30 Takeaways from Story Storm in 30 Days
It’s been a couple of months now since I participated Story Storm for the first time!
This free workshop-of-sorts is a month-long brainstorming event for any and all who are interested in writing, especially for children. Our host, Tara Lazar, drops 30 days of anecdotes and story prompts into our inboxes— curated by many authors and illustrators—intended to help subscribers unearth ideas for their next manuscripts.
I’m happy to say that I came away with more than 30 new ideas for children’s stories! And in my gratitude for this amazing resource, I’m sharing 30 pieces of wisdom I got from this year’s Story Storm—and prompts I’m excited to try!
For all you writers out there, I hope you find these 30 days worth of tips as fruitful as I have. Enjoy. :)
<Day 1 (Tara Lazar)>Thinking back to your childhood, what were funny, unusual, or common misconceptions that stumped you at that age? Is there a story there?
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<Day 2 (Kari Ann Gonzales and Stephanie Wildman)>Pick a word (or phrase) and write a story around it.
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<Day 3 (Nina Victor Crittenden)>Remember to take time to enjoy other things in life (besides writing) that bring you joy. You never know when they can inspire your writing too!
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<Day 4 (Brian Gonsar)>When rejection comes—which is guaranteed in a writer’s journey—don’t stop, ADAPT!
Rejection isn’t failure, it’s fuel for stronger work; an invitation to think differently and learn something new.
Helpful exercise: Take a look at past rejections and jot down ways that work can take on a new life.
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<Day 5 (Heidi E.Y. Stemple)>Some ideas need to sit. Be patient with yourself and with your story. Beautiful things happen when you wait and bring new eyes, a fresh take, and [eventually] better writing skills to a story.
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<Day 6 (Laura Gehl)>“2-Word” Brainstorming:
Create a list of two-word combinations. Could be vern-noun, rhyming words, same letter, ones that don’t naturally go together, etc. And see where your imagination takes you!
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<Day 7 (Lisa Tolin)>There’s two sides at play in your brain:
1. Mind wandering and imagination
2. Executive control network–attention and focus.
As Julia Cameron suggests in The Artist’s Way, write down some stream of consciousness morning pages to quiet the second part, “the editor”.
Allow yourself to be creative and jot down ideas without judgement.
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<Day 8 (Rob Sanders)>It’s important to make time with and nourish your creative muse.
Try to take time out each month and have a date with it!
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<Day 9 (Kirsten Pendreigh)>There are fascinating topics at our fingertips—in magazines, documentaries, magazines, books, social media.
Some considerations when weighing a nonfiction story idea:
Would this topic be appealing to kids?
Has it been done before? How might I cover it differently?
Curriculum connections?
We want to write stories that make kids curious, ask questions, and wonder about the world.
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<Day 10 (Courtney Pippin-Mathur)>Find the “Universal Emotional Connection” at the heart of your story. What will make a reader connect with your book?
What would your emotion look like if you drew it?
Exercise: Try making a list of emotions and add nouns to them.
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<Day 11 (Casey W. Robinson)>“Be astonished. Tell about it.” —Mary Oliver
When looking for new manuscript ideas, Casey changes her surroundings.
Exercise: Write a sentence in your head about your surroundings.
Exercise: Gather a stack of picture books at the library and type them out. Study their word choice, page turns, pacing, narrative arc.
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<Day 12 (Trisha Speed Shaskan)>Expand your ideas!
Some questions to consider—
1. Is there a new genre you want to try?
2. Is your story fresh?
3. Can you take a piece of an existing story (title, phrase, character, etc.) and use it in another story?
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<Day 13 (Ariel Bernstein)>Who is your “Piece of Work” character?
They make mistakes, but remedy them, learn a little, and understand a little more without completely changing who they are.
Exercise: Create a character, then think: What is it about them that makes them a piece of work?
Are they—impulsive, presumptuous, angry, greedy, bossy?
How can you make these traits relatable to your young reader?
How can you help a reader feel seen, rather than judged?
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<Day 14 (Michael Leali)>Some things to consider when making lists for our story ideas:
How excited am I on one idea over another?
Which ideas keep rising to the surface?
Cues to stop waiting and start writing!
A great story will rise to the forefront of thoughts over and over again. That’s a sign that the story has a beating heart. It’s living now and needs to be cared for.
Like shaken soda, the story is ready to erupt! It’s time to write!
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<Day 15 (Marcie Colleen)>Paying attention is an active, generous way of moving through life.
Creativity responds well to your presence, as your daily life unfolds.
Trust that your life is full of material, that attention is enough, and that you don’t need to force meaning for it to exist.
Some ideas will feel quiet, will barely whisper, trust them anyways.
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<Day 16 (Ursula Murray Husted)>When inspiration doesn’t just strike, you can try telling the truth about something you love.
1. Identify something you love.
2. Zoom out, list things you love in the same category.
3. Zoom in on one love you find interesting.
4. Find a story, or piece of a story, in that love.
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<Day 17 (Gina Perry)>Tips for how to get stories that feel stuck back on track—
1. Put it away.
2. Break it down. Could any elements of the whole be more interesting?
3. Start from scratch. Try writing the story again with a changed setting, voice, main character, etc.
4. Play favorites. Try injecting your story with your favorite foods, animals, activities, games, etc.
5. Frankenstein’s Monster. If you have one thing, like a title, or premise, see if you can patch them together into a story.
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Day 18 (Ann Diament Koffsky)Feelings are a compass.
Write what you know. Write what you care about.
Tap into your emotions and see what inspires you.
Feelings can point you to what you care about and what’s important and meaningful to you.
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<Day 19 (Sara Weingartner)>Sara usually starts a story by imagining a character.
Exercise: Set a timer (5-10 mins.)
Then, dive deeper:
WHO are they?
WHAT do they really want?
HOW are they going to get it?
WHAT is at stake if they don’t?
WHERE does this story take place?
WHAT IF you get stuck along the way?
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<Day 20 (Dana Wulfekotte)>Mine your childhood memories.
Mine your past notebooks.
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<Day 21 (Emiko Rainbow)>Inspiration is...
Inspiration grows when you trust what already belongs within you.
Inspiration is not fragile, it is generous. When you honor it, it will meet you wherever you create.
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<Day 22 (Mel Rosenberg)>Successful ideas across various disciplines often share a common characteristic—they [initially] appear to be silly.
Creativity =
Uninhibited energy of the child + sense of order / disciplined adult intelligence
Do and write down silly things before you go to write your kidlit!
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<Day 23 (Laura Zarrin)>Ways to tame the mind so you can write!
Light a scented candle.
Write away from your work zone.
Try a coffee shop or library.
Try co-working with friends.
Leave the cleaning/cooking until after writing time is finished.
Leave your desk with a plan for next day’s writing, or start the next part so it’s easy to jump into it next time.
Set a writing timer.
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<Day 24 (Kaz Windness)>When coming up with “high-concept ideas” try this!
Mash together—
2 popular or 2 funny topics together in unexpected ways.
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<Day 25 (Linda Ravin)>Picture books, small as they are, are mighty!
Children need stories and deserve stories that help them name what they sense. Stories that don’t slam the door on hard topics, but crack a window open just enough to let the air in. Plus, maybe a little laughter too.
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<Day 26 (Tara Lazar)>Can you capture the sense of eurphoria and freedom in a story?
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<Day 27 (Shana Keller)>The thing about ideas—they don’t always arrive with a clear purpose. Sometimes they come to you as questions you don’t yet know how to answer.
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<Day 28 (Alexandra Hinrichs)>Let the messy landscape in our brains flourish. Let the weeds grow. Observe.
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<Day 29 (Johanna Peyton)>Celebrations make life more fun.
What do you celebrate? What unique celebrations did your family have growing up? Was there something you wish was celebrated but was overlooked?
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<Day 30 (Nikki Grimes)>How many ideas are roaming in your mind waiting for your attention? Do some digging in the garden of your mind and find the rose patiently waiting for you.
For anyone interested in joining Story Storm next year, here’s the website to keep an eye out for updates, and to register once it begins again in 2027!
