By Melissa Stoller
www.MelissaStoller.com
This March, make a map of your ideas to help evaluate their marketing potential before you write the full-blown story manuscript.
www.MelissaStoller.com
This March, make a map of your ideas to help evaluate their marketing potential before you write the full-blown story manuscript.
Here are some tips to get started:
I hope these prompts help you evaluate and map more ideas in March and beyond . . . let me know in the comments.
- Choose 5 ideas and write each down on a separate blank sheet of paper.
- Next to each idea, evaluate some considerations including: are there multiple hooks and layers that will make people want to buy the book, such as holiday or special day, season, concept like counting or alphabet, animals, humor, heart, and more.
- Will children (and their adult readers) find a connection to the story?
- Can you imagine the beginning, middle, and maybe even an ending for the story?
- Look for mentor texts and similar titles, and decide if your idea is fresh enough to stand out in today’s competitive publishing landscape.
- Next, choose the 3 ideas that seem most promising. For each idea, evaluate how excited you feel to delve into each idea, to dig deep into the writing process that might include researching, writing, revising, polishing, and more. How committed are you to each idea?
- Choose one idea and draw a map leading from point A to point B. Write down some key story points that will help you get to point B on the map, where you would feel comfortable about starting to turn the idea into a manuscript that children will want to read over and over.
- Then, start writing!
I hope these prompts help you evaluate and map more ideas in March and beyond . . . let me know in the comments.
MELISSA’S BIO:
Melissa Stoller writes to bring heartfelt connection and joy to her readers. Her recent picture books include: Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi (Gnome Road Publishing, 2025) and Mojo’s Return: A Story of Resilience and Hope, illustrated by Uzi Binyamin (co-authored with Lishay Miran Lavi and Mary Millman) (Niv Publishing, 2025). Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe: A Rosh Hashanah Story, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, releases from Kar-Ben Publishing on August 4, 2026. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book 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 Rate Your Story Judge, a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a member of SCBWI, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, and a former school and synagogue trustee. 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 travel.
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
Melissa Stoller writes to bring heartfelt connection and joy to her readers. Her recent picture books include: Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi (Gnome Road Publishing, 2025) and Mojo’s Return: A Story of Resilience and Hope, illustrated by Uzi Binyamin (co-authored with Lishay Miran Lavi and Mary Millman) (Niv Publishing, 2025). Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe: A Rosh Hashanah Story, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, releases from Kar-Ben Publishing on August 4, 2026. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book 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 Rate Your Story Judge, a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a member of SCBWI, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, and a former school and synagogue trustee. 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 travel.
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
