There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 30

I hope you all enjoyed participating in Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I also hope you enjoyed my bad ideas this month. How did you do for ideas this month?

Bad Idea 30:

GLITTER BOOK. A book that shoots out glitter every time you turn each page. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 29

Thanks to Tara Lazar for creating Storystorm!

Bad Idea 29:

A book written by a baby for babies. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 28

Thanks to Tara Lazar for creating Storystorm!

Bad Idea 28:

A nonfiction book about making cakes with no ingredients, no pictures and no cakes mentioned throughout.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 27

Thanks to Tara Lazar for creating Storystorm!

Bad Idea 27:

A book of illegible signatures that may or may not all be mine. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/  

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 26

Thanks to Tara Lazar for creating Storystorm!

Bad Idea 26:

The League of Assassin Babies. A picture book with extra gore. Because we all know how much kids love gore!

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/  

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 25

Thanks to Tara Lazar for creating Storystorm!

Bad Idea 25:

A narcotics counting picture book. 
Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/  

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 23 & 24

I can't believe I forgot again! Oh well, two for the price of one. Thanks to Tara Lazar for creating Storystorm!

Bad Idea 23:

A story about cannibalistic dust bunnies. Important: Told from the perspective of the floor. Very Important: The floor is NOT a sentient being.

Bad Idea 24:

Baby gets 5 immunization shots and cries.


Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/  

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 22

This post is in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm!

Bad Idea 22: 

A harrowing story about unbridled mediocrity. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 21

Almost forgot to make a post in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm today!

Bad Idea 21: 

A story about mermaids that aren't really mermaids, but are really mermaids -- but not! At the end of the book the reader finds out that they are really mermaids, but not really mermaids but are really mermaids -- but probably not (or are they?????)

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 20

Almost forgot to make a post in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm today!

Bad Idea 20: 

A book about a dream within a dream within a book.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 19

This post is in honor of  Corey Rosen Schwartz's s Storystorm post about "Titlestorming". If you read this Corey, know that I am very sorry.

Bad Idea 19: 

Pooppolis

Again, I'm very sorry to Corey and anyone else who reads this. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

(I accidently misnumbered my last post. I've fixed it now. I do know how to count to 30!)

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 17 & 18

So I forgot yesterday. I have no idea why, but there it is. Here are two ideas to make up for the loss! I'm still doing Tara Lazar's Storystorm here and at home!

Bad Idea #17:

A sleeping baby (or cat) that must be in one's lap whenever the writer/artist is at the computer. Told from the P.O.V. of the computer. (Not at all autobiographical as I do not have a sleeping baby in my lap right now.) 

Bad Idea #18:

A book about rain. The book shall contain blurry photographs of rain. (Again not autobiographical. It's not raining here.)

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 16

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #16:

An educational picture book that explains (in detail) to kids all the ways they can die. With descriptive pictures and flow charts.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 15

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #15:

Put pages of paper by my kids at night. Assemble drooled on pages into a book. Title is "Drool Dreams".

Another idea for the series: Coffee & Tea stained pages while I'm writing and illustration. Also tear stained rejection letters. Assembled they will be: "The Life of an Artist".

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 14

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #14:

A book where the ending is the beginning, the beginning is somewhere in the middle and the middle is in another book. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 13

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #13:

A book of lists. No indication to what the lists are about or any breaks to determine where a list begins and ends. It's up to the reader to figure that out for themselves.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 12

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #12:

A book with no words or pictures. The audio book will be mimed on CD or Audio Download.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 11

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #11:

A novel length biography told entirely through ink hand prints. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 10

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! 

Bad Idea #10:

A recipe book with no recipes. Just a critique of the food television cooks create, even though I've never tasted their food. 

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 9

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #9:

The incoherent ramblings of a drunk sailor. Written (and printed) illegibly in longhand.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 8

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #8:

A collection of sentences. All on different subjects and each it's own story. Novel length.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 7

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #7:

Two Words: Mutant Ketchup.

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 6

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #6:

A fantasy series completely written with emojis. 😕🐪📯🕃🔆🎮😴😠😎😍😈

Want help generating good ideas? Check out Storystorm to help you out! https://taralazar.com/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 5

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #5:

A Day in the Life of a Coffee Ground: a Memoir 

Think you can come up with a better idea? You can sign up for Storystorm before January 7th here: https://taralazar.com/2016/12/27/storystorm-2017-registration-is-open/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 4

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #4:

Sentient wrapping paper that feels pain. A heartwarming Christmas story. (Picture Book)

Think you can come up with a better idea? You can sign up for Storystorm before January 7th here: https://taralazar.com/2016/12/27/storystorm-2017-registration-is-open/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 3

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #3:

Texas Chainsaw Massacre but for kids. (Teddy bear is the main foe and has a mini-chain saw). Which kids will survive and what will be left of them?


Think you can come up with a better idea? You can sign up for Storystorm before January 7th here: https://taralazar.com/2016/12/27/storystorm-2017-registration-is-open/

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 2

Every day this month I will be posting a new bad idea in honor of Tara Lazar's Storystorm! I'm also doing my real idea list privately. I hope my bad ideas give you good ideas. I also hope I show you that Storystorm can be easy & fun!

Bad Idea #2:

Cats vs. Dogs vs. Birds vs. Mice vs. Aliens vs. Unicorns vs. Dinosaurs vs. Ghosts vs. Ice Cream. (Likely a PB.)



Think you can come up with a better idea? You can sign up for Storystorm before January 7th here: https://taralazar.com/2016/12/27/storystorm-2017-registration-is-open/

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Also don't forget that Mira Reisberg from the Children's Book Academy is having a special until tomorrow for her Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books.You can get $70 off if you sign up before January 3rd at Midnight! It's a wonderful program, so you should check it out!   http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-childrens-picture-books.html The course starts January 9th

There is no Such Thing as a Bad Idea: Day 1

We've all heard the old adage: "There is no such thing as a bad idea." I don't believe this is wholly true. Sticking one's finger in a light socket is generally a bad idea. There are instances where it might be a good idea. If sticking a character's finger into a light socket works to further a plot line, then that bad idea might not be so bad.  

As I look over all my past ideas I find that some of them are bad ideas. A bad idea isn't bad because the idea is bad. I see bad story ideas as ones that I can't put into a story, yet. If someone else looked through my list of ideas they might be better at turning those ideas into good stories.

I'm participating in Storystorm this year. In this I will be creating at least 30 story ideas in the next 30 days (which will remain private). For fun I will be also creating 30 "bad" ideas for my blog. These ideas will be intentionally bad. If one of my bad ideas inspires you to write then go for it.

I'm hoping this month I'll be able to give you a chuckle. Even more so: I hope to show you how easy and accessible Storystorm is for everyone. I will be taking Storystorm seriously and will keeping a private journal of my good ideas as well. Please join me in taking part of this event!

Bad Idea #1:

Pete and Repeat are in boat. They are stuck in a time loop that happens when Pete falls out of the boat. Half way through the story Repeat falls out of the boat and the story ends.


Think you can come up with a better idea? You can sign up for Storystorm before January 7th here: https://taralazar.com/2016/12/27/storystorm-2017-registration-is-open/

Also don't forget that Mira Reisberg from the Children's Book Academy is having a special until tomorrow for her Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books.You can get $70 off if you sign up before January 3rd! It's a wonderful program, so you should check it out!   http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-childrens-picture-books.html

Hello 2017 Goals!

I am hoping this year will be a lot better than last year. Yesterday I said how I didn't come close to completing all of my goals for the year. This year I want to do better. I hope that the problems I'm now facing wont keep me from my goals.

Please note that I usually make these goals with the understanding that I wont complete them all. I like to make big plans for every year. If I achieve even part of these I'll be pretty happy.

1. Win Storystorm 

Storystorm use to be PiBoIdMo, but has been changed for all ages/genres. You just have to come up with 30 story ideas in 30 days (they can be as short as one sentence or as long as a first draft). I'm super excited about this, so I want to make sure you all get a chance to register. I'm even making my husband try it out this year. Go to https://taralazar.com/2016/12/27/storystorm-2017-registration-is-open/ before January 7th!

For fun I will be posting ridiculous story ideas throughout January. 

2. Win the 12x12 Challenge

This is an important goal for me. I've competed in the 12x12 Challenge (12 picture books in 12 months) in the last 3 (or is it 4 now?) years and haven't focused enough to complete the challenge. This is an absolutely wonderful challenge that has wonderful webinars, prizes and support groups to help you achieve your goals. Sign up starts January 10th http://12x12challenge.com/

3. Look for Freelance Illustration Work

I love doing the freelance work I do get, but it would be lovely if I could earn a living off of art!

4. Finish 2-3 Picture Book Dummies

5. Submit at Least 6 Different Manuscripts to Editors/Agents 

6. Spend More Focused Time on Social Media

My time online really suffered in the past two years. I'd like to do more of it, if I only get a chance to #kidlitart on Twitter every now and again!

7. Spend More Time With Family

This is so not the last thing I'm going to do. If I'm being honest, then this is the first. Seven is my favorite number, so this is why I made it #7. This is also kind of a work thing, because I'd also like to document more of what my kids say and do so I can use them in books.

Happy 2017 Everyone!