Thank you for your patience! I took a break from Storystorm duties for a while to focus on other things…and now I’m back! BOOM, KAPOW, MEOW!
Firstly, please gather your ideas.
Then, sort them.
- Separate pebbles from seeds.
- Sift for diamonds.
- Do your ideas pass the litmus tests?
- You may have to draw a diagram first.
Are you ready?
Once you have ideas that you like, start fleshing them out. If you’re a Grand Prize winner, you’ll have the opportunity to share your BEST FIVE IDEAS with a kidlit agent. They’ll respond with feedback recommending which ideas may be best to pursue as manuscripts. (Saves time writing stories that won’t be marketable!) To present your ideas in the best light, I recommend writing them out like jacket flap…you know, that marketing copy on the inside cover of a picture book. Here’s jacket flap for my September 2023 release, FLAT CAT:
Flat Cat was born flat. He wasn’t squashed by an out-of-control ice cream truck, or smushed in a waffle iron. He was just flat. This slick, sly cat could stray and roam anywhere he pleased, keen and unseen. And wouldn’t you know it, Flat Cat liked it just like that.
That is until one day, when Flat Cat accidentally fell splish-splosh right in the wash. And when he emerged from the dryer, Flat Cat wasn’t flat at all. He was adorably puffy and downright fluffy!
Go to your local library (which may be in your own house) and read as many jacket flaps as you can to get a feel for them. You can also read jacket flap marketing text online at book retailers.
Then start writing your own for your upcoming masterpieces! If you’re a GRAND PRIZE winner, five of these pitches are what you’ll present to a kidlit agent to receive feedback.
FIVE Grand Prize Winners will be chosen next week, to be paired with these amazing kidlit agents:
- Liza Fleissig and Ginger Harris, Liza Royce Agency
- Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
- Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency
- Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary Agency
- Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
So spend this weekend getting ready! Prize distribution will begin next week!
79 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 17, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Cindy s
Wow! All amazing agent opportunities.
February 17, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Sarah Skolfield
Thanks, Tara, for Storystorm and for this post and to all the prize donors from Storystorm. This is a great exercise for all our MS, even if not in preparation for a grand prize win.
February 17, 2024 at 3:22 pm
Kerstin Fletcher
Hello!
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February 17, 2024 at 3:27 pm
judyrubin13
Thank you, Tara, for allowing us to participate in another glorious Storystorm.
February 17, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Mark Bentz
Thank you, Tara for all that you do to support us writers and illustrators. Storystorm has been so helpful.
February 17, 2024 at 3:26 pm
karenleewyoming
Thanks for the head’s up! And for the helpful advice! Flat Cat sounds flat-astic! I will definitely be adding it to my list. Happy Saturday!
February 17, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Karen
Thank you! Can’t wait! Fingers crossed and toes too!
February 17, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thanks Tara for all you do for us. This was a great StoryStorm year.
February 17, 2024 at 3:36 pm
pathaap
Thank you, Tara, for all you do to help us along our publishing journeys. It is very appreciated!
February 17, 2024 at 3:37 pm
claireflewis
Thanks, Tara, for all your hard work organizing Storystorm!
February 17, 2024 at 3:44 pm
kristarantino
Thank you, Tara, for the tons of time and work you put into Storystorm!
February 17, 2024 at 3:47 pm
syorkeviney
Dear Tara, thank you again for a month full of inspiration, aha’s, some gasps, loads of giggles and the January push! Off we go!
February 17, 2024 at 3:49 pm
A Brewer
Oh- goody! You keep surprising and motivating with more story structure. Your set-up is superb! Thank you!
February 17, 2024 at 4:00 pm
Lee Sutton
Thanks Tara, these prizes are amazing. I really enjoyed my first Storystorm. It was a great way to start the year thinking creatively.
February 17, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Donna Rossman
Wooo whooo!!! So exciting!!!! Thank you, Tara, for all you do!!! 🥰
February 17, 2024 at 4:07 pm
writeremmcbride
You are AMAZING, Tara! This is an incredible opportunity! Jacket flap copy here we come! Thank you, Tara!!!!!
February 17, 2024 at 4:12 pm
kamalani3
This is so cool! Mahalo!
February 17, 2024 at 4:12 pm
kiwijenny
I’m going to flap my jackets flip my script and what ever else. It’s so cool to be a writer. Yep finally owning that title thanks to this community. Tara, Normal Norman is still my favorite of your books. ❤️
February 17, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Laurel Ranveig Abell
So excited! Thank you, Tara, for always preparing such wonderful opportunities for writers!
February 17, 2024 at 4:29 pm
marshaelyn
Such a Cool Cat with sunshades! Tara, you’re tireless in working to encourage, inspire and support us in this looooong journey to become the best storytellers we can be or imagine. Thank you so much! Sending you endless energy for your continued success…
February 17, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Claire A. B. Freeland
Thanks, Tara!
February 17, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Thank you, Tara!
February 17, 2024 at 5:50 pm
robincurrie1
ready!
February 17, 2024 at 5:55 pm
Angie
Awesome!! Thanks for everything, Tara!
February 17, 2024 at 6:03 pm
sue macartney
Thanks Tara – Super exciting!
February 17, 2024 at 6:09 pm
ralucasirbu
This is Tara: whimsical, innovative, off the beaten path. You are an inspiration. Thanks again.
February 17, 2024 at 6:17 pm
inquirylane
Thank you for the inspiration and motivation!-Macy Lane
February 17, 2024 at 6:31 pm
Annelouise
Wow! What a post, so inspirational and exciting! Thank you for Storystorm, Tara. It’s such a generous offering of your time and talent as well as all those who contribute to it. It’s been so awesome to participate.
February 17, 2024 at 6:32 pm
Aly Kenna
Congratulations everyone! And thank you once again, Tara, for organizing such a wonderful event 🙂
February 17, 2024 at 6:37 pm
jennaejo
Thank you Tara, I loved Storystorm!
February 17, 2024 at 6:40 pm
kathleengauer
Thanks, Tara, for your tireless work in putting this inspiring Storystorm challenge together!
February 17, 2024 at 6:50 pm
Rick Starkey
Thank you for giving your time to do this!
February 17, 2024 at 6:53 pm
ConstanceL
So excited!!! thank you!!!
February 17, 2024 at 6:54 pm
lynnpesicka
Thank you, Tara. I enjoyed Storytorm.
February 17, 2024 at 7:00 pm
reedandwritekids
Thanks for organizing!
February 17, 2024 at 7:31 pm
1marth1
Thank you, Tara, for Storystorm and for introducing us to so many authors with great ideas.
February 17, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Carmen Swick-Author
This is amazing! Thank you~
Carmen Swick
February 17, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Trine Grillo
I will be ready!
February 17, 2024 at 8:25 pm
lindakaychavezbooks
Vibrating with anticipation!
February 17, 2024 at 8:54 pm
Natasha Garnett
Thanks, Tara. Getting ready…
February 17, 2024 at 9:50 pm
Laura Rackham
Now that’s a hook!😂
February 17, 2024 at 10:14 pm
seschipper
Thanks Tara! I better get to work to make sure I have everything in order…just in case! 💕
February 17, 2024 at 11:00 pm
rosihollinbeck
Thanks, Tara. Very excited!
February 17, 2024 at 11:47 pm
carolynleillustrations
Thank you Tara. All the work that you do to support kidlit creators is much appreciated!
February 18, 2024 at 9:17 am
yangmommy
Another fab year of tips & tales-to-be! Writing the jacket copy is a great exercise & often, a way to make a preliminary outline of the story. Come here my ideas, it’s time to work! Thank you Tara! 😊
February 18, 2024 at 9:39 am
andreesantini
Thanks, Tara. Time to sift!
February 18, 2024 at 10:01 am
flewk1
Thank you immensely!
February 18, 2024 at 10:45 am
nicolesalterbraun
Thank you, Tara! I appreciate you
February 18, 2024 at 11:16 am
Deborah Buschman
Thank you Tara! This was amazing again.
February 18, 2024 at 12:04 pm
abby mumford
And the valuable advice keeps coming even after Storystorm’s end. I like this neverending storm!!!
February 18, 2024 at 1:33 pm
meganewhitaker21
Flat Cat sounds adorable, can’t wait to read it! Thanks for all the hard work you put in to make Storystorm so successful!
February 18, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Claudine Pullen
This sounds awesome. Thanks Tara
February 18, 2024 at 3:36 pm
MDalphin Williams Creative.Com
Thank you Tara. It such a great idea generator no one loses. Everyone is a winner just from reading the posts and appreciating the writers thoughts and journeys. Good luck to all.
February 18, 2024 at 3:47 pm
leslieevatayloe
How exciting!
February 18, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Thanks Tara!
February 18, 2024 at 6:17 pm
Karen Elise Finch
Thank you, Tara!
February 19, 2024 at 3:07 am
Kaye Baillie
Thanks for the encouragement, Tara!
February 19, 2024 at 6:22 am
haleypaige91
Thanks again Tara for cultivating such an inspiring and helpful resource!
February 19, 2024 at 7:40 am
Artelle Lenthall
Excellent! Thanks for the heads up and the advice Tara 😊
February 19, 2024 at 10:09 am
Sharon
How exciting, can’t wait to see the news. Thanks Tara!!
February 19, 2024 at 11:12 am
debjohnson21
Thanks for sharing your advice on sorting through pebbles, mining diamonds, and finding the hidden gems created during SS24!
February 19, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Bridgitte Rodguez
So fun! Can’t wait.
February 19, 2024 at 12:25 pm
lodobocreates
Energized and ready for hidden gems to surface! Thanks, Tara! Love Storystorm!!!
February 19, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Carol Porter
Thanks Tara once again for a fabulous month of writing inspiration.
February 19, 2024 at 9:19 pm
Carla Gullett
This idea has really helped focus my next steps after STORY STORM. Thank you for your time and talent! I wish you all the best with your upcoming writing projects!!!
February 19, 2024 at 10:59 pm
michellehlosardo
So grateful for Storystorm! Thank you!
February 19, 2024 at 10:59 pm
michellehlosardo
So grateful for Storystorm! Thank you!
February 20, 2024 at 11:59 am
Helen Waters
I am super excited! Participating in Storystorm was magical enough, but these prized are amazing! Thanks for organizing such a great opportunity!
February 20, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Jeanette O'Toole
Thank you so much!
February 20, 2024 at 6:29 pm
Mary A Zychowicz
Exciting! Thank you. So primed from Storystorm this year!
February 21, 2024 at 4:06 am
Gaby L.
Hi Tara, I love your post, a motivation to focus on working hard. I like your idea of starting with drawing diagrams and playing with our ideas. I love the idea of practicing reading jackets, as many as we can, and writing our own. Finally, submit them to the Litmus test and say we did it!
February 21, 2024 at 10:31 am
Gaby L.
Hi Tara, we are almost there!! I like the idea of reading the jacket flip as many as we can, and then writing down ours. Thank you for choosing and supporting with previous Storystorm, it helps a lot!!
February 22, 2024 at 10:47 am
kwillette13
My pitches are all ready just in case!! 😀 Also – props for the Moira Rose GIF AND, CONGRATULATIONS! I saw “Flat Cat” in the Golden Kite nominee list for picturebook humor. That’s amazing! Good luck! 😀
February 25, 2024 at 4:43 pm
AngelaLucilleLongo
AHHH! I want this! Such an awesome opportunity! I’ve done three so far and I’m hoping to squeak out the last two by the end of the day. I usually start my writing process with writing a pitch, so this homework is necessary regardless of the outcome. Thank you Tara ❤
February 26, 2024 at 8:33 am
Mark Bentz
Hi Angela. Did Tara send out the awards yet. I didn’t notice anything in my email. Good luck to you.
Mark
March 4, 2024 at 5:22 pm
AngelaLucilleLongo
I haven’t heard anything, yet. I’m not quite sure what’s going on.
February 27, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Michelle S Kennedy
What a great prize opportunity!!!
March 1, 2024 at 11:19 pm
Lisa M. Horn
Congratulations on Flat Cat! I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for all you do with Storystorm and encouraging the creativity in all of us!
March 4, 2024 at 11:32 am
debbiemoeller
Another great Storystorm. Did I miss the prize announcement? I checked my email.