By Melissa Stoller
August is a fantastic month to create or add to an idea journal. Whether you are enjoying vacations and time spent with family or friends, or you are busy getting ready for back to school activities, you can use this month to augment your list of ideas.
Here are a few prompts to help you gather story starters this month:
1) Think about past August months. Trips to theme parks? Lazy summer days at the beach, lake or mountains? Family backyard picnics? Find a detail from one memory and write a scene with a setting using the fives senses for added richness.
2) Choose your favorite summer game or activity. For example: swimming, tennis, backyard games like kickball or badminton, frisbee, board games, kite flying, sand castle building, and more. Write about a character participating in one of these activities during the summertime.
3) Jot down a favorite back to school memory. Shopping for school supplies? Buying back to school clothes? Maybe even summer reading or homework! Imagine a character engaging in these activities and write an opening line, a closing line, or a title.
I hope these prompts help you add ideas to your writing journal this August. Let me know in the comments!
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
