by Laura Lavoie
Before we dive into this post, let’s all take a moment to give a round of applause for Tara. How about a round of applause for YOU, because if you’ve made it this far, you’re almost to the end!
Storystorm has given me a gazillion ideas over the years. In fact, the ideas for my first two picture books both came from Storystorm 2019. I got the idea for my debut, VAMPIRE VACATION (illustrated by Micah Player), from a post about inherent conflict. That post made me think, What would happen if a vampire wanted to visit a sunshine-y beach?
From there, a story about a little vampire named Fang who dreams of sunshine, sandcastles, and surfing was born. Coincidentally, did you know that the last day of Storystorm is also National Plan Your Vacation Day? What a perfect time—as you wrap up the hard work of brainstorming 30 ideas—to make a plan to intentionally rest and recharge!
My second book, MONSTER BAKER, illustrated by Vanessa Morales, will dash to shelves this August. The brilliant blogger who wrote the post that gave me the idea for this story suggested pairing things that are scary with things that are not scary. Here, you can see lists I made of scary characters and not-so-scary hobbies.
MONSTER BAKER is about a little monster who thinks her grandmonster’s baked goods are the best. Together, they watch their favorite French pastry chef, Pierre du Monstère, on TV. Does this bring back Julia Child memories for anyone else?
I wish I could say that every Storystorm idea I’ve had is fated to become a book someday. (Don’t we all?!) The truth is, some ideas just don’t cut the mustard. Including a story I wrote about mustard, which sadly died on sub.
That doesn’t mean, though, that these ideas are all destined for the Island of Bad Ideas, which I imagine to be something like the Island of Misfit Toys. In reality, it’s more like my stack of old idea notebooks, which are brimming with titles, characters, and story sparks that have never seen the light of day.
Sometimes, the original idea might not be a winner, but I encourage you to consider: where could it lead you? What I’ve discovered is that I don’t need hundreds of unique ideas. Characters, concepts, titles, and more can be recycled. (Upcycled? Repurposed? Something like that.) Here’s what I mean…
Many years back, I brainstormed a title that I thought was genius. I Googled it extensively. It hadn’t been done. Bingo! I must write it.
Ultimately, though, I didn’t like how the manuscript turned out. After several revisions, the title was still great, but the story was decidedly meh. I wound up scrapping it and moving on.
Despite not vibing with that manuscript, I loved the spunky, brave best friend I had cast for my main character. I found myself recasting her as the best pal in a few subsequent stories. Finally, it clicked: this best bud needed a tale of her own. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? It was like an idea bubble had popped up above my head; much like my little amateur chef, Tillie, realizing that she could bake a cake on her own, without Grandmonster’s help.
The manuscript that resulted from this aha! moment is now in the lineup of sub-ready stories my agent sends to editors. Hopefully, (maybe, fingers crossed) you’ll see it on shelves someday.
So that’s the story of how I recycled a minor character into a starring role. But what about recycling a concept Well…
A yet-to-be-announced book I have coming out is a very, very heavily revised version of a manuscript that sprung from my Storystorm 2017 idea list. In this case, I had come up with an idea for a character after scrolling through pictures on my phone’s camera roll, stumbling upon a picture of my dad, and suddenly thinking of a particular animal. (Sorry, Dad. All good things, I promise!) In the version you’ll see on shelves, I recycled the basic concept but changed pretty much everything else–including that initial character, who ultimately got the ax. (Sorry, Dad. Again.)
For your brainstorming task today, I encourage you to go back to your old Storystorm journals, to your misfit manuscripts, to those ideas you cast aside as unworkable, and see if something sparks. Time and fresh perspective can do wonders for the creative mind. Maybe it’s just a title that strikes you, or a minor character, or a teeny tiny seed you planted in a draft, thinking it wasn’t super significant. Let your mind wander, and see where those old ideas take you.
Laura Lavoie writes humorous, pun-filled picture books. She is the author of Vampire Vacation, published by Viking in 2022, as well as the forthcoming titles Monster Baker (Roaring Brook Press, 2023), Duck, Duck, Taco Truck (Doubleday, 2024), and more on the way! When she’s not writing or reading books, she can be found in the kitchen, cooking up something delicious, or playing outside: hiking, kayaking, gardening, or hanging around in trees. You can visit her at LauraLavoieAuthor.com, or find her on Twitter and Instagram @llavoieauthor.
Laura is giving away a 30-minute Ask-Me-Anything Zoom chat to talk about picture book craft, querying, promo groups, the best types of cheese… anything you’d like!
You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm 2023 participant and you have commented only once on today’s blog post. ↓
Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.
522 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 29, 2023 at 8:09 am
asiqueira1307
Great tips. Thanks.
January 29, 2023 at 6:06 pm
Lauren Barbieri
Thank you for the post—another great way to upcycle!
Congratulations on your upcoming books.
January 29, 2023 at 8:09 am
sburdorf
Love this post. I do these things. I LOVE lists! Thank you for a great post. Have a wonderful day.
January 29, 2023 at 8:10 am
Audrey
I love the title Duck, Duck, Taco Truck! Brings me back to childhood summer camp lunchtime games… can’t wait to read it 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 9:37 am
kurtzmom548513
Great idea to revisit characters, titles , old idea journals. Can’t wait to see what I discover! Thanks so much!
January 29, 2023 at 8:13 am
mona861
clap clap clap clap!!! Yay Tara. Thank you for this month of wonder. I hate that it’s coming to an end. And yay to you, Laura for this “old” idea inspiring post. Thank you. Thank you.
January 29, 2023 at 8:16 am
jcherney3
off to hunt for my journal
January 29, 2023 at 8:16 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you, Laura!
And definitely Tara, too, for a wonderful Storystorm 2023! Going back into my file of characters, ideas, etc. is a great idea. I’m doing it. Congratulations on your many books, Laura.
Mark
January 29, 2023 at 8:18 am
erinquill8
Congratulations on Monster Baker and Vampire Vacation! And everything yet to come. 🙂 I also really love the idea of repurposing characters and titles.
January 29, 2023 at 8:19 am
mona861
clap clap clap clap and thanks to Tara. Our new story idea month is coming to an end. Oh my! And thank you Laura for inspiring us to look into “old” story ideas for new ones.
January 29, 2023 at 8:32 am
Jany Campana
I love Aha! moments!!!
January 29, 2023 at 8:35 am
gayleckrause
Good advice , Laurie. Recycled characters are the best. They get inside your head screaming, “I need a story. Write it!” Thank you for sharing your writing journey.
January 29, 2023 at 8:36 am
thecrowsmap
Some great tips, Laura. Thanks! Congratulations on your books.
Gail Hartman
January 29, 2023 at 8:37 am
Sarah Hetu-Radny
Great post! I love the idea of mixing something scary with something non-scary or other sort of opposites.
January 29, 2023 at 8:42 am
amyhouts
Such fun! As a baker, Monster Baker is my type of book! Thanks for your encouragement and best wishes on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 8:44 am
awritersdream41
Thanks Laura for this great post. I laughed when you said go through our old Storystorm journals…because as writers, you know we keep everything.
Congratulations on your books.
January 29, 2023 at 8:46 am
Rosanna Montanaro
Hi Laura! So nice to see you here:) Fun tips and I love seeing the inspiration behind your wonderful books! Look forward to reading Monster Baker!! All the best! And thanks for another wonderful post, Tara.
January 29, 2023 at 8:46 am
Farida Zaman
I will definitely revisit my old ideas! Those manuscript journals are priceless! Thank you for your post!
January 29, 2023 at 8:46 am
kiwijenny
Laura this is genius. I also got journal envy. I’d love the llama one. Ok I’m off to recycle ideas. Hmmm I just got an idea. Love this Storystorm month. Could we convince Tara to do a repeat..January in June Storystorm ?
January 29, 2023 at 8:48 am
lynjekowsky
Recycled characters, great tips, Laura. Looking forward to reading your books.
January 29, 2023 at 8:51 am
Kelly Hibbert
What’s not to love about your post, Laura. Nothing. It’s got the lot – cheese, puns, tacos, ducks, misfits and vacations. Oodles of goodness!
January 29, 2023 at 8:55 am
rosecappelli
Great ideas, Laura. I love minig old notebooks for ideas. Thanks for your time and for sharing!
January 29, 2023 at 8:58 am
Martha Hollenhorst
Thanks for sharing. Sometimes a fresh look at something we’re working on can give it new life.
January 29, 2023 at 9:01 am
Melissa Rafson Friedman
Wonderful inspiration, thank you! Going t my camera roll now!!
January 29, 2023 at 9:01 am
Jan Milusich
Thanks for the renewable perspective Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 9:09 am
Monica Acker
I had to pause reading midway to jot down an idea. You got my sleepy mind whirring!
January 29, 2023 at 9:11 am
Heather Skinner
Oh wow! I’ve seen your vampire cover picture before! Is James McGowan your literary agent? I’ve been keeping an eye on his page and waiting for him to open to queries for picture books so that I can query him! I wish you all the best with the sub-ready stories you have out there to be published right now! And thank you so much for all of the wonderful ideas today! It is awesome to think about keeping ideas that don’t quite make it there to possibly be recycled in some way. And brainstorming unlikely matches of things struck my interest, too! Thanks again so much! Your post is super exciting, fun, and inspiring!
January 29, 2023 at 3:51 pm
Laura Lavoie
Yes, James is my agent. My “secret agent”, as my kids refer to him! He’s the best.
January 29, 2023 at 9:14 am
Jennifer
Thank you for this! Time and fresh perspective are important. And I do have a title and manuscript that I just can’t let go, but have taken a break from to get that fresh perspective. Maybe this is the year for it!
January 29, 2023 at 9:15 am
ramonapersaudwrites
Everyone has story. Love the unexpected plot twists of a different story and character, than what I started with.
January 29, 2023 at 9:17 am
michelemeleen
I love this idea for the end of Storystorm, when some of us may be struggling to get to 30 ideas!
January 29, 2023 at 9:17 am
Becca McMurdie
It’s funny, just yesterday I went back to last year’s STORYSTORM and revisited an idea
January 29, 2023 at 9:21 am
ptnozell
Laura, thank you for the reminder to recycle/repurpose/upcycle ideas/characters/titles from past manuscripts and StoryStorm ideas into new manuscripts. I looked at some of my older lists earlier this month and was reminded of a few gems. I also revisited some older manuscripts last summer and reworked a few. To your continued success!
January 29, 2023 at 9:21 am
Lynn McCracken
Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement, Laura. Thank you for taking the time to write the fabulous post!
January 29, 2023 at 9:22 am
Patricia Franz
…and I have dozens of those meh manuscripts, so I will definitely go mine them! Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 9:22 am
Laura Wippell
Congratulations on your books, Laura! Monster Baker looks adorable. I tend to give up or throw bad ideas away, so I love that maybe they just need a little tweak to turn into something new.
January 29, 2023 at 9:28 am
Sara Ackerman
It’s always enlightening to look back at old Storystorm ideas. You never know if it’s going to be a: WHAT WAS I THINKING?! or hmmmm….I think there’s something there 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 9:32 am
Deborah Agranat Sullivan
Great idea to look through past Storystorm ideas, Laura (I think I had better ideas 3 years ago!) Thanks for sharing, and for your generous prize!
January 29, 2023 at 9:38 am
David McMullin
So many great ideas, Laura. Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 9:40 am
ET Charles
Laurie, Congratulations on your forth coming books and Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Tara. Storystorm is a joy.
January 29, 2023 at 9:42 am
Pamela S Swanson
Congratulations on your books. This is a great message on not giving up and going back to look at your ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 9:42 am
karenrafeedie
Thank you Laura. What I love about this is it makes it easier to put away ideas that aren’t working — knowing I’ll see them again some day.
January 29, 2023 at 9:45 am
lsheroan
Delightful ideas on a dreary day-thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 9:51 am
Jessica Coupé
Thanks for the inspiration!
January 29, 2023 at 9:54 am
Colleen Owen Murphy
Thanks for the suggestions Laura! And congratulations on all of your successes!!
January 29, 2023 at 9:55 am
Colleen Owen Murphy
Thanks for your suggestions Laura! And congratulation on all of your successes!
January 29, 2023 at 9:55 am
andreesantini
Just the other day I was being hard on myself for almost finished projects, abandoned for one reason and another. I”m going to upcycle the notion of “unfinished projects” to “misfit manuscripts” and start mining them. Thank you for this post Laura.
January 29, 2023 at 9:56 am
Lynne Marie
Congratulations on all your successes! Can’t wait to add the new books to my collection! LM
January 29, 2023 at 9:58 am
Linda Kay Chavez
Loved hearing how StoryStorm ideas have worked out for you! I hope all your manuscripts on submission are published!
January 29, 2023 at 10:01 am
Leah Moser
I love this idea. Thank you for the advice!
January 29, 2023 at 10:01 am
mjohnstonmiles
I absolutely love seeing how the blog topics prompted specific ideas that morphed into fully fleshed-out books! Congrats on your published works. They look totally fun!
January 29, 2023 at 10:06 am
Rachelle Burk
I really related to this post. Now and then I take out “loved but not quite there” manuscripts and revise with fresh eyes. (And speaking of National Vacation Month… I’m reading this on a scuba trip in Belize. Saw a shark with a hook stick in its mouth. Is there a story there? Hmmm).
January 29, 2023 at 10:06 am
Thelia Hutchinson
Thanks for the fabulous tips. I will definitely look at those old notes to generate ideas. I love the way you think.
January 29, 2023 at 10:13 am
Jenny Boyd
Your books sound so unique, cute, and fun! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 29, 2023 at 10:16 am
Kristie J Drake
Great idea Laura. Old ideas can spark something new!
January 29, 2023 at 10:16 am
Kathryn LeRoy
I have been encouraged that it is okay to put a manuscript away. Some work. Some don’t. Just keep collecting ideas and trying them out.
January 29, 2023 at 10:17 am
Monty Harper
“A story about mustard that died on sub” – was that a pun? Off to look over some old ideas… Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 10:20 am
mlyablonaolcom
Well, I certainly have a lot of those (old ideas)! Think I’ll go digging through old notebooks today!
January 29, 2023 at 10:21 am
bgonsar
Lots of good inspiration here – thanks for sharing Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 10:24 am
Midge Smith
Great post, Laura! Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 10:24 am
Joyce Uglow
Thanks for cooking up a storm of new ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 10:26 am
Lynn M. Mondello
This is a great idea to use even after STORYSTORM! Thanks for sharing.
January 29, 2023 at 10:29 am
kimpfenn
Lots of old ideas from the years of taking part in this annual event! Thanks Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 10:29 am
Linda KulpTrout
Thank you, Laura. Congratulations on all your publishing success!
January 29, 2023 at 10:29 am
SHARON LANGLEY
A great idea is still a great idea. Thanks for permission
January 29, 2023 at 10:35 am
Amanda Backof
I’ve been writing social stories for my autistic speech and language students for years to help them navigate this often confusing world (I am a neurodiversity affirming therapist and believe that the world needs to change, not my autistic students). So thank you for suggesting that we dust off old writings. I’m just entering the world of PB writing and this is my first StoryStorm experience, so it’s all a bit overwhelming, but if I write what I know maybe it will be easier. Also, really looking forward to sharing your books with my students. Thanks so much!
January 29, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Laura Lavoie
I love that you’re a neurodiversity affirming therapist. Thank you for doing that important work!
January 29, 2023 at 10:36 am
JL
Love the advice, “time and fresh perspective can do wonders for the creative mind.” Thank you so much.
January 31, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Abby Wooldridge
Love this advice, Laura! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us, and congratulations on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 10:36 am
Brian Burak
The upcycle is a fantastic idea. Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 10:39 am
jasmithwriter
Yes! I write my Storystorm ideas in a google doc so they are searchable. Then I can go back and hunt for all ideas I’ve had on a certain theme. Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 10:41 am
Angela Martinelli
Congratulations on your books Laura and thank you! I’m going to go totally rework some old ideas or see what little gems I can mine from them.
January 29, 2023 at 10:42 am
brendad101
Thanks for this. I looked over my ‘ideas’ document and combined an old idea about the creatures that live in suburban gardens, with a new focus I have now. Mashing the two together resulted in a very promising story.
January 29, 2023 at 10:45 am
Robin Brett Wechsler
These are helpful brainstorming tips, Laura! Thank you! Congrats on all your books.
January 29, 2023 at 10:46 am
anchance
Love this! Thank you for the ideas. Congratulations on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 10:49 am
authoraileenstewart
What great ideas. Thanks for sharing!!!
January 29, 2023 at 10:51 am
pathaap
I keep my old idea books in a drawer. Time to pull those out. Thanks for the idea, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 10:52 am
lisarowefraustino
Oo, like the idea of scrolling through my camera for ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 10:53 am
Reed Hilton-Eddy
Yes there are treasures to be had with fresh eyes
January 29, 2023 at 10:55 am
Diane Mittler
Great suggestion to go back and review previous ideas! A great task for a cold day! Thanks, and many thanks to Tara! It has been a great month😊
January 29, 2023 at 10:55 am
robincurrie1
Revisiting old “meh” stories is like seeing old acquaintances – there must have been something in there I liked! Can it be repurposed? I have a couple of Javalinas waiting for Act 2!
January 29, 2023 at 10:55 am
geigerlin
Re-visit last year’s Storystorm. I’m on it! Thanks, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 10:58 am
Lrheffner
Thank you for sharing your process. I only recently starting handwriting things down in a journal and boy does it feel GOOD. One liners, big picture messages, a title, a character name- this sounds like Storystorm!!! Would love to win this prize;)
January 29, 2023 at 11:04 am
Melissa McDaniel
Great idea to revisit old stories, Laura. Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 11:04 am
Christina Dankert
Thank you for your advice. I think it is so easy for us to get stuck with one character/idea/concept. What a great idea to see if you can place that piece you love into another story.
January 29, 2023 at 11:06 am
ralucasirbu
Hi Laura, I love the Vampire Vacation!! (it was a must-have for me since I’m from Transylvania – seriously). Congratulations on your to-be-announced book, and thank you for the blog.
January 29, 2023 at 11:57 am
Laura Lavoie
So awesome! Thanks for your support 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 11:07 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your writing/Storystorm journey. What a great motivation for today’s ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 11:09 am
catlady45
So much of this resonated with me. Thank you, Laura, I’m going to revisit those shelved ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 11:11 am
Susan Jobsky
Rethink. Repurpose. Rewrite. Thank you for the tips about recycling ideas, characters, and story concepts to find a new life for them in a new story.
January 29, 2023 at 11:17 am
Becki Kidd
Thank you, Laura, for the great examples & reminders to recycle inspiration you’ve already cultivated.
January 29, 2023 at 11:20 am
Rachael Cunha
Thanks for this article!
January 29, 2023 at 11:21 am
Heidi Yates
Great post, Laura! Thank you for sharing!
January 29, 2023 at 11:23 am
Anne-Margreet
👏thank you for these great tips! Yay for recycling!
January 29, 2023 at 11:25 am
Jane Martin
I loved this post. It was just yesterday morning when I decided to review last years story storm ideas and added the ones that sparkled to this years list. I thought I was cheating when in fact I was upcycling! Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 11:29 am
Lucretia Schafroth
Thank you for a great post and timely reminder, Laura! I’ve intermittently thought, “I should go back and look at my old SS journals and languishing manuscripts for characters, ideas, etc.” but never seem to make it a priority. Thanks for making it today’s assignment!
Congratulations on your latest PB and the others in the publishing pipeline!
January 29, 2023 at 11:29 am
martyfindley
I love your idea of recycling story characters and concepts. I have done that myself! I hope to read your new book soon.
January 29, 2023 at 11:30 am
cbloomy
Time and fresh perspectives CAN do wonders for the creative mind! Great idea to recycle past sparks. Thank you, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 11:30 am
Mia Geiger
Fabulous post, Laura! Thank you! Congratulations on your upcoming newest book!
January 29, 2023 at 11:31 am
Karin Larson
Thanks for the great post and suggestions. Your books sound wonderful, congrats!
January 29, 2023 at 11:36 am
Dawn Prochovnic
Thanks for the great post, Laura. It was especially helpful for me to see the page of your journal where you wrote a list of things that are scary followed by things that are not scary. Just seeing your hand-written words on the page (including the example of pirates and knitting, which brought me straight to Diana Murray’s book), really helped the brainstorming technique resonate for me.
January 29, 2023 at 11:55 am
Laura Lavoie
I think Diana may have written the Storystorm post that inspired MONSTER BAKER!
January 29, 2023 at 11:37 am
jbbower
Thank you Laura! Your post has given me hope : ) I have no doubt I’ll see your latest book on shelves soon. What a fun, fun idea. Thanks again!
January 29, 2023 at 11:46 am
4solivia
Hi Laura, thanks so much for sharing this amazing ideas! I love the concept of pairing scary and non-scary concepts for a potential story idea, and trying to retrieve story ideas that we didn’t think were worthy of working on further. This tells us that one never knows how far this story idea can be developed, into a successful PB, some time in the near future!
Best,
Sharon : http://www.sharonoblumbergauthor.com
January 29, 2023 at 11:48 am
Janie Reinart
Laura,
Enjoyed your post and letting your mind wander! Congrats on your book babies ❤️
January 29, 2023 at 11:48 am
tinamcho
Thank you, Laura, for this strategy to look through our old journals. Congrats on all your books!
January 29, 2023 at 11:49 am
Joyce
Great suggestions, Laura. Back to the Island of Misfit Manuscripts to find new settings for some diamonds in the rough! Looking forward to checking out Monster Baker.
January 29, 2023 at 11:51 am
Christine Letizia
What a fun post! I love your monster baker. Thank you for the suggestion of mining our old concepts and characters with a fresh perspective.
January 29, 2023 at 11:51 am
MikAdventures
Fun!
January 29, 2023 at 11:53 am
Kim A Larson
Thanks for the fabulous ideas, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 11:54 am
Tara Cerven
YES! I have all of my old Storystorm ideas in a journal. Time to dust it off and get writing! Thank you.
January 29, 2023 at 11:56 am
Julie Reich
Congrats and thank you for a great post!
January 29, 2023 at 12:01 pm
kerisagreene
Such a great reminder to go back to those old idea notes. Congrats on all your books!
January 29, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Jud Ward
I have some scary ideas I might just revisit after reading that. Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 12:19 pm
mdk45
Thanks, Laura. So many old ideas to root through. It’s a great tip.
January 29, 2023 at 12:19 pm
sue macartney
Laura Congratulations on your new book! Off to sift through old ideas – thanks for reminding us to use fresh eyes on these potential gems!
January 29, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
I agree Laura, time and a fresh perspective = a creative mind. It’s time to let my mind wander.
Suzy Leopold
January 29, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thanks, I have so many past Storystorm and PiBoIdMo ideas. I should have a mash-up party.
January 29, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Linda Hofke
Congrats on all your books!
I like the concept in Vampire Vacation.
January 29, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Katie Marie
Thanks for sharing your story. I am excited to rework a number of my ideas from last year’s Storystorm.
VAMPIRE VACATION is an adorable book. Congratulations on your upcoming picture books.
January 29, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Cathy Lentes
Okay, Laura…I’m going to give my MUSTARD story another shake, and hope when I squeeze it for goodness, it doesn’t come out as runny and unappetizing as last time.😉
January 29, 2023 at 3:48 pm
Laura Lavoie
I really hope to see it on shelves! The world needs a mustard book!
January 29, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Natalie Lynn Tanner
LAURA: THANK YOU for the INSPIRATION to go back and visit (HEY, WHY NOT for “National Plan Your Vacation Day”!!!) our Island of “Bad” Ideas and misfit manuscripts for second chances and hidden GEMS. THANK YOU for the reminder that we ALL DESERVE a second chance–SO do our ideas!
January 29, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Elizabeth Wilcox Saba
Thank you Laura! Will get your books – kids love puns!
January 29, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Heidi Chupp
Thank you, Laura! What a great reminder to spend some time in the “archives” and daydream. 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Cathy Stefanec Ogren
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post with your humor and great suggestions. Thanks for sharing, Laura.
January 29, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
I even have PiBoIdMo story lists that I look at once in a blue moon. You never know when the spark will be lit!
January 29, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Karen Gebbia
thank you for this great advice and for the peek into your process for the adorable books you have coming out!
January 29, 2023 at 1:04 pm
jmoudahi
So excited for Monster Baker! Congrats on all the upcoming books in the pipeline; so exciting!! And such a great reminder to circle back to old ideas and see if something new sparks 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Shirley
Great ideas! And congratulations on all of your stories!
January 29, 2023 at 1:10 pm
jnorland
Thanks for this whistle stop tour of your process — I’ve always thought that the problem isn’t getting good ideas: It’s letting go of them too soon! You’ve got me thinking about unlikely pairings . . .
January 29, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Laurel Ranveig Abell
repurposing old ideas is always a great place to mine new ideas! And yes I remember pairing “scary” with “not scary”! I’ll have to look at my old lists for new stories! Your books look fantastic!! I can’t wait to read them to my grandmonsters.
January 29, 2023 at 1:15 pm
srkckass
Talking about recycling ideas sounds very eco friendly! I like conserving the brain. I am pretty sure everyone is already doing this subconsciously and not even realizing it. Thanks for the article!
January 29, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Laura Lavoie
‘Conserving the brain” is a great way to put it!
January 29, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Danielle Hammelef
I have a few notebooks with ideas that just haven’t gone anywhere, but maybe someday will “respark” an idea.
January 29, 2023 at 1:17 pm
Megan Whitaker
I love looking back on old SS lists and finding something I can use/combine with new ideas. Thank you and Congratulations on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 1:19 pm
Ryann Jones
This was so helpful! I love Vampire Vacation and cannot wait to read all of your other books when they are released! Congrats! Thanks for participating. 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 1:20 pm
mommamoocow
I want to read your books. They sound so fun! I need to reread some old Storystorm posts. What a wealth of info.
January 29, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Meredith Epstein
Thanks for sharing!
January 29, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Adriana Gutierrez
I love this! Hope for all the unfinished ideas in my journal. I’ll try this. Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 1:31 pm
beckylevine
Such great examples — they really help me see what you’re suggesting!
January 29, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Pradeep Velugubantla
I like the idea of making lists. Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Allison Fleischman
The distance of time can be so helpful! I’ll dust off some of those old ideas and see what can be upcycled. Thanks for your post!
January 29, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Katie Berner
Congratulations on your books. I’m still laughing at Duck, Duck, Taco Truck and can’t wait to see what it’s about! And thanks for the inspiring post! I love that there’s still hope for those old ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 1:41 pm
Carlie Cornell
I love your monster baker idea. I have a bunch of monsters in my heart, too. Cookies might entice them to come out to play.
January 29, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Mary Zychowicz
Oh my! I’m still laughing at “a story I wrote about mustard, which sadly died on sub”. This was such a fun and inspiring post. Thank you. I am going to go back and pull out all those old idea lists from previous Storystorms. Great idea to recycle/ repurpose…
I cannot wait to see your little MONSTER BAKER!
January 29, 2023 at 1:42 pm
madisu2021
Good morning, Laura, I don’t have, (but will soon have),a mc named Fang on my KID LIT shelf. Your suggestions are invigorating! I love the combo…scary characters and not-so-scary hobbies. Congrats and Thanks.
January 29, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Christy Matthes
Thank you for the post! I love the idea of mixing a scary idea with something not scary. I’m headed to my notebook now to scratch out some ideas!
January 29, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Bethanny Parker
Great post.
January 29, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Andrea Mack
Thanks for the reminder to go back to older ideas and try to shine a new light on them!
January 29, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Lauri Fortino
Thanks for the tips, and congratulations on your publishing success thus far!
January 29, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Joy Wieder
Yes! I revisit old ideas all the time and have had success with this technique.
January 29, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Bri Lawyer
Thank you Laura and Tara! This was my first time participating in Storystorm, and my Google Doc of ideas is overflowing. Now off to visit my “misfit ideas” section at the bottom in hopes of an inspiration spark!
January 29, 2023 at 2:04 pm
cbcole
I love the idea of revisiting characters from your past stories and combining someone scary with a not-scary activity.
January 29, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Thank you for the post!
January 29, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Carol Porter
Well, that made me think about going back to my very long list of bad story ideas! Maybe I will see something new!
January 29, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Jess Burbank (@jburbank)
I’m headed back to last year’s list now to see what treasures I can find and revamp. I find I need a lot of ruminating/marinating time on these stories, and I appreciate the reminder to go back and see if my old ideas spark anything new.
January 29, 2023 at 2:13 pm
Carol Peszko
Well, that makes me think I should go back and look at my very long list of bad story ideas! Maybe I will find a new idea that works.
January 29, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Penny Taub
Thanks for the insight. Yes, the land of misfit toys.
January 29, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Earl @ The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer
Recycling characters and concepts is such a great reframing technique! As creators, we should definitely place them in their best situations in the sense they’ll have the most story pour out from them.
January 29, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Robin Larin
Great suggestions, Laura! It’s encouraging to think that older stories we’ve abandoned can still come back to life in new ways :).
January 29, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Lisa Billa
Thanks for an inspiring post- I just dug up 2 misfit ideas I might re-use. Your upcoming stories sound fun and I look forward to reading!
January 29, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Sharlin Craig
Love the scary vs not scary idea-that opens up so many other contrasting ideas as well! Great suggestion, too, to go through old Story Storm ideas and other notebooks. Congrats on your books. They sound adorable and so fun!
January 29, 2023 at 2:25 pm
marty
Hi Laura, Thanks so much for getting the recycling and re-engineering part of generating ideas on my radar screen today. How to breathe life into an old meh manuscript is a skill worth cultivating. Congrats on your picture book success! Thank you, Tara, for inviting Laura to write a Storystorm blogpost for all of us.
January 29, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Terry Talley
What a treasure trove of ways to rework old ideas (my misfit story file is overflowing). I also like the strategies to use two or more unlikely characters or settings to flip expected outcomes. Congratulations on your debut vampire book–can’t wait to check it out. Thanks for sharing how Storystorm led to your success, Laura.
January 29, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Christine Van Zandt, author of A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS
I read and really liked VAMPIRE VACATION and look forward to reading your upcoming publications. Thanks for giving us a behind-the-scenes peek showing us some of how your books came about.
January 30, 2023 at 4:31 pm
Laura Lavoie
Thanks so much, Christine! I’ll need to check out your underpants book for my kids!
January 29, 2023 at 2:39 pm
biil jarcho
Duck Duck Taco truck!
January 29, 2023 at 2:40 pm
nicolesalterbraun
Great ideas and your books look/sound so cute
January 29, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Sharon A Putnam
Great post, Laura! Thank you for giving us a peek at your writing process.
I will definitely be going back through my computer file of 236 Storystorm drafts that I feel have “legs” (which were culled from my main Storystorm file) I tend to be a pack rat as far as my writing goes… I save EVERYTHING! So I will also be going through my files of characters that I have cut from my other manuscripts, along with my folder of odd ball sayings, quotes, settings, etc… etc and looking for tidbits that sparkle.
January 29, 2023 at 3:03 pm
heatherstigall
This was the perfect assignment for me today! I have an old story that wasn’t quite working, I think partly because of the title. Coming up with a new title will be my first order of business. Then I’ll figure out what I’ll need to change in the plot. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 29, 2023 at 3:03 pm
Kamalani Hurley
Recycling and repurposing ideas makes perfect sense. Thanks, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Alison McGauley (@AlisonMcgauley)
Thanks for the ideas and the fun post, Laura. Congrats on your upcoming books 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Teresa Rodrigues
Thanks for the tips, Laura. Congrats on your latest book and good luck with submissions!
January 29, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Maria Marshall
Monster Baker sounds so fun. And you’re right it’s been a while since I looked at my old Storystorm (or PidBoIdMo) journals. Looking forward to what I might find back there. Thanks.
January 29, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Jessica Fries-Gaither
So helpful!
January 29, 2023 at 3:21 pm
saraweingartner
Thank you, Laura! Fantastic reminder to relook, reuse and recycle. 🙂 Congratulations on all of your books!
January 29, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Sheri Radovich
I love your ideas and getting back to old Storystorm or PiBoIdMo drafts and notebooks and looking for new ones.
THank you
January 29, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Annie Guerra
Yes, I love the ideas of mixing/mashing unlike concepts together. Very ying/yang.
January 29, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Echo Roben
Loving recycle, upcycle and pairing of opposites, thank you Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Bridgitte Rodguez
I love this idea of revisiting old story ideas. Refocusing the story to something else! Everything that is old is new again totally works in this case.
January 29, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Leslie Santamaria
You have me wanting to peruse my old idea notebooks. Thank you, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 3:29 pm
jilltatara
Great post! It makes me want to go back through my old StoryStorm idea lists. AND go back and read old StoryStorm posts from years past. Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Claire A. B. Freeland
Thank you, Laura. Your books are so creative and clever. No surprise that your post is as well. And, yes, thank you Tara!!
January 29, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Rona Shirdan
I have some ideas that I should revisit. Thanks, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 3:44 pm
margaretsmn
This is my first year for Storystorm but certainly not my first year writing. I have piles of journals. I’m actually scared to go back and look at them. Thanks for the encouragement today and for sharing your hard one success story.
January 29, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Barbara Farland
I think about the story I’m writing right now with my daughter. Five characters. So many more angles to explore!
January 29, 2023 at 3:46 pm
mhberg
Aha! Ideas never die, they get recycled/upcycled! Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 3:52 pm
bookfish1
First and foremost, yes a big round of applause for Tara for makign all this possibe!!! Love the ideas especially putting two opposing things together.
January 29, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
excellent ideas! I’m from California, so we’re big into recycling here, LOL. Thanks for a great post!
January 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Jess
Upcycling stories sounds so fun. Thank you for sharing and getting the juices flowing.
January 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm
suzanbh
Thank you, Laura! I’m already a big fan of recycling and your spin on recycled ideas is perfect! Congrats on Monster Baker, can’t wait to see it!
January 29, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Meredith Fraser
Amen!!! Such wise words you speak.
I have revised one manuscript so many times, the only thing original is the MC ‘s name.
Plus while waiting in submission limbo, I pulled another from the archives changing the characters from animals to children.
Thank you
January 29, 2023 at 4:14 pm
rosiesartventures
I’m a little scared to look up my old, rejected ms’s, but doing it scared has become my middle name, so… monsters beware!
January 29, 2023 at 4:17 pm
paulaobering
I like the idea of recycling an older (rejected) manuscript. Goodness knows I’ve got multiple to revisit! Thanks for sharing!
January 29, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Sarah Blotevogel
Thank you, and congrats on your upcoming releases! I love going back and reading my old notes and seeing what jumps out at me. Most of the time I can’t remember where my train of thought was originally trying to go when I look back and it works in my favor because I’ve gained so much more knowledge since I originally wrote it and new ideas tend to jump out right away.
January 29, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Kaye Baillie
Congratulations on your forthcoming books, Laura. They look great. I put in a request last year to our library (in Australia) to purchase Vampire Vacation and they did! It’s so much fun. Time for me to scroll through my old ideas.
January 30, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Laura Lavoie
Thanks so much for requesting the book, Kaye!
January 29, 2023 at 4:28 pm
kathleenannajacobs
I can’t wait to get my hands on Vampire Vacation, it seems like such a fun book!
January 29, 2023 at 4:31 pm
kirstenbockblog
Thanks for sharing your ideas, Laura. Your Monster Baker book sounds scrumptious!
January 29, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Jennie H
Thank you for sharing this post!
January 29, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Elena Horne
Great post! I was excited the minute I saw Vampire Vacation!
January 29, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Diane O'Neill
Thank you soooo much! I have an idea–switching a particular sidekick so that she’s the main character. I’ve no idea if it will work, but I’m excited to try. Thanks so much!!
January 29, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Steena Hernandez
I love Vampire Vacation, and can’t wait to read Monster Baker! Thank you, Laura, for the tips, and I’m already looking at my Storystorm notes from last year!
January 29, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Gabi Snyder
I’m definitely inspired to peruse my old journals and StoryStorm lists for ideas to revive. Thanks, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 4:55 pm
Angie B.
Can’t wait to bust open the old ideas and try a new approach! Thank you.
January 29, 2023 at 4:58 pm
Aimee Larke
Great suggestion to go back to the tucked away stories. Thank you for sharing and congrats on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 5:07 pm
blairmoorebooks
Okay, that is the cutest picture book monster I have ever seen. I cannot wait to check out this book for my kids! Thank you for the amazing ideas, Laura! This is a post I know I will be coming back to when I need extra inspiration.
January 29, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Deborah Ishii
Thank you for your suggestions about looking at our previous story ideas and recycling them. I have a gazillion ideas in another gazillion notebooks and journals, so I think I’ll be Storystorming by myself for quite sometime, as well as writing my stories!
Laura, I love your books, they look like lots of fun!
Thanks, once again, to Tara! I’ve developed so many ideas and strategies from Storystorm!
January 29, 2023 at 5:09 pm
midfreeman
I actually love seeing my old Storystorm lists for this reason!
January 29, 2023 at 5:12 pm
migratingmoosegmailcom
I always make lists – lists for everything! Now i have a couple more to make !!
January 29, 2023 at 5:15 pm
seahorsecoffeeelektra79018
Laura, I noticed quite a few r words scattered throughout your post. I am a fan of alliteration, especially for children so I decided to add a list of r words to my Storystorm notebook. I particularly enjoyed rest and recharge.
January 29, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Jennifer Weisse
Thank you for the advice, as I have many, many ideas I can revisit. I will be looking for your books, as they sound wonderful.
January 29, 2023 at 5:25 pm
jennaejo
great advice, thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 5:25 pm
bevbaird
SUch a great post. Love the ideas of misfit manuscripts – that they can be repurposed, altered, made fresh. Off to look thru my old Storystorm idea journals for a nugget!
January 29, 2023 at 5:27 pm
marty bellis
Laura, I loved hearing how some of your ideas ended up working out in different ways from your original vision. It definitely pays to keep those old Storystorm lists. They’re full of possibility. Vampire Vacation and Monster Baker both sound terrific. Intend to give them both a read!
January 29, 2023 at 5:35 pm
Andria Rosenbaum
Thanks for giving us several recipes we can use to spice up our stories!
January 29, 2023 at 5:39 pm
Heather Ray
Love these mash-up ideas! Thanks, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 5:45 pm
brennajeanneret
Yes! I’ve been rethinking a lot of my MSs recently and trying to reinvent them with these things in mind! Thanks for these tips to push my revisions a bit further.
January 29, 2023 at 5:45 pm
Barbara Senenman
Great advice. It’s true that sometimes the minor characters are really the major ones with fun stories to tell.
January 29, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Lauri Meyers
Love visiting with my old misfits 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 5:51 pm
calepage
Great post.
Funny coincidence, splashing around today with kids a long forgotten title and story popped up!
Time to revisit:)
January 29, 2023 at 5:56 pm
Tonnye Fletcher
Awesome kudos to Tara for her long-ago brainstorm that continues serving up a storm of story ideas each year! I’ve already got more than 30!!! And a few of them are begging to be written — like NoW!! already 😉 Thanks, Laura, for this fabulous post! Congrats on your books, and thank you for brainstorming with us today! My previous 2 storystorm notebooks are handy. Gonna take another peek . . .
January 29, 2023 at 5:58 pm
claireannette1
I’m scheduling time to go through my past Storystorm notes. I’m hoping to find some ideas that can be transformed.
Congratulations on your upcoming books.
January 29, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Jodie
Love the ideas about contrasting items. The surprise factor in so many books make them favorites. Also can’t wait for your taco truck book.
January 29, 2023 at 6:07 pm
Eva Felder
Dear Laura
Tara Lazar deserves a round of applause 365 days of a year, not only the 31 of Storystorm. WE OWE HER A LOT!
Thanks for sharing your writing process and encouraging us to persevere, finding new ways. Upcycled stories certainly will replace recycled ideas, and hopefully will turn into aha! moments.
I will go back to a story I wrote some time ago and has been sitting in a drawer. My critique group considered that there were two stories and I had to separate them.
Thumbs up for Vanessa Morales, Tillie is so awesomely lovely!
Looking forward to read your books and follow your blog!
January 29, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Judith Snyder
I’ll take a look and see if an old idea sparks a new one. No doubt about it–I have a lot of them that didn’t work. But there is always a new way to look at things. Thanks and congratulations on your successes.
January 29, 2023 at 6:19 pm
Marlena Leach
I have looked into my slew of old ideas and manuscripts. I try to remember that they were sparked by a “brainstorm” and to realize that they aren’t dead; they just need resuscitation. Congrats on your success!
January 29, 2023 at 6:22 pm
Jennifer Mills Barnes
I love that you are a go-getter! You’ve been inspired by Storystorm. You keep upcycling and editing plots, characters, titles, everything. And clearly, it has worked for you! Congratulations on the books! They sound charming. Thanks for giving me inspiration today.
January 29, 2023 at 6:28 pm
marshaelyn
Laura, What an instant grabber for a title–DUCK DUCK, TACO TRUCK. Kids will love this book before they even read it. Your recycling idea rings true for me. Dancing in my brain is a feisty female main character who sparked from a kidlit illustrator’s portfolio when I worked as an editor at an educational publishing house in LA. I’ve drafted two stories so far featuring her. You’ve encouraged me to keep her beside me as I think of new ideas. Sending you energy and inspiration for your continued success…
January 29, 2023 at 6:31 pm
Lisa L Furness
Back to the island of misfit manuscripts, I’ll recycle ideas and see what pops up! Love it!
January 29, 2023 at 6:31 pm
Michelle S Kennedy
This is a great idea! Surely something is salvageable from every misfit draft or story idea. I have two MS’s that come to mind that I can extract some pieces from. Thank you for this helpful tip. Congrats on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 6:38 pm
Heather Dawn Torres
Thanks for sharing this! Will be getting out my idea notebooks tomorrow to see what hidden gems might be there that I’ve overlooked.
January 29, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Linda Staszak
Love the idea of matching up unlikely ideas. Thanks for a fun post.
January 29, 2023 at 6:42 pm
JF Hall Writes
Thank you for the tips and behind-the-scenes insights! It’s helpful to see how they have worked for you, and encouraging to appreciate that something we’ve liked in the past can still perhaps have a home in a book in the future. Thank you! And congratulations on your books. They sound delightful.
January 29, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Deb Gruelle
I love your juxtaposition of ideas and punny humor, Laura.
January 29, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Melissa Koosmann
Several of my ideas this year have been rehashed versions of previous fizzled manuscripts. It’s nice to know this isn’t just cheating…
January 29, 2023 at 6:54 pm
seschipper
Definitely cheers for Tara!
Laura, this was an amazing post! I’ve been scribbling ideas in my journal. I also have journals from previous years as well! Thanks for all of your terrific tips! 🙂
January 29, 2023 at 6:55 pm
juliehamptonc228d7b913
Love the idea of revisiting & exploring the twists and turns of our creative past!
January 29, 2023 at 6:56 pm
sylviaichen
Such a fun post, thank you so much!
January 29, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Rebecca Grant
Great idea! Going to flip through my old notebooks now and see what can be upcycled!
January 29, 2023 at 7:03 pm
Ellie Langford
I’ll check out my old Stormstorm ideas and see what happens. Thanks, Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 7:04 pm
Kris Hamblin
Thank you for the reminder to look at past ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 7:05 pm
kidlitgail
Already looking through lists from bygone years!
January 29, 2023 at 7:05 pm
58chilihed13
I have boxes, reams, gazillions of sheets, scraps of paper, backs of menus, church bulletins, etc, I shall have to stir them up again and have another look! Thanks Laura!
January 29, 2023 at 7:06 pm
Haley Thomas
A great reminder that all ideas can be helpful in one way or another!
January 29, 2023 at 7:15 pm
Franny G
Some old ideas tap me on the shoulder, so I’ve been adding them to the new list, but definitely going to go through my old notebooks properly
January 29, 2023 at 7:18 pm
Cheryl Simon (@cmsimon18)
Thanks for this great post. What a relief to think of all the ideas we already have that can be put to good use!
January 29, 2023 at 7:32 pm
Linda B
Great post. I’ll be looking over some old ideas to see if I can give them a new life.
January 29, 2023 at 7:35 pm
Mary
Laura, I loved reading about the evolution of your book ideas! Genius! I’m going to start going back to some of my earlier StoryStorm ideas!
January 29, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Krys Plate
As per your suggestion, I revisited some old ideas, and re-worked one that was dead in the water. Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 7:50 pm
Ana Archi
What old can be new again. Love it!
January 29, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Thanks for the encouragement. Great perspective!
January 29, 2023 at 7:57 pm
Laura Bower
Thanks Laura! I love the misfit manuscript idea – I certainly have a lot of those 🙂 and am curious to see if I breathe new life into any. I’m going to give it a try! Congratulations on your books!!
January 29, 2023 at 7:58 pm
Rochelle Y Melander
Fun!
January 29, 2023 at 8:03 pm
laurenkeiperjo540
Starting my scary/not scary list tonight! Thanks for re-sharing that!
January 29, 2023 at 8:08 pm
Hollie Wolverton
I’m always up for recycling! Will give those old journals a look-see.
January 29, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Erica Jensen Shiflet
I love this because it shows all that work in the past might still there for a reason! Thanks for sharing some of your process.
January 29, 2023 at 8:18 pm
clairebobrow
I definitely need to dig up my old Storystorm lists and start scrolling. There has to be some story gold in there somewhere! Thanks for the idea, Laura, and congrats on your books!!
January 29, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Aimee Hiura
Thanks so much for sharing such a brilliant way to “recycle” existing ideas!
January 29, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Susan Eyerman
So agree Tara deserves all the credit for years of putting Storystorm so beautifully together we can glean the best from posts like today’s. Looking forward to reviewing my really early ideas. Thank you
January 29, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Ali V. (they/them)
Thank you for the notebook photo – so helpful!
January 29, 2023 at 8:29 pm
Jennifer Shipkowski
Thank you for sharing! I love the idea of taking scraps of misfit ideas and putting them together to make a new and wonderful project!
January 29, 2023 at 8:46 pm
Chelle Martin
Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your books.
January 29, 2023 at 8:48 pm
Buffy Silverman
I’m all for recycling! Thanks for the inspiring post.
January 29, 2023 at 8:58 pm
tracyschuldthelixon
It was so much fun to read about how your ideas went from Storystorm to book. Thank you for sharing!
January 29, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Hélène Sabourin
Looking at ideas from earlier Storystorm, I am surprised to see that some of them appear more than once
January 29, 2023 at 9:30 pm
kyavorski
I bought a pretty notebook for ideas but haven’t used it yet. I think I may use it to rework my old Storystorm lists.
January 29, 2023 at 9:34 pm
Tarja Nevala
Thank you reminding me that creatives should keep their minds open to new and used ideas. Take care.
January 29, 2023 at 9:46 pm
Lisa Atkinson
Thanks for the great post and the reminder to revisit old ideas! The title Duck, Duck, Taco Truck cracks me up. Congrats on Vampire Vacation and your upcoming books!
January 29, 2023 at 9:47 pm
Margaret Lea
Great advice— thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 9:50 pm
ungracefulwanderer
Up-cycling/Recycling gives me hope for those once loved and revised (and revised) old story concepts or characters. I’m definitely going to take another look. Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 9:52 pm
steveheron
Thanks Laura. I too think ideas are like seeds. So much potential.
January 29, 2023 at 9:57 pm
Vanessa
Laura, I love the upcycling idea. If a character doesn’t work in one story, maybe that character would fit in another story. Thank you.
January 29, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Kathleen Clark
How fun to think of recycling bits and pieces of ideas from the past. Thank you for sharing, Laura! And thank you, Tara, for putting this together!
January 29, 2023 at 10:02 pm
sharonkdal
Oh great reminder. Thank you! And thank you for the peek inside your notebooks. So fun to see how others record their ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 10:11 pm
Rosi Hollinbeck
I can’t wait to read your books! They look terrific. And your ideas are terrific as well. Thanks for the post.
January 29, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Jeannette Suhr
Tara does deserve a boatload of thanks for this and all the other StoryStorms she has organized. Tara, I look forward to this every January and it helps enormously to get my writing pumped up and rearing to go. Every post in January is like opening another Christmas gift.
And thank you, Laura, for sharing your journey and sharing ways to recycle and rebirth stale and forgotten characters and details and titles. I will be reviewing the last two years of StoryStorm that I read and took notes from. I’m sure there’s lots there that will be useful.
I look forward to reading your books and I wish you continued success with your writing.
January 29, 2023 at 10:41 pm
syorkeviney
Recycling, taking things all apart and beginning anew with new ideas and approaches… I like it a lot! Thanks for sharing this process!
January 29, 2023 at 10:42 pm
Deena
I love Fang and his story! Congrats on the upcoming titles!
January 29, 2023 at 10:42 pm
cinzialverde
Great post – and so true! I love taking bits of old stories and pieces and mashing them together. Thanks.
January 29, 2023 at 10:44 pm
Amy Mucci
This is my second head of SS and before I started I looked at my notes from last year so this is more encouragement to really look those over! Thank you!
January 29, 2023 at 10:52 pm
littleseedsread
Great advice, Laura. I love the idea that no effort is wasted and our ideas can be recycled. Congratulations on your forthcoming books!
January 29, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Mary Warth
Thanks so much for the fabulous post! I’m ready to sift through Storystorms past and see what sparks inspiration. All the best for your upcoming book!
January 29, 2023 at 11:05 pm
Linda Sakai
I’ll be sifting through old Storystorm ideas. Thanks for the reminder.
January 29, 2023 at 11:08 pm
authordebradaugherty
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your writing journey. Congratulations on your books.
January 29, 2023 at 11:10 pm
writersideup
Laura, it always amazes me how stories grow, change and shift in all kinds of ways 🙂 Congrats on all your recycling! 😀
January 29, 2023 at 11:11 pm
Armineh Manookian
Thank you, Laura, for such great advice to not give up on those old ideas/manuscripts. Congratulations on your books!
January 29, 2023 at 11:16 pm
mariearden
Recycling is part of my life, so why not use it with story ideas, titles, characters, and places. Thanks for reminding me to take a look at past Storystorm notes.
January 29, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Lisa M. Horn
Recycling! I love it. What a great way to breathe life into some stories that needed a little more “oomph”! Thank you so much for your great ideas.
January 29, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Sophie Furman
Thank you for this post, and for the encouragement!
January 29, 2023 at 11:34 pm
Elizabeth McBride
Laura, these were such good and valuable ideas to share! Thank you so much! I have often found the makings of poems and the beginnings of stories in my old notebooks too. Combining the bits and pieces is a great idea!
January 29, 2023 at 11:36 pm
Artelle Lenthall
Excellent post! Congratulations on your upcoming book babies 👍🏽🎉
January 29, 2023 at 11:44 pm
hansenjc13
Yes! Time and a fresh perspective can be just the thing an old manuscript needs. I like the idea of upcycling old story ideas. Thanks!
January 29, 2023 at 11:54 pm
smallforbig
Pulling from other stories and reworking ideas has me sighing in relief. I’ve signed up for 12×12 this year, and though I think I can write 12 brilliant books by the end, I’m going to keep this in mind if I get stuck! Thanks!
January 30, 2023 at 12:04 am
MDalphin Williams Creative.Com
Thank you for your “revisit the old ideas” suggestion. I’ve never had one about mustard… but there are others. Good luck for continued success.
January 30, 2023 at 12:23 am
Allison Green
Congratulations on your success!!! You go, girl!
January 30, 2023 at 12:23 am
Alia K.
I love Vampire Vacation! great ideas.
January 30, 2023 at 12:26 am
streetlynn
Thanks for sharing your process!
January 30, 2023 at 12:39 am
Diane McBee
Recycle objects, recycle ideas. There could be a story there. Thanks for sharing.
January 30, 2023 at 12:47 am
ritariebelmitchell
Thanks for a great post! I have to go write down some ideas now.
January 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
Janet Frenck Sheets
Yes, applause for Tara, Laura, and all the other writers and artists who are sharing their insights. Thank you!
January 30, 2023 at 12:56 am
Elayne
Yes! Sometimes your story is in search of a more suitable character…and sometimes, your character is in search of a more suitable story! There are so many ways that our brain connects the dots once we learn to notice the dots! Thank you for sharing and good luck with our upcoming book releases!
January 30, 2023 at 1:13 am
Donna Rossman
Wonderful idea to reread old journals! Congratulations on your upcoming PB’s and good luck with the ones on submission! 😊
January 30, 2023 at 1:27 am
Janice Woods
Such great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
January 30, 2023 at 1:42 am
Aly Kenna
Great advice Laura. Thank you for your blog. Good luck with your new releases. Looking forward to hearing good news about your yet-to-be announced book too 😉
January 30, 2023 at 2:04 am
kristinscollins
Thank you for these great ideas! Congratulations on your books!
January 30, 2023 at 2:18 am
lphunt
Your post sent me digging through my story and idea files. I found some good possibilities to follow up on. Thanks!
January 30, 2023 at 3:57 am
8catpaws
A wolf knocking at your door in the middle of the night is scary. A wolf teaching you to make an origami butterfly is….less scary.
January 30, 2023 at 4:10 am
Elle Carlin
Thanks for the reminder… it’s about time I went through my old ideas again!
January 30, 2023 at 7:39 am
readmybook2002
Thank you for letting us know some characters have a longer life than others for a lucky few. Tara has outdone herself this year. Thanks to both for providing everyone with ideas.
January 30, 2023 at 9:09 am
Hilary Mankofsky
Thanks for the post,I like the idea of upcycling characters from prior stories that didn’t make the cut.
January 30, 2023 at 9:36 am
elisederstine
This is great advice! Heading over to last year’s Storystorm notes right now … Thanks!
January 30, 2023 at 9:39 am
Debbie Austin
Going to go look for my past StoryStorm lists and noodlings. Thank you!
January 30, 2023 at 9:43 am
jimchaize1
I will find my old Piboidmo/Storystorm lists and see what clicks. Thanks, Laura.
January 30, 2023 at 9:47 am
Catherine Friess
I love the idea of recycling a minor character into a starring role. Thanks Laura 🙂
January 30, 2023 at 10:06 am
Diana Murrell
Thank you for this post! I have some manuscripts that I keep going back to. Now I know there is hope!
January 30, 2023 at 10:18 am
Darcee A Freier
So many up-coming books! Love the DUCK, DUCK, TACO TRUCK title. Congrats!
I need a few more ideas, so I’ll mine through my old lists and see if I can find some treasures. Thanks!
January 30, 2023 at 10:21 am
Russell Wolff
Yes! Validation for my electronic pack-rat proclivities! (I also aspire to write lists and notes as clearly readable as those in the notebook photo.) Thanks for the great post.
January 30, 2023 at 10:26 am
Jennifer Phillips
Challenge accepted. I have many Storystorm lists that can use a relook for a fresh take on the possibilities. Congratulations on your stories!
January 30, 2023 at 10:34 am
azmh
I love this! I’m excited to go back to my pile of forgotten stories and old story storm ideas to see what might be hidden in there.
January 30, 2023 at 10:38 am
Angela H. Dale
I always forget to go back and revisit those old sparks and scribbles, thanks for the reminder.
January 30, 2023 at 10:59 am
Paul Brassard
Thanks, Laura. Some wonderful ideas. When you think of the creative juices that go into coming up with interesting minor characters, it’s a shame that they somehow end up in our personal slush piles
January 30, 2023 at 11:00 am
gattodesign
Very inspiring thanks. So many ideas laying around just needing a little push maybe in a different direction.
January 30, 2023 at 11:03 am
Melissa L Lettis
Looking through old writing (from my school days!) while visiting family felt a little like this. Discovering old ideas is a great way to spark the new ones!
January 30, 2023 at 11:04 am
Joan Swanson
What a great idea to go back to my old marbled composition notebooks I use as my idea books during Storystorm (PbIdMo). So many ideas i hadn’t developed yet. Thank you!
January 30, 2023 at 11:04 am
calliebdean
Whenever I look back on my old Storystorm lists, I inevitably notice something new. Thanks for this reminder, Laura!
January 30, 2023 at 11:08 am
elizabethdaghfal
I love the idea that you tried to write about mustard! And thank you for the encouragement that it’s okay to have not so great ideas on our brainstorm list. I’ve been looking at mine, wondering if my brain is just frozen this cold January. But like you said, they may just be the spark of a rewrite or refurbish that sets me off on a winner.
January 30, 2023 at 11:09 am
Carol Gwin Nelson
Checking through my idea notebooks it now top on my to do list today!
January 30, 2023 at 11:16 am
Krista Maxwell
Thanks for the encouragement and the new way of looking at our writing!
January 30, 2023 at 11:20 am
Lenora Biemans (@BiemansLenora)
I’m excited to revisit and retool some old ideas.
January 30, 2023 at 11:23 am
dinatowbin
Great idea to revisit old ideas. You never know where your next great storyline will come from.
January 30, 2023 at 11:29 am
Jan Peck
Your punny titles make me laugh! Thank you for your upcycled thoughts and ideas! You go, GIRRRL!
January 30, 2023 at 11:49 am
James Adams
That’s great. I’ve had so many new ideas come to mind while doing storystorm. I love it!
January 30, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Jeanette
What a great pist. I will be keeping my unused ideas on the back burner for recycling for sure 😁 thank you xx
January 30, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Rebecca Guzinski
I CANNOT wait to read Monster Baker! Super advice to grab ideas from old notebooks.
January 30, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Sarah Lynne John
Great idea! Every one of my old ideas have pieces I love.
January 30, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Heather Riccio
I love the idea of revisiting old ideas. I think all old pieces have a spark that can be ignited again in a different way.
January 30, 2023 at 12:26 pm
DrZatHome
Yes! Sometimes one idea that goes nowhere even feeds into lines for another book. I love this!
January 30, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Sandy Lowe
Wonderful to put those “old” ideas to work! Thanks!
January 30, 2023 at 12:32 pm
michellesteinberg
Thanks for the reminder to look at previous StoryStorm notebooks for ideas.
January 30, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Erin Cleary (ClearyWriter)
“I wrote about mustard, which sadly died on sub.” Genius pun! Sorry that one didn’t work out for you, but congrats on your other successes. Great advice here. Thank you!
January 30, 2023 at 12:38 pm
allyenz
I love that you reminded us that we don’t even need 100s of ideas–just a fresh perspective or twist on our past ideas could spark a story. Sometimes I find myself overwhelmed with too many ideas, but none with sticking power, so this is helpful. Monsters + baking = Magic! Hope you have a lot of success with this one.
January 30, 2023 at 12:38 pm
claudia sloan
I’ll be dusting off my old ideas and concepts shortly, …excited about where that may lead. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your upcoming book! 🙂
January 30, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Jane Heitman Healy
Looking at old notebooks for bad ideas? Oh, honey, I’ve got ’em! BUT–maybe I can mash them up or concoct something sweet. Thanks for the inspiration and congrats on your upcoming books, Laura, and thanks for this fun, inspiring month, Tara!
January 30, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Michelle Cusolito
Ha! I’ve been avoiding looking back at old Storystorm lists this month because I didn’t want to get stuck in old ideas, but you make a good point! Perhaps I could combine things or repurpose them or something. I’m going to try it.
January 30, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Poupette
Thanks for the reminder, and congratulations on your recycling success!
January 30, 2023 at 1:05 pm
cravevsworld
Super duper helpful! Much appreciated.
January 30, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Dawn M.
Dusting off the old notebooks.
January 30, 2023 at 1:18 pm
Mary Beth Rice
Thank you for this nudge to review old Stories!
January 30, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Jen Subra
Great encouragement to look through my past Story Storm ideas. I’m sure there’s some “gold” there somewhere!
January 30, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Daryl Gottier
Time to dig through my old Storystorm files. Thanks for the suggestion!
January 30, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Kathy Doherty
Thanks, Laura! Your books are super cute. And I appreciate your encouragement.
January 30, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Sandra Wilson
after all, that’s why we are so fond of notebooks! lol
January 30, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Danya Vasquez David
Thank you for this!! I’ve been doing a bunch of this repurposing/upcycling lately but not with enough intention or determination- this was so relevant and encouraging for me. Congrats on your awesome books, Laura!!
January 30, 2023 at 1:39 pm
donnacangelosi
Thank you for this great reminder to revisit our old ideas and to find new homes for our characters. Looking forward to reading your adorable books!
January 30, 2023 at 1:42 pm
valerieschultz023gmailcom
Thanks for your inspiration. Like you, I use my kitchen as part of the creative process!
January 30, 2023 at 1:44 pm
Ana Kelly
I just wrote a draft that I’m not super excited about BUT the idea of re-imagining/re-purposing feels sustainable (pun intended).
January 30, 2023 at 1:45 pm
rgstones
Love this post! It’s been fun going through my Storystorm/PiBoIdMo notebooks from previous years and recycling some old ideas.
January 30, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Adriana Bergstrom
Recycling and reworking is an excellent idea!
January 30, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Keith R Harrell
I wrote a manuscript recently from a story idea that I originally had a couple of yeas ago. Sometimes it takes a while for an idea to fully germinate.
January 30, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Amanda Perry
I still love some of my old ideas, so hopefully time will help me figure out how to make them work. Thank you for your post!
January 30, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Loretta Schrader
Great tips! Time to go look back at some old idea journals.
January 30, 2023 at 1:53 pm
abby mumford
Revisiting old manuscripts for minor characters who may be waiting to become major characters is a fabulous idea. I’m on it!
January 30, 2023 at 1:57 pm
pjaegly
I love your suggestion about recycling past ideas. As we progress over the years, we become better writers, so our improved skill might be able to resurrect an old idea into a new book.
January 30, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Beth Elliott
I’m a big fan of your recommendations – thank you for the reminder to implement them!
January 30, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Alicia Shawn Gagnon
Recycled writing! I love to recycle paper and compost old food. Why have I not thought of recycling characters? Great idea! TU!
January 30, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Jessica Milo
This is such a great post! I need to revisit my old ideas and take a glance at shelved manuscripts to see if anything sparks. Thanks for sharing, Laura!!
January 30, 2023 at 2:23 pm
libbydemmon
I’m so glad your spunky little sidekick led you to her own story!
January 30, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Scott Wolf
Some ideas/characters/themes just need to marinate a while before they’re ready. Thank you for the post!
January 30, 2023 at 2:29 pm
Scott Wolf
Some ideas/characters/themes just need a little time to marinate. Thanks for your post!
January 30, 2023 at 2:37 pm
colleenrkosinski
love the scary vs not scary idea
January 30, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Trine Grillo
Encouraging! I love some of my ‘old’ characters.
January 30, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Katharine Emlen
Thank you, Laura! I do keep a box of scraps of ideas and a folder on a distant hard drive of randoms starts and stops…I DID (coincidently) pull it out the other day and some of the old scribbles sparked new ideas! Great advice! I’m looking forward to reading your books!
January 30, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Leah Marks
Looking at old ideas or manuscripts with fresh eyes helps tremendously! thanks
January 30, 2023 at 2:50 pm
biil jarcho
Nice! Duck, Duck, Taco Truck!
January 30, 2023 at 3:37 pm
JoLynne Ricker Whalen
Thanks for the reminder to revisit old ideas. I hope to get a fresh perspective on my old notes!J
January 30, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Keeping the Me in Mommy
Going to review some old storystorm lists now!
January 30, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Cindy S.
Thanks for the post.
January 30, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Maria Altizer
So many great ideas! Thank you.
January 30, 2023 at 3:44 pm
Suhasini Gupta
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on recycling characters and old ideas. This is brilliant!
January 30, 2023 at 3:51 pm
Brittney Jett
Vampire Vacation was delightful! I can’t wait to read Monster Baker. Way to go Laura! Thanks for the tips.
January 30, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Laura Lavoie
Thanks so much—so glad you liked it!
January 30, 2023 at 3:56 pm
Susan Luchetta
Thank you! I need to re-visit some old ideas!
January 30, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Rafael Macho
Great process, would love to see more of your notepads pages!
January 30, 2023 at 4:10 pm
dedradavis
Love this! My ugly sketch book (Storystorm ideas) has a future brilliant book. I just know it!
January 30, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Christine Graham
Great post. Maybe some of those old ideas have aged better than I thought?
January 30, 2023 at 4:26 pm
msaraiva004
I love this, and that everything we create has something that might speak to us. It just needs to find its proper home.
January 30, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Sheri Dillard
Thanks, Laura! Not only did I get a new story idea, but I’ve already started writing the first draft! 🙂
January 30, 2023 at 4:36 pm
Marci Whitehurst
Yay for recycling!! Thanks for sharing this tip, Laura! Congrats on all your books!
January 30, 2023 at 4:37 pm
tinefg
Thank you Laura! Sadly when a story doesn’t work I tend to squirrel it away and try not to think of it again…looks like I’ll be dusting off those nuts and cracking them open for new upcycle-able material. Congratulations on your up coming releases, and good luck on those manuscripts waiting in line.
January 30, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Suzanne Alexander
Great ideas! Thanks, Laura! I look forward to checking out your books.
January 30, 2023 at 4:55 pm
nowthattherestime281137688
What a wonderful post! Thank you for the inspiration!
January 30, 2023 at 4:59 pm
naturewalkwithgod
Thank you, Laura, for this encouraging post, sharing from your successes. That monster is cute! –Kim Peterson
January 30, 2023 at 5:06 pm
Jennifer Rathe
I’ve been contemplating getting out my old story storm lists. The encouragement I need to do that is sitting here.
January 30, 2023 at 5:13 pm
amckelle
Upcycling elements from dead manuscripts or old storystorm ideas is so helpful. Thank you!
January 30, 2023 at 5:14 pm
nrompella
Thanks for this post. I have been wanting to write a silly book for a long time now without luck. Your post inspired me to play around with ideas and yesterday, I wrote an entire manuscript. I’m so excited about it!
January 30, 2023 at 5:26 pm
laureannawrites
Love that stack of notebooks – Going to pull mine out now!
January 30, 2023 at 5:56 pm
Andrea Yomtob
Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2023 at 6:14 pm
staceygustafson
Thanks for the reminder…no decent idea should be wasted!
January 30, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Amy Newbold
Laura, congrats on your books, and thanks for the reminder to revisit old manuscripts to see what might be useable in a future project!
January 30, 2023 at 7:56 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Cycle and recycle, there is always some good in all that rubbish.
January 30, 2023 at 8:05 pm
Diane M.
A fresh perspective on an old idea. I’ll be pulling up my past StoryStorm lists to see what glimmers may lie there. Thanks for the reminder.
January 30, 2023 at 8:23 pm
Lorraine
Duck, Duck, Taco Truck – giggle!! Love it! I also have many ideas from past storystorms still simmering… maybe one day.
January 30, 2023 at 9:05 pm
michelerietz
Thanks, Laura for this great idea. I’m a big fan of reducing, reusing, and recycling other things, so I’ll start applying that to writing as well! 🙂 Luckily, I have many abandoned/unfinished/just not great manuscripts to work with, as well as 3 or 4 years’ worth of story storm ideas. So many resources!
Congratulations on your picture book success. I love humorous books!
January 30, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Annemarie Riley Guertin
Super cute books! Congrats!
January 30, 2023 at 9:31 pm
ljtouche
I have been revisiting old ideas and just recently was able to finish a picture book draft. I love that I went back to visit an old story idea with fresh eyes. Thank you for the post. Looking forward to revisiting more old ideas. -Lori Laniewski
January 30, 2023 at 9:39 pm
Christine Ottaviano Shestak
I have this recipe for Monster Cookies….
January 30, 2023 at 9:51 pm
jpeters6248
Thank you for this post. I have so many ideas and characters that I loved but their stories didn’t work. I’m gonna go back and see if I can recycle or scramble around and see what I can do with it all.
January 30, 2023 at 9:52 pm
Penelope McNally
Lists and journals are some of my favorite things! What a great idea to plow through some old journals – may just light a spark! thank you
January 30, 2023 at 9:54 pm
Melissa Trempe
I loved reading about your journey and how storystorm led to some of your success!
January 30, 2023 at 10:08 pm
carmelamccainsimmons
Laura, My agent just gave me as my homework assignment to rummage through my old stories drawer and see what I could upcycle! Thanks! Time to take y’all’s advice!
January 30, 2023 at 10:11 pm
Amanda
Your new book looks adorable and what a perfect illustrator you got for it! It’s so cute!
January 30, 2023 at 10:18 pm
Ashley Sierra (@AshleySierra06)
Great tips!
January 30, 2023 at 10:24 pm
Shirley fadden
Congratulations on your beautiful books and thanks for the tips!
January 30, 2023 at 11:23 pm
betsylehan
Part of the beauty of this craft is that the stories are inside of us, waiting to be written, or waiting to be rewritten in a way that makes them shine. Thank you for the reminder that no story is necessarily “dead on the shelf”. It’s always good to circle back!
January 30, 2023 at 11:27 pm
marthaej
Congrats on your publications Laura! Sometimes it is best to tuck things away for a while – you may have a brilliant idea when you dig it up after a while!
January 30, 2023 at 11:43 pm
Sandy Belford
Great ideas! Thank you!
January 31, 2023 at 12:50 am
Natasha
Thanks, Laura. Congrats on all your books!
I’m hoping something sparks when a dig out a few “misfit manuscripts.” At the least, perusing could be amusing.
January 31, 2023 at 1:02 am
Judy Sobanski
Great idea to use titles, concepts and characters from manuscripts that are not going to be books! Thanks!
January 31, 2023 at 1:38 am
JEN Garrett
I can’t count the number of manuscripts that started as ideas, sat to marinate and then resurfaced much better!
January 31, 2023 at 2:22 am
wyszguy
Well I certainly have a lot more UNUSED ideas than used, so this exercise should be a treasure trove! Thank you!
January 31, 2023 at 3:32 am
bonnie fireUrchin ~ pb illustration & writing
I’ve recoiled and up cycled characters, themes, but there’s always more left behind to mine and see if a mixup or mashup work new wonders. Your hint to pair a scary sounding character with unscary hobby, or perhaps other opposites is a great way to push that!
January 31, 2023 at 5:43 am
Colleen Dabney
What a great title—Duck,Duck,Taco Truck! I recently looked back through my StoryStorm ideas. Most entries made me think …. what in the world???! But there are a few hidden possibilities I think. Thanks for the post
January 31, 2023 at 8:38 am
Laura Purdie Salas
Thanks so much for this reminder to go back and look through my ideas notebook. I tend to neglect that part of things! Congrats on your picture books 🙂
January 31, 2023 at 8:46 am
rebeccacolby
Nothing is ever wasted. I review my old notebooks at least once or twice a year. Great idea!
January 31, 2023 at 9:07 am
Christine Fleming McIsaac
Yes! I have to go back to my old Storystorm ideas. On a train now, but a project for tonight. Thanks for sharing how this helped you!
January 31, 2023 at 9:53 am
Sarah Meade
Great post, Laura! Lots of good advice here. This makes me think of what we do during #KidLitZombieWeek when we go back to old “dead” stories to find the good things we can revive. I loved Vampire Vacation and look forward to reading Monster Baker with my little ones.
January 31, 2023 at 10:04 am
GOades-Sese
Thank you for sharing your idea generating journey! Your method sounds fun and I like the idea of not giving up on some of the older ideas.
January 31, 2023 at 10:13 am
Jamie Bills
This is a great idea. I am sure I have some redeemable characters and concepts in my story graveyard and idea notebooks. Congratulations on your upcoming publications. Monster Baker looks so cute.
January 31, 2023 at 10:17 am
Jane Dippold
Reuse and recycle is a great concept for development using the parts you love. Thank you!
January 31, 2023 at 10:17 am
Lindsey Aduskevich
Laura, I love this idea to recycle characters and concepts. This is just the kick in the pants I need to return to all my misfit stories that are sitting around collecting cyber dust. I’m looking forward to reading your upcoming books. Thank you so much!! 🙂
January 31, 2023 at 10:24 am
Nicole Loos Miller
Congratulations on your upcoming monster book and thank you for sharing all the ways you cook up creativity (sometimes using what you already have on hand!)
January 31, 2023 at 10:32 am
Arlene Schenker
Laura, I love the idea of scolling pics on my phone, and, yes, it’s time to go through my file of “dead-end” stories.
Thank you!
January 31, 2023 at 10:56 am
Ali Oxtoby
Upcycle, Repurpose, Re-Cast!
January 31, 2023 at 11:39 am
jms5880
Thank you for sharing.
January 31, 2023 at 11:49 am
Rachel S.
I’ve always found going back through old ideas and radically changing them can be SO helpful. Thanks for the post!
January 31, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Anne Young
I’ve just resorted to radically changing an idea I worked pretty deeply on but couldn’t ‘solve’. I really liked parts of the original idea but sometimes they just have to be rolled over.
January 31, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Lucky Jo Boscarino
This is why we hang onto all our old idea notebooks. Crack it open and see what falls out.
January 31, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Teresa 何 Robeson
I regularly mine my old Storystorm ideas…most are duds but some have been terrific. So, I totally hear you on this method!
January 31, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Marilyn Wolpin
Laura, definitely been thinking about old stories/characters/concepts that died on the vine. One of them must be recyclable, right? Thanks for the inspiration.
January 31, 2023 at 1:30 pm
hodgeh77
I love you comments about going back to previous Story Storms and revisiting past ideas for some spark or different perspective.
Thanks!
January 31, 2023 at 1:33 pm
R.G. Spaulding
You just reminded me how I could recycle an old story that’s been in my drawer for a while. Thank you.
January 31, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Clement, Laura
Going back into the old StoryStorm notebooks. That was a lot of fun. Great post!
January 31, 2023 at 2:29 pm
Kristi Mahoney
I love the idea of up-cycling old stories, characters, and ideas into a brand new ms. Thanks, Laura!
January 31, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Sue (Susan Uhlig) (she/her) (@susanuhlig)
Great post
January 31, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Katherine Rea
Congrats on your books! Those are seriously the cutest concepts.
January 31, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Mara K Lansky
One of my best friend characters keeps begging for his own book!
January 31, 2023 at 3:30 pm
vgraboski61gmailcom
Thank you, Laura, for the great inspiration. Ok, I REALLY need to meet Pierre du Monstére! Hilarious.
January 31, 2023 at 3:33 pm
Lucy Staugler
Laura,
Recycling is good for the environment of my story!!! 😃
Thanks for a rest post!
Lucy
January 31, 2023 at 3:37 pm
sheilagart
I love recycling and upcycling – so it makes sense, I should do that with my ideas. Thanks for the great post!
January 31, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Patricia MacMillan
Love these tips and your books!
January 31, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Johanna Peyton
Your post provided such a fun afternoon for me looking through old storystorm journals and notes. Thank you for offering this suggestion.
January 31, 2023 at 4:51 pm
Tess weaver
Thank you, Laura! Time and a fresh perspective has been so helpful to me and I love reading about your journey and the best pal who needed a new story. I also often think about my stories and the island of misfit toys (ideas). Thanks for inspiring me to look at them again!
January 31, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Kellie
A good reminder, Laura. Thank you. Often we’re so caught up in the next new shiny thing, we forget about the older treasures.
January 31, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Nancy Ferguson
Thank you, Laura. I keep all the old stuff but seldom go back to it. Maybe this week while planning my vacation….
January 31, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Caitlin
Oooooh, I like the idea of pairing something scary with something, well, not so scary! I know that wasn’t the main point of your story necessarily but it sparked something in me and now I’m full of even more new ideas. Plus I appreciate the gentle reminder to go back and review old ideas. Kellie’s absolutely right in her comment: it’s easy to get caught up in shiny new things when there are treasures to be found all around us already. To the notebooks!
January 31, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Jane Baskwill
Thanks Laura. I’ll be returning to those “misfit manuscripts” I have lying around. Here’s hoping!
January 31, 2023 at 6:43 pm
Angela De Groot
Upcycling misfit manuscripts and recasting sidekicks into starring roles. Fun ways to play with old ideas. Thanks!
January 31, 2023 at 6:46 pm
shirley301
Thanks for your idea to go dumpster diving. Something might just spark a story possibility.
January 31, 2023 at 8:04 pm
Ellen Leventhal
Great idea! I’m off to pull up some oldies but not such goodies to see what I can find. Thank you!
January 31, 2023 at 8:24 pm
thelogonauts
Awesome work! Love hearing how all those ancient ideas resonated and percolated until the right time.
January 31, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Nancy Kotkin
I’m a big fan of recycling. Congrats on your publications.
January 31, 2023 at 9:01 pm
Janet Halfmann
I definitely need to try recycling more! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 31, 2023 at 9:37 pm
Susan Klaren
I love your notebook page….and appreciate your ideas (and puns).
January 31, 2023 at 9:48 pm
jenfierjasinski
Thanks for the motivation, Laura. I know just the story to revisit first.
January 31, 2023 at 9:55 pm
Amanda
I often find myself even subconsciously coming back to the same ideas over and over. I start to find patterns in my thinking and that’s when I realize the ideas that are dying to break free, then I start putting the pieces together in different ways until I find the winning combination!
January 31, 2023 at 10:47 pm
Alexis_Bookdragon
A great idea to revisit old ideas!
January 31, 2023 at 10:52 pm
Jocelyn Rish
I didn’t know Vampire Vacation was a Storystorm idea! It’s always fun learning a book I enjoyed sprang from this month of chaotic creativity that brings so many of us together.
January 31, 2023 at 10:53 pm
Ben Jeder
Time to sift through those dusty ideas! Great post
January 31, 2023 at 10:53 pm
KamillaM
good idea to dive deep Kamilla Milligan, Writer (she/her) kamillamilligan.com
January 31, 2023 at 11:31 pm
maureenegan
Mustard on sub! Love!
February 1, 2023 at 12:03 am
jennifer Hunt
Oh my goodness the titles and art! LOVE!!!!
February 1, 2023 at 12:34 am
Cassie Bentley
Upcycling old ideas. Hmmm. I’ll have to dig up the old notebooks. Great idea. Thank you.
February 1, 2023 at 12:46 am
Dana Atnip
Definitely time to take out my old Story Storm journals for another look, thank you for the ideas!
February 1, 2023 at 12:50 am
Maria Bostian
I love looking through old Storystorm notebooks. Thanks for the reminder to go check those out.
February 1, 2023 at 1:31 am
Megan McNamara
Here’s hoping my old ideas can become new again!
February 1, 2023 at 1:35 am
amandalittleauthor
Thank you so much! This is my first Storystorm, but now I want to go through some of my old stuff and see what I can find!
February 1, 2023 at 1:38 am
Bhandi
Going back through sketchbooks is always fun anyway!
February 1, 2023 at 1:39 am
Acamy Schleikorn
Thank you!! Will definitely take a look at my old ideas and see if I get any fun ideas!
February 1, 2023 at 9:55 am
topangamaria
Duck Duck Taco Truck in title alone is so tantalizing, and thank you for sparking ideas.
February 1, 2023 at 10:20 am
ryanrobertsauthor
Thanks for sharing your process for these!
February 1, 2023 at 12:14 pm
kdgwrites
Thank you for sharing your imagination with us. Lots to think about moving forward.
February 1, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Sara Matson
Thanks for sharing–very helpful!
February 1, 2023 at 1:24 pm
Ana Paula Fagundes
So interesting how ideas may never go totally stale. I love this!
February 1, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Shawna Tenney
Thanks so much for getting my brain thinking about how I can recycle pieces of old stories!
February 1, 2023 at 2:06 pm
LaurenKerstein
Hi Laura!!! What a fabulous post! I love your books (as you know) and I love this: “Time and fresh perspective can do wonders for the creative mind.”
Big hugs!
February 1, 2023 at 3:34 pm
susaninez0905
Thanks for the great advice; a new way to recycle – with lots of possibilities!
February 1, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Helen Lysicatos
Thank you for the motivating and inspiring post!
February 1, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Melissa Stoller
Thanks for this reminder to revisit our old Storystorm idea notebooks! Looking forward to reading all your upcoming books!
February 1, 2023 at 6:24 pm
Christine M. Irvin
I love recycling. Maybe I can recycle some of my old ideas. It is sure is worth a try.
February 1, 2023 at 6:39 pm
debbiemoeller
Such clever ideas. I do love recycling. Maybe I will find a gem in the trash heap. Thanks for sharing.
February 1, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Laurie Seaford
Like a TV spin-off. I like it. Cindy Williams’ recent death had me thinking about Laverne and Shirley. Some minor characters (and ideas) deserve center stage. Thanks for the great ideas. Congrats on the new books, Laura!
February 1, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Melissa Hastings
I have been yearning to back into my Storystorms past.
February 1, 2023 at 9:43 pm
marybeningo
I like the pairing of scary with not so scary. It sparks some ideas for more opposites!
February 1, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Elizabeth Metz
I don’t know if this is quite in the spirit of Storystorm, but it’s… adjacent at least. Perusing old ideas (per this blog post’s suggestion) led me to a half-finished draft of what I THINK will be a short story (unless it gets out of hand, in which case… early chapter book?) that started its life as a PiBoIdMo picture book idea, until I realized it demanded a voice that couldn’t possibly be contained by 500 words. And I just wrote another few paragraphs on that story and think I know its direction moving forward.
SO THANK YOU, Laura!
February 2, 2023 at 12:51 am
Kristin Sawyer
This post reminds me that I have one or two old journals from college, filled with much-loved quotes, song lyrics, quips, sketches, etc. I’ve never thought about using them for story ideas, but I just might pull them out after so long and give them a fresh review.
February 2, 2023 at 11:20 am
Bethany Brown
This is my first year doing StoryStorm, but I immediately had an old idea come back to me that I wasn’t happy with and dropped, even though it had so much great potential! Thanks for bringing it back to mind.
February 2, 2023 at 11:27 am
Kaela Parkhouse
These are great ideas!
February 2, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Jes Trudel
Not sure if I’m too late to comment. Every year I forget to comment on all the posts. I’ll post late this year and hope for the best. 🙂 Thanks for a great month Tara and guests!
February 2, 2023 at 2:30 pm
kaleegwarjanski
Fun Ideas! Thank you!
February 2, 2023 at 4:35 pm
Mary Ann Blair
I love the idea of pairing opposites. Thank you!
February 2, 2023 at 4:51 pm
jasminefang
Thanks for sharing, I need to find my journal.
February 2, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Joanne Roberts
yes. yes. yes! This time around I had fewer ideas but many more tools and i’ve been eager to dig out my old notebooks to test them on. I can’t wait to see if anything there could be used to create something new. THanks!!
February 2, 2023 at 9:32 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
I try to look back at my old journals from time to time because I always find ideas I’ve forgotten about. Good reminder!
February 3, 2023 at 2:02 am
Susie Sawyer
Yes! I love revisiting my old ideas. Without fail, I find some that I don’t even remember jotting down. It’s like finding little treasures in my notebooks. Thank you!!
February 3, 2023 at 11:53 am
Ruthie Nicklaus
I love going through old sketchbooks to find ideas, thanks!
February 3, 2023 at 4:34 pm
Jean Martin
I am going to try this idea of going back and putting a new twist on the character. thank you!
February 3, 2023 at 4:43 pm
juliannahelt
I have been thinking about going back and looking at old ideas. I have learned so much since I started I think I would be able to look at this ideas with a new perspective.
February 3, 2023 at 5:22 pm
Brinton Culp
Thank you for this exercise–it’s about time I revisted my old ideas. And thanks for giving us a glimpse into your notebook.
February 4, 2023 at 9:34 am
marias62
Very interesting exercise, Laura. I can’t wait to hear about and read your story inspired by your Dad! 🙂
February 4, 2023 at 10:34 am
yangmommy
Laurie, I ‘m glad I’m not the only writer with several stacked journals of tales & titles that didn’t quite make the cut! Sometimes the idea of “creating a new, fresh story” is intimidating and what we can do is simply flip through our older ideas with a fresh eye and heart. Love the art on the new Monster Baker book, too!
February 4, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Linda Silvestri
I love the idea of repurposing old, misfit ideas. I also loved the image of the island of bad ideas being something like the island of misfit toys, hee hee! Anyway, great, great ideas and inspiration and can’t wait to read your books, especially “Vampire Vacations!” What an adorably, scary idea!
February 4, 2023 at 9:32 pm
Angela Turner
Sounds like a great idea
February 5, 2023 at 5:13 pm
Zoraida Rivera
I love recycling! Now I have more reasons to do so. I do have some characters that deserve being rescued. Thanks, Laura.
February 6, 2023 at 8:25 pm
Ashley Bankhead
This was such a great post. I love the idea of recycling our old ideas into something new. Thanks for sharing!
February 6, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Yehudit Sarah
Thanks. I love your idea of going back to old ideas. Something bubbled up! And I loved your idea of pairing scary things with no-so-scary hobbies. There’s so much play involved for us!
February 6, 2023 at 9:31 pm
Stephanie D Jones
Okay, going back to the well with upcycling in mind 🙂 Thank you!!
February 6, 2023 at 9:54 pm
Kelly Vavala
Thank you Laura! I’d like to think that all those thoughts/ideas have a place somewhere! I love this idea of recycling old characters or ideas. Good luck with your journeys
February 6, 2023 at 11:38 pm
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Great post! 🙂
February 7, 2023 at 6:37 pm
Ann Page
Love it! I can’t wait to read Vampire Vacation. Thanks for the inspiration and tips!
February 23, 2023 at 12:37 pm
madisu2021
Good morning, Tara and/or wonderful staff,
I was new to STORYSTORM, and am inspired by the wealth of information I was gifted by the talented people you showcased in January. I had to adapt my pace to absorb the information. What unfolded was:
*January was spent reading the posts.
*February follows your pattern of a repeat of the 31 posts plus a reread of January¡¯s posts.
*It¡¯s expanded to drafts and revisions, and ordering books, and visits to websites and resources. But here¡¯s where I stalled ¡
*I ordered a few books from authors¡¯ websites, but before I order more,
Did you post on site another way to order these precious books?
Thank You, Susan Shackelford
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