When I talk to kids, I tell them books have origin stories just like superheroes do. Nothing like mentioning Wonder Woman or Black Panther to get kids excited. Once I have their attention, and now that I have yours, I talk about four methods of coming up with ideas for a story. Most of the time, my story ideas come from a combination of these approaches.
My first method is follow your passion. As many of you know, I write picture book biographies of [dead] women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Just to be clear, the dead part isn’t my passion, just my preference in choosing a subject. I do, though, love science and math. It’s also important to me that children know that no matter their sex, race, ethnicity, gender identity etc., anyone can enter these fields. I choose to highlight the accomplishments of women, an underrepresented minority in STEM professions.
STEM not your thing? That’s okay. Although if truth be told, it’s beyond me how anyone couldn’t love science and math.
Anyway, moving on. How do you like sports? Music or dance? Working with your hands? Animals? Books? (Of course you like books—what am I saying?!) Following your passion leads to a treasure trove of ideas.
Still nothing? Okay, let’s move on to method two—gathering ideas. Here are some ways and places to find them…
The easiest method is to keep your eyes and ears open. You never know when you’ll see a picture or overhear something that will produce a kernel of an idea. Another way is to try thinking silly.
Kids love silly. What’s the craziest thing you can think of? Family stories are always a goldmine of ideas. You can reach back to your childhood or think about things that your children did. These humorous anecdotes can definitely form the basis of a story.
How about travels? Have you visited any unusual places that might be of interest to kids? Even a museum visit can spark an idea. It did for me.
Current events, whether tragic or triumphant, often translate into great books. Kids want to understand the world we’re living in today, and you can help them. On the other hand, you can look back in time to historical people and eras. Understanding the past will also help kids understand today’s world.
One final idea for method two—mashups. Take two or more seemingly unrelated ideas, say dinos and a dance party. Put them together and who knows what will happen. (Actually, I do. MY DINO PAJAMA PARTY picture book is coming out next year.)
Neither of the above methods work for you? Don’t worry. I have two more. Method three involves starting with a story part. Maybe you’ve thought of a great character, full of life and spunk. From there, brainstorm situations she might find herself in. Or you might only have a title. I sat on the perfect title for years before figuring out the story that matched it. Another idea is start with a setting. Maybe you can use one from one of your travels above?
My fourth method was already mentioned by Kate Garchinsky in an earlier Storystorm post—I wonder. Here’s how I like to use this method. If this happens, then what? If someone does something, then what happens? And then? And then? And then?
So there you have it—four different methods. Mix and match them to come up with your next story idea.
Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark’s most recent book, NUMBERS IN MOTION: SOPHIE KOWALEVSKI, QUEEN OF MATHEMATICS, releases March 3, 2020. Her previous picture book biographies of women in STEM (ADA BYRON LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE, GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE, and HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE) have earned multiple starred trade reviews and national awards. She has an MFA from VCFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.
Find her online at lauriewallmark.com, Facebook, Twitter @lauriewallmark and Pinterest.
Laurie is giving away a copy of NUMBERS IN MOTION: SOPHIE KOWALEVSKI, QUEEN OF MATHEMATICS.
Enter 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!
468 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 26, 2020 at 7:10 am
Writer on the run
Laurie, Great post! Follow my passion… I keep hearing that, but today I’m brainstorming around my passion!
January 26, 2020 at 7:12 am
mbhmaine
Thanks so much for sharing all these great ideas for generating story ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 11:08 am
beckylevine
Great tips, thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 7:23 am
Jeanne Cherney
Thank you! I will also be looking up your books for my class.
January 26, 2020 at 7:26 am
M.R.
Your four tips are all very helpful! Kudos for highlighting women in STEM fields! 🙂
January 26, 2020 at 7:31 am
Natalie Lynn Tanner
LAURIE: THANK YOU for sharing your inspiration in order to inspire us! I LOVE your thoughts on using both current and past events to help kids understand and (I would add) relate to the world. SO POWERFUL!!! And I LOVE the reminder to think like our audience. Like you said, kids LOVE silliness–so THINK SILLY! What better way to speak directly to our audience!!! THANK YOU!!!
January 26, 2020 at 7:32 am
Linda Mitchell
Can’t wait to see Dino Pajama Party. How fun! Thanks for the great ideas. The older I get, the MORE I love STEM.
January 26, 2020 at 7:32 am
Sarah Hetu-Radny
Great post, Laurie! I will try the mash up idea, or the great title (and sitting on it, lol). And congrats on your upcoming publication!! Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 7:41 am
thecrowsmap
Laurie, thanks for these four methods of sparking ideas.
Gail Hartman
January 26, 2020 at 7:51 am
Colleen Dabney
I love your ideas! I will try them
January 26, 2020 at 7:51 am
Bettie Boswell
Great ideas! Thank you for sharing these great approaches to creative ideas for stories.
January 26, 2020 at 7:52 am
tinamcho
Thanks, Laurie! I used the silly one earlier today.
January 26, 2020 at 7:57 am
Robin Jordan
Thanks, Laurie, for providing all of that food for thought. It goes to show that there are many paths to the finish line. Congratulations on all of your success. Have a SILLY Sunday Funday!
January 26, 2020 at 8:00 am
Jay
Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 8:01 am
Sandhya Rose
Thanks Laurie for this inspiring post! I love STEM and I can’t wait to read your books!!
January 26, 2020 at 8:02 am
Suzanne Lewis
Thanks for your post, Laurie! I’m going to play with “I wonder” today. Who knows what will happen? And then…? And then…?
January 26, 2020 at 8:05 am
Cathy L. Murphy
Thanks for sharing how you approach generating ideas. Your books about groundbreaking women are wonderful!
January 26, 2020 at 8:08 am
Laura rackham
So happy that your passion can spark the same passion in our kids
January 26, 2020 at 8:10 am
Margaret Flint Suter
I am always on the look out for STEAM books for my grandchildren, so will definitely be on the look out for Laurie’s! Was interested to see the mix and match, ’cause I have TONS of titles with leeeeetle bits of story, so perhaps I can blend some of mine, thanks Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 8:13 am
Sallye O'Rourke
this is a great post on gathering ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 8:36 am
Mary Warth
Thank you Laurie! Four methods, with endless mix and match variations will be sure to fill my notebooks.
January 26, 2020 at 8:37 am
LenoraBiemans (@BiemansLenora)
Great stuff. Thank you! I’m excited for the release of Dino Dance Party – congratulations!
January 26, 2020 at 8:38 am
Lori Mozdzierz
Enjoyed the post!
January 26, 2020 at 8:40 am
Joy
Yay for women in STEM! Thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 8:45 am
Robin Perkins
Done, done, done, aaaaand done! Thank you for sharing these four useful techniques.
January 26, 2020 at 8:54 am
Andrea Mack
Lots of great ways to find an idea. Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 8:54 am
Zoraida Rivera
You’ve made me think, Laurie Wallmark! I love biographies, too. They’re hard to write, but since I love history and finding heroes, that makes it worthwhile. Would like to know more about your process.
January 26, 2020 at 9:01 am
Lisa L Furness
The wheels are spinning Laurie! I love mash ups!
January 26, 2020 at 9:02 am
Susan
Great ideas for coming up with stories!
January 26, 2020 at 9:02 am
Candace Spizzirri
Thank you, Laurie, for an inspiring post! Congratulations on your books. Come on ideas!👍😃
January 26, 2020 at 9:07 am
Abby Wooldridge
Thanks for a great post, Laurie! Congratulations on your new book! NUMBERS IN MOTION sounds fascinating!
January 26, 2020 at 9:11 am
Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth)
Hi, Laurie! What a marvelous thought – “books have origin stories just like superheroes.” That will stick with me.
January 26, 2020 at 9:17 am
Laurie Carmody
Thank you for giving us so many different methods to help spark ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 9:18 am
Andrea Denish
All great suggestions, Laurie. Like the mash-up idea, a lot 😊.
January 26, 2020 at 9:21 am
Lori Sheroan
I think I’m going to try “mashups!” Thanks for the inspiration.
January 26, 2020 at 9:21 am
Sara A
Mix and match-can’t wait to try it!
January 26, 2020 at 9:26 am
Terrie Hellard-Brown
Great pointers. Thank you.
January 26, 2020 at 9:27 am
Robin Wiesneth
Lots of great ways to spark a new story. Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 9:32 am
storyfairy
All sound like good ways to get ideas. Thank you.
January 26, 2020 at 9:34 am
ptnozell
Thanks for sharing your many ways of idea generation, Laurie. Love all of your #PB #STEM #Biographies, too! Can’t wait to read your latest – Nayberg is a favorite illustrator; what a super pairing of author & illustrator.
January 26, 2020 at 9:39 am
Sarah Tobias
Thank you for your post. It’s funny you talk about mashups. A mashup idea started to form yesterday while I was driving. Going to let that play out today and see what happens.
January 26, 2020 at 9:40 am
Thelia Hutchinson
I love the concept of mixing and matching to get ideas. Some of the best ideas can be right in front of you, you just have to seize them.
Thank you
January 26, 2020 at 9:43 am
betlw
Thanks for the four ways to get story ideas, Laurie. They should stir up my creative side and provide many story ideas. Great post!
January 26, 2020 at 9:44 am
Carole Calladine
Thanks Laurie for sharing how you come up with story ideas that kids will love. I’m going to look for your passionate bio books. And I’ll watch for Dino Pajama Party. Great title.
January 26, 2020 at 9:44 am
Katie L. Carroll
All good ideas for getting more ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 9:48 am
bymaggiebrown
Thanks for the inspiration! Unexpected mashups are my favorite.
January 26, 2020 at 9:53 am
Jennifer Kay
Great brainstorming suggestions. My passion is also STEM women, but I’ve narrowed my focus to female structural engineers (like me).
January 26, 2020 at 9:53 am
shirley301
Great ideas. Thanks.
January 26, 2020 at 9:55 am
asiqueira1307
Thanks for all the ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 9:55 am
steveheron
Hey Laurie, some awesome ideas here.Thanks.
January 26, 2020 at 9:59 am
lmconnors
I need to practice the mash up idea…it’s a hard one for me. Thanks for your ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 10:04 am
sara fajardo
What great idea generators. Thank you so much for sharing.
January 26, 2020 at 10:05 am
Louann Brown
Thanks for your post Laurie! I’m mashing up some ideas today.
January 26, 2020 at 10:08 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you Laurie, Great post.
I will keep a look out for your many books.
January 26, 2020 at 10:11 am
Marty lapointe-malchik
Hi Laurie, Can’t wait to see MY DINO PAJAMA PARTY! Books that celebrate women in STEM are gifts to the world. Thank you for writing powerful beautifully written literature for both boys and girls to read. Tara! You are the best for all of your Storystorm post invites! Thank you so much.
January 26, 2020 at 10:12 am
Polly Sena Renner
Wow Laurie! Thanks for sharing your methods of inspiration and congrats on all your dead gal STEM books…Hee hee:>
January 26, 2020 at 10:12 am
kiwijenny
I was put off mathematics by my teacher. When I asked a question she scoffed and said, “You don’t know that?” and everyone laughed. Hmmmm she’d be the perfect villain. But I learned to never teach anything by using humiliation. Thank you for your stellar advice. I love stem and steam in my classroom.
January 26, 2020 at 10:13 am
Cathy Lentes
Laurie, I always love your books and am glad to hear what you have to say. i am not much of a math person, though I once did a math poetry writing day in my daughter’s 8th grade at the request of her teacher. She still remembers the poem her group wrote together! I do love science and lots of my writing includes observations from nature. All of your ideas resonate with me, and it’s time I pullout some of those older projects that I could never quite find my way with and see if a new approach can reanimate them. Thanks for all you give to children, and to us.
January 26, 2020 at 10:13 am
pathaap
Thanks for sharing your four methods of coming up with ideas – they’re great!
January 26, 2020 at 10:17 am
TerriMichels
Listen and keep a pen and notebook handy. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 10:20 am
Jane Heitman Healy
These are all great methods, Laurie. By now we’ve got enough ideas written down to consider mash-ups, combining one idea with another. Who know what we’ll turn up? Thanks for the inspiration and much continued success to you!!
January 26, 2020 at 10:24 am
Hélène Sabourin
Noted. Thank you
January 26, 2020 at 10:26 am
Kathy Erskine
So true—observing your surroundings can produce oodles of ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 10:27 am
kirsticall
Love these ideas, Laurie! And I can’t wait to read your dino dance party story!
January 26, 2020 at 10:27 am
Mrs. Vandivier
Great ideas for trying new ideas out. Love this.
January 26, 2020 at 10:28 am
Kathy Halsey
I am excited that you have a fun PB coming out along with the bios in your signature stye. Congrats! I get into a mind set of observation, keeping my radar sharp during January, especially, and ida do jump out from the oddest places. Ty for sharing your methods.
January 26, 2020 at 10:29 am
hallee2012
I love this post! So many great ideas, Laurie!!!! Love the mash up!!!
January 26, 2020 at 10:31 am
stiefelchana
Great post! Thanks Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 10:31 am
Janie Reinart
Laurie thank you for the post😊 Love how you collect your idea.
January 26, 2020 at 10:32 am
rosecappelli
Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful ideas, Laurie! Your books are so interesting and great mentor texts for aspiring nonfiction writers.
January 26, 2020 at 10:32 am
Peggy Dobbs
Thank you for sharing so many great ways to come up with story ideas. Love the mashups!
January 26, 2020 at 10:37 am
Nancy Furstinger
I Wonder is always a fun and inspiring game! Looking forward to your new STEM and mashup books:-)
January 26, 2020 at 10:41 am
June Sengpiehl
Fascinating to learn all these different approaches to gathering ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 10:41 am
Joan Longstaff
Going to focus on mashups for a while as I definitely can get some silly ideas out of that! Thanks for sharing.
January 26, 2020 at 10:42 am
jodieparachini
I love mashups! thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 10:43 am
Darlene Koppel
Love your ideas. Thank you for the morning inspiration!
January 26, 2020 at 10:44 am
Glenda Roberson
As a retired science teacher, I also write STEM inspired books. . . Some are calling them ficinformational. I really want kids to be excited about and turned on to science, but I haven’t tried nonfiction yet! Thanks for you post and the important work you are doing.
January 26, 2020 at 10:46 am
Susan Johnston Taylor
Congrats, and thanks for the tips!
January 26, 2020 at 10:51 am
Shirley fadden
Four tricks to shake out an idea. Thanks, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 10:51 am
mathbookmagic
yay STEM! I love Ada Lovelace and just check out Sophie Kowalevski from my library. Looking forward to reading. Great post. Thanks for your insights and for your books!
January 26, 2020 at 10:55 am
Arlene Schenker
Great ideas for getting ideas! Thanks, Laurie.
January 26, 2020 at 10:56 am
me
It all adds up!
January 26, 2020 at 10:56 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Laurie, for sharing your story ideas, a perfect beginning to today’s idea gathering.
January 26, 2020 at 11:06 am
Liz Steinglass
Thank you! I love the mashups idea.
January 26, 2020 at 11:10 am
writeknit
I love the trifecta plus one story starting ideas. Can’t wait to mash up a great (or mediocre soon to be better) story. Thank you.📚😁
January 26, 2020 at 11:12 am
Teresa Robeson
I love learning how other STEM authors get their ideas, and even more so with Laurie, my wonderful Sterling #WomenInSTEM sister!
January 26, 2020 at 11:13 am
jbbower
Thanks for the inspiring post Laurie! What could be more fun than thinking silly?? What a great idea.
January 26, 2020 at 11:18 am
sareenmclay
Thank you, sometimes getting started is the hardest part. I love a list so I’m going to take your four methods, put them on a flashcard and use it as encouragement when I need a kick-start!
January 26, 2020 at 11:18 am
sjwmeade
Love the mashups idea! DINO PAJAMA PARTY sounds like so much fun. Thank you for this post!
January 26, 2020 at 11:21 am
Deb Sullivan
Hi Laurie – Your tips make perfect sense…thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 11:25 am
tanyakonerman
Writing a mashup is on my to-try list this year. This sounds really fun!
January 26, 2020 at 11:25 am
Mary Worley
So many good tips here. Thanks, Laurie.
January 26, 2020 at 11:26 am
Joanna Rowland
Love reading about why you write what you write. Thank you for sharing your four different methods!
January 26, 2020 at 11:26 am
Sue Reichard
Great ideas Laurie! Congrats on your new book also!
January 26, 2020 at 11:26 am
Rachel
Enjoyed the post. Thanks.
January 26, 2020 at 11:27 am
Sue Reichard
Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas! Congrats on your new book as well!
January 26, 2020 at 11:28 am
Dea
Great tips Laurie!
Love the mashup idea. Think I’m going to incorporate that into the final days of Story Storm, and then into everyday practice.
Looking forward to your next book! xo
January 26, 2020 at 11:32 am
Johnell DeWitt
Museums are great places for inspiration! Thanks.
January 26, 2020 at 11:32 am
kdid54
Great ideas here. Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 11:32 am
Danielle Dufayet
Thanks for sharing your tips -one can never have too many. 🙂 Congrats!
January 26, 2020 at 11:34 am
Lori Dubbin
Thank you for sharing your four methods of coming up story ideas. You also hooked me in with the first line of your post: books have origin stories just like superheroes do. Love that.
January 26, 2020 at 11:36 am
BARBARA SENENMAN
Great post! Thank you. Will try them to flesh out my Storystorm ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 11:36 am
Jennifer Weisse
This is a great post! I love the idea of mixing and matching ideas & the methods of coming up with ideas! Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 11:46 am
rimna
Thank you – off to try your four techniques..
January 26, 2020 at 11:50 am
bluerabbit
Great summary of methods for idea generation. Nobody else has mentioned the mashup one, and it’s a beaut. Thanks for the handy reference. Reposting in my blog so I can go back to it when stuck.
January 26, 2020 at 11:50 am
bluerabbit
Reblogged this on One Way to Wonder and commented:
Lots of great ways wo get ideas when you are stuck.
January 26, 2020 at 11:51 am
cynthiahm
Thank you so much! The mash-ups remind me of the tv series, Glee. I really appreciate your techniques for brainstorming and I’ve already got my idea for today.
January 26, 2020 at 11:54 am
Kim Wilson
Four great ways to brainstorm ideas—love the mashup! Thank you, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Jennifer Blanck
Thanks for sharing your four sources and writing about women in STEM!
January 26, 2020 at 12:03 pm
gayleckrause
Great advice, Laurie. ❤️ That you follow your foremost passion. 😉
January 26, 2020 at 12:05 pm
writersideup
This is great, Laurie 🙂 And though I do love science (not math so much, but use it all the time!), the most I’m passionate about on that front is “counting” books 😉 Can’t wait to see MY DINO PAJAMA PARTY! 😀
January 26, 2020 at 12:07 pm
gayleckrause
Laurie,
I ❤️ That you follow your foremost passion when writing PBs. Thanks for sharing.😉
January 26, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Susan Macartney
My pb brain spinning (in a very good way) after reading this fun post! Laurie, so many great ideas for capturing and developing ideas – thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Aimee
I ❤️ These four methods. Can’t wait to brainstorm.
January 26, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Becky Ross Michael
Great idea generators…thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 12:14 pm
Robin Brett Wechsler
Thanks for sharing your process and tips with us, Laurie! I’m a huge fan of your books and I’m excited to check out the new ones.
January 26, 2020 at 12:15 pm
kathrynjeanhagen
Thank you, Laurie, for sharing your tips and your passion for picture books. I look forward to reading them!
January 26, 2020 at 12:15 pm
matthewlasley
I often think people think that their passions are not worthy enough, or that they are too common, or too narrow. It isn’t what you are passionate about that is important, it is the story you have to tell. Find an angle, a spark, a nugget and tell the story only you can tell.
January 26, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Bru Benson
When I was in school the teacher would always end the explanation of a historical fact with the phrase, “Now what do you think about that?” The class would answer “Not much”. But you know, I remember each one of those historical details because of this and use them in my writing now. Who knew “Not much” would turn into “So much”.
January 26, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
Wonderful, passionate advice. Thanks Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 12:25 pm
Cheryl Johnson
‘STEM not your thing? That’s okay. Although if truth be told, it’s beyond me how anyone couldn’t love science and math.’ ~ This made me laugh!
Love the ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Mary Jane
Silly appeals to me today. I think I have an idea to fit. Many thanks for this post today.
January 26, 2020 at 12:33 pm
authorlaurablog
Great post, Laurie. Love the idea of calling it an origin story.
January 26, 2020 at 12:35 pm
Paula B Puckett
Great suggestions for ways to find story ideas. I’ll try every one! Thanks Laurie.
January 26, 2020 at 12:37 pm
cantsing1
OK. Now I’m going to stop complaining that the E in STEM should be English (for those of us who are less STEM-oriented). Thanks for new pathways.
January 26, 2020 at 12:38 pm
McCourt Thomas
Thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Sherry Smith
Thanks Laurie, STEM isn’t my strength though perhaps I might be able to use some ideas from my father’s life to develop new ideas related to STEM. Good luck with your newest book.
January 26, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Bev Baird
Thanks Laurie for these wonderful ideas! Love the way you can intermingle and come up with great ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 12:46 pm
Jessica Coupé
Thank you for your great advice!
January 26, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Brandy Lynne
Four great ideas! Thanks
January 26, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Debra Kempf Shumaker
Great post to generate more ideas as we fly/limp towards the end. I’m a few ideas behind but I WILL have 30 when the month ends. Thanks Laurie! I’m a huge fan of your books!
January 26, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Cathy Ogren
Thanks, Laurie, for jogging our memories on how to come up with ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Linda KulpTrout
I love the idea of using superheroes to get kids interested! Thank you for sharing the four ways you get ideas for your books. I’m going to give them a try!
January 26, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Meli Glickman
Great ideas can come from passions and/or mash-ups, so thanks for the great tips!
January 26, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Gail Atherley
Four more excellent idea generators – now, do you have a prescription for discipline!?!? Thank you very much!
January 26, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Rebecca Thill (@rkthill)
Lots of great ideas! Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 1:01 pm
Susan Twiggs
Laurie,
I have STEM bio ready and polishing the query to send out. I’ll try reading all of yours. I like your suggestions for new ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 1:08 pm
clairebobrow
Thanks for this treasure trove of ideas, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 1:08 pm
heatherbell37
Wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
January 26, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Erik Ammon
Thanks for the idea generators! Passion? Yikes…right now I feel lost 🙂 I love pin collecting at Disney- but that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen if I write that! Time to think…
January 26, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Susan Apps-Bodilly
Loving these methods for coming up with ideas! Thank you!
I especially love to just pay attention and “listen in” to what’s happening around me – especially in my classroom. I get great ideas from my students for writing – it’s the rest of the story that is sometimes difficult!
January 26, 2020 at 1:20 pm
Lynn Alpert
Great idea starters Laurie! Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Linda Hofke
Thanks for sharing your story starter methods.
One of them already generated a new idea for me.
January 26, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Eileen Mayo
Thanks for the inspiring post!
January 26, 2020 at 1:29 pm
Sheri Radovich
Lots of things are mentioned and need to be explored for titles, story plots and actions to take to develop more ideas into stories and endings. Thanks for your brainstorming.
January 26, 2020 at 1:36 pm
Heather Rowley
Love this! Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 1:43 pm
yangmommy
I loved reading Ada–cannot wait to read your next story!
January 26, 2020 at 1:45 pm
julielacombeauthor
As a history teacher, I love to write about little know people or events to catch their attention and it migrates over to my story ideas. Thanks for the great idea generators!
January 26, 2020 at 1:51 pm
Mary York
Thanks, Laurie. I need to come up with a STEM idea!!
January 26, 2020 at 1:51 pm
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
So many leads on things I’m passionate about. Where to begin? How to start? Jotting them down to ponder later. Hmmm…what if???
January 26, 2020 at 1:51 pm
bookfish1
Thanks for the four methods for generating ideas, very helpful and much appreciated. I enjoy reading your books and it was a pleasure meeting you at RUCCL conference
January 26, 2020 at 1:54 pm
Karen Greenwald
Great ideas, Laurie! (Lol…ideas for how to get ideas!). Thanks for your post!
January 26, 2020 at 1:56 pm
carolmunrojww
WONDERFUL post, Laurie! I added two more ideas to my list, and if I had time to mull over your tips right now, I’m sure I’d generate a few more. Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 2:01 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Your STEM bios of (dead) women are terrific, Laurie. Thanks for sharing your idea generating methods.
January 26, 2020 at 2:03 pm
nrompella
Thanks for all the suggestions. Your books look great!
January 26, 2020 at 2:18 pm
juliannahelt
Great ideas. Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Lauri Fortino
Laurie, congratulations on all of your success thus far and thanks for the great tips!
January 26, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Lauren Barbieri
Great post—thank you for sharing all those approaches to generating ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Janice Woods
Thank you for sharing these great ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 2:23 pm
Kim Larson
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Laurie Bouck
Thank you for sharing these four great ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 2:33 pm
Heidi Yates
Thanks for sharing your ideas, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Chelle Martin
Good ideas on the STEM. Thank you.
January 26, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Jill M Proctor
Thank you, Laurie, for sharing great ways for stirring up ideas! You’ve offered more than enough to shift my brain into gear. Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 2:45 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
What a plethora of positively enticing books you have. Your passion shines through. Thanks for some more idea-generators.
January 26, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Rachel S. Hobbs Gunn
Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 2:51 pm
Jocelyn Rish
The follow your passion method really works for me – I love animals and am constantly inspired by facts I learn about them.
January 26, 2020 at 2:57 pm
Debra Daugherty
So many wonderful methods to come up with PB ideas. Thanks, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Susan Eyerman
Wonderful methods for our madness! Thank you
January 26, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Marty Bellis
Love your books and love the specific ways you suggest for generating ideas. Keep working on several STEM stories that I’d love to figure out the perfect endings for. Giving your methods a try today 🙂
January 26, 2020 at 3:03 pm
Pamela Harrison
Thank you, Laurie, for your list of ways to generate ideas. Following your passion is a wonderful way to start.
January 26, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Lisa Billa
Great methods- thanks for inspiring a strong Storystorm finish!
January 26, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Maria Bostian
You have some wonderful books. Congratulations on your upcoming biography.
Loved your ideas. I think a lot of mine come from story parts and mashups.
January 26, 2020 at 3:18 pm
denarose
Thanks for all your tips for thinking of ideas! And I loved your Hedy Lamarr book!
January 26, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Gail Hedrick
Love these prompts/ideas as they are so natural-thanks so much, and congrats on such amazing books!
January 26, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Kaylynn Johnsen
I agree, how could anyone not love science? Math, not so much, but science baby😎. Write what you know, what excites you, what makes you curious, write your passion.
January 26, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Denise Benavides
I like how you gave the ideas – and the “mix” idea. Expands the ideas to so many more
January 26, 2020 at 3:37 pm
Anne Bromley
Thank you, Laurie, for all these idea prompts and strategies. You are most generous. I look forward to reading your books!
January 26, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thank you for all these great ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 3:42 pm
mona861
Laurie, This is such a good post! You’ve offered 4 ways to find a story…if none of them works, better take a nap and start over!!! Thanks so much. OMGosh, you even have a fun title- with a girl named Sophia Kowalevsi Love it. Thanks so much!!! And congratulations on finding so many ideas of your own.
January 26, 2020 at 3:43 pm
Julie Reich
I like practical methods for generating ideas. Thanks for all the terrific methods!
January 26, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Colleen Owen Murphy
Wow! When you come into one of these Storystorm postings late there are soooo many comments!! I have been trying to brainstorm fictional STEM stories, and I will think about your suggestions and continue to pursue my passion!! Thank you!!
January 26, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Suzanne Alexander
Thank you, Laurie, for these tips for generating story ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Janet Halfmann
Thanks for all the methods for finding ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Katie A Giorgio
Love your books…thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Sue Heavenrich
Great tips, Laurie – especially mix-and-mash… And yes, how can a person love science and math?
January 26, 2020 at 3:56 pm
charlestrevino
Great post.
You just gave me an idea for a book!
Thank you. ~Charles
January 26, 2020 at 4:12 pm
Krista Harrington
Thank you, Laurie, for the terrific suggestions to generate ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Samantha Altmann
Couldn’t agree more about math and science! Thanks for the ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Heather Gallagher
Some great ideas here!
January 26, 2020 at 4:23 pm
kimpfenn
Love these tips, Laurie, and can’t wait to read your new book!
January 26, 2020 at 4:29 pm
lauriekaiserwrites
Laurie, I love all of your ideas, especially the mash-up, which is the one I’m actually trying to pursue this year. I look forward to reading Dino Pajama Party! (as well as your others). Thanks for this!
January 26, 2020 at 4:32 pm
vgraboski61gmailcom
Great tips! Thank you.
January 26, 2020 at 4:37 pm
Heather Stigall
I love your ideas, Laurie! Thank you for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 4:40 pm
jessica shaw
Mashups are so much fun! Thank you, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Lynne Marie
So happy to see Laurie here in this space! Miss seeing Laurie and Tara in New Jersey since I’ve moved to Florida. Wishing you both all the best! With Love and fond memories! So happy I’ve seen you both in Florida in the past year. XO
January 26, 2020 at 4:42 pm
Leah
I love mashups.
January 26, 2020 at 4:56 pm
jimchaize1
Wow, four methods in one post. What a jackpot! Thanks, Laurie.
January 26, 2020 at 4:58 pm
chardixon47
Thank you, Laurie, for sharing your approaches for generating story ideas. I’m going to focus on what combinations work best for me 🙂
January 26, 2020 at 5:03 pm
Lydia Lukidis
Laurie- you know how much I love STEM and your books! Thanks for the “mash-up idea, going to use that one
January 26, 2020 at 5:03 pm
Alice Fulgione
I loved you methods for getting ideas especially your FOLLOW YOUR PASSION & MASHUP methods. Thanks for the post!
January 26, 2020 at 5:15 pm
tiffanydickinson
Thank you, Laurie. Your stories about (dead) women are so important! Keep those ideas coming!
January 26, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Mita Martino
Great post, thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 5:24 pm
Darcee Freier
Yay for women in math and science!
January 26, 2020 at 5:27 pm
Karin Larson
Terrific post. Thank you for the ideas and inspiration! Love the idea of mashups!
January 26, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Rinda Beach
You a story master maker x 4. You reminded me of a place where I had an unusual experience. I think it’s time to pull it out of my computer, dust it off, and re-envision it! Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 5:34 pm
Mary Lou Johnson
You shared so many creative ideas in a short essay. Many thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 5:35 pm
Keila Dawson
Great reminders to keep those creative juices following. Looking forward to your new books!
January 26, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Lori Menning
I often have titles but no story to go with them! Great to know someday I might have that story.
January 26, 2020 at 5:44 pm
Elizabeth Ross
I agree, how could anyone not love science and math?! Thanks for the great story-generating methods.
January 26, 2020 at 5:47 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
January 26, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Joyce
Thanks for the post.
January 26, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Melissa Koch
Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 6:09 pm
colleen kosinski
Great ideas!
January 26, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Joel Chalmers
Thanks Laurie!
I love your interest in STEM! I am from an engineering background and would love to bring more ways to think about STEM to picture books. I like all your methods for thinking up ideas and it sounds like you have had success with each one. I will try to incorporate all of them into my writing practice. I also like how you get into childlike state of mind (silliness and introduction) when generating content for kids. All the best with your writing.
January 26, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Great post, Laurie! Wishing you many more great ideas that turn into beautiful and important books.
January 26, 2020 at 6:33 pm
Jill Lambert (@LJillLambert)
Great ideas, Laurie! Thank you.
January 26, 2020 at 6:35 pm
Lisa Black
Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 6:41 pm
Franny G
Thanks for the top tips – mash it up, my favourite!
January 26, 2020 at 6:41 pm
Sara Trofa
I loved the post! Thanks, Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 6:45 pm
Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon)
Wow amazing. So many strategies to come up with ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Mary Ann Blair
All great ideas. Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 6:54 pm
ruthwilson48
Great reminders, Laurie! Thanks!
January 26, 2020 at 6:54 pm
Jennifer Lane Wilson
I’m a HUGE fan of your books. Thanks for the suggestion on starting with a story part. I have an excellent idea for a title, so I need to work on developing a story from that idea.
January 26, 2020 at 6:55 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Thanks for so many helpful suggestions, Laurie! I’ll be doing some mashups during StoryStorm – such a fun way to create new ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Cathy C. Hall
Laurie, I think you need to add a little of this humor to your next picture book. 😉 Congrats on all your ideas out there on the shelves!
January 26, 2020 at 7:15 pm
rgstones
Love this post. Thanks for the brainstorming methods.
January 26, 2020 at 7:19 pm
DaNeil Olson
Inspiring! Thank you.
January 26, 2020 at 7:26 pm
seschipper
Fun post, Thanks… guess it’s time to mash things up a bit!! 🙂
January 26, 2020 at 7:26 pm
Amanda Davis
Thank you for all these helpful kick starters!
January 26, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Angie
Excellent ideas! Thank you for helping us finish strong!
January 26, 2020 at 7:32 pm
Midge Ballou Smith
Enjoyed this, Laurie! Thank you–
January 26, 2020 at 7:33 pm
EmmieRWerner
Great ideas❤️Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Mirka
I love your suggestions. Just had a fun memory of my grandmother come to mind
January 26, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Beth Charles
Your ideas for story starters are great. Thanks for sharing!
January 26, 2020 at 7:39 pm
Stephanie Gibeault
Thanks for a great post! You just helped me get my 30th idea!
January 26, 2020 at 7:55 pm
Carol Gwin Nelson
Wow! Four great ways to find stories! Thanks.
January 26, 2020 at 8:06 pm
8catpaws
A mash-up title–great place to start!
January 26, 2020 at 8:08 pm
bgonsar
Thanks for the four ideas Laurie!
January 26, 2020 at 8:19 pm
cbcole
Thanks Laurie for the great ideas. I’ll be looking back at my childhood and see how silly I can make the memories.
January 26, 2020 at 8:23 pm
Megan Whitaker
Great ideas to plant the seed for more stories. Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 8:25 pm
mommamoocow
I will have to try your ideas. Thank you!
January 26, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Judy Shemtob
Love the blast of ideas, Laurie! Mashed up, silly thoughts are endless.
January 26, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Anne LeBlanc Gr 4/5 teacher (@AnneLeBlanc2)
I read your Ada Byron Lovelace book and really enjoyed it. I was unaware of the connection to Lord Byron. I am glad we are now showcasing the women who participated in science but were unacknowledged for so long! Thank you for these great suggestions – I will be sharing them with my students as well!
January 26, 2020 at 8:34 pm
Linda Schueler
Thanks for those four methods!
January 26, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Maria Marshall
Great post Laurie. I remember doing something similar with my siblings. When things got tough, my mom would send us laughing & carreening into the ridiculous with a silly senerios and asking us what happened next. Thanks for bringing back some fun memories. 🙂
January 26, 2020 at 9:12 pm
Brenda May
Enjoyed this post immensely. Ideas started popping straight away. Thank you
January 26, 2020 at 9:19 pm
ryanrobertsauthor
Thanks for these practical tips!
January 26, 2020 at 9:38 pm
cravevsworld
Mashups for the win. Thank you for sharing.
January 26, 2020 at 9:54 pm
writeremmcbride
Wow, Sophie! Thank you so much for the great ideas for generating even more ideas! I took a walk this afternoon and brushed against some tall milkweed – suddenly remembering that feeling at my fingertips many years ago, as a child! Your suggestions are very helpful and practical! I’m putting them to use already!
January 26, 2020 at 10:05 pm
Melissa Stoller
Thanks for a great post, Laurie! I love your books and look forward to your newest! And I love searching for silly ideas and also finding ideas in museums!
January 26, 2020 at 10:05 pm
Rebekah Lowell
Love this process of finding ideas and thank you for writing about women in STEM! As an illustrator, a fun way to mix and match is to sketch items and sort them alphabetically in a sketchbook. The oddest combinations happen! It’s a visual story mash-up. Here’s a link to an article about this kind of sketchbook, written by my friend and professor Elizabeth Dulemba. http://dulemba.com/index_StyleBibles.html
January 26, 2020 at 10:05 pm
Stella Gardener
Thanks, Laurie, for tips on coming up with ideas. Thanks also for showcasing women in science to young children.
January 26, 2020 at 10:08 pm
Chang H
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas! Looking forward to reading your upcoming book!
January 26, 2020 at 10:10 pm
David McMullin
Thank you Laurie. Great ideas.
January 26, 2020 at 10:16 pm
angiecal76
Congratulations on publishing books about strong women. Can’t wait to read them!
January 26, 2020 at 10:26 pm
authoryvonafast
Thank you Laurie for four ways to start a story1 And thank you for those wonderful biographies!
January 26, 2020 at 10:43 pm
Elizabeth Brown
Thanks for your post! Congratulations on all your books!
January 26, 2020 at 10:57 pm
Rebecca Herzog
Thank you for your wonderful post!
January 26, 2020 at 11:11 pm
jenniemacdonald
Thank you, Laurie! I love picture book biographies about scientific women. NUMBERS IN MOTION looks terrific. Thank you for pointing me to Sophie Kowalevski’s story.
January 26, 2020 at 11:29 pm
Jolene Gutierrez
Great post, Laurie! I’m going to play around with the idea of mashups today.
January 26, 2020 at 11:50 pm
Virginia Rinkel
Wonderful post Laurie! I’m swamped with ideas in the mashup areas today. Thanks again.
January 26, 2020 at 11:57 pm
Karan Greene
Great suggestions! Thanks!
January 27, 2020 at 12:11 am
Dina Ticas
A great mash up popped into my brain as I read your post! Thank you!
January 27, 2020 at 12:13 am
Eileen Saunders
Thanks for your post. Great points.
January 27, 2020 at 12:52 am
Jill Friestad-Tate
I thought of ideas reading your post, thanks!
January 27, 2020 at 12:53 am
Dee Leone
Thank you for sharing the tips. I especially like the mashup idea. Congrats on your forthcoming dino book which I hope to read in my pajamas.
January 27, 2020 at 12:57 am
Shawna JC Tenney
Thank you, Laurie! These are all great ideas!
January 27, 2020 at 1:03 am
JillDanaBooks
Thanks so much for sharing these methods with us!!
January 27, 2020 at 1:13 am
claireannette1
Laurie – I have learned so much from your books and I love your passion!
January 27, 2020 at 1:14 am
kmajor2013
I share your love of all things math and science related. I’m a retired environmental engineer. Thanks for your idea generating approaches.
January 27, 2020 at 1:22 am
Angela H. Dale
Love the mix and max – increases the possibilities (exponentially? My math is very rusty!).
January 27, 2020 at 1:35 am
Michele R
Thank you Laurie, for these great suggestions! Thank you very much for sharing them. (I actually don’t like math and science because math does NOT come naturally to me, but I bet we could be friends anyway! 🙂
January 27, 2020 at 1:53 am
Terri Sabol
Travel is definitely my passion. I need to work on not having a regional story from it.
January 27, 2020 at 1:55 am
Nadia Salomon
Another great post. Thank you Laurie for these four methods of coming up with ideas for picture books. I have read two of the titles you wrote about Ada and Grace Hopper. LOVE them! I have yet to read Hedy, but looking forward to. Congrats on your upcoming book too! Thank you so much for your time and advice.
January 27, 2020 at 2:01 am
rjtraxel
I like your four pronged method!
January 27, 2020 at 2:01 am
Maryna Doughty
Thanks, Laurie, for sharing the different ways to generate ideas. I need to try the “I wonder” game and see if that helps me come up with a plot for one of my characters. 🙂
January 27, 2020 at 2:20 am
Kaye Baillie
I love the challenge of mash-ups. Will give it a try.
January 27, 2020 at 3:13 am
Naana
Thank you for the four ways of generating ideas. I will try the mashups.
January 27, 2020 at 3:41 am
percyandcat
Great suggestion Laurie, I love the mash-ups. I like the idea of a Dino Pajama Party I know it will be funny. Thank you for all your wonderful tips.
January 27, 2020 at 4:56 am
Rebecca
Following one’s passion is so important. And I love the tips you shared! Thanks, Laurie!
January 27, 2020 at 5:58 am
Beth Edson
Great advice thanks. Method 2 is a treasure trove of ideas!
January 27, 2020 at 6:57 am
Diane Tulloch
Great ideas for coming up with ideas and I will certainly look up Dino’s Pajama Party when it’s out. Thanks.
January 27, 2020 at 7:32 am
Dee Knabb
These are phenomenal, Lauri! Thanks for a treasure trove of fun methods to come up with ideas.
January 27, 2020 at 7:45 am
kaleegwarjanski
Thanks for the brainstorming tips! I love the posts that have concrete ideas to try.
January 27, 2020 at 8:00 am
Lisa Tolin
Thank you for sharing these! All powerful ways to get ideas.
January 27, 2020 at 8:13 am
Sharon H
Brilliant methods to try for coming up with ideas. I would love to win one of these books as STEM is my thing!
January 27, 2020 at 8:16 am
Marcia Berneger
I love method 3-starting with a part of a story! Sometimes I create a character and just let her tell her story.
January 27, 2020 at 8:19 am
Marianne Knowles
Fantastic suggestions, I’ve got an idea already. And I agree, I can’t see how anyone doesn’t live STEM. And I love your gear necklace, too!
January 27, 2020 at 8:33 am
Jenny Read Stout
Thanks for sharing!
January 27, 2020 at 8:42 am
Karrie Zylstra
I especially love the cover of your upcoming book, Laurie! Thank you for the wonderful ways to come up with my own stories.
January 27, 2020 at 9:16 am
Beth Gallagher
Wow, GREAT idea generating post!!! Can’t wait to make my lists for mashups. 😄 Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
January 27, 2020 at 9:44 am
donnacangelosi
Great ideas and fun writing! Thank you, Laurie!
January 27, 2020 at 9:44 am
Janet Smart
Thanks for the post. I especially like your final method – MASHUP!
January 27, 2020 at 9:51 am
Catherine
I love your mashups idea Laurie :o)
January 27, 2020 at 9:52 am
Kim Erickson
Great ideas! Thanks for the post!
January 27, 2020 at 10:01 am
Brittanny Handiboe
Mashups are the BEST!
January 27, 2020 at 10:08 am
Freda Lewkowicz
Thank you for these practical and great ways to get ideas.
January 27, 2020 at 10:55 am
Joan Swanson
Thank you for your advise on all the different methods you use to come up with ideas.
January 27, 2020 at 11:05 am
mginsberg10
Congratulations, Laurie! You have followed your passions and opened doors for your readers. Micki
January 27, 2020 at 11:14 am
kyavorski
You’ve sparked a few ideas while reading this! Thank you.
January 27, 2020 at 11:19 am
aliciaminor
Isn’t it a blessing that ideas come shining through as we read through postings of fellow writers and hopefully and positively, they will come into prints one day. Thank you for your methods. I wish you more books to come.
January 27, 2020 at 11:22 am
marshaelyn
Laurie! A profound post! Thank you. I’ve had a 27-year-old hand-painted art sample (acquired when I was an editor of an educational company) posted on my Idea Board since 2017, when I began my writing career. The spunky character with up-turned chin and smirky smile is finally gaining ground to become a story…after all these years. I’m affirmed by your comment to “follow your passion.” Researching market trends has me at times wondering if Kidlit is where I should be investing my passion. “Write what we know…know what we write…own our voice” are Shannon Stocker’s wise words from Storystorm #22. Between the two of you and others, I will press on. “Keep Believing” is my 2020 mantra. Sending you energy and inspiration for your continued passion…
January 27, 2020 at 11:30 am
curryelizabeth
Thank you for the great idea gathering tips!
January 27, 2020 at 11:45 am
Doreen E. Lepore
Thanks! Great ideas for getting ideas!
January 27, 2020 at 11:47 am
Poupette Smith
Mix and match, great idea, and your illustrated apple is spot on (!).
January 27, 2020 at 11:51 am
lanearnold
Great ideas here!
January 27, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Elizabeth W Saba
Great ways to generate ideas. Thank you Laurie.
January 27, 2020 at 12:23 pm
SUSAN
Wonderful advice. Than you!
January 27, 2020 at 12:25 pm
Michele Ziemke
Working on Mashups today because kids think they’re silly!
January 27, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Daryl Gottier
Thanks so much for sharing your methods. I love the mash-ups idea!
January 27, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Aimee Satterlee
Thank you Laurie for these ideas. I can’t wait to see your dino dance party mashup!
January 27, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Michelle O'Hara Levin
Love your books, Laurie! I cannot wait to get this next one into my school library!
January 27, 2020 at 1:27 pm
Priya Gopal
THank you for sharing your methods.
January 27, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Heidi M. Rogers (@heidimrogers)
I LOVE the mash-up idea! I’m going to try that today!
January 27, 2020 at 1:43 pm
Gabi Snyder
Thank you, Laurie! I love all of these methods for generating story ideas, especially the mash-up!
January 27, 2020 at 1:44 pm
saputnam
Great post, Laurie!! Thank you for telling us to “follow our passions” and how you use that passion to generate ideas… It isn’t what you are passionate about that is important, it is the story you, and only you, can tell. I also love the mashup idea.
January 27, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Pamela Haskin
Thanks, Laurie, for some great ideas. I have a title that I’ve had for several years too. It’s just now finding its story. It’s encouraging to know you did the same. And, you’re right, who doesn’t like science and math!?!
January 27, 2020 at 1:53 pm
Laura Jean Watters
Laurie, I am especially intrigued by your bio of Hedy Lamarr, I had seen the fairly recent PBS documentary about the actress and was totally enthralled. A real life story that was almost as fantastical as fiction. I’m so glad you found a way to tell the story to young people. I’m going to check it out.
January 27, 2020 at 2:14 pm
dedradavis03
These are great ideas. Heading to my ugly sketchbook now…
January 27, 2020 at 2:23 pm
kirstenbockblog
Great strategies for coming up with new ideas! Thanks for sharing.
January 27, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Suwin Chan
Love your mashup idea! Thank you for helping me think of a crazy new story! Looking forward to reading your books.
January 27, 2020 at 2:43 pm
nicolesalterbraun
Thanks for the ideas. Love your nonfiction PB’s!
January 27, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
Love this, Laurie, and love your books. I can’t wait for your next books too come out 😍
January 27, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Such great ideas for finding ideas! Thanks for sharing them with us! 🙂
January 27, 2020 at 3:33 pm
candicewolff
The mash up idea combined with reaching back really got me thinking in a brand new way. Thank you!!
January 27, 2020 at 4:09 pm
Mary Jo Wagner
I love the idea of writing down what my passions are as well as mash ups. I tend to think of my ideas as stand-alone possibilities. No more!
January 27, 2020 at 4:12 pm
Lisa Riddiough
Thank you, Laurie. I love your four go to ways of churning out ideas. Wonderful!!
January 27, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Leigh Therriault
Mashups are so fun! And I just thought of one: “Cockatiel Rides a Roller Coaster.” Bestseller? 😆 And yes, following your passions is key. But I don’t like roller coasters, so…. maybe I’ll just focus on math. 🙃🎢
January 27, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Amy Bradshaw
Thank you for your four ideas on how to get started. My favorite is to Follow Your Passion!
January 27, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Jane Baskwill
Thanks Laurie. A great list for generating ideas. One idea may work one time while another day it may be another. It’s good to have them all in your toolbox!
January 27, 2020 at 4:41 pm
kathydoherty1
Thanks, Laurie. I’m always looking for ways to come up with story ideas.
January 27, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Elia Ben-Ari
Laurie, your biographies are an inspiration for this fellow science lover!
January 27, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Deborah Foster
Thank you for the tips! I’m definitely going to use them this month!
January 27, 2020 at 5:43 pm
stephaniewildman
Thank you so much. Creating Mash-ups is brilliant. Haven’t heard it suggested quite so succinctly.
January 27, 2020 at 5:46 pm
LJ Laniewski
Thank you for the terrific ideas, Laurie. Searching for ideas is so much fun. Learning how other people come up with theirs is a great way to get the brain moving. It’s especially neat to see how an author takes that idea and turns it into something! -Lori
January 27, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Kate Woodle
Mashups! What a great way to generate quirky, funny stories.
January 27, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Kate Carroll
Laurie, I somehow missed this post until today, and I’m so glad I didn’t miss it! Love your enthusiasm and your creative ideas to sprout our own story seeds. Thanks!
January 27, 2020 at 6:46 pm
Kellie
Love these methods – particularly the mashup. Thank you for sharing.
January 27, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Garnett Natasha
One thing you just did, Laurie, is underline how important your books are for people like me who think STEM is not our bag (to read or to write.) We have much to learn about our world and you make STEM topics accessible and fun to read. And thanks for story-finding methods.
January 27, 2020 at 7:47 pm
Carolyn Currier
Thank you!
January 27, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Angela De Groot
Thanks Laurie. I’ll be looking out for your dinosaurs in pjs book.
January 27, 2020 at 9:27 pm
Juliana Lee
Like a good wardrobe, mix and match methods will produce infinite (or at least a lot more than without) possibilities!
January 27, 2020 at 9:28 pm
ashleykoney
Excellent points! Thank you!
January 27, 2020 at 9:46 pm
Dawn Prochovnic
Your passion comes through in your post. Thanks so much for taking the time to share!
January 27, 2020 at 9:59 pm
Juliann Caveny
Laurie, I love your post! I’m going a different direction with a few ideas (nonfiction first) as well. I have a question for you though…Do all your nonfiction start-ups end as nonfiction books or have any of them taken a creative turn and become narrative fiction pieces? How and when have you decided to draw the line between writing a nonfiction text or a fiction (based on nonfiction ) narrative?
January 27, 2020 at 10:18 pm
deirdreprischmann
Nice, concrete ideas- thanks!
January 27, 2020 at 10:21 pm
Susan Wroble
I just put “Numbers in Motion” on my reading list, as I too, love math. Can’t wait to read it!
January 27, 2020 at 11:00 pm
carmelamccainsimmons
Thank you for the excellent suggestions, Laurie! I can’t wait to read Numbers in Motion. BTW- I loaned Hedy Lamar’s Double Life to my 90 year old mother. Hedy was one of her favorite actresses. Learning about her other life was a real joy for her! Keep up the amazing writing.
January 27, 2020 at 11:35 pm
Linda Silvestri
Love all of your ideas, but especially want to try the mashup idea. I have a feeling it will be one of the most fun writing exercises yet!
January 28, 2020 at 12:12 am
Amy Newbold
Thanks for all of these great brainstorming ideas!
January 28, 2020 at 1:08 am
Jilanne Hoffmann
I feel like I’m overflowing with options, now. Thank you!
January 28, 2020 at 2:17 am
Judith Snyder
Thanks for sharing your passions and ideas with us.
January 28, 2020 at 7:14 am
Mel Copeman
Trying to mix and match some ideas today!
January 28, 2020 at 9:45 am
Matt Forrest Esenwine
Congratulations on the new book, Laurie! I, too, have found that keeping your eyes & ears open is crucial – and that having young kids in the house is the best inspiration of all!
January 28, 2020 at 10:23 am
Amy Healey
Thank you!
January 28, 2020 at 11:23 am
Genevieve Petrillo
Don’t be too shocked, but Mom and I hate math. Numbers give us a headache. We do like science and technology, though. That makes us happy. I especially hate math when Mom weighs me. When I weighed 25, she said I was on treat restriction till I weigh 23. GAH! #mathamiright
Love and licks,
Cupcake
January 28, 2020 at 11:47 am
Judy Palermo
Thanks, Laurie! Great ideas!
January 28, 2020 at 11:48 am
Anita Banks
Congrats on your new books.
January 28, 2020 at 11:56 am
Krista Maxwell
Thanks for the great advice!
January 28, 2020 at 11:57 am
storycatcherpublishing
I have a hanging file in my writing studio where I dump all my bits and pieces of stories…characters, settings, situations, etc….that I can dig through whenever I’m looking for a future story idea.
Great post!
Donna L Martin
Story Catcher Publishing
January 28, 2020 at 12:10 pm
leahpsmoser
This is great advice. Looking forward to reading the new book!
January 28, 2020 at 12:33 pm
Rona Shirdan
Great tips, Laurie! I think I will try the Mashup method!
January 28, 2020 at 12:51 pm
Alicia Lopez
Great ideas! Thanks!
January 28, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Cortney Benvenuto
Great post! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 28, 2020 at 1:15 pm
susaninez0905
Thank you for wonderful ideas!
January 28, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Kristin Wauson
Great advice! Thank you!
January 28, 2020 at 1:58 pm
Elizabeth Duncan
I love picture book biographies and hope to publish mine someday! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 28, 2020 at 2:18 pm
angie9091
I love your STEM books!
January 28, 2020 at 3:13 pm
susan schade
Great brainstorming ideas! I can’t wait to sit with a fresh piece of paper and start writing! Thank you.
January 28, 2020 at 3:48 pm
Kassy Keppol
Thank you for sharing
January 28, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Jane Dippold
Your post is full of good ways to shake loose the ideas! Thank you!
January 28, 2020 at 4:34 pm
doreenrobinson
I love all of your ideas and your books, Laurie! Thanks for this insightful post.
January 28, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Jenn
So many great ways to stir up ideas! Thank you!
January 28, 2020 at 5:36 pm
Charlotte Offsay
Great ideas, thanks!
January 28, 2020 at 5:52 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
I’ll continue to follow my passion and enjoy the journey.
Thank you, Laurie.
Suzy Leopold
January 28, 2020 at 6:10 pm
megcason1
Great advice Laurie! Thank you for this post.
January 28, 2020 at 6:18 pm
Danielle Hammelef
This post inspired me to create and brainstorm new ideas.
January 28, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Nancy Riley
Thanks so much for more ways to look at the world. Good luck with your latest book!
January 28, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Joyce
Very systematic! I’d expect nothing less from someone who loves math and science.
January 28, 2020 at 9:02 pm
Alexis
I love these ideas. Thank you.
January 28, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Thanks for your post about creating ideas!
January 28, 2020 at 10:09 pm
Kimberly Marcus
Thank you for all of your ideas. I recently read Grace Hopper and I love love loved it!!
January 28, 2020 at 10:47 pm
Judy Bryan
Thank you for these wonderful brainstorming tips!
January 28, 2020 at 10:54 pm
Brinton Culp
Thanks for your post and your books! Love them! I’ll be mashing ideas here.
January 28, 2020 at 11:18 pm
susanzonca
I appreciate the variety of ideas! Thanks
January 28, 2020 at 11:23 pm
Michele Helsel
I love it when I hear something that sparks and idea!
January 29, 2020 at 1:34 am
Amanda Malek-Ahmadi
Thanks for the tips. Love the mix and match graphic.
January 29, 2020 at 4:45 am
Nancy Kotkin
Thanks for this terrific post packed full of practical advice. I need to mash up more often.
January 29, 2020 at 6:48 am
marziehaali
thats a terrific set of ideas. thanks so much
January 29, 2020 at 6:50 am
Patricia Alcaro
A great set of tips, Laurie. Thank you.
January 29, 2020 at 8:58 am
Rachel Funez
Great tips! Thanks!
January 29, 2020 at 10:06 am
Janet Johnson
So many great ways to find stories. Thanks, Laurie!
January 29, 2020 at 10:20 am
Kathy Cornell Berman
Ding, ding, ding, you win Laurie! Thanks for inspiring three new ideas.
January 29, 2020 at 10:44 am
LaurenKerstein
Fabulous post! I had three new ideas while reading it! Hurray!
January 29, 2020 at 10:48 am
Tracy Hora
Thanks for the tips!
January 29, 2020 at 11:10 am
Denise Engle
Hi Laurie. I gifted the Grace Hopper book you autographed for me (at Candace Fleming’s retreat) to a local school librarian. All the 2nd graders, including my grandson, signed a big card to go with it. They loved it! I especially like your suggestion, in Storystorm, to start with a story part! Thanks!
January 29, 2020 at 11:55 am
Damon Dean, SevenAcreSky
Laurie, just grand ideas! Love the ‘four winds’ approach here, and especially the ‘story part’ idea, with the thought of a story going both ways, forward and backward to complete the tale.
January 29, 2020 at 12:38 pm
dlapmandi
Outstanding methods. Thank you so much for sharing them. Great ideas should definitely come one of the four methods. Thanks for the post.
January 29, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Susie Sawyer
SO many great ideas, Laurie! Thank you! My mind is already ticking with ideas.
January 29, 2020 at 2:41 pm
alisongoldberg
Thanks for a great post, Laurie!
January 29, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Laura Renauld
Ideas are everywhere with these methods!
January 29, 2020 at 3:18 pm
Ashley Bankhead
Great post! Thank you for sharing you methods on how to generate ideas.
January 29, 2020 at 3:30 pm
Helen Lysicatos
That was a really great post, great tips!
January 29, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Lori Alexander
I’m such a huge fan of your work! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 29, 2020 at 5:11 pm
Della Ross Ferreri
Great ideas, Laurie!
January 29, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Suzanne Poulter Harris
Great ideas here. P.S. I love your narrative nonfiction bios.
January 29, 2020 at 5:44 pm
Janet Frenck Sheets
A dino pajama party sounds like fun! Since children wear dino pj’s, I wonder if dinos wear children pj’s?
January 29, 2020 at 7:17 pm
Virginia Manning
Thank you, Laurie! These suggestions were very helpful! Congratulations on all your success!
January 29, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Lauri Meyers
I love having all these women in STEM books for my girls to read!
January 29, 2020 at 8:06 pm
Elle
Great methods!
January 29, 2020 at 9:49 pm
Sheri Dillard
Fun post, Laurie! Lots of great advice here– thank you!! 🙂
January 29, 2020 at 10:00 pm
teacherwriteracker
Great story generating ideas! Thanks for sharing.
January 29, 2020 at 10:20 pm
ingridboydston
So many great techniques! I feel like I could Storystorm all over again!
January 29, 2020 at 11:26 pm
Shanah Salter
Great tips!
January 30, 2020 at 2:59 am
Karen Yin
Thank you for sharing these tips!
January 30, 2020 at 3:47 am
Gaby Lagos
I like your first method, “follow your passion”. The idea of trying to help kids writing about the past and make connections with the present sounds great. Thanks Laurie for your detail post.
January 30, 2020 at 7:08 am
Nadine Poper
I love these practical idea generators, especially combining the setting with “I Wonder…” Thank you!
January 30, 2020 at 7:14 am
Amy Wagner
Thanks for all the tips!
January 30, 2020 at 12:14 pm
DK Ryland
Love the advice about mixing and matching. Some interesting stories might come from that!
January 30, 2020 at 12:33 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
Thanks, Laurie! And congratulations on all your gorgeous books!
January 30, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Anne Appert
Thanks for the tips! I like the idea of combining story idea finding techniques.
January 30, 2020 at 1:54 pm
Judy Sobanski
Thanks for the tips for idea generation and for bringing underrepresented STEM women into the spotlight!
January 30, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Nicole Loos Miller
Lots of ideas generated from today’s post inspiration! Thank you so much.
January 30, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Joannie Duris
Thank you for celebrating women in STEM! I loved your list of idea generators. I tend to lean toward mashups, thinking silly, and wondering what’s the craziest thing I can think of? Can’t wait to see MY DINO PAJAMA PARTY–it sounds so different from your STEM biographies.
January 30, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Jennifer Hunt
I love a good mashup! Dino and dance party–ha ha–too cute!
January 30, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Mash-ups are fun, just like mash potatoes.
January 30, 2020 at 7:28 pm
Maria J Cuesta
Great suggestions. I will use them. Thanks a lot!
January 30, 2020 at 7:42 pm
kjerstenhayes
One of my favorite posts of this year, Laurie! All great suggestions. Thanks!
January 30, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Jen Bailey
Thanks Laurie! Great mashup of ideas here 🙂
January 30, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Mary Zychowicz
Wonderful suggestions! Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading your STEM books. Seems like that is a great way to get kids interested in the STEM activities. I love reading the biographies myself!
January 30, 2020 at 9:32 pm
Susan Orton
I love your ideas to get stories started. I especially like your mash-up technique. I will be brainstorming some of my passion topics with fun mashups. Great idea and fun!
January 31, 2020 at 1:31 am
Dani Duck
Thanks so much Laurie! I’m going to go now and come up with lots of Mash Ups. Also will save those other three ideas once this one runs dry!
January 31, 2020 at 1:32 am
Joanne Roberts
I had fun dreaming up different stories with your suggestions. Thanks.
January 31, 2020 at 2:18 am
jacquesartandbooks
Your post made me sit back and remember some travels, thank you.
January 31, 2020 at 3:07 am
Brenda Grant Lower
Mashups are so much fun! A Dino Dance Party?!? Fantastic!
January 31, 2020 at 3:12 am
Sylvia Chen
Love your STEM focus and the tips, thank you!
January 31, 2020 at 5:32 am
sharongiltrow
Thanks for the proven methods. I look forward to using them :-).
January 31, 2020 at 8:53 am
Sue Gagliardi
Thank you for your inspiring post, Laurie! I love reading and writing STEM and biographies.
January 31, 2020 at 12:59 pm
topangamaria
Thank you for giving me a lot to think about.
January 31, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Kelly Vavala
Thank you for this inspiring post! I love that you write for STEM. This must be quite interesting, as I also like to research interesting people who have made a difference. I wish you continued success!
January 31, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Becky Shillington
Thank you, Laurie. Your methods are all great!
January 31, 2020 at 3:01 pm
Carrie Tillotson
Thanks, Laurie, for inspiring us to think about the things we love. I’ve done this before, but just got a new idea, freshly sparked by your post!
January 31, 2020 at 5:13 pm
melissamiles1
I love to write stories about real people, but I struggle to make them feel like stories and not factual reports. I’m working on reading lots of PB biographies to find a style I like. Thanks for the advice! Congrats on the upcoming release. 🙂
January 31, 2020 at 6:03 pm
Karen Lawler
I do enjoy writing about people but my real passion is nature driven! Thanks for the reminder to use my senses at all times.
January 31, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Lucy Staugler
Laurie, love, love, love your focus on women biographies in STEM! Great post about creating ideas. Thank you!
January 31, 2020 at 7:45 pm
Lynn Pedersen
Thanks for the post! I’m at my best when I follow my interests: science, nature, art, history.
January 31, 2020 at 8:05 pm
Cinzia V.
Thank you for your inspiration! I love how you broke down your idea generating process. And I agree about thinking everyone should love science and math!
January 31, 2020 at 8:37 pm
kmshelley
Thanks for your wonderfull ideas.
January 31, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Maureen Tai
Great suggestions! Hope to become as successful as you have been in coming up with ideas!
February 1, 2020 at 12:44 am
Michelle Kashinsky
Wonderful ideas, thank you!
February 1, 2020 at 8:56 am
Lucky Jo Boscarino
I WONDER…
February 1, 2020 at 9:07 am
KASteed
Going to try a mashup. Thank you!
February 1, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Laurel Ranveig Abell
Mashing up! Going for it!
February 1, 2020 at 2:49 pm
Stephanie Lau
Thanks for sharing! Dino Pajama party sounds fun!
February 1, 2020 at 5:45 pm
shellshock7
thank you
February 1, 2020 at 7:37 pm
thesheilster
Thanks for the great ideas!
February 2, 2020 at 10:28 am
Mardi Edwards
I am mashing up some of my ideas!
February 2, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Kara Newhouse
Reading the part about following your passion connected with a tidbit from a podcast I heard earlier (related to one of my passions) and led me to brainstorm a possible research project. Not a story idea, but an exciting idea nonetheless!
February 3, 2020 at 12:04 am
Veronica Bartles (@vbartles)
I have a story that I’ve wanted to write for YEARS, and I’m finally giving myself permission! ❤ ❤ ❤ *fingers crossed that following my passion brings good results!*
February 3, 2020 at 2:36 am
Susan Cabael
Great reminders of tried and true tips.
February 3, 2020 at 5:59 pm
rhumba20
Great ideas Laurie. Thank you for sharing!
February 3, 2020 at 11:19 pm
debbiemoeller
Love all your books, Laurie! Thanks for the post.
February 4, 2020 at 11:05 am
Susanne Whitehouse
Hooray for bringing STEM ladies to life in your books!
February 4, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Meredith Fraser
Thanks for the great info. While reading your post, I remembered a title I thought of months ago. I wrote it down and now have a image of where to go.
February 4, 2020 at 5:29 pm
Lucretia
Thank you for sharing four great idea-generating approaches. Great post!
February 5, 2020 at 9:35 am
Kelly Rice Schmitt
I love your books Laurie! Thank you for great advice.
February 16, 2020 at 1:11 pm
dinatowbin
Cool ideas! Thank you.