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Storystorm 2021 Day 6: Samantha Berger Lets it Out, Releases Ideas, & Lays Down Some Inspiration

January 6, 2021 8:00 am

by Samantha Berger

Did I just name this post with a whole bunch of poop and potty puns?

Yes. Yes, I did.

And it’s not just because my latest book is called THE GREAT BIG POOP PARTY!

It’s because ideas, inspiration, and freedom need to…you know…move and flow freely!

Just like certain (…ahem…) other things.

So let’s get right into it.

Here are the TOP TEN WAYS I GET MY BRAIN TO LET IT ALL OUT, RELEASE THE IDEAS, and LAY DOWN SOME FRESH IDEAS!

(poop puns, again)

So…get a load of this:

10. Go play.
Build a sandcastle, bust out the Legos, doodle all over a cardboard box. Play with no stakes, no intended audience, and with nothing precious. Just PLAY. You wanna tell stories and connect with kids – go play like one. Pronto!

9. Make a list of words you love: hassenpfeffer, canoodle, gallop!
Jam out a list of words and rediscover your love of language. Cue the heavenly choir and behold…LANGUAGE!

8. Give yourself a short, fun warmup to do every day.
Again, pick one that’s FUN and not a pain in the butt, and hold yourself to it. Make up a new nail polish color name. Give yourself a new pseudonym: Samantha Berger aka Samdemic, aka Bergé, aka Bergermeister MeisterBerger aka The Impossible Berger, etc. Write a daily Postcard from the Pandemic: “Well, this still sucks. xox, me.” Whatever! Nothing stinks more than having to write something you dread. So write something you LOVE and you’ll be inspired to do it.

7. Shift your perspective. I mean literally. Find a way to look at the room like you never have before. This perspecto-shift does something GOOD to your brain.

6. Pick an inanimate object in your home, personify it, and write a paragraph from its point of view.

5. Pretend there is a five-year-old in the room, and tell them a story.

4. Think about one incident that happened when you were a kid, that helped inform who you are today. Write that down.

3. Pick one song you LOVE to sing, and sing it reeeeeally loudly.
This literally opens up your VOICE and opening your voice, gets you open to your VOICE! Duh.

2. Make up a reeeeeally dramatic telenovela about the squirrels and pigeons you see every day.

1. And the number one way to tap ideas and stay inspired is…

Truthbomb: your Inner Editor is a total bummer.

They second-guess every choice you make, always wondering if things could be better, or if you’re choosing the right word, action, character.

They thoroughly impede the whole storytelling flow, leaving you creatively constipated.

Soooo (and I cannot stress this enough) don’t bring them to your Storystorm Party.

Park them in a corner, lock them in a box, send them out for pizza—whatever it takes to keep them away, so you can let your freak flag fly.

You’re going to have your BEST brainstorms, ideajams, and breakthroughs without them. I promise.

They can always come in later with their red pens and harsh judgements, but not now!

I hope this list helps the ideas flow, helps you GO, and brings you LOADS of brand new ideas. I hope it was engrossing, but you know, not enGROSSing.

I want to thank the beyond kind Tara Lazar, as always, for having me guestblurt, and for doing this entire thing SO generously to help raise funds for Blessings in a Backpack (which helps feed children so profoundly in need). Tara is an angel with a kicktuchas sense of humor—ideal combo. I am also thrilled to give away a signed copy of my latest book THE GREAT BIG POOP PARTY—because if ever there was a time to (ahem) let it out and (ahem) release your inner genius and (ahem) stay regular(ly) writing—it is NOW!

May you have buttloads of brilliant ideas.

All my Bergerly best wishes,
Samantha

Samantha is the award-winning author of over 85 books for young readers, including Crankenstein (illustrated by Dan Santat), What If…(illustrated by Mike Curato) and Rock What Ya Got (illustrated by Kerascoët). She is also a 3-time Emmy-nominated television writer, and just wrote The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley & Friends. Samantha lives in sunny Santa Monica with her dog Polly Pocket.

Visit her online at samanthaberger.com, Twitter @Bergerbooks, Instagram @samanthabergerauthor and Facebook Fans of Samantha Berger.

You read it above, Samantha is giving away a copy of THE GREAT BIG POOP PARTY!

Posted by Tara Lazar

Categories: Storystorm 2021

Tags: Manny Galan, Samantha Berger, The Great Big Poop Party

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639 Responses to “Storystorm 2021 Day 6: Samantha Berger Lets it Out, Releases Ideas, & Lays Down Some Inspiration”

1. These are such awesome ideas . I cannot wait to get started. Thank you so much!

   By Jeanne Cherney on January 6, 2021 at 8:06 am

   1. I love this list! I’m going to have to print it and stick it on my wall for daily activities. Great with kids and adults. Thank you

      By Amanda Lieber on January 6, 2021 at 3:51 pm

2. Great tips and love myself some toilet humour!

   By amydunjey on January 6, 2021 at 8:07 am

3. Great tips and love myself some toilet humour!

   By amydunjey on January 6, 2021 at 8:07 am

4. Great ideas! I do #10 regularly, and I’ll have to try some of the others.

   By Linda Schueler on January 6, 2021 at 8:07 am

   1. I think you mean # 2. 😉

      By ejessmurray on January 6, 2021 at 8:47 am

5. Love 💘love 💘love!!! Great ideas for grabbing that inner child and getting excited to write!!!

   By kelbelroberts on January 6, 2021 at 8:08 am

   1. Thank you for taking the time to write this post.

      By Nancy Colle on January 6, 2021 at 8:33 am

6. Love these lists of suggestions to get idea juices flowing. Thanks for sharing!

   By Meli Glickman on January 6, 2021 at 8:09 am

7. Thank you for sharing your ideas!
   I have so many ideas now I cant figure out which idea to start with! Its always something. Haha

   By Leslie Tayloe on January 6, 2021 at 8:10 am

8. Omg this post was exactly what I needed to read today 😂😂😂 thank you!

   By Emily Chibwana on January 6, 2021 at 8:10 am

9. Never stop learning. Never stop playing — except for maybe with your poop. Joke about it instead. You gave us quite the roll of assistance with this post. Thank you and remember to wipe, flush, and wash.

   By Cheryl Keely on January 6, 2021 at 8:11 am

10. Wow! So many great idea generating strategies! What I love the most is when just reading these posts sparks something. Got an idea already (thanks to #3)!

    By Andrea Mack on January 6, 2021 at 8:11 am

11. Obviously #2, Make up a reeeeeally dramatic telenovela about the squirrels and pigeons you see every day, spoke to my soul.

    By Melissa H. Mwai on January 6, 2021 at 8:12 am

12. A great post to start my day! Thank you.

    By Jay on January 6, 2021 at 8:12 am

13. I had such a great idea while reading your post thank you so much Samantha! Now I have to go out there and do a little bit of research!!!

    By Sarah Hetu-Radny on January 6, 2021 at 8:13 am

14. These are such FUN idea generators! And there are so many of them! Thank you, Samanatha!

    By Rebster on January 6, 2021 at 8:14 am

15. What a delightfully fun post, Samantha!

    By Cathy L. Murphy on January 6, 2021 at 8:15 am

16. My inner editor is right there-telling me what won’t work. Love the idea of not letting her in
    Thanks for sharing your ideas! I also like to listen to young children and get. Ideas from them

    By Elyse Trevers on January 6, 2021 at 8:16 am

17. There are some great ideas in here! And all of this inspiration helps with illustration too!

    By silentkdesign on January 6, 2021 at 8:19 am

18. Thanks for another reminder to embrace my inner child.

    By Patricia Alcaro on January 6, 2021 at 8:20 am

19. Samantha your repootation went up a notch . I’m going to take a photo of your suggestions and slap it to my mirror..wait that will mean my laptop will be in the bathroom all day. Well, hmmm it can have a Poop Party. Yay. This is fun..and hilarious and papery. I’m on a roll…wait………

    By kiwijenny on January 6, 2021 at 8:24 am

    1. 😁

       By Brenda Flowers on January 6, 2021 at 1:14 pm

20. Oh my Goodness Bergermeister! Love this post! And for all us parents who used to do “potty reports” or the daily song and dance to get little ones in to their “flow” – I appreciate the metaphors and am loving the laughs and personal “flow” this AM. Thank you!!!

    By karamarsee8716 on January 6, 2021 at 8:27 am

21. I’m definitely not feeling blocked now! Love your daily warmup examples.

    By Melanie Ellsworth on January 6, 2021 at 8:28 am

22. Thank you, Samantha, for the energetic presentation of your ideas and suggestions. I don’t think anyone can read that post without feeling fired up and ready to go!

    By Julie Harris on January 6, 2021 at 8:30 am

23. Hahahahaha! Your post is like a…stool softener for ideas? Oh dear. Loved it.

    By Laura Purdie Salas on January 6, 2021 at 8:33 am

24. Wow! What a total load of… Amazingness!! Thank you for a great big pile of inspiration this morning!!

    By kristindudish on January 6, 2021 at 8:35 am

25. Thanks Samantha for the “pile” of suggestions!

    By mlflannigan on January 6, 2021 at 8:35 am

26. A party with you sounds fun. Thanks for the motivation and tips to coordinate my own Storystorm party!

    By lavern15 on January 6, 2021 at 8:37 am

27. love all the suggestions…my inner editor is always hovering! I will make a conscious effort to swat him away when he pops into my head 🙂

    By Krista Legge on January 6, 2021 at 8:38 am

28. There’s not a more exciting, explosive, expletive, excremental, exhilarating, echoed expression for our Littles than Poop!

    By nieman02 on January 6, 2021 at 8:41 am

29. Starting my day with a Great Big Poop Party! 💩 Thank you Samantha for getting us going. Can’t wait to your launch party giveaways!

    By stiefelchana on January 6, 2021 at 8:41 am

30. Thank you for posting

    By Mark Bentz on January 6, 2021 at 8:43 am

31. Great ideas to get me going…thanks!

    By Amy Houts on January 6, 2021 at 8:44 am

32. Fabulous post, Samantha! I’m going to have fun with n. 8 today!

    By Sara Trofa on January 6, 2021 at 8:44 am

33. This post is EXPLODING with ways to get creative, and I love it! 😉

    By Audrey on January 6, 2021 at 8:47 am

34. Thanks for a fun post!

    By ejessmurray on January 6, 2021 at 8:48 am

35. Samantha, I laughed out loud reading your post … until I got to serious part about the inner critic. Then I (sorry, not sorry) made the train leave the station. 😂💡⭐️ I’m ready again to Storystorm for ideas.

    By Joyce Uglow on January 6, 2021 at 8:50 am

36. Haha! Great suggestions, Samantha. Thank you! Congratulations on your new book!

    By Robin Brett Wechsler on January 6, 2021 at 8:51 am

37. Keep those ideas running

    By steveheron on January 6, 2021 at 8:55 am

38. This was terrific advice! Although I am completely WIPED OUT from the week, I cannot wait to see how it FLUSHES out in the END! Thank you!!

    By Artsybarncat on January 6, 2021 at 8:58 am

39. I have IBS so I know a thing or two about big poo parties already. My 4-year-old has a good sense of potty humour too – we need this book.

    By Meldaarts on January 6, 2021 at 9:00 am

40. Thank you Samantha, Love the Flow of your ideas!

    By Jany Campana on January 6, 2021 at 9:00 am

41. Samantha,
    Such a fun post! I like your suggestions for sending out your inner editor. Thanks!
    Gail Hartman

    By thecrowsmap on January 6, 2021 at 9:00 am

42. So many great ideas! Great post Samantha! Your dog is named Polly Pocket?! Too funny:)

    By Krissy on January 6, 2021 at 9:01 am

43. Thanks for providing these funtastic ideas.

    By Angela Verges on January 6, 2021 at 9:02 am

44. I love #10! As adults I don’t think we put aside enough time to do this!

    Moni.

    By bookthreader on January 6, 2021 at 9:03 am

45. Ah…. potty humor… perfect for a children’s author.

    By Michelle Cusolito on January 6, 2021 at 9:04 am

46. Well, it was a little gross, but SOLID advice to follow as we SQUEEZE into the new year of writing. Thanks, Samantha, for helping start my day with a laugh. And a list. And a LOAD of playful ideas.

    By Cathy Lentes on January 6, 2021 at 9:05 am

47. What a fun post and such great ideas!

    By MARIANA LLANOS on January 6, 2021 at 9:08 am

48. Woot, Samantha, I’m gonna let it out and scream & shout as I have fun writing. Flush that inner critic away.

    By kathalsey on January 6, 2021 at 9:09 am

49. So many great ideas! Thanks, Samantha!

    By pathaap on January 6, 2021 at 9:11 am

50. Holy shit, I’d love to win a copy of your poop book.

    By Lucky Jo Boscarino on January 6, 2021 at 9:11 am

51. What a great LOAD of suggestions! Thanks for PILING them on!

    By Laurel Goodluck on January 6, 2021 at 9:11 am

52. These exercises are amazing, thanks for dropping them here. Hehe. 🙂

    By Mackinzie Rekers on January 6, 2021 at 9:13 am

53. These are great and very useful nuggets! Thanks, Samantha!

    By Jane Heitman Healy on January 6, 2021 at 9:17 am

54. I’m going to try for a new perspective today. Thanks for the list of tips!

    By Katie L. Carroll on January 6, 2021 at 9:18 am

55. Buttloads of brilliant ideas… in a body of water bound for the ocean is a beautiful thing. Thank you Samantha.

    By Hank Dallago on January 6, 2021 at 9:20 am

56. Oh my gosh. Just the creativity boost I needed in my in-box this morning. I’m going old school and printing this one off for reference. Favorite word: kerfuffle. I’m giving myself 5 minutes right now to work on a story idea around it. Thank you so much!

    By Jennifer Phillips on January 6, 2021 at 9:25 am

57. Oops! I let out a… laugh! Thanks for the fun post!

    By https://katiewalsh.blog/ on January 6, 2021 at 9:25 am

58. Agh! GROSS!!

    By libbydemmon on January 6, 2021 at 9:27 am

59. In our family, we have a saying: “It all comes back to poop.” There will be an adult book about how it came to be some day. I appreciate your inspiration today. 🙂

    By Melisa Wrex on January 6, 2021 at 9:28 am

60. Your sense of humor brightened my morning. Now to get moving….(tee hee)

    By Louann Brown on January 6, 2021 at 9:28 am

61. Loved thinking about perspectives and jotted down two story ideas from exercise #6 giving inanimate objects a voice. Thank you Samantha!

    By kimpfenn on January 6, 2021 at 9:29 am

62. Creatively constipated–ha, that’s me with a verbose inner editor! Love the doggo–did she give you the Poop Party idea?

    By Nancy Furstinger on January 6, 2021 at 9:29 am

63. These tips and energizers really get my morning off to a great start! I know it takes time to manage this kind of blog, but it’s deeply appreciated! Thank you.

    By Pamela Line on January 6, 2021 at 9:30 am

64. Thanks for the post! Hope I win!

    By Kathryn Cunningham on January 6, 2021 at 9:33 am

65. Thanks for the post. Hope I win!

    By childrensbooksonadime on January 6, 2021 at 9:34 am

66. This post was amazing. Loving all the wordplay and, of course, the practical storystorming tips! Thank you!!

    By Amy Leskowski on January 6, 2021 at 9:36 am

67. This is awesome,Samantha. Reading your post is like having a friend enthusiastically encourage the writer to just get going in the most positive way. Thank you.

    By Annelouise Mahoney on January 6, 2021 at 9:36 am

68. Thanks Samantha, great and fun list of ways to open to ideas: and your list just gave me my next story concept!

    By andreesantini on January 6, 2021 at 9:40 am

69. Thanks for more great inspiration Samantha. And Tara too of course. So many ideas are flowing…

    By Susan Drew on January 6, 2021 at 9:42 am

70. Hilarious post! So great to start the day laughing! Thanks Samantha!!

    By Laura Bower on January 6, 2021 at 9:42 am

71. Fab ideas to warm up the brain! Thank you. Also great title for your new book- congratulations! 🥳

    By rebeccacwoodall on January 6, 2021 at 9:46 am

72. I used to name my inner editor the shiny cockroach because I would see a problem glitter in the distance and then try to squash it for the rest of the time I was writing. 😭 if you guessed that it didn’t die you were right haha.

    By Bhandi on January 6, 2021 at 9:47 am

73. I’m guessing that either you have boys, grew up with brothers? Poop is always a favorite topic at my house ( ;
    Anyhoo – this is a very inspiring post with lots of opportunities for ideas! Thank you!

    By Lisa L Furness on January 6, 2021 at 9:48 am

74. Thanks for this post! Can’t wait to read about the poop party!

    By Jen MacGregor on January 6, 2021 at 9:48 am

75. Fantastic post! Love this list of ideas!

    By beckylevine on January 6, 2021 at 9:48 am

76. I feel “flushed” with excitement as I think about trying these ideas!
    Thank you for the inspiration!

    By Lori Sheroan on January 6, 2021 at 9:49 am

77. What a great list of ideas!! Thank you so much!

    By Julia on January 6, 2021 at 9:50 am

78. Wow! So many inspiring ideas! Thank you and congrats on your success!

    By Cortney Benvenuto on January 6, 2021 at 9:51 am

79. Thanks for the inner editor reminder as that voice is so strong that I almost didn’t leave a comment! Getting out of our own way is so important.

    By Diane Kress Hower on January 6, 2021 at 9:52 am

80. Fun! I love the idea of having an inanimate object tell its/a story. Great ideas!

    By Tanya Konerman on January 6, 2021 at 9:53 am

81. Great list of fun ideas. Thank you. 🙂

    By Christine @ Goodjelly on January 6, 2021 at 9:58 am

82. Nice! Now I really want to write an epic drama about the pens and paper clips in my junk drawer…

    By getupandwriteblog on January 6, 2021 at 9:59 am

83. Ha Ha! Thanks for starting my day off with a laugh…now I have a “pile” of ideas, Samantha:>

    By pollyrenner on January 6, 2021 at 10:03 am

84. Thank you for the suggestions. Love the word play 🙂

    By Joan Swanson on January 6, 2021 at 10:04 am

85. Thanks for the great tips. Will try playing.

    By Jessica Coupé on January 6, 2021 at 10:04 am

86. Love your list. Thanks so much!

    By R M Miller on January 6, 2021 at 10:05 am

87. I am so glad I found you and your helpful writing resource! Can’t wait to check out your book!

    By kier holmes on January 6, 2021 at 10:06 am

88. Oh, the puns! Oh, the wordplay! How fun! Thanks for 10 great tips for coming up with ideas — and the entertainment value :-). And yes, I’m all for singing a song you love reaaaaly loudly!

    By Tonnye Fletcher on January 6, 2021 at 10:06 am

89. Thanks for the scoop — such a fun and inspiring post. I just had to share and spread some poop around! Wishing you the best of success with your book!

    By Lynne Marie on January 6, 2021 at 10:09 am

90. Be careful when you poo-poop the inner editor. Mom doesn’t have one and she writes a lot of crap. Then she freely thinks it’s good.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

    By Genevieve Petrillo on January 6, 2021 at 10:12 am

91. I call my inner critic Mrs Doubtfire. I gave her the day off!

    By Michele Ziemke on January 6, 2021 at 10:13 am

92. Success! You’ve motivated me to attack my writing with a funtastic mindset! Thank you 🙂

    By annette schottenfeldA on January 6, 2021 at 10:14 am

93. Thank you for all the helpful reminders, especially the one about leaving the inner editor at home. She is a party pooper!

    By Christina Shawn on January 6, 2021 at 10:16 am

94. Thanks for sharing! Your ideas are the stinky poo! 🤣

    By Carolyn Currier on January 6, 2021 at 10:19 am

95. Some great ways to shake things up – thanks, Samantha!

    By kathychalas on January 6, 2021 at 10:21 am

96. Excellent top 10 list. Flushing that inner editor away for a bit!

    By teacherwriteracker on January 6, 2021 at 10:21 am

97. Thank you for these tips! I’m off to play. 🙂

    By Emily Ramquist on January 6, 2021 at 10:23 am

98. Thanks Samantha! Great tips. Your fun post had me laughing. 🤣 I particularly enjoyed when you said our inner editor leaves us creatively constipated. So true!!!!

    By Kristen Tipman on January 6, 2021 at 10:26 am

99. I especially resonated with numbers 6 and 8. Can’t wait to try them out.

    By SherriJones Rivers on January 6, 2021 at 10:29 am

100. Wow! Thanks, Samantha! All my ideas thus far were echos of other ideas. Your post lead me to 3 shiny, new ideas.

     By Manju Beth Howard (@ManjuBeth) on January 6, 2021 at 10:29 am

101. Love the tips…especially number one…ha ha get it?!?!….but my inner editor is often loud and a hindrance. Perhaps learning to squash it is my goal this Storystorm so that I can really begin to write more freely.

     By Mrs. Vandivier on January 6, 2021 at 10:30 am

102. Great suggestions to get things moving!

     By Laurie Carmody on January 6, 2021 at 10:30 am

103. Such a cleansing post! You’ve really cleaned out my writing system to make room for some awsome ideas!

     By Marla Yablon on January 6, 2021 at 10:33 am

104. Oh Samantha, thank you! Great list of idea generating tips! Numero uno for me as well, is to is forget about that inner editor until later.

     By Teresa Daffern on January 6, 2021 at 10:34 am

105. Wow this post gave me everything I needed today! Thanks Samantha!

     By Phaea Crede - Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) author (@PhaeaCrede) on January 6, 2021 at 10:34 am

106. Thanks for the great punny and funny post! I’m letting my inner poopstar out at this party.

     By Rozana Rajkumari on January 6, 2021 at 10:36 am

107. All the poop puns crack me up! Thank you for all the “get it going” idea support. I will endeavor to produce something that comes out loud and proud!

     By Catherine Lee on January 6, 2021 at 10:38 am

108. Looking forward to letting loose and allowing things to flow. Time to have fun! Thanks!

     By Rona Shirdan on January 6, 2021 at 10:41 am

109. Thanks for these great suggestions to get me to lighten up!

     By Patricia Holloway on January 6, 2021 at 10:43 am

110. Fun ideas. I know I want to make writing fun again for me, instead of this I have to do in order to get published, etc.

     By Earl @ The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer on January 6, 2021 at 10:44 am

111. Thank you, Samantha, for sharing your great writing inspirations.

     By judyrubin13 on January 6, 2021 at 10:45 am

112. It’s almost impossible not to include potty humor in my comment (urine the company of one who also loves puns), but I’m going to flush that out of my mind and get to work writing.

     By Jessica Swaim on January 6, 2021 at 10:46 am

113. I love your suggestions, Samantha. You made them fun to read and fun to do! Thanks for the inspirational boost.

     By Dee Knabb on January 6, 2021 at 10:47 am

114. Thanks for the. morning laughs and good ideas. I can’t wait to read your poop book, Samantha!!

     By Christy Mihaly on January 6, 2021 at 10:49 am

115. Such a fun entry, Samantha…..very inspired to let it all out, thanks to you 🙂

     By Deb Sullivan on January 6, 2021 at 10:49 am

116. Thanks Samantha! Letting loose is definitely something on which I need to work, so thank you for the encouragement!

     By Colleen Owen Murphy on January 6, 2021 at 10:50 am

117. Very creative post!

     By Jennifer Rathe on January 6, 2021 at 10:51 am

118. Thank you!
     -Jenna feldman

     By moviemommie on January 6, 2021 at 10:51 am

119. Fun read. Thanks!

     By Doreen Tango Hampton on January 6, 2021 at 10:52 am

120. Who doesn’t love a poop party. Great post. Thank you.

     By Gregory E Bray on January 6, 2021 at 10:53 am

121. Going outside ASAP. Then writing a story from the perspective of the gigantic HotWheels Ultimate Garage sitting in my living room. Thanks!

     By Erin Gallagher on January 6, 2021 at 10:54 am

122. I really liked this list. I came up with two story ideas from it — and a goal. Thanks!

     By Cheryl on January 6, 2021 at 10:55 am

123. Oh, this was so fun. And such awesome advice! Thank you!

     By triciacandy on January 6, 2021 at 10:55 am

124. Thank you Samantha 😊

     By saintamovin on January 6, 2021 at 10:55 am

125. Great ideas, thank you. I really needed this today, just the chance to let go (excuse the copy of the pun here!) and enjoy the process.

     By sareenmclay on January 6, 2021 at 10:58 am

126. I love your sense of humor, Samantha, and got some great ideas from your list. Lists keep me regular:-)

     By Renner Writes (@barbararenner) on January 6, 2021 at 11:00 am

127. You are so fun! My funny is definitely backed up, but I think your suggestions will help me open the shute and let it go (let it go!).

     By Fern Glazer on January 6, 2021 at 11:01 am

128. Thank you, Samantha, for brightening up my morning! I can’t wait to read “The Great Big Poop Party” to my class. We have read “Crankenstein” more times than I count over the last “Zoom” months!

     By Gail Aherne on January 6, 2021 at 11:05 am

129. Great ideas..writing is going to be much more fun this morning! Thanks!

     By Heather Elizabeth on January 6, 2021 at 11:06 am

130. Funny! Thanks for the advice!

     By Nancy Ramsey on January 6, 2021 at 11:07 am

131. Thank you for your laugh out loud, let go, potty talk infused post! Gonna go flush my inner critique editor (at least the one weighing down the fun)

     By Aimee Haburjak on January 6, 2021 at 11:08 am

132. Flushing that inner editor absolutley keeps a writer regular when it comes to ideas! Thanks for the the fibersous (fabulous) reminder!

     By Penny Parker Klostermann on January 6, 2021 at 11:08 am

133. Outstanding suggestions – thank you!

     By DaNeil Olson on January 6, 2021 at 11:09 am

134. Thanks for the laugh and the inspiration!

     By Kathy Crable on January 6, 2021 at 11:09 am

135. This post will have me brainstorming for days! So many things to try. And so very punny (and funny).

     Thank you!

     By Maria Oka on January 6, 2021 at 11:10 am

136. Fun tips! Thanks Samantha and congratulations!

     By curryelizabeth on January 6, 2021 at 11:11 am

137. Fantastic list Samantha! Laughter is the best exercise!!

     By Mary Warth on January 6, 2021 at 11:12 am

138. Blessing in a Backpack is a great program. It really goes to kids in need of food over the weekend. Our school program was sponsor by a grant. It takes a person to buy supplies; find suppliers willing to donate and get them donated, organized them into backpacks, and hand them out. Backpacks are returned to a bin on Monday located in the cafeteria. HIgh school students volunteer for service hours. AR Rice Depot was our best donator. As a school counselor, I loved this program.
     The best advice for me today is as I leave my inner voice behind pretend and go play! Thanks, Rhonda

     By brontebrown2 on January 6, 2021 at 11:13 am

139. Thank you, Samantha! Great ideas to get things flowing. Lol! Congrats on your new book!

     By Candace Spizzirri on January 6, 2021 at 11:14 am

140. What a great list of idea generators. As soon as I’m done writing this comment, I’m brainstorming some of your suggestions. Thank you! T

     By Tanja Bauerle on January 6, 2021 at 11:14 am

141. Thank you for the great brainstorming suggestions!

     By Susan Schade on January 6, 2021 at 11:14 am

142. Well, that was fun! Thanks for sharing the writing exercises to get us limbered up and rolling..

     By Carole Calladine on January 6, 2021 at 11:15 am

143. Oh Samantha! Your post and your book has inspired me. I submitted a story that contained an aspect of poop and the company told me that while I may think poo is funny; they do not! Thanks to you, I am ready to submit again!!

     By jbbower on January 6, 2021 at 11:16 am

144. I love Samantha Berger! her books always make us laugh.

     By Sarah Ryan on January 6, 2021 at 11:16 am

145. Thank you for sharing your – TOP TEN WAYS I GET MY BRAIN TO LET IT ALL OUT, RELEASE THE IDEAS, and LAY DOWN SOME FRESH IDEAS!

     By lizricewrites on January 6, 2021 at 11:16 am

146. Thanks for the humorous start to the morning! Congrats on your new book 🙂

     By Sara Ackerman on January 6, 2021 at 11:16 am

147. Well, you are fun, Samantha. With all the crap you’re unloading, have you considered writing the book on how to clean up since the toilet paper shortage?!?!?! Thank you for bringing out the “best” of us.

     By mona861 on January 6, 2021 at 11:17 am

148. IMO, Most fun post award officially goes to you. Thanks for DROPPING these gems upon us! I’m off to… write.

     By Kelly Darke on January 6, 2021 at 11:21 am

149. This was fun to read! I love how you compare listening to your inner editor to being constipated. So accurate!!

     By Lisa P. on January 6, 2021 at 11:21 am

150. I love your book, Crankenstein! Thanks for the fun blog to “get us going” this morning!

     By Jill Friestad-Tate on January 6, 2021 at 11:21 am

151. Yes leaving your inner editor out, in the beginning, is something I will remember.

     By readmybook2002 on January 6, 2021 at 11:23 am

152. What a great sense of humor and tips that are sure to ‘get things moving’ Thanks.

     By Cindy S. on January 6, 2021 at 11:23 am

153. So many great ideas. I hope the words will flow gently when the writing begins.

     By Bea Brown on January 6, 2021 at 11:26 am

154. I loved this! Very big pile of ideas to digest. 😉

     By Annie War on January 6, 2021 at 11:28 am

155. Thanks for making me laugh! I appreciate all the great ideas to jump start my imagination.

     By Jennifer Belden on January 6, 2021 at 11:29 am

156. My favorite tip was for me to let my inner child out. As a mom, I spend too much time on my To Do list and not enough time playing. Thank you!

     By debobrienbookscom on January 6, 2021 at 11:29 am

157. This post had a lot of funny puns! I’d love to win your book! Thank you for all of the tips, Samantha!
     -Maryna Doughty

     By marynadoughty on January 6, 2021 at 11:30 am

158. That is one big load of ideas. I feel dumped on! (In the best way.)

     By Adam Blackman on January 6, 2021 at 11:31 am

159. LOL! Re-laxativing my brain to let the ideas flow. 🙂

     By Claire A. B. Freeland on January 6, 2021 at 11:34 am

160. Oodles of ways to canoodle ideas. Love this!

     By NC Karuzis on January 6, 2021 at 11:35 am

161. Thanks for starting my day with a laugh–and some great ideas!

     By Judy Palermo on January 6, 2021 at 11:36 am

162. Thank you for this. I need some humor this morning. I agree about the space. I am in the process of redoing my office so I enjoy being in there.

     Sherry

     By muskoshe on January 6, 2021 at 11:36 am

163. Boy, Berger, you are the bomb! What a post to post! To read daily! I love every word of your advice. Play! Toot. Play! Toot. Play! And toot some more. Really like the prompts, such variety! A thousand thanks. I totally concur about our terrific Tara. She’s the sunshine we all need.

     By marty on January 6, 2021 at 11:37 am

164. OMG – Hilarious! Can’t wait to get a copy of Poop Party for my son, this is right up his alley!

     By erintsiska on January 6, 2021 at 11:39 am

165. Very inspoorational, lol! Thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to read your book.

     By teresawebauthorcom on January 6, 2021 at 11:42 am

166. Great ideas. Thanks!

     By Bethanny Parker on January 6, 2021 at 11:43 am

167. These tips are like my breakfast high fiber cereal-guaranteed to make me go (with loads of creative ideas 😉). Thank you Samantha!

     By amanookian2014 on January 6, 2021 at 11:48 am

168. Am putting my inner editor on the naughty step, for quite some time!!! Thank you for your list of writing inspirations – it’ll be great to go back to them time and again, to help boost those creative juices. Pooptastic!

     By Joan Longstaff on January 6, 2021 at 11:53 am

169. Wow! Samantha, your enthusiasm flies off the page / computer screen. I almost had to stand back so as not to be knocked over by the flood. Thanks for starting my day with so much energy! Good ideas are coming, I can feel it.

     By Darcee A. Freier on January 6, 2021 at 11:56 am

170. What a hoot! You started off my day with a big grin and permission to play. Thanks!

     By Stephanie Farrow on January 6, 2021 at 11:56 am

171. I’m ready for today’s writing party, no editor invited! Things are bound to go smoothly!😉

     By aidantalkin on January 6, 2021 at 12:01 pm

172. This post had me smiling from start to finish! Thanks, Samantha! 🙂

     By Genevieve Gorback on January 6, 2021 at 12:04 pm

173. Too funny! I love all of your suggestions and will be incorporating these ideas and tools into my daily writing routine. Thank you!

     By tracivw on January 6, 2021 at 12:08 pm

174. Samantha, you always have something fun to share. Love this. And now I shall try to come up with a fabulous new name for myself…susan-a-pan-whap-i-dan? Nah…

     By susaninez0905 on January 6, 2021 at 12:08 pm

175. Oh such a great outlook, laughing all the way! Thank you for bringing your sense of humor and light into the world!

     By Debra Bartsch on January 6, 2021 at 12:08 pm

176. Locking my inner editor in a box! I am gonna remember that visual! Helpful and moving. Thank you!

     By Gail Atherley on January 6, 2021 at 12:09 pm

177. Thank you for such a fun and inspiring post! I’ll be putting these ideas into action! 😀

     By Laurie Bouck on January 6, 2021 at 12:09 pm

178. “Send them out for pizza.” This one tickled me good. Your inner critic means well and want to help you out. But like that uptight party guest who wants to control the fun so the cops won’t come, they’re always trying to shut things down. So let ’em feel helpful instead by sending them out for party snacks.

     In writing terms, maybe they’re the ones who make sure the power bar is on so your laptop stays charged and remembers to regularly back up your work. And reminds you to take breaks and eat something once in awhile. Useful things like that. That way they have a sense of control without busting things up.

     Ah yes, I love so much about this post! List of favourite words. Yuss! Finding a literal new perspective on your space. Super! Daily silly warm ups. Love it! This post could be February’s challenge in a nutshell. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas with us.

     By karynellis on January 6, 2021 at 12:11 pm

     1. (Oops, that should be *remind you (no s). Not my inner critic speaking, though. That’s my inner editor. :’D

        By karynellis on January 6, 2021 at 12:14 pm

179. Thank you

     By Kassy Keppol on January 6, 2021 at 12:11 pm

180. Thanks, Samantha! Printing off this JumpStart list and putting in on my desk! Grateful for your humor and energy!

     By Mary Beth Rice on January 6, 2021 at 12:12 pm

181. Totally fun — I made lists of words and also an incident from childhood. The incident could be a funny PB so I’m taking that one further… Thanks, Samantha!

     By Val McC on January 6, 2021 at 12:12 pm

182. I love, love, loved this upbeat zanny post. I’m happily getting my crazy on today with out of the box ideas. Thanks!!

     By writeknit on January 6, 2021 at 12:14 pm

183. Your post is like a laxative for my brain! !!! I’m already getting ideas!! Thank you!

     By laurazarrin on January 6, 2021 at 12:15 pm

184. Oh My Goodness! I love these ideas and love your sense of humor. I’m already trying them now!

     By nataliecohn0258 on January 6, 2021 at 12:16 pm

185. This post is not only helpful and inspiring, it’s LOL-worthy. Looking forward to reading your book, Samantha. I’ve got two little ones who can’t get enough of the word “poop,” so it will be an instant classic at my house,

     By Sarah Meade on January 6, 2021 at 12:17 pm

186. Thanks so much for the smiles and chuckles! Love your humour and your advice. Off to play now!

     By bevbaird on January 6, 2021 at 12:18 pm

187. Holy crap! The ideas are pouring out of me!
     Such inspiration!

     By CK Lange on January 6, 2021 at 12:18 pm

188. Awesome ideas! Thank you both, Tara and Samantha, for helping us all on our writing journeys!

     By Heather Stigall on January 6, 2021 at 12:20 pm

189. Such fun suggestions to get ideas flowing – thank you!

     By georgeandjohanna on January 6, 2021 at 12:24 pm

190. Great suggestions! And such a fun post as well. Thanks for the smiles and laughs. Got my day off to a great start 🙂

     By marty on January 6, 2021 at 12:24 pm

191. Lol. The birds and the squirrels can’t be trusted according to my pets.

     By rjtraxel on January 6, 2021 at 12:26 pm

192. Definitely in need of a perspective shift. Time to move to a new room in the house! Thank you for a hilarious post!

     By kirsten218 on January 6, 2021 at 12:26 pm

193. This is such a FUN, LIVELY, article, did I mention FUN! Thank you for the inspiration Samantha!

     By Catherine Brewer on January 6, 2021 at 12:28 pm

194. Thanks for the big load 🙂 of ideas! Enough for many, many ideas to come.

     By @taotalley on January 6, 2021 at 12:28 pm

195. Thanks for sharing a fun post! Congrats on your book!

     By danielledufayet on January 6, 2021 at 12:32 pm

196. Thanks for my morning giggle! I think I’ll tell my inner critic to go for a good long walk and not come back until I say it’s time.

     By Carol Gwin Nelson on January 6, 2021 at 12:32 pm

197. Thank you for all the suggestions! I look forward to trying them out.

     By Maria Altizer on January 6, 2021 at 12:37 pm

198. Great advice, Samantha, especially about not inviting my inner editor. He’s a party pooper, for sure!

     By authordebradaugherty on January 6, 2021 at 12:42 pm

199. Every single one of your suggestions is a gem, but #6 gave me an idea that went right into the notebook. Love all the word play. A truly special “guestblurt.”

     By Roberta Gibson on January 6, 2021 at 12:42 pm

200. Samantha! I DO love bathroom humor. This is a fantastic list. Thanks so much for the pick-me-up and inspiration!

     By karammitchell on January 6, 2021 at 12:42 pm

201. Great advice! Sometimes in our quest for ideas, it’s easy to forget that the most important thing is to just have some fun! And I love your new book. It is absolutely hysterical.

     By Shanie Cooper on January 6, 2021 at 12:43 pm

202. Thank you, Samantha, for the di-stinck-tive puns! Great way to start the day. And, of course, thanks for the great advice.

     By kathrynjeanhagen on January 6, 2021 at 12:43 pm

203. Long time fan, and this post is a great example of why I use your books
     as mentor text. (Auto spell just tried to make that assmen, so apparently the inner workings have been infected with your pundemic vibes!)
     Thanks for a great list of kicks-in-the-butt for daily regularity.

     By Sandy Brehl on January 6, 2021 at 12:44 pm

204. Dramatic telenovela about squirrels, haha. I have to try that one. Thanks for the great post!

     By brittanypomales on January 6, 2021 at 12:45 pm

205. HAHAHAHA — thanks for bringing many smiles this morning!

     By paulaobering on January 6, 2021 at 12:49 pm

206. I love your writing! Thanks for sharing your great ideas for creativity!

     By Heather Rowley on January 6, 2021 at 12:51 pm

207. You gave me a crap load of ideas! Yay! Thanks for a fun pick me up.

     By Ginny Neil on January 6, 2021 at 12:51 pm

208. Thanks for sharing the great suggestions!

     By Janice Woods on January 6, 2021 at 12:56 pm

209. I love what you said about our inner editor! I will have to uninvite mine 😉😬

     By Tricia Thatcher on January 6, 2021 at 12:58 pm

210. Terrific ideas thank you!

     By vijikc on January 6, 2021 at 12:58 pm

211. Thank you, Samantha. I lay down (creaking) on the bare floor for a new perspective. I saw a lot of dust and the underside of my cat’s chin. In any case, Inner Editor was not invited!

     By Natasha Garnett on January 6, 2021 at 12:58 pm

212. #7. Like when I’m lying on the floor for yoga and can see all the gross stuff and lost toys under the couch… Thanks for your post, Samantha!

     By Amy Fae on January 6, 2021 at 12:58 pm

213. I loved all of these ideas. Personifying an object gave me my idea for the day! Thank you!

     By Brian Burak on January 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm

214. Today, I danced on zoom with my kindergarten class for music and it was so fun! Thank you, Samantha for helping me remember to let the child out! We sang reeeeally loud too!

     By theresacocci on January 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm

215. Thanks for making me smile this morning! Maybe I’ll add a potty humor idea to the list this year.

     By bymaggiebrown on January 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm

216. Thank you so much, Samantha! I love the list and am going to come up with a warm-up idea today. Super short and fun, of course! I look forward to reading The Great Big Poop Party! I can’t imagine what it’s about…

     By Virginia Law Manning on January 6, 2021 at 1:01 pm

217. Thanks sweet potty-mouth! I feel relieved.

     By ljh22o on January 6, 2021 at 1:01 pm

218. Haha, this tip — “Write a daily Postcard from the Pandemic: ‘Well, this still sucks. xox, me.'” — made me laugh out loud! These exercises are great. Thank you for the inspiration!

     By AlisonMarcotte on January 6, 2021 at 1:07 pm

219. Great ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!

     By Kathiann Weatherbee (@WeatherbeeBooks) on January 6, 2021 at 1:08 pm

220. Way to go with having fun and playing around to come up with new ideas! Thank you!

     By Angie on January 6, 2021 at 1:09 pm

221. Thanks so much!

     By Laurel Santini on January 6, 2021 at 1:10 pm

222. I know so many kids that love things that are brown and sticky! Your book is going to be a big success!

     By Lauren Hidalgo on January 6, 2021 at 1:11 pm

223. Samantha, thank you for your gift 🎁 to us today…laughter and the 10 Tips to promote creativity.
     What fun!

     By Brenda Flowers on January 6, 2021 at 1:12 pm

224. I needed this on a day when I have the t.v. off and not watching this awful political stuff. I would love to hang out with a totally fun author like this and not my inner critic and have some fun with puns and ideas. This writing process gets too serious for me and here come”the shoulds”– it should be fun and silly.I need to move to a totally free from criticism place or second guessing.

     By Sheri Radovich on January 6, 2021 at 1:13 pm

225. Well, let the poop hit the fan, I like these ideas for getting ideas! Especially the playing one! Silly makes you happy, and you did just that!

     By dedra davis on January 6, 2021 at 1:14 pm

226. This was much needed, thanks so much for your ideas, Im so excited to use them!

     By JC on January 6, 2021 at 1:16 pm

227. I love all the concrete ideas in this post! And they’re soooo much fun. I can’t wait to try the telenovela one.

     By serenagingoldallen on January 6, 2021 at 1:17 pm

228. You know, we do need more PBs about squirrels.

     By andynarwhal on January 6, 2021 at 1:19 pm

229. Thank you for the great count-down of idea gatherers! One clicked immediately and reminded me of something I had started long ago and given up on….but I still love the idea. SO – back to the “writing board!” Thank you for the inspiration and permission to have FUN with writing!

     By writeremmcbride on January 6, 2021 at 1:19 pm

230. Now I get it! Whenever I put ‘butt in chair’ I get clogged up…it’s that stinky inner editor interfering with my daily constitutional! Thank you, Samantha, for a hilarious post and wonderful top ten. Love the perspective and personification ones!

     By Jill Lambert (@LJillLambert) on January 6, 2021 at 1:20 pm

231. Samatha: Thank you for the ten tips to eliminate the party pooper and leave the red, edit pen behind.

     Suzy Leopold

     By Prairie Garden Girl on January 6, 2021 at 1:23 pm

232. Permission to play? What could be better! And thank you for the reminder about that inner editor guy (it’s definitely a guy for me) – always lurking and ruining everything! I’m flushing him away this minute!

     By Writer on the run on January 6, 2021 at 1:24 pm

233. LOL! Awesome post and genius ideas, Samantha! LOL!

     By babybluesnowflake on January 6, 2021 at 1:24 pm

234. Great reminder about the “inner editor” who can certainly get in the way!

     By Becky Ross Michael on January 6, 2021 at 1:26 pm

235. Samantha, you’re a genius! My inner editor has been sent out to pick flowers. As it’s winter in Toronto, they’ll be gone for awhile. 😉 Thank you for all your amazing suggestions. I can’t wait to read The Great Big Poop Party!

     By Stephanie Gibeault on January 6, 2021 at 1:26 pm

236. These ideas for ideas are great. ☺️ I inadvertently fell into the “daily warmup” by starting a daily photo diary on Facebook since the first day of lockdown. We’re now 300+ days into our pandemic experience and this practice has given me a creative outlet for stress and sparked my creativity in general. The discipline of writing daily, even just photo captions, has made a huge difference to me.

     By meganu on January 6, 2021 at 1:27 pm

237. The inner editor is th biggest stifler to creativity. IT also gives us a false sense of completion or perfection. “It is done! I have edited it. It is perfect!” That makes it hard to come back to and polish it up, because you don’t want to screw up perfection.
     I agree that when you just put your words down and let them settle, you can be more free to making the changes that deep down you know you need to and aren’t so blind to what others see (or not see) in your story.

     By matthewlasley on January 6, 2021 at 1:28 pm

238. Hilarious! I love your ideas!

     By Liz Lehnhof on January 6, 2021 at 1:29 pm

239. Wow! Outstanding suggestions, each and every one! Thanks for recharging my idea generator Samantha and reminding me to ixnay the Inner Editor from my Storystorm party!

     By Suzanne Lewis on January 6, 2021 at 1:31 pm

240. We may not be allowed to put Baby in the corner, but I called my Internal Critic a baby and put IT in the corner! So there’s that!! Great list of ideas!!!! Imma post this. lol

     By Laurel Ranveig Abell on January 6, 2021 at 1:32 pm

241. Thanks for the great tips, especially #6, 5, 2, 1… think I’ll practice the pizza tip on my husband too (!).

     By Poupette on January 6, 2021 at 1:32 pm

242. Loved your word play and all your ideas for PB ideas.

     By Linda Sakai on January 6, 2021 at 1:34 pm

243. Love your brainstorming idea list! Thanks!!

     By Tracy Hora on January 6, 2021 at 1:36 pm

244. Loads of fun ideas here! Thank you, Samantha!

     By Linda KulpTrout on January 6, 2021 at 1:40 pm

245. Samantha! Good to read your post! Thanks for the tips! I do well with a big to do list!

     By Elizabeth Saba on January 6, 2021 at 1:42 pm

246. Samantha,
     Thanks for the brainstorming list. I can’t wait to uninvite my inner editor!

     Thanks!!

     By Pam Jones-Nill on January 6, 2021 at 1:42 pm

247. Time to play. Thanks for the invitation.

     By Judith Snyder on January 6, 2021 at 1:50 pm

248. Your books are so fun! Thanks for sharing your tips.

     By Lynn Baldwin on January 6, 2021 at 1:51 pm

249. Thank you for suggesting a read aloud to an imaginary 5 year old. Excellent! Peace, Alicia

     By Alicia Shawn Gagnon on January 6, 2021 at 2:00 pm

250. Thank you, Samantha! I’m loving all of this inspiration!

     By David McMullin on January 6, 2021 at 2:00 pm

251. After a long day in what has felt like a neverending pandemic, I really needed a writing post with a ton of poop puns. Thank you! (Also the brainstorming ideas are handy!)

     By Paul Carroll on January 6, 2021 at 2:02 pm

252. Your ten ways are absolutely the BEST!!!!
     I have written them down in my journal and I will use them everyday…thank you SO much! ❤️

     By Rebecca Arent-Draper on January 6, 2021 at 2:03 pm

253. This made me laugh and jot down a few ideas – thank you!

     By Jessica Potts on January 6, 2021 at 2:04 pm

254. Fun ideas, thanks!

     By mariamd542 on January 6, 2021 at 2:06 pm

255. Thanks for the list of ideas! I especially like #s 8, 9, and 10 (though #2 seems most relevant to the topic). I feel the creativity coming on. Gotta go….

     By Jenny Boyd on January 6, 2021 at 2:11 pm

256. Loved reading every word! Thank you for the inspiration. Lots of great tips!🤗
     Best regards
     Lisa

     By lisakhan9 on January 6, 2021 at 2:13 pm

257. You are so fun! I love all your brainstorming ideas. Thanks for the inspiration, and congratulations on your book. I’m sure it’s the sh#t!

     By Eileen Mayo on January 6, 2021 at 2:14 pm

258. Actually playing?! That is a great idea. Rushing outside now (cuz when you gotta go, you gotta go!) to play in the snow.

     By cmochowski on January 6, 2021 at 2:18 pm

259. It makes me laugh that you wrote a book about poop! Hahaha you are using that inner child!

     By mjmeyer06 on January 6, 2021 at 2:20 pm

260. Great tips for remembering that this writing gig is partly about releasing your inner child….or releasing the kraken (as my son likes to refer to certain things)…..

     By Jilanne Hoffmann on January 6, 2021 at 2:21 pm

261. Great ideas – I can’t wait to do them all! Thanks

     By Cinzia V. on January 6, 2021 at 2:26 pm

262. All great ideas and a fabulous reminder to pull out my list of super duper extra special words. Thanks Samantha!

     By Cathy Ballou Mealey on January 6, 2021 at 2:28 pm

263. Thanks so much, Sandemic! The squirrels at our house are a big source of entertainment for us, especially since we don’t have pets but we do have a lot of windows. Why didn’t I think of writing a telenovela about them earlier?!

     By mrsmouthy on January 6, 2021 at 2:28 pm

264. I love and struggle with #10. It can be my New Year’s resolution. Your book looks so fun. Can’t wait to read it.

     By Cassie Bentley on January 6, 2021 at 2:29 pm

265. Hey Samantha! We are so on the same page. My last picture book was NO PARTY POOPERS and I would never invite a party-pooping inner critic to my party. You, however, are definitely invited. Thanks for the fun suggestions!

     By Gretchen McLellan on January 6, 2021 at 2:31 pm

266. Thanks for dumping a major load of brain storming ideas, Samantha! Now to go and put them to use…what a fun and memorable post!

     By Lucretia S. on January 6, 2021 at 2:41 pm

267. Thanks for starting my day with a laugh!

     By Christine Van Zandt, author of A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS on January 6, 2021 at 2:41 pm

268. Great post and fun ideas for playing and sparking frolicking ideas. Those crazy inner critics are such party poopers! Love your ideas for ditching them. Thanks for the sparks today!

     By Maria Marshall on January 6, 2021 at 2:49 pm

269. This really made me smile, and it inspired me to write down your ideas so I can re-build my very stale writing habits. Thanks!

     By boardmancamera on January 6, 2021 at 2:51 pm

270. I so love potty humor!

     By Elizabeth S Harris on January 6, 2021 at 2:54 pm

271. Wow! That was a great list! Fun stuff! Ah, #10….what I call “head bullies.” No bullying allowed.

     By Deeken Deborah on January 6, 2021 at 3:03 pm

272. All great suggestions—thank you!

     By Lauren Barbieri on January 6, 2021 at 3:03 pm

273. Hilarious! Thanks for sharing, Samantha!

     By Laura De La Cruz on January 6, 2021 at 3:12 pm

274. Love this list of ideas! Cannot wait to try them out today! Thank you.

     By Aimee Larke on January 6, 2021 at 3:12 pm

275. Your dumping your brains ideas were great! I bet your Poop book is very popular with kids! Thanks for all your tips.

     By Amanda on January 6, 2021 at 3:13 pm

276. Thanks for the laughs and list, Samantha. I adore all of your books and am grateful that you shared today’s post with us. My inner critic is bummed. But, I am so thrilled!!!!

     By Aimee Satterlee on January 6, 2021 at 3:26 pm

277. I was smiling, laughing, and taking notes all at the same time. Thank you! Can’t wait to read your new book!

     By Melissa Stoller on January 6, 2021 at 3:29 pm

278. Love everything about this! Thanks for helping us release our inner geniuses, Samantha!

     By Gabi Snyder on January 6, 2021 at 3:32 pm

279. Your post was not only punny, but so full of great advice! Now it’s time to poop out some great ideas! Oops, I meant pop out some great ideas!

     By Cathy Ogren on January 6, 2021 at 3:39 pm

280. Thanks for sharing some great ideas to help get things moving 🙂

     By Bernice Seward on January 6, 2021 at 3:48 pm

281. Well this was all a little amazing! So much fun! Thanks Samantha

     By kiralee strong on January 6, 2021 at 3:53 pm

282. I’m pooped just thinking about all the fun ways you’ve unloaded on us, Samantha. Thanks!!

     By LeeAnn Rizzuti on January 6, 2021 at 3:57 pm

283. I love your new book! When my son finally got potty trained, we threw him a poo poo party – complete with chocolate doughnut holes and football shaped cake (with laces removed for greater effect!).

     By Joy Wieder on January 6, 2021 at 4:02 pm

284. Such a fun post and terrific ideas, thank you!

     By Karin Larson on January 6, 2021 at 4:03 pm

285. I loved all your ideas. I especially loved that you encourage us to explore our inner child. I collect antique dolls and their doll furniture as well as a doll house and miniature dolls and doll related toys. I feel it keeps me connected to the child I was as well as the child my mother was.

     By katherineadlam on January 6, 2021 at 4:04 pm

286. Love it! Always love a good poop story..have to get down to a kids level. Thank you for being amazing!

     By gattodesign on January 6, 2021 at 4:04 pm

287. Thanks! Got an idea just from reading through your list- POOF!

     By ryanrobertsauthor on January 6, 2021 at 4:08 pm

288. Thanks for dumping all these great ideas!

     By heatherbell37 on January 6, 2021 at 4:09 pm

289. Thanks for this fun post!

     By Meghan B on January 6, 2021 at 4:17 pm

290. Well, holy crap! That was just a steaming pile of information. Instead of a TO DO list, it’s a DO DO list. After reading it, it reminded me of what one piece of toilet paper said to another…”I’m feeling really wiped.” 🙂

     By Monica A. Harris on January 6, 2021 at 4:24 pm

291. I love how your list of ideas opens up my brain (the other end)!

     By Lori Dubbin on January 6, 2021 at 4:25 pm

292. Samantha,

     Such a plethora of writing inspiration. It really gets those ideas churning and onto the paper (poop humor). See you’ve got me doing it now. Many thanks.

     By Sharon Coffey on January 6, 2021 at 4:26 pm

293. I love that toilet humor transcends all age groups. Thanks Samantha!

     By bgonsar on January 6, 2021 at 4:33 pm

294. Can’t waste time getting to the poop deck of the SS Eyerman writing ship. Thanks, what fun it was to read.

     By Susan Eyerman on January 6, 2021 at 4:34 pm

295. I love this dump of ideas 😁 Thank you!!

     By Tara Cerven on January 6, 2021 at 4:43 pm

296. Great list. Yes, going to PLAY! Thanks for the post.

     By Janie Reinart (@smile73777) on January 6, 2021 at 4:50 pm

297. Your post was so funny and creative, thanks so much for sharing with us. Several of your ideas are things I haven’t tried, so this is very helpful. THANKS!

     By marianariosr on January 6, 2021 at 4:50 pm

298. I saw your book on Twitter yesterday, Samantha, and immediately wanted to read it to my kids. And then here you were in my inbox today – serendipity!

     By Emily R. Keener on January 6, 2021 at 4:58 pm

299. You are so funny Samantha. Time for me to go poop away … 🙂

     By darshanakhiani on January 6, 2021 at 4:59 pm

300. What a FUN friend you must be to play with! Such a fun post. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Now I’m off to create a fun AKA for myself!

     By Pamela Haskin on January 6, 2021 at 5:03 pm

301. Not even one of these ideas was a “stinker!” :0 Thanks for sharing your creativity, Samantha!

     By jensubra on January 6, 2021 at 5:03 pm

302. Important list, Thanks

     By Kathy Mazurowski on January 6, 2021 at 5:10 pm

303. Thanks for this fun post, Samantha! Your list already gave me 2 new ideas.

     By donnacangelosi on January 6, 2021 at 5:11 pm

304. Thank you for the tips! I love your Crankenstein books!

     By Courtney Cohen on January 6, 2021 at 5:13 pm

305. Thanks Samantha. You’ve reminded me of something my son said the other day: ‘Tastebutts’… Hush inner editor – there’s a story in there somewhere. 🙂

     By The Fairytale Mum on January 6, 2021 at 5:16 pm

306. My brother and sister-in-law would love me to death for giving this to my twin nieces! 🙂 Seriously, congrats on the book and thanks for the fun ways to let our creative juices get flowing. It’s been so hard for me to do this lately. New approaches are always welcomed. 🙂

     By melissamiles1 on January 6, 2021 at 5:17 pm

307. Great ideas for inspiration! To write forkids, be a kid. Thank you!

     By bjleepoet on January 6, 2021 at 5:20 pm

308. OMG, you’re hilarious, Samantha! I loved your ideas and even more so, that you tied them into potty humor (boy mom, here). Thanks for sharing your wisdom and personality. You made me giggle and gave me a ton to work with!!

     By hlapehn on January 6, 2021 at 5:23 pm

309. My son just turned 4 and the poop and potty jokes get him so hard these days. It’s like an instant giggle. Love the ideas and tips.

     By Aundra Tomlins on January 6, 2021 at 5:23 pm

310. Thanks for the inspiration!

     By Katherine McMahon on January 6, 2021 at 5:31 pm

311. Thanks for this fun post. I’ve heard so much about the importance of play. I think I need to do more of that. Looking forward to reading your new book. I know my grandson would love it!

     By rosecappelli on January 6, 2021 at 5:33 pm

312. Love the ‘Inner Editor is a total bummer’ ~ perfect!

     By Cheryl Johnson on January 6, 2021 at 5:35 pm

313. So many great ideas! Kids love being silly!

     By Anne LeBlanc Gr 4/5 teacher 🇨🇦📚❤️✍️🖖😃 (@AnneLeBlanc2) on January 6, 2021 at 5:50 pm

314. Thank you Samantha for your inspirational ideas, and that extra bit of advice about that evil inner edit that is never far away.

     By Aly Kenna on January 6, 2021 at 6:13 pm

315. I love so many things on this list, and I’m doing my best to wipe away my inner editor during this, my first, StoryStorm. Thanks for the tips.

     By Kristin Sawyer on January 6, 2021 at 6:14 pm

316. So I was talking to this Bat the other day and the ideas were just coming out of him like . . . . .

     By Stephen S. Martin on January 6, 2021 at 6:19 pm

317. I love the idea of just write it and get it out on paper. Do not let that inner editor surface!! I let that happen way to often and second guess myself. Thanks for reminding me that we should just let it go!

     By Kirk van Haaren on January 6, 2021 at 6:20 pm

318. Great ideas in your post! Thank you!

     By Elizabeth Brown on January 6, 2021 at 6:22 pm

319. Just reading your tips already has me tapping the creative juices and filling up my kid writing cup! Thanks!

     By Beth Holladay on January 6, 2021 at 6:33 pm

320. Thanks for these tips. Great way to get ideas!!

     By pamelanaturalliving on January 6, 2021 at 6:37 pm

321. Lots of great ideas for freeing up the creative flow! Thanks, Samantha!

     By Dannielle Viera on January 6, 2021 at 6:40 pm

322. Thank you, Samantha! I would love to know more about what inspired you to write What If? It’s a beautiful book!

     By Elizabeth Masterman on January 6, 2021 at 6:42 pm

323. Fantastic advice, thank you Samantha. Now I need to go play.

     By faygie1 on January 6, 2021 at 6:43 pm

324. Thanks for such a great load of playful prompts!

     By Lisa Billa on January 6, 2021 at 6:59 pm

325. Feeling the bergerly inspirberation! Thank you Samantha for your top ten!

     By chardixon47 on January 6, 2021 at 7:04 pm

326. Big poop party, sounds all inclusive!! Your 10 tips are fab! Thank you

     By salfreckles on January 6, 2021 at 7:05 pm

327. Poop is guaranteed to bring on the giggles.

     By Deborah Amadei on January 6, 2021 at 7:07 pm

328. Love love LOVE these suggestions….as I was reading about singing out loud my husband literally began singing along with Pandora (maybe I should mine his head for ideas too). Thanks.

     By tinefg on January 6, 2021 at 7:13 pm

329. I love so many of your suggestions…I’m off to sing my favorite song right now! Thanks for a great post, Samantha.

     By viviankirkfield on January 6, 2021 at 7:18 pm

330. Love your sense of humor! Thanks for giving us ideas to unclog our creativity! 😉

     By Michele Rietz on January 6, 2021 at 7:20 pm

331. So many fun ideas! I especially love exploring words—silly ones to make kids laugh. Thanks!

     By Peggy Dobbs on January 6, 2021 at 7:25 pm

332. I share the same feeling that many times when I try to think of something to write about, I can’t think of anything. When I decide to take a break and do something else, that’s when I truly think of a really good writing idea. Thanks!

     By Olivia on January 6, 2021 at 7:25 pm

333. Thanks, Samantha. The know I’m hoping for a brain DUMP of ideas.

     By Carrie Tillotson on January 6, 2021 at 7:30 pm

334. Hi Samantha! Thanks for all these great ideas. Congrats on your new book!

     By Rebekah Lowell on January 6, 2021 at 7:31 pm

335. What a fun book & post, congrats! Thank you for the tips.

     By tinamcho on January 6, 2021 at 7:33 pm

336. Agree 100%–that inner editor is a killer! Thanks for sharing your ideas!

     By Pamela Brunskill on January 6, 2021 at 7:37 pm

337. Yep. I need to bring back FUN! Thanks for the tips!

     By sharonkdal on January 6, 2021 at 7:47 pm

338. It’s unbelievable how as soon as I started reading the list, my brain automatically started to discard the ones that were too far from my comfort zone.

     Then I read it all, I stopped and I thought: ok then, today, you will pick the ones you wanted to avoid in the first place…and let’s see what happens…..so I’ll do just that!!!Wish me luck! 🙂

     By roberta abussi on January 6, 2021 at 7:48 pm

339. Too fun!! Thanks for the great ideas!!

     By Debi Boccanfuso on January 6, 2021 at 8:09 pm

340. Great list! I always have to remember to do things simply for the joy of doing them.

     By Carrie Williford (@carrietimes) on January 6, 2021 at 8:29 pm

341. I’d love to leave a clever comment butt I gotta go…play! 😉

     By ingridboydston on January 6, 2021 at 8:34 pm

342. I love creating word lists. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

     By Janet Sheets on January 6, 2021 at 8:38 pm

343. Thank you for the great list of tips!

     By heidikyates on January 6, 2021 at 8:51 pm

344. Thank you, Samantha. Letting Story Storm play and flow freely!

     By YauMei Chiang on January 6, 2021 at 9:02 pm

345. Wow. Just WOW! This is such a great post! It makes me want to dance. And create. And write. Thanks soooooo much!!!

     By rosihollinbeck on January 6, 2021 at 9:03 pm

346. What a helpful list to get things flowing! 😉 Thanks, Samantha!

     By Renée Neubauer on January 6, 2021 at 9:04 pm

347. Samantha…thanks for bringing out my inner child. So much fun to pretend. Wonderful ideas.

     By carrines yvette clifton on January 6, 2021 at 9:04 pm

348. Thank you for these great ideas, Samantha! So inspiring!

     By claudine108 on January 6, 2021 at 9:17 pm

349. Thank you Samantha, You sparked several great ideas for me today. Woot, Woot, I’m way ahead on ideas now. Thanks.

     By Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator on January 6, 2021 at 9:20 pm

350. These are SOOOO good. Excellent inspiration. Thank you Samantha and Tara!!

     By romontanaro on January 6, 2021 at 9:27 pm

351. Hahah. Number 2 reminds me of my ongoing telenovela about a rooster that lives next to our house and all of his escapades. At one point, he had two ladies and one vanished recently. I think the current girlfriend did away with the other one. But how? I did hear a horrible screeching in the middle of the night one night. Hmmm.
     There were three chicks that appeared a little while after that. Whose the real mama? Now there are only two. Did that baby find out about his real mama and go searching for her? Stay tuned … Haha. Thanks for all of the ideas, Samantha! Fun!

     By vgraboski61gmailcom on January 6, 2021 at 9:27 pm

352. If only I could be as funny as you are Samantha! Gonna work on letting all the ideas out!

     By Stephanie D Jones on January 6, 2021 at 9:29 pm

353. What a funny post! Thank you!

     By Nadine Poper on January 6, 2021 at 9:30 pm

354. So many fun ideas to play with–thank you!!

     By Buffy Silverman on January 6, 2021 at 9:30 pm

355. Great ideas

     By Kay on January 6, 2021 at 9:32 pm

356. Hi Samantha! My kids love Crankenstein (one of them IS Crankenstein). Thank you for sharing these tips and for that awesome note about creative constipation. Didn’t realize my inner editor was causing it!

     By dazzlengsy on January 6, 2021 at 9:43 pm

357. Thanks for providing so many options. Loved the warm up and perspective shift, most.

     By Zoraida Rivera on January 6, 2021 at 9:55 pm

358. This is a great post!

     By Sonya Kenkare on January 6, 2021 at 9:56 pm

359. Love your fun ideas — you are quite innovative!

     By Ave Maria Cross on January 6, 2021 at 10:06 pm

360. Great post great idea generator! Thanks for sharing your expertise.

     By John McGranaghan on January 6, 2021 at 10:07 pm

361. Poop de doop. So here we go.

     By Mary Jane on January 6, 2021 at 10:09 pm

362. These puns were perfect for a day like today – thanks!

     By Cathleen Collins on January 6, 2021 at 10:16 pm

363. You really nailed not only the ideas, but who Tara is and what a gift she is to us all. Thank you!

     By Deb Lund on January 6, 2021 at 10:35 pm

364. Thanks for the fun ideas and inspiration. Who wouldn’t love permission to act like a kid? Looking forward to reading your poop book!

     By horsewriterlady on January 6, 2021 at 10:47 pm

365. This!!! Such good advice, fun language, & hilarious phrases! Thanks for sharing!

     By Marci Whitehurst on January 6, 2021 at 10:51 pm

366. Thank you for the shot of energy–it was sorely needed today–and your list of ways to get things moving. They’re pooptastic!

     By Jennifer Blanck on January 6, 2021 at 10:52 pm

367. SAMANTHA (AND YOUR DOG, POLLY POCKET, WHO LOOKS A BIT EMBARRASSED BY YOUR POST CONTENT; AND YET, IS STILL RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE, AS DOGS ALWAYS ARE! HE!): I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the INSPIRING list you SO KINDLY gave us. Usually there is just one or two suggestions on a list that sound like good ideas to try, but I’m EXCITED to try ALL of these! THANK YOU!!! PS: I LOVE your nod to the GREAT CLASSIC stop-motion “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” with your pseudonym of Bergermeister MeisterBerger. I’m voting for that one!!!

     By Natalie Lynn Tanner on January 6, 2021 at 10:55 pm

368. Thank you for the inspiration!

     By Karen Engel on January 6, 2021 at 10:57 pm

369. Er–this was a moving post.

     By Chelle Martin on January 6, 2021 at 10:57 pm

370. Thanks for the inspiration to get the Butt in Gear and keep the ideas flowing, Samantha!

     By Shaunda Wenger on January 6, 2021 at 11:07 pm

371. I am SO inspired!! Thank you, tons, Samantha!!

     By ruthwilson48 on January 6, 2021 at 11:46 pm

372. Thanks for the tips!

     By Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon) on January 6, 2021 at 11:54 pm

373. Ain’t no party like a Great Big Poop Party cuz a Great Big Poop Party don’t stop! (well, it does eventually, especially if there’s not enough fiber at the party.) Congrats, Samantha! And thanks for the “fresh” ideas. 😉

     By Debbie Meyer on January 6, 2021 at 11:55 pm

374. Thank you. I never looked at the thought process this way. Mos def will try.

     By Thelia Hutchinson on January 7, 2021 at 12:01 am

375. Thanks so much for all of the 10 great ideas to use for brainstorming story ideas.

     By Melissa Warren on January 7, 2021 at 12:01 am

376. Love the list! Great things to remember!

     By Christine Pinto on January 7, 2021 at 12:04 am

377. Hilarious post! Congratulations on your book, sounds pooty funny. Thank you for your tips to getting me inspired with ideas. I plan on trying them out.

     By Heather Kelso on January 7, 2021 at 12:05 am

378. Great ideas. Yes, I will have to figure out how to ditch my inner editor. She’s always lurking nearby.

     By Trine Grillo on January 7, 2021 at 12:11 am

379. All the backyard’s a telenovela, and all the squirrels merely players. Thanks for the fun post and fun/funny ideas!

     By Brinton Culp on January 7, 2021 at 12:12 am

380. Thanks for giving us all the poop on buttstorming ideas!

     By 8catpaws on January 7, 2021 at 12:13 am

381. Loved this hilarious post! Chock full of great ideas! 🙂

     By seschipper on January 7, 2021 at 12:13 am

382. I love the idea of writing words that I love. Fun!

     By Lori Gibson on January 7, 2021 at 12:14 am

383. I love the idea of writing a list of words that I love. Fun!

     By Lori Gibson on January 7, 2021 at 12:16 am

384. What a fun list of ideas!

     By Lori Gibson on January 7, 2021 at 12:16 am

385. Wow, thanks for all these tips! 🙂 Jill Dana

     By JillDanaBooks on January 7, 2021 at 12:21 am

386. I love the idea of writing a list of my favorite words. Fun!

     By Lori Gibson on January 7, 2021 at 12:21 am

387. I love the idea of making a list of my favorite words. Fun!

     By Lori Gibson on January 7, 2021 at 12:24 am

388. This is why I always write down my ideas from dreams-I figure there is nothing censoring them…

     By Megan Whitaker on January 7, 2021 at 12:28 am

389. Ha, ha! Love it. Very fun post:)

     By Keeping the Me in Mommy on January 7, 2021 at 1:03 am

390. Oh my goodness, your writing style is what I aspire to. Thanks for all of the suggestions! I am totally going to start personifying everything in my house & do some perspective shifting. Thanks for your post!

     By jenlinville2021 on January 7, 2021 at 1:06 am

391. Love all your suggestions. Thanks for sharing.

     By carolynleillustrations on January 7, 2021 at 1:06 am

392. I am putting that list somewhere to use. Such great advice.

     By Jen on January 7, 2021 at 1:13 am

393. Let the peristalsis of ideas flow! Thanks for the tips. =]

     By Brittney on January 7, 2021 at 1:16 am

394. I love it! Those were all really great ideas, thanks for letting them out.

     By Mirka on January 7, 2021 at 1:31 am

395. Bloop there goes an idea!

     By Chris Harrington on January 7, 2021 at 1:43 am

396. I love poop jokes! My inner 5 year old giggles.
     Plus, I love all those great ideas for seeing things differently. It makes sense to change how you see things.

     By Brenda Grant Lower on January 7, 2021 at 1:48 am

397. Thanks!

     By Rachel S. Hobbs Gunn on January 7, 2021 at 1:56 am

398. We love bathroom humor in this house, so I’ll definitely be checking out your book! Thanks for sharing such great writing tips 😁

     By Katie Williams on January 7, 2021 at 2:02 am

399. Thank you!
     Loved #6!

     By susanfilkins on January 7, 2021 at 2:07 am

400. So many fun puns and great tips! Thank you, Samantha!

     By Terri Sabol on January 7, 2021 at 2:20 am

401. What a gastastic poo-st! (I’m clearly terrible at this!)

     By Sensitive and Extraordinary Kids on January 7, 2021 at 2:57 am

402. Winning Ms. Berger’s book would be the shit 😏

     By jtfan24wordnerd153 on January 7, 2021 at 3:16 am

403. Such wonderful ideas thank you for sharing!

     By savannahpalma on January 7, 2021 at 3:35 am

404. Done! Dumped! Flushed and ready!

     By 58chilihed13 on January 7, 2021 at 5:04 am

405. Thanks! What a great sense of freedom and lack of inhibition. I needed that today.

     By Sharon E. Langley on January 7, 2021 at 5:22 am

406. I love the energy of this post (and some great tips for getting ideas to flow more easily!)

     By claireflewis on January 7, 2021 at 5:54 am

407. What a load… of helpful information! 😉 Crankenstein is a family favorite and I’m so grateful for every tidbit of advice.

     By Misty Morris on January 7, 2021 at 6:08 am

408. Fun post, great graphics, and some ideas to get the gears turning! Thank you Samantha

     By Beth Elliott on January 7, 2021 at 7:32 am

409. The poop puns were just what I needed today! This top ten list is awesome, I need to hang it on my wall! Thank you for your post. 💜

     By Alexis_Bookdragon on January 7, 2021 at 7:54 am

410. Great list. Thanks!

     By ssspice on January 7, 2021 at 8:40 am

411. Such a fun post! Thanks for dropping your wisdom on us.

     By Sara Fajardo on January 7, 2021 at 9:27 am

412. These are fantastic ideas! Thank you so much!

     By Blair Ortman on January 7, 2021 at 9:58 am

413. Thanks for making me laugh today. 🙂

     By nrompella on January 7, 2021 at 10:12 am

414. These are great ideas. We don’t play enough!

     By Alicia Curley on January 7, 2021 at 10:15 am

415. LOVE this post! Some really solid (ha!) ideas for generating creativity. This post gets kept in my “best writing advice” notebook.

     By Susan Wroble on January 7, 2021 at 10:27 am

416. I LOVE this! Thanks for sharing the absolute best side of craft.

     By LenoraBiemans (@BiemansLenora) on January 7, 2021 at 10:37 am

417. Thanks so much for the tips! Lynn Street

     By streetlynn on January 7, 2021 at 10:37 am

418. So many great ideas. I started a phenology project this year. A morning practice of watching nature. It focuses my morning, allows me to be creative, and enhances my curiosity.

     When I sit down to work on a story and my inner critic begins to chatter in my ear, I tell it to be quiet, it can’t fix what isn’t written. It really can’t improve on an idea that hasn’t made it from thought to paper. It will get its chance.

     I think it likes that I throw it a scrap knowing a meaty bone is on the horizon.

     By Sarah Tobias on January 7, 2021 at 10:40 am

419. Love your ideas. Wish this pandemic would go away so I can play with my grandkids. So much more fun than playing alone.

     By Pat Trattles on January 7, 2021 at 10:43 am

420. I am printing out this post. Its so right on, I need to remind myself to think this way, daily. I always have that voice in the back of my head, its time to make it go away. And your beautiful dog, mine have always been a part of my inspiration-a dog walk is wonderful, freeing time.

     By sharon lane holm on January 7, 2021 at 11:01 am

421. Thanks for helping us to get to the bottom of this, Samantha. Your post didn’t stink. 🙂

     By jenfierjasinski on January 7, 2021 at 11:02 am

422. Great advice!

     By Debra Shumaker on January 7, 2021 at 11:17 am

423. Number 9 is my favorite!

     By Robin Wiesneth on January 7, 2021 at 11:24 am

424. Samantha, you literally just lay the ground for 10 ideas! Yay 😀 GREAT post. I found it VERY “moving” 😉

     By writersideup on January 7, 2021 at 11:32 am

425. Yes telling the inner Editor to shut up is soooo difficult. Thanks for the encouragement.

     By Sharon Lillie on January 7, 2021 at 11:45 am

426. 🤣 I have loved all of the blog post to date, but this one is my favorite! (Although, technically it should be #2 💩)

     By Lindsey Hobson on January 7, 2021 at 11:46 am

427. Telenovela–nice! I like the way that idea helps us access our inner over-the-topness!

     By audiencedog on January 7, 2021 at 11:56 am

428. I want to let it flowwww!

     By Emily on January 7, 2021 at 12:05 pm

429. Thanks for the humorous ways to keep our ideas flowing regularly!!

     By Judy Sobanski on January 7, 2021 at 12:12 pm

430. These are amazing strategies! Thank you so much for sharing.

     By Andrew Hacket on January 7, 2021 at 12:17 pm

431. Thanks for the puns, the laughs, and the 10 ways to stimulate our imaginations. Your post is a BLAST.

     By Angela De Groot on January 7, 2021 at 12:19 pm

432. Thanks for the list! 🙂

     By claudia sloan on January 7, 2021 at 12:33 pm

433. How Heaven sent is this post!!! After watching the chaos in DC all day, your ideas have totally rejuvenated me!! I am printing this and putting it in my happy place. THANK YOU

     By Meredith Fraser on January 7, 2021 at 12:33 pm

434. Thanks so much for your motivating ideas and ways to release my writing capabilities and give me new perspectives. Everything you wrote is very useful!!

     By Jeannette Suhr on January 7, 2021 at 12:36 pm

435. You are hilariously fun and inspiring! Thanks for making me smile and get me “Sam” on!

     By Kate Carroll on January 7, 2021 at 12:41 pm

436. Thanks for great tips!

     By Margie Markarian on January 7, 2021 at 12:42 pm

437. I do #9 and #5 and I’ll try your other tips!

     By Della on January 7, 2021 at 12:49 pm

438. Does this blog have the most comments yet? Your theme is universal! And just last night my 8 year old demanded, “What Happens When You Flush?” Already written. But I want to read your book instead!

     By Julia Lyon on January 7, 2021 at 12:55 pm

439. Thanks for piling it on thick with all the ideas!

     By Dawn Prochovnic on January 7, 2021 at 12:55 pm

440. Excellent tips! My inner grade-school self still finds words such as butt, poop, and underwear hilarious.

     By danielle hammelef on January 7, 2021 at 1:04 pm

441. Thank you, Samantha. Don’t invite my inner critic! Such a wonderful helpful idea. Your prompts are being put in my folder…

     By Nancy Ferguson on January 7, 2021 at 1:14 pm

442. Thank you for the laugh and for getting things flowing… 😉 xx

     By Charlotte Offsay on January 7, 2021 at 1:14 pm

443. Too funny! Great tips! I’ll try to put these into regular practice:) smooooooth move hehe

     Anna Levin

     By rhumba20 on January 7, 2021 at 1:15 pm

444. Writing is fun and so are you. Hmmn, I’m still in the process of picking at least one out of your lists. Thanks and Happy new year.

     By aliciaminor on January 7, 2021 at 1:31 pm

445. Great post, Samantha! I like your number 6 and 9 ideas the most. Releasing your inner creativity, not gas, is where it’s at. Thanks for this funny and helpful post!

     By kmajor2013 on January 7, 2021 at 1:45 pm

446. Love this actionable list! Thanks, Samantha!!

     By adavis6385 on January 7, 2021 at 1:49 pm

447. Thanks, Samantha! I just wrote a list of my favorite words and low and behold a story idea magically appeared. Congrats on your big poop party! 🙂

     By Bonnie Kelso on January 7, 2021 at 1:51 pm

448. Ooh, Samantha, I like #10 best. Go play. I just don’t do it enough. And, you know, if you have to work too hard at letting it go, it’s really no fun.

     By Babs Ostapina on January 7, 2021 at 1:57 pm

449. Thank you for the hysterical and wonderful list of ways to generate ideas!

     By Caren on January 7, 2021 at 2:01 pm

450. What an explosively spectacular list! Thank you so much!!

     By Kimberly Marcus on January 7, 2021 at 2:06 pm

451. Hilarious and insightful. Thanks for both the laughter and the tips.

     By Johnell DeWitt on January 7, 2021 at 2:10 pm

452. Great tips! Off go to do #10! Thank you! And congrats on the new book. Love the title. 🙂

     By Karen on January 7, 2021 at 2:16 pm

453. Thanks Samantha. You’re the perfect anti-Bergermeister Meisterburger!

     By CindyC on January 7, 2021 at 2:30 pm

454. Inspiring post. Lot’s of great ideas for getting the creative juices flowing.

     By Debra Katz on January 7, 2021 at 2:35 pm

455. Great ideas for getting the creative juices flowing.

     By Debra Katz on January 7, 2021 at 2:36 pm

     1. Oops! Didn’t mean to post twice!

        By Debra Katz on January 7, 2021 at 2:37 pm

456. Thank you for reminding me to have fun! It’s a need, but I never thought it’d pay off with a book idea. WAHOO!

     By Rinda Beach on January 7, 2021 at 2:44 pm

457. Ha! Thank you for the advice!

     By Leah Moser on January 7, 2021 at 2:51 pm

458. Thanks for cutting through the poop and telling it like it is! 🙂 I’m a huge fan! Congrats on your latest and thanks for sharing your wisdom.

     By Rebecca Gardyn Levington on January 7, 2021 at 2:53 pm

459. Samantha Berger you always make me laugh. THANK YOU! Sure needed that today. I love your tips and I am about to go play now.

     By Carol Porter-Peszko on January 7, 2021 at 3:36 pm

460. Hilarious and makes total sense to get those ideas flowing! I might write a letter to my editor/critic/fear factor and let them know I’ll invite them to the next party. This one is a bit exclusive. 🙂

     By storiesbythesea on January 7, 2021 at 3:44 pm

461. Thanks for the free-flowing inspiration! 😉😁

     By Jennifer on January 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm

462. Best Poopin’ Post ever! Pun intended. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

     By Rebecca E Guzinski on January 7, 2021 at 4:03 pm

463. hahahah love the suggestions, specially the last one! That Inner Editor always ends my party haahahah I mean, I have an idea, I start sketching and writing some… but the inner editor comes and makes me think: hmmm…dunno…maybe it’s not a good idea…
     hahaha I will take your advice and send them out for pizza! hahahaha
     Thanks for sharing!

     By Juliana Motzko on January 7, 2021 at 4:07 pm

464. Thanks, Samantha! Loved your pun-filled post and the concrete creativity list. Already jotted down several ideas.

     By Joannie Duris on January 7, 2021 at 4:17 pm

465. Thank you for all the great ideas. Your pun-filled post was great!

     By Jennifer Nealy on January 7, 2021 at 4:39 pm

466. What a fun post! Thanks for all these great brainstorming, tips, Samantha!! 🙂

     By Abby Wooldridge on January 7, 2021 at 4:39 pm

467. I love this list! Just what I need!

     By Amy Harding on January 7, 2021 at 5:02 pm

468. Thanks for this awesome list, Samantha. Ideas started sprouting while reading. And I’me having a blast singing SHOUT really loud!

     By claireannette1 on January 7, 2021 at 5:10 pm

469. Lots of great ideas! Thanks Samantha.

     By Kaye Baillie on January 7, 2021 at 5:11 pm

470. So much to work with here! Thank you Samantha.

     By jeanjames926 on January 7, 2021 at 5:28 pm

471. Loved the instructions for a Storystorm party in which the inner critic is NOT INVITED!

     By mariearden on January 7, 2021 at 5:36 pm

472. Thanks for the fun play ideas!

     By Joyce on January 7, 2021 at 5:53 pm

473. Thanks for letting that out. Appreciate all your ideas for brainstorming!

     By Linda Bozzo on January 7, 2021 at 6:01 pm

474. Thank you for all the ideas and the cheerful energy!

     By freda lewkowicz on January 7, 2021 at 6:17 pm

475. Thanks Samantha! #11 is to read inspirational material like YOURS!

     By Betsy on January 7, 2021 at 6:29 pm

476. Lol! The Poop puns! Lol! Thanks for the great ideas!

     By Shawna J. C. Tenney on January 7, 2021 at 6:36 pm

477. Thanks for the poopload of ideas! I had to wrestle my inner Editor into the closet and place a chair under the doorknob just to write this comment! (She’s a tough character)
     Gail

     By kidlitgail on January 7, 2021 at 6:56 pm

478. Poop, puns, take the runs, and go for fun…

     By Virginia Rinkel on January 7, 2021 at 6:57 pm

479. Wow, your energy left me pooped!

     By Julie Reich on January 7, 2021 at 7:15 pm

480. This post was a gut buster! Thanks for all the fun!!

     By Lisa Riddiough on January 7, 2021 at 7:16 pm

481. I love these ideas! Play is SO GOOD for your brain.

     By Julia Mills on January 7, 2021 at 7:38 pm

482. Love this! thank you.

     By lois1952 on January 7, 2021 at 8:20 pm

483. Very funny post… and helpful too! Thanks!

     By Elizabeth Duncan on January 7, 2021 at 8:22 pm

484. Thanks so much for the hilarious post, and thanks even more for all the great ideas! My creative wheels are already churning–thank you!!!

     By Diane O'Neill on January 7, 2021 at 8:26 pm

485. This post is full of potty-humor and lots of good ideas. Especially number 2.
     (I could see that one as a graphic novel.)

     By Linda Hofke on January 7, 2021 at 8:41 pm

486. It’s a good habit to start with warm ups! Thanks

     By authorlaurablog on January 7, 2021 at 9:15 pm

487. I love #9 and #6! I mean, I love all the suggestions, but those especially!

     By Megan M. on January 7, 2021 at 9:49 pm

488. Oh my gosh- #8 & 9 are gonna be so fun! Have done the others before but these two- can’t wait! thank you!!

     By iefaber on January 7, 2021 at 9:49 pm

489. Thanks for the funny and informative post!

     By Helen Lysicatos on January 7, 2021 at 9:54 pm

490. What a fabulous punny and inspirational post. I love this so much: “They thoroughly impede the whole storytelling flow, leaving you creatively constipated.”
     I shall relieve myself of my critic and drop many ideas into my notebook.
     (I couldn’t resist.)

     By LaurenKerstein on January 7, 2021 at 10:06 pm

491. I Love these ideas, especially a reminder to PLAY

     By Lydia Lukidis on January 7, 2021 at 10:12 pm

492. Thanks so much for the inspiration! Great ideas, and love the emphasis on FUN! I’m such an overthinker and that can take all the joy out of writing. Boo. I don’t have a clue what your awesome looking and sounding book is about, and am going to have fun guessing various scenarios
     before I read it!

     By Ally Enz on January 7, 2021 at 10:18 pm

493. Loved, “Nothing stinks more than having to write something you dread. So write something you LOVE and you’ll be inspired to do it.” So true! (And I bet your new book is truly laugh-out-loud funny!!)

     By yangmommy on January 7, 2021 at 10:20 pm

494. So post was so fun and pooptastically zany!

     By deirdreprischmann on January 7, 2021 at 10:36 pm

495. So you are encouraging us to lighten up and have some fun writing? YESSS! You have provided LOADS of suggestions for awesome ways to DUMP our ideas onto paper. Thanks for the relief!

     By susanzonca on January 7, 2021 at 10:42 pm

496. Haha, love it!

     By kirstenbockblog on January 7, 2021 at 10:54 pm

497. Yes to all your ideas!

     By Beth Charles on January 7, 2021 at 11:17 pm

498. Great tips Samantha! I tried Tip #7 this morning about when I swallowed a marble and well – you can probably guess the rest! Certainly brought a smile to my face!

     By Kerry Gittins (@gittins_kerry) on January 7, 2021 at 11:31 pm

499. Oh my gosh! This would be the most popular book in my house! I can see now! Thanks for all of your inspo!

     By kswemba on January 7, 2021 at 11:41 pm

500. This book would be a huge hit with our 4 year old granddaughter who is ALL about poop! So funny! I love your ideas. I think I am going to plan a day to lock the world out and the inner editor out and play! I want to try all your ideas. I think it’s just what I need to get free flowing ideas! Thank you for your ideas and for making me laugh! I really needed that.

     By Mary Zychowicz on January 8, 2021 at 12:58 am

501. I love that the spirit of all these suggestions is “Give yourself permission to be a kid again.” Thinking back to all those afternoons I spent wandering around outside at recess or on family trips, talking to myself and drifting through my own little world, I probably came up with dozens of picture book ideas without ever realizing it! Feed that child-like muse!

     By Jose Cruz on January 8, 2021 at 1:05 am

502. Thank you for the great suggestions to help keep us all going.

     By Mel H. on January 8, 2021 at 7:09 am

503. I LOVE these suggestions. I need to have my printer POOP out this page so I have it handy!

     By Barbara Senenman on January 8, 2021 at 9:44 am

     1. Agh! My printer is plugged up. A little unclogging and some ink-a-dink-a-doo and it will be free to go! (Once you get me on a topic ….)

        By Barbara Senenman on January 8, 2021 at 11:09 am

504. What a poop-a-li-cous post. I mean that from the bottom of my whole body. Thanks, Samantha.

     By jimchaize1 on January 8, 2021 at 9:57 am

505. Thanks for the gush of ideas.

     By Cedar Pruitt on January 8, 2021 at 10:08 am

506. I love this list of idea kickstarters! Thank you so much for encouraging us to play, Samantha!

     By Jolene Ballard Gutiérrez on January 8, 2021 at 10:29 am

507. LOL. This was so amazing. I enjoyed your list and it inspired to create more lists. Today, well, Day 6, I started my list of ideas of inanimate objects to personify! Thanks.

     By lifejourneyadventures247 on January 8, 2021 at 10:39 am

508. Ha! I love all your puns! Telling stories to my 6 year old is an excellent way to be silly and just let ideas flow without judgement. Can I keep him this age forever? 🙂

     By Melissa Trempe is querying (@melissa_trempe) on January 8, 2021 at 11:43 am

509. Thank you for your suggestions. I think I like 6 and 7 the best!

     By Melissa Chupp on January 8, 2021 at 12:47 pm

510. I love your list of suggestions. And especially the one about sending our internal editors out to pick up the pizza – that would give me 1 hour of editor-free party time! Maybe longer if she has to tromp through the snow to the car at the bottom of the hill…

     By Sue Heavenrich on January 8, 2021 at 2:52 pm

511. I needed this lightened load today. I LOVE #6. And I look forward to using some of these suggestions soon.

     By Laura Clement on January 8, 2021 at 4:02 pm

512. Love your sense of humor! Thank you for the amazing creative exercises!

     By Karen Pickrell on January 8, 2021 at 4:18 pm

513. I love getting filled up with new brainstorming ideas. Like fiber they help the ideas flow and unclog you when constipated. Thanks for this.

     By Diane on January 8, 2021 at 6:37 pm

514. Haha! Thanks, Samantha! 💩💩

     By mandyyokim on January 8, 2021 at 7:33 pm

515. I love your ideas, especially Go play. I’m going to have to get together with my granddaughter for a playdate. 🙂 We have done crafts together with her friends. They are around eight years old. Had a great time. I’ll have to do this regularly. I have lots of craft kits. This will give me an excuse to do them on my own, too.

     By Marge Gower on January 8, 2021 at 7:47 pm

516. Samantha, absolutely loved your blog post.
     Such creative puns and good ideas to get the ideas flowing. My grandson will love your new book. What little boy doesn’t love potty humor…
     Debbie Lodato

     By deblod on January 8, 2021 at 9:38 pm

517. Wow! So many ways to get inspired. Thanks for sharing them all!

     By Janet Halfmann on January 8, 2021 at 9:50 pm

518. Thanks! Oh Inner Editor, Out With You! (for now.) Great reminder.

     By Ellen Leventhal on January 8, 2021 at 10:47 pm

519. Inspiring List of Ten

     By topangamaria on January 9, 2021 at 12:11 am

520. Such a fun post! And your book looks great! Thank you!

     By Jennifer Weisse on January 9, 2021 at 12:18 am

521. Love it, wonderful advice.

     By Sherri on January 9, 2021 at 12:20 am

522. Samantha, I’m sure your book will be poopular with the kid set who love potty humor. I loved all the ways you used to get that potty into your post. Those are terrific rules and I’m going to try and use them. We all need more fun. Great post!

     By betlw on January 9, 2021 at 12:51 am

523. Thank you so much for the top ten! These are such great, creative, and easy ways to get ideas flowing. I am excited to try them all out! Thank you!
     – Jen 🙂

     By Jennifer on January 9, 2021 at 2:08 am

524. I have said it before, when this whole Plague thing is over, Miss Berger, I am coming to NYC to play with you for a day, which will involve time at book stores, bakeries and the Lego store, where we can act out plays w/mini-figs. Tara? Anyone else? Play date? Need to look forward to stuff more. stay well. ✌🏼🌻

     By Annie Lynn/AnnieBirdd Music, LLC on January 9, 2021 at 2:53 am

525. Samantha, thanks for the buttload of ideas and inspiration. A POOP PARTY sounds awesome. Good luck the that title.

     By Carol Gordon Ekster on January 9, 2021 at 8:51 am

526. Thank you for the great ideas! I am potty training my 3 year old, and can’t wait to get your books to add some humor and fun to this experience!

     By Kaitlin Rorick on January 9, 2021 at 9:32 am

527. I thought back to childhood and poof! An idea. And another… and another. Thanks!

     By Christine Fleming McIsaac on January 9, 2021 at 9:38 am

528. I like the idea of picking a word I like the sound of and running with it. Even simple words can trigger what I call giggle story shorts. For example, I’ve always wondered who coined the term booger and why he called that dry flaky thing in his nose a booger.
     I have to tell you though, that the most poignant part of your post for me was the bit about my inner editor. I battle my inner editor even when I write a grocery list! If you ever find a way to completely tune your inner editor out, please share!

     By Susan Jobsky on January 9, 2021 at 12:21 pm

529. In the middle of reading this blog post, I decided to take a break and do my version of playing– for a draft I’m about to write about a bunch of cousins, I let myself have fun and come up with eleven sublime characters names. It was a blast, and it got the wheels turning and the words flowing, and now I have half a draft.

     Now I’m back to finish out the other half of the blog post, and I’m so grateful my inner editor was nowhere to be seen the last hour. Maybe she’s cleaning the toilets. Anyway, thanks Samantha!

     By Elizabeth Metz on January 9, 2021 at 12:58 pm

530. No butts about it, I really enjoyed your post Samantha! I flushed the editor out of my system for the day and I can’t wait to start toying with some new ideas. Cheers!

     By Kari Gonzalez on January 9, 2021 at 1:19 pm

531. Some really useful suggestions here thanks Samantha!

     By FrannyG on January 9, 2021 at 1:34 pm

532. Love your brainstorming tips Samantha! I’m going to try #6 today. Best wishes for your new book. Sounds very kid-friendly.

     By Kathy Berman on January 9, 2021 at 2:50 pm

533. What a fun read this is!! Now I’m inspired to have fun too! Thank you!!

     By Karan Greene on January 9, 2021 at 3:57 pm

534. Freak flags flying high into the atmosphere! Love this writers life.

     By Lori Mozdzierz on January 9, 2021 at 5:23 pm

535. Super fun post and I love the ideas! Thank you.

     By Harshita Jerath on January 9, 2021 at 6:28 pm

536. Thank you so much for your wonderful, fun ideas. Going to try several of them now (but will wait until I’m alone to do the singing one because NOBODY deserves to hear that.)

     By Kellie on January 9, 2021 at 7:34 pm

537. Thanks Impossible Berger. Great post!!

     By KASteed on January 9, 2021 at 7:41 pm

538. Haha, I can attest that having a 5-year-old asking for a new on-the-spot story every night is one of the very best exercises for my writerly brain. “A story about a polk-a-dot blanket, mom!” Here you go, kid… (and he has high standards, too!). Thanks for sharing, Samantha, great tips all around!

     By Brenda Whitehead (@BrendaW_Prof) on January 9, 2021 at 7:44 pm

539. My boys would LOVE this book!

     By Mary Ann Blair on January 9, 2021 at 8:05 pm

540. Thanks for the chuckle and for the exercises. My daughter is currently obsessed with poop emojis. 🙂

     By rgstones on January 9, 2021 at 8:21 pm

541. Some great ideas here to get the creative juices flowing – thanks 🙂

     By Meaghan Br on January 9, 2021 at 8:58 pm

542. This post was an absolute joy to read, thank you for your time and inspiration!

     By Kelly T. on January 9, 2021 at 10:31 pm

543. Great ideas, Samantha – thank you! I love your work!

     By wyszguy on January 10, 2021 at 1:41 am

544. Thank you for these great suggestions! I already have the LEGO, but will definitely try some of the others!

     By Lyn Miller-Lachmann on January 10, 2021 at 1:46 am

545. If I pretend to tell a story to a five years old child, could be totally different, because I change my voice adding music on the words; Great Idea! Thanks Samantha!. A 3 years old child will love your book for sure!

     By Gaby on January 10, 2021 at 2:17 am

546. These are great ideas and I will certainly use them. I especially love playing with my grandsons, age 5 and 2. I get a lot of ideas from my time spent with them and, especially, our imaginative play. Also, I recently read The Nest That Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine and I was so impressed by her word choices that I made of list of all those words that I either had heard of before or that I seldom see in print or seldom use. This will definitely help me expand my language. Here’s some inanimate objects that I will write a paragraph about – cookie jar, Christmas tree, T.V., and piano. They have a lot to share.

     By Jeannette Suhr on January 10, 2021 at 3:02 am

547. A Great Big Poop Party sounds like lots of fun! I really enjoyed your post! Thank you and I love your work.😊

     By Jo Jo Harder on January 10, 2021 at 4:42 am

548. Tip #9 is my favorite! I will be making my own list based on my favorite tips from each post!

     By Janelle Harper on January 10, 2021 at 8:30 am

549. I loved all of the poop puns! And the great ideas to get things flowing… 🙂

     By Deborah Foster on January 10, 2021 at 8:34 am

550. Samantha, your post was funny and informative. I loved the last suggestion best, to kick your inner critic to the curb, temporarily. I’m going to try all nine of your other suggestions also. Terrific post! Oh, love the inapoopriate references to bodily functions.

     By betlw on January 10, 2021 at 11:50 am

551. Well wasn’t that the bomb! You can drop poop puns on me all you want. (Not sure what that says about me). I love idea number 5!

     By Mary Jo Wagner on January 10, 2021 at 1:06 pm

552. Love these ideas for letting things flow in 2021. I have sent my inner editor on a long space journey. Thank you, Samantha!

     By clairebobrow on January 10, 2021 at 1:56 pm

553. One immediate idea before I even wrote my comment. Thanks, Samantha!

     By Wendy on January 10, 2021 at 2:17 pm

554. Anything that is fun, I’m in. I cannot wait to play with my 5 year old granddaughter and make up words and practice all these great ideas! I am sure she would love your book too.

     By pjaegly on January 10, 2021 at 2:17 pm

555. Samantha, I loved this. I have a major case of the Januarys so some poop humor is always in order. Thanks

     By Tasha on January 10, 2021 at 5:33 pm

556. Such a fun post. I am more of a literary writer but a few months ago I came up with an idea – for a funny story about poop – I mean even literary types like me enjoy poop stories. I didn’t write it because I did not think I was funny enough and because I didn’t think it lined up with my voice. But I will keep your first tip in mind – lock up my inner editor – and give it a try. Also, I’d LOVE to win your poop party book. Thanks!!!

     By alyssa_reynoso_morris on January 10, 2021 at 5:51 pm

557. Printing out this list and putting it in front of my desk. THANK YOU!

     By drawingablank6 on January 10, 2021 at 7:08 pm

558. What a fun post, thanks for sharing it with us!

     By Mary Ann Cortez on January 10, 2021 at 7:29 pm

559. Thank you for the great ideas! I love the one about telling a story to a five year old!

     By Amy Bradshaw on January 10, 2021 at 7:31 pm

560. I wrote # 9 list. But # 7 intrigues me greatly! And #6.perhaps #4 I never considered before. So today I have 3 prompts waiting for a rainy day or after the 31 days of storystorm. Thanks.

     By Patricia Tiffany Morris on January 10, 2021 at 7:33 pm

561. I know, I can do it, I know can do it! i know I can.

     By TerriMichels on January 10, 2021 at 10:05 pm

562. Love your list! Thanks for sharing.

     By Dea Brayden on January 11, 2021 at 12:37 am

563. Clever ideas, thanks.

     By Lindsay Brayden Ellis on January 11, 2021 at 12:45 am

564. This post had me laughing my butt off with all your poop and potty puns. Thanks for the reminder to keep it fun. If we’re not having fun, readers won’t either.

     By Mindy Alyse Weiss on January 11, 2021 at 1:40 am

565. Thank you for your post! It was quite interesting. Love your book WHAT IF!

     By Nadia Salomon on January 11, 2021 at 2:28 am

566. Love these fun ideas and your fun post :-).

     By sharongiltrow on January 11, 2021 at 4:20 am

567. love the idea for word lists and poopy humor is the best! Thanks

     By Marzieh Abbas on January 11, 2021 at 8:41 am

568. Your list inspires.

     By lanearnold on January 11, 2021 at 10:49 am

569. Lots of fun tips here. Thank you!

     By suzannepoulterharris on January 11, 2021 at 11:21 am

570. Thanks for the loads of tips. It stinks to think some will never read this.

     By Michele Helsel on January 11, 2021 at 12:30 pm

571. A wonderful list!

     By Anita Banks on January 11, 2021 at 12:49 pm

572. Thanks for the suggestions. Now, to get to work!

     By paulabpuckett on January 11, 2021 at 2:44 pm

573. Great post! Thank you!

     By Midge Ballou Smith on January 11, 2021 at 4:16 pm

574. Thanks for the great list!

     By artemisroehrig on January 11, 2021 at 8:39 pm

575. PUNS! Thanks for ahem… dropping a load of them on us.

     By Stephanie Lau on January 11, 2021 at 9:07 pm

576. My inner editor is the WORST! Omg, love your book as I am a gastroenterology nurse practitioner and talk about poop all day long! LOL

     By nicolesalterbraun on January 11, 2021 at 10:12 pm

577. Idea #6 is my favorite. Thanks for the list!

     By Christine M Irvin on January 11, 2021 at 11:32 pm

578. This is a terrific list! Thank you for the inspiration!

     By Penelope McNally on January 12, 2021 at 10:27 am

579. Thanks for the brainstorming ideas!

     By Coral Jenrette on January 12, 2021 at 12:40 pm

580. Thanks, Samantha! Banishing my inner editor in 3…2…1…

     By jessica shaw on January 12, 2021 at 1:27 pm

581. Oh man, your squirrel telenovela comment has me remembering this crazy rave the ducks had one spring night. The next morning I watched one lone duck wake up the next morning and look around like “Dude, where’s my car?” It was the best.

     By Lauri Meyers on January 12, 2021 at 4:02 pm

582. Thank you for your fun post. And your fun list of ideas. 🙂

     By Nina Nolan on January 12, 2021 at 6:42 pm

583. Thank you for these writing prompts! And for the giggles.

     By jennyb_writes on January 13, 2021 at 12:35 pm

584. FABULOUS!

     By Tania on January 13, 2021 at 5:06 pm

585. Thanks for the 10 tips! and multiple poop chuckles 🙂

     By Kelly Conroy on January 13, 2021 at 5:27 pm

586. What a great set of instructions! Thanks so much! I have a new idea to add to my chart right now!

     By Karen Greenwald on January 13, 2021 at 8:19 pm

587. Thanks for the 10 tips.

     By Naana Amissah on January 14, 2021 at 1:33 am

588. These are such great ideas–thank you! You make brainstorming easy!

     By Carol Kim on January 14, 2021 at 12:04 pm

589. This post made my day!…Butt loads of brilliant ideas-HA!

     By kathydoherty1 on January 14, 2021 at 12:14 pm

590. It is so hard to keep the inner editor at bay. I love your idea singing loudly and playing. Thank you for the post.

     By dlapmandi on January 14, 2021 at 12:55 pm

591. I laughed aloud reading this post! Thanks for brightening my day and inspiring me to (ahem) let it all out & flush that inner editor right down the toilet!

     By ptnozell on January 14, 2021 at 4:49 pm

592. Hi Samantha- Ok, your poop puns are fabulous and your top 10 list it pretty awesome too! (And I am not just BUTTering you up!)

     By Michelle S. Kennedy (@MichelleSKenned) on January 14, 2021 at 10:08 pm

593. Thank you Samantha for all the freeing ideas! You are starting a ‘movement’, LOL!

     By Katie Schwartz on January 15, 2021 at 12:07 am

594. POOP – there it is! A great list of ideas to get us going again. Thank you 🙂

     By Kelly Rice Schmitt on January 15, 2021 at 10:40 am

595. Fun list–thanks so much!

     By Amy H on January 15, 2021 at 11:31 am

596. Samantha, this post was awesome! Thank you!! #6 really opened up the floodgates for ideas for me; I’m still writing more down! Really insightful and fun, thank you!

     By Michelle Kashinsky on January 16, 2021 at 2:33 am

597. Wonderful list of so many ways to approach new ideas! Thank you!

     By Anna Brooks on January 16, 2021 at 2:55 pm

598. My favorites in your great list of ideas are listing my favorite words (snickerdoodle, flabbergasted…. ) and play (swinging high beneath my gigantic backyard tree and playing musical instruments both increase my creativity tremendously!).

     By Lisa Kingsford on January 16, 2021 at 5:06 pm

599. The advice AND the puns! I am here for it!

     By Nicole Loos Miller on January 16, 2021 at 9:14 pm

600. Thank you for a really useful top ten :o)

     I love the cover of your book!

     By Catherine on January 18, 2021 at 7:30 am

601. I knew this would be a great post – the one and only Ms. Berger! Yay! And what a jackpot of ideas it is! Thanks so much for reminding us to not be so stuffy and hard on ourselves. Time to grow down and have some fun!

     By Susie Sawyer on January 18, 2021 at 12:32 pm

602. Such great advice! I love your list! Especially: “Think about one incident that happened when you were a kid, that helped inform who you are today. Write that down.” I’m going to do that today!

     By Kristy Nuttall on January 18, 2021 at 12:33 pm

603. Thank you for the great invitation to just play and enjoy the process!

     By Bettie Boswell on January 18, 2021 at 3:41 pm

604. It’s hard to keep that inner editor at bay!

     By Janet Halfmann on January 18, 2021 at 9:55 pm

605. Great post! Thank you, Samantha, for so much inspiration!

     By Ellen Pridmore on January 19, 2021 at 2:26 pm

606. As a person who has always made up words and loves silly rhymes at times, this post is great fun. Love the ideas you’ve shared for calling in inspiration and ignoring that ol’ inner editor. 🙂

     By Vera Lisa Smetzer on January 19, 2021 at 4:15 pm

607. As I shift my perspective, I’m sending my inner editor to get that pizza! Thanks for the great ideas.

     By doreenrobinson on January 19, 2021 at 11:24 pm

608. What a great list! Some of these I already do, some of them I’m excited to try!

     By treuting on January 20, 2021 at 4:40 pm

609. Hi Samantha! Your book sounds hilarious! My inner editor sometimes gets in the way when I begin writing. Thank you for the inspirational post!

     By Joni Hay Patras on January 20, 2021 at 6:03 pm

610. Funny, punny lady!

     By Naomi Gruer on January 20, 2021 at 6:31 pm

611. Thanks for reminding me to have with writing!

     By Toni Weeks on January 21, 2021 at 12:56 am

612. Oh, this was such a fun post–I love puns!

     By Dina Ticas on January 21, 2021 at 1:07 am

613. I’m definitely going to have to keep a copy of this list. Thanks for the inspiration!

     By Anne Appert on January 22, 2021 at 3:18 pm

614. GREAT list, Samantha! Having fun letting it all go and flushing that inner critic down the toilet!

     By Judy Bryan on January 22, 2021 at 3:53 pm

615. I can canoodle right up to the idea of a word list! Great tips – my mind is now racing. 🙂

     By Marilyn R Garcia on January 23, 2021 at 5:57 pm

616. Oh WOW, already a third of the way into your post, I thought of 5 new ideas. Most of them sprung off your #8 suggestion of a fun warmup — decided to think of new title ideas and voila! Thank you!!!

     By sylviaichen on January 25, 2021 at 2:50 am

617. Super fun and popping new ideas — great tips for getting them to bubble out naturally. Thanks so much!

     By Carolyne Lizabeth Ruck on January 25, 2021 at 5:49 pm

618. Helpful advice here!

     By Bill Canterbury on January 27, 2021 at 8:00 pm

619. It begins with a word

     By Karen L Ledbetter on January 28, 2021 at 11:07 pm

620. LOVE the puns! Also, I may have taken a screenshot of all of these fantastic brainstorming ideas for future reference 😉

     By Kimberly Wilson on January 30, 2021 at 11:27 am

621. This is so great. Love all the puns. I think the inner editor is almost always my demise when it comes to being creative. Thanks for the top 10 list!

     By Becky Herzog on January 31, 2021 at 2:29 pm

622. Thank you, Samantha!!! I LOVE your dog!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ 🙂

     By Melissa McDaniel on January 31, 2021 at 2:59 pm

623. Loved this list of ten ways to let those story ideas out. And I agree, don’t invite your inner editor to a StoryStorm party. Right now should be the time to brainstorm with wild abandon! Thanks for sharing your punny jokes and your insight!

     By Jen Wright on January 31, 2021 at 9:58 pm

624. Great ideas! Thank you, Samantha!

     By Susanne Whitehouse on January 31, 2021 at 9:59 pm

625. Samantha, In the time it took me to read your entire post, I DID write a BUTTLOAD of ideas! Idea-rrhea, even. (Did I take the poop jokes too far?)

     By Jennifer Broedel (@JBroedelAuthor) on January 31, 2021 at 11:36 pm

626. Haha! This post gave me so much energy. I am ready to go!

     By kaleegwarjanski on February 1, 2021 at 6:53 am

627. GO AWAY, INNER EDITOR!

     By Jen (aka RandomlyGenerated) on February 1, 2021 at 2:16 pm

628. Thank you Samantha!

     By kmshelley on February 1, 2021 at 11:08 pm

629. I love that you gave us permission to go play! I miss being in the classroom with our spec Ed children because I had a chance to play every day with them!

     By Kelly Vavala on February 4, 2021 at 11:48 am

630. Shifting perspectives, shifting gears. Thank you.

     By lorisherritt on February 12, 2021 at 7:35 pm

631. I will need to wrangle my inner critic/editor and tie it up for the next month!

     By Patricia Oppenheim on January 5, 2022 at 4:15 am

632. Great, fun suggestions. I’m going to keep your list handy. Thank you

     By Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator on January 6, 2022 at 11:44 am

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