by Simone Kaplan
Congratulations on making it to Day 30 of Storystorm!
If you have successfully completed the challenge, you will have about 30 ideas, maybe more.
That’s an ample collection of ideas.
A collection so large that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and unsure of what to focus on next.
I’d like to offer a clear set of steps to help you go from confusion to clarity.
To help you…
- Get a handle on your ideas
- Develop a manageable shortlist
- Decide which idea to work on first
- Explore your idea
- Get your idea out of your head and onto the page
…and maintain momentum going forward.
These are things that I’ve learned by working with hundreds of writers, both experienced best-selling ones and newbies. Because, while everybody has their own individual way of getting to a final manuscript, there are some steps that are the same for everyone.
Are you ready?
Here goes:
STEP 1—Organize
Your first step is to organize/collect your ideas so that you can look at them and evaluate them in a strategic way.
It’s crucial to have a place where you collect and record your ideas.
I would suggest creating a document which you title either “Ideas” or “Storystorm 2024”.
Then list all these ideas.
You’re doing this for two reasons.
First, because ideas are elusive and, as you go through your days and weeks, they tend to dissolve and scatter and disappear.
Having a place where you have them all together means that you can go back and add more ideas as they occur to you, add details to the ideas as you have a new insight, or mine the list at a later date for more manuscript ideas.
The second is because having a list will make it possible for you to look at all your ideas at one time and make strategic decisions.
Your list can be as simple as a word or theme: Anxiety
A title: Fred’s Frisbee
or
A sentence: Beebee’s Doll—a story about how a child and a dog share a doll.
or
An idea: Overcoming fear of swimming.
The list can be as long or as short as you would like it to be.
And you can go into as much or as little detail as you would like.
Make sure though that you have enough context so that when you go back to work on the piece you remember why the idea appealed to you in the first place.
Now that you have a somewhat organized list, you are ready to move onto the next step, which is:
STEP 2—Sift
Your second step involves shortening the list to a manageable number.
Given the fact that you can’t write all 30 manuscripts at the same time, you’re going to have to make some decisions.
This is where it starts to feel like you’re panning for diamonds. Not all ideas are diamonds. Some are mere gravel, some are cubic zirconia which sparkle initially but then turn out to lack value, some are semi-precious stones that could become something special, and some are diamonds, which could become gorgeous and amazing.
When you pan for diamonds, you collect a whole bunch of stones in a sifting screen. The fine mesh screen helps sift through dirt quickly, enables you to examine the contents easily, and increases the possibility that you’ll find something precious.
You need to develop the literary equivalent of a sifting screen! A tool to help you look at the contents of your idea pan with interest and discernment.
Here’s the tool, and fortunately, you don’t need mesh and screwdrivers and metal. You have everything you need to move forward.
Start by getting quiet and focused. Close your eyes, place your hands over your solar plexus, and watch your breath for about 30 seconds.
Then read through your list with intention and care. Make a note of (or place a checkmark next to) any idea that seems to call to you. You’re not looking for fireworks—although if something jumps out and is clearly your next idea, that’s great! What you’re looking for are the ideas that seem to sparkle, that have a kind of juiciness, that intrigue you, not because you know where they’re going or what they’re going to be about, but because you want to find out what they might be about.
Be curious and open-minded.
If something that makes you happy or gives you a little charge when you see it on the page, that’s an idea to mark.
Your list should now be considerably shorter and it’s time to move on to Step 3.
STEP 3—Select
It’s time to commit to one idea.
You now have a short list of ideas that appeal to you.
How do you decide which idea to work on first?
You might be looking for the best idea.
But the ‘best idea’ is a myth.
Because you can’t know if an idea is ‘the best’ or even ‘good’ until you begin to work on it.
Just like diamond cutters don’t know whether a diamond is going to be suited for gem or industrial use until they start to cut it and see what flaws or inclusions it contains, you can’t know if your idea is good until you actually do the work of developing your manuscript.
So here’s what in my experience is a helpful truth:
- It doesn’t matter which you work on next.
- Don’t spend forever trying to make the ‘best’ decision.
- Pick something. Anything. Some place to begin.
If you need more advice here it is:
Look at the list again with an open mind and an open heart.
Is there anything there that particularly calls to you?
If it does, start there—move to Step 4.
If not, use one of these scientifically validated methods:
- Number your choices.
- Write down each number on a separate piece of paper.
- Crumple them up.
- Close your eyes and pick a piece of paper.
- That’s the idea you’re going to work on.
- You can also do this by rolling a dice if you have one.
or…
- Place your list in front of you.
- Aim a pencil or pen at the list.
- Close your eyes and place the point on the paper.
- Wherever it lands is the first project.
Because here’s the important thing about where you start: It’s not the idea that matters, it’s the execution.
At some point you might want to explore all the ideas on your list.
And you don’t have to work on only one idea at a time.
You can take an idea as far as it’ll go then start with another one, while the first one rests quietly in your subconscious. Percolating and working itself out. You can always come back to an idea.
The next step is the first in developing your idea.
STEP 4—Explore
Here’s where you figure out what your unique contribution could be.
Great!
Now you have the idea you’re going to work on next, you’re ready to mine it for magic. Because your job as a picture book writer is to create something fresh and original. You do that by writing the book that only you can write.
And you find that out by using a technique called ‘freewriting’ or ‘stream of consciousness writing’ or ‘brainstorm writing.’ It’s a time-honored way to bypass your conscious mind and access the creative, rich unconscious. To engage with your idea in the hopes that it will reveal secrets and blossom.
So, give your idea some love and attention and see what happens. Here’s how to do it.
Set a timer for 10–12 minutes and, starting with: I want to explore the idea of … just write.
Without stopping, without lifting your hands off the keyboard, without pausing or staring into space. If an unrelated thought pops into your mind, write that down. I forgot to buy laundry detergent, or I’d rather write another manuscript, or I hate this! Then go back to the idea that you’re exploring. Don’t worry about grammar or logic or making sense. Just write until the timer goes off.
And then stop.
You might want to read what you’ve written right away; you might want to wait a while. Do what feels right to you and what aligns with your writing process. When you’re ready, read what you’ve done. You should have a slightly more developed sense about what aspects and elements of the idea are important to you. You might have characters or bits of dialog, ideas for plot or structure. Or you might have come up with other aspects you want to explore.
Do as many freewriting sessions as you need or want to get you to a place where you feel comfortable with what you’re writing about.
Then move on to the next step.
Lean into the picture book format.
It’s time to figure out the shape of your manuscript: what your beginning, middle, and end might look like, and to see which elements you have and which you might still need to develop.
It’s time to spread it! Spreading is the process that unlocks the underlying structure of a picture book and helps you scaffold your story. It’s a little bit like doing an outline but more effective and not quite as restrictive.
Spreading is where you take everything you know about plotting and planning, and you slot it into the 32-page/14-spread picture book structure.
If you’re working with a three-act narrative, you know you have approximately—
- 3 spreads for the beginning or set up.
- 8 spreads for the middle or development.
- 3 spreads for the ending or resolution.
Each spread functions like a unit of aesthetic experience that invites the reader to turn the page to get to the next one.
On each spread, character develops, plot advances, or something gets explored.
All you need to do is to write down one sentence per spread.
Thinking of your manuscript in this way will help you get a grip on what’s working, what might not be serving your story, and which elements you might still need and make the necessary adjustments before you actually start to write the book.
Moving Forward and Maintaining Momentum
Your idea is no longer a sparkly, nebulous thing. You have a sense of what it’s about. You also have a sense of where it’s going and how to get there.
Great!
Keep going with the idea and take it as far as you can. When you feel you can go no further, put the manuscript in a safe place like a drawer or a file on your computer called “The Drawer,” a place where you keep manuscripts in process. Let it rest there until you are ready to look at it again.
While some do, not all manuscripts go from idea to finished in one streak. You might need to let your work percolate.
When you’re ready to tackle it again, you can open the folder and pick up where you left off. You will probably find that the manuscript looks different, and that you can bring a different perspective to it.
Until then, you can return to your shortlist and repeat the process with as many ideas as call to you. One at a time.
One idea at a time. One manuscript at a time.
That’s how you write better books and build a body of work.
Onward!
Simone Kaplan is giving away a free e-book on how to use the structure of a picture book—a process she calls Spreading—to scaffold your writing process to all Storystorm participants. You can sign up for it at https://picturebookpeople.com/spreading-process-and-template/. It’ll be delivered to your inbox as soon as you sign up.
She’s also giving a one-hour critique session to one participant. The session will offer a deep dive into their work and will provide personalized individual feedback and guidance to help elevate their understanding of craft.
You’re eligible to win the session if you’re a registered Storystorm 2024 participant and you have commented only once on today’s blog post.
Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.
Simone Kaplan is a picture book editor, coach, and publishing consultant who has decades of experience helping authors polish their work, and an in-depth understanding of the world of picture book publishing. She shares her expertise with individuals, through critiques, offers weekly prompts, and classes and group programs to help authors write the best picture books they can. You can find her at PictureBookPeople.com.
498 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 30, 2024 at 8:32 am
sburdorf
Thank you for a great post to end the event. Thanks for sharing.
January 30, 2024 at 8:36 am
readmybook2002
Thank you Simone for a great wrap-up of what we do now with all our newly formed ideas. This is a keeper for sure on our next step and future steps for any peoject.
January 30, 2024 at 8:37 am
streetlynn
Thanks for your post about organizing ideas and getting started, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 8:38 am
ccspizzirri
Thanks so much for this post, Simone! It is so helpful!
January 30, 2024 at 8:44 am
thecrowsmap
Simone, I can’t wait to dig into your post and ebook and get to work (or play:)). Thank you so much!
Gail Hartman
January 30, 2024 at 8:45 am
Rebecca Colby
There will be lots of sifting and panning for diamonds after this month is finished. Thanks for this, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 8:45 am
aubreyalliethewriter
I’ve been listing my story ideas just as you described in my notes on my phone! I’m interested in your ebook, thanks!!
January 30, 2024 at 8:45 am
tinamcho
I like your term “spreading!” I’ll try writing 1 sentence per spread to plan out the story. Thanks.
January 30, 2024 at 8:46 am
Jany Campana
Thanks Simone for inspiring me to spread my ideas!
January 30, 2024 at 8:48 am
writerdi2020
Thanks for these next steps! Interested in learning more about your “spreading” strategy.
January 30, 2024 at 8:50 am
snor5bddfeabba4
this post is a gold mine! (But will hopefully help me produce a diamond!)
January 30, 2024 at 8:52 am
amyhouts
Thanks for sharing the details for this valuable process! And the free template. I’m going to print out your blog post.
January 30, 2024 at 8:54 am
Robin Brett Wechsler
Thank you, Simone, for your detailed and specific advice for taking the next steps!
January 30, 2024 at 8:54 am
Mark Bentz
I’m starting to draw characters, and backgrounds for a story. It just happened.
Thank you Simone for the ebook! Your post is a huge help! Thanks again. Not sure but it could be something? It’s fun.
January 30, 2024 at 8:54 am
Karen
Thanks Simone for sharing these next steps! I am very interested in learning more about your “spreading” strategy.
January 30, 2024 at 8:55 am
coachrochelle
Such a great process! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 8:59 am
anchance
Thank you! So excited.
January 30, 2024 at 9:01 am
rosecappelli
Wonderful tips! This whole post is valuable. Thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 9:03 am
lynnpesicka
Thank you for helping me have a starting point on working with all these Storystorm ideas.
January 30, 2024 at 9:04 am
amybeth349
Great way to breakdown the “Writing Process.” I liked the idea of “Spreading “ in writing out the page format. I feel better about my writing journey. I wrote a small draft and needed to figure out what to do next, and you make great sense. Thank you for the encouragement!
January 30, 2024 at 9:06 am
Lisa Thompson
So interesting. Thank you! Signing up for your e-book.
January 30, 2024 at 9:09 am
Jennifer
Thank you for providing some next steps! A great wrap up as we come to the end of the storm and are ready to move forward with our story ideas!
January 30, 2024 at 9:11 am
kvavala
Thank you for the great post about siffening out our diamonds in the rough! I especially loved the line “Write the Book only YOU can write!” Also “It’s not the idea but the execution!”
That was touching and hit home! I wish you much success
January 30, 2024 at 9:14 am
Gregory E Bray
Great post. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 9:17 am
Melissa Rafson Friedman
Wow so much good information and motivation! And at just the right time for me. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 9:18 am
jnorland
Interesting! Some craft consultants, such as Lisa Cron, suggest you shouldn’t write a line until you’ve worked out your MC’s core desires, misbeliefs & inner/outer struggles – and there are benefits to advance planning. But I’ve always felt that one needs to be allowed LTP (license to play) with the idea first – the kind of exploratory writing you suggest. I need to do this with a few of my storm of ideas. Thank you. i’ve just downloaded your e-book.
January 30, 2024 at 9:21 am
Jane Dippold
Thanks for the tips for continuing to move forward with sparks of ideas as a writer-very inspiring!
January 30, 2024 at 9:21 am
jenweingardt
Wow! Thank you for your wonderful insights into writing picture books.
January 30, 2024 at 9:25 am
goodreadswithronna
Thank you for sharing with us how to make the task at hand feel so much less daunting. I’m eager to apply your suggestions to my ideas list!
January 30, 2024 at 9:28 am
natashaffdfd87f06
Wow! This was absolutely fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
January 30, 2024 at 9:29 am
sblotevogel
This was a fantastic post! Thank you for the guidance and direction to know what to do next with all my ideas. I can’t wait to sit down this weekend and start organizing and sifting through everything.
January 30, 2024 at 9:31 am
leslieevatayloe
This was a wow moment for me. I know about the worksheet with boxes to lay out my manuscript but I’ve never had it explained to me in scenes (3 spreads for beginning, 8 spreads for middle, 3 spreads for ending.) I never thought about it that way. Thank you so much for this. Best wishes.
January 30, 2024 at 9:32 am
Catherine Friess
Thank you so much for these step-by-step instructions Simone. I can#t wait to start sifting now :o)
January 30, 2024 at 9:34 am
kcollazo
Wow! Speaking of diamonds! This post was the perfect ending to my first StoryStorm! So many great tips on how to keep this amazing energy going. Thank you for the free e-book as well, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 9:34 am
kathalsey
Hi Simone, I signed up for the “Srepad.” I so agree w/this:
“But the ‘best idea’ is a myth.
Because you can’t know if an idea is ‘the best’ or even ‘good’ until you begin to work on it.” Ty. The sifting idea is “gold.”
I have all my ideas on a calendar so I can see them all at once. Some have already given me all the feels. And I have 30!!!
January 30, 2024 at 9:36 am
Suzanne Lewis
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Simone, for your spreading process and template download! What a gift! I appreciated your diamond mining analogy to sift through our ideas as well. Each a gem; all a treasure trove!
January 30, 2024 at 9:42 am
pathaap
Thank you, Simone, for this very helpful post! I felt less overwhelmed with the next step after reading this!
January 30, 2024 at 9:45 am
Beth Auman
Wow! I can’t wait to follow these steps! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 9:45 am
Deborah Agranat Sullivan
Wow! Thanks, Simone, for the serious sifting lesson! Super helpful tips to organize the process. Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 9:46 am
Laura
Always the hard step to just plant yourself and start the job
January 30, 2024 at 9:49 am
Lynne Marie
Thanks so much for sharing — structure is important and helps a picture book idea stand up! Best, LM
January 30, 2024 at 9:49 am
writeremmcbride
Simone, I thank you for this very thorough post! “spreading” the story is such a good suggestion, and certainly lets one see where things need to be more developed or trimmed! Thank you for offering your template with your process!
January 30, 2024 at 9:52 am
Doreen Tango Hampton
WOW!! So much to process in this post. Grateful for your contribution, Simone.
January 30, 2024 at 9:54 am
Susie
thank you for generously sharing your wisdom !
My two weakest area are step 3 (select) and 5 (spread). I’ll use your advice to help me steer through those stages of this wonderful writing journey!
January 30, 2024 at 9:56 am
krharrellnw
Thanks for sharing these tips!
January 30, 2024 at 9:58 am
Laura Purdie Salas
Freewriting is so painful to me…even though magic always emerges. Thanks for the reminder. I’m guilty of ignoring that aspect all too often.
January 30, 2024 at 10:02 am
naturewalkwithgod
Simone, thank you for all this helpful information on the craft of developing and writing an idea. Wow! –Kim Peterson
January 30, 2024 at 10:03 am
clcoate
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!! I love a good plan and this definitely fills the bill! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 10:04 am
mornagersho
Thank-you, Simone! I never knew about “spreading,” I will try it. I always just write and try to just get the story down within the structure. How smart to “spread it.” I also didn’t realize that others sort of share that fear/reluctance during that moment when we take the seed idea from an idea to a draft, and then many drafts. That def a tough one. 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 10:04 am
Diane McBee
Going beyond the list is so important. Thank you for sharing strategies and ideas that help do that. I have always been reluctant to trim my idea list, but now I have an understanding of why and and how.
January 30, 2024 at 10:05 am
Sondra Zalewski
What a wealth of info, and I loved your analogy of ideas to cubic zirconia (I seem to own a lot of those). Thanks so much for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 10:07 am
amandadriscoll553ff9d202
Wonderfully helpful! Thanks for a great finale!!
January 30, 2024 at 10:07 am
Laurel Ranveig Abell
Such fantastic and practical advice!! Thanks for the template. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I LOVE templates!
January 30, 2024 at 10:09 am
Jessica Coupé
Thanks for this. I always have trouble narrowing ideas so this should help.
January 30, 2024 at 10:09 am
melissajmiles1
I love this systematic and actionable advice for not becoming overwhelmed! Thank you so much.
January 30, 2024 at 10:10 am
ptnozell
Wow! Thank you, Simone! The overwhelming jumble of ideas seems much more manageable now.
January 30, 2024 at 10:13 am
thehugbooks
This feels both exciting and scary. I can’t wait! Thank you for the guidance.
January 30, 2024 at 10:17 am
Sarah Hetu-Radny
Great post, thanks Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 10:20 am
ransonpatti
I am going to tie up my ideas on a list, shorten the list, and then start the hunt for the right one…thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 10:22 am
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Wow, Simone! This is an incredibly detailed and helpful process. Thank you so much!
January 30, 2024 at 10:23 am
brilawyer
Thank you so much for the downloadable ebook! And the opportunity for a 1 hour critique session. That’s so generous of you! I have an “ideas” list and have gone through to mark which ones I think will become gems. You are so right though- you can’t know if your idea is good until you actually start developing your manuscript. I’ve had ideas I thought were amazing, but once I started writing, it just wasn’t coming together. So they are put on the back burner. Sometimes they come off the back burner later and become germs. I always paginate my manuscripts, but there is something to be said about “spreading it” on a written template. I saw my story as a whole and knew what needed to be moved or changed. It was amazing. Thank you again for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 10:24 am
Lauren Barbieri
Thank you for this great advice on wrangling all those ideas!
January 30, 2024 at 10:25 am
Jane Heitman Healy
Wow, Simone! This is an incredibly helpful post! This will be my way forward in February! Thanks for the free book, too!
January 30, 2024 at 10:28 am
Cathy Lentes
I love, love, love practical, applicable advice! Thank you, Simone.✏️✅
January 30, 2024 at 10:28 am
kellybirdsong2019
Great post! This is very helpful.
January 30, 2024 at 10:30 am
Loralee Petersen
This is some very helpful advice. Thank you for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 10:33 am
elisederstine
Yowza, this is SO HELPFUL! Thank you, Simone!!
January 30, 2024 at 10:34 am
lisakdaviswriting
I love the practical advice in this! Thank you so much!!
January 30, 2024 at 10:36 am
MichaelHenriksen
Thanks for sharing these practical steps to help move the writing process forward in an organized (but not overly constrained) fashion! I love the concept of reviewing the spread for an overview of the story elements & flow!
January 30, 2024 at 10:37 am
Kimberly Marcus
Wow! Thank you for an informative and helpful post. And the giveaway!
January 30, 2024 at 10:38 am
Helen M. Waters
Thank you thank you thank you! These steps are just what I need! Now I feel less overwhelmed by all my ideas! Wonderful!
January 30, 2024 at 10:39 am
robincurrie1
What a great strategy! Just what I need to start having fun with this list!
January 30, 2024 at 10:42 am
mlyablonaolcom
Thanks for the final push forward. I’m ready to do start stretching my writing wings 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 10:43 am
Hélène Sabourin
Great post! Very motivating and refreshing.
January 30, 2024 at 10:48 am
Linda KulpTrout
This is so helpful! I love all of your suggestions and plan to start using them today! Thank you so much!
January 30, 2024 at 10:50 am
Carol Gwin Nelson
Thanks for the great advice on how to pick a project out of all of the ideas in my notebook.
January 30, 2024 at 10:50 am
Sara Weingartner
Thank you, Simone, for sharing this practical advice and structure! I will hold onto your sifting image, and your comment that no idea is the BEST. Thanks for saying that out loud. Takes a little pressure off :). This is fantastic. Thank you!!
January 30, 2024 at 10:52 am
paulajbecker
Wowza! Thanks for laying out this strategy/plan, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 10:53 am
gattodesign
Really great ideas. I picked up from another this month and added all my ideas from past years to one doc. Then started adding this year. I will weed through for best and now make the short list. Thanks for all the info. Good luck everyone.
January 30, 2024 at 10:55 am
Aileen Stewart
A great plan of attack. Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 10:56 am
Writer on the run
Thanks for helping me set a compass through all these ideas!
January 30, 2024 at 10:56 am
Melissa L Lettis
Good reminders to think about what you want to write – but at some point, you just have to start writing it! Great ideas for gathering all these nebulous idea fragments and helping craft them into actual stories.
January 30, 2024 at 10:57 am
kirstenbockblog
Great ideas for developing our stories! Thank you so much for sharing.
January 30, 2024 at 10:58 am
Lisa
I have so much research it is overwhelming. This is a marvelous way to get control of the chaos. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 10:58 am
abby mumford
The number of exercises/lines/words/encouragement/practical advice that I highlighted while reading this is… well, basically, the whole thing is highlighter yellow! Thank you, Simone, for this gem (sorry, couldn’t resist) of a post.
January 30, 2024 at 10:59 am
maureenegan
So much content! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 10:59 am
Hilary Margitich
This is so helpful, thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 11:03 am
kwillette13
I’ve got to say, I was ready for this post! After scanning my Storystorm list and all of the ideas, it can get a little overwhelming to think about where to start next. As an avid rockhound, I love the diamond-panning analogy! It’s so appropriate, and I can’t wait to start panning for “diamonds” (: I will definitely be checking out the e-book as well, as I can always use more resources regarding how to scaffold the story into book format. Thanks for sharing all of this useful info!
January 30, 2024 at 11:04 am
geigerlin
So helpful! Much appreciated!
January 30, 2024 at 11:04 am
ralucasirbu
Simone, your blog is exactly what the dr. ordered! I resonate with your approach to finding “THE stories.” If you are not writing with your heart, then neither the author nor the story is fulfilled. Thank you for defining the next steps.
January 30, 2024 at 11:07 am
Carrie Cook
“But the ‘best idea’ is a myth.” Love this, and love the spreading info, thanks!
January 30, 2024 at 11:08 am
jumpbaby
Love the idea of panning for diamonds! I’ll be adding some of your comments to the quote page in my writing planner.
Cheryl Johnson
January 30, 2024 at 11:08 am
Laurie Elmquist
Thank you Simone. I love the “just spread it” phase and your breakdown of the 3-8-3 structure (the set-up, development and resolution). So helpful.
January 30, 2024 at 11:12 am
Carla Gullett
Great post! I appreciate how clearly you articulated your process. It’s helpful, useable information. Thank you for your time and talent. Best of luck to you and your future writing projects!!!
January 30, 2024 at 11:14 am
karenrafeedie
So helpful! And now the next steps don’t seem so overwhelming and scary. Thanks, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 11:15 am
Lindsay Moretti
This is so helpful! Thank you for your tips on navigating the sea of ideas we’ve developed, and for the great download!
January 30, 2024 at 11:17 am
riverwoods21
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. I love keeping lists and love the ideas of how to focus and roll the dice! Thank you so much for sharing the eBook and being so generous. Penny T.
January 30, 2024 at 11:19 am
Cindy Boyll
This is a wonderful process to find and mine the diamonds and transform them. I’ve done Storystorm a few times, but never used my list in this way. This is the year! Thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 11:22 am
Janet AlJunaidi
Thank you Simone! Wow! This step-by-step process is so helpful – it helps funnel the creative gush in an ordered way – I absolutely love this!
January 30, 2024 at 11:22 am
beckywalker01
What an amazing post to end this fantastic Storystorm journey! I love your organizational ideas and the reminder to free write to find the diamonds. Thank you also for the PB structure book. So generous!! I’m grateful for your time and wisdom!
January 30, 2024 at 11:23 am
Janice Woods
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 11:24 am
jbbower
Thank you, Simone for laying out a plan in which we can find our own diamond in the rough. I am looking forward to finding mine and then polishing it to perfection (I hope!). Thanks again!
January 30, 2024 at 11:25 am
karammitchell
Simone! This is picture book writing GOLD! Thank you so much for this. This feels so simple and attainable. Hooray!!
January 30, 2024 at 11:25 am
saintamovin
Thank you Simone ⚒️ 💎
January 30, 2024 at 11:25 am
Mikki McFeve
Thanks! I bet spreading would be a great help.
January 30, 2024 at 11:28 am
Earl @ The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer
Thanks for the 14-spread framework. I really haven’t thought about the picture book structure that way.
January 30, 2024 at 11:28 am
bevbaird
Such an informative post Simone. Thank you. Will definitely be checking for your book.
January 30, 2024 at 11:30 am
Lucretia Schafroth
What a timely and useful post! Thank you for sharing your many tips and insights, Simone. So appreciate having access to your PB story spreading template–thanks for your generosity!
January 30, 2024 at 11:31 am
Joyce P. Uglow
IDEAS: intriguing diamonds entertain authors’ sleep
January 30, 2024 at 11:31 am
Jill Purtee (P. J.)
What a great summary! Timely, too.
January 30, 2024 at 11:33 am
Mona Pease
Thank you Simone for this ever so helpful post… plotting, planning, mining, writing! I’ve signed up for your newsletters and downloaded your e book. (thank you very much!) Now to make a clean list of all these ideas I have scribbled and doodled around my Story Storm notebook.
January 30, 2024 at 11:33 am
bookclubhbhs
Thanks so much for all the helpful ideas in this post and for the Spreading download! I’m excited to make my list and start sifting and developing stories!
January 30, 2024 at 11:34 am
Andria Rosenbaum
I’ve feathered my nest with your idea-sparking prompts. Now I’m ready to spread my wings!
Thank you, Simone.
January 30, 2024 at 11:37 am
Melissa McDaniel
Great ideas, Simone! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 11:39 am
Kara Plett
Wow – so helpful!
January 30, 2024 at 11:42 am
Michelle S Kennedy
Thank you for the tips on how to fine-tune our ideas into new masterpieces! I am going to sign up for your newsletter to glean more diamonds!!!
January 30, 2024 at 11:44 am
Kristi Mahoney
Simone–I love a good plan! These are great tangible ideas. Thanks so much!
January 30, 2024 at 11:47 am
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thank you so much, I really needed this. I have so many ideas I am excited to get started on.
January 30, 2024 at 11:52 am
mariautumn7c81b37a0a
Thank you, This is so helpful! It’s often overwhelming to look at my long list of ideas.
January 30, 2024 at 11:52 am
Sally Matheny
Encouraging post. What resonated with me the most was the statement to write one sentence per page when spreading. I tend to get bogged down in the beginning stages of writing trying to formulate a complete page. I’ll try this tactic today!
January 30, 2024 at 11:52 am
gottawritenow
Thank you Simone for this wonderful sure fire approach to begin sifting our diamonds free of our rubble and dust. Can’t wait to start! Appreciate the opportunity for the template as well-thanks for that!
January 30, 2024 at 11:57 am
Mary Ann Blair
What a fantastic post! Thanks for the template! Thanks for the free-writing idea. Brilliant!
January 30, 2024 at 11:58 am
Debbie Merlo Arnn
How very practical and generous! Thanks so much for sharing what to do with these ideas. It CAN be overwhelming for sure! Thanks for the free SPREADING resource, too! Very helpful post!
January 30, 2024 at 11:59 am
Leslie Santamaria
Thank you for a blueprint for success, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 11:59 am
Diane O'Neill
Thanks so much for the inspiration and useful tips, and thanks for sharing the template! I’m excited to begin working on STORYSTORM ideas 🙂 Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Natasha Garnett
Thank you, Simone. This looks like a great plan of action.
January 30, 2024 at 12:10 pm
nancyakolb1
Love the idea of sifting through ideas. When I review mine, there are some that resonate with me more than others. As I’ve written them down, on some of them, I’ve also added some phrases or words or potential story elements. These are the ones I focus on. Thanks also for Spreading. Very useful!
January 30, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Lisa Billa
So excited to start sifting! Thank you for your help with the next steps!
January 30, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Cindy Montoya
Wow, this was such a helpful post! I’m saving all the steps so I can work through them.
January 30, 2024 at 12:16 pm
mommamoocow
Wonderful information. Thank you!
Sharon Nix Jones
January 30, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Marie Prins
Thank-you for Spreading! It is very generous of you to share this tool. And thank-you for your post. There are many diamonds in it on how to choose stories and also how to work on them. To be honest, Storystorm doesn’t generate an idea every day. In fact, I’m happy if more than a half dozen pop into my head and are noted in my Storystorm 2024 document. But almost everyday there’s a gem of an idea that could take one of the stories I’m working on further towards the finish line (are they ever finished?). So for me, Storystorm offers daily thoughts on how to improve my writing. Your post is a goldmine for that too!
January 30, 2024 at 12:18 pm
serendipityinstars
Thank you so much for the steps to organizing and selecting our ideas! I can’t wait to get to work, using the template you so graciously offered us Storystormers.
January 30, 2024 at 12:20 pm
dlapmandi
Thank you for such a detailed post about mining for the magic (loved this terminology by the way). Thanks for the download also.
January 30, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Colleen Owen Murphy
Simone, this post is jam-packed with excellent ideas on how to move forward. Your e-book is in my inbox and I am looking forward to using it as develop a couple of my ideas. My biggest struggle is to free write since I am somewhat of a perfectionist as well as a person who likes to be in control. I know it is something I need to continue to work on and I will!!
January 30, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Heidi McFadzean
I love the concrete steps to move an idea forward, and the reminder that we don’t jump straight from idea to finished product. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 12:25 pm
joanlongstaff
Wow! What a packed post to lead us on from the idea generation powerhouse that is Storystorm, into the actual writing of a manuscript. So much good stuff … though will definitely have to put a gag on my inner editor when free writing! Thank you Simone.
January 30, 2024 at 12:25 pm
judyrubin13
Thank you, Simone, for sharing a way to organize and develop our ideas. What a wonderful resource.
January 30, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Bettie Boswell
Thank you for the free book. Your tips are great. Thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 12:27 pm
julianamjones728
Thank you so much for the free e-book, and your understandable process of picking the next project! You’ve helped a great deal in making it all make sense.
January 30, 2024 at 12:29 pm
lorimkeatingyahoocom
Thanks for the free ebook, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 12:31 pm
sue macartney
Simone, what a fabulous sendoff! so many wonderful and impractical tips to help us move forward on this journey – off to sift through ideas. Thank you!!
January 30, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Annie Guerra
Extremely helpful post on how to harness and develop our picture book ideas.
January 30, 2024 at 12:40 pm
sheriradovich0384
Thanks you for your structure and ideas for choosing which story ideas to organize and start with.
January 30, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Armineh Manookian
Such a wealth of information here. Thank you Simone! Love the “spread it” technique. Will definitely be trying it with my new manuscript.
January 30, 2024 at 12:44 pm
kiwijenny
Simone you are a diamond. Thank you for your generosity and “spreading” the picture book love. It’s not the idea that matters but the execution is going to be my new mantra. Although I have a gallows sense of humor and imagined beheading the story. lol
January 30, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Poupette
These guidelines are excellent. Thanks for breaking it down and making it sound sooooo simple. I tend to pick only 1 Storystorm idea for developing but now I’ll try listing them all together and considering others.
January 30, 2024 at 12:46 pm
91mikim19
I need to try step 4- free writing. And thank you for the template.
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January 30, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Deep Frees Studios
Thanks, Simone! I’m a fairly organized person, but you’ve offered some wonderful, detailed tips. I’d never heard of the 3-8-3 spread format before. Super helpful!
January 30, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Lindsey Aduskevich
What a fascinating last post. Thank you so much for these tips, Simone! 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Melissa Escobar
This was really great! Being a list person and an organizer myself, this process really appeals to me. I hadn’t heard of the 3-8-3 format before, such a great tool here!
January 30, 2024 at 12:54 pm
reedandwritekids
Wow! Just wow. Exactly what I needed for day 30. Thank you
January 30, 2024 at 12:57 pm
erozmus
Yes, perfect end to Storystorm!
January 30, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Srividhya Venkat
Great post…Thank you, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 1:04 pm
cnparch
Thank you, Simone. Going to try this on my current WIP!
January 30, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Angie
Yippee! This is just what we need at this stage of Storystorm! Perfect! Thank you so much!
Angie Quantrell
January 30, 2024 at 1:05 pm
debbiemoeller
This post really hit home for me. I needed to see this. I feel overwhelmed with so many ideas and now I can use your step by step process to move forward! Thanks so much for a wonderful post.
January 30, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Jessica Burbank
This is the perfect wrap up to another wonderful Storystorm experience. Thank you, and I can’t wait to read your e-book!
January 30, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Jennifer
Thank you for these next step tips and for the reminder that the important thing from here is not picking the perfect/best idea, it’s exploring the ideas that are speaking to us one by one and just moving forward!
January 30, 2024 at 1:06 pm
gregoryfulgione
Wonderful way to end Storystorm! Thank you for your great suggestions! I signed up to receive your Spreading e-book & can”t wait to learn about your process!
January 30, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Barbara Coston
Wonderful advice for organizing! Thank you so much, Simone!
Barbara Carney-Coston
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January 30, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Laura F. Nielsen
I find that it’s also important to go back and review my previous storystorm folders!
January 30, 2024 at 1:12 pm
claireflewis
‘You can’t know if an idea is ‘the best’ or even ‘good’ until you begin to work on it’ – wise advice! Thanks for a great post!
January 30, 2024 at 1:14 pm
lnsimmons23
Thank you so much for the very actionable advice and the free ebook, Simone! This is a great post! ~Lauren Simmons
January 30, 2024 at 1:15 pm
Stephanie Jones
I just love the magical sensibility in what is actually a very logical process—I can do this!
January 30, 2024 at 1:19 pm
shadikafi
thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 1:24 pm
kamalani3
Simone, thank you so much for the ebook! I love how practical your advice is. Wishing you all the best always.
January 30, 2024 at 1:25 pm
WriterTammy
Love a system of what to do with all the ideas! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 1:27 pm
fleischmana6
Thank you for such actionable ideas! I’ve been skipping the freewriting step and am going to give it a try!
January 30, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Kari Lavelle
Perfect end-of-StoryStorm post! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 1:32 pm
Bronte Colbert
Thank you, Simone, for the free book on structure and all these suggestions and advice. I use stream of consciousness for some of my writing…grateful for the reminder on that.
January 30, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Gretchen McLellan
Dear Simone,
Thank you for this oh-so-useful metaphor and process. For ideas that arrive without a structure, (don’t we love it when they do–arriving fully formed with heart), this process will be a great go-to to discover their possibilities and their shapes. I’m a pantser and the thought of all this organization kind of makes me panic, but with the potential that the process is generative, I’ll give it a try 🙂 I’m curious about the 3-8-3 structure and how that maps onto my books and works in process. Will explore this further. Thanks for a great post!
January 30, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Bridgitte Rodguez
This was a great post! Love the practical steps for looking at ideas. Thanks! And thanks for the free handout!
January 30, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Donna Rossman
What a great post to wrap things up! Thank you, Simone, for the wonderful organizing ideas, and for the fee e-book—just downloaded it!
January 30, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Laurie Seaford
Your post included a goldmine of so many simple, logical reminders. I’m especially eager to sift through my Storystorm notebook and freewrite. So timely. And, I’ve already downloaded SPREADING! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 1:48 pm
authordebradaugherty
What a great post to end our 30 PB ideas challenge! Thanks, Simone, for your excellent advice.
January 30, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Love your suggestions!
January 30, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Annelouise
Thank you, Simone. This post is such a gift, so insightful and encouraging. Also, thank you for the free e-book. That is so generous to share with all of us and inspiring!
January 30, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Suhasini Gupta
Thanks for this post, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 2:07 pm
1marth1
Thank you for sharing your ebook with us. Organization is not my strong point, so your tips for moving on from the idea stage will be helpful.
January 30, 2024 at 2:10 pm
marty
Thank you, Simone, for providing next steps and a story cueing tool for us to explore after selecting ideas and free writing. Your generous hour long critique will be just the thing for the lucky story storm winner.
January 30, 2024 at 2:11 pm
marshaelyn
Simone,
Your practical, step-by-step method of organizing our storm of ideas is brilliant. For the last three years, I’ve jotted down my January ideas inside of a “composition notebook.” Scanning the pages for an idea hasn’t been fun.
Tomorrow, while drinking lots of caffeine, I organize all those years’ worth of ideas into a Word document. Using “THE DRAWER” folder to store drafts appeals to my sense of order, too. Thank you for your valuable advice. On the last day of January, I usually feel like I’m diving head first into a sea of ideas and dog paddling my way through them. Now I’ll be prepared. Sending gratitude for your generous support and encouragement….
January 30, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Kathy Erskine
Great post on organizing and using our creative thoughts–thanks, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Jenn
What a helpful post! Thank you for sharing the ebook. It’s very generous of you!
January 30, 2024 at 2:23 pm
cathystenquist
Simone, Wow! What a post chock full of information! Thank you so very much.
January 30, 2024 at 2:25 pm
DrZatHome
Yes! An idea sifter, I love it! Thanks for these great suggestions!
January 30, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Yolimari Garcia
Thank you for this educational post! It’s excellent!
January 30, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Christine Graham
Thanks for your post and for the helpful gift!
January 30, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Nancy Ferguson
Simone, Thank you for the wonderful ideas to help organize.
January 30, 2024 at 2:41 pm
nrompella
I’ll be reading this again to really get the most of it. I can’t wait to look through, organize, and prioritize my ideas. Thanks!
January 30, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Laura Wippell
Having clear steps at this time of month is so helpful. The downloadable guide is great – thank you Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 2:47 pm
lhofke
I have so many new ideas. Thanks for the helpful advice on the next steps.
January 30, 2024 at 2:53 pm
shereenicole
Thank you!!! This is so helpful to have clear steps to move forward.
January 30, 2024 at 3:01 pm
leahmoserwrites
I love lists! Thank you for this post.
January 30, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Dawn Prochovnic
What a helpful post, and perfect timing! Thank you so much.
January 30, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Meredith E
Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 3:05 pm
laureannawrites
Organize, sift, commit, brainstorm, structure, WRITE, repeat! Thanks for the compass. 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 3:16 pm
KamillaM
What a beautiful, thorough process! Thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Judy Bryan
Wow, wow, wow! So much great information in this post, and the perfect way to end Storystorm! Thank you!!
January 30, 2024 at 3:29 pm
Wendy Greenley
Spreading before you write is a fascinating idea. It’s always been an after a few drafts process for me before. I’m going to give it a try!
January 30, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Such a helpful post! Thank you, Simone. I’m going to download your book.
January 30, 2024 at 3:38 pm
Evelyn Day
Thank you for all these great ideas!
January 30, 2024 at 3:39 pm
debrasantafe
Thank you for laying out steps to organize all the different ideas. I am not feeling so overwhelmed!
January 30, 2024 at 3:47 pm
jennaejo
thank you!! SO helpful
January 30, 2024 at 3:51 pm
taracho4
This was amazing! Thank you for sharing your organizational expertise. This feels much less overwhelming now!
January 30, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Joy Wieder
A perfect post to wrap up Storystorm 2024. I look forward to learning more about the “spreading” technique!
January 30, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Christine Letizia
I love your suggestion of breathing and focusing and allowing the ideas to speak to us. Such a great post. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 3:56 pm
maramarakay
Step by step!
January 30, 2024 at 3:56 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
Thank you for the e-book and the encouragement Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 4:17 pm
vivianvandevelde
Such good ideas! And how generous to give the e-book. I plan to look at it as soon as I finish this comment.
January 30, 2024 at 4:21 pm
catlady45
Thank you, Simone for helping us to organise our ideas. I love the analogy of sifting for diamonds!
January 30, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Anne C. Bromley
Thank you, Simone! You have given us a track to run on now that we have a way to manage our ideas and a strategy for writing a first draft. Your kind generosity (I love the e-book!) is greatly appreciated.
January 30, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Natalie Lynn Tanner
SIMONE: THANK YOU SO MUCH for the FREE e-book! And THANK YOU ESPECIALLY for the step-by-step plan to help us TACKLE our stories “One idea at a time. One manuscript at a time.
That’s how you write better books and build a body of work.” I am writing those words down and keeping them close to CONTINUE to INSPIRE me—one day at a time.
January 30, 2024 at 4:23 pm
susanahearn45
Thank you for such great advice about getting organized, and for your spreading template!
January 30, 2024 at 4:27 pm
robinswingeditorial
Thank you for the plan on how to proceed :).
January 30, 2024 at 4:40 pm
jlehson
Interesting, I didn’t know it was called spreading, but this is how I write! I figured it was because of my art background– it’s always made more sense to me that way.
January 30, 2024 at 4:41 pm
sallymcclure
I’ve heard about free writing but I’ve never tried it!
January 30, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Lauri Meyers
Love a clear, easy-to-follow organizing tool!
January 30, 2024 at 4:42 pm
kelliearted
I love a step-by-step! Thanks for the download too!
January 30, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Karin Larson
Thank you for the detailed and informative post. Very helpful!
January 30, 2024 at 4:48 pm
lauranclement
LOVED this! “It doesn’t matter which you work on next.
Don’t spend forever trying to make the ‘best’ decision.
Pick something. Anything. Some place to begin.”
This is epically true if you are surrounded by lots of ideas, starting is key. Thank you for a great post!
January 30, 2024 at 4:48 pm
M.R.
I love your post! It is so helpful! I have already completed Step 1 (32 ideas so far!) and just organically started Step 2 (thinking about those 32 ideas and which ones are my favorites). Another scientifically validated way to complete Step 3 is using a Random Number Generator. Thank you for providing the Spreading Process/Template! I am signing up for it now! 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 4:51 pm
emmelineforrestal
Great post! Lots of actionable items here, thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 4:52 pm
Elena Horne
Thank you for the blog post and the free guide!
January 30, 2024 at 4:53 pm
theliah1
Thank you, Simone for sharing your insights!
January 30, 2024 at 5:06 pm
Virginia Rinkel
Thank you for your selective process of one step after another – writing – love the Spreading Process of thinking and the template. All your ideas are so focused and constantly going forward And the recording of all of this is invaluable. This has been a helpful post. Thanks again.
January 30, 2024 at 5:07 pm
shirley301
Thanks for helping us weed our ideas. It’s a daunting task.
January 30, 2024 at 5:08 pm
Ellie Langford
Thanks for the Template and suggestions for organizing potential ideas.
January 30, 2024 at 5:14 pm
Janet Halfmann
Thank you for all these helpful ways to keep the momentum going!
January 30, 2024 at 5:19 pm
tinefg
Thank you Simone, such a fantastic step by step on how to make magic with all these great new picture book ideas! Thanks also for the e-book download looking forward to putting it all into practice.
January 30, 2024 at 5:20 pm
inquirylane
Thank you so much for the suggestions!-Macy
January 30, 2024 at 5:23 pm
colleenrkosinski
Great organizing techniques!
January 30, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Jenny Boyd
Thanks so much for your detailed, motivating post. I love it!
January 30, 2024 at 5:34 pm
Angela Martinelli
Thank you Simone! Your organizational tips will be so helpful when taking the next steps with my StoryStorm list.
January 30, 2024 at 5:36 pm
Claudia Sloan
Thank you for the idea organizing tips and for the encouragement to keep the momentum going. 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 5:45 pm
lsheroan
Thank you for sharing the information on picture book spreading.
January 30, 2024 at 5:56 pm
haleypaige91
Thanks for these fabulous insights and exercises for watering the idea seeds, Simone!
January 30, 2024 at 5:57 pm
TonyaAnn Pember
I start every piece of writing with the freewrite technique, we call it QuickWrite and I teach it to kids. If you do several over a short time period, you see what rises to the top. Thanks for the reminder!
January 30, 2024 at 5:57 pm
D. Kim
Wow! I can’t believe it’s the end.. till next year. Thank you for everything! 😃
January 30, 2024 at 6:00 pm
58chilihed13
Lots to think about and great ideas, thanks!
January 30, 2024 at 6:08 pm
Tara Cerven
Such. Great. Advice. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 6:15 pm
Christine Van Zandt, MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS (Beaming Books, 2024)
This is all such great advice. Thank you! It can be a lot having a book full of ideas but, wow, we have a book full of ideas. One more tip to add (if applicable) is that once you’ve sorted ideas and have designated the top five or so that you’d like to write, run that info past your agent. Mine is open to this and always has insightful feedback, which helps me choose which ones to focus my limited time on.
January 30, 2024 at 6:15 pm
kellietheridgeauthor
I appreciate the idea of the sifting screen and also how to sit with your intuition to decide where to focus energy next. This is how I make all important decisions. Thanks for sharing. What a wonderful month.
January 30, 2024 at 6:18 pm
marty bellis
Wow, thank you Simone, for this very helpful post. Knowing how to corral and select the myriad of ideas, and then how to move forward in a systematic way is daunting. Perfect timing for these precise steps and terrific suggestions! Definitely plan to check out your e-book as well.
January 30, 2024 at 6:21 pm
Aly Kenna
Thanks Simone, for your post. Love seeing the writing process laid out. The bottom line is just pick something and try it out. Quite motivational. Love, love, love how scientific you get especially with step 3, selecting an idea gets. Sometimes it just comes down to a random act. Start writing is what I get from your post, thanks.
January 30, 2024 at 6:29 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Start something on your list. If you get stuck start writing something else on the list. stuck again? do a third. Now merge them altogether.
January 30, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Sasha
Thank you Simone for the pdf. Everyone keeps saying “make a dummy” of your picture book story, but I never knew how to approach it. Your template is such a helpful guide. And on another note: “yes” to “scientifically validated methods.” They always work!
January 30, 2024 at 6:45 pm
jessicafgwrites
I love this line: “What you’re looking for are the ideas that seem to sparkle, that have a kind of juiciness, that intrigue you, not because you know where they’re going or what they’re going to be about, but because you want to find out what they might be about.” SO GREAT!
January 30, 2024 at 6:53 pm
TL Fales
Thank you so much for those very practical and doable tips!
January 30, 2024 at 6:53 pm
A Brewer
Wow! What a send off to the end of Storystorm! I completely loved your analogies to pick out, source and refine the ideas of our January idea storm. Your steps are totally fun and smart. I look forward to using them this year! Cheers!
January 30, 2024 at 6:56 pm
Bethanny Parker
I’ve never heard of the 14-spread framework. Thanks for explaining it.
January 30, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Angela De Groot
Amazing post, Simone! I’m excited to try your steps and Spreading technique. Thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Carrie Tillotson
Thank you Simone! I love your ideas for sifting through all our new sparkly ideas.
January 30, 2024 at 7:02 pm
julicaveny
This was wonderfully inspiring! Thanks for providing a little framework for our (or some of our) very Jackson Pollack-like collection of PB story ideas! –Juliann (Juli) Caveny
January 30, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Pam Barton
Thank you, very helpful post!
January 30, 2024 at 7:11 pm
mnlfam
Thanks for your timely post! While it’s awesome to have so many ideas, one on each page of a spiral bound notebook, it can also be paralyzing. Putting one liners of your ideas all on one page (away from all the other notes) really makes the task of choosing what to work on seem less daunting.
January 30, 2024 at 7:13 pm
katecarroll
Mining for gold always intrigued me! Digging for that sparkling diamond amongst the grains and pebbles of ideas seems is even better. Thanks for your awesome organizational tips, Simone.
January 30, 2024 at 7:20 pm
ConstanceL
What a meaty, useful post!! Its not the idea, its the execution – yes!! Thank you so much, Simone!!
January 30, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Mark Ceilley
Wow! Such great ways to organize and sift through all my ideas!
Thank you for all the tips! They’re fantastic!
January 30, 2024 at 7:47 pm
staceygustafson
Just do it! Thanks for the support…Pick something. Anything. Some place to begin.
January 30, 2024 at 7:54 pm
Peggy Dobbs
This is such an amazing way to help wrap up a month of ideas. I look forward to finding those diamonds. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 7:54 pm
rosihollinbeck
Wow. There is a lot to unpack in this post. Thanks! And thanks for the ebook.
January 30, 2024 at 7:54 pm
seahorsecoffeeelektra79018
Thank you so very much for all the great advice you so generously shared. It’s perfect, especially for new or wanna be writers who can’t afford taking classes or courses. I plan to use this faithfully. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 8:15 pm
Elayne
It’s so fun to read what other people’s processes are! 🙂 And I can see ours is very similar, though I’m a fan of using index cards for my Storystorm ideas (because I want them to be around my desk, even when I’m off my computer). Thank you for sharing what works for you and so many others! 🙂
January 30, 2024 at 8:20 pm
Lorraine
Maintain momentum… that’s my goal for this year. I’ll be revisiting this post as I move through the process. Thanks!
January 30, 2024 at 8:25 pm
karenleewyoming
Love the way this helps turn a broad searchlight into a laser-focused beam!
January 30, 2024 at 8:34 pm
ponder2write
Ideas disappear if not written and organized! Simone, this information is a great reminder of the steps to take in my writing. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 8:36 pm
claireannette1
Thank you for this great post. I’ll be using your suggestions beginning on Feb. 1st
January 30, 2024 at 8:40 pm
Rick Starkey
Thank you for sharing your Spreading e-book! This is great.
January 30, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Heather
Thank you for sharing such wonderful tips!
January 30, 2024 at 8:48 pm
Cathy Stefanec Ogren
Great tips to get yourself organized and moving forward!
January 30, 2024 at 8:48 pm
Ali V. (they/them)
The most useful post in the world – thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 9:02 pm
Mari Richards
Simone, this post is such a wonderful thing to have at this point in the process, and now I’m excited to go back through my ideas again, instead of feeling overwhelmed. Thank you.
January 30, 2024 at 9:03 pm
Gail Aherne
Christine, this post was incredibly helpful! Thank you for the reminder; one idea, one manuscript at a time, will build better writing.
January 30, 2024 at 9:06 pm
srkckass
You’re right…I do need to organize. Lol ❤️
January 30, 2024 at 9:08 pm
Alison McGauley
Simone, thank you so much for this in-depth post about the process. I love the idea of sifting through ideas, “panning for diamonds”. This is so on-point! Thanks:-)
January 30, 2024 at 9:08 pm
MDalphin Williams Creative.Com
Thanks so much for your post Simone. It’s great near the end of the month to have a direction for organizing all our new ideas, or reviewing old ones. It’s been a good journey for sure.
January 30, 2024 at 9:15 pm
marywarth
Thank you for sharing how we can sort though ideas and let them develop!
January 30, 2024 at 9:15 pm
Darla Christie
Wonderful, helpful tips as I tackle my mini mountain of ideas! I love a tangible list I can work through…it makes it seem less daunting. Thanks for shar8ng!
January 30, 2024 at 9:21 pm
Marcia Berneger
Thanks for so many wonderful tips. When I go through my list, I try to picture each title as a book. Some stay just words on the page. The ones that run wild in my mind are the ones I start with.
January 30, 2024 at 9:25 pm
Kelly A.
Keeping my momentum going after January has always been difficult for me, so I love these ideas!
January 30, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Aimee Larke
Awesome tips and thank you for the resource on spreading!
January 30, 2024 at 9:37 pm
lindakaychavezbooks
These steps are really going to help me. Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2024 at 9:48 pm
Trine Grillo
Thank you for this great organizational info!
January 30, 2024 at 9:52 pm
Melanie Manzer Kyer
This was SO helpful– at first I thought “Ok, another post about going over your ideas” — but you really went in depth with how to turn an idea into a workable manuscript!! I will be bookmarking this post and coming back to it again and again! Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 9:52 pm
sharongiltrowauthor
Hi Simone I am so glad you are one of the bloggers for Storystorm. You have shared some really useful information and resources. I am going to do this and I am also going to do this when I teach my young writers course later in the year. Bravo!!
January 30, 2024 at 9:54 pm
jennifermaryg
Time to get organized! Thanks for sharing these tips! 📚♥️
January 30, 2024 at 10:09 pm
Kate Grimm
Thank you for all of the ideas to get organized and get writing!
January 30, 2024 at 10:11 pm
Barbara Kimmel
Fantastic specific suggestions! Thank you. This is exactly what I need.
January 30, 2024 at 10:14 pm
schumerthc
Wow! So much here to take in. Thanks for the post and the handout.
January 30, 2024 at 10:29 pm
mwinikates
I like the scientific randomness. 🙂 Keeping oneself from trying to write 30 ideas at once is a good thing! This storystorm has been so good for generating so much energy, these are great pieces of advice to keep it rolling.
January 30, 2024 at 10:31 pm
heidikyates
An excellent post, Simone! I’ll definitley be rereading this one. Thank you so much!
January 30, 2024 at 10:40 pm
schellijo
Thank you! I definitely needed this. It’s so hard to keep things orderly, or at least it is for me. I’m saving this! Thanks for sharing.
January 30, 2024 at 10:43 pm
Gwendolyn Holbrow
What a lot of great suggestions! I hope I will actually do these things. Looking forward to your e-book. Thank you for everything!
January 30, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Tarja Helena Nevala
Such great information and helpful tips here. Thank you!
January 30, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Claire A. B. Freeland
Thank you for the e-book. And also for this helpful post. I appreciate your guidance.
January 30, 2024 at 11:08 pm
migratingmoosegmailcom
Perfect post yo wrap ip the month of Story Storm!
January 30, 2024 at 11:09 pm
littleseedsread
These are great strategies and I especially love the idea of “spreading” our drafts. Very helpful! Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips.
January 30, 2024 at 11:15 pm
percyandcat
Simone, thank you so much for your wealth of ideas and suggestions. You gave me things to sink my brain teeth into. Truly a great article for the end of Storystorm 2024.
January 30, 2024 at 11:21 pm
marthaej
Thank you for answering my question: What do I do now??
This was so very helpful!
January 30, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Kylie Burns kysblog1
That was entirely applicable; a treasure trove of ideas and practical steps! Thank you! Now to find the juicy bits and get writing!
January 30, 2024 at 11:24 pm
gotoddgo3
I look forward to reading through “TMKtoUPBS!” Thank you for this resource. I am certain it will help!
January 30, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Abby Wooldridge
Thank you so much for your e-book! That is very generous of you! And thank you for your suggestions. I love your scientifically validated approach to turning ideas into drafts. This post was extremely motivating and encouraging.
January 30, 2024 at 11:32 pm
chelseasworldofbooks
Thanks for sharing your editorial process with us, Simone! And what an excellent prize combo. I can’t wait to sift through my Storystorm ideas for all the diamonds.
January 30, 2024 at 11:38 pm
blumsteinbooks
Thanks for the great advice on how to structure the next steps in our process!
January 30, 2024 at 11:40 pm
beaumontsd2
Thank you so much, Simone, for setting out these steps to find the ideas that sparkle and to give them real life. These concrete actions are invaluable –and your e-book looks fantastic!!
January 30, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Jess Hedaria
This is great. Often ideas sit not looked at for months and then accessing them seems overwhelming, so this is super helpful. Thank you
January 30, 2024 at 11:42 pm
Alicia Shawn Gagnon
HA! Love STEP 3 with poking pencils, crumpled paper and dice to help get going!! TU!
January 30, 2024 at 11:57 pm
rindabeach
Thank you for your gems of wisdom, AND Onward!
January 30, 2024 at 11:59 pm
greengirlblueplanet
Thank you for sharing this helpful process!
January 31, 2024 at 12:14 am
JF Hall Writes
Thank you so much for the PB spread framework guide! And thank you for the inspiring step-by-step recommendations to turn ideas into manuscripts. I now have 34 new ideas to sift through, using your helpful suggestions. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 12:16 am
seschipper
Great tips and ideas!!! I love the suggestion of dice and/or crumpled paper 😊Your post put a smile on my face! Thank you for sharing! 📝💕
January 31, 2024 at 12:16 am
heatherstigall
Thanks for this step-by-step guide!
January 31, 2024 at 12:17 am
syorkeviney
Simone, you’ve provided the organization that I’ve been looking for! I am generating ideas, writing manuscripts and tucking them away thinking one day I will get them organized! You’ve provided a scaffold for writing and another for structuring the process. Thank you!!!!
January 31, 2024 at 12:27 am
Janet Smart
Thanks for the post. It’s time to brainstorm!
January 31, 2024 at 12:28 am
Allison Green
What a practical and hopeful way to wrap things up! Thank you so much!
January 31, 2024 at 12:30 am
brightwishbooks
I usually dislike organizing but I think I will enjoy this! Thanks for the tips!
January 31, 2024 at 12:42 am
Matthew Lasley
I think that moving forward with momentum is probably the most difficult thing to do. And while I know that not all my ideas will make a book, it is nice to have a ready list of ideas for when I need to develop something new for my critique groups.
January 31, 2024 at 12:43 am
Bedwards
Thank for this organized way to sift through all these ideas.
January 31, 2024 at 12:50 am
8catpaws
Your post makes me think I should aspire to the Marie Kondo method of storytelling: Pick up each idea, one at a time, and ask myself “Does this spark joy?'”
January 31, 2024 at 12:52 am
wyszguy
What a terrific post! Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 12:54 am
Steena Hernandez
Such a helpful post, Simone! I’m feeling more confident and focused on “One idea at a time. One manuscript at a time.” Thank you so much!
January 31, 2024 at 1:12 am
Jane F.
Yesterday I was thinking about what to do next with my idea notebook. Today, thank heaven – and you – for this post to put me on track to make the most of my diamond search!
January 31, 2024 at 1:19 am
rgstones
Excited to see your “spreading” template. Thanks for the post!
January 31, 2024 at 1:27 am
Judith Snyder
Thank you for your great suggestions and for the e-book that I just downloaded. Look forward to reading more of your ideas.
January 31, 2024 at 1:45 am
Gaby L.
Hi Simone, I payed attention to every step to write a picture book, from how we can organize our ideas, to shape our manuscript. You make my Storystorm 2024 successful. Thank you for pushing us today like a mentor
January 31, 2024 at 2:19 am
hamblinkris
Thank you for the ebook. I totally agree that sometimes you just need to choose a direction and start. Anxiety about it being perfect keeps you stuck.
Kris
January 31, 2024 at 2:19 am
kelliannedy
I’m anxious to apply this! Thank you for your diamond panning imagery, carefully crafted steps, and intro to “spreading.” I absolutely will be using this. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 2:27 am
Mari Miyagi
Wow, I will keep this post as a reminder for me when I get stuck. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful ideas!
January 31, 2024 at 2:36 am
Tonnye Fletcher
I love the analogy of stories to gemstones! And thank you so much for the freebies! Great post!
January 31, 2024 at 2:39 am
mrbellasgmailcom
What an amazing way to reach Day 30! Thank you, Simone for all the suggestions! I loved the break down of ideas, so efficient! Can’t wait to see your template!
January 31, 2024 at 2:48 am
elphbatt
This has been very helpful. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 2:56 am
kelpellico
Thank you for the structure and wonderful tips!
January 31, 2024 at 3:21 am
steveheron
Great diamond analogy Simone and thanks for the spreading template.
January 31, 2024 at 3:24 am
Maria Johnson
Wow! I can’t thank you enough for giving us such detailed instructions for next steps. I love the line about not knowing if an idea is good until you work on it. I think in the past, I have gotten discouraged when I start working on an idea that thought was amazing, only to find it’s not particularly compelling. I don’t need to get stuck in that frustrating place. I can use this process to examine the quality of the idea and save it in “The Drawer” until I’m ready to come back to it. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 3:28 am
Dionnie Takahashi
Thank you so much for the tips and for sharing the Spreading writing process with us so freely. I can’t wait to try it out.
January 31, 2024 at 5:28 am
Kaye Baillie
Great advice, thanks Simone!
January 31, 2024 at 7:23 am
flewk1
Thank you for the practical tips and the spreading template.
January 31, 2024 at 7:46 am
kellyjaques
Great post, Simone, thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 7:46 am
kellyjaques
Great post, Simone, thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 8:26 am
anaarchistories
Lots of nuggets of great story development in this post. Thanks.
January 31, 2024 at 8:27 am
Debbie Tullos
Thank you so much! You’ve got me excited about making a new manuscript! And revising some sitting in the drawer.
January 31, 2024 at 8:42 am
Kindness Kangaroo
this has been a great wrap-up!
January 31, 2024 at 8:44 am
kathleengauer
Thanks for these great suggestions for panning for our idea diamonds and mining them for magic!
January 31, 2024 at 8:47 am
Jessie D. Phillips
I really liked the comparison of mining for diamonds. A folder called, “The Drawer” is also a great idea. TY!
January 31, 2024 at 9:17 am
bgonsar
So in depth! Thanks for your nuggets of wisdom Simone.
January 31, 2024 at 9:32 am
Jamie Bills
Wow, this is a quick masterclass. Thank you! I love the idea of panning for diamonds and the reminder that there isn’t a “best idea.”
January 31, 2024 at 9:39 am
eleanorannpeterson
Thanks for sharing. I’ll be following those steps from now on so I don’t feel overwhelmed. Great tips. I have to find those gold nuggets.
January 31, 2024 at 9:44 am
jilltatara
This is such a gem of a post! As someone who is not very organized and who gets overwhelmed easily, this was such needed information. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 9:50 am
Heidi Chupp
Thank you so much, Simone! It’s great to have the writing process broken down into manageable steps. 🙂
January 31, 2024 at 10:10 am
murrelld
Thank you for sharing such a practical process! This will really help take the ideas from Story Storm to the next level.
January 31, 2024 at 10:10 am
AngelaLucilleLongo
Ah darn. I was looking forward to the screwdrivers, metal, and mesh. I love a good craft!
January 31, 2024 at 10:15 am
joseyetta3dd08a42d6
Thank you, Simone. Your post has good and important information about the process. I look forward to reading, Spreading
January 31, 2024 at 10:18 am
Leah Marks
Thank for your suggestions to carry the momentum forward.
January 31, 2024 at 10:27 am
mdk45
A wonderful post, Simone. Thank you for the resources and helpful process.
January 31, 2024 at 10:32 am
Laura
Thank you for this.
January 31, 2024 at 10:41 am
Eileen Saunders
Thanks for the tips
January 31, 2024 at 10:44 am
andreesantini
What a great summary of agreat process to develop picture books. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 10:53 am
ellenramsey
Thanks, Simone, for the perfect post for moving forward with some of our many ideas!
January 31, 2024 at 11:08 am
Eric Herrington
Thank you! Wow timely information on what to do with all these ideas. Thank you for your ebook on the PB format too.
January 31, 2024 at 11:10 am
michelemeleen
This is all really solid advice, thanks so much for sharing! My main sorting method involves my writing accountability partner and I perusing each other’s list of ideas. We mark the ones we think sound the most interesting and/or marketable. Sometimes, having this outside opinion helps me see my ideas differently.
January 31, 2024 at 11:26 am
Anita
Thank you so much!
January 31, 2024 at 11:27 am
Sarah Meade
I love this post. So much wisdom here. I appreciate “It’s not the idea. It’s the execuation.” Thank you, Simone!
January 31, 2024 at 11:41 am
joanswanson58
Wow, just wow. This is a lot of great information and techniques. Thank you for helping in taking it from idea to manuscript!
January 31, 2024 at 11:50 am
laurelneme
Loved how you break down the process – with many great suggestions to help you see what you have, and to find what’s not working
January 31, 2024 at 11:51 am
Sally Hoch
Your spread breakdown (3 for beginning, 8 for middle, 3 for resolution) really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing! Great information here.
January 31, 2024 at 11:55 am
jenngautam
thank you- this is a great idea
January 31, 2024 at 11:58 am
Naana Amissah
Thank you Simone for sharing. The idea of one sentence to a page for spreading it is very useful. I will be “panning for diamonds” with these steps. Thank you for the free downloads.
January 31, 2024 at 12:04 pm
carmelamccainsimmons
3-8-3! I struggle with pacing and structure. This is so helpful. Thank you.
January 31, 2024 at 12:14 pm
kathydoherty1
Thanks, Simone. Your post was so insightful!
January 31, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Lori Williams Writing
I feel motivated to look at my list and try this process. Thank you for the guidance for developing a body of work.
January 31, 2024 at 12:29 pm
swollis
Loved this post! So much helpful information.
January 31, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Deborah Ishii
Thank you for sharing your gems of wisdom! I love the way that you’ve broken down the steps and encouraged us to really examine our ideas, especially through the “spreading” stage!
January 31, 2024 at 1:06 pm
cindyjohnson2013
Your process of spreading really spoke to me! Thanks so much for your generosity in including the template link!
January 31, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Denise Gallagher
Thank you, Simone, for sharing so much helpful information! So inspiring!
January 31, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Susan Contreras
Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Thank you Simone for your post!s
January 31, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Darcee A Freier
I requested SPREADING. I’m going to try it. Thanks!
January 31, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Adrea
Thank you, Simone; this is a great way to get organized and keep abreast of what we’ve accomplished this month. Thank you also for the resource on Spreading; can’t wait to dive into it!
January 31, 2024 at 2:00 pm
diggerdynamo
Thank you, Simone, for your helpful resources. Studying the Spreading ebook process now!
January 31, 2024 at 2:28 pm
Karan Greene
Such great and practical advice! Thanks!
January 31, 2024 at 2:58 pm
Deena Viviani
Thank you for reminding me that it is OK to delete some ideas. Not every brainstorm has to go somewhere!
January 31, 2024 at 3:07 pm
allyenz
Simone, wow this is all incredibly helpful. A couple of things jumped out at me, especially your advice to follow the idea that you are curious about (rather than the one that you “already know where it’s going.”) That is definitely WHY I write at all. If I already know what I am going to say, I’m bored before I even start.
You offer a lot of gems about how to keep going, as well, which is where I really need help! Look forward to reading your Spreading resource. Genuine thanks!
January 31, 2024 at 3:31 pm
jenniferjschmidte207d3cec9
I am saving this post everywhere–in my email, in a file, and printing to keep by my desk. I love a plan–and this one makes it so inspired to move from idea to structured story. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 3:31 pm
elizabethwilcoxsaba
Very helpful! Thank you for your time and expertise!
January 31, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Ben Jeder
Incredible advice. The spreading framework and freewriting advice just helped unlock the block I’ve been feeling. THANK YOU!!!
January 31, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Ryann Jones
Love this idea to organize ideas! Thank you for sharing and participating!
January 31, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Tanya Konerman
Organization is definitely key. I go back to past lists every six months or so and having them handy makes it so much easier!
January 31, 2024 at 4:44 pm
laurakbower
Thank you Simone! I love how you compare ideas to stones (and laughed out loud with some are gravel!). Here’s to uncovering some diamonds in 2024! Thank you for the insightful strategies and practical tips.
January 31, 2024 at 4:55 pm
susaninez0905
This was a perfect way to end the month; great suggestions and ways to keep moving forward. Thank you! 🙂
January 31, 2024 at 4:56 pm
lynjekowsky
Sifting for diamonds, a great metaphor! Thank you for all the great information. Looking forward to using spreading.
January 31, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Amy Martinez
Thank you!! I am a person who loves a good list of steps to move my ideas into a manuscript. My ideas have felt overwhelming swirling in my head, but now that I have a plan to narrow them down and move forward, I am hopeful for what comes next. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 5:24 pm
peasecja
Thanks for the tips on how to keep everything organized and the momentum going!
January 31, 2024 at 5:43 pm
helenlysicatos
Thank you the for the wonderful and information filled post.
January 31, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Jane Baskwill
Thank you Simone. The 5 steps are just what I needed to sort through my 30+ ideas!
January 31, 2024 at 5:52 pm
michelerietz
Simone – Thank you for the post – great suggestions for actually putting my ideas to good use. As for the free e-book. I just downloaded it and can’t wait to read it! It was very generous to give it to us, and I appreciate it.
January 31, 2024 at 6:04 pm
Barbara Farland
It’s been a fruitful month and I’ll need this resource soon. Thanks a bunch!
January 31, 2024 at 6:04 pm
Marlena Leach
Getting organized is a priorty. If I don’t it’s just helter skelter. You lent some great suggestions. Thanks, Simone.
January 31, 2024 at 6:29 pm
Jill Lambert
This post was fabulous! Sharing the ebook was very kind of you. Thank you, Simone!
January 31, 2024 at 6:40 pm
Fiona Bannatyne
This all spoke to me so much! I get overwhelmed so easily, and stuck in the place of needing it to be the ‘right’ idea, and taking it in the ‘right’ direction. I have made a note in my StoryStorm idea book to revisit this blog when I am going through my ideas. Thank you.
January 31, 2024 at 6:43 pm
Marci Whitehurst
Thanks for the ideas on how to organize ideas!
January 31, 2024 at 6:44 pm
Patricia Tiffany Morris
I appreciate the template structure gift! Wow. This post has wonderful teeth to implement mash ups, mix ups, and brainstorming story bending idea generation. Thanks so very much.
January 31, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Alicia Meyers
Thank you for helping us vizualize the pagination !
January 31, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Dawn M.
Thanks for sharing your 5 steps!
January 31, 2024 at 7:25 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Simone! This post is the best! It is amazing and beneficial to writers.
Thank you for sharing the five steps and the link to the downloadable.
Suzy Leopold
January 31, 2024 at 7:34 pm
kristarantino
Thanks for the 5 steps!
January 31, 2024 at 7:35 pm
marjorienye
At this point, I’m overwhelmed. It’s a good problem to have. This will help me proceed!!
January 31, 2024 at 7:43 pm
saravan7747
I really appreciate the detailed step-by-step advice!
January 31, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Pravin Kaipa
hi Simone, thank you for your tips and your resources, just checked out your website and would appreciate the chance to work on my writing with you.
January 31, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Jan Milusich
Thanks for the organized and insightful advice, Simone!
January 31, 2024 at 8:45 pm
sharonkdal
This is brilliant! I now have my sifting machine set up! Also, I just downloaded your Spreading booklet. Oh my gosh it looks so helpful! Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 8:54 pm
jenwritespbs
This is AWESOME! I feel like I just did a mini class! Thank you so much for all of this!
January 31, 2024 at 8:56 pm
Robin Keeler
Mining for magic! Thank you, I can’t wait to go through your useful step-by-step process!
January 31, 2024 at 9:14 pm
robinmeby
What a helpful post, Simone! You are so generous with your resources. I can’t wait to get going on my ideas! Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 9:37 pm
Andi Chitty
Thank you for such actionable steps! Great post, Simone!
January 31, 2024 at 9:57 pm
Judy Sobanski
Execution is everything. Thank you for sharing your process!
January 31, 2024 at 10:16 pm
Janette Johnson Melson
Wow! I loved this post so much. Signed up to get the book on spreading. This is such a wonderful way to help me not get overwhelmed by the thirty ideas now waiting to be explored.
January 31, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Helen Taylor
Thank you, this was a very helpful post! I particularly appreciate your explanation of ‘spreading’ as a more flexible and less confining process than outlining.
January 31, 2024 at 10:29 pm
stacyallen
This is awesome/ flagging it to return to next week and organize!
January 31, 2024 at 10:37 pm
Monica Acker
I am going to come back to this one time and time again! Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 10:47 pm
Karen Elise Finch
Thank you, Simone! And I thought I was doing okay with Storystorm spreadsheets. This helps kick the spreadsheets into action. Very helpful 5-step process!
January 31, 2024 at 10:52 pm
meganewhitaker21
I love this! Sometimes it is just the BIC to get a draft done! Thanks!
January 31, 2024 at 10:55 pm
Christine Fleming McIsaac
This is awesome! I always have a ton of ideas but struggle with what’s next. Your post is so helpful. Thanks!
Get Outlook for iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef ________________________________
January 31, 2024 at 11:26 pm
Cindy Greene
Simone, I LOVED your post. The phrase “Because here’s the important thing about where you start: It’s not the idea that matters, it’s the execution,” has been echoing in my brain. Thank you!
January 31, 2024 at 11:29 pm
alamarre7571bc92b
Thanks for all the great ideas and advice!
January 31, 2024 at 11:32 pm
Jessica Iwanski
WOW, this is invaluable, Simone! Thank you! I’ll be putting some of these strategies into action right away!
January 31, 2024 at 11:38 pm
lphunt
Simone, thank you for your writing tips and free download.
January 31, 2024 at 11:41 pm
kathleenplucker
Thank you for the download!
January 31, 2024 at 11:47 pm
jindreame
Thank you for the advice.
February 1, 2024 at 12:01 am
aesauble
Thank you! Good tips, and I appreciate the encouragement to focus on the story that calls the strongest, instead of trying to tackle everything at once.
February 1, 2024 at 12:21 am
tracyschuldthelixon
Thank you for these detailed suggestions!
February 1, 2024 at 12:22 am
Julie Hauswirth
Thanks for this post- a great way to end the month!
February 1, 2024 at 12:28 am
Lisa M. Horn
Simone, thank you so much for this great post. I loved your suggestions and especially the your spread download.
February 1, 2024 at 12:31 am
studioyuming
Thank you so much for the great insight for how to narrow down the ideas to the short list then focus on writing one at a time.
I ended up more ideas than I ever thought I could come up with and am ready to write! But I need to focus on one at a time 🙂
February 1, 2024 at 12:31 am
Olivia Fisher
This is some sage advice on how to approach the after storm of Story Storm and organize all these ideas into picture books!
February 1, 2024 at 1:00 am
Myrna Foster
I legitimately laughed out loud at your “scientifically validated methods” for choosing an idea. Thanks for this helpful post!
February 1, 2024 at 1:01 am
sarahsteinbacher24
Love the actionable steps here!
February 1, 2024 at 1:28 am
loriclementwriter
Lots of great ideas in this post. I definitely need to spend more time free writing.
February 1, 2024 at 1:37 am
sunflowerscribe
Wow! I’m blown away by your post and amazing ideas to stay organized!!!
February 1, 2024 at 1:53 am
amandalittleauthor
So many wonderful ideas, thanks so much!
February 1, 2024 at 4:25 am
Nazanin Ford
My big takeaway: it’s not the idea, it’s the execution! Okay, onward and upward, then. Thank you for these great ideas.
February 1, 2024 at 8:43 am
Keeping the Me in Mommy
This is all so true. Thanks for sharing your resource too. Haven’t checked it out yet, but signed up for it to do so soon.
February 1, 2024 at 9:46 am
triciacandy
This is such great advice. Often my ideas sit in random notebooks that are never opened again!
February 1, 2024 at 10:05 am
donnacangelosi
Such helpful advice for organizing our next steps. Thank you, Simone!
February 1, 2024 at 10:21 am
cherylmsimon
This is phenomenal advice. I love the idea of putting all the ideas in one document as a starting point. Many thanks!
February 1, 2024 at 11:04 am
Johanna Peyton
Wow! This is the perfect post for day 30! Thank you!
February 1, 2024 at 11:34 am
literacylizlazar
This post was absolute GOLD!!! I have no shortage of ideas, and I often have a great premise but struggle with next steps. This easy-to-follow approach is incredibly pragmatic, and exactly what I’ve needed. And a big THANK YOU for the free e-book on spreading, too!
February 1, 2024 at 11:46 am
Mary A Zychowicz
Thank you for all these wonderful resources! This is the perfect way to wind down Storystorm. This was so helpful.
February 1, 2024 at 11:57 am
LaurenKerstein
Wonderfully informative post. Thank you!
February 1, 2024 at 1:02 pm
TerriMichels
I am always thankful for another suggestion on being organized with my ideas!
February 1, 2024 at 1:12 pm
ashleydbankhead
Thank you for this post! You have so many great ideas on how we can decide on what to write next!
February 1, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Brenda Covert
I chose the story from my list that made my creative heart leap with anticipation! And coincidentally, it’s Valentine themed, so perfect to write in February while hearts and cupids are everywhere. 🙂
February 1, 2024 at 2:41 pm
Heather Lee
This is exactly the perfect post for me! I was just trying to figure out how to organize and prioritize my StoryStorm ideas. Thanks!
February 1, 2024 at 4:04 pm
emilystarr07fd78284f
Thank you for the generous download and advice!
February 1, 2024 at 4:10 pm
hansenjc13
This is so comprehensive! Thank you! I love the free writing step—it’s so hard for me to do that but now I know it’s ok to include my random, wandering thoughts, I’m going to give it another try!
February 1, 2024 at 4:23 pm
authorjanetparkinsonbryce
Thank you for the e-book and the 14 spread framework. It is so helpful.
February 1, 2024 at 7:54 pm
michellehlosardo
Wow! What a thorough process. Thank you!
February 1, 2024 at 8:47 pm
daydreambelievin
Thanks for sharing this wonderful process!
February 1, 2024 at 9:08 pm
Linda B
I can’t wait to try your suggestions. A long list of new ideas can be overwhelming so learning how to narrow it down and find focus will greatly help. Thank you.
February 1, 2024 at 9:16 pm
Carol Porter
I love getting organized! Thanks for the tips and I signed up for your freebee!
February 1, 2024 at 10:17 pm
Jolene Ballard Gutiérrez
I appreciate these actionable steps and am excited to dig into the ebook–thank you so much, Simone!
February 1, 2024 at 10:50 pm
vgraboski61gmailcom
I love the action steps. I’ll have to come back to this post again and again to keep me going. Thanks!
February 1, 2024 at 11:42 pm
authorlaurablog
That’s a lot of information and things to think about. I have a book launching in less than 2 weeks so I’ve been reading the posts daily but not always commenting right away. I’ve got 3 top ideas earmarked but I’m not sure if I’ll start working on any of them this month.
February 1, 2024 at 11:50 pm
kdgwrites
Love these five steps. With new ideas floating in my little brain this gives me direction. Thank you.
February 1, 2024 at 11:56 pm
carolynleillustrations
Thank you for sharing the steps. This is very helpful.
February 2, 2024 at 12:10 am
Susan Cabael
Explore is my favorite part of the process.
February 2, 2024 at 12:42 am
juliereich
Thanks so much!
February 2, 2024 at 8:08 am
jcherney3
Now I just have to find time to organize!
thanks
February 2, 2024 at 8:23 am
midfreeman
Something in just describing spreading helped unlock something for me just now. Thank you for sharing!
February 2, 2024 at 11:50 am
jessaroux
This helps make a long list feel exciting and not overwhelming. Thank you for sharing!
February 2, 2024 at 11:52 am
topangamaria
WOW. Your well organized informed approach has kicked my momentum into gear. Thanks.
February 2, 2024 at 3:08 pm
swwriter1
I really appreciate your systematic approach. Thank you.
February 2, 2024 at 4:27 pm
libbydemmon
Oh, this is so helpful! I like your scientifically proven methods of selection. Thanks for sharing!
February 2, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Jennifer Lu
Thank you for the wrap up! This helped push me to review all my ideas from the month, they might’ve been lost forever otherwise haha..
February 2, 2024 at 8:29 pm
Jud Ward
‘Mine the idea for magic’ puts me in the mood so I can’t wait to explore it right away! Thanks.
February 3, 2024 at 2:00 am
MadhuM
Thank you for the step-by-step plan on how to move forward!
February 3, 2024 at 8:20 am
Andrea Mack
Wow! Thanks for sharing this process. I’m excited to try it!
February 3, 2024 at 9:07 am
yangmommy
Love this post & action steps!
February 3, 2024 at 9:09 am
louiseaamodt
I love your focus on organization, as well as the realization that there’s not ‘one best idea’ out there. It’s all in the execution!
February 3, 2024 at 2:43 pm
JoLynne Ricker Whalen
Thank you for sharing this list! And thanks for the freebie!!!
February 3, 2024 at 3:46 pm
marcihersel
So helpful and manageable now. I appreciate the way you broke this down. Thank you for the e-book too!
February 3, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Melissa Stoller
Simone – thanks for a helpful post full of actionable tips!
February 3, 2024 at 6:46 pm
cathyrose54
Organization is key. Thanks for the spreadsheet.
February 4, 2024 at 10:25 am
brintonculp
What a great resource–thanks for Spreading! I’m headed to begin the sifting stage.
February 4, 2024 at 5:26 pm
pescadita98
Thank you. Wonderful resource.
February 4, 2024 at 6:03 pm
michellesteinberg
Wow! This post contains so much doable insights into writing picture books from ideas. I appreciate the step-by-step approach to organizing all of the story ideas generated over the month.
February 4, 2024 at 6:58 pm
Sheri Dillard
Great post! Thanks, Simone! 🙂
February 4, 2024 at 8:43 pm
Jim Chaize
Thanks, Simone. Truly a helpful post for a way to handle one’s ideas.
February 4, 2024 at 9:44 pm
Sharlin Craig
Beautiful post, Tara, and such a wonderful Storystorm month! Thank you for all you do!!!
February 5, 2024 at 2:57 pm
Judy Abelove Shemtob
You must be the queen of organization, Simone. I look forward to reading your materials SPREADING and 5 POWERFUL PRACTICES. Helping authors write the best picture books they can is a wonderful goal. Your testimonials are fabulous, especially from people I know and respect. Winning a consultation with you would be an incredible opportunity! Thanks for your generosity.
February 5, 2024 at 7:20 pm
mattsthrockmorton
I really like the idea of numbering ideas and throwing a die or point my pen. Takes the anxiety out of picking from my favorites. Thanks Simone!
February 5, 2024 at 9:58 pm
anakellyinla
Fantastic next steps. Thank you, Simone
February 6, 2024 at 5:59 pm
Melissa Hastings
Thank you for the tips to keep our ideas moving and the momentum going!
February 6, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Nadine Poper
Wow! Lots of good advice here.
February 6, 2024 at 11:17 pm
denitajohnson
Thanks for ending with great ideas to use
February 7, 2024 at 11:20 am
amberleawilliams
Love these tips and ideas! Thank you, Simone!
February 7, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Becky Goodman
Thank you! I’m looking forward to digging into your free downloadable e-book!
February 7, 2024 at 7:39 pm
tinagraham103
Hopefully I have a few diamonds to work on! Thanks for the great advice Simone
February 8, 2024 at 7:22 am
sylviaichen
Such great, pragmatic guidance, thank you so much!!