If you’ve been participating in Storystorm all month, you’ve been gathering a flurry of ideas!

Luckily you don’t need a blizzard of ideas to “win” the Storystorm challenge. You just need 30 of them!
When you have 30 ideas, you can qualify to win one of the AMAZING Storystorm Grand Prizes—feedback on your best 5 picture book ideas from a kidlit agent! (List to be announced.)
SWEET!
In order to qualify for a Grand Prize, your name must be on the registration post AND the pledge below.
If you have 30 ideas, put your right hand on a picture book and repeat after me:
I do solemnly swear that I have faithfully executed
the Storystorm 30-ideas-in-January challenge,
and will, to the best of my ability,
parlay my ideas into picture book manuscripts.
Now I’m not saying all 30 ideas have to be good. Some may just be titles, some may be character quirks. Some may be problems and some may create problems when you sit down to write. Some may be high-concept and some barely a concept. But…they’re yours, all yours!
You have until February 7th at 11:59:59PM EST to sign the pledge by leaving a comment on this post.
PLEASE COMMENT ONLY ONCE.
The name you left on the registration post and the name you leave on this winner’s pledge SHOULD MATCH. However, when you comment, WordPress also logs other info that allows me to recognize you, so don’t worry if they’re not exact.
Again, please COMMENT ONLY ONCE. If you make a mistake, contact me instead of leaving a second comment.
Also, please know that sometimes WP puts your comment into a queue that I must moderate and approve, so it may take 24 hours (or more) for your comment to actually appear.
Remember, this is an honor system pledge. You don’t have to send in your ideas to prove you’ve got 30 of them. If you say so, I’ll believe you! Honestly, it’s that simple. (Wouldn’t it be nice if real life were that straightforward.)
Before you sign, you can also pick up your Winner’s Badge by illustrator Courtney Pippin-Mathur!
(Right click to download, then upload it anywhere!)

There are winner’s mugs at Zazzle.com/store/storystorm. All proceeds go to Boyds Mills (formerly The Highlights Foundation). If there’s other SWAG you want, I can add it to the shop…just ask!
Now…are you ready to sign?
Then GO FOR IT! Let’s see your name below!
And, CONGRATULATIONS!

















72 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 1, 2026 at 8:32 am
Susan Burdorf
YES!!
Susan Burdorf
February 1, 2026 at 8:37 am
René Bartos
Yes!
February 1, 2026 at 8:38 am
Jany Campana
Jany Campana
Thank you!
February 1, 2026 at 8:38 am
melissajmiles1
Yes!
Melissa Miles
February 1, 2026 at 8:39 am
catlady45
Yes!
Sarah Atherton
February 1, 2026 at 8:41 am
ptnozell
I, Patricia Nozell, managed to pull 31 shiny new ideas out of my brain in January thanks to the magic of StoryStorm inspiration. Thank you Tara & post writers.
February 1, 2026 at 8:42 am
JenniferTarr
Yes!
February 1, 2026 at 8:43 am
mwinikates
I did it! 31 ideas (and 1 first draft!)
Meg Winikates
February 1, 2026 at 8:45 am
stepheningramf119f34a8f
I, Stephen Ingram, managed to do it. Really. I did. I’m not lying this time.
February 1, 2026 at 8:45 am
Danielle Anderson
Yes! Came away from this month with 33 picture book ideas (and one middle grade idea). Can’t wait to dig in!
Danielle Anderson
February 1, 2026 at 8:47 am
kathleen moore
Kathleen Moore
Kate McCarroll Moore
❤️
February 1, 2026 at 8:48 am
Robin Currie
Yes – thanks again! Robin Currie
February 1, 2026 at 8:49 am
roundswrite
Yes! A Flurry of ideas to match the weather in NJ this year! 30+ Thanks Tara!
Sue Rounds
February 1, 2026 at 8:51 am
Joyce P. Uglow
Joyce Uglow
February 1, 2026 at 8:57 am
lucystaugler
I did it!!
Tara, thank you again for another fabulous StoryStorm full of amazing authors and illustrators who have our creative juices swirling!
Lucy Staugler
February 1, 2026 at 8:58 am
lodobocreates
Yes! Lorraine Bonzelet
February 1, 2026 at 8:59 am
Stacy S. Jensen
Stacy S. Jensen
thank you!
February 1, 2026 at 9:01 am
Susan Korchak
Yes! Susan Korchak
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 am
Penelope McNally
Yes, I did it! 🙂
February 1, 2026 at 9:12 am
Andy Wowor
Yes! Andy Wowor
February 1, 2026 at 9:13 am
srkckass
Yes! Thank you!
February 1, 2026 at 9:13 am
elyset20
Yes!
Elyse Trevers
February 1, 2026 at 9:16 am
kcollazo
Woohoo! Thank you for another great StoryStorm! Kim Collazo
February 1, 2026 at 9:19 am
joanlongstaff
Yes! Joan Longstaff Another great Storystorm – thank you Tara for organising!
February 1, 2026 at 9:26 am
rachelcritchleya061056d76
Yes, I created over 30 story ideas reading Storystorm this January.
Thanks for the opportunity.
February 1, 2026 at 9:26 am
leahmoserwrites
YES! Leah Moser
February 1, 2026 at 9:27 am
pathaap
Did it! Another amazing Storystorm. Thank you Tara and all your guests who’ve inspired us all!
February 1, 2026 at 9:28 am
BirdinaCage
I created over 30 story ideas reading Storystorm January 2026
see you all next year
February 1, 2026 at 9:31 am
gregoryfulgione
I can proudly say that I have 31 ideas & 1 first draft. Thank you for providing us with Storystorm!
February 1, 2026 at 9:31 am
Katie Hayward
yes! Katie Hayward
February 1, 2026 at 9:32 am
Joy Wieder
Yes! Thanks for all the great posts and inspiration!!
February 1, 2026 at 9:33 am
alanadevito
Yes, I have ideas! Thank you all!! Alana DeVito
February 1, 2026 at 9:36 am
terriehellardbrown
Yes, I have 32 ideas. I hope at least some become great books. Thank you for doing this each year.
February 1, 2026 at 9:36 am
Carrie Logsdon McCullough
I do solemnly swear! Thanks for another great Storystorm!
Carrie Logsdon McCullough
February 1, 2026 at 9:40 am
Susannah Lee
I do! Thanks for a great January!
Susannah Lee
February 1, 2026 at 9:42 am
leslieevatayloe
YES, I did:) Thank you!
February 1, 2026 at 9:43 am
Lauri Meyers
YES!
Lauri Meyers
(Gorgeous badge Courtney!!!)
February 1, 2026 at 9:46 am
Gregory E Bray
I, Gregory E Bray, do solemnly swear that I have faithfully executed the Storystorm 30-ideas-in-January challenge, and will, to the best of my ability, parlay my ideas into picture book manuscripts.
February 1, 2026 at 9:53 am
abby mumford
Yes! Thank you for the prompts! Amazing as always. Abby Mumford
February 1, 2026 at 9:53 am
shubamohan
straightforward is appreciated. 30 done.
February 1, 2026 at 9:55 am
greengirlblueplanet1
Thank you for another great StoryStorm! Lots of ideas blooming! ~Morgan Lau
February 1, 2026 at 9:58 am
maramarakay
Yes. Mara K Lansky
February 1, 2026 at 10:01 am
Michael Benner
It wasn’t always easy, but I did it!
February 1, 2026 at 10:01 am
Bronchelle Parker
Signed, sealed, delivered,
Bronchelle Parker :).
February 1, 2026 at 10:04 am
adrouet
Completed!
Amy Drouet
February 1, 2026 at 10:04 am
freely90f33cd911
Thank you for another amazing Storystorm, Tara! Susan Hamlin
February 1, 2026 at 10:08 am
Laura Jensen Bower
Yes! Laura Bower. Thank you Tara & post writers for a month filled with inspiration!
February 1, 2026 at 10:10 am
jcherney3
I did it! It’s been the best. Thank you!
February 1, 2026 at 10:10 am
Angela Lebovic
Done! What fun! Thank you so much for organizing Storystorm!
February 1, 2026 at 10:11 am
sullyweston
Done! And beyond grateful for the force behind it—thanks for making the magic, Tara!
February 1, 2026 at 10:15 am
Jennifer
Jennifer BlanckYes, and thank you!
February 1, 2026 at 10:16 am
Jenny
This was fantastic! My first year doing Storystorm and I will definitely do it again. 31 new ideas!! -Jenny Arch
February 1, 2026 at 10:17 am
Rebecca Colby
Rebecca Colby
is signing off for another great Storystorm with 30+ ideas.
Thank you, Tara!
February 1, 2026 at 10:18 am
chris109shestak
Always SO MUCH FUN!! Not PB ideas because I write YA, but I definitely brainstormed the 2026 idea to turn into skeleton draft Christine Ottaviano Shestak
February 1, 2026 at 10:23 am
Linda Staszak
Yes!!
February 1, 2026 at 10:26 am
bookclubhbhs
Heather Skinner
February 1, 2026 at 10:30 am
Annette Birdsall
I tried to post my Yes, but don’t see it there.So Yes! Annette BirdsallSent from my iPhone
February 1, 2026 at 10:30 am
Jenn Gautam
I did it!! Jennifer Gautam
February 1, 2026 at 10:31 am
ralucasirbu
YES
February 1, 2026 at 10:31 am
Rebecca S
Rebecca Singer
February 1, 2026 at 10:32 am
nancyakolb1
I did it!
February 1, 2026 at 10:34 am
Jud Ward
I came up with over 30 ideas. Thanks for this invaluable opportunity ! (Now if only there were a similar, fun incentive to be brave and send the books off, I’d finally get somewhere.) –Jud Ward
February 1, 2026 at 10:36 am
Angel Gantnier
Angel Gantnier
February 1, 2026 at 10:39 am
syorkeviney
YES! Sally Yorke-Viney
February 1, 2026 at 10:42 am
cherylaking2020
Yes! Cheryl King
February 1, 2026 at 10:43 am
kathleengauer
YES!
Kathleen Gauer
February 1, 2026 at 10:46 am
brennajeanneret
Yes!
Brenna Jeanneret
February 1, 2026 at 10:47 am
David McMullin
David McMullin
February 1, 2026 at 10:48 am
Karen Pickrell
Yes!
Karen Pickrell
February 1, 2026 at 10:48 am
Karen Pickrell
Yes!
Karen Pickrell
February 1, 2026 at 10:49 am
migratingmoosegmailcom
yes! I have have 30 new ideas – thank you!
Myrtle Turnquist
February 1, 2026 at 10:50 am
clearlya2c9f935ea
Yes! Lisa Gillihan