by Dawn Young
It’s 2020, a brand new year, and thanks to STORYSTORM we get off to a running start with a daily flash of inspiration and a stash of ideas to turn into stories.
Let’s imagine those moments when inspiration strikes. Do you envision a flurry of fairy dust? Do you picture rainbows and unicorns? Do you feel all warm and fuzzy? And when inspiration strikes…does everything fall neatly into place?
I like to think that my moments of inspiration will feel magical and I hope that someday inspiration will strike as the whole package‒‒an amazing idea, complete with the story beginning, middle and end‒‒and that I’ll be miraculously overcome by an endless flow of words. As if seeds would somehow transform into a glorious garden simply by opening the packet.
For some writers that may happen‒‒every idea makes them dizzy with delight, the words flow and entire stories are written, but it hasn’t happened for me. Not yet, anyway. My stories take time, and some have stemmed from ideas that came without fairy dust, rainbows or unicorns. No warmth. No fuzziness. The ones I believed were not really ideas but merely fillers for that day. Fortunately, I didn’t dismiss them but instead, feeling the pressure of meeting my daily quota, I wrote them down. And I’m so glad I did. Note to self and anyone else who may be guilty of dismissing ideas/words/snippets that don’t seem worthy… don’t judge, just jot. Jot them down. All of them.
That’s why Storystorm is so wonderful. When you acknowledge anything that stands out in your mind and everything that strikes you, whether it’s a snippet, a title, a silly word, a rhyming couplet, a pun, a character name, a sound and write it down on your Storystorm list, you’re collecting story seeds. Those ideas, as simple, random or obscure as they may seem, are worthy of being on your Storystorm list. So…
Write. Them. Down.
When they’re on a list they leave a mark and they marinate. They sit in your mind, like seeds sit in the soil, and they begin to grow. But just as seeds don’t become flowers because you opened the packet, ideas don’t become stories because you wrote them down. Like seeds need soil, water, sunlight and time to grow into a garden, ideas need nourishment and time as well. Feed your seeds by writing, reading and learning. Nurture them with your creativity and let time run its course and someday they may surprise you. While you’re sleeping, showering, walking, cooking, painting , doing something, anything‒‒usually something other than writing‒‒your ideas may call on you. Maybe they teamed up or battled each other or became unlikely friends and the formed the foundation for a story.
I’ve been an active participant in STORYSTORM for years, going back to when it was called PiBoIdMo. Each year I completed my list of more than 30 ideas. One of my 2013 PiBoIdMo ideas, a battle book, like Shark versus Train, involved my other passion, math. But at the time I didn’t know what to do with it. How in the world would Addition battle Subtraction? Then in 2015, while feeling at a loss for new ideas, I decided to visit my old PiBoIdMo lists, and that battle book idea spoke to me. Addition versus Subtraction was calling out to me. Pick me! It was ready to be a story.
As a writer and a math enthusiast, I brainstormed ways to merge my two passions. I thought about ways to convey the essence of addition and subtraction. I imagined an addition character, counting items, while a subtraction character made them disappear. Of course, having things disappear led me to magic and, voila, that’s when the magician became the nemesis to my counter. The elephants were in my head begging to be counted. I wanted chaos and miscommunication and most of all, tons of fun!
This year, I hope you build your Storystorm list without hesitation. Don’t judge your ideas, just jot them down. Jot down anything and everything that strikes you – those snippets, titles, silly words, rhyming couplets, puns, character names, sounds that left mark on you, may eventually spark something in you. Keep your old lists. Visit them and check on the seeds you planted in the past and someday, maybe even years from now, you may find that a story has sprouted.
Dawn Young graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and later with an MBA. For years, Dawn worked as an engineer and, later, manager at a large aerospace company, until her creative side called her to pursue her dream of writing children’s books. After reading and writing hundreds of corporate documents, none of which were titled The Little Engineer Who Could or Don’t Let the Pigeon Fly the Airbus, Dawn is thrilled to now be reading and writing picture books instead.
Dawn is also a math enthusiast. When she’s not busy writing and reading, she can be found doing math problems, sometimes just because… In high school, Dawn’s dream was to have a math equation named after her, but now, she believes having her name on the cover of books is a million times better! Dawn lives with her husband, three children and golden retriever in sunny Arizona. Counting Elephants is her second book. Her first book The Night Baafore Christmas released in October 2019. Find her online at dawnyoungbooks.com, on Twitter @dawnyoungPB and Instagram @dawnyoungbooks.
Dawn is giving away a copy of COUNTING ELEPHANTS.
Leave one comment below to enter.
You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm participant and you have commented once below.
Good luck!
644 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 5, 2020 at 7:09 am
kaleegwarjanski
I can’t wait to read Counting Elephants, thanks for the inspiration!
January 6, 2020 at 12:59 am
karammitchell
Dawn! Great post. I find strange things that I’ve written down all over the house. Surely someday they will turn into magic, right?!
January 7, 2020 at 1:57 pm
Kelly Vavala
Thank you for the wonderful post! Very inspirational! It’s always fun to go back and visit my old notebooks from past storystorystorms and find notes scattered around the house! Sometimes I don’t even know what I was thinking! Someday it will all make sense!
January 5, 2020 at 7:10 am
thecrowsmap
Wise advice! Thanks, Dawn.
Gail Hartman
January 5, 2020 at 7:14 am
Mel Copeman
I have so many teeny tiny ideas that need to grow.
January 5, 2020 at 7:15 am
reluctantspy
Thanks for all the elephants.
January 5, 2020 at 7:15 am
tinamcho
Love the analogy of story seeds, Dawn, and the back story for your new book. Congrats!
January 5, 2020 at 7:24 am
hmkingman
Lovely analogy Dawn. And for me, writing down the smallest ideas gets them out of my head, making room for more to emerge. Loving Storystorm!!
January 5, 2020 at 5:25 pm
michelemeleen
Yes! I also think having little notebooks strategically placed everywhere you normally spend time is a great idea, because you’ll always have somewhere to write when an idea starts to sprout 🙂 Waterproof notebooks like field scientists use are perfect for the shower…
January 5, 2020 at 7:28 am
kimpfenn
So much to count on here to strengthen my writing! (Sorry not sorry …couldn’t resist)
January 5, 2020 at 12:15 pm
Ashley Koney
Seed stories is what I used to teach my 3rd graders! So important to practice what you preach. Love this analogy. Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 7:29 am
jeanne cherney
Back to stirring the old story ideas for inspiration! Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 7:34 am
Darlene Koppel
Dawn – Your words are so inspiring. Thank you for your creative ideas.
January 5, 2020 at 7:36 am
Phyllis Mignard
I call sudden flashes of ideas my story starts. Great article, thanks for sharing. Its always helpful learning how other creatives work.
January 5, 2020 at 7:39 am
tanyakonerman
My ideas and snippets over the years of PiBoIdMo and Storystorm have also called to me to revisit them. I’m so glad I listened and wrote them down in the first place!
January 5, 2020 at 7:47 am
authoryvonafast
Thank you.Great post. Now all ideas come with fairy dust and unicorns… so true. I get story ideas but the hard part is figuring out how to create plot & characters around the idea.
January 5, 2020 at 7:53 am
Suzanne Lewis
Great post, Dawn–such a positive, liberating perspective on the value of snippets! Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 8:07 am
Sara A
don’t judge, just jot…wise words!!
January 5, 2020 at 8:10 am
debobrienbookscom
A great post. New ideas are great, but sometimes we need to revisit old ideas and see what strikes us. That’s why I keep all my notebooks and even flag the pages that I think have potential.
January 5, 2020 at 8:15 am
Kristen Tipman
Great post! I’m going to write “Don’t judge! Just jot!” at the top of my Storystorm list as a reminder. Looking forward to reading Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 8:29 am
Erik Ammon
Not everything is perfect for me either. I write everything down that comes to mind. You never know what you can use!
January 5, 2020 at 8:30 am
Rachel
I have so many ideas but don’t write many down and then they’re gone. Going to try writing it all this month!
January 5, 2020 at 8:33 am
Sarah Tobias
Thank you for you post. Your addition and subtraction idea made me think of a long ago snow day with my sister. Yes, I am writing it down. Last night in bed, I took a few minutes to write down the running dialog my sister had with her dog as she was heading to bed. If nothing else, it becomes a documented memory for us. Off to jot things down.
January 5, 2020 at 8:34 am
hallee2012
Great post! Just preordered Counting Elephants. What an awesome concept! Can’t wait to read. 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 8:38 am
nannayork (@msy49)
Dawn, I loved reading the evolution of your counting book with elephants and magic! Congratulations!
January 5, 2020 at 8:41 am
Jeanette Stampone
I love the idea of revisiting old lists and writing down everything. We are often quick to judge our own ideas without letting them grow.
January 5, 2020 at 8:45 am
Robin Perkins
The drive to dismiss those half-formed thoughts is always strong. Thanks for the peek into your own experience with them. This will keep me making notes and moving forward.
January 5, 2020 at 8:46 am
58chilihed13
I love the idea of revisiting old lists, it led me on an adventure to find where I “safely put them for later!” like an old treasurer hunter wandering in the desert muttering “I KNOW that is where I saw them last” about the gold, I keep searching!
January 5, 2020 at 8:47 am
Elizabeth (@elizabethstiert)
This post says Day 6 but it’s the 5th day. Thank you, Dawn! This is my mantra when I write. Write now, edit later.
January 5, 2020 at 8:49 am
sareenmclay
Thank you Dawn, you have combined two of my great passions – writing and gardening. One of my favourite sayings is ‘From little acorns, great oaks grow’. I’m going to get jotting and planting!
January 5, 2020 at 8:53 am
gayleckrause
What a clever idea – addition vs. subtraction. As a former teacher I can appreciate that idea. Would love to win a copy of Counting Elephants . 😉
January 5, 2020 at 8:54 am
Hélène Sabourin
That’s my goal. Thanks for giving me hope
January 5, 2020 at 8:54 am
Lori Sheroan
I love “ideas need nourishment and time.” So often, I tend to plow ahead before an idea is ready. Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 8:59 am
Joy
I love a good math-y picture book! Can’t wait to read this one.
January 5, 2020 at 9:00 am
Bettie Boswell
I love the allegory of planting seeds. Thank you for sharing your story.
January 5, 2020 at 9:01 am
Sandhya Rose
Idea seeds that marinate! This is gold, thank for the post !!
January 5, 2020 at 9:05 am
kiwijenny
I teach four year olds. I’m going to buy your book. They love counting, elephants and magic. Add slime and you’ve got the perfect four-fecta
January 5, 2020 at 9:08 am
Tara Hannon
Counting Elephants sounds so clever. Looking forward to jotting down everything – the good the bad and the ugly. Thanks for the inspiration, Dawn.
January 5, 2020 at 9:09 am
Mardi Edwards
I am definitely looking over last years ideas and see how they grow.
January 5, 2020 at 9:09 am
Heather Stigall
Thank you for reminding us to record even what seem like unworthy ideas & notes. You never know–they may lead to a great book idea!
January 5, 2020 at 9:10 am
steveheron
I’m pleasantly surprised how Storystorm is turning out for me. I look forward to punching the keys each morning and reading the posts at the end of the day. Day 5 my most productive day.
January 5, 2020 at 9:17 am
Priya Gopal
I love the back story of your picture book – congrats.
I haven’t revisited my old notebook yet – time to do that.
January 5, 2020 at 9:19 am
jbbower
Hey Dawn. Thanks for the inspiring post. I revisit my ideas often too and hopefully one of them will grow into something wonderful one day too!
January 5, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Gail Atherley
Another paradigm shift to help us develop and nurture our creativity. Your suggestions are highly appreciated! Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 9:22 am
Karrie Zylstra
I love the idea of math in picture books. Although math is not my first love, it has become a new one for me, in part, because of inspiring people like you.
January 5, 2020 at 9:27 am
Kathy Halsey
Growing a story seed garden – great metaphor for Storystorm, Dawn. Yes, these ideas must germinate for while, sometimes Glad to see your successes!
January 5, 2020 at 9:28 am
Hollie Wolverton
Love the motto: Judge Not, Just Jot! And Counting Elephants looks awesome. Thanks for the post!
January 5, 2020 at 9:28 am
Midge Ballou Smith
Thank you, Dawn! This was great!
January 5, 2020 at 9:28 am
Aimee Satterlee
I hope story seeds grow and become Storystorm success stories for everyone. Thanks for sharing your story, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 9:29 am
Joanne Roberts
what a great idea for a book! Thanks for the encouragement to nurture our old, unloved ideas into something as hilarious as Counting Elephants. Congratulations!
January 5, 2020 at 9:30 am
storyfairy
Hi Dawn.
I like math, too.
In grade school, I had a lot of fun with the carrying techniques for addition and borrowing techniques for subtraction. I have to say, though, I’m not a fan of disappearing for subtraction, mostly because it upsets me anytime something disappears or gets lost, be it in a story or real life. I prefer counting backwards for subtraction, since it’s another technique I learned in grade school and I’d learned to enjoy counting backwards from Sesame Street when I was littler.
I like the magician idea in “Counting Elephants,” who kind of “mediates” between counting and making disappear. It reminds me of how when I started learning algebra in high school, that being the first time I started working with negative numbers, I imagined zero as a mediator, almost God, for both positive and negative numbers, since he is neither positive nor negative. That’s why every number, positive or negative, strives to become zero by embracing his or her “twin” on the other side of the number line, even though that isn’t easy.
January 5, 2020 at 9:32 am
Maureen Tai
So glad to know that I’m not the only one who experiences long gestation times for ideas! Natalie Goldberg in “Writing Down the Bones” calls this period of marinating ideas “composting,” putting all sorts of bits into soil and waiting for something wonderful to germinate. Regardless of what it’s called, I’m glad for the reminder to write everything down.
January 5, 2020 at 9:32 am
Lisa L Furness
Thank you Dawn for the inspiration to revisit those past story seeds I’ve planted to see if any of them have sprouted or have sparked an idea.
January 5, 2020 at 9:37 am
kswemba
Hi Dawn!
I love the idea of our thoughts/creative something’s asseeds! After reading your post, I’m going to try to be better at jotting down anything that tugs at me. You’re right, having the ideas on paper could grow into something else. If nothing else, it keeps my mind active, allowing for more creativity to flow. Thank you for your post!
January 5, 2020 at 9:37 am
rjtraxel
Easier said than done at times, but so important to capture ideas especially the absurd ones.
January 5, 2020 at 9:39 am
ptnozell
Dawn, I love the seeds & gardening anology. A terrific way to think about the process from ideas to finished story.
January 5, 2020 at 9:39 am
deirdreprischmann
Your books sound super fun- I’m excited to read them!
January 5, 2020 at 9:42 am
ryanrobertsauthor
Thanks for the reminder to write them down and to revisit old ideas.
January 5, 2020 at 9:45 am
Joan Longstaff
Having also done Storystorm for a few years, it’s great to go back to those ideas and see if one is ready to pop – desperate to get out into the world. Thank you for sharing.
January 5, 2020 at 9:46 am
rosecappelli
Very inspirational, Dawn! Thank you.
January 5, 2020 at 9:49 am
lmconnors
Helpful metaphors! Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 9:50 am
jenfierjasinski
Love the mantra “Don’t judge, just jot!” I’ll be keeping it in mind this January! Thanks.
January 5, 2020 at 9:51 am
Michele Helsel
Your books look great and great advice! Thanks.
January 5, 2020 at 9:53 am
juliannahelt
Great advice! Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 9:53 am
Susie
Just jot – very wise. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 9:55 am
Christina Shawn
I love hearing how little snippets of ideas become books! Thank you for the Wonderful inspiration!
January 5, 2020 at 9:55 am
June Sengpiehl
This is inspiring wisdom that helps. Good technique for writing.
January 5, 2020 at 9:59 am
Colleen Owen Murphy
I love that you have been able to merge your two passions – math and writing. I have been trying to figure ways to do that as well, but have not so successfully as of yet. I will continue to brainstorm on and to list!!
Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 10:02 am
Colleen Owen Murphy
I was wondering where Day 5 was, but then I realized today’s should be day 5. For a few seconds there I thought I had missed something.
Thank you so much for these great pieces of inspiration!!
January 5, 2020 at 10:02 am
BARBARA SENENMAN
I carry an small pad with me in my handbag for when inspiration strikes. Now if I can only read my handwriting. Maybe there’s a story in that!
January 5, 2020 at 10:06 am
Lisa Katzenberger (@FictionCity)
My ideas are super small tidbits, I rarely flesh them out. I really like the idea of thinking of them as seeds. Thanks Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 10:06 am
Jessica Kulekjian
I love the practice of writing the snippets that come as they come, without judgement. Thanks for sharing your inspriation!
January 5, 2020 at 10:07 am
Katie
Thanks for this great post on planting seeds and not being afraid to jot even the silliest of things down. I will remember that!
January 5, 2020 at 10:09 am
Garnett Natasha
Just jotting a thank you while I think of it. Nice post, Dawn. Maybe there is a PB character who jots?
Congratulations on The Night Baafore Christmas!
January 5, 2020 at 10:14 am
Marileta Robinson
I am passionate about gardening, and I love your metaphor!
January 5, 2020 at 10:14 am
Kathy Cornell Berman
Thanks for reminding me not to judge, just jot. You never know what silly seed idea will lead to something wonderful. Thanks for sharing your fun backstory for your picture book.
January 5, 2020 at 10:19 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you Dawn for posting great words of encouragement. Congrats on The Night Baafore Christmas!! will look for that one.
January 5, 2020 at 10:24 am
Marsha Diane Arnold
Thanks so much for this inspirtaion, Dawn.My ideas almost always start with snippets or a title. I talk about story seeds in my school presentations, but you have expanded it so well here. Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 10:31 am
mommamoocow
Thank you for the reminder that each idea, no matter how small, can be important.
January 5, 2020 at 10:31 am
Krista Harrington
Thank you, Dawn! Perhaps I can merge ideas with my engineer husband and a brilliant story can be born!
January 5, 2020 at 10:32 am
Jean Matthew Hall
Thanks for the encouragement. My Storystorm idea for Fri. seems to be coming alive. I hope it survives all the way to submission.
January 5, 2020 at 10:33 am
bgonsar
Can’t wait to read the new book!
January 5, 2020 at 10:34 am
Alicia Stenard
Thank you Dawn for this inspiration!
January 5, 2020 at 10:35 am
Kate Molde
Thank you for your inspiration. I liked your analogy with the seeds and flowers. I am looking forward to starting my own little seeds and seeing where they take me!
January 5, 2020 at 10:38 am
Judy Palermo
Love this post. Storystorm needs to be every writer at their least judgemental. Just jot!
January 5, 2020 at 10:38 am
Liz Steinglass
I love math too. Can’t wait to read Counting Elephants.
January 5, 2020 at 10:45 am
Sue Reichard
Thanks for your inspirational column! I love the seed idea and growing of garden of ideas! I am loving Storystorm!
January 5, 2020 at 10:46 am
Jill Friestad-Tate
Great post for just letting the story find you, thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 10:46 am
Jane Heitman Healy
Dawn, thank you, thank you, thank you for saying to write down ANYTHING. You never know where it will lead, as your example shows. I look forward to meeting those elephants! Congrats!
January 5, 2020 at 10:50 am
Jessica Fries-Gaither
Love the idea of story seeds — and am loving Storystorm so far! Thanks for sharing!
January 5, 2020 at 10:54 am
Carole Calladine
Story Seeds. Ideas are just that! Seeds to create a book with beginning, middle, and end. And lots of magic and humor. Counting Elephants looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing how you wrote it.
January 5, 2020 at 10:54 am
Anne LeBlanc Gr 4/5 teacher (@AnneLeBlanc2)
When I participate in Storystorm, I wear two hats – writer and teacher of grade 4/5. This fantastic blog post is great for both! Some of my students are easily frustrated so encouraging them to write many ideas, no matter how silly, is a great way to get them interested!
January 5, 2020 at 10:56 am
Patricia Alcaro
Great advice on paying attention to even small ideas. It’s the writing them down part that often eludes me and then, later, I can’t recall the spark. I guess that’s a lame excuse these days, considering we have note taking right on our phones. I also like your math-themed approach to PB writing.
January 5, 2020 at 10:56 am
tiffanydickinson
Dawn, congratulations on The Night Baafore Christmas! Thanks for this post; I will keep all of my “worthless” scraps and see if I can someday turn them into a stew.
January 5, 2020 at 10:56 am
Shirley fadden
I will jot and jot and jot my snippets of ideas. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 10:57 am
Carole Calladine
Story Seeds. It is magic how they germinate and grow. Thanks for sharing idea to a book. Counting Elephants promises to be lots of fun. Congrats!
January 5, 2020 at 10:59 am
Jess Townes
That is freeing and fantastic advice! Thanks Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 10:59 am
Jellybean
Very poetic way to go about it. Thanks for the post.
January 5, 2020 at 11:00 am
Cathy L. Murphy
Adding a little bloom boosting fertilizer to my seedlings now. Thank you, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 11:03 am
Rebecca Herzog
It’s crazy how the inner editor can even affect whether we feel an idea is worthy to write down! Thanks for the advice.
January 5, 2020 at 11:04 am
pathaap
Counting Elephants sounds like such a fun read!Thanks for reminding us about the importance of writing everything down, no matter how small the idea seems. Such great advice!
January 5, 2020 at 11:11 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Dawn, for your ideas and inspiration. Isn’t it amazing what a small idea might grow into?
January 5, 2020 at 11:14 am
maryvanderplas
Thanks Dawn! Wise words.
January 5, 2020 at 11:15 am
Deb Sullivan
Perfect phrase to take my writing into 2020 – thanks for sharing!
January 5, 2020 at 11:18 am
Louann Brown
Thanks Dawn. Good advice!
January 5, 2020 at 11:20 am
Tracy Hora
Great post! And, just when I was deciding to skip the small stuff and only write whole ideas this year (to try something new). I won’t skip the seeds, though I’ll push myself to choose one each day to nourish a bit more.
January 5, 2020 at 11:20 am
TammyB
Such a simple idea with such power! If we write it down and choose not to use it that is one thing but if you don’t log it you will never have the opportunity! Great advice
January 5, 2020 at 11:21 am
beckylevine
Thanks! Good reminder that everything gets written down!
January 5, 2020 at 11:23 am
Jan Milusich
Thank you for sharing your journey and your process, Dawn. I’m looking forward to reading Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 11:24 am
Deb Buschman (@DebBuschman)
Thanks Dawn for giving us more inspiration to follow this dream.
January 5, 2020 at 11:26 am
Sue Heavenrich
I love the seed analogy… being a gardener I often think of my StoryStorm ideas as seeds. And like seeds, some ideas take a loooooong time to germinate, and some require stratification.
January 5, 2020 at 11:30 am
rimna
Thanks Dawn for a great post. Looking forward to reading your book.
January 5, 2020 at 11:32 am
Andria Rosenbaum
Love your advice, Dawn
January 5, 2020 at 11:32 am
adavis6385
Don’t judge your ideas!! Such a great reminder. Everything idea is worthy, and we need to nurture and grow each one. Congrats on your successes, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 11:33 am
Rachel Funez
Great inspiration! Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 11:36 am
Susan Drew
Write it down, write it down, write it down. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 11:36 am
Glenda Roberson
I’m learning to write down ideas. I’ve found if I don’t do it immediately, I can’t even remember what it was. Especially true of ideas as you drift off to sleep!
January 5, 2020 at 11:38 am
colleen kosinski
Great post, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 11:39 am
Maryna Doughty
I just jotted down a character name that popped into my head, and all of a sudden, dialogue started flowing! Thank you for the advice about jotting instead of judging. By the way, I’m from Arizona, too! 😀
January 5, 2020 at 11:40 am
Jolene Ballard Gutiérrez
I love the thought of planting seeds and seeing which ones grow, and I can’t wait to read Counting Elephants! Thanks so much, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 11:43 am
Sallye O'Rourke
Just jot!
January 5, 2020 at 11:49 am
Debbie Lodato
Great post Dawn. Really loved the analogy too. I look forward to reading your latest picture book. Happy New Year!
January 5, 2020 at 11:50 am
Shirley
Wonderful post. Many thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 11:50 am
asiqueira1307
Your books sound amazing. I’ll be checking the Night Baafore Christmas soon. Thanks for the motivation and inspiration.
January 5, 2020 at 11:55 am
debbiemccue
Thanks for the inspiring post. I love how your picture book evolved from a single idea tucked into “the soil” with thirty other idea seeds. Thanks for sharing.
January 5, 2020 at 11:55 am
Eileen Mayo
What a great analogy! Ideas as seeds is so understandable. Thanks for the article. I’m looking forward to reading Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 11:56 am
Stephanie Gibeault
Counting Elephants sounds like a brilliant book! Thank you for sharing how you came up with the concept. Now I’m ready to go plant some seeds!
January 5, 2020 at 11:56 am
Elizabeth Brown
Great post, Dawn! Thank you! Looking forward to your next book.
January 5, 2020 at 11:57 am
yangmommy
Lovely post, esp the analogy with the flower seeds & gardening. I bet that when Springtime returns & I’m planting my garden, I’ll be thinking of ideas not blossoms, LOL!
January 5, 2020 at 11:59 am
Janie Reinart
Dawn, love …”don’t judge, just jot.” Congratulations on your book babies ❤️
January 5, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Shaunda Wenger
Thanks, Dawn! I’m inspired to gather my ideas. They are scattered in various notebooks. Today, I’ll put them into one…. so that I can tend the garden. 😉
January 5, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Cynthia Harmony
Yes! Revisiting previous storystorm lists and find I ideas becoming unlikely friends happens, thanks for the reminder Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Susan Wroble
January is my month of going to bed amidst a pile of seed catalogs, so I loved the magical garden analogy!
January 5, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Aimee
Hooray Dawn! So excited for you and your super fun and zany stories. ❤️ The analogy to seeds. I’m motivated to plant some story seeds.
January 5, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Polly Sena Renner
Thanks Dawn! Your post did inspire a new idea, so I quickly jotted it down!
January 5, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Kathy Erskine
Love this! Sometimes ideas take time to simmer on the back burner until they’re ready for real cooking.
January 5, 2020 at 12:08 pm
bru Benson
Using the above techniques of keeping every scrap of an idea has helped me form new stories with a sentence here or there from the huge pile. It is akin to doing a picture puzzle; keep trying new pieces to see if they fit together.
January 5, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Sparkinginnovations@gmail.com
Thank you for this reminder to not dismiss the snippet!
January 5, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Karin Larson
Counting Elephants looks wonderful! Congratulations on your success. I enjoyed reading your story and appreciate your advice and inspiration.
January 5, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Jane Serpa
Thank you for sharing. No idea is too small.
January 5, 2020 at 12:16 pm
hannahhudsonwrites
Love this, Dawn! Thank you.
January 5, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Kim Larson
Fun analogy, Dawn, and great advice. Your books sounds fun too! Thanks for sharing.
January 5, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Jane Serpa
Thank you for sharing.
January 5, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Debra Kempf Shumaker
What a great post! My favorite line “Feed your seeds by writing, reading and learning.” Now to get busy jotting . ..
January 5, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Nancy Ramsey
Great suggestions!! Congratulations on all your success!!
January 5, 2020 at 12:21 pm
danielledufayet
Hi Dawn, 🙂 Great post! I’m thrilled to read about your success -you earned it! Love all your books and can’t wait to see even more -happy, happy, happy New Year! xo
January 5, 2020 at 12:22 pm
nrompella
I love the seed analogy. Thanks for sharing!
January 5, 2020 at 12:23 pm
katherineadlam
I’m a messy disorganized writer. I have poems and ideas jotted down on scraps of paper and shoved into journals. Every so often when I’m stumped for an idea I’ll flip through and I’ll find the nucleus of an idea jotted down on a grocery receipt just waiting to be harvested. I’m a great believer in getting things down when they occur. Love Dawn’s post.
January 5, 2020 at 12:24 pm
maryraebel
Thanks for the reminder that ideas need time to marinate. I am an impatient writer who sometimes dismisses ideas that don’t immediately take root! In a family of “math minds” I also appreciate how you’ve lived out both passions!
January 5, 2020 at 12:26 pm
dedradavis03
I’m loving all these blog posts. The inspiration seeds are pouring out of my seed packet! Thanks, Tara!!
January 5, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Michelle Ramirez
I jot everything down too!!! Great advice.
January 5, 2020 at 12:29 pm
Janice Woods
Great post! ☺️ Thank you
January 5, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Susan Macartney
Dawn – really liked the concept of idea “seeds” waiting to be nourished and your account of merging passions in bringing Counting Elephants to life – thanks for sharing your journey!
January 5, 2020 at 12:35 pm
8catpaws
Where can I buy that seed packet that blooms into a fully-formed story? Oh…I guess the seeds are in my head, and I have to toss them to the wind or plant them carefully one by one, and maybe when I’m not looking, they will grow a petal or a flower or a garden…
January 5, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Lauri Fortino
Looking forward to reading your new book! Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your Storystorm tips!
January 5, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Susan Cabael
Math + Magic = The Dawn Equation
January 5, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Laurie Carmody
This post really spoke to me today. Thank you for the inspiration to just jot!
January 5, 2020 at 12:44 pm
jjpc1
Love the Judge Not, Just Jot idea!
January 5, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Kara Newhouse
“Don’t judge, just jot” is great advice and easy to remember. Thanks, Dawn. I also appreciate you sharing your love of math and look forward to reading “Counting Elephants.”
The headline for this post says Day 6, but it’s Day 5 of Storystorm..
January 5, 2020 at 12:47 pm
Linda Mitchell
Wonderful post. You are so encouraging and nurturing! Thank you. I love the idea of Story Seeds and giving them time to grow. I sincerely need to go back to my old idea piles and see if there are any sprouts!
January 5, 2020 at 12:47 pm
Jo Hudson
I believe that one of the things that set writers of children’s literature apart is seeing things differently than others. Your seeds concept is exactly that and inspires me to be more dedicated to jotting down the words and ideas that catch my ear. Thank you and congratulations on your success!
January 5, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thank you for a wonderful post. “Don’t judge, just jot,” is perfect for this challenge.
January 5, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Doreen E. Lepore
Thanks for your inspiring post and congrats on your books!
January 5, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Rebecca
Super advice! And I came up with 3 ideas just from reading your post. Thanks, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 12:55 pm
maryraebel
Thanks for the reminder that ideas need time to marinate. I am an impatient writer and a lot of times, I dismiss ideas that don’t take root immediately. In a family of “math minds,” I admire how you live out both your passions!
January 5, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Robin Brett Wechsler
I appreciate your validation of all ideas, and love the metaphor for how they grow. Thanks, Dawn! Now I’m excited to check out your books.
January 5, 2020 at 12:58 pm
heatherbell37
Your book looks fascinating! I’m definitely adding it to my list for my math-loving kiddo.Thanks for sharing the great advice!
January 5, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Paisley Schade
Sometimes it’s hard to keep the dusty old ideas around, but it’s worth it. Thanks for the reminder.
January 5, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Nadine Poper
This is what I am taking away from your post…that opening up a seed packet doesn’t make a garden. Thank you!!!
January 5, 2020 at 1:00 pm
donnacangelosi
Wonderful post, Dawn! Thank you for the reminder that even small, snippets of ideas need to be jotted down (and not judged as unimportant)! Looking forward to reading Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Becky Ross Michael
Great suggestions! I love thinking of our story ideas as seeds.
January 5, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
Thank you, Dawn! Good validation to write everything down.
January 5, 2020 at 1:03 pm
michaelsussman310115541
Excellent advice!
January 5, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Linda Silvestri
When I think of all the seeds I never planted because I just didn’t write them down it makes me so thankful for Storystorm and posts like yours, Dawn. Thanks for the tips, inspiration and the new motto “Don’t judge, just jot!”
January 5, 2020 at 1:08 pm
Heather Kelso
I do have trouble judging my words and try and remind myself not to go back and reread just keep going. If I reread I end up erasing and starting over. It is a struggle for me and this is a good reminder to keep going, don’t look back. No judgement. You never know what words may spark a future story.
Thanks Dawn. Looking forward to your book.
January 5, 2020 at 1:10 pm
LittleCornishWriter
So far wrote down three silly things today and hoping that they grow. A great post thanks. I too need lots of time for ideas to grow.
January 5, 2020 at 1:11 pm
Cathy Lentes
Math is definitely not my thing, but I do love lists. Learned list making from my Dad who is still writing out his daily lists at age 91. And I’m a great believer in checking back in with old lists and ideas. Sometimes they practically shout, “I’m here! I’m ready!”
Thanks for the inspiration! And side note…if I could have counted elephants at school I would have liked math better.😉
January 5, 2020 at 1:14 pm
margaretgreanias
Love your analogy of story ideas as seeds that need sunlight and water and soil to grow.
January 5, 2020 at 1:15 pm
writeknit
Thanks for reminding us we are not failures for not having complete ideas – bits and pieces pulled from my brain just might take root someday 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Michelle Kashinsky
Excellent, thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
OMG Dawn! I cannot wait for this math book!!! Thanks for reminding us to let ideas marinate after just writing them down, not judging is so hard, but your analogy is perfect, plants don’t just pop up from seeds, they need so much more, thank you, thank you, thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Earl @ The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer
It’s great when we can infuse what we do with passion. I think it makes things better. And more us.
January 5, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Sue Reichard
I really need to consolidate all of my jottings! I become frustrated when I have what I think is a great idea and see it’s already been done. I guess adapting a similar idea to a ms is all about revision! Thanks so much for you ideas!
January 5, 2020 at 1:22 pm
saintamovin
Just Jot them down…thank you😊
January 5, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Cindy Hundley
I would love to add this book to my school’s library!
January 5, 2020 at 1:24 pm
bookfish1
I love the line don’t judge just jot. I also have somewhat of an affinity towards math, having majored in it, but when I got to proofs and linear algebra I correctly took a different path, but those math ideas still circulate in my head. Thanks for the inspiration.
January 5, 2020 at 1:25 pm
cantsing1
So glad to read this. Lots of times my jotted notes (at end of each spiral notebook I have) look like odd, disjointed flashes of thought.
There’s hope ; ) thnx
January 5, 2020 at 1:32 pm
Leah
Good advice. I frequently deem an idea as unworthy before I write it down. I need to stop that.
January 5, 2020 at 1:33 pm
pmmcnally
Thanks Dawn, for your post and helpful tip. I love hearing your story and the notebook idea 😀
January 5, 2020 at 1:36 pm
jennagrodzicki
I often have a hard time remembering not to judge my ideas before they’re even fully formed. Thanks so much for the reminder to “Just Jot!” And your new book sounds hilarious. I can’t wait to read it!
January 5, 2020 at 1:39 pm
pmmcnally
Thanks Dawn for the post and tip. I loved hearing you story. Slowly filling up my notebook…😀
January 5, 2020 at 1:43 pm
Writer on the run
Thanks Dawn for reminding me to quiet my inner critic and put on my fun party hat!
January 5, 2020 at 1:45 pm
sheriradford
I love the idea of sneaking math into a picture book story!
January 5, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Deb McGarvey
Thank you! Love this reminder that every little idea is worth recording for future use. Now I just need to be organized enough to remember where I put them all.
January 5, 2020 at 1:50 pm
aixaximena
But wouldn’t it be so cool. if you could just open that seed packet and a garden would shoot right out of it and be exactly the garden you wanted to see? Maybe there’s a story in that now that I think of it. Looking forward to reading your books!
January 5, 2020 at 1:51 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
“Don’t judge just jot” is important to keep mindful of as a creative.
January 5, 2020 at 1:51 pm
bevbaird
Love the idea that we are panting seeds – such an inspiring post. Can’t wait to read your new book. I love math as well.
January 5, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Megan Whitaker
My son is a mechanical engineering major at USC and just the other day he said something to our kitten that made my Storystorm list. You never know where ideas can come from!
January 5, 2020 at 1:53 pm
Susan Contreras
Thank you for your post! I have so many ideas and you have given me a way to compile them.
January 5, 2020 at 1:58 pm
Stephen S. Martin
This may be a good comment, or maybe not, but I will post it here anyway.
January 5, 2020 at 1:58 pm
Jen Bailey
Such fun with math! Thanks for encouragement.
January 5, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Amy healey
Just the boost I needed to not give up on writing & illustrations a counting book!
January 5, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Judy Cooper
Great description of the process! Thank you.
January 5, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Rachel S. Hobbs Gunn
This post goes very well with yesterday’s post!
January 5, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Paula B Puckett
Thank you the suggestions and examples of “Collecting the story seeds.”
I’ll write ideas down and work towards creating a story garden of my own.
January 5, 2020 at 2:13 pm
Sharon H
Thanks for the reminder to just keep jotting down
January 5, 2020 at 2:14 pm
Melissa Mwai
Thanks for the post!
January 5, 2020 at 2:17 pm
sjwmeade
Great advice here.Thank you for the post! COUNTING ELEPHANTS sounds fun!
January 5, 2020 at 2:18 pm
carolmunrojww
Whew! Just got two ideas from reading this post. Thanks, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Linda Bendor
I love the image of ideas/ bits talking to each other – when we’re not obviously paying attention to them or to writing. Thanks!
Very curious to see Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Mary Jane
Thanks, Dawn Young! Good inspiration for the day.
January 5, 2020 at 2:23 pm
LaurenKerstein
Congratulations on COUNTING ELEPHANTS! I love this: “…don’t judge, just jot. Jot them down. All of them.” Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 2:23 pm
Mary Ann Cortez
I love The Night Baafore Christmas ! I ca t cant wait to read this next book.
January 5, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Cynthia Wyszynski
Fairy dust, yes! Rainbows & Unicorns, yes! I love your idea for Counting Elephants & can’t wait to read it!
January 5, 2020 at 2:27 pm
mlflannigan
Thank you-great advice!
January 5, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Karen Greenwald
Great post, thank you! I feel the need to start my own garden!
January 5, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Thelia Hutchinson
Awesome. I have too written down ideas, but forget about them. Thanks for showing me I need to revisit them.
January 5, 2020 at 2:39 pm
stacey miller
Brilliant advice, I always have a battle in my head whether the ideas I have are any good.
January 5, 2020 at 2:40 pm
stephaniewildman
I love math too. Can’t wait to see your book. Congrats.
January 5, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Debra Daugherty
I enjoyed your post, Dawn! Jot it down. Simple, but great advice.
January 5, 2020 at 2:49 pm
lanearnold
Well, I guess I better keep on jotting things down. Thank you for the challenge to keep a going!
“Fortunately, I didn’t dismiss them but instead, feeling the pressure of meeting my daily quota, I wrote them down. And I’m so glad I did. Note to self and anyone else who may be guilty of dismissing ideas/words/snippets that don’t seem worthy… don’t judge, just jot. Jot them down. All of them.”
January 5, 2020 at 2:50 pm
Maria Oka
Yay Dawn! A phenomenal writer and person. Fantastic post, thank you for your insight!
January 5, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Lisa Billa
Thank for a great post, and I look forward to your book! I love the thought of story ideas on the list teaming up, or becoming unlikely friends. Maybe I’ll merge my Storystorm lists from a few years so ideas can meet!
January 5, 2020 at 2:57 pm
Susan
ideas may interact and create magic..love it!
January 5, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Susan Eyerman
Firm believer of having pen and paper with me to catch the any inspiration that may come my way. Those fleeting thougts are often hard to remember. Thanks for the good post!
January 5, 2020 at 3:03 pm
Pamela Haskin
Thanks, Dawn! I also save every little snippet and idea. I know I’ll find gold in there somewhere.
January 5, 2020 at 3:10 pm
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
I’m so bad about judging ideas before they have an opportunity to grow and take root. But it is amazing how one amazing simple concept can grow over time and grow into something beautiful. What a great reminder!
January 5, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Monica A. Harris
I have journals filled with story “tidbits” and they truly are helpful when it comes to a dry spell. Great advice
January 5, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Catherine
Thanks Dawn, Counting Elephants sounds fun :o)
January 5, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Cathy Ogren
Great ideas, Dawn! I’m always scribbling down ideas. The only problem is I sometimes can’t read my writing!
January 5, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Sheri Radovich
Thanks for reminding me that I have kept all the ideas since PiBoIdMo and have tons in a file that needs to be opened and read. There are author websites that have lists of ideas, too. Tara has fun word lists to use as well.
Congratulations on your Counting Elephants book.
January 5, 2020 at 3:21 pm
Lindsey Hobson
I have been trying to write down ideas for books that I could already envision witha beginning, middle, and end – but today I will jot. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Brenda Miller
I would love a copy of this book!
January 5, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Takin D
I love how “judge not, just jot” is really a message to be present, to pay attention, to validate the stream of thoughts running through your mind
January 5, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Robin Jordan
Thank you, Dawn! I loved the seed analogy even though I don’t have a green thumb. I’ll develop a writing green thumb, I will! And, I hope YOU continue to find blossoms on you’re journey.
January 5, 2020 at 3:23 pm
viviankirkfield
Love this post, Dawn! Snippets, silly words, and sounds that made an impression on us…all seeds for the next story. I’m always gardening…ready to nurture the little sprout of a story that is waiting to blossom.
So excited for all of your wonderful books!
January 5, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Anne Bromley
Thank you for the great reminder, Dawn! It’s so easy to dismiss an idea before you give it a chance to grow on you. The gardening analogy is perfect. Counting Elephants sounds terrific!
January 5, 2020 at 3:26 pm
M.R. Street
Writing ideas definitely come when I am doing something else. I call these “Kitchen Sink Moments,” because when I am standing at the sink doing dishes, my mind wanders, my characters talk to me, and stories unfold. Thanks for the post!
January 5, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Madeline Barr
Great advice, Dawn. Your book sounds wonderful!
January 5, 2020 at 3:27 pm
James Smith
Nothing as good as a funny pun 😀
January 5, 2020 at 3:30 pm
Debra Bartsch
Thanks Dawn for the fabulous words of encouragenent.
Counting Elephants looks so fun!
Congrats!
January 5, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Juliana Lee
Looking forward to Counting Elephants and to magical idea seeds sprouting overnight… oh, that’s not what you meant huh?
January 5, 2020 at 3:33 pm
kirstenpendreigh
Great ideas, such a fun book – can’t wait to see it.
January 5, 2020 at 3:33 pm
brittanypomales
I needed to hear this. As a first year storystorm participant I wanted my notebook to be filled with “good ideas” or at least not bad ones. This reminds me that each idea can’t be bad or good yet. But it is worth writing down!
January 5, 2020 at 3:45 pm
Lisa P
You addressed probably my biggest writing obstacle. Thanks for the advice today; definitely the encouragement I need!
January 5, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Jaclyn Crawford
Thank you for sharing!
January 5, 2020 at 3:47 pm
Julie Reich
Congrats on your books, and thanks for the reminder that an idea needs time to germinate!
January 5, 2020 at 3:47 pm
Susan Johnston Taylor
Great advice! Thanks.
January 5, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Samantha Altmann
Great advice and so true! I envy the people who jot down fully formed ideas, but also enjoy thinking about the fragments and helping them grow
January 5, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Judy Shemtob
Great advice, Dawn Young! Jotting without judging and checking on old ideas that may have sprouted. Looking forward to reading COUNTING WITH ELEPHANTS. Congratulations!
January 5, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri
It is so hard not judge before I write! Thanks for the reminder
January 5, 2020 at 3:53 pm
CeCeLibrarian
“Don’t judge. Just jot.”
❤️❤️❤️
I also loved…
“When they’re on a list they leave a mark and they marinate. They sit in your mind, like seeds sit in the soil, and they begin to grow.”
Thank you for this.
January 5, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Maria Bostian
What an excellent post to read on my birthday! Part of doing Storystorm again and again is to flip through old notes looking for likely or unlikely combinations.
Thanks for starting our week off right!
January 5, 2020 at 3:58 pm
Meli Glickman
What a wonderful reminder about being compassionate with ourselves regarding when and where the ideas start to originate. And what a fitting analogy about planting seeds. Cheers to blossoming stories!
January 5, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Judith Snyder
I’m excited to plant some of the story ideas I’ve written down to see what grows. Thanks for your thoughts, Dawn.
January 5, 2020 at 4:00 pm
laurie smollett kutscera
Such wonderful advice. I love the idea of combining passions and jotting it dow without judgement. It’s great waking up and finding inspiration written on a page rather than trying to remember what it was I was sure I’d never forget! LOL
January 5, 2020 at 4:01 pm
Susan Apps-Bodilly
I love hearing about what led you to write picture books! Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 4:02 pm
Jeannie Santucci
I’m a math basic skills teacher and am always looking for a way to help my students. Your
book, Counting Elephants sounds adorable!
January 5, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Arlene Schenker
Thanks for this advice, Dawn. I’ve been meaning to go back to my storystorm ideas from last year. And I have lots of other snippets I haven’t looked at in a while. Great reminder for me!
January 5, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Teresa Robeson
The gardening/seed analogy is lovely! So cool that Dawn loves math…more people should love math!
January 5, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Colleen Dabney
So cool—Your background and how it has led you to writing stories for kids.
January 5, 2020 at 4:12 pm
Cortney Benvenuto
Write. Them. Down. Don’t judge, just write them down. Thanks for the inspiration! :0)
January 5, 2020 at 4:12 pm
angie9091
You’re book sounds wonderful!
January 5, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
I am “counting” on excellent Storystorm posts like this one to inspire me this month! Thanks Dawn. 😉 Your new book looks terrific!
January 5, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Mary Bleckwehl
I think what inspires me most about this post is Dawn being an engineer and a children’s writer. Love that combo!
January 5, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Andrea Mack
Love this advice – thank you for the reminder. So simple, but significant. Also, I’m excited about ‘Counting Elephants.” It looks like such a fun read!
January 5, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Brenda May
Thank you Dawn I enjoyed and resonated with your advise. It has planted seeds of hope that will help fill my mind with a sprouting garden of ideas. Your books sound wonderful. I have a 4 year old grandson and I think I am just going to have to get him Counting With Elephants. I too enjoy maths xx
January 5, 2020 at 4:25 pm
EmmieRWerner
Excellent ❤️ Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Cheryl Keely
Don’t judge. Just jot. Great advice!
January 5, 2020 at 4:26 pm
nicolesalterbraun
Many of my ideas come in the period just before sleep. Sometimes, I’ll jot a few notes in my phone (i definitely don’t want to get out from the warmth of my Cuddl Duds sheets!) but sometimes, I play the game, “I’ll remember in the morning” and then, poof! The idea is gone! Think I’m gonna invest in one of those write in the dark pens! (I think it was on Tara’s list this year.)
January 5, 2020 at 4:27 pm
Cheryl Keely
Don’t judge. Just jot. Great advice.
January 5, 2020 at 4:27 pm
Erin Matzen
I’m an avid gardener and the thought of opening a packet of seeds and expecting it to grow somehow stuck with me. I’ve always thought of my artwork and ideas as fishing bobbers. If you put the work out there, you’re just waiting for a bite.
January 5, 2020 at 4:29 pm
Julia Dworschack
I love it!!! Just think of your idea book as a package of SEEDS!! Some germinate when tended and some don’t👍🏼.
January 5, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Mary Warth
Thank you Dawn! I have been jotting down the ideas since the PiBoIdMo days as well. Sometimes combining concepts from list to list (year to year) has lead to some great story ideas.
January 5, 2020 at 4:38 pm
Joannie Duris
Thanks, Dawn. Congratulations on your books. I loved seeing how an old idea merged with new, leading to Counting Elephants. Great list of random snippets to save. I had to jot down a new idea from your list before I could post this comment!
January 5, 2020 at 4:40 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
Great post. Dawn. You have encouraged me to go back and look at my lists. I think I started in 2013. Maybe there’s a jewel nestled among the pages. And by the way, I need to read your book. Maybe it will help me–I’m terrible at math.
January 5, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Christine Pinto
Visiting old lists today – thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 4:55 pm
carmelamccainsimmons
“Judge not. Just jot.” is going on my inspiration board. Thanks for the encouragement.
January 5, 2020 at 4:55 pm
denarose
Thanks for the encouraging post! I like the strategy of keeping track of the smallest ideas, even those that don’t excite us at the moment. One of my critique group buddies inspired me to keep an idea-a-day journal, and I think that really helps me keep the idea muscles working. Thanks so much!
January 5, 2020 at 4:58 pm
Heather Rowley
Love how you combined your passions to create an amazing book!
January 5, 2020 at 4:59 pm
Lori Dubbin
Dawn, I love how your old idea, over time, whispered a plot,
Your advice is spot on, “don’t judge, just jot.”
Congratulations on Counting Elephants! I can’t wait to read it!
January 5, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Laura
Thanks for the advice, Dawn. I needed to hear it today.
January 5, 2020 at 5:10 pm
Lisa Springer
Thank you for the encouragement. Judge not. Just jot is everything my writer soul needs right now.
January 5, 2020 at 5:10 pm
Nancy Ferguson
Thank you, Dawn. I love your process of transforming a jot into a story. I’ll keep jotting.
January 5, 2020 at 5:11 pm
Carolyn Currier
Great reminder. Thank you for sharing!
January 5, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Rona Shirdan
Great post!
January 5, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Dea
Very cool that you are a math enthusiast! I guess I’m fascinated because my brain does NOT work that way! Thanks for the boost! Loved this post…and the idea to write down EVERYTHING. That is just what I’m going to do. XO
January 5, 2020 at 5:17 pm
jessica shaw
Don’t judge, just jot. This is great advice! Thank you, Dawn! I’m putting COUNTING ELEPHANTS on my wish list of books for my Pre K classroom!
January 5, 2020 at 5:18 pm
susanzonca
Thinking of all my thought tidbits as seeds and jotting them down instead of dismissing.
January 5, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Joel Chalmers
Thanks Dawn! Plant (jot) a seed (idea) and help it grow. All ideas are worth the time to jot them down. Then nourishing them into stories is a great way to think about. I look forward to reading Counting Elephants. All the best in writing!
January 5, 2020 at 5:20 pm
Mrs. Vandivier
I love this idea….I don’t always jot ideas down because of fear of failure. But, I should and let it percolate. It will either come to fruition at some point or not. And that is okay!
January 5, 2020 at 5:20 pm
Joan Swanson
I do jot things down, usually on a post it note while the ideas strike me at work. The problem is sometimes I loose those little sticky notes in my purse or in an odd place at home. I need to stick them in my idea book! Thanks for your advise 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Mita
My idea came from a saying my kids would get mad at me for saying to them all the time. So I identify with this post – you never know when inspiration is going to strike!
January 5, 2020 at 5:24 pm
Kristin Wauson
Great advice! Silencing the editor in my head is the hardest thing to do. Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 5:34 pm
Jennifer Linville
This is so funny as just last night an idea happens upon me & I nearly dismissed it because I couldn’t think of how it would play out in a book. But I wrote it down…just in case. I’ve had so many story ideas over the years that I’ve failed to capture the moment they struck & which are lost to me now. I’ll continue trying to recapture them, but I won’t let another float away. Good advice. Thanks so much for writing this.
January 5, 2020 at 5:35 pm
Jennifer Linville
“Happened” upon me
January 5, 2020 at 5:34 pm
Melissa Richardson
Dawn I really needed this post today while thinking about how slow my process tends to be, and to remember to jot and not judge. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 5:36 pm
imartypoet
Thank you, Dawn! I love the seed packet analogy. If we could get the flowers by merely opening the packet we would miss out on all the camaraderie in our critique groups, too! I’m encouraged that the garbledy gook I jot down today is germinating when I am unaware. Love the COUNTING ELEPHANTS and magician match up. Looking forward to reading it!
January 5, 2020 at 5:38 pm
charlestrevino
Great advice!
Now lettuce plant those seeds and see what turnips.
January 5, 2020 at 5:38 pm
Kathi Morrison-Taylor
Thanks for sharing and being so encouraging!
January 5, 2020 at 5:40 pm
dianaguerin
Love the reminder to write it down even if it doesn’t make sense in the moment!
January 5, 2020 at 5:41 pm
Traci VW
A delightful post and book. What a fun process to get to the final book. Ideas are indeed seeds. I adore the gardening reference as I find gardening like magic.
January 5, 2020 at 5:42 pm
saputnam
Great post, Dawn!! Thank you for giving us a peek at how one goes about collecting and then planting story seeds. I always revisit my old PiBoIdMo and Storystorm lists as I tend to write everything down but only count those that will take root easily.
January 5, 2020 at 5:49 pm
Mary Worley
Great post! I needed a reminder to not judge and treat these jots as seeds. Looking forward to reading COUNTING ELEPHANTS.
January 5, 2020 at 5:52 pm
Melissa Stoller
Thanks for a great post, Dawn! Counting Elephants sounds fantastic and I love how you described your inspirations for this story! Cheers to more in 2020!
January 5, 2020 at 5:52 pm
ingridboydston
I needed to hear this today. Thanks! Busy not judging now! 😁
January 5, 2020 at 5:53 pm
Laura W.
Thank you Dawn! Love that you were an engineer and now write books that include your passion for math.
January 5, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Gabriele
Yes! A very timely post. One of my intentions this year is to be patient while the seeds of my ideas “marinate.” Thanks for the affirmation.
January 5, 2020 at 5:57 pm
clare
bloom where you are planted!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you SO!
January 5, 2020 at 5:58 pm
Gail Hedrick
Super tips on your process, and Counting Elephants not only makes riotous sense how it was conceived, it looks like a wonderful, fun read! Congrats….
January 5, 2020 at 5:58 pm
Jill M Proctor
Dawn, congratulations on all your beautiful books! Can’t wait to read ‘Counting Elephants!’ And thanks for the reminder to check old lists for new ideas – and to keep jotting!
January 5, 2020 at 5:59 pm
Catherine Morgans
Love how you came up with the idea for Counting Elephants.
January 5, 2020 at 5:59 pm
Clare
bloom where you are planted!!
thank you SO!!
January 5, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Linda Hofke
Counting Elephants sounds interesting. Congrats on your book!
Right now I am just counting ideas…day 5 and I already have 9 of them. Hopefully, at least one of them will amount to something.
January 5, 2020 at 6:01 pm
DaNeil Olson
Excellent post! Thanks for the encouragement.
January 5, 2020 at 6:03 pm
megcason1
I’m glad you found the right way to incorporate adding and subtracting!!
Sometimes it just takes extra time in the garden!!
Thank you Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Jennifer Weisse
Great advice, thank you! The backstory of how you came to write “Counting Elephants” is helpful and inspiring. The book sounds great!
January 5, 2020 at 6:08 pm
Eileen
Thanks for the ideas. I need to read your elephant book. I like math, too.
January 5, 2020 at 6:12 pm
eross
Thank you for this beautiful garden analogy, Dawn Young. I have a dream to incorporate my passions into picture books, too, so here’s to letting seed ideas marinate!
January 5, 2020 at 6:14 pm
drawingablank6
Wonderful advice!
January 5, 2020 at 6:14 pm
Franny G
Yes — write those ideas down without analysing, or judging or telling yourself it’s a stupid idea.
January 5, 2020 at 6:16 pm
debbiemoeller
Congrats on your Counting Elephants book. It looks adorable. Good advice-not to throw anything away. I know I have tossed out (or lost) ideas that I still have vague recollections of and wish I could remember!
January 5, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Sara Trofa
Loved this post, thank you so much!
January 5, 2020 at 6:25 pm
gracemomentum
This post was such an encouragement to me today! Love “don’t judge just jot”!
January 5, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Loni Edwards (@LoniEdwards)
Thank you , Dawn, for the inspiration of returning to those old PiBoIdMo ideas! GREAT advice is this post!
January 5, 2020 at 6:28 pm
chardixon47
Congrats on your successes Dawn 🙂 You’ve filled my garden with seeds to nurture and grow. I’m guilty of judging me harshly-gotta get my jot on!
January 5, 2020 at 6:29 pm
stiefelchana
Yes, this! Thank you Dawn! Can’t wait to read your book. Congrats!
January 5, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Linda KulpTrout
Last night, I got an idea for a possible story. I didn’t write it down, and now it’s gone. Hopefully, your post will help me remember to write those ideas down right away!
January 5, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Judy Sobanski
Those ideas need to germinate and grow. Great Advice!
January 5, 2020 at 6:37 pm
Gabi Snyder
Thanks for the great reminder, Dawn! Sometimes an idea that doesn’t seem promising at first blush can surprise you. Congrats on COUNTING ELEPHANTS!
January 5, 2020 at 6:39 pm
TerriMichels
Seeds of ideas need special care and plenty of love and then get ready to watch the results.
January 5, 2020 at 6:40 pm
Cheryl Johnson
Counting Elephants sounds like an interesting book! Love the idea of a magician for subtraction.
Feed your seeds. Like the sound of that.
January 5, 2020 at 6:41 pm
kmajor2013
Congrats on your writing success, Dawn. You and I have similar backgrounds. I’m a retired environmental engineer. Great post. Aren’t all engineers considered to be math crazy? I’ve been dabbling with math ideas lately. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 6:42 pm
Marty Bellis
This is so important. It’s impossible to know ahead of time what will work and what won’t. I love having a designated notebook strictly for Storystorm ideas. Quick reference when you’re stuck! Thanks, Dawn, and congrats on your latest book. Anything with elephants is fun 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 6:43 pm
susan schade
Thanks Dawn! Great advice! Congratulations on your books!
January 5, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Peggy Dobbs
Love the images of the seed packet and the beautiful garden—from idea to story. There’s a lot of growing that needs to be done in between—with patience. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 5, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Melissa Koosmann
Thanks, Dawn! Love this advice–and your book sounds awesome too.
January 5, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Latasha Vernon
I like that your passion shows through your writing. Thanks for the ideas!
January 5, 2020 at 6:44 pm
whitcoma
Amazing work taking a difficult subject matter – math – and making it fun for kids to read about! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 5, 2020 at 6:49 pm
akawriter
Love this post. It’s so important to write ideas down! Thank you, Dawn.
January 5, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Gaynell
That’s what I like about Nanowrimo… it’s the idea of just getting words down on paper. 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Rachel
I need to revisit my old notebooks to see if any seeds are now growing trees. Thanks.
January 5, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Nancy Furstinger
Putting Counting Elephants on my expanding list! And I’ve had a doc on Word for eons that I titled Snippets…I add to it daily. Ya never know….
January 5, 2020 at 7:06 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
Great suggestions – especially “just jot.” At the end of each Storystorm month, I copy and paste my new list onto all the old lists that came before. Even if they go nowhere, they’re fun to read over now and then to say, “What does this mean?” and “What was I thinking?” Fingers crossed that I win your book, even though math gives me a headache. Counting Elephants looks pretty fun.
January 5, 2020 at 7:08 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
Thanks for reminding us why Storystorm is so wonderful, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 7:08 pm
TerriMichels
Enjoy reading the posts.
January 5, 2020 at 7:08 pm
Brandy Lynne
Love the ideas! And love math too!
January 5, 2020 at 7:17 pm
seschipper
Great post! Words to write by…”Don’t judge, Just Jot”!!! Also love the seed packet comparison! Can’t wait to buy and share “Counting Elephants”! 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 7:19 pm
Virginia Manning
In the middle of reading your post, my idea came to me! I’m honestly not sure why but I’m so happy to have one for the day AND I think the story could be filled with hear, honestly and vulnerability. (Of course, first I have to write it! : ) Thank you, Dawn!!!
January 5, 2020 at 7:19 pm
Sharon Langley
I think you’re right…just write them down and don’t judge them. You can always sort through your ideas later.
January 5, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Lori Alexander
Love this post. Congrats on your PB success, my AZ friend!
January 5, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Virginia Manning
I got my idea in the middle of reading your post! Not sure why but I’m tickled pink I did! Thank you, Dawn!
January 5, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Thanks for the encouragement and the instruction to just get it down. I’ll do it!
January 5, 2020 at 7:33 pm
tdjw
My granny loved elephants. She believes they brought good luck. This has given me an idea for a PB
January 5, 2020 at 7:55 pm
Kaye Baillie
Story seeds, yes, I need to write them down no matter what form they come in. Thanks, Dawn and love the elephant counting book.
January 5, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Maria J Cuesta
Hunting ideas is one of my favourite sports. 😉 I love your post and that you reminded us that we need to nurture the ideas.
Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Amy Houts
Thanks for the easy-to-remember instructions: Don’t judge, jot!
January 5, 2020 at 8:11 pm
Mark Ceilley
I love your idea of writing down snipets, titles, or any word. I agree that it can lead to story ideas and later into a story. I look forward to “jotting” away!
January 5, 2020 at 8:17 pm
jacquesartandbooks
Thanks for your blog Dawn. Sometimes, most times, its the idea you didn’t jot down that haunts you, elusive and brilliant.
January 5, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Amy Newbold
Thanks, Dawn! I love the advice to not judge ideas, but to instead, write them down. Counting Elephants looks like a wonderful book.
January 5, 2020 at 8:34 pm
Righter
At one time I woke early and wrote whatever came to mind for 30 minutes, but a list would not take as long, so i’ll give that a try for this SS.
January 5, 2020 at 8:34 pm
Kaylynn Johnsen
Revisiting old lists is a gold mine. 🎉
January 5, 2020 at 8:39 pm
vgraboski61gmailcom
Counting Elephants sounds amazing! Thanks for the clever post. We should all be sprouting ideas in no time!
January 5, 2020 at 8:41 pm
Heidi Yates
Thanks for sharing, Dawn. I can’t wait to read Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 8:41 pm
gabriellecardwell
I love picture books with math. Can’t wait to read Counting Elephants!
January 5, 2020 at 8:53 pm
mathbookmagic
Thanks for this post! And I am also a math lover and cannot wait to read this book! Sounds wonderful and love that it came out of Storystorm! I’ve been hoping addition and subtraction as inverse operations was featured in more math picture books. Such a key concept full of wonder as well. I have a ms that started a few years ago from a Storystorm idea as well that I’m querying on the same concept. So glad to have another out in the world! Hope to someday follow in your footsteps.
January 5, 2020 at 8:54 pm
Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon)
I try to write whatever little bit come to mind. Especially from my oldest.
January 5, 2020 at 9:05 pm
rindabeach
Thank you for the reminder not to judge ideas by the words in front of you. Try flushing them out before judging either way.
January 5, 2020 at 9:07 pm
Michele R
Thanks, Dawn. I loved that you can incorporate your love of math in your stories.
January 5, 2020 at 9:15 pm
Jim Chaize
I hope this post generate some new ideas. I will visit my lists from past years and see what happens. Thanks, Dawn.
January 5, 2020 at 9:22 pm
Natalie Lynn Tanner
DAWN: THANK YOU for the INSPIRING post! I ESPECIALLY LOVE how you showed that even the most unrelated ideas (like math and writing) can merge to create a story MASTERPIECE!!! And THANK YOU for the reminder to go back over our old lists of ideas. I CAN’T WAIT to rediscover those treasure troves!!! Your books look DARLING! I CAN’T WAIT to read them! THANK YOU!!!
January 5, 2020 at 9:29 pm
Kimberly Marcus
I enjoyed your post – good reminder to look back on our previous ideas. Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Poupette Smith
You’ve convinced me, thanks! I’ll just keep on jottin’…
January 5, 2020 at 9:31 pm
Amy Bradshaw
Thank you for reminding us that old ideas can sometimes become the best ideas!
January 5, 2020 at 9:35 pm
Dina Ticas
Yes! The merging of math and reading equals fun.
January 5, 2020 at 9:42 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
“Don’t judge, just jot.” That really speaks to the heart of this idea collecting endeavor, Dawn. Thank you.
January 5, 2020 at 9:46 pm
phyllischerry.com
Thank you for your ideas, especially keeping the old idea notebook! Maybe, just maybe an old idea will birth a new book or a new drawing or a new article. I’ve tossed so many idea books and now 2020 is a good year to begin a new idea book.
January 5, 2020 at 9:51 pm
teacherwriteracker
I always Storystorm first thing in the morning but waking up late for church meant my blog reading was put on hold. I did have a ridiculous story idea I almost didn’t write down, but I am so glad I did. I can leave the judging for later. Thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Sara Matson
I love this: “As if seeds would somehow transform into a glorious garden simply by opening the packet.”
So often I feel like they’re supposed to, and I like the reminder that they need time and nourishment.
Thanks for sharing!
January 5, 2020 at 10:03 pm
Lydia Lukidis
Great advice! I write down all my ideas, even though I don’t end up using most of them. But it’s a great practice to have
January 5, 2020 at 10:03 pm
KASteed
Great advice…thank you!
January 5, 2020 at 10:03 pm
Sandy Brown Lowe
Always helps to remember there’s a process to proceed through. Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 10:08 pm
jenniemacdonald
“Jot down and everything that strikes you . . . . Keep your old lists.” I do this in one plain Moleskine notebook. Everything goes in it: ideas, summaries, outlines, character development, etc. When it’s full I start a new one. But the best part is going through the full one and flagging the contents for ideas that could work together or topics that belong to an ongoing project like a novel.
January 5, 2020 at 10:12 pm
Jen Wright
I love the idea of marrying your great passions and I love the cover of this book. Great posting! Good suggestions. Thank you!!
January 5, 2020 at 10:15 pm
Lori Menning
Sounds like great advice. You never know when those seeds will sprout!
Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 10:19 pm
claireannette1
You are right – ideas are like seeds and I have many that need the opportunity to grow. I can’t wait to read and share Counting Elephants.
January 5, 2020 at 10:22 pm
jenabenton
Thank you for this post! It’s great advice to “not judge” any of our ideas, but it’s even better to see how a random idea came to be a story plot! Magic and math and elephants? AWESOME!
January 5, 2020 at 10:29 pm
denitajohnson
Thank you for the ideas!
January 5, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Chelle Martin
Jotting down ideas is so true. I have titles, names, synopsis, etc. from last year. Some have turned into stories. When I need a new idea, I look in my Story Storm folder.
January 5, 2020 at 10:32 pm
Beth Charles
Thanks for this great advice. Some of my best ideas come when I’m in the shower!
January 5, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Jenny Read Stout
I’ve written down a few random scenarios, but after reading this, I feel like I’ve just been given permission to be more creative. Time to take a look at my list of favorite words! Thanks!
January 5, 2020 at 10:38 pm
Alicia
Thanks for the inspiration!
January 5, 2020 at 10:44 pm
candicewolff
Looking forward to reading, “Counting Elephants.” Thank you for the reminder to not judge our ideas before giving them a chance 😊
January 5, 2020 at 10:47 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Thank you for the advice! Great ideas!
January 5, 2020 at 10:59 pm
Kate Carroll
What an amazing journey to kiddy-lit! Love how you incorporated all of your gifts and talents. Thank you for your insight.
January 5, 2020 at 11:00 pm
Elizabeth Duncan
Thanks for your thoughtful post. It was inspiring.
January 5, 2020 at 11:02 pm
betlw
Dawn, what a clever idea to use addition and subtraction to write a story. I would love to read it and see how you used these two math concepts.
Great post!
January 5, 2020 at 11:10 pm
betlw
Since I was gone over the holidays and came home to mega spam, I seem to have lost Storystorms 4 and 5. When were they posted? Maybe I can go back through the material I didn’t delete to find them. I just hope I didn’t accidentally delete them along with the spam. Can someone send these two posts to me, please? I would be so grateful. This is my second year with Storystorm, and I love it! Thanks.
Elizabeth Westra elizabethwestra@gmail.com
On Sun, Jan 5, 2020 at 6:01 AM Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) wrote:
> Tara Lazar posted: “by Dawn Young It’s 2020, a brand new year, and thanks > to STORYSTORM we get off to a running start with a daily flash of > inspiration and a stash of ideas to turn into stories. Let’s imagine those > moments when inspiration strikes. Do you envision a flurry” >
January 5, 2020 at 11:12 pm
Jessica Potts
Love the idea for the book and the post! Many of my uses list just list one word and sometimes that is enough!
January 5, 2020 at 11:15 pm
mypetopia
I plan to do some jotting! Maybe they will be the seeds for my future book! Thanks for your encouragement!
January 5, 2020 at 11:25 pm
Keeping the Me in Mommy
I love the mantra: Just Jot!
January 5, 2020 at 11:29 pm
Darcee Freier
Seeds are a great metaphor for ideas.
January 5, 2020 at 11:38 pm
Abby Wooldridge
Thanks for a great post! 🙂
January 5, 2020 at 11:46 pm
Della Ross Ferreri
You’re on a roll, Dawn. Thank you for the inspiring post!
January 5, 2020 at 11:52 pm
pjaegly
I love the analogy if seeds. I hope at least some of mine sprout!
January 5, 2020 at 11:59 pm
Angie
Great strategy: WRITE it down. Because if you don’t write it down, you won’t remember it. At least I don’t. Even right now, as soon as I read “silly word” there was a little wiggly idea in my mind of a silly word…but I cannot remember it. Maybe it will come again. So I better practice jotting down everything. Thanks!
January 6, 2020 at 12:02 am
Jennifer Spillane
Interesting background. Inspiring.
January 6, 2020 at 12:12 am
Rebekah Lowell
I keep every snippet of every idea in tiny books, (going back to PiBoIdMo as well)! You never know when a story will bloom from a seed. Thank you for sharing!
January 6, 2020 at 12:27 am
Carolyn Lucas
Jotting Jotting Jotting. Thank you for your post.
January 6, 2020 at 12:45 am
Juliann Caveny
Love it, Dawn! Perfect post to get us starting on our way throughout a busy month. Jotting more ideas down asap!
January 6, 2020 at 12:59 am
JillDanaBooks
Thanks for the great advice! 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 1:01 am
katiemillsgiorgio
No idea is a bad idea! Thanks for sharing.
January 6, 2020 at 1:02 am
farmfolkfamily
Thanks for sharing how a random idea morphed into a published book! Great inspiration!
January 6, 2020 at 1:02 am
Nadia Salomon
Thank you for this post Dawn. Great advice on jotting and not judging your ideas. Congrats on your two books!
January 6, 2020 at 1:06 am
Jenn
I need to be better about jotting down random ideas. Too often I think an idea has to be more fleshed out in order for it to be worth jotting down.
Thanks for the inspiration!
January 6, 2020 at 1:15 am
lahewson
Thank you, Dawn, for sharing your wisdom. I loved the analogy with the seeds. I jot down some things and do discard others, but from now on I’ll jot the lot! Thanks 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 1:19 am
cbcole
I love the idea of seeds – I’ll be hopefully planting more ideas this year.
January 6, 2020 at 1:52 am
Ellen Lee (@helloellenlee)
Thanks for this post — just what I needed to keep going!
January 6, 2020 at 1:52 am
laurimacey
Love this post!
January 6, 2020 at 2:18 am
Annie Lynn
don’t judge. just jot. got it. Thanks.
January 6, 2020 at 2:30 am
Dawn Prochovnic
I just took a quick look at a few of my StoryStorm ideas from last year, and I was amazed at how many of the ideas I had forgotten about. I’m so glad I wrote them down! (Now I need to start putting some more of those ideas to action!)
January 6, 2020 at 2:35 am
Marcia Berneger
I love the idea of planting writing ideas seeds!
January 6, 2020 at 2:37 am
Carol Gwin Nelson
Thanks for sharing your story about Counting Elephants. It is always fun to see how writers ideas develop!
January 6, 2020 at 2:44 am
percyandcat
Dawn, thank you for your words of wisdom. I know what you mean, I can have an idea come to me and I jot it down on whatever I can find until I can add it to my book of ideas. Sometimes they scream to be gobbled up right away and others need, like you said, to grow and be nurtured. I love writing, it is almost like acting, you set the stage and sometimes become someone else as you get carried away in the joy of creating.
January 6, 2020 at 2:57 am
percyandcat
Dawn, thank you for your words of wisdom. I sometimes have ideas at odd times and jot them down on anything I can find then put them in my book of ideas when I get home. I love writing, it is kind of like acting in some ways. You get an idea and it wants to be gobbled up right away into a new life of its own, setting the stage for a new adventure. While others need to be planted and nurtured for some time. The thrill and joy in becoming someone else for a short time by placing yourself in your story and trying to imagine how your characters are feeling.
January 6, 2020 at 3:28 am
Amanda Malek-Ahmadi
I live in AZ too!!! I loved the part about when inspiration can strike. One night an idea that had been marinating since October hit me full on while giving my boys a bath. I yelled for my husband to quickly come upstairs to take over watching the boys. What I thought was just one line spilled into a “whole story”. It’s still one I need to go revise but that was an awesome and funny experience.
January 6, 2020 at 3:36 am
Johnell DeWitt
Thank you for this reminder. What a great background story on your book as well.
January 6, 2020 at 4:40 am
catpledger
Sometimes I look back at something I have jotted on paper and am totally confused, and then I fi d the occasional diamond. Thank you for the post.
January 6, 2020 at 4:59 am
authorlaurablog
Great post. I pulled up my 2019 StoryStorm list and found a few gems, that made me ask, “Why haven’t I written this one?”
January 6, 2020 at 6:13 am
Jay
Your post inspired me to recall some of last year’s ideas that need to see the light! Thank you.
January 6, 2020 at 6:21 am
mona861
Jot and jot and jot cause if I don’t, that brainstorm seems to disappear into thin air never to come back again! Thanks Dawn for this reminder post.
January 6, 2020 at 6:22 am
Elle
Love the idea of counting elephants and magicians subtracting!
I absolutely agree with you. Ideas are like seeds and sometimes they need to germinate.
January 6, 2020 at 7:00 am
Jocelyn Rish
When I get an idea that’s a winner, it’s like a zip of electricity. I never get the whole story, but I can feel that it’s eventually going to grow into *something*. It’s an awesome feeling.
January 6, 2020 at 7:06 am
Lauren Barbieri
Love this suggestion—thank you for the post. I’ve found some of the smallest snippets of experience or thought to be interesting fodder for stories!
January 6, 2020 at 7:43 am
Freda Lewkowicz
Love this gem. “Jot. Don’t judge.” And I’ll start reading my old Storystorm notebooks too. Thank you.
January 6, 2020 at 8:29 am
Jill Watson
Great post, thanks! It’s so important to write ideas down. I’ve found the best ones come the second I wake up, like someone is whispering them into my ear! Now there’s a notepad by my bed at all times, because I won’t remember them a minute later.
January 6, 2020 at 8:43 am
Joana Pastro
“Don’t judge, just jot” is a great mantra not only for idea collecting but for writing in general. Thanks for a great post, Dawn! Congratulations on your new books!
January 6, 2020 at 8:49 am
Alison Hedrick
Enjoyed this read, it really takes the pressure of perfection out of the equation.
January 6, 2020 at 8:50 am
Ruthie Kirk
Love the idea of softening up math by wrapping it in a story!
January 6, 2020 at 9:28 am
Charlotte Offsay
My ideas tend to need time, love and care before they can grow too. Thank you for the reminder!
January 6, 2020 at 9:30 am
kirsticall
I love this post, Dawn and THE NIGHT BAAAFORE CHRISTMAS was darling!
January 6, 2020 at 9:37 am
Matt Forrest Esenwine
One never knows which ides are the ‘keepers’ until you spend some time on them – so you’re right, jot down everything!
January 6, 2020 at 10:01 am
clairebobrow
I love your analogy to seeds and flowers. Dumping something in the ground does not necessarily mean it will grow and thrive by itself. Great reminder to give things love, care, and the time they need. Thanks, Dawn!
January 6, 2020 at 10:05 am
Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth)
There’s been a ton of chaos and miscommunication in our country. We’re missing the fun. I’m looking forward to reading Counting Elephants. Thanks!
January 6, 2020 at 10:20 am
Krista Maxwell
Thanks for reminding us that all ideas count. I hate when I say I will write it down later and then forget! Always jot right away!
January 6, 2020 at 10:32 am
Robin Wiesneth
Excellent idea! I keep a seed list going all the time and pluck tidbits from it to form bigger ideas and concepts.
January 6, 2020 at 10:47 am
JC
Thanks for your thoughts! You are right, all ideas count, I am going to keep a booklet with me at all times to jot things down.
January 6, 2020 at 10:58 am
Linda Schueler
Thanks for the reminder to look over my old lists. And congratulations on your books!
January 6, 2020 at 11:01 am
LenoraBiemans (@BiemansLenora)
Definitely an idea jotter here! Loved learning more about your process. 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 11:09 am
Lynne Marie
Thanks so much for sharing. Counting the inspiration and the blessings!
January 6, 2020 at 11:17 am
Laurel Ranveig Abell
My StoryStorm Journal is chock full of ideas!! I carry a little notebook everywhere and even have aqua notes in the shower–where the BEST ideas always flow!
January 6, 2020 at 11:21 am
Susie Sawyer
Yes! I agree wholeheartedly that we need to be jotting down EVERYTHING, no matter how insignificant it may seem! I find that keeping cute little notebooks (with pen attached) in as many places as possible encourages me to jot down ideas. Just seeing them sitting there patiently waiting for me to add something is sometimes inspiration enough to stop and take notice of sights and sounds around me, or what thoughts are spinning around in my head at the moment. Thank you Dawn, and congratulations on “Counting Elephants”!
January 6, 2020 at 11:22 am
AudreyDayWilliams
I definitely get bogged down in what won’t work when I’m writing instead of dumping it all on the page and culling after. Thanks, Dawn!
January 6, 2020 at 12:04 pm
alisongoldberg
Thanks for this helpful perspective!
January 6, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
Thanks for the reminder to go back and dig through our old ideas to see what seeds we might find there.
January 6, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Lisa Riddiough
I whole heartedly agree, Dawn! Thank you for being an inspiration to us all.
January 6, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Mary Lou
I love elephants! I love magicians & magic! I love & appreciate your essay!
January 6, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Leslie Leibhardt Goodman - Writer
Finding all of my old lists could take time as I write ideas on anything that has a little open space. I’m looking forward to reading Counting Elephants! 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Rebecca Van Slyke
Story seeds! LOVE the metaphor!
January 6, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Jane Dippold
Thanks for the reminder to mine old lists and ideas for new story seeds!
I can’t wait to read COUNTING ELEPHANTS!
January 6, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Juli Rauba
Thank you for sharing Dawn! Patience is something I am developing as a writer and this inspired me to continue to grow in it. I love the visual of the seeds growing into stories, that will stick with me for a long time.
January 6, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Brittanny Handiboe
This year so far has been nothing but going back and seeing how old ideas can become new. Maybe I’ll get something out of old lists this year!
January 6, 2020 at 1:06 pm
kyavorski
I regularly jot, often in my bedside notebook in the middle of the night. Sometimes I go back and think the ideas are great, sometimes I scratch my head. Now, I’ll start to add them to a master list. Thanks!
January 6, 2020 at 1:12 pm
aidantalkin
The best thing about a month of ‘jotting down’ is that it is habit-forming and soon we are jotting, all year. Thanks for the reminder!
January 6, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Kirsten Bock
Counting Elephants sounds adorable!
January 6, 2020 at 1:26 pm
mginsberg10
I’m inspired by your post! “Jot, don’t judge” and “Feed your seeds” are great mantras. Thanks, Micki
January 6, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Jill Lambert (@LJillLambert)
I love the title, “Judge not, just jot! When I went back through my latest notebook, I found and listed 18 jots…3 of them are saying, “Pick me!” Thanks for the inspiration, Dawn!
January 6, 2020 at 1:33 pm
Jennifer Hunt
Loved hearing your process of revisiting old snippets and how it ‘blossomed’ into your latest book. Can’t wait to read!
January 6, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Ashley Bankhead
This post was fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I’m going to not judge my ideas today, and just write them down😊
January 6, 2020 at 1:59 pm
Damon Dean, SevenAcreSky
Thanks Micki, nothing like a 4-word reminder to put on my wall–“Judge not, just Jot!”
That’s memorable and powerful. I’ve practiced that at times, but most times just followed my ‘gotta-be-perfect-to-be-worth-it’ story idea-ing.
January 6, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Laurie Bouck
Thank you for your great post! I also love to do math problems…just because! 😀
January 6, 2020 at 2:16 pm
Nicole Loos Miller
What a great message and so eloquently written! Definitely resonated with me!
January 6, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Karen Lawler
I always loved writing in my Journal but you are wise reminding me to LOOK AGAIN !! I needed that nug to do exactly that! Thank You. 🙂
January 6, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Deborah Foster
I am adding Counting Elephants to my TBR list! Thank you for the inspiration! I struggle most with providing nourishment to my seedlings! Most of the time they just sit around and wait or blow away in the wind! I need to write them down instead of carrying them in my pocket!
January 6, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Terrie Hellard-Brown
I love your story and encouragement. Thanks for the good advice!
January 6, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Just jot! Love it. Thank you for the inspiration.
January 6, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Kathy Mazurowski
Congratulations on your published book! Taking your passion and having it marinate, thank you!
January 6, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Sound advice! Thank you, Dawn. Congratulations on your books!
January 6, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Kassy Keppol
Thank you for sharing!
January 6, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Mary A Zychowicz
“Like seeds need soil, water, sunlight and time to grow into a garden, ideas need nourishment and time as well. Feed your seeds by writing, reading and learning…..I love this! Thank you for your post and congratulations on your book publication.
January 6, 2020 at 3:27 pm
Shanah Salter
Great reminder to jot jot jot!
January 6, 2020 at 3:36 pm
Michele Ziemke
All ideas are like seeds! The ones that grow are the ones we water!!! StoryStorm is like like dirt, just waiting for our seedlings 🌱.
Thank you for your encouraging words!!!
January 6, 2020 at 3:48 pm
marshaelyn
Dawn, your lesson about not judging, just jotting, is a valuable reminder that writing stories is a messy, oftentimes chaotic, craft. Thanks for posting your thoughts on Storystorm to inspire us as 2020 begins. Sending you showers of energy to help sprout your snippets into good storytelling…
January 6, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Katie Williams
Great advice, thank you!
January 6, 2020 at 4:12 pm
Anita Banks
Thank you.
January 6, 2020 at 4:25 pm
Heather Gallagher
Love this – thanks!
January 6, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Emily
So excite to cultivate more ideas and watch them grow!
January 6, 2020 at 4:55 pm
Arin Wensley
Great post!
January 6, 2020 at 5:50 pm
Elizabeth W Saba
Thank you for the post Dawn and looking forward to your next book. I was fun to see you in December.
January 6, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Alice Fulgione
Love your reminder to cultivate my story ideas with the care that I cultivate my plants! Great comparison!
January 6, 2020 at 6:08 pm
Sandy Perlic
What a clever idea for a book! I’m glad you take all your ideas seriously–I think perhaps that’s one of the best way to stand out in a sea of good books. I have all my Storystorm notebooks, too–and hopefully more of those ideas will sprout into strong stories. Thank you, Dawn!
January 6, 2020 at 6:18 pm
Kellie
Fantastic post. I have pages and pages of ideas from previous years and you’ve inspired me to go back and look. In fact, when you talked about seeds and gardens, I remembered an idea I had last year on this very topic. Thank you – you made my day.
January 6, 2020 at 6:18 pm
kltwrites
I don’t usually write things down… and regret it later. This article made me promise myself to do so!
January 6, 2020 at 6:28 pm
kathydoherty1
Thanks, Dawn. I have to learn not to dismiss ideas too quickly.
January 6, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Patti Richards, Children's Author
Thanks for the reminder that our ideas are just that, ideas, and they need to live in a no-judgment zone and have time to simmer and evolve! Great post, Dawn!
January 6, 2020 at 7:04 pm
Denise Benavides
We writers don’t realize the gift we have of being able to take ideas and make stories. Not everyone can. But fun for us who can.
January 6, 2020 at 7:46 pm
kathrynjeanhagen
Thank you, Dawn, for your sage thoughts about writing down our ideas (no matter what we think of them at the time) for percolation–you never know what the result will be!!
January 6, 2020 at 7:49 pm
Carolyne Ruck
Great advice, especially sharing the questions you asked to add a magician and elephants to the basic idea.
January 6, 2020 at 7:58 pm
Sherry Smith
Dawn, great idea of mixing math with a magician. Wish I had thought of that.
But, it’s time for me to look back at some of my ideas from the past to see if they’re ready to expand upon.
January 6, 2020 at 8:57 pm
Dea Brayden
So hard not to judge ourselves, isn’t it? Thank you for your encouragement and inspiration, Dawn.
January 6, 2020 at 9:09 pm
Jane Baskwill
Tanks for sharing. Collecting ideas without judgement is great advice.
January 6, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Brenda Grant Lower
I love the thought that ideas will have value one day! Keep them, love them!
January 6, 2020 at 9:52 pm
Meredith Fraser
I really like the seed versus idea analogy! Thanks
January 6, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Robyn McGrath
Love this! Jot not judge.
January 6, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
I’m jotting down my ideas and will continue to seek the seeds of inspiration.
Thank you, Dawn.
Suzy Leopold
January 6, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Virginia Rinkel
I love jotting down ideas!
January 6, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Keila Dawson
Yes, yes and yes! How many times have I thought of an idea and failed to write it down. Write. Everything. Down.
January 6, 2020 at 11:16 pm
Bronte Colbert
Jotting…. jotting… thank u!
January 6, 2020 at 11:22 pm
writersideup
I’m SO with you on this, Dawn…even just a combo of words could be less than wonderful now, but spark something else at a later date. Great post!
January 7, 2020 at 12:19 am
jan lane
“don’t judge, just jot” -my new motto!!
January 7, 2020 at 12:28 am
Dani Duck
I haven’t read your Elephant story yet, but it looks adorable. I love how you came up with the story. I hope some of my jots become great stories too!
January 7, 2020 at 3:12 am
Mirka Hokkanen
What a brilliant idea! I have been diligently jotting down my ideas since I started story storm a few years back too. I used to think that I will never have ideas for stories, and now I can’t help but think new stuff up. ❤
January 7, 2020 at 3:14 am
Gaby Lagos
Dawn, Just two letters on your post, and let me feel so satisfied, and here it is: story seeds / storystorm list, is wonderful, because I rename my ideas/rhymes with story seeds / storystorm list.
January 7, 2020 at 8:24 am
Jennifer Blanck
“Just jot”–love that! It feels like a mantra. Thanks for inspiring!
January 7, 2020 at 9:48 am
Judy Bryan
This prompted me to look through my past Storystorm journals where, I’m happy to say, several ideas had sprouted! Thank you, Dawn!!!
January 7, 2020 at 9:53 am
Erin Fennell
I love the explanation of how you turned the seed of an idea into something very unique…with elephants and a magician!
January 7, 2020 at 9:59 am
jshaklan
Love things of ideas as seeds that need nourishment and time to grow. Thanks!
January 7, 2020 at 10:35 am
Naana
Thank you, Dawn! I too have notebooks from PiBoldMo and have wondered when. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement in the analogy of the seeds in the soil. I find myself this year looking at past ideas.
Congratulations on COUNTING ELEPHANTS!! Look forward to reading it.
January 7, 2020 at 10:54 am
Sarah Skolfield
I love that you are a mechanical engineer turned PB author! I think there is creativity in engineering even though I’m not an engineer so I don’t know what I’m talking about. Thanks for sharing your creative process.
January 7, 2020 at 10:54 am
Heather Thurmeier
Counting Elephants looks like a great book. I’ll have to check it out.
January 7, 2020 at 11:30 am
Rebecca E. Hirsch
I love ideas as story seeds. Thanks, Dawn!
January 7, 2020 at 11:32 am
anitajjones
Great information! I’m a little disappointed that ideas don’t generate fairy dust, but you did a wonderful blog explaining what ideas do generate. That’s the reality I needed to hear! Thanks Dawn!
January 7, 2020 at 11:55 am
leahpsmoser
Thank you for the great advice!
January 7, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Brinton Culp
Snippet is such a great word! Ready to take those snippets, put them together, take them apart, rearrange, and create. Thanks for the inspiring post!
January 7, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Laura Jean Watters
May we all have the wonderful experience of taking our passion for something like math and turning it into a battle between addition and subtraction. I’m tempted to write “Genius” but it’s more like hard work and JOTTING!
January 7, 2020 at 12:33 pm
curryelizabeth
Good reminder to just write it down without judgement. Thanks! Congratulations on your successes and thanks Tara!
January 7, 2020 at 1:33 pm
Kyle McBride
A very wise idea. I need to suppress the perfectionist in me.
January 7, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Carrie Williford (@carrietimes)
A nice reminder to revisit ideas!
January 7, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Erin Buhr
Counting Elephants sounds adorable and I love how you described combining your two interests. Thanks for sharing!
January 7, 2020 at 3:28 pm
phyllisharris50
Thanks for the reminder to jot things down whenever it hits me. Often I am in the car driving when I get ideas so that can be tough but thank goodness for Siri, lol!
January 7, 2020 at 3:47 pm
Wendy
I know to do this–but I don’t. Maybe your post will be the kick in the butt I need! (I hope so!) Thanks for sharing your advice, Dawn. Looking forward to seeing Counting Elephants!
January 7, 2020 at 4:01 pm
Lynn Alpert
Thanks for the post! I have all my Storystorm ideas in one book and I love looking back at all the old ideas to get a new spark or two.
January 7, 2020 at 4:51 pm
Connie L Van Horn
Thank you Dawn for your inspiration and time contributing to Story Storm!!
January 7, 2020 at 5:30 pm
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
You are SO write about all of this. I have over 500 ideas down now from the last 3 years of Storystorm and I go back over them all the time… MANY times old thoughts or phrases spark something in me and it starts me down a road to a new draft. Thank you for your comments and your inspiration!!!
January 7, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Ugh… and that should be “right” not “write” — LOL — clearly not enough caffeine today!
January 7, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Janet Frenck Sheets
“Write. Them. Down.” sounds so basic, but it’s incredibly important. I’ve found that ideas flash across my mind, but I forget them almost instantly if I don’t record them. StoryStorm showed me how many ideas I was losing.
January 7, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Zoraida Rivera
Those old Storystorm notebooks are full of seeds! I’m going planting!
January 7, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Karan Greene
After reading this, I went back and wrote down a seed of an idea that I had dismissed yesterday because it didn’t feel complete enough. Thanks for the encouragement!!
January 7, 2020 at 8:12 pm
Alexis Ennis
Thank you for your advice!
January 7, 2020 at 8:26 pm
Melissa Chupp
Counting Elephants sounds great!
January 7, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Dawn Young
Thanks, Dawn for your words of encouragement. And Great Name … Dawn Young! Mine too!.
January 7, 2020 at 10:16 pm
teresa.mi.schaefer
Nice post reinforcing Tara’s proposal of reviewing the old ideas.
January 7, 2020 at 10:29 pm
Dee Leone
Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep on jotting! The title of your first book is super creative, and as a math lover, I look forward to reading COUNTING ELEPHANTS.
January 7, 2020 at 10:44 pm
Alexia Andoni
I need to remember to collect all my morsels – no matter how small. Thank you!
January 7, 2020 at 11:08 pm
writeremmcbride
Dawn, what great ideas! I have been collecting character names for years, but not usually writing them down! I will take a renewed interest in recording them. Most of them are just plain fun to pronounce – and reading can be just downright FUN sometimes! Thank you!
January 7, 2020 at 11:51 pm
Becky Shillington
Thank you for this great reminder, Dawn. I am excited to read COUNTING ELEPHANTS!
January 8, 2020 at 12:03 am
Shawna JC Tenney
It’s interesting that I’ve been able to find good stories in ideas I didn’t actually think were any good at the time I thought of the idea when I came back to revisit them later. So I love this reminder to jot down ideas and not judge them. Thank you!
January 8, 2020 at 12:14 am
Beth Stewart
I love jot, don’t judge. I need a gadget to ‘jot’ while I am in the shower because that is often where I am when an idea comes!
January 8, 2020 at 1:17 am
Aundra Tomlins
Math and reading go hand and hand more and more theses days.
January 8, 2020 at 1:46 am
Shar
I can’t wait to read Counting Elephants with my newest child reader who is also learning math!
January 8, 2020 at 2:04 am
thesheilster
Great post! I love thinking about my ideas, and even one word or phrase, as seeds. I’ll be jotting down more now that I’m inspired.
January 8, 2020 at 2:08 am
Carrie Charley Brown
So excited for you, Dawn! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 8, 2020 at 2:26 am
Michelle Kogan Art, Illustration, & Writing
Thanks Dawn for validating all the small pieces of paper I jot ideas down on!–Many make it to my notebook, but many are gathered in small places…
January 8, 2020 at 4:07 am
Becky H
Inspiring story!
January 8, 2020 at 6:45 am
jodieparachini
This is exactly the type of advice I’d give were I to write one of these posts! My ideas need time to percolate before they ever see the light of day. And now I’m inspired to add math notes to my story storm list. Thanks Dawn!
January 8, 2020 at 7:56 am
Nat Keller
Thanks for your inspiring post Dawn
January 8, 2020 at 8:16 am
Marianne Knowles
Oh I REALLY needed to read this! Thanks for saying we need to honor the seeds! Your book sounds wonderful, looking forward to reading it.
January 8, 2020 at 9:11 am
suzannepoulterharris
Don’t judge, just jot … love this!
January 8, 2020 at 11:15 am
Lucky Jo Boscarino
I’ve stashed some form of notebook/sketchbook in every room of the house and in my winter coats, ready to jot.
January 8, 2020 at 11:17 am
aliciaminor
You count, you write, you succeed. Congrats and yes, we never know what those seeds will get us into. More power to you. Baaa fore I end, let me greet you a very happy and productive new year.
January 8, 2020 at 11:39 am
Lauri Meyers
I’m pulling out my old notebooks to fish for some inspiration!
January 8, 2020 at 12:27 pm
Erin Forrester
Thank you for the reminder!
January 8, 2020 at 3:39 pm
Maria Marshall
Dawn, thanks for the reminder to look back to my old PiBoIdMo journal (with four years packed into it). I found that I had indeed created a number of stories form those ideas, but some ideas where still there – begging for attention. If only I knew what a few of the jotted entries meant….. maybe “when the soil’s right.” Thanks!
January 8, 2020 at 3:54 pm
angelcat2014
I’m going to revisit my old piboidmo ideas now to see if they spark any seeds. 🙂
January 8, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Sylvia Chen
Such a good reminder; realized there were ideas from previous days that I should have jotted down. Thank you!
January 8, 2020 at 4:26 pm
laurazarrin
I love the idea of Counting Elephants! Can’t wait to read it.
January 8, 2020 at 5:14 pm
rhumba20
Inspiring post! Thank you Dawn!
Love the concept of COUNTING ELEPHANTS.
Anna Levin
January 8, 2020 at 5:43 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
Yowser! Love hearing how Counting Elephants evolved. So so cool! Thanks for the background!
January 8, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Julie Augensen-Rand
I love that you said, these are the seeds that you can plant later. So true. I have to have more paper around so it’s handy anytime. Thanks for the post.
January 8, 2020 at 6:49 pm
Joyce
Thank you for the encouragement Dawn!
January 8, 2020 at 10:07 pm
Lindsay Ellis
Great advice. Jotting now, thank you!
January 8, 2020 at 11:29 pm
rgstones
Love the post, Dawn! And I can’t wait to read your books. 🙂
January 8, 2020 at 11:42 pm
doreenrobinson
Motivated by your post to keep planting story seeds and see which ones grow.
January 8, 2020 at 11:49 pm
sharongiltrow
I love the seed analogy and your book. Great to plants seeds but also to write about what you know.
January 9, 2020 at 1:50 am
Michelle Kashinsky
“.., don’t judge, just jot. Jot them down.” This is brilliant! This goes on a post-it at my desk. Thanks!
January 9, 2020 at 7:18 am
Jen Kraar
Appreciate this. Good timing – thanks for the affirmation to jot and notice without judging.
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January 9, 2020 at 8:08 am
Marianne Knowles
I already commented but your post is so helpful to me that I had to do it again! I realized I pretty much quoted it at work yesterday when making the case that something should be brainstormed now, so it had time to develop in the background before it was revised! Thanks again.
January 9, 2020 at 10:52 am
Helen Lysicatos
Thanks for the tip. Every time I say I will write that idea down later, guaranteed I can’t remember what it was.
January 9, 2020 at 11:34 am
topangamaria
My gardening style is a lot like your story seed way of sprouting ideas. Wow.
January 9, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Cindy
It’s great to know a story can come from an idea that didn’t see very good at the time!
January 9, 2020 at 4:38 pm
Viji Chary
Thank you for encouraging us to put down our ideas – even the lame ones!
January 9, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Susan Latta
Love the seed analogy. And the idea of letting our ideas marinate. Thanks!
January 9, 2020 at 6:47 pm
Susan Twiggs
Love your comparison of story ideas to seeds in a garden.cant wait to read your baaacks!
January 9, 2020 at 8:54 pm
shereentv
Got it! Just jot. I can do that.
January 9, 2020 at 10:06 pm
Sara Gentry
Thanks for the post. It’s so easy to pre-judge our crazy ideas and dismiss their potential!
January 10, 2020 at 11:59 am
Mary Jo Wagner
I am never without a notebook!!
January 10, 2020 at 2:14 pm
storycatcherpublishing
I have two small notebooks in my purse and two larger ones in a tote I carry with me everywhere. I don’t want to miss out on anything…lol…
Great post!
Donna L Martin
Story Catcher Publishing
January 10, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Megan J. Walvoord (@mjwalvoord2)
Love that. I just let my brain go and also this year am writing some ideas that I have been wanting to do, I just haven’t figured out how yet.
January 10, 2020 at 4:09 pm
Lucretia Schafroth
Great post! As an avid gardener, the seed analogy really resonated with me. I’ve always been an idea-jotter — I just have to get better at going back to review them periodically!
January 11, 2020 at 7:59 am
Brenda Whitehead
Thanks for this, I tend to be far too judge-y about my ideas. Off to jot…
January 11, 2020 at 11:26 am
Stephen S. Martin
Got a hot pot of ideas marinating for years.
January 11, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Kim Gatto
This is me at the right time. It’s been a slow start this year going through all the days but this one especially hit me. Last year, I had so many good ideas I thought. So I started looking back and reading one that I chose to polish up a bit although not done, I seriously said to myself: Did I write this? Feeling very positive for this new year.
January 11, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Elizabeth Metz
Yes!! I have several manuscripts that are a culmination of about six different PiBoIdMo/Storystorm ideas– a character name, a concept, a title, etc. Here’s to more of that this year!
January 11, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Kathy
Thanks for this encouragement about our ideas
January 11, 2020 at 7:53 pm
Stella Gardener
I love the idea of the magician as the bad guy. I can’t wait to read your books. Thanks for giving me the inspiration to keep my ideas organized so I can find them when needed.
January 12, 2020 at 11:50 am
julielacombeblog
I needed this today! My inner critic was telling me “That’s stupid.” “That’s dumb, font waste ink.” Today. I wrote down those “dumb” ideas anyway. Maybe one day they will sprout!
January 12, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Beth Schneider
Can’t wait to read your new book!
January 13, 2020 at 12:46 am
Diane Tulloch
Thank you for your blog post. This was much needed.
January 13, 2020 at 6:53 am
Joan Maher
What a great post! I love the seeds metaphor – so true! Thanks!
January 13, 2020 at 9:24 am
Kim Wilson
Love this – thank you!
January 13, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Viviane Elbee
Thank you for the reminder to just jot and not judge! 🙂 Wonderful post. Looking forward to reading your new book!
January 14, 2020 at 1:17 am
Susan Orton
I’ve always been a list person. I love lists of all kinds. Now your sound advice will free me to be go into hyper list drive and enjoy the ride of coming up with new ideas. Thank you, Dawn, for an invigorating suggestion.
January 14, 2020 at 4:46 pm
Sheri Dillard
Thanks for the great post, Dawn! I love the idea of being patient, reviewing old notes, and waiting until an idea is “ready to be a story.” 🙂
January 14, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Dee Brown
Love your advice: don’t judge- just jot. Thanks!
January 14, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Kari Gonzalez
Great advice, Dawn. Thank you for being a creator of Math stories, we need more of them!
January 15, 2020 at 9:35 am
melissamiles1
I loved your post, but honestly can’t see how anyone does math for fun. 🙂 Seriously, your books look wonderful. Congrats on successfully navigating the major career switch.
January 15, 2020 at 11:16 am
Kelly Conroy
I love this and your book sound like so much fun! Thanks.
January 15, 2020 at 3:39 pm
Anne Appert
Love this advice and have had this happen before! Even the craziest or most boring can lead to something wonderful.
Now to jot 🙂
January 15, 2020 at 9:10 pm
Janet Halfmann
Love how so many ideas came together. Can’t wait to read Counting Elephants.
January 16, 2020 at 8:10 am
Nadia A.
Thanks Dawn great advice!
January 16, 2020 at 12:19 pm
David McMullin
Thank you, Dawn. I will keep jotting.
January 16, 2020 at 2:27 pm
dlapmandi
As a pack rat, I do try to keep every idea or character, and I have used them years later as secondary character’s, or a flaw or strength for main character. Love this concept so much. Thanks for the post.
January 16, 2020 at 3:41 pm
Rene` Diane Aube ~ Children's Author
Love this, Dawn! Thank you so very much 🙂
January 18, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Sharalyn E.
From your post I realized I need a very special notebook to keep my ideas in so that I refer back to them anytime in the future. Thanks.
January 18, 2020 at 3:43 pm
Sharalyn
I will now keep my storystorm ideas in a special notebook for easy referral.
January 18, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Sharalyn Edgeberg
My comment isn’t posting! Third time.
January 18, 2020 at 3:45 pm
Sharalyn
This is frustrating. Word Press won’t let me log in and post my comment. Fourth attempt.
January 18, 2020 at 8:41 pm
Stephanie Lau
I definitely have some weird seeds in my list!!! Thanks for sharing how one of those old ideas later sprouted!
January 19, 2020 at 8:54 am
Beth Gallagher
Great post! Thank you for the inspiration!!!
January 19, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Nancy Kotkin
I can envision ideas battling one another, teaming up, or becoming unlikely friends. Great visual. Thanks!
January 19, 2020 at 8:05 pm
shirley301
Thanks for sharing how an idea you had actually became a book. It gives me hope.
January 20, 2020 at 2:52 pm
wendymyersart
Great inspirational post Dawn! Can’t wait to read your newest book!
January 20, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Sue Fritz
Loved your post! I feel like the pressure is off for writing good ideas. I can just write down my ideas and revisit later.
January 21, 2020 at 1:45 am
Darshana
I’ve been writing jotting down anything and everything! Thanks!
January 21, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Jacqueline Adams
I enjoyed the story behind COUNTING ELEPHANTS. It really goes to show that we shouldn’t reject an idea because we can’t immediately see how it could work. Thanks for sharing!
January 21, 2020 at 7:39 pm
thedandelionzoo
Thank you for the encouragement that my long list of ideas will come in handy one day.
January 22, 2020 at 3:14 pm
Lisa Tolin (@lisatolin)
Love this, thank you!
January 24, 2020 at 12:25 pm
imagination4lf
Thanks for sharing, Dawn! I love how Counting Elephants came to life!
January 25, 2020 at 2:18 am
Terri Sabol
I loved reading about the journey of Counting Elephants. And great analogy with seeds and our thoughts.Thanks for sharing!
January 25, 2020 at 3:34 pm
McCourt Thomas
Fun book idea!
January 27, 2020 at 9:39 pm
Laura Renauld
“Don’t judge, just jot” is a great motto!
January 28, 2020 at 3:47 pm
Lucy Staugler
Dawn, love your words! Allow your ideas to marinate, sit, and grow. Whoa! I have tons of snippets, words, doodles, and ideas! Thank you!
January 28, 2020 at 5:40 pm
anneiversonbellsouthnet
Thanks, Dawn, for the reminder to let our ideas stew, marinate, and tenderize. Even weeds can can turn out to be beautiful! A most positive posting!
January 30, 2020 at 11:48 am
Joyce Schriebman
What a perfect segue from yesterday’s blog! Save The Snippets!
January 31, 2020 at 4:25 pm
LJ Laniewski
Perfect post! Thank you. I’ve had those moments of inspiration that feel magical…and then I haven’t. I think I need to pay more attention to the ideas that just seem hum drum. Maybe they just need a little watering.
January 31, 2020 at 8:36 pm
Cinzia V.
Thank you – great insipiration. And I can’t wait to read counting elephants!
January 31, 2020 at 8:59 pm
kmshelley
Counting Elephants is an awesome and can’t wait to read it!
February 1, 2020 at 3:33 am
Carrie Tillotson
Counting Elephants sounds delightful! Looking forward to reading it.
February 1, 2020 at 12:46 pm
Jefna M. Cohen
Counting elephants sounds so perfect for my classroom. Love your phrase, “don’t judge, just jot.” I catch myself editing my ideas before they hit the page, and you never know where they may lead.
February 1, 2020 at 5:56 pm
shellshock7
than yoU!
February 5, 2020 at 11:02 pm
CindyC
I can’t wait to read Counting Elephants.
January 18, 2021 at 12:18 pm
Susie Sawyer
Dawn, I loved this post! I especially love the analogy of the seed packet growing into a beautiful garden – so much so, in fact, that I’m planning to pin a seed packet to my inspiration board in my writing office to remind me. Thank you so much!
January 18, 2021 at 12:19 pm
Susie Sawyer
LOL, just realized I’m posting on last year’s Storystorm! HAHAHA! Still inspirational! 🙂
January 6, 2022 at 6:44 pm
aidantalkin
Wonderful advice! After a few years of PiBoIdMo I took my notes and created one long excel list (now 200 snippets and plot fractions long), which continues to grow. Three have been published 😁