Where I live, June is the start of summer. School is finished for many students, teachers, and librarians, and long, light-filled summer days stretch out, ready for vacations and other adventures. Summer can be a wonderful time to gather inspiration for story ideas.
Here are a few prompts to help you get started:
- Remember how you felt when school ended for the season. Do any end-of-school rituals pop into your mind? Jot down some thoughts that could turn into a manuscript title, a beginning, or an ending. For example, imagine a last day of school picnic with puppies.
- Think about some of the vacations you enjoyed during your summer season. Write a list of summer vacation destinations from your past, or vacations you would like to plan for the future. Then list some characters who could be part of those vacations. For example, imagine a mountain retreat and a bear. Do any ideas jump into your consciousness?
- What type of adventures do you like to engage in during the summer season? Write a list of settings, adventures, and a main character. Could these adventures inspire a story or fill out a plot point? For example, imagine a ghost getting lost at the beach.
Now it’s your turn! Happy JUNE! Let me know in the comments how you find ideas this summer.
MELISSA’S BIO:
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. She is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written with Callie Lovvorn and Shirin Rahman). Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Book Meshuggenahs member, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Advisory Council member, and a past school and synagogue Trustee. She also interviews authors and offers resources on her blog. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks. Melissa is represented by Jonathan Rosen at The Seymour Agency.
CONNECT WITH MELISSA:
https://www.MelissaStoller.com
https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
www.twitter.com/melissastoller
www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller
