By Melissa Stoller
www.MelissaStoller.com
Last month, I encouraged everyone to find ideas using the phrase “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” So this month - May - enjoy and appreciate the beautiful flowers that are blossoming due to those showers in April! And of course use those florals for inspiration!
Here are some exercises to inspire ideas this May:
www.MelissaStoller.com
Last month, I encouraged everyone to find ideas using the phrase “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” So this month - May - enjoy and appreciate the beautiful flowers that are blossoming due to those showers in April! And of course use those florals for inspiration!
Here are some exercises to inspire ideas this May:
1) Write a story about flowers of any type. Perhaps include puns based on the flower name, color, or location where the flower grows. Or research a flower and write a non-fiction story based on your findings.
2) Observe a flower garden near you or look at online photos. Describe all that you see. Include some details in a new story.
3) Think about occasions you have given or received flowers. A holiday? A special moment? A life milestone? Develop a story idea based on these memories.
This month, observe any flowers in your surroundings and let your ideas bloom.
Let me know in the comments if these exercises helped.
Happy writing!
MELISSA’S BIO:
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing on September 20, 2025. Melissa is also 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). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, 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.
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
@MelissaStoller.bsky.social
Pre-Order for HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART is available:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/hazel-and-mabel-two-hearts-apart-melissa-stoller/960a747616a2c234?ean=9781957655574&next=t&next=t
https://www.amazon.com/Hazel-Mabel-Two-Hearts-Apart/dp/1957655577/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hazel-and-mabel-melissa-stoller/1146882184?ean=9781957655574
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing on September 20, 2025. Melissa is also 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). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, 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.
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
@MelissaStoller.bsky.social
Pre-Order for HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART is available:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/hazel-and-mabel-two-hearts-apart-melissa-stoller/960a747616a2c234?ean=9781957655574&next=t&next=t
https://www.amazon.com/Hazel-Mabel-Two-Hearts-Apart/dp/1957655577/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hazel-and-mabel-melissa-stoller/1146882184?ean=9781957655574
