmother had a similar broach. I remember wearing it when I was a child. Such good memories! Thanks for posting!
January 6, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Sarah Noble
Thanks, Susan! Great idea!
January 6, 2019 at 6:02 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
I do agree that stories find us!
January 6, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Nancy Colle
Great post! Around here our attic serves as “junk drawer”. Next time I’m up there I’ll bring my notebook. Thanks:)
January 6, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Buffy Silverman
Going to look at my junk drawer right now!
January 6, 2019 at 6:18 pm
aliciaminor
Each one of us owns one, just never had the thoughts to explore on the what if’s but now is the chance. Let me start with the closet or the garage.
January 6, 2019 at 6:22 pm
Kathy Ceceri
Great idea!
January 6, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
Did you ever find a heart shaped rock? Or a 4-leaf clover? Well, now you have something to aim for on your next walk. I think they’ll make a nice addition to your box of ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 6:28 pm
Stella Lopez Stauffer
What a great “trigger” for plot and mystery. Thank you for pulling me out of this idea slump. You now have a new fan.
January 6, 2019 at 6:29 pm
marty
Susan, I love this idea AND your questions that arise from the various items. You’ve given me some much needed inspiration today. Thanks.
January 6, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Brooke Hollon
I love keeping an Idea Box to keep those items that strike our imagination and just might lead to our next manuscript! Thanks for sharing.
January 6, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Jessica Potts
Great idea!!
January 6, 2019 at 6:31 pm
Brittney Kauffman
The yo-yo stood out to me right away! I added it to my idea list right away
January 6, 2019 at 6:35 pm
Amber Webb
After reading today’s post I went immediately to my junk drawer to see what I could imagine. Believe it or not (hahahahaha) I have a few junk drawers so this may be a few days worth of ideas! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Kellie
I know that my brain hits pause (or at least ‘slow mo’) whenever I have to do a brainstorming activity … so I am going to use the ideas in Susan’s post to practise doing this – in the safety of my own home. I’m thinking it could be a good warm-up … like we need to warm up our muscles before exercise, we also need to warm up our brains before writing.
January 6, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Carmela McCain Simmons
My husband and I have been watching Marie Kondo’s series on decluttering in anticipation of our move to a new home, out of the floodplain, this spring. We are saving those things that “spark joy.” Now I will also be looking for things that “spark stories!” Thanks for the inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Kaye Baillie
Everyone needs a junk drawer, in fact probably a few, but I’ve never thought about them so positively. Thanks Susan.
January 6, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Shirley
Thanks for the ideas
January 6, 2019 at 6:53 pm
nrompella
Great idea. No problem finding junk.
January 6, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
Susan, thanks for this idea for story starters. I just can’t decide which drawer to start with.
January 6, 2019 at 7:08 pm
teresa.mi.schaefer
Oh I got junk, boy do I got junk! Going to find those ideas now.
January 6, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Sandy Foster
Wow! I stepped around a crumpled up left over solitary glove when I left the library just now. I was in such a hurry I waltzed right past it with hardly a thought. This is a great lesson in slowing down and really seeing what’s right in front of you! Thank you.
January 6, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
As a teacher, I usually end the day with quite a collection of junk in my pockets. There are definitely some stories there! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 7:34 pm
Susan Macartney
Random objects as prompts – fun idea and easy to source – thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Tanya Shock
Thank you for sharing!
January 6, 2019 at 7:42 pm
debbiemccue
Such good advice to explore the world and ask myself, “What if?” Thanks for that reminder.
January 6, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Chelle Martin
I was going to write a children’s story about a feather I found on the beach. The only other things I found were a surf boarder’s watch and a set of dentures. lol No pirate’s treasure.
January 6, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Artelle Lenthall
Thanks Susan and Tara, going to look in my junk drawer right now 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 7:48 pm
Emily Patriquin
“What if?”
What a great idea!
January 6, 2019 at 7:53 pm
Suzanne Lieurance
What a coincidence. Today I decided I need to clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen. Glad I read your post. Now I’ll be mining for story ideas as I clean. Thanks so much for the tip!
January 6, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Rona Shirdan
Funny, I picked up an item just last week that triggered a story idea for me. I placed it in a zip lock bag to remind me to return to that idea. I think I will use that idea for my Storystorm entry for today! Thanks for the reminder, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Linda KulpTrout
I love imagining objects having a life of their own. Great writing prompt!
January 6, 2019 at 8:06 pm
saralakron
Another great idea. I am off to my junk drawer!
January 6, 2019 at 8:10 pm
Maria J Cuesta
I have 2 boxes and love every small thing in them.
Thank you!
January 6, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Judy Cooper
Thank you for the interesting writing prompts.
January 6, 2019 at 8:22 pm
mariaordish
Thanks, Susan! What a great perspective on using what you can around the house….especially if you are stuck inside and experiencing the dreaded BLOCK!
January 6, 2019 at 8:30 pm
Poupette Smith
Great “How I write” essay on your website, most of which I concurred with, and I googled stenos to learn how they work since you use one. Thanks for the post.
January 6, 2019 at 8:35 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Susan: You have opened my eyes to new possibilities by looking at items in my junk drawer. Thank you.
Suzy Leopold
January 6, 2019 at 8:40 pm
seschipper
Wow! My husband said it must be in the name..Susan! I am always bringing “junk” home after walking Hank our Chesapeake Bay Retriever, walking the beach, just about anywhere! Now to turn them into ideas for stories!!! Thank fellow “Susan”!!! 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 8:40 pm
Jill
I am at my son’s Boy Scout meeting thinking “what if” about my surroundings, the weather, and their conversation inside the window! Thanks for new perspectives and inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 8:50 pm
Gabriele
Plenty of junk – not all of it in drawers! 😉 Thanks for the inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 8:56 pm
Frances Kalavritinos
I love the idea of looking in a junk drawer. Maybe my subconscious mind has already been storing potential story ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 8:59 pm
Susie Sawyer
Thank you Susan! After reading “Pippi Longstocking” as a child, I always loved the idea if “thing finding”, and continue to keep my eyes open for little unexpected treasures to this day. 😊
January 6, 2019 at 9:08 pm
Robyn McGrath
What a fun idea!
January 6, 2019 at 9:12 pm
jshaklan
A person’s trash could be their story treasure — love it!
January 6, 2019 at 9:15 pm
Elizabeth Kuelbs
Love the found treasures as prompts! Thank you:)
January 6, 2019 at 9:16 pm
susanzonca
A great reason to hold onto all my junk! On the hunt for some stories.
January 6, 2019 at 9:20 pm
Irene Grace
I will definitely open that random drawer. Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 9:20 pm
Susan Schade
I love taking ordinary things and making them the star of their own story. (And your junk drawer is a lot cleaner than mine.)
January 6, 2019 at 9:20 pm
heartfeltwords4kids
You never know where an idea might come from. Having an idea box or collection to peruse for ideas is a great idea.
January 6, 2019 at 9:33 pm
Laurie Kaiser
Love the idea of sorting through your junk drawer. (I have a couple). I also was happy to find your website. It was an inspiration for one I am creating.
January 6, 2019 at 9:36 pm
KidLit Underground
Just ONE junk drawer? *scoffs* Amateur.
Regardless, this is a brilliant way to get the creativity flowing! 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 9:42 pm
bookfish1
Idea box, what if’s Thanks
January 6, 2019 at 9:43 pm
danielledufayet
Almost everything has a story – if not, make one up! Thanks for sharing!
January 6, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Judy Sobanski (@jkspburg)
A purpose now for the junk drawer! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Nicole Loos Miller (@beautify_life)
ooooh – this one really sparked something for me! What a fun challenge. Thank yoU!
January 6, 2019 at 9:53 pm
Mariana
What an interesting way to look at ordinary things and trigger creativity. Thank you for the inspiration!
January 6, 2019 at 9:54 pm
authoryvonafast
I agree. We don’t go looking for ideas – they find us. I love the ‘what if’ question; i think more important than the idea box is the ‘what if’ question. A leaf, a rock, a stick… are just ordinary, ‘boring’ objects without the ‘what if’.
January 6, 2019 at 9:54 pm
annabrookswriter
My junk drawer is actually my car…now I have a real purpose for cleaning it up! 🙂 And thank you for the “idea box” idea!
January 6, 2019 at 9:57 pm
suzannepoulterharris
Love this post. My daughter and I were clearing out her miscellaneous /junk shelf last night. I think I’ll re-examine the bag before taking it to the thrift store.
January 6, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Carmen White
Ironic that the things I put in my drawer because they are not child proof are now things to inspire picture book ideas.
January 6, 2019 at 10:10 pm
Alexis Ennis
This makes me think of The Borrowerers. What if they lived inside one of my junk drawers? (I have many!) I look forward to trying this idea out.
January 6, 2019 at 10:12 pm
Alexis Ennis
Borrowers*
January 6, 2019 at 10:21 pm
Jennifer Hunt
I definitely have a junk drawer or two or three, sure to be overflowing with untapped inspiration. Thanks for the tip!
January 6, 2019 at 10:24 pm
viviankirkfield
Ha…yes, junk drawers. I can see it now. Agents and editors are going to be inundated with stories about misshapen spoons that survived the garbage disposal, rubber bands so small they could barely ring a pinky finger, and odd plastic implements that only the original Tupperware lady knows what they are for. Thanks for opening the drawer on some new ideas for us, Susan!
January 6, 2019 at 10:25 pm
Natalie Lynn Tanner
SUSAN: I LOVE your suggestion to keep a story box/drawer! The possibilities are ENDLESS in my house! THANK YOU for the inspiration, and for sharing your own idea box!
January 6, 2019 at 10:29 pm
mhklump
Cool idea! I’ve always been afraid to open those drawers, but now .I have a reason!
January 6, 2019 at 10:34 pm
Kim D
Great idea, then it’s a space you can revisit later.
January 6, 2019 at 10:38 pm
CJ Penko
I’m just LOVING how every one of these incredible authors find inspiration everywhere! Great post!
January 6, 2019 at 10:39 pm
Alicia
Great idea-my junk drawers is full of things.
January 6, 2019 at 10:41 pm
rekrall@yahoo.com
Great ideas for inspiration. Wonderful post!
January 6, 2019 at 10:44 pm
Kimberly
A box full of ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 10:47 pm
angiecal76
Susan, Hugging the Rock was the very first novel that many of my middle school students actually finished reading. They were captivated by your story, and loved the verse structure—far less intimidating for those reluctant readers. With scant text, you still managed to master complex characters and layers of complexity. Thanks for sharing some of your tips on generating picture book ideas!
January 6, 2019 at 10:49 pm
Cindi Goodeaux
Oh my golly!! My house is so cluttered!! I’ve been missing story inspiration!! Time to start digging! Thanks for the great post!!
January 6, 2019 at 11:04 pm
Darcee A Freier
Idea box-what a great idea! Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 11:07 pm
megcason1
I really enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing!
January 6, 2019 at 11:10 pm
Krista Maxwell
What a great idea! Time to search through all the “junk” I have collected through the years!
January 6, 2019 at 11:23 pm
Rebekah Lowell
Fascinating idea! I collect natural objects because I like them, but it might be nice to think of them narratively, too.
January 6, 2019 at 11:24 pm
Carol Angels Khan
The ideas are in a draw in my head and it is such a relief to get them onto paper.
January 6, 2019 at 11:25 pm
Steve Schwartz
Thanks you for incentivizing the process of cleaning (or at least sorting through) one very cluttered basement!
January 6, 2019 at 11:27 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Finally an excuse for why I do not throw out anything 🙂
January 6, 2019 at 11:30 pm
Leah Coleman
Great idea! Thanks for (re)sharing!
January 6, 2019 at 11:35 pm
authorlaurablog
I have more junk drawers than I should admit to. Thanks for the idea. 😊
January 6, 2019 at 11:37 pm
Rani Iyer
O! No! not more ‘stuff’ Love this idea!Thanks!
January 6, 2019 at 11:45 pm
Sylvia Grech
Thanks for sharing. I just got an idea after reading this!
January 7, 2019 at 12:10 am
DB Cote
I liked your suggestion to use the contents of a junk drawer to spark ideas. Thank you
January 7, 2019 at 12:10 am
Jolene Ballard Gutierrez
Thank you so much for sharing the writing with props idea! So fun!
January 7, 2019 at 12:12 am
Sara Fajardo
Thank you, as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Love the notion of finding ideas in the junk drawer.
January 7, 2019 at 12:16 am
Shannon
What a great post, I love the idea!
January 7, 2019 at 12:19 am
Meghan Burch
Going to dig through my junk boxes asap! Now I can tell my husband what their purpose is!
January 7, 2019 at 12:21 am
annempohl
You should see MY junk drawer! What a way to put it to good use.
January 7, 2019 at 12:33 am
jeanjames926
Great idea to explore the junk drawer!
January 7, 2019 at 12:37 am
Charlotte Offsay
What a fun idea! My kiddos are going to enjoy joining in this one as well!
January 7, 2019 at 12:39 am
Jennifer
So creative! Thank you for this wonderful idea!
January 7, 2019 at 12:42 am
Loralee Petersen
Great idea! It almost makes me regret all the junk drawer stuff I threw away when we moved this year. Thanks!
January 7, 2019 at 1:00 am
Cheryl Malandrinos
I can’t even tell you how much I love this idea. I need to go find a box!!!
January 7, 2019 at 1:17 am
Lisa Marie Murphy
My junk drawer find was a key ring without a key! Where is that pesky key? And what is it for?…
Great idea! Thank you Susan! 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 1:32 am
fireurchin
I’m loving but laughing, because people are posting that they are watching and Kondo’ing… dumping things they do not need or love or use. But the 1st post on that I saw was Eric Fan telling how when he went to throw out his stuff, someone else had left a dragon teapot. It is beautiful. But better, I immediately was seeing how many stories could come out of this pot, it’s illustrated features, it’s cultural origins, and the synchronicity that occurred.
I feel somehow that Eric will be making his own story about that pot soon, so now to search for more items as resonant for myself.
Great reminder on the WHAT IF part… finally learning to do this more as a matter of course!
bonnie fireUrchin lambourn
http://fireUrchin.com
January 7, 2019 at 1:34 am
ciaraoneal
I have five kids therefore all rectangular prisms in my house look like this! Now I can put a positive spin on the chaos! My kids thank you!
January 7, 2019 at 1:44 am
writersideup
I love the “idea” of an idea box 🙂 Of course, I’d have to say our whole house is one giant idea box of stuff! lol
January 7, 2019 at 1:54 am
Dawn Prochovnic
I have a bag of goodies like this that I bring to classroom-based school visits. Students get an object from the bag and they incorporate the object “in some way” into what they write for a timed writing activity I facilitate. Goofy me has not used the same bag of goodies (OR my junk drawer) for my own writing. Thanks for the nudge to do so!
January 7, 2019 at 2:07 am
Heather Stigall
Thanks for the inspiration!
January 7, 2019 at 2:11 am
Brenda Miller
Who knew I was not actually messy but collecting story ideas?
January 7, 2019 at 2:28 am
catpledger
I don’t have a drawer, but my pockets are always filled with odd bits and bobs.
January 7, 2019 at 2:34 am
Michelle Kogan Art, Illustration, & Writing
Thanks for sharing your “idea box” and junk drawer Susan–what a wonderful resource for story ideas. I also enjoyed viewing your art creations on your website! Thanks Tara for sharing Susan with us on Storystorm!
January 7, 2019 at 2:34 am
deborahholtwilliams
Great post, Susan, and I know it works, because a collection of single earrings in my drawer inspired a story I sold to Highlights!
January 7, 2019 at 2:50 am
Marcia Berneger
I can’t wait to look in my drawers!! Thank you for the great ideas!
January 7, 2019 at 3:28 am
Mirka Hokkanen
My kids would love the idea about the idea box. Actually my daughter already has one, full of treasuers that I would otherwise throw away. 😉
January 7, 2019 at 4:10 am
Heather Gallagher
This sounds like a great excuse to create another junk drawer 😉
January 7, 2019 at 4:11 am
Freda Lewkowicz
What a great idea!
January 7, 2019 at 6:56 am
Susan Nicholas Korstanje
I have lots of junk drawers so I might as well put them to good use. Thanks for the story starter idea.
January 7, 2019 at 7:22 am
Meli Glickman
I love the concept of an idea box or an idea drawer or an idea anything for that matter! What a wonderful reminder that ideas can sometimes be revealed simply by opening a wider perspective… quite literally! Many thanks for sharing!
January 7, 2019 at 8:24 am
Lenora Biemans
Cool! I never thought of using physical objects like that!
January 7, 2019 at 8:26 am
Jo Jo
Hitting the junk drawer! Great idea! Thanks!
January 7, 2019 at 8:45 am
Rick Starkey
Great ideas! It isn’t junk if someone can use it.
January 7, 2019 at 8:46 am
https://katiewalsh.blog/
To us, they are junk drawers. To kids? It’s treasure. My son loves to tinker and create with all the ‘junk’ in ours at home. Thanks for sharing!
January 7, 2019 at 8:48 am
SARAH Meade
Thanks for the post! My junk drawer is a treasure trove of inspiration… Or as my husband would say, a mess. 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 9:09 am
kroberts24
Hurray for 10 Years of Storystorm!
I skipped a few years, but I’m glad to be back!
Thank you, Tara!
Karen Roberts
January 7, 2019 at 9:13 am
Brittanny Handiboe
Yes! Something to do with all the stuff I find and hoard haha.
January 7, 2019 at 9:24 am
hdening
Thanks for the suggestion, Susan.Time to go idea hunting. Renaming my junk drawer to my idea drawer.
January 7, 2019 at 9:25 am
Jane Norton
This is a great idea – especially for me because I have a LOT of drawers like this! A fun way to start going through my “stuff” which I keep meaning to do!
January 7, 2019 at 9:31 am
hmmmmm
Oh yeah — I have those drawers. I also have this crazy pile of not-quite-finished newspaper & magazine articles that kinda work the same way too… Always happy to be reminded of the upsides of hoarding.
January 7, 2019 at 9:32 am
Kathleen Cornell-Berman
“An ordinary object and a question.” I have lots of junk, never thought of turning it into a story idea. Thanks for the suggestion Susan!
January 7, 2019 at 9:53 am
Nancy Riley
I have junk drawers and i have a junk room! Lots of potential inspiration there! Thanks for the new ideas!
January 7, 2019 at 10:00 am
Penny Parker Klostermann
What a great source of inspiration! I love this!
January 7, 2019 at 10:17 am
Lynn Baldwin
I have a 9-year-old, so we have LOT of junk. For some reason, I’ve never thought to go through it, but will definitely take a look! Thanks for the idea.
January 7, 2019 at 10:18 am
deniseaengle
Another super idea! Starting my own idea box!
January 7, 2019 at 10:19 am
Rebecca Guzinski
Awesome post! Characters are lurking in our own homes. We just have to capture them and put them on paper!
January 7, 2019 at 10:19 am
Writer on the run
Great suggestion! I’m headed to that blasted drawer right now!
January 7, 2019 at 10:28 am
tanjabauerle
Splendid idea! An idea box. Half way through reading your post, I had to stop and jot down a story idea. Just like magic! Thank you for the inspiration. T
January 7, 2019 at 10:29 am
Jacqueline Adams
What a great idea! And as a bonus, I can quit feeling guilty about not finding time to clean out that junk drawer.
January 7, 2019 at 10:40 am
Mary Worley
Junk drawer, kids’ pockets…all good.
January 7, 2019 at 10:43 am
curryelizabeth
Great post! Inspirational and perhaps motivational as I have several drawers that need to be gone through. Calling it research might just help! 🙂 . Thanks!
January 7, 2019 at 10:48 am
Vicky Ford
Totally love that you gather up odds and ends in your wanderings then use them as inspiration. I’ll be looking at all the junk in my drawers (cabinet drawers LOL) with new eyes.
January 7, 2019 at 11:02 am
saputnam
Great post, Susan! Junk boxes/drawers have always been a part of my life… when I was little I was always collecting bits and pieces from behind both my house and my grandmother’s house which overlooked Everts Pond, to pieces of metal and wooden bits from Cones, to acorn caps, white rocks, pine cones, tree branches etc from out at the farm in South Reading.
And yes, it has carried over to today… I have collected rocks etc from each place we lived, and from the VC campus when I was a student there (both before and after it was owned by Norwich University… I even have material from when I spent a residency at Goddard)
January 7, 2019 at 11:04 am
andreesantini
I love making fascinating discoveries in my neglected drawers. Thanks for posting.
January 7, 2019 at 11:13 am
marsha e wright
AH…thank you, Susan, for legitimizing my “junk drawers”! I now look at all my saved flotsam and jetsam and see a treasure trove of story ideas as I ask “What if?” My “BOOM” ideas often come early, EARLY in the morning when I wake up to pee. In fact, a PB story idea pounced on my brain this morning! Your Storystorm is just what I needed today. With gratitude!
January 7, 2019 at 11:16 am
Rebecca
Never thought to look in the junk drawer for ideas. Good thinking!
January 7, 2019 at 11:22 am
mariagianferrari
A treasure trove of ideas in the junk drawer–thanks, Susan! 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 11:24 am
storycatcherpublishing
I do pretty much the same thing except I set my gallery of props on one of my desks as a reminder to think outside the box…;)
Great post!
January 7, 2019 at 11:24 am
alisongoldberg
Great ideas! Thanks for this post!
January 7, 2019 at 11:30 am
Nadine Gamble
Dang it! Just cleaned it out! I’m sure I saved something in there…
January 7, 2019 at 11:44 am
Teresa Robeson
Since I’m in the middle of declutter (a la the Debbie Diesen method and NOT the Mari Kondo method), this might yield some fun ideas for me. Thanks, Susan!
January 7, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Tracey Brown
I love the idea of finding inspiration in the junk drawer
January 7, 2019 at 12:08 pm
diana delosh
Ah-h-h the junk drawer! Maybe I should rename it the drawer of ideas!
January 7, 2019 at 12:09 pm
Claire W Bobrow
I’ve been watching the Marie Kondo tidying show, and to think she’s throwing out all those potential story ideas!! The brooch photo brought back fond memories of the time my cousin and I buried an entire suitcase of my grandmother’s costume jewelry. It’s still there, as far as I know. Thanks for the post, Susan.
January 7, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Kassy Keppol
Thank you
January 7, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Laurel Goodluck
Oh boy… my junk drawer now has a new purpose! love it!
January 7, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Leslie Leibhardt Goodman - Writer
Having more than one junk drawer, it seems I’ve got lots of potential story ideas lurking in my house! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 7, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Robin Robb-Kraus
Another great Storystorm idea and very easy to give a try! I went out to my garage junk containers to get some new ideas!! Awesome!!
January 7, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Margaret Greanias
I’ve got many junk drawers and will take a look for inspiration. Thank you!
January 7, 2019 at 12:52 pm
wpdrey
Yes, the beloved junk drawer. I will rename it the idea drawer. Brilliant post!
January 7, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Daryl Gottier
So many drawers to choose from! Thanks for sharing.
January 7, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Jenny Boyd
“Props” to you…and me…and everyone. (I knew my junk drawer had a purpose.)
January 7, 2019 at 1:14 pm
Angie
Oh, you know me! I’m a collector too. So many places where I’ve stashed ‘prizes.’ Now I know what to do with them! Thanks!
January 7, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Christine Pinto
Thanks for the great post! Two ideas for me in one post! Hurray!
January 7, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Louann Brown
Hummm. Wondering which junk drawer will be the most inspiring. I’m off to go exploring. Wish me luck!
January 7, 2019 at 1:21 pm
Amanda Malek-Ahmadi
I definitely have a lot of junk drawers in our house 😬😁. Thanks for the idea.
January 7, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Shawna J Tenney
What a fun idea! My kids have lots of junk in their drawers. I’m going to go have a look!
January 7, 2019 at 1:47 pm
Elizabeth Saba
Thank you for this post. I do have a lot of treasures lying around. 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Anna E. Jordan
Yes! Objects are a great story starter. And if a character is in my mind, I often try to picture the objects they carry or collect.
January 7, 2019 at 2:10 pm
Rinda Beach
Thanks for a fun reminder that somebody’s junk can turn into a writer’s treasure!
January 7, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Kathryn Jean Hagen
Love using the “what if” technique on a random collection of objects! Thank you.
January 7, 2019 at 2:18 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Love the idea box! Reminds me of a dress-up trunk.
January 7, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Lynn Alpert
Thanks for this! Great idea.
January 7, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Margie Markarian
In my house, the floor of my kids’ closets are a comparable treasure trove of ideas and props that can trigger ideas! Thanks for the reminder!
January 7, 2019 at 2:40 pm
sandrabyrdlawson
Great post!
January 7, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Jen Bagan
Thank you Susan! I never thought of my junk drawer as a place for inspiration – off to look! 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Patti Ranson
BOOM! You’ve sent me in a different direction with an idea has been rolling around my head for a loooong while!
January 7, 2019 at 3:29 pm
Matt Forrest Esenwine
Finally getting caught up from the weekend, and I have to say, this sort of exercise is exactly what writers of poetry do all the time: ask, “What else could this be?” It’s a great activity for getting kids to think about their surroundings and them objects around them, too.
January 7, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Susan Orton
Junk drawer? How did you know today I was starting the clean up of an overloaded garage? Junk drawer times 100! Thanks, Susan, you are going to make my job a lot more fun!!! I’ll let you know how it goes.
January 7, 2019 at 3:50 pm
CindyC
Thanks for being part of StoryStorm! I’m headed for the kitchen junk drawer now.
January 7, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Sensibility and Sense
Finally! A perfect excuse to keep my junk drawer(s)! Now to explain it to my husband:) Thank you, Susan! Patti Richards
January 7, 2019 at 4:15 pm
RaeMcDonald
Yes, junk drawers are one of the fascinations in life, and for kids and authors, they are golden. What lurks right under our noses can be so fun. Thank you.
January 7, 2019 at 4:18 pm
Sara Matson
Thanks for sharing!
January 7, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Laura Jean Watters
So much junk to pour through….
January 7, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Amy DiMouro
This is a great idea for those who are more tactile in theri learning and thought processes!
January 7, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Marie Sanderson
Thanks, Susan! Oh boy, do I have a junk drawer. It’ll barely close. It’s nice to think of good reason to keep clutter!
I’ll write again when my junk drawer hatches an idea!
January 7, 2019 at 4:29 pm
Jen Kraar
Thanks for this – my junk drawer of bits of paper – tickets, receipts, cards – privudes lots of possibilities to explore.
January 7, 2019 at 4:34 pm
mona861
I am a collector!!! I’ve never thought of the who’s what’s and where’s of all this “good stuff”. A new way of looking at things so I can keep it all!! Thanks, Susan!
January 7, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Antje
Great idea, Susan. I never quite saw myself as a “collector,” but from your definition I sure am. Okay, I have an excuse 2019! And the ideas roll in…
January 7, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Sharalyn Edgeberg
Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I have a lot of junk. So I’ll go a hunting.
January 7, 2019 at 5:08 pm
Lauri Meyers
Fun idea Susan!
January 7, 2019 at 5:16 pm
naturewalkwithgod
Finally, I can justify my junk drawer! Thanks, Susan. –Kim
January 7, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Ellen Sirianni
Didn’t think to look through the junk drawer. Thanks for the idea!
January 7, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Carolyn
I like the idea of using physical items to spark a story idea. Great tip!
January 7, 2019 at 5:34 pm
Sue Niemann
I’ll try it, thank you!
January 7, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Kristin Wauson
I knew all that stuff in my junk drawer was good for something! Thanks for the post. Love seeing the photos of your “collections.”
January 7, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
OMG, you’re asking me to go through my junk drawers! Terrifying, but interesting. Thanks for the suggestion!
January 7, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Karin Larson
I knew I had junk drawers for a reason! Thanks for the suggestion!
January 7, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Jane Baskwill
I had created boxes like these for improv starters with my drama kids. I haven’t put one together for me. I plan to check out the junk drawer(s)!
January 7, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Susan
My husband’s junk drawer holds many mysteries.
January 7, 2019 at 6:56 pm
claireannette1
The junk drawer! A good reason not to “Kondo-ize” my junk drawer is filled with inspiration (and fortune cookie fortunes!)
January 7, 2019 at 6:59 pm
claireannette1
The junk drawer! A good reason not to “Kondo-ize.”
My junk drawer is filled with inspiration (and fortune cookie fortunes!)
January 7, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Christine Fleming McIsaac
Now see… that junk drawer is good for something! Great exercise. Thanks!
January 7, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Sue Frye
Great post!
January 7, 2019 at 7:51 pm
lorisherritt
Enjoying toying with the ‘what ifs’ of objects. A great creativity jump starter. AND I have plenty of drawers (and closets) stuffed with stuff. Time to explore (and maybe do some early Spring cleaning).
January 7, 2019 at 8:08 pm
Mary Boehmer
Thank you for “the what if” inspiration!
January 7, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Kathy Mazurowski
Thanks for the ideas.
January 7, 2019 at 8:59 pm
Dawn
Great post!
January 7, 2019 at 9:03 pm
Trine Grillo
This is a creative approach. Thanks for the fresh idea.
January 7, 2019 at 9:12 pm
Jim Chaize
What a fun idea. Thanks, Susan.
January 7, 2019 at 9:15 pm
Janet Smart
Hi Susan. Thanks so much for the ideas. And, yes, I do have a few junk drawers – don’t we all?
January 7, 2019 at 9:37 pm
J. D. Silverwood
What a creative idea to generate creative ideas! Thanks!!!
January 7, 2019 at 9:58 pm
Tracy Molitors
Thanks, Susan. Peering into my junk drawer now–my adult kids call it the Mom Sh*t Drawer
January 7, 2019 at 10:02 pm
writeforapples1
Ooh, the junk drawer for ideas … 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 10:12 pm
Jabeen Chawdhry
Thats a cute idea, and I have a few junk drawers too!
January 7, 2019 at 10:18 pm
Diana Calio
Ha! There are some things in my junk drawer that are total mysteries…Thanks for the fun idea! 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 10:32 pm
Monica Stoltzfus
Great ideas, Susan! Off to scour my junk drawer 🧐
January 7, 2019 at 10:38 pm
Lydia Lukidis
I Love to keep things too so maybe I’m in luck 🙂
January 7, 2019 at 11:14 pm
Chris M. Regier
Brilliant use of the junk drawer. Thank you!
January 7, 2019 at 11:22 pm
Nicole Turner
I have plenty of junk drawers to examine. Time to go have s look around.
January 7, 2019 at 11:25 pm
Tiffany Painter
I always knew the junk in the drawer would come in handy.
January 7, 2019 at 11:39 pm
Patricia Toht
I think you’ve just given me permission to NOT clean out my junk drawer!
January 7, 2019 at 11:45 pm
Faith Kazmi
Looking forward to dig through my treasures!
January 8, 2019 at 12:35 am
Vanessa Marcus
I have many drawers of inspiration! Thanks for reframing it for me.
January 8, 2019 at 12:44 am
Cindy E. Owens
Well, if a junk drawer is all it takes to have an idea box, I’ve got plenty of stuff to go through to find an idea! Lol
January 8, 2019 at 1:01 am
Janet Frenck Sheets
You’re making me look at junk in a new way. Thanks.
January 8, 2019 at 1:22 am
Michelle Sumovich
I found a light bulb! Ding! An idea!
January 8, 2019 at 1:26 am
Nancy Kotkin (@Brave_New_Words)
A professor in my MFA program used to give us a weekly bag containing tiny objects to use as writing prompts. Each week, we would exchange bags with someone else to get a new one. Those bags functioned as terrific story starters.
January 8, 2019 at 10:38 am
Carolyn Currier
Thank you for sharing.
January 8, 2019 at 11:58 am
Andi Butler
Thanks! I seem to have an idea box that’s been mislabeled “misc.” a : )
January 8, 2019 at 12:09 pm
Jay
A great idea!
January 8, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Carrie Kruck
No shortage of junk drawers in my house, can’t wait to mine them for ideas 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 12:52 pm
joyceschr
I love that my junk drawer might be INSPIRATION! Thanks for the helpful tips.
January 8, 2019 at 1:57 pm
kiwijenny
I love the what if game
January 8, 2019 at 3:33 pm
Sherrilynn Scott
As a retired educator who never throws anything away, my whole house is an idea box!
January 8, 2019 at 4:25 pm
rachel
I will visit my junk drawer/closet and get busy with my ideas.☺
January 8, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Helen Lysicatos
Thanks for the fun idea!
January 8, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Sandy Perlic
“What if?” should be the first question in my Storystorming arsenal! Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Maria Bostian
Think I’ll start a digital story box this year. Need to learn to let go of some things. Would also be fun to go to a thrift store and gather items in the buggy for a story. Take a photo and come home and write about the items in the photo.
January 8, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Diane Tulloch
Hmm….junk box/drawer… Oh yes I have those… I’m off to spend…. oh hours sorting through… lol. Thanks Susan. (Any chance it’ll get sorted?) Nah!
January 8, 2019 at 7:05 pm
Noelle McBride
Oooh! I could write SO many things from just the interesting “gifts” my students bring me!
January 8, 2019 at 8:17 pm
Christine Irvin
Thanks for re-sharing this post with us.
January 8, 2019 at 8:42 pm
Kyle McBride
Hoarders unite!
January 8, 2019 at 9:07 pm
sherilyncook
Ohhhhhh, I so wanna Create a FUN IDEA BOX!!!!
January 8, 2019 at 9:43 pm
Therese Kay
We used to have “drawer number 7” where everything lived!!
January 8, 2019 at 10:22 pm
Nadia Salomon
I didn’t have as much useful and interesting things in my junk drawer as I found in my munchkin’s! Thanks for this post.
January 8, 2019 at 10:59 pm
Amy Bradshaw
We have always had a junk drawer that holds everything that doesn’t have a place. Maybe I should take a closer look inside
January 8, 2019 at 11:16 pm
Becky Scharnhorst
I need to get better at asking myself “What if?” It’s such a simple question, but it can lead to countless possibilities.
January 8, 2019 at 11:35 pm
Joannie Duris
Inspiring ideas, Susan! Just set our imagination loose and any lost, found, or misc. piece of junk can be the seed for something magical. “What if” can lead to a whole host of other questions, that then lead to a story begging to be told.
January 9, 2019 at 12:45 am
kmajor2013
Okay, time to go check out my two junk drawers for some ideas and inspiration!
January 9, 2019 at 1:04 am
Zoraida Rivera
I’m reforming my memory boxes. This is the perfect time. I’m letting go of the not-needed and re-treasuring the great moments.
January 9, 2019 at 1:49 am
Keila Dawson
Running to check my junk drawers…yep, plural. “What if” …
January 9, 2019 at 6:45 am
Angela De Groot
Awesome! While I sort through my junk drawer, I may find a PB idea.
January 9, 2019 at 8:16 am
Helen Matthews
Genius! A lot of PBs ordinary things become extraordinary characters (think Stick Man). I shall practice ‘what if’ more often
January 9, 2019 at 10:40 am
Myrna Foster
I’ve never thought of looking for ideas in my drawers. Thanks, Susan!
January 9, 2019 at 10:52 am
Bettie Boswell
Finally a use for all the things in my junk drawer!
January 9, 2019 at 11:22 am
Anne Appert
Can’t wait to try this idea for brainstorming ideas. Thanks for the post!
January 9, 2019 at 12:00 pm
aidantalkin
I’m just doing my January de-clutter… perfect time to contemplate some stories!
January 9, 2019 at 12:28 pm
jessicadunnagan
Now I know why I have two junk boxes of broken and odd things. Thank you!
January 9, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Anita
Fun idea!
January 9, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Nora Fry
That’s an awesome idea! I just looked at the tools my husband left scattered and thought of dragon’s claws and scales, ha. Thank you!
January 9, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Wendy
We’re cleaning out a room and discovering all sorts of stuff. Perfect post for me today!
January 9, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Sara Pistulka Weingartner
Susan, thanks for your post! I’ll look at my treasures in a different light now. 🙂
January 9, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Marcie Rinka Wessels
Thanks for teaching us to look at our clutter in a new way! I can only imagine the treasures (and the ideas) if I go through my kids’ rooms!
January 9, 2019 at 7:54 pm
martina.franklin.poole
So smart to use visuals to jumpstart a picture book!
January 9, 2019 at 7:59 pm
kjerstenhayes
I’ve never taken the junk drawer approach but love the idea. Thanks!
January 9, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Karen Lawler
Thank you for justifying my saving habit!! I do keep “treasures” in a number of little boxes for my grandchildren to enjoy… I will revisit them again! 🙂
January 9, 2019 at 10:03 pm
julielacombeauthor
I’m headed to my junk drawer!
January 9, 2019 at 11:10 pm
Lindsay Fiore
Ooh! Now I can put that junk drawer to good use finally! Thanks for the great idea! You never know where inspiration for a story might strike!
January 9, 2019 at 11:57 pm
Tasha Hilderman
I was just reading Hector the Collector by Shel Silverstein last night and your box looks like it could be Hector’s! Here’s some items from my junk drawer in case they help anyone– several sets of monster eye rings, a strip of tickets from Lobsterfest, many colored coffee stirsticks, a recipe for Kombucha, a dime, a pink screwdriver, a small plastic pumpkin, a bag of corn seeds, farm animal stickers and some cards from flowers that were sent to me. 🙂
January 9, 2019 at 11:58 pm
Kelly Ohlert
Have a junk drawer and about 7 junk counters to peruse 🙂
January 10, 2019 at 9:44 am
kaleegwarjanski
Anything can be in a picture book!
January 10, 2019 at 11:54 am
Melissa Stoller
I just looked in my junk drawer for some inspiration! Now I’m not guilty anymore about that drawer! Thanks!
January 10, 2019 at 1:02 pm
LAUREN BARBIERI
Fun idea–thanks!
January 10, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Lisa Riddiough
I never knew my junk drawer was storing ideas! I’m so happy now!!!
January 10, 2019 at 4:12 pm
Rachel Stones
Finally! Justification for my junk drawer. 🙂
January 10, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Tamawi
From trash to treasure – thanks!
January 10, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Francoise
I wish all the junk in my house was contained in a single drawer – but perhaps this is my chance to think creatively about all that junk!
January 10, 2019 at 11:14 pm
Linda Bendor
Oh did I get into trouble when I was young for doing that! But now, I’m a freer bird (and not quite so foolish, admittedly). Idea Box here we come! (btw, I thought I signed up properly for Storystorm. Did I?)
On Sun, Jan 6, 2019 at 4:04 AM Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) wrote:
> Tara Lazar posted: “by Susan Taylor Brown (from 2009) I’m a collector. I > can’t go on a walk without finding something I have to pick up and take > home with me for my idea box. A stick. A rock. A broken toy. I also have a > hard time throwing things away so an item headed for” >
January 10, 2019 at 11:27 pm
Dani Duck
I have a junk drawer. Yes, just one. No hidden junk drawers here. If i did have more than one then I would have a ton of potential ideas!
January 10, 2019 at 11:53 pm
tiffanydickinson
Thanks Susan. I have multiple junk drawers. So this should be easy…
January 11, 2019 at 1:23 am
topangamaria
Nice twist by asking What IF.
January 11, 2019 at 3:02 am
Ink Bottle Studio
What a great way to jumpstart ideas!
January 11, 2019 at 6:33 am
Linda Hofke
Using a prop box or junk drawer to generate story ideas…I’d never consider that before but it works. I have a new idea! Thanks.
January 11, 2019 at 9:29 am
Sarah Maynard (@SarahDMaynard)
OHH, I love this one! Another goodie from the past.
January 11, 2019 at 9:51 am
Nicole Strangman
Great idea – never tried this one!
January 11, 2019 at 12:38 pm
shanah salter
what a great idea! my junk drawer is always overflowing, will be great to put it to use
January 11, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Julie Rand
It’s true, ideas come from everywhere. Thanks for re-sharing.
January 11, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Carrie Finison
I like this very concrete idea prompt – thank you!!
January 12, 2019 at 10:12 am
Johna Nicole Rossetti
Susan, thank you for the inspiration. Finally, a real purpose for my junk drawer. Another idea I thought of as I am trying to reduce “stuff” in my home: after the Idea Box has sufficient stuff in it, I could take a picture and use that to refer to. Then I can give away or thrown away the contents, while preserving the great ideas the Idea Box will inspire.
January 12, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Melissa Mwai
Thanks for sharing!
January 12, 2019 at 6:50 pm
Kathy O'Neill
I love this idea and that it gives me an excuse have that junk drawer!!
January 12, 2019 at 7:52 pm
Janet Halfmann
I definitely need to get better at asking, “What If?”
January 12, 2019 at 11:30 pm
Stephanie Lau
But Husband! I CAN’T DONATE THIS. Susan Taylor Brown said I need it for picture book ideas!!!
January 12, 2019 at 11:34 pm
Jennifer Broedel (@JBroedelAuthor)
Thanks for this idea! I’m off to go write a story about a hammer. 🙂
January 13, 2019 at 12:25 am
Erin Le Clerc
Ooh, I have lots of vintage treasures to use for this!
January 13, 2019 at 7:12 am
Mindy Alyse Weiss
Thanks so much, Susan. I’m off to explore my drawers. I knew tossing things into them would be good for something one day. 😉
January 13, 2019 at 7:22 am
Nadia Ali
Thanks for the fun idea
January 13, 2019 at 1:56 pm
Barb Ostapina
Something old, something new, something very clever, Susan! Thank you
January 13, 2019 at 2:02 pm
KATHY Z.PRICE
Thanks Susan
January 13, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Shereen S.
So glad I’m at my Mom’s house. Anyone else need a junk drawer? EVERY drawer at the bar counter area is a junk drawer. 4 of ’em.
January 14, 2019 at 11:36 am
Laurel Ranveig Abell
Got an entire PB story arc out of this one! Thanks!
January 14, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Maria Marshall
Great ideas. If you combine this with Linda Mitchell’s comment, then a great group activity (online) or for a critique group would be to show pitures of their junk drawers & come up with “what if…” stories. FUN. Thanks.
January 14, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Judy Bryan
I looked in my junk drawer and the what ifs started flowing…Thank you!!
January 14, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Caren Cantrell
I’ve got several junk drawers that are worth a look. Thanks!
January 14, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Emma Wood
Well, lucky me! I have heaps of these crannies around my house, storing odds and ends. 😉 Great thinking to use objects to generate story ideas. Thanks, Susan!
January 15, 2019 at 12:09 am
Carolyn Kraft
Love the ideas in this post! I hope my junk drawer is as interesting as yours, I haven’t looked in mine in awhile.
January 15, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Michelle O'Hara Levin
I love your imagination. I needed a dose of that today. Thanks.
January 15, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Ms. Schubé
Such a great idea!
January 16, 2019 at 12:09 am
Andrew Lefebvre
Love it. I also have a difficult time parting with things. Now I can use those things.
January 16, 2019 at 12:23 am
Kelly Rice Schmitt
I save interesting objects too — sometimes for the story potential, and other times for my daughter to play with.. but now I am totally starting an idea box.. Thanks for reposting this one, Tara, I love it!
January 16, 2019 at 7:41 am
Jennifer G Prevost
What a great idea!!! Now I can look at my junk drawers with fresh eyes and open arms… thanks!
January 16, 2019 at 11:58 am
Susan Tuggy
Time to dive into my junk drawer. Whee!
January 16, 2019 at 2:22 pm
Lou
What a fun, new source of ideas! I didn’t even get up from this chair, and just recorded eight new ideas. Plus, I have a great excuse not to clean out that drawer…
January 16, 2019 at 4:20 pm
Janine Johns
Wow! I have a junk box that’s probably full of ideas. Thanks for the idea.
January 16, 2019 at 6:45 pm
Terri Sabol
Great excuse for a junk drawer. Thanks!
January 16, 2019 at 9:55 pm
Brandon Collins
Great idea!
January 17, 2019 at 11:18 am
Amelia Shearer
Great strategy for finding new ideas! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
January 17, 2019 at 1:42 pm
Cassie Bentley
Ideas popped into my head as I read this. Thank you.
January 17, 2019 at 11:34 pm
Jill M Proctor
I have lots of junk drawers. I have no excuse for not coming up with an idea. Thank you!
January 19, 2019 at 2:26 am
aturner513
I have two junk drawers and a large “collection” of various items. Thank you for reminding me that I have ideas stored all around me.
January 19, 2019 at 10:09 am
topangamaria
My clutter queen tendencies have been vindicated. Thank you
January 19, 2019 at 4:49 pm
readstuffnwrite
I’m sure there is stuff around my place I could do this with!
January 20, 2019 at 10:47 am
cantsing1
OH, do I ever have junk drawers. Even after I clean them out! thnx
January 20, 2019 at 11:46 am
dlapmandi
I am a pack rat and I want to thank you for validating my vice. It is now considered my idea journals, drawers, and closets!
January 20, 2019 at 1:16 pm
Dianne
I have a hard time getting rid of things too! I’m not alone. Whoo-hoo! Now I have an excuse: I’m saving that for story inspiration. Love that.
January 20, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Doris k Stone
I’ll never look into my junk drawer again without thinking of this post. Thanks for the great ideas.
January 20, 2019 at 4:26 pm
donnacangelosi
Great idea! Thank you!
January 21, 2019 at 12:36 am
Angela H. Dale
you’ve just given renewed value to the boxes of toys my kids don’t use but can’t part with … something from box a, something from box b …
January 22, 2019 at 12:52 am
Hillary Homzie
Love your take on looking at the ordinary in an extraordinary way!
January 22, 2019 at 2:26 am
thedandelionzoo
I live in the house that my grandparents built. My grandpa passed away 19 years ago, and I’m still finding things that he had stashed away. The stories I could write . . .
January 22, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Paula VanEnkevort
I knew the things stashed in my junk drawer would be useful someday! Thanks for the ideas!
January 23, 2019 at 12:33 am
sharongiltrow
What a great idea! And now I know what to do with all the things I find when I am out walking :-).
January 23, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Janet AlJunaidi
Hi Susan, Thanks for this junk drawer idea! Also the image of ideas finding you – again similar to what I’m reading in The Big Magic!
January 26, 2019 at 10:24 pm
Robyn Campbell
What a great idea. Hahaha, I know which drawer to open first. Thank you.
January 27, 2019 at 4:22 pm
Joyce
I have so much inspiration around me!
January 28, 2019 at 12:20 am
creationsbymit
What a great idea! Even MORE exciting is I have a big plastic bin of what used to be my “animal drawer” from when I was a kid….a bin filled with match box cars, rubber frogs, tops, jacks, marbles, and all sorts of plastic animals….who could make GREAT storybook characters….hmmmm…
Michele Katz Grieder
January 29, 2019 at 12:35 pm
Marie Powell
Great imagination! This would be such a fun activity at a school workshop as well. Thanks!
January 29, 2019 at 1:12 pm
hannahtuohyillustration
Great idea, luckily I haven’t done any spring cleaning yet! Junk drawer here I come.
January 30, 2019 at 2:47 pm
Danielle Hicks
I usually want to pretend my junk drawer doesn’t exist. Now I can’t wait to raid it! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
January 30, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
Love! Your creative ideas at the end for what regular objects could be is so hilarious and inspiring!
January 31, 2019 at 9:47 pm
higherthanrubies
I might turn this into a “take a picture of an object” and have an idea album in the cloud. I am forever trying to get rid of stuff, but it can hang out in the cloud all day. Thank you.
January 31, 2019 at 11:39 pm
Laurie Swindler
I’m a magpie who loves bringing home irresistible things. Thanks for showing me a way to turn them into stories.
February 3, 2019 at 2:55 am
charmaineweston
Time to starting hunting through the house….
February 3, 2019 at 9:11 am
Sheri Dillard
I remember this post! I think of it often, actually. Great ideas here! 🙂
February 3, 2019 at 10:11 pm
andromeda515
Found items make great writing prompts as they invite you to take on a different perspective. This one netted several ideas.
February 4, 2019 at 5:02 pm
loelmu
It’s like your own island of lost things. Love it!
January 26, 2020 at 4:38 pm
teachom
I feel like my whole house is a junk drawer/idea box today thanks to my kids. Maybe I ought to also do some tidying.