Storystorm 2024 Day 9: David McMullin Needs an Anchor

by David McMullin

Does Storystorm have superfans? Yes. Yes it does. This is the story of one. Let’s call him StormerX.

December 2015. StormerX participates in his first Storystorm (PiBoIdMo). He is hooked!
January 2018. The PB world is in its usual euphoric Storystorm frenzy of ideas and motivation. StormerX is joyfully sketching out his 30(+) ideas inspired by the encouragement of the bloggers and his fellow writers.
February 2018. Storystorm comes to an end. StormerX is experiencing PSB (Post Storystorm Blues). No more blogs! No more ideas! No more being surrounded by other writers! Fortunately, the spirit of Storystorm doesn’t fade quickly. Inspiration is still dancing in his heart. What if he…doesn’t stop? What if he…continues generating ideas for another month?

The following months. Then, another month? And another? And another?

Fast forward to today! StormerX has never stopped. He has created at least one idea a day for…

Over SIX YEARS.
That’s 74 months.
2222 days.
All resulting in 2496 ideas!

Now, I can sense what you’re thinking—What’s wrong with that guy?

You may also be thinking—David, is that obsessive oddball you?

It appears that for as clever as I have been, you’ve seen right through me. Yes, I am StormerX.

Let me explain. I am by nature a procrastinator. Also, a dilly-dallier, a fidgeter, a tinkerer, a meanderer and a doodler. I know many of you identify as at least one of these. And I know you all have different strategies you use to cope.

I personally need an anchor, something that holds everything in place. Giving myself one simple writing related task that I do every day, helps me focus. Daily idea generation has become one of the most important tools on my writing journey. I never go to bed without having jotted down at least one idea in my idea book. (Here’s the shiny little fella, now.)

This is how creating one idea a day has been of benefit to me:

Routine and structure: Adding routine into one aspect of my life has made it easier to create routine in other aspects of my life. Routine has been shown to reduce stress. Who doesn’t want that?
A constant reminder: Even if it’s just for 30 seconds, I think about writing every day. And because writing is often on my mind, I find myself wanting to do even more writerly things—improve my craft, engage with other writers, submit manuscripts, read, revise, and oh, actually write.
Quantity: I write more. I am never without something to work on – At any moment I can just peruse my idea book, grab a pencil, and see where it takes me.
Quality: This is partly a numbers game. With a new idea every day, there are bound to be a few winners. And it’s become easier to assess which ideas I think are the most writable (and hopefully, sellable).
Confidence: This is maybe my favorite perk. I’ve stoped worrying if my ideas are good or marketable or kid-friendly or difficult or offensive or weird. I simply let the pencil do its thing. My writing feels more creative, more daring, and more honest than ever before.
And one last benefit: On May 19, 2018 I wrote the following in my idea book – When Jeremy met Fabulina. Jeremy is now Daniel, and Daniel never meets Fabulina, but on April 30th that scrap of an idea becomes my debut picture book, FREE TO BE FABULOUS! with Clarion Books, exquisitely illustrated by Robbie Cathro. If I had not been jotting down so many ideas this one may never have existed.

Remember, this is what works for me. You may find a different strategy that works better for you. Only weekdays? Saturday mornings? Whatever you choose, try to be consistent. And make sure it’s easy and fun—this should be helpful, not a chore.

If daily idea generating isn’t your thing, here are other simple anchors you can use:

A daily affirmation.
Writing sprints: Set a timer and write. 10 minutes?
Set a daily word count goal.
Read one picture book. (Heck, read half a picture book.)
Read one kidlit blog post.
Build community with a post or comment on social media.
Write in a journal.
Learn one of Tara’s fun, cool and interesting words.
Mix and match several of these.

I know most of you are Storystorm superfans, too. (I’ve seen those participant badges popping up all over social media.) How can we not be, am I right? Have a great month and STORM ON!

Note: I recommend giving yourself an awesome Storystorm nickname. It will help you feel more in tune with your inner superfan. (Sorry, StormerX is taken.)

David McMullin is giving away a fiction critique, an Ask Me Anything Zoom call, or a combo of the two.

You’re eligible to win 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.

David McMullin is a picture book writer, illustrator, and children’s poet. His poems are featured in several magazines and anthologies. Honors include an SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, an Astra International Picture Book Writing Contest award, a Madness Poetry championship and he was a Picture Book Rising Stars mentor. David and his husband are currently full time world travelers, bird nerds, and YouTubers. In past careers he was a Broadway actor, an educator, and a children’s librarian. Visit him at DavidMcMullinbooks.com and follow him on Instagram @davidmcmullinpb.