by Alli Brydon
Do you pride yourself on being an eco-conscious person? Do you chuckle every time you toss a metal can into the recycling bin? Do you even—GASP!—collect and compost your food waste?
Congratulations! Now take that recycling muscle and apply it to your children’s book writing.
There are so many fun ways you can recycle your own notes, storylines, and even the words spoken by perfect strangers. No, I’m not talking about plagiarizing. I’m talking about…
EAVESDROPPING!
Many prior Storystorm bloggers have already mentioned this gem of a tip, but it bears repeating: keep your eyes and, more importantly, your ears open wherever you go. Especially if you frequent places teeming with children. Children who say hilarious things! Children who feel all the feels, right in front of you! Children who enact imaginative play.
For example, one Saturday morning I was sipping coffee in my living room while my two sons play-acted something from Minecraft. One of them said, “I have a diamond sword,” which I actually heard as, “I have a dinosaur.” When I realized what he actually said and how my brain twisted his words into something else, I grabbed my notebook and began to write:
Diamond Sword
Dinosaur
Spying lord
Lying gourd
Words: recycled! OK, so maybe my notes went a bit off the rails, but this activity started me off on some book ideas and fun…
WORD ASSOCIATIONS!
Word association/word play unlocks your subconscious brain and turns it into a recycling center—where you can toss words around, melt them down, and maybe meld them together to create new things. One of the ways I like to announce that my recycling center is open for business is by opening my journal and doing some free writing. Don’t even pay attention to your ego telling you the words are no good. Let the subconscious junk flow! Metal, plastic, cardboard, paper—throw it all out there and onto the page, single-stream recycling style. Then go back and underline those hidden gems among your junky lines. Or maybe even scour some of your ancient journals for…
OLD IDEAS!
Don’t feel shy about dusting off old and once-rejected ideas, half-written manuscripts, or writing snippets that didn’t work the first time. Even if you haven’t participated in Storystorm since it was PiBoIdMo, you’ve probably still got lists upon lists of book ideas. Go back to those, see if any of them jump out at you now, maybe fuse two of them together, or see if they spark new ideas.
Now get out there, Storystormers, and recycle! It’s good for the whole planet.
Alli Brydon is a freelance children’s book editor, writer, and lifelong New Yorker who has recently moved to the UK with her family. She is the editor of the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book Last Week Tonight with John Oliver presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo and writer of nonfiction books for Scholastic, Lonely Planet, Quarto, and NatGeo Kids. She is always adding to her list of ideas and crafting them into picture book manuscripts. With nearly 15 years of experience developing, editing, writing, and selling books with almost every US publisher, Alli has spent a large part of her career nurturing authors and illustrators to improve their craft and create outstanding children’s books. Please drop in at allibrydon.com to learn more, sign up to receive her blog posts by email, or just say “hi!”
Alli is giving away a picture book critique.
Simply leave ONE COMMENT below to enter.
You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm participant and you have commented once below. Prizes will be given away at the conclusion of the event.
Good luck!
555 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 25, 2019 at 10:06 am
Kellie DuBay Gillis
I’m all about recycling old manuscripts. I just dusted one off from 2013 that had good bones. Love this post! Recycling rocks!
January 25, 2019 at 10:10 am
Nicole Turner
Love this post. I have a bunch of old notebooks that need a little recycling attention.
January 25, 2019 at 10:12 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you Alli for posting at this time. Good idea to eavesdrop, and do a bit if dusting off the old idea books to see what goodies pop up.
January 25, 2019 at 10:12 am
nrompella
I just opened an old draft on something I wrote and found some hidden gems in there. Sadly, that promotes my “Don’t throw anything out” habit. 🙂 I like thinking of it as recycling. Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 10:12 am
Cortney Benvenuto
I love recycling, and I have to admit eavesdropping! 😉 Thanks for sharing and the inspiration!
January 25, 2019 at 10:13 am
Yael Levy
Cool!
January 25, 2019 at 10:15 am
Barbara Senenman
Do I dare admit I LOVE eavesdropping. I get some interesting ideas to play around with later.
January 25, 2019 at 10:17 am
Mia Geiger
Thank you for this inspiring post!
January 25, 2019 at 10:17 am
Jay
I love the idea of recycling old ideas and manuscripts. Great post.
January 25, 2019 at 10:17 am
Lori McElrath-Eslick
Thank you for this article!
January 25, 2019 at 10:18 am
Joan Swanson
I often go through my old PiBoIdMo journals for new ideas 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 10:18 am
Robin Brett Wechsler
Recycling is an excellent idea all around. Thanks, Alli, for your helpful suggestions to eavesdrop and play with words! Also, thanks for the book about Marlon Bundo, which I really enjoyed and appreciated.
January 25, 2019 at 10:19 am
Mary Miller
Thank you! Awesome post! I’m into recycling and eavesdropping :).
January 25, 2019 at 10:19 am
rimna
I do love eavesdropping! I’m off to recycle my old ideas that I didnt think worked first time around – thanks for the encouragement!
January 25, 2019 at 10:19 am
Linda P. Epstein
The verve with which I read “Old ideas!” was a little bit scary.
January 25, 2019 at 10:19 am
Lynne Marie
OOOH, what a fun prize. I’m a recycler — thanks for keeping the cycle going. I am going to look for more ideas to recycle. Thanks and best of luck to you!
January 25, 2019 at 10:20 am
melissamiles1
I love the recycling tie-in, as well as word play. I really should have written down all the things my son said as a young child. Every time I walked into his school, a teacher would add a new saying to the list! He was a character. 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 10:20 am
Laura M Perdew
Alli – Thank you for the practical, hands-on advice. I am a die-hard recycler of plastics, bottles, cans, paper, etc. Now I will add words and ideas to the list.
January 25, 2019 at 10:20 am
nataliecohn0258
I have done recycling with words once and did not know that is what it was called. My son said something and I got an idea for a book.
January 25, 2019 at 10:20 am
Anne LeBlanc (@AnneLeBlanc2)
I will watch people AND eavesdrop! Great ideas! Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 10:22 am
Krista Harrington
Great ideas, Alli! I really like the suggestion of twisting words into new ones!
January 25, 2019 at 10:22 am
debobrienbookscom
Thank you, Alli. I am all for recycling. I keep special notebooks just for brainstorming. An idea that I may have discarded two years ago might resonate with a new experience today. Great idea…and I love the pug.
January 25, 2019 at 10:23 am
Mary Ann Cortez
Great idea. I’m going to mash up words and see what I get.
January 25, 2019 at 10:24 am
jpuglow
Recycling, reusing, reimagining… Today This Kid Said. I’m on it!
January 25, 2019 at 10:24 am
Joanna Rowland
Love the idea of going back to old ideas and making them new. I have so many journals of old writing, there must be a treasure somewhere. And ease dropping and playing with word associations will be fun.
January 25, 2019 at 10:25 am
karinlarson
I love the idea of playing with words and recycling old ideas and words to generate new. Thanks for the great post.
January 25, 2019 at 10:25 am
Janet Johnson
So many lists of old ideas. What a great idea to recycle! 😊
January 25, 2019 at 10:25 am
thecrowsmap
Thanks, Alli, for these eco-friendly tips.
Gail Hartman
January 25, 2019 at 10:25 am
June Sengpiehl
Marvelous post and such a wealth of ideas in going back to see if any
previous ideas could be paired with a new idea and recycled.
January 25, 2019 at 10:26 am
Tara Hannon
The best part of this great post is “put your ego aside” Yes! Great reminder. Recycle, Word play, and Ditch that dang Ego, got it. 😉 thanks Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 10:29 am
Ashley Congdon
Thanks for your advice. I need to do this more often with my oldest.
January 25, 2019 at 10:29 am
lindaschueler
Usually during Storystorm I do go through my old notes to see what jumps out at me, but I haven’t done that yet, so thanks for the reminder.
January 25, 2019 at 10:29 am
hmmmmm
I dove back into a really old draft yesterday, thinking that I’d (finally) come up with THE solution to what wasn’t working in it — but no…
There are definitely some things that take a LONG time to find a way to repurpose… Or that maybe just ought to go into the smelter or the compost pile. Like the pieces of tin foil that you’ve re-used 83 times that is now more wrinkles than foil.
Oh wait — that’s the perfect cat toy!
Thanks for the post Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 10:29 am
Darcee A Freier
Recycling! Love it!
January 25, 2019 at 10:32 am
C.L. Murphy
Great suggestions, Alli! Thanks.
January 25, 2019 at 10:32 am
Darcee A Freier
Recycling! Never thought of it quite that way. LOL.
January 25, 2019 at 10:34 am
Darcee A Freier
Sorry. I didn’t mean to post twice. I got an error message the first time and thought it didn’t post.
January 25, 2019 at 10:32 am
Debbie Meyer
I have some stinky old manuscripts that definitely need recycling! Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 10:32 am
Aimee Isaac
So funny- I was just looking through old ideas and stories to try and find a plot my character-driven story!
January 25, 2019 at 10:34 am
Sharon
Great advice for my chest full of old manuscripts! Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 10:35 am
Rebecca Loescher
Wow, Alli, thank you for this substantive piece, brimming with quality ideas! I love the way one word, even misconstrued, can trigger a spark to the point of recycling an older story or inspiring a whole new one! And word play is SO delicious on the tongue!
January 25, 2019 at 10:36 am
Catherine Millington
I love the idea of going with the flow. Who knows how many diamond swords might be hiding within the junk?
January 25, 2019 at 10:37 am
Daryl Gottier
Thanks for the tips. I’m feeling green today, maybe I’ll go dumpster diving through some old manuscripts!!
January 25, 2019 at 10:37 am
Jennifer Bower
Thanks for the inspiring post Alli! Recycling always has good results!
January 25, 2019 at 10:38 am
Jessica Kulekjian
Thank you for reminding us that no writing is ever wasted. I have lots of abandoned stories waiting to be recycled.
January 25, 2019 at 10:38 am
Deb McGarvey
Thanks for this! Great way to think about wordplay, and going back to old ideas and bits and pieces that haven’t found a home yet.
January 25, 2019 at 10:39 am
Joan Longstaff
Your post started me on an idea train from a programme I saw earlier today featuring 5 year old children – and I didn’t edit as I went along and am amazed at where I ended up. I’ll give it a few days and come back to that idea and see if I’m still excited about it. Thanks Alli.
January 25, 2019 at 10:39 am
Aimee
Love your recycling analogy and enjoyed your editorial help I used on a ms:) thank you!!
January 25, 2019 at 10:42 am
sherilyncook
Great post. We should always revisit old ideas. Thanks for the encouragement to bring old ideas back to life.
January 25, 2019 at 10:43 am
colleenrkosinski
Recycling is a good thing!
January 25, 2019 at 10:43 am
StephMWard
Such a clever way to think about story ideas. I’m going to look through my old notebooks right now! Thx 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 10:43 am
Debra K Shumaker
Absolutely great advice here! Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 10:43 am
Angela H. Dale
This is great, makes me feel better about all those random snippets jotted down on envelopes, notebooks, .txt files, google keep, etc. Time to go trolling.
January 25, 2019 at 10:44 am
Linda Hofke
Great analogy with recycling.
Thanks for the ideas.
January 25, 2019 at 10:44 am
Candace Spizzirri
Thank you, Alli! I love your ideas on how to help get the creativity flowing! 👍😃
January 25, 2019 at 10:45 am
Amy Houts
Love the recycling analogy. We recycle. We even compost. And I created a cooperative board game, Race to Recycle, that encourages working together to recycle. I’ll keep your suggestions in mind. Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 10:46 am
Linda Chavez
Love the word play!! Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 10:47 am
Carolyne Ruck
Great reminder that we can turn “idea trash” into idea treasures…Thanks for the inspiration!
January 25, 2019 at 10:49 am
susan
Great advice.
January 25, 2019 at 10:51 am
Polly Renner
Thanks Alli! I do like to recycle;)
January 25, 2019 at 10:52 am
Susan Macartney
Alli – such a fun, lively and energiizing post – thank you! Really like the idea of re-visiting some of those languishing rejects with fresh eyes:)
January 25, 2019 at 10:52 am
Angie Jones
Alli is great! good advice.
January 25, 2019 at 10:55 am
David McMullin
Time to stark recycling. Thanks, All!
January 25, 2019 at 10:56 am
Becky Ross Michael
Good reminders of some great ideas!!!
January 25, 2019 at 10:59 am
Nora Fry
I’ve recently been digging through my own ‘writing compost pit’ and found a few seeds that have grown. And my kids provide ideas for new picture books every day! Thanks for reminding me to listen.
January 25, 2019 at 11:02 am
Li’vee Rehfield
Alli, this was a really good idea and I have personally seen something big come from eavesdropping that made the movies…thanks for the reminder 😊
January 25, 2019 at 11:02 am
Cindy Faughnan
Excellent idea!
January 25, 2019 at 11:04 am
Laura Rackham
Recycling makes my old ideas sound almost good for the planet😁
January 25, 2019 at 11:06 am
Deb Sullivan
Recycling and free writing are fabulous ways to keep the juices flowing …thanks for the reminder!
January 25, 2019 at 11:08 am
Becky Shillington
Word associations can supply us with all kinds of great ideas! Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 11:08 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Alli, for reminding us of those story idea gems that are heard and misheard.
January 25, 2019 at 11:09 am
LAUREN BARBIERI
Great advice–I could do more of both! Thank you.
January 25, 2019 at 11:10 am
Frances Kalavritinos
I agree that word play can spark a plethora of ideas. Believe it or not, crossword puzzles are a great source of words used in offbeat ways. And there’s always reading the dictionary!
January 25, 2019 at 11:10 am
Kristen Tipman
This is great! Thanks for sharing. I get lots of ideas from talking with my kids and watching them play.
January 25, 2019 at 11:10 am
Mary Vander Plas
Love this! Diamond Sword 🦖👍🏻😂 Relly good inspiration today-thank you.
January 25, 2019 at 11:11 am
Tracy Hora
Love the idea of recycling ideas! Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 11:11 am
Nicole M
Listening to my kids, and the funny things they say, has been one of my favorite ways to cultivate ideas. Love the reminder to look back at old ideas and see what they spark!
January 25, 2019 at 11:11 am
Elizabeth Brown
Great ideas! Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 11:15 am
ptnozell
Some terrific reminders to eavesdrop, revisit & recycle from old idea lists and engage in word play. Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 11:16 am
Kelly Vavala
I’m all about recycling! And I love the word play! Thank you for sharing this post!
January 25, 2019 at 11:18 am
Dea Brayden
Love this metaphor Alli, thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 11:20 am
Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Great post!
January 25, 2019 at 11:21 am
Stephen S. Martin
Time to cleanup those old files and repurpose them.
January 25, 2019 at 11:22 am
Melissa Mwai
Eavesdrop and recycle. I do this all the time.
January 25, 2019 at 11:23 am
Gayle C. Krause
Time to recycle those old ideas and make them bright and shiny new. Thanks for the inspiration, Ali. 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 11:26 am
Prairie Garden Girl
Being a good steward of the Earth is important to me. So I appreciate the analogy to revisit and review my PiBoIdMo journals filled with ideas.
Thank you, Alli!
Suzy Leopold
January 25, 2019 at 11:28 am
Juliana Lee
Hi Alli. In this area of idea generating I feel like I have an advantage… age! Sometimes my eyes and ears hear and see something completely different than what was actually printed or said. I blame age for such mistakes, now Ill celebrate age for these small gifts!!!
January 25, 2019 at 11:30 am
Carole Calladine
Make new. I embrace this recycling and word play post. Thanks for sharing, Ali.
January 25, 2019 at 11:31 am
beckylevine
Love the word play idea!
January 25, 2019 at 11:31 am
Cinzia V.
Great idea to recycle our ideas. And great rec to use some word play. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 25, 2019 at 11:32 am
Ann Schwarz
Love these ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 11:35 am
KATHY Z.PRICE
I have often written unexpected poems while in a cafe–unintentionally eavesdropping, all the while trying to write something completely different and then giving up and simply recycling the nearby loud conversation as a prompt or dialogue or narrative. Ha-ha! Thanks for that reminder!
January 25, 2019 at 11:40 am
Susan Johnston
Great ideas. Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 11:42 am
thelmakat
Love this! Thank you for sharing these great ideas!!
January 25, 2019 at 11:43 am
Arlene Schenker
Eavesdropping sounds like fun. Thanks for making it legit!
January 25, 2019 at 11:43 am
Kathy Halsey
Ali, I unearthed my ideas back to PIBoIdMo and recycled a story the other day. Hurray. A very good tip. And, yes what kids say out of nowhere is golden. TY.
January 25, 2019 at 11:44 am
Latasha Vernon
Thanks Alli! Just yesterday I ran across a notebook and in it I stored ideas. I forgot they were there but it definitely put a smile on my face. I’m looking forward to putting these old ideas to work.
January 25, 2019 at 11:49 am
Louann Brown
Looks like I’ll be the lady digging through the dumpster of old ideas! Thanks for the reminder.
January 25, 2019 at 11:53 am
Tempy
Great idea! Don’t we all have plenty of old things written down that just need refurbishment?
January 25, 2019 at 11:56 am
Jessica Potts
Great post! My two girls give me story ideas all the time just by funny things they say!
January 25, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Barbara Farr Renner
I love your recycling analogy. Maybe I’ll go sit near a playground with my notebook in hand.
January 25, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Andria Rosenbaum
It’s my dream to be a recycling queen. Thanks so much, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Danielle Dufayet
Great advice! I love it when I misunderstand something to the point that it generates a fun idea – I’ll even read a book title wrong…which sometimes leads to an idea for a story!
January 25, 2019 at 12:09 pm
Kate Peridot
Good idea. I have so many half written manuscripts I could review and kids says the funniest things. x
January 25, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Ellen Sirianni
Great ideas! Thank you.
January 25, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
Just finished a flight and heard several questionable comments to brainstorm on:)
January 25, 2019 at 12:14 pm
kcareywrites
Nice post! Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 12:14 pm
marylouisealucurto
Thank You for your inspiring post! Eavesdropping, Recycling, Combining Ideas=Refreshing, New Ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Linda KulpTrout
I love looking back at old journals. Time to take a second look!
January 25, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Jami
Thanks Alli,
I’ve got a few stacks of old journals I’ll be cracking open again!
January 25, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Michele Helsel
Good suggestion.
January 25, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Lori Alexander
Thanks for the encouragement, Alli. I was just doing a bit of writerly recycling myself. I love mining new ideas from the old ones.
January 25, 2019 at 12:21 pm
jilltatara
I love this! I try to recycle story ideas when I can. I also have lots of interesting lines and snippets of overheard conversations written down. It just takes a while to organize them since they’re written on various napkins, scrap paper, post-its,or my hand.
January 25, 2019 at 12:24 pm
MD Knabb
Such good advice and absolutely true – eavesdrop, recycle, and play with words. Thanks, Alli.
January 25, 2019 at 12:25 pm
Antje
Thank you. (Word)Recycling is great! Love it.
January 25, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Aurora K
I like this! Thanks for the tip to listen to the funny word combinations that can spark new stories.
January 25, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Katie Williams
I love eavesdropping! Thanks for the reminder to always be on the lookout for ideas : )
January 25, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Sally Lotz Spratt - Badass 2019🦋 (@SallyLotzSpratt)
I’ve had several great ideas after doing a little eavesdropping. Time to go back and look at my note and do a little recycling.
January 25, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Claire W Bobrow
I’m stuck on “Spying lord / Lying gourd” and hoping you wrote that book. If not, please do! Heading off to pick through my recycling bin now. Thanks for a great post, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Judy Pressler
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
January 25, 2019 at 12:32 pm
Barb Ostapina
Oh my goodness, what a diamond swordly great idea, Alli! Thanks
January 25, 2019 at 12:33 pm
michelemeleen
Reduce, reuse, recycle…the new motto of PB writers everywhere!🤣
January 25, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Gregory E Bray
My son has given me quite a few ideas. Thanks for the post.
January 25, 2019 at 12:36 pm
celticsea
I need to go hang out at a playground, but I don’t want to appear too creepy either since I would be there without children!
January 25, 2019 at 12:39 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Thanks for sharing Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Susan Twiggs
Ali,
Listening and playing with what you hear is a good idea and fun!
January 25, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Carmen White
Love the going back to old journals idea.
January 25, 2019 at 12:44 pm
aidantalkin
I love poking around in the old storystorm idea journal. Many ideas were dismissed with reason, but some ideas are fermenting beautifully and just waiting to be folded into something new.
January 25, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Mary Jane
Thank you very much Alli Brydon. I am diving into my old PiBoIdMo notebooks to look for some gold.
January 25, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Jennifer G Prevost
Eavesdropping! Word Association! Recycling! So many great nuggets here, thanks for the suggestions!
January 25, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Abigail Marble
Great ideas here — thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 12:54 pm
matthewlasley
This year I put my StoryStorm ideas from the past into an Excel spreadsheet so that I can look over them. Looking back, I am kind of “What was I thinking?” on some, “Oh yeah!” on others, and “What if…” on a few.
It is the “What ifs” that I look at and come up with a new story idea. The premise or characters may be the same, but I come up with a new, better use for them!
January 25, 2019 at 12:54 pm
mariaordish
Thanks for the post, Ali! I do this with my 7-year-old son ALL the time. And….he’s really good at giving some old MS’s a workover with ideas. Some are great…some not…but it’s a terrific resource!
January 25, 2019 at 12:54 pm
seschipper
At the start of storystorm 2019, I was going through my notebook/journals from the days of PIBOIDMO!! It was fun…now to recycle!!! 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 12:58 pm
marsha e wright
Thank you for spotlighting two classic sources for stories. On my index card for today’s Storystorm, I jotted down a way to recycle AND add word play into a PB I began two years ago. WOW! DOUBLE WOW! Spot-on ideas, Alli! Best of continued success in the publishing world.
January 25, 2019 at 12:59 pm
bonni goldberg
WE take recycling very seriously here in Portland, Oregon. We also like to keep it weird, so your advice resonates.
January 25, 2019 at 12:59 pm
supermario6
Reduce, reuse, recycle!
January 25, 2019 at 1:01 pm
Jeanine Potter
You call it recycling, I am calling it stuff diving! Thanks for sharing.
Hope you are enjoying the UK. My husband is a Brit The accents are really to die for. The vocabulary can be a challenge- English vs American. LOL!
January 25, 2019 at 1:02 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Reuse, repurpose, rearrange, redirect, restore, redefine, recover, redesign, reinvent, reorganize, refresh, re-energize, rewrite. You got my mind churning on recharging old ideas. Thanks, Alli.
January 25, 2019 at 1:02 pm
kristenrashid
Word association is great for sparking ideas, thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thank you for your inspiring post. I love to recycle.
January 25, 2019 at 1:04 pm
jenabenton
Love this post. Truly concrete examples I can apply. Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Kaylynn Johnsen
Eavesdropping, love it! Kids are a gold mine.
January 25, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Julie mondi
I am always hearing little bits on interesting conversations that I want to remember. Great idea to put them in a journal.
January 25, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Marie Sanderson
Thank you, Alli! I love the idea of recycling. Redeeming stuff that others may think is just junk. Fusing together old ideas is a helpful idea, too. I have only one Story Storm under my belt but I am planning to go back and revisit those ideas to see if there’s any treasure hiding in there.
January 25, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Debra Daugherty
For years I’ve written down silly sayings by my nieces and nephews, and I find some do creep into my writing. I also like the idea of word association. Thanks, Alli, for sharing.
January 25, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Viviane Elbee
Thank you for your helpful advice! 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 1:11 pm
annjex
nothing like real words from a child’s mouth for inspiration and imagination
January 25, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Heather Stigall
I have done this before (esp. the eavesdropping & mashing 2 “failed” old ideas together), and I will do it again! Thanks for the suggestion, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Stephanie Shaw
A great reminder that looking at old ideas and manuscripts might reveal ways to make discarded stories better.
January 25, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Cathy Ogren
Great post! I love eavesdropping on kids’ conversations.
January 25, 2019 at 1:13 pm
marlainawrites
I’m a fan of recycling and eavesdropping, but I haven’t tried free writing yet. Thanks for the post, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 1:16 pm
mona861
Got to go peek in the numerous notebooks hanging around! thanks
January 25, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Sheri Radovich
Interesting idea and when I am in the mall shopping I hear a lot of children moaning and playing and begging their parents to do things. I never have a place to sit and write them down and my memory for exact words is not helping.
January 25, 2019 at 1:22 pm
lizricewrites
Great idea — recycle – repurpose!
January 25, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Andrea Hibson
Thank you for the blog Alli
Bog Alley
Boggly
It reminds me of peanuts cartoon where one of the characters says ‘ gladly my cross eyed bear ‘ in prayer.
In the song your so vain, for years I sang his topic was Africa until I saw the lyrics. ‘His scarf it was apricot’ at least I think it was that way round.
Cheers / cheese/ ears ?
Andrea Hibson.
January 25, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Kay Phillips
Love your idea and the reminder of the amazing things kids say. Thank you.
January 25, 2019 at 1:28 pm
CJ Penko
All those poor unused ideas just sitting in my journals, lol! Thanks for this post! It’s great to be reminded to pay attention & to recycle those ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Aimee Satterlee
I love the idea of recycling, especially some of my earliest attempts at manuscripts. I think there are ideas there ready for a reboot. Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Paige
Thank you for those words wisdom! I must go back and take a look at my poor, long lost sentences that feel unwanted in my journals (-:
January 25, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Angie
I often scribble down phrases or words I hear that catch my attention. Recycling is a neat way of looking at it! Thanks
January 25, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Pam Miller
The one thing that I’ve learned about writing is that it can be improved with time. I’ll be taking a second look today. Thanks.
January 25, 2019 at 1:34 pm
wyszguy
Thank you! Thumbing through those PiBoIdMo journals!
January 25, 2019 at 1:39 pm
Melissa Escobar
What a wonderful post! I’m always on the lookout or should I say hear out for funny words and sayings. I scribble those down and I pay close attention when I’m with kids because they do say really funny things. I love the idea of word association and play with recycling. Thank you Alli! 😀
January 25, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Lisa Billa
Thanks! Recycling day! Time to hunt through mess of old notebooks. And maybe there’s a PB idea in Minecraft somewhere.
January 25, 2019 at 1:44 pm
Sherry Howard
Love the re-cycling, and also the eavesdropping. You can catch some great gems listening in on conversations among children!
January 25, 2019 at 1:46 pm
Jen Bagan
Thanks for the great advice Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Cynthia Harmony
Love recycling, composting and l even looked at last year’s storystorm ideas to maybe rescue them? Thank you for the post!
January 25, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Shanah Salter
Love eavesdropping for inspiration!
January 25, 2019 at 1:50 pm
carol w Munro
Mis-hearing words in conversations is a great way to generate ideas for manuscripts. The other day, my husband thought I said, “Get some Jesus at the grocery store.” Um, sure, hon. Jesus is gathering disciples over by the Brie and Gouda.
January 25, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Lynn Baldwin
Love the eavesdropping idea. My son and his friends do say the funniest things!
January 25, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Amelia G Gossman
Thank you for a great post! I hope to one day read about the lying gourd.
January 25, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Laura U
Great idea! It’s like autocorrect for your brain. Thank you for sharing.
January 25, 2019 at 1:53 pm
triciacandy
So, so many journals full of half baked ideas. Maybe today’s the day to revisit them. Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 1:57 pm
SARAH Meade
Great ideas. Thanks for the post!
January 25, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Gabi Snyder
Thanks, Alli! With recycling, sometimes two not-quite-right manuscripts can be melded together to form one just-right manuscript!
January 25, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Lisa Gerin
Enjoyed this post! Recycling old ideas is a great idea! Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 2:05 pm
higherthanrubies
I just looked at our recyclables pouring over the recycled box last night and thought….ugh. I have a whole new outlook. I will look through my recyclable ideas and let my husband deal with the box in the kitchen. Win win!
January 25, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Catrine Kyster
Some of my best ideas come from listening to what my daughter says.
January 25, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Marge Gower
Thanks for the encouragement. I have been saving my granddaughter’s nighttime quotes to use as fodder for a book. I will be pulling them out soon.
January 25, 2019 at 2:14 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Recycling and reconfiguring – always!
January 25, 2019 at 2:17 pm
tanyakonerman
I “eavesdrop” all day for snippets of inspiration. Love that you call it recycling!
January 25, 2019 at 2:20 pm
Rebecca Colby
Dare I say, I love eavesdropping on children. They always come out with the cutest things, and provide the best inspiration. Thanks for the post!
January 25, 2019 at 2:27 pm
Charlotte Offsay
Yes, my 3 and 5 year old are often at the heart of my new story ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Andrea MacDonald
Thank you, Alli. Sometimes as writers I think we feel more confident when someone gives us “permission” to try new techniques. Your blog post does exactly that. Much appreciated!
January 25, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Angie
I DO recycle my produce waste and toss cans into the bin…LOL. Thanks for the visuals (in my head) to get me thinking of recycling ideas. Happy brainstorming!
January 25, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Helen Lysicatos
Thank you for the tips!
January 25, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Pamela Harrison
I love your eavesdropping tip. Listening to kids’ conversations can produce some hilarious ideas. I wish I’d written down the comical things I’ve heard. Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 2:35 pm
writersideup
See, THIS is why I NEVER throw away anything I’ve written lol And OH how I love word play 😀 Great post, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Jennifer Broedel (@JBroedelAuthor)
I think I’ll take out a manuscript from last year (which was already a melding of two ideas). I knew it’d come in handy, one day! Thanks for the tips.
January 25, 2019 at 2:47 pm
laura516
Word associations and idea mashups: brilliant!
January 25, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Anne Bromley
Thank you, Alli, for the great reminders. There’s gold in there (anywhere!) somewhere!
January 25, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Jessica Dunnagan
I was stuck for an idea today until I read your post, and it got the wheels moving again in a recycling mode. Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 2:56 pm
leeanimator
Super helpful!!! Thanks for the recycling ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Linda Mitchell
Yes, kids are hilarious! I love eaves dropping on them all the time.
January 25, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth)
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy recycling and rewriting sleeping mss.
January 25, 2019 at 3:02 pm
chardixon47
Thank you, Alli 🙂 Recycle those old snippets into something new!
January 25, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Annie Cronin Romano
Thanks for the ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Nancy Colle
Can’t wait to weed through my old box of #Piboidmo bits. Thanks for the tips!
January 25, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Jennifer Weisse
Great ideas! And working with children, I get a lot of gems to write down!
January 25, 2019 at 3:18 pm
denitajohnson
Thank you, Alli I will recycle every time I hear my children playing. I have gotten a lot of ideas from them already.
January 25, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
Good tool. I don’t use it enough… I see it in action a lot – when I ask my dog (rhetorically), “Do you want a spankin’?” and she thinks I’m saying (not rhetorically), “Do you want some bacon?” and she zooms into the kitchen and faceplants against the refrigerator.
January 25, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Katie L. Carroll (@KatieLCarroll)
Word associations are so fun!
January 25, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
This sounds like a fun game! I want to play!
January 25, 2019 at 3:29 pm
andreesantini
So many ideas to sift back through, and now more ideas to combine them and play with the words. Thanks Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Mirka
I like the idea of combining two storylines and see what you get!
January 25, 2019 at 3:35 pm
Carolyn Currier
Thank you for upcycling such a simple idea and sharing it.
January 25, 2019 at 3:36 pm
karengreenwald2985
Love the analogy! Thanks for a great idea and fun post!
January 25, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Writer on the run
Thanks Alli for reminding me to go back through old lists. I need to be a little more organized about where I keep them all. Nonetheless, I will find them!
January 25, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Laurel Ranveig Abell
Since I now have a Story Storm Journal where I keep all of my zany ideas, I have a wealth of “junk” to look through! And I always do!
January 25, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Janet Halfmann
I often eavesdrop but usually don’t write down what I hear. Need to write down those could-be gems!
January 25, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Kirsten Pendreigh
Love to eavesdrop on the bus. Have written down lots of little snippets, now to read through them…
January 25, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Kelly Ohlert
Lying gourd lol! Thank you for sharing!
January 25, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Lucretia
Thanks for the great reminders, Alli. As a life-long recycler and re-purposer of stuff, I love your advice. So glad I have another legitimate reason not to throw out anything with potential! 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Janet AlJunaidi
Hi Alli,
That’s a great idea to go back to old lists and mash two together! Off to do that now! Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Jenna Feldman
Thanks for the post! And I love the critique give aways!!! So exciting.
January 25, 2019 at 4:02 pm
writeforapples1
Great post, thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Krista Maxwell
Thanks for the great ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 4:06 pm
Poupette Smith
Must word associate to exercise my brain! Thanks for the tip.
January 25, 2019 at 4:09 pm
jheitman22
These are great ways to recycle. I also sometimes twist or misinterpret words in news headlines for hilarious results. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 25, 2019 at 4:11 pm
Paula Puckett
These are helpful suggestions to think about going back in old notebooks to see if we can combine two ideas or make something new from something old. Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 4:11 pm
teacherwriteracker
Thanks Alli. Tuning up my ears and freeing my mind.
January 25, 2019 at 4:13 pm
Jodi Mckay
Ooh, I like this post! My old story storm/piboidmo ideas are right above this years so I’ll have to go back to look and rediscover. Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Sue Heavenrich
I’m a great fan of recycling. Also composting… for those old, stinky remains of ideas that were left at the back of the fridge for too long. Compost is cool – give it a year and new ideas sprout from it.
January 25, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
This is great. I love the idea of fusing two older ideas. Definitely gonna do that. And I am now working on a manuscript I wrote some 15 years ago. I actually like it and am working on revising. Everything old can be new again.
January 25, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Katie Giorgio
Great suggestions…thanks for sharing!
January 25, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Meredith
Love your tip. I think I’ll pass it along to Adelaide as well.
January 25, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Carolyn Kraft
Great recycling tips, thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Katie Engen
Word association as recycling = clever.
But I wonder… is this all REcycling or UPcycling?
January 25, 2019 at 4:42 pm
8catpaws
Eavesdrop nonstop
Jackpot! You’ve found your plot!
January 25, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Lori Dubbin
Thanks for sharing your great ideas about digging into old notebooks and then melting and melding ideas.
January 25, 2019 at 4:54 pm
Jane Baskwill
Thanks Alli. Great advice. I eavesdrop a lot – especially when kids are talking. Like the other day when my granddaughters where talking and and the five year old said to the four year old – “If the fairies don’t come I’ll just have to knock out a tooth!” You never know where the bits you overhear will lead you.
January 25, 2019 at 4:58 pm
pathaap
Great post! I love when old ideas take on new twists.
January 25, 2019 at 5:02 pm
Kim Erickson
I love this post. It’s great to recycle when you face writer’s block!
January 25, 2019 at 5:03 pm
Kaye Baillie
I have a few lines that I love, can’t part with, from old manuscripts that will never be what I intended. But yes, I will recycle those beloved lines.
January 25, 2019 at 5:11 pm
Sarah Hetu-Radny
Allie, Kids do say the funniest things!! I was really good with recording what my son, my first child said as he learned to talk… not as much time with my second child !! Now I write down what they both say on scraps of paper and transcribe it into a journal . That’s how I got a lot of picture book ideas ! I would love to win a critique! Sarah
January 25, 2019 at 5:11 pm
authorlaurablog
I’ve always been “green” and an avid recycler! Now I have a new way to recycle. Thanks
January 25, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Laurie Bouck
Thanks for a great post! I’ve gone through some old ideas and recycled them into even better ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 5:22 pm
Heather Gallagher
I have oodles of old ideas – you’ve encouraged me to go have a fossick!
January 25, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Helen Matthews
Old piboidmo notes coming up!
January 25, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Robin Robb-Kraus
Thank you Alli for your words from experience! Looking forward to trying it!
January 25, 2019 at 5:35 pm
kiwijenny
Thanks for permission to eavesdrop. Lol
January 25, 2019 at 5:36 pm
angie9091
Thanks for sharing!
January 25, 2019 at 5:42 pm
karammitchell
My favorite is when I write down something completely obscure (and if written in the car – at a stoplight – equally difficult to decipher.) I look at it later and have no idea why that was important! So, I’ll keep those notes from now on. Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Teresa Traver
Lots of great tips here. Hanging around kids is SUCH great inspiration!
January 25, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Kellie
This post reminded me that I have a couple of ‘classics’ from words my children have sung along to … that are totally wrong, but very very funny. Writing these down now!
January 25, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Lizzie Maxwell Harris
I need to be recycled so I’m picking myself up, dusting myself off, and getting back in the game. Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Nancy Ferguson
Thank you, Alli, I have PILES of old ideas and quick drafts. I just sorted some of them. Now to get to work.
January 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Andrea Mack
Great ideas! Time to sort through the file cabinet!
January 25, 2019 at 6:32 pm
Shawna J Tenney
Thanks for the great idea! Going to look through old things!
January 25, 2019 at 6:38 pm
RebeccaTheWriter
Awesome post! I actually keep a book of “funny things my kids say” and it’s helped quite a lot with ideas!!
January 25, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Janice Woods
Fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 6:49 pm
jaclynsmiller
Freewriting can be invaluable. Thanks for the reminder.
January 25, 2019 at 6:50 pm
Erika Henkart
I love listening to kids! They say the best things!
January 25, 2019 at 6:53 pm
Amy Bradshaw
I would love to show you my work – Thank you for sharing your ideas and offering a critique!
January 25, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Sue Frye
I love free writing. What wonderful ideas
January 25, 2019 at 7:09 pm
Shirley
Thanks for sharing. Those are some great tips.
January 25, 2019 at 7:17 pm
authoryvonafast
Thank for your encouragement to listen, to eavesdrop, and to recycle those words and great ideas! Great post.
January 25, 2019 at 7:38 pm
pjaegly
Alli, you gave me new ideas on how to recycle. I love listening to my grandchildren talk and now I will start jotting down their gems.
January 25, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Suzanne LaLiberte Lewis
Love your creative approach for tapping the recycle bin to generate new story ideas. Thanks, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 7:42 pm
lizbedia
I love to recycle! Thanks so much for reminding me how important it is with my writing, Alli!
January 25, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Sarah Tobias
This is great. I made my theme for this year, “Use what you have.” I have ideas from last year’s Reforemo, drafts that have never been revised, and lately a collection of small pieces of plastic and glass collected from the beach. I love to recycle and compost. I am going to pull these all together and create something new and wonderful.
January 25, 2019 at 7:50 pm
Cassie Bentley
I love this. I hear things wrong, but never thought to recycle them into a story. This morning I decided to throw out some old drafts…not now. I’ll combine, recycle, reuse, reinvent, and re imagine them. Thank you.
January 25, 2019 at 7:51 pm
MONICA HARRIS
I just overheard a child today saying something that wasn’t exactly accurate but it made me giggle!
January 25, 2019 at 7:51 pm
Sara A
I love these ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 7:56 pm
Amy Harding
Great reminder that nothing in writing is wasted!
January 25, 2019 at 8:05 pm
Nancy Ramsey
Great ideas! Thanks for this post!
January 25, 2019 at 8:12 pm
Mel Copeman
I found some old story storm note books when spring cleaning, so I’ll be recycling the ideas in them soon.
January 25, 2019 at 8:16 pm
nicolesalterbraun
I mis-hear (LOL) things all the time. Never thought to write it down. Thx
January 25, 2019 at 8:17 pm
Debbi G
Thanks! Like your idea of a recycling center.
January 25, 2019 at 8:24 pm
Jenifer McNamara
Enjoyed your post about recycling words to make them your own.
January 25, 2019 at 8:36 pm
Rinda Beach
I love how you’re making what was old, new again.
January 25, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Janet Frenck Sheets
Your anecdote about mishearing your son’s words makes me think of a similar experience — when I glance at a headline and misread a word, changing the meaning to something really bizarre! Thanks for sharing.
January 25, 2019 at 8:46 pm
https://katiewalsh.blog/
I love eavesdropping on my kid’s conversations. They are hilarious. I should take note. You never know when an idea pops up! Thanks for sharing.
January 25, 2019 at 8:46 pm
heidikyates
Thank you for the reminder to pay attention to what I hear. 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 8:56 pm
LenoraBiemans (@BiemansLenora)
Oooooh. This just has me giddy. Thanks for framing your advice in a fresh way. 🙂
January 25, 2019 at 9:03 pm
James Arthur
This helps a lot. I need to go back through all of mine and see what else might be there.
January 25, 2019 at 9:06 pm
authoraileenstewart
Word recycling is the best!
January 25, 2019 at 9:17 pm
Joann Howeth
Recycling is a wonderful thing! I’ve even had two ideas from different Storystorm years collide with one another to create a whole new premise! Love it! Thanks for the great article.
January 25, 2019 at 9:26 pm
Helen Taylor
An excuse to eavesdrop? if you say so!
January 25, 2019 at 9:27 pm
DaNeil Olson
Thank you for the brilliant post. The wheels are turning!
January 25, 2019 at 9:32 pm
Jennifer
Love the suggestion of taking a fresh look at old ideas and maybe even fusing different things together ina new way. Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 9:44 pm
Natalie Lynn Tanner
ALLI: I LOVE the idea that our brains are “recycling center.” I’m feeling some wheels turning. THANK YOU for the inspiration!!!
January 25, 2019 at 9:47 pm
Chelle Martin
People watching is great for story ideas. I love my friend’s stories about the cute things his niece’s say. Thanks for the reminder about recycling. It’s great finding old ideas to be useful in something totally new.
January 25, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Buffy Silverman
Love the connection between word association and recycling–great suggestion for getting the brain going!
January 25, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Sandy Foster
I think I’ll dig out my old notebooks and see what I can recycle! Thank you for the great tips.
January 25, 2019 at 9:56 pm
Debra Katz
Always a good reminder to go back to to that back lost of ideas. I know I have a ton of them and couldn’t tell you what most of them are. There may be a hidden gem in there. I guess it’s time I found out….
January 25, 2019 at 9:59 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
Fresh eyes on old ideas . . . time to mix and meld!
January 25, 2019 at 10:02 pm
Sylvia Grech
Thank you for the great ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 10:06 pm
Rona Shirdan
Time to pull out my list of old ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 10:07 pm
denarose
I love all your suggestions! I especially liked your suggestion to use word associations. Thank you!
January 25, 2019 at 10:20 pm
Steve Schwartz
Thanks for introducing a fun way to generate ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 10:39 pm
susanzonca
I love the concept of recycling!
January 25, 2019 at 11:22 pm
Cathy Pledger
I have to admit, I am love to eavesdrop. One can pick up great info sometimes. Thank you for validating my listening to surrounding conversations.
January 25, 2019 at 11:23 pm
writeknit
I love the idea of recycling words and ideas!
January 25, 2019 at 11:33 pm
Jane Serpa
Thank you for sharing.
January 25, 2019 at 11:43 pm
Mary Lou Johnson
I love it when the words flow.
January 25, 2019 at 11:43 pm
rgstones
Love the thought of recycling ideas. Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Beth Gallagher
Thanks for the great inspiration on inspiration! ! It really sparked a couple of “extended offshoot ideas” from rejected ideas of yore. Thank you! 😊
January 25, 2019 at 11:52 pm
Carol Gwin Nelson
Great ideas! I need to look through my old lists and see where I can combine things. Thanks!
January 25, 2019 at 11:55 pm
Katja Bertazzo
Thanks for this post.
January 25, 2019 at 11:58 pm
Natasha Garnett
Thank you for recycling tips! A critique would make me nervous but it’d be great to win one. Good luck, Storystormers.
January 26, 2019 at 12:09 am
Rebekah Lowell
So true!
January 26, 2019 at 12:23 am
Le Anne Brown
It does feel look subconscious junk flow sometimes.
January 26, 2019 at 12:24 am
Jennifer Hunt
Recycling words and ideas! What a fun exercise! I can’t wait to do it!
January 26, 2019 at 12:33 am
Sharon Nix Jones
Lots of good info!
January 26, 2019 at 12:48 am
betlw
I love your hint of recycling ideas and old manuscripts or pieces of writing you’ve forgotten about. Maybe now they could be used in a story. Thanks for the tips.
January 26, 2019 at 12:48 am
Jennifer
What a great idea. Chances are, we’ve forgotten what some of those old ideas were, and will come up with new ideas just trying to decipher our own notes!
January 26, 2019 at 1:10 am
Tanya Shock
Hi Alli! Great post! ❤️ Thanks for sharing.😊
January 26, 2019 at 1:18 am
Cheryl Malandrinos
Love the idea of recycling in one way or another. Thanks for sharing this.
January 26, 2019 at 1:30 am
carmelamccainsimmons
Melding two ideas into one new story is genius! Thanks so much!
January 26, 2019 at 2:34 am
mbhmaine
I’m always amazed at what I find when I look through my old notebooks. Did I write that?! (She said with wonder… or horror.) Thanks for the reminder to go mining!
January 26, 2019 at 3:14 am
Jo Jo Harder
Great post Alli! Recycling is always a good idea! Thank you for sharing!
January 26, 2019 at 3:26 am
Kathy
Absolutely! Lots of ways to spin the yarn. Thanks for the reminder!
January 26, 2019 at 3:38 am
fireurchin
Thanks for the stamp of approval on turning junk into treasure. In the middle of a recycle on a past story right now… and hoping it works, and can sparkle one day soon.
bonnie fireurchin lambourn
http://fireUrchin.com
January 26, 2019 at 4:41 am
Tina Cho
Thank you. I like reading through my old Storystorm notebooks to recycle ideas.
January 26, 2019 at 4:53 am
Erin Le Clerc
I love when this happens. Seeing ideas transform and grow is so magical!
January 26, 2019 at 5:46 am
sharongiltrow
I love this idea to look at old story ideas and recycle them :-).
January 26, 2019 at 7:12 am
suzannepoulterharris
Great idea! Planning to read through my past StoryStorm ideas to see what can be recycled or combined into something new.
January 26, 2019 at 7:57 am
Shel ledrew
Diamond 🗡!!!
January 26, 2019 at 8:05 am
Mary Warth
Thanks for the great recycling suggestions. I love the word associations!
January 26, 2019 at 8:09 am
Erik Ammon
Recycling! That’s why we should never throw away/ delete ANY idea, no matter how bad or useless it may seem. You never know what idea it might spark!
January 26, 2019 at 8:14 am
Bettie Boswell
Oooooo. A critique. I’ve got a few stories to recycle into a critique-able story. Thanks for resharing this idea.
January 26, 2019 at 8:32 am
Robin Jordan
Recycling! What a neat way to look at things. Why throw out what can be used again? Thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2019 at 8:36 am
Margaret Flint Suter
As a firm believer in reduce, recyle and re-use, this struck home with me, going through all my pocket “just in case I get a flash” notebooks and mining for gems…wiping of the slime of failure is another kind of freedom! Let’s try this one THIS way! Thanks Alli!
January 26, 2019 at 9:12 am
Kim Wilson (@AuthorKimWilson)
Grabbing my pen and paper now – thanks for the inspiration!
January 26, 2019 at 9:18 am
Nancy Riley
Maybe not recycle, but upcycle! Dust it off, make edits and have something better than where you started! Thanks so much for the ideas!
January 26, 2019 at 9:32 am
Alexandra Hinrichs
Your post makes me want to play! And got me thinking about one of my first manuscripts. Thank you!
January 26, 2019 at 10:01 am
megcason1
Some of my best ideas have come from my kids!! Thank you for this post!
January 26, 2019 at 10:09 am
Matt Forrest Esenwine
If I’m not being inspired by my own kids, I’m being inspired by their friends at school or the library…keeping eyes & ears open is always good advice!
January 26, 2019 at 10:15 am
Joy Pitcairn
Thanks for the suggestions, Alli!
January 26, 2019 at 10:15 am
Nadine Poper
I love your example of eavesdropping! Funny! Thank you.
January 26, 2019 at 10:33 am
cravevsworld
Thank you for sharing!
January 26, 2019 at 10:37 am
marykatesmithdespres
Thanks, Alli!
January 26, 2019 at 10:42 am
dlapmandi
I write down the interesting words, phrases, motions, and weird situations that I hope one day will make it into a manuscript.
January 26, 2019 at 10:47 am
kaleegwarjanski
Thank you for sharing!
January 26, 2019 at 11:11 am
Anna Ouchchy
Thanks for this post! I love the part about the freedom of word play.
January 26, 2019 at 11:13 am
bookfish1
Keeping in tune to old ideas, and what kids say is so true. Some of my successes have came from these, thanks for the reminder.
January 26, 2019 at 11:17 am
bgonsar
👌🏻 Spot on advice.
January 26, 2019 at 11:23 am
Jennifer Phillips
Recycling. Good for the planet. Good for your writing. Great reminders!
January 26, 2019 at 11:44 am
Joni Nemeth
I love the part of writing down ideas – sometimes it’s gems, but sometimes it makes no sense (usually the ones that wake me up in the night and I quick jot something in my phone notes)!
January 26, 2019 at 11:47 am
Janie Reinart
Great ideas to recycle and look at old ideas too! Enjoyed your extended metaphor.
January 26, 2019 at 11:50 am
Elizabeth Metz
Yes! The best idea I’ve had yet this Storystorm came from combining the ashes of a failed manuscript years ago with a recent family member’s Facebook post about her kids. I think there might actually be something there.
January 26, 2019 at 12:11 pm
jeanjames926
I love this idea! Eyes wide, ears perked, and thoughts recycled. Thank you!
January 26, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Sensibility and Sense
Love this! I’ve got some serious recycling to do! Thank you so much:) Patti RIchards
January 26, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Midge Ballou Smith
Great advice! Thank you, Alli!
January 26, 2019 at 1:11 pm
marty
Paying attention and playing around with possibilities. Great story stuff! Thanks.
January 26, 2019 at 1:21 pm
rjtraxel
Recycle, great advice.
January 26, 2019 at 1:57 pm
Nancy Kotkin (@Brave_New_Words)
I love to recycle, and I do it with my writing too. Sometimes what doesn’t work in one format fits well in another. I’ve also developed some story ideas from eavesdropping, and from connecting different overheard conversations and/or observed actions together. Thanks for the great post!
January 26, 2019 at 1:59 pm
Sallye O'Rourke
Alli! Enjoyed this!
January 26, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Megan Whitaker
Eavesdropping is a great-though creepy-activity to do around kids. I do it everyday on the playground 🙂
January 26, 2019 at 2:33 pm
Lisa Riddiough
I love the idea of taking two ideas from Storystorm and melding them together!! Who know what could happen?
January 26, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Amanda Davis
Recycle! Recycle! Recycle! Yes! Dusting off my old journals 😁 ♻️ ❤️! Thanks for the tip, Ali.
January 26, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Brenda Harris
Thank you for the tip. 🙂
January 26, 2019 at 2:44 pm
readstuffnwrite
Thanks for your advice. There are some old notebooks and scraps of paper I need to look at!
January 26, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Paula VanEnkevort
Great suggestions! Time to look at my old notes/ideas.
January 26, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Kathleen Wilcox
Love your recycling idea – pulling out past Storystorm lists to sift through with that in mind. Thank you!
January 26, 2019 at 3:06 pm
rhumba20
Great tips! Thanks Alli!
-Anna Levin
January 26, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Suzanne Alexander
I definitely am going to dust off an old manuscript and give it new life. Thank you for the inspiration.
January 26, 2019 at 3:16 pm
K.A.Steed
This is a great reminder to look back through my notes ; ) Thanks!
January 26, 2019 at 3:50 pm
Cynthia Hawthorne
I love the ideas of recycling (and especially re-purposing). Thank you.
January 26, 2019 at 4:04 pm
curryelizabeth
Love the post. Recycling and repurposing can become magic in a manuscript.
January 26, 2019 at 4:11 pm
Angela De Groot
Meld. Fuse. Raking through my old ideas to see if I can repurpose or reimagine them. Thanks, Alli.
January 26, 2019 at 4:22 pm
Carrie Finison
This is one of my favorite ways of finding new ideas. Thank you, Alli.
January 26, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Teresa Robeson
I do recycle and reuse some old ideas! But I also have a million new ones waiting for me to give them a chance that I don’t get around to using as many old ones as I’d like. 🙂
January 26, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Jacqueline Adams
Your post got me thinking about a story that I had to shelf years ago. Now I see a new way that the story can work–and be much better than before. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 26, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Kathy O'Neill
I really liked these ideas! Thank you!
January 26, 2019 at 4:58 pm
mhklump
Great suggestions! I’m off to go eavesdrop on my little one.
January 26, 2019 at 5:01 pm
kmajor2013
Being a retired environmental engineer, your post stimulated creative juices. Time to go back to some of my environmental roots and my old notebooks! Thanks, Alli!
January 26, 2019 at 5:08 pm
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
I love recycling! Can’t wait to try those word associations! Amd totally heading to your website to subscribe 😁
January 26, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Kirsten Leestma (@missleestma)
Great analogy! Thanks!
January 26, 2019 at 6:13 pm
Laurie L. Warchol
All great suggestions, Alli! Hope you are enjoying the UK.
January 26, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Trine Grillo
I like this approach. Thanks for the ideas.
January 26, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Keila Dawson
Recycling words! Love that.
January 26, 2019 at 7:24 pm
Heather Kelso
Thank you for the great post Alli.
Great reminder to keep our ears open and to peek through some past ideas to see what sparks new ideas.
January 26, 2019 at 7:34 pm
Marcia Berneger
Recycled words and ideas–I love that!! I need to go back and look at my old list of ideas again! I can’t wait to twist out new story gems! Thanks!!
January 26, 2019 at 7:43 pm
Betsy Parkinson
YES! For some reason this just clicked with me! Thank you! Opportunities everywhere for recycling words.
January 26, 2019 at 7:49 pm
Hank Dallago
Time to pull-out all of my old writing journals and get busy recycling those choice words and phrases. Thanks for the reminder! Glad I never threw them out.
January 26, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Kathleen Cornell-Berman
Thanks Alli. Recycling is important. Looking back on old ms is imperative. That’s how we learn and improve our craft.
January 26, 2019 at 8:38 pm
Sandy Perlic
My old PiBoIdMo/Storystorm notebooks are a great source of inspiration – there’s always a few ideas that can be fleshed out a bit more every time I look through them. Thanks for the post!
January 26, 2019 at 9:47 pm
Robyn Campbell
I have several recycled manuscripts. Ha. And I am ready to send off two of them. After learning so much more than I thought possible I had the tools to remake those stories. Thanks so much for the post.
January 26, 2019 at 10:24 pm
Jolene Ballard Gutierrez
I love these ideas and the reminder to use what’s right in front of us and recycle or revisit old ideas/manuscripts. Thank you!
January 26, 2019 at 10:35 pm
kelliejanebyrnes
Great post, thank you. I agree – it’s amazing how we can see things so differently when we look back at old notebooks and papers later on, and see ideas in a completely new light.
January 26, 2019 at 11:11 pm
Laura Mannering
Off to the recycle depot I go! Thanks:)
January 27, 2019 at 12:38 am
Rani Iyer
Totally using this idea. I found some Pibomo ideas that need a breather and new life! Totally taking this.
January 27, 2019 at 1:16 am
storycatcherpublishing
I mishear words all the time and end up with some incredibly funny phrases that can sometimes lead to some pretty awesome visuals…;)
Great post!
January 27, 2019 at 2:55 am
Vicki Wilke
Recycle and revise and voila! Thanks!
January 27, 2019 at 5:40 am
Maria J Cuesta
Thanks for the eco inspiration. 😉
January 27, 2019 at 7:55 am
Freda Lewkowicz
Thank you for opening the for to more ideas.
January 27, 2019 at 8:33 am
Patti Ranson (@pcakeran)
I’m off to drag out those old journals and review again – thank you 🙂
January 27, 2019 at 8:54 am
Carol Gordon Ekster
Alli, thanks for this inspiration. I’ll be recycling through my old #storystorm lists. Great post!
January 27, 2019 at 9:33 am
PJ Taub
Alli, thank you for the generous offer.
January 27, 2019 at 9:43 am
Amalia Reef
A good day always starts with a bit of recycling! Thank you for this!
January 27, 2019 at 10:27 am
Kristin Wauson
Inspiring post! I’m about to dig out some old notebooks and give it a try.
January 27, 2019 at 10:36 am
Sara Fajardo
Thanks!
January 27, 2019 at 10:42 am
Carolyn Lucas
Love this. I’m always getting ideas from my son and his friends. Thank you.
January 27, 2019 at 11:51 am
Lynn Alpert
I love hanging out in the children’s section of a bookstore and eavesdrop. I haven’t done that in a while – thanks for the reminder!
January 27, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Tracey Brown
Thanks for your reminder to recycle, An overheard comment can spark a revision idea
January 27, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Mardi Edwards
This is a very good reminder that the old notes may turn into treasures some day.
January 27, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Lucky Jo Boscarino
OMG baby goats! Ahem, I mean, thanks for your advice.
January 27, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Maria Bostian
Loved the recycling theme. Thanks for the ideas. Last year, I startwd re-writing old conference notes. I was amazed at all the ideas I had tucked away that I had forgotten about
January 27, 2019 at 12:47 pm
rrmalin
Recycle, reuse, and repurpose. Time to look at some old stories.
January 27, 2019 at 1:06 pm
topangamaria
Wonderful new spin on recycling
January 27, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Sarah Skolfield
love word associations but need to practice my eavesdropping!
January 27, 2019 at 2:15 pm
debbiemccue
I love composting and recycling! Thanks for the great ideas.
January 27, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
The best advice is to look back over old journals from time to time. You can find some gems!
January 27, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Maria Marshall
Love those misheard words & sayings. One day, that really cool (non-working) old idea will either become a story or spark the genesis for one. Thanks for the reminder to go back and look at them.
January 27, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Christine Pinto
Thanks for the reminder to do word associations as regular “practice” especially with the idea that nothing has to come of it right away.
January 27, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Jen Fier Jasinski
Wonderful post! Thanks for the encouragement to sift and sort through old ideas… and to keep it green!
January 27, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Andrew Lefebvre
I hang onto everything. I always think that random ideas may fit somewhere else.
January 27, 2019 at 4:59 pm
Marie Powell
Very cool ideas! Sneaking off to eavesdrop now…
January 27, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Janet Halfmann
I’m an avid recycler–have to think even more of doing it with my writing.
January 27, 2019 at 6:25 pm
joyceschr
Recycle and up-cycle! Great tips to keep us continually sifting through our creative output. Thanks!
January 27, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Joyce
I love the idea of generating more misheard words – fun. Thanks.
January 27, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Sara Matson
Great tips. Thank you!
January 27, 2019 at 7:30 pm
Jud Ward
I’ve been in a slump the last few days, but I love to recycle! Recycle ideas? I can do that. Thanks.
January 27, 2019 at 7:56 pm
juliannahelt
Thanks!
January 27, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
I love recycling ideas by banging the old ones up against each other, making something altogether new.
January 27, 2019 at 8:19 pm
Jamie Schultz
I’ve been a professional eavesdropper since childhood. I’m excited to look back through some old journals (often filled with one-liners from forgotten conversations) and *fingers crossed* find some inspirational gems!
January 27, 2019 at 9:03 pm
Anne Appert
Love all these tips. Sometimes, I recycle old ideas without even realizing it…an idea just sits in my mind and shows up in a couple of different ideas until it finally takes root in the right manuscript. Thank you for this post!
January 27, 2019 at 9:17 pm
Jill
Good idea! I have so many former ideas that might be ready to develop now that I have worked on my craft. Thanks!
January 27, 2019 at 9:31 pm
Lucy Staugler
Alli, I’m furiously writing the comments the grandkids are making while playing word games on their IPads, while also reading an old story based on comments the grandkids made!👍👍
Thank-you!
January 27, 2019 at 9:47 pm
DB Cote
I liked your statement, “Word association/word play unlocks your subconscious brain and turns it into a recycling center.” Thank you.
January 27, 2019 at 10:22 pm
J.D. Silverwood (@jdsilverwood)
Great advice, Alli. I keep a notebook specifically for capturing all the silly moments I encounter in the wild. 🙂
January 27, 2019 at 10:23 pm
Nicole Loos Miller (@beautify_life)
Love this idea! I need to write down the things I overhear much more often. I always think I’ll remember them but there’s not enough coffee in the world for that to be true…
January 27, 2019 at 10:55 pm
aturner513
This is a great idea. I have five notebooks full of Storystorm ideas. Hopefully I have some buried treasure in there somewhere.
January 27, 2019 at 11:00 pm
margrelisefreeland
Your post reminded me of Chinese Whispers where the story gets changed the more you pass it round the circle
January 27, 2019 at 11:40 pm
creationsbymit
Old ideas…..they can actually become GOOD ideas when you take a fresh approach to them!
Michele Katz Grieder
January 27, 2019 at 11:52 pm
Zoraida Rivera
Did find a lot of old stories while closet cleaning and have old notebooks from PiBoIdMo. And I do recycle, so now notebook ideas, beware!
January 28, 2019 at 12:01 am
Jenny Boyd
Thanks! I can’t wait to revisit my list from PiBoIdMo past, see what I’ve got there, dust off an idea and, see how I might rework it….Or even just work it.
January 28, 2019 at 12:05 am
Janet Smart
Hmmm. I like to recycle!
January 28, 2019 at 12:49 am
Hillary Homzie
Long live the dust-off!
January 28, 2019 at 2:58 am
Michelle Sumovich
Great ideas! I love that each of these suggestions flexes a different creative muscle. Looking forward to combining as well. Thank you, Alli!
January 28, 2019 at 3:00 am
AlisonMarcotte
Love this! I always get discouraged when I can’t think of a full-formed story idea, but I really should look into recycling old ideas of mine and fusing them together!
January 28, 2019 at 3:24 am
Terri Sabol
Eavesdropping on children is genius! I need to offer to babysit my friends’ children. Thanks!
January 28, 2019 at 7:27 am
Stacey Corrigan
Thanks for the great ideas. I am going to dig into my old files tonight. Thanks
January 28, 2019 at 7:30 am
Lisa L Furness
I love to eavesdrop on kids’ conversations in my class, on the playground, in the lunchroom (if you can hear them) lol and anywhere children are talking to each other. Great post on how to find new story ideas from your old ideas too!
January 28, 2019 at 9:14 am
Elizabeth Steinglass
I love eavesdropping on kids. They say the best things.
January 28, 2019 at 9:37 am
Nicole Strangman
Love the idea that old ideas can become useful
January 28, 2019 at 9:39 am
Katie B
Word association is always so fun!
January 28, 2019 at 10:14 am
CindyC
Thanks for a great post and A Day In the Life of Marlon Bundo!
January 28, 2019 at 10:25 am
alisongoldberg
Thanks for this advice!
January 28, 2019 at 10:57 am
Penny Parker Klostermann
I love recycling! In fact, I just recycled a picture book manuscript and think my recycling paid off!
Thanks!
January 28, 2019 at 11:02 am
Beth Gallagher
Love this! 💗
January 28, 2019 at 11:59 am
Monica Stoltzfus
Love this Alli! I’m ALL about recycling old ideas! 🌟👍👀
January 28, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Melissa Stoller
Great ideas, Alli! I’m going back through all my old StoryStorm journals now!
January 28, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Ashley Bankhead
I love the idea of recycling words. So fun, and a great way to come up with new ideas. Thank you!
January 28, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Dawn
Recycle!
January 28, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Nadine Gamble
Yes, thanks you. I have several notebooks I haven’t looked at in a while.
January 28, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Lillian Heckinger
Your comments are so clever and thought provoking. Thank you!
January 28, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Gail Hedrick
I hate to part with notebooks, so this gives me a totally new way to look at them. And. potentially use them! Thanks so very much. P.S. I love to people watch-this now gives me ‘permission’ to people listen!
January 28, 2019 at 3:22 pm
RaeMcDonald
Thank you for your creativity boost with making connections and going with a new flow.
January 28, 2019 at 3:36 pm
goodreadswithronna
Time to dust off the old notebooks (okay keyboards since everything’s on the computer) and look at old stories that didn’t work for one reason or another the first time around. I needed to hear this.
January 28, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Debbie Huard
Thank you for the great tips. Word association is so hard for me to just let go and do, but I’m willing to give it a go.
January 28, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Joannie Duris
Thanks, Alli, for all the recycling tips. Old ideas may just need the right home to sparkle. I love word play and melding words together, even if it means spellcheck will have a fit.
January 28, 2019 at 5:57 pm
aliciaminor
Old picture book ideas deserve to be given a chance and tried one more time and I’m sure everyone has a pile. Thank you.
January 28, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Dani Duck
I have hundreds of story ideas that just aren’t going anywhere. I need to look at them again and see how they can be recycled into something I love.
January 28, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Maritza M. Mejía
This is a good idea. Thanks!
January 28, 2019 at 7:05 pm
kjerstenhayes
Great post! Thanks!
January 28, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Noelle McBride
My pockets at the end of my teaching day are usually crammed with scribbles of the funny things kids say, sometimes directly to me! It’s all gold 🙂
January 28, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Kyle McBride
Oooooh. Watching people!
January 28, 2019 at 9:40 pm
kathydoherty1
I get at least a B- in easedropping on kids. They do say the funniest things.
January 28, 2019 at 11:26 pm
Diane Tulloch
Yep, I’ve still got some of those old ideas. Ha you reminded me of when I popped in to a hardware store a couple of days ago and the little cute Asian girl (about 2-3) was yabbering away to her dad in Chinese swinging on the end of his hand and after seeing me walk past she suddenly burst into singing “Old McDonalds Farm” as clear as anything in English. Made me smile.
January 28, 2019 at 11:29 pm
Lydia Lukidis
Never thought about recycling words before, thanks!!
January 28, 2019 at 11:37 pm
Karan Greene
Such a fun analogy! Thanks!
January 28, 2019 at 11:47 pm
Jill M Proctor
Ah, you’ve brought back some ideas from the past. Thanks for the memories!
January 29, 2019 at 2:14 am
Brenda Miller
Eavesdropping on conversations feels wrong. Except that it’s a great way to get ideas!
January 29, 2019 at 2:53 am
claireannette1
I have piles to recycle. Thanks for the suggestions.
January 29, 2019 at 10:07 am
Mary Worley
I’m hoping you wrote the lying gourd story! It’s fun to look back on past lists.
January 29, 2019 at 10:23 am
Carrie Kruck
I can’t count how many ideas have come from eavesdropping on my kids and their friends in the backseat of my car 🙂 One of the few times when I enjoy being ignored by my kids!
January 29, 2019 at 10:51 am
Leslie Leibhardt Goodman - Writer
I’m sure I’ve got some manuscripts from YEARS ago that I’d like to recycle into a “working” story. Thanks for the inspiration.
January 29, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Kassy Keppol
Hope to someday read about your diamond sworded dinosaur.
January 29, 2019 at 1:02 pm
hdening
Recycling for hidden gems mixed with a little eavesdropping…. oh, the possibilities.
January 29, 2019 at 1:19 pm
LaurenKerstein
What a wonderful post! Hidden gems in our recycling piles. I love this! Thank you!
January 29, 2019 at 1:19 pm
Susan Schade
Recycled writing! I love it.
January 29, 2019 at 2:12 pm
hannahtuohyillustration
Thanks for sharing! I loved your Diamond Sword word play!
January 29, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Susie Sawyer
Love the Minecraft reference, Alli! This totally resonated with me! I’m all for recycling, especially with my story ideas!
January 29, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Meilssa Chupp
I find myself writing on my hand a lot when I happen to overhear people saying things that would make a good book idea.
January 29, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Laurel Goodluck
I am just discovering the joys of recycling my “bad” ideas into a new theme. I think my subconscious did not want to give them up. Thank you for your insight that gave me a “pat on the back” confirmation.
January 29, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Kathy
Love this idea! I’m still pulling ideas from my 2018 Storystorm journal. And listening to children is always a great resource. Thank you!
January 29, 2019 at 6:26 pm
photojaq
Recycle… only use the stuff yourself. Reinvent. Repurpose. How about an old story from a contest about the Statue of Liberty?
January 29, 2019 at 7:04 pm
jessica shaw
Thanks, Alli! Mining past Storystorm and PiBoIdMo ideas for bits of gold is a great idea:)
January 29, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Francoise
Great post — and welcome to the UK!
January 29, 2019 at 7:28 pm
Anita
Thank you!
January 29, 2019 at 10:58 pm
Charlene Avery
Lovely idea! Thank you
January 29, 2019 at 11:37 pm
nicolesharkeybooks
I always like the storystorm posts reminding us we can reuse our old abandoned ideas.
January 30, 2019 at 12:44 am
Tiffany Painter
I’m going to start jotting down all of the things I mishear my students saying.Thanks for the idea of word association.
January 30, 2019 at 2:48 am
Savannah
I love word play and recycling. Perfect! 😉 Thank you!
January 30, 2019 at 6:23 am
Kathryn E Kass
Thank you for the wondering ideas!
January 30, 2019 at 6:47 am
Rick Starkey
Thanks for sharing this. Mishearing words or phrases can be a great and funny way to get ideas.
January 30, 2019 at 8:13 am
Patricia Alcaro
Great suggestions. Thank you!
January 30, 2019 at 11:45 am
Myrna Foster
I have so many old ideas and manuscripts. Thank you!
January 30, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Tracy Abell
“…throw it all out there and onto the page, single-stream recycling style.” This is such great advice. Thank you.
January 30, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Susan Tuggy
Word associations/word play is a great idea!
January 30, 2019 at 1:14 pm
Sharron Magyar
I love listening to what children have to say. Looking forward to revisiting old ideas!
January 30, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Michelle Kashinsky
Thank you, Alli! I’m constantantly hearing my daughters say the most hysterical word combinations and I’ve been hoping to incorporate them in a MS. This gives me hope and drive. Thank you!
January 30, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Kimberly
Great ideas! I still have some favorite words that my kids said when they were little. Think I’ll write them down! Thank you!
January 30, 2019 at 3:27 pm
shiela Fuller
Love the idea to take on some old ms and perhaps make them into something fresh.
January 30, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Amanda Malek-Ahmadi
I love recycling! Thanks for the tip.
January 30, 2019 at 4:08 pm
Vicky Howard
Fabulous; it’s true that people say the darndest things, which can be a goldmine of amusing story ideas! Thank you!
January 30, 2019 at 4:09 pm
Brittanny Handiboe
Yes! Eavesdropping has helped me out, made a whole manuscript out of just listening to how my friend describes other people. Apparently I remind her of a chocolate chip muffin haha
January 30, 2019 at 4:16 pm
sallie wolf
I love listening in to other’s conversations in coffee shops, grocery stores, playgrounds. Great post! Thanks.
January 30, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Christine Irvin
I have lots of ideas/stories that I could possibly recycle…..
January 30, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Shereen S.
I’m ready to recycle ideas! I’ve got lists to go through.
January 30, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Becky Scharnhorst
So you’re telling us it’s okay to listen to others’ conversations? YES!!! Thanks for the fun post!
January 30, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Sharalyn Edgeberg
Recycle! Yes! I love to recycle, so I’ll try recycling my old lists! Thanks for sharing. I’ve never really tried eavesdropping, but maybe I’ll give it a shot too.
January 30, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Eileen Saunders
Thanks for your insight.
January 30, 2019 at 7:49 pm
Lauri Meyers
I love recycling and a stealing lollipops and words from babies:)
January 30, 2019 at 8:31 pm
angelapenadahle
Eavesdropping, always. Watching body language, more so. I’m off to scour old journals now. What an idea.
January 30, 2019 at 9:38 pm
Dawn Prochovnic
How wonderful to get so many pro tips from somewhat with such vast experience in the children’s book industry. Thanks so much!
January 30, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Judy A Shemtob
What kids say is precious and certainly could make for good picture book material. Thank you.
January 30, 2019 at 10:03 pm
thesheilster
Children can give us so many wonderful ideas. Thanks for this reminder to slow down a little and listen.
January 30, 2019 at 11:54 pm
Danielle Hicks
Some of my best ideas have come from eavesdropping on my children’s conversations/games. Great tip! Thank you for sharing!
January 31, 2019 at 12:17 am
vijikc
Thank you so much for this post. It’s a very good idea.
January 31, 2019 at 12:21 am
Jocelyn Rish
The doggie recycling gif was so great that I was almost distracted from the wonderful advice. 😉
January 31, 2019 at 10:27 am
ciaraoneal
Great advice!
January 31, 2019 at 10:31 am
Elizabeth W Saba
Alli – thank you for this post. I have so many notebooks and many half written manuscripts to revisit.
January 31, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Michelle
Recycling is great. I do this with old sketchbooks of drawings too. Sometimes something you didn’t notice years ago really clicks now.
January 31, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Judy Cooper
Thank you for sharing this concept of ‘recycling’ and your tips for doing it.
January 31, 2019 at 2:09 pm
tiffanydickinson
Love this. I mishear things all the time. Now I can use it for good!
January 31, 2019 at 7:00 pm
Joyce
Gold in them thar hills!
January 31, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Serge Smagarinsky
Great advice. A few years ago, I had an idea for a character for a character-led story or series.
In this year’s Storystorm, I had an idea for a series and it may be an opportunity to revive that character from a few years ago in a different context.
January 31, 2019 at 8:14 pm
deniseaengle
Oh-oh-oh! Excited by this post. Hoping to win your critique. I will for sure visit your website. Thank you for reminding us to revisit our ideas!
January 31, 2019 at 10:33 pm
Irene Grace
A great idea to recycle your words.. thank you!!
January 31, 2019 at 11:05 pm
Naomi Gruer
I have tons of snippets of my kids’ conversations. Precious–all!
February 1, 2019 at 12:33 am
Amanda Sincavage
Great analogy! I need to revisit my old PiBoIdMo/Storystorm lists and recycle and match up some old ideas. Thanks All!
February 1, 2019 at 10:29 am
saputnam
Great post, Alli!! Thank you for giving us a peek at your writing process. And yes, I have tons and tons of PiBoIdMo /Storystorm ideas and rough drafts, and am always going through them in order to recycle bits and pieces of them into my new stories, whether they are picture books, chapter books or middle grade novels
February 1, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Pat Miller
I looked back over several years of PiBoIdMo ideas and was able to spin a few new ones. thanks!
February 1, 2019 at 8:21 pm
bevbaird
Great post! Will definitely look back!
February 2, 2019 at 12:45 am
Anna Brooks
Wonderful ideas! Thank you for the post!
February 2, 2019 at 12:58 am
Tasha Hilderman
I think I will dust off some previously rejected items and see if I can breathe new life into them. Thanks!
February 2, 2019 at 3:25 am
Stephanie Lau
I do, in fact, get a lot of ideas by listening to my kid!
February 2, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Valarie Giogas
I need my inner editor to read this post lol.
February 2, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Becca Fleishman
Great ideas that are simple to implement and can reap huge rewards! Thank you!
February 2, 2019 at 3:26 pm
Catherine Friess
I recycled two PiBoIdMo ideas, put them together and came up with a whole new story. Sometimes it just takes a while for old ideas to come to life :o)
Thank you for a great post and a generous giveaway Alli.
February 2, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Sarah Maynard (@SarahDMaynard)
Eavesdropping is one of my super skills. HA!
February 3, 2019 at 12:46 am
Megan Walvoord (@mjwalvoord2)
Love this! I definitely hear some weird words from my kids. I’ll have to write down more of those.
February 3, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Bethanny Parker
I love the idea of recycling words, and I do compost my food waste! 🙂
February 3, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Dianne
Thanks for the ideas!
February 3, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Kelly Rice Schmitt
I like this “recycling” analogy to the picture book writing process… most great art is an amalgamation of ideas from elsewhere. Mash yours up to see what you get in the form of something new. Thanks for sharing!
February 3, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Therese Kay
I’ve been using the same notebook to capture my StoryStorm/PiBoIdMo ideas since 2015. It’ll be easy to go back and recycle! Great idea!
February 3, 2019 at 5:40 pm
Johna Nicole Rossetti
What a wonderful twist to the idea of recycling. Thank you.
February 3, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Susan Orton
Your eavesdropping and word association exercises are an active and fun way to jump right into a story. Life from a kid’s perspective is always fun and enlightening. I’m taking your ideas to heart and getting busy. I already have one idea just from reading your post! Thank you!!
February 3, 2019 at 9:18 pm
andromeda515
Mishearing is my favorite idea generator. It allows the imagination to take over.
February 3, 2019 at 9:30 pm
julielacombeauthor
I love to eavesdrop on my students! I’m going to incorporate word association in my daily journaling. Thanks for the ideas!
February 4, 2019 at 9:26 am
McCourt Thomas
Thanks for sharing!
February 4, 2019 at 1:02 pm
loelmu
I like the thought of recycling old ideas!
February 4, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Meli Glickman
I love word association and often generate ideas from words or phrases that sound similar and yet mean totally different things. How fun! Many thanks for sharing!
February 4, 2019 at 6:17 pm
Jess Bourgeois
Word association exercises are the best!
February 4, 2019 at 9:28 pm
Meghan Burch
I’m in my own head so much, it’s hard to remember to eavesdrop. Such great gems just waiting to be found! Thanks!
February 5, 2019 at 3:41 pm
shanah salter
yes to mishearing!
February 5, 2019 at 3:44 pm
shanah salter
oops sorry Tara, I just realized I had already commented on this one. Ignore this second comment
February 5, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Sheri Dillard
Great ideas here! Thanks, Alli! My favorite story about my kids “mishearing” something was when we were at the pool and the lifeguards all shouted, “Adult Swim.” My twin sons thought (and I guess had thought this for a while) that the lifeguards were shouting, “Don’t swim!” LOL 🙂
February 5, 2019 at 11:24 pm
thedandelionzoo
Thanks for the motivation to revisit ideas I’ve put aside.
February 11, 2019 at 5:51 pm
Wendy
I need to pull out my old PiBoIdMo notebooks. The writing was crappy back then, but the ideas could have merit. Thanks for the reminder!