#StoryStorm26 with a personal twist- finding a "necessary" paradigm shift to continue on my writing/publishing journey

             I love Tara Lazar’s @storystorm. I’ve been participating in it for years.  It’s an easy thing for me to do, as I never lack ideas. One year, I challenged myself to write a minimum of 12 first drafts from my 31 ideas. I succeeded. It felt great.

Adapting the challenge was a great idea and really helped me for the year. It’s been a couple of years since I did that adaptation, and I am wondering how I can create an adaptation for myself this year to help keep me going, because that is my biggest challenge these days.  The slog and rejections are all taking a toll on me.  I know I am not alone in that feeling. 

Things about Storystorm that are amazing… the daily blogs from various people who have succeeded, some full of inspiration, others full of useful information, the community, and of course the gift of granting our creative selves the time to have ideas.

These are all amazing things. But I need more right now, to not give up.  I need to have some sort of paradigm shift to help me reframe what a “success” looks like. Because I may NEVER get another book published.

So, what could I possibly do?

I started writing short stories last year, alongside my picture book drafts. That helped. Maybe instead of focusing on picture book ideas for Storystorm I will work on ideas for short stories and focus on that instead… but that’s not it.  That won’t help me with a shift, there is still the very real feeling of STUCK with this adaptation, so what else?

-IMPORTANT TANGENT-

I feel alone. As I am sure many writers do. It’s not an entirely valid feeling, given that many of us have critique groups, the SCBWI, etc. And yet, the feeling of loneliness permeates my experience. Why, I have often wondered… I think for me, it’s because the stories I am writing focus on underrepresented Neurodivergent voices, and I am constantly being told, “great writing, interesting story… I can’t sell it.”

In my head, that translates to, “these voices aren’t important.” This is a gut punch I just can’t bring myself off the floor from.

So, what can I do to help myself and others who feel this way get up off the floor? Can I adapt Storystorm again somehow to help me (and others) move into the new year? Maybe…

What if instead of just reading the posts for each of the 31 days. I reach out to other writers in the ND community and offer them encouragement. Published or non-published, what if I take a moment and thank them for writing underrepresented voices?

My head, my heart likes this idea. And so, even though I am getting a late start with Storystorm this year (because life…) I am going to move forward with this idea and maybe somehow it will help set up my year in a different, more positive way. Because supporting others often heals.

I'll start today with Vanessa Brantley-Newton. She has a book birthday today, and just seeing her joy in presenting it this morning made my heart sing.  She is an amazing ND creator who inspires others with joy and love, and her kindness for the #kidlit community is unwavering. I will send her a note and maybe that will heal my heart today.

If you are an #underrepresentedvoices #kidlit writer and need a note of encouragement, send me a note. I will gladly take a moment and connect with you.  

Good Luck all, for StoryStorm 2026. Thank you to @taralazar and all of the presenters this year and past years.  Supporting the #kidlit community is a beautiful endeavor.