Storystorm 2021 Day 18: Ruth Spiro Winds a Trail from Idea to Story

Definitely need to keep asking those questions … what, why, how. That you for your post and best of luck with the new book(s)!

Thanks for sharing your process!

I love your post, and reminds me of the way children think too. So now what? Love that.

Thanks for this great post. It is a day to honor MLK. What does that make me think of? John Lewis and RBG. Putting on my RBG pearls and getting ready to write. Thanks!

I love ideas on ways to flesh out that first little glimmer. Thank you, Ruth.

Terrific post, thank you. I am now thinking of many things!

Just in time! I have 31 ideas or story sparks but needed a way to craft a plot. Thank you! I’m off to wondering now 😊

Thank you! Your practical tips in revealing your process are so helpful.

Thank You! Thank you! THANK YOU! “Find a way to get in the way.”

As a nature person, I ask a lot of questions. I love the nature journaling three, I notice, I wonder, and It reminds me of.

Thank you for the inspiration!

Working girl for children’s books – love it. I think clipping out articles is a good idea as well — although it does lead to just stacks of ideas that may go nowhere. So many ideas, so little time.

Thank you for sharing your approach to generating ideas, Ruth…and for highlighting MLK’s ground-breaking work and legacy–especially today but just as importantly, everyday. You’re so fortunate to have heard Rep. Lewis’ message to “Find a way to get in the way” in person!
As a life-long science nerd, STEM topics are near and dear to me! Your/Maxine’s perspective that “there are often multiple solutions to a problem, and sometimes a problem isn’t really a problem at all, but an opportunity to grow” resonates strongly with me.

Interesting how one idea leads to another. Thank you!

Another fun and inspirational post. Thank you, Ruth! Trampoline ideas coming up…

To and you. This was very helpful.

Turning ideas into stories can sometimes be a challenge. Thanks so much for your helpful hints!

I have to see one of your Baby Loves books. Trying to imagine how a baby loves political science.

Thanks. Can’t wait to try your tips. Your books sound wonderful.

Thank you this is so helpful. I have one idea that keeps asking me to do something with it. I feel like I am pushing to hard to figure it out…tools like this are so helpful…now I can try new things, more than 1 way to develop ideas…writing is often about exploring. After all…we are lifelong learners…

Great post! I just had a good story idea from reading it! Thanks.

Super helpful post on how to grow a story, Ruth. Thanks so much for sharing your list of seedling questions with us!

I like the idea of associative digging and of course I remember that scene in WORKING GIRL! Thank you.

Find a Way to Get in the Way! love it!

Inspirational! Thank you!

Your books are full of wonder and curiosity, leading to more questions, more learning, and more doing. Thanks for sharing your process.

Thank you Ruth, I’m really interested in your books. Thank you for sharing your process.

This is so helpful–thank you! It can be tough to plant bits of ideas and make them blossom. I’ll be using your question to help.

Thank you so much! And I love that you introduce complex subjects to littles. I was never able to find books like this when my son was little.

Hi Ruth! Asking questions seems to be the key to going down the rabbit hole of ideas! Thank you for the reminder that we need to constantly be asking the “what” why” and “how” of things. PS- I am going to be looking for your Maxine books!

Thanks for sharing your thought process.

Thanks for the inspiration in seeking ideas!

Wow! John Lewis! That must have been amazing. I like how you think.

I enjoyed your post about starting with an idea and listing ways to write about it. Kind of like going down a rabbit hole, which is what I occasionally do. I love your character Maxine and Made by Maxine series. It’s such a great concept, I wish I had thought of it first – LOL.

Thank you for an inspirational post. I love your focus on STEM as well as friendship, creativity, persistence, and kindness.

What a greater tribute to MLK than to dig deep and wonder! Thank you Ruth!

What an inspirational character your Maxine is! Adding her stories to my TBR list.

I’m so interested in the stem books that you wrote. Thanks for new ideas and inspiration for another day.

Your quote from Lewis certainly inspires ideas in me. I really love the science & history topics of your books—very fresh.

Hi Ruth. Stringing someone along isn’t a good thing but stringing ideas together and seeing where they take you is a great thing. Congratulations on your wildly acclaimed Baby Book series success and all the amazing other books you have written.

Thermodynamics is related to apples growing on trees? Wow! Baby knows more than I do. I’ll have to check out your books! Thanks!

Ruth, I love your brainstorming questions. It is tough to get from an idea or title to the actual creation of a story. Great morning exercise with my coffee. Thanks!

I love the phrase, “opportunity to grow” and that you write stem books. These questions will lead to deeper thinking! Thank you!

That squirrel and pumpkin photo has me wondering? Thanks,

Sent from my iPhone

That photo of the squirrel and the pumpkin has me wondering!

Love it. Thank you for sharing. T

Thanks for sharing Ruth! I loved the Working Girl scene. I also appreciate your acknowledgment of Martin Luther King and John Lewis. We need their wisdom now more than ever. Great to get us thinking about ideas on how we can carry the message forward. Erin

Ruth, your tips worked for my next StoryStorm idea! Thanks!

Hi Ruth, your books look adorable. Critters are so annoying when they eat vegetables and fruit. Thanks for your suggestions and best of luck on your books.

Awesome post, Ruth! Thanks for inspiring us to connect the dots and wind a trail! 🙂

Thanks for your post.

Very helpful ideas. Thank you.

Must check out the Maxine series. Sounds like a fabulous idea.

Totally intrigued by the garden book! Thank you for this informative post!

Great post! And I’m delighted to say that even before reading this post, today’s idea came about because I noticed something today, and thought about what it could mean. I was in sync with your thoughts even before I read them! (Cue the “Twilight Zone” music…)

I love this- the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” approach to idea-generating! Found a few good rabbit holes already.

Thank you for your tips and sharing your process.

Thanks so much for sharing this! It seems so simple, but it’s so effective!
Rebecca Gardyn Levington

Thank you for this post. Good technique to bring those ideas to life.
I loved Maxine’s can do attitude btw.

Great post about asking questions and laddering to see where it takes you. I love the STEM focus! Thank you!

I have BEAR SNORES ON and I love it! Great idea to build on a refrain. Much like a pop song, the words are sure to help make your book a bedtime favorite.

Thank you, Ruth. I would love to see how Maxine finds a solution to the garden critters problem!

What a wonderful post! Thank you for the inspiration!

Thanks for sharing your process, Ruth! Great post!

Thank you for this post! You’re great!

Great post, thank you Ruth. It’s always so inspiring hearing how others take the idea spark and turn it into a full flame 🔥

I love your suggestion to follow a trail to the Big Idea!

Thanks, Ruth! This has my wheels turning!

Thanks for sharing this!

I love your advice. Thank you so much for sharing!

Thanks for the inspiration.

I’ll be trying your “What does this make me think of?” tip today. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your process of asking questions. Can’t wait to read your new book.