by Melissa Stoller
Where I live, we are celebrating the beginning of summer break. I remember counting down the days when I was a child, and I admit I still do the same thing as an adult. However, as much as I love the slower pace of summer, it can be hard to squeeze in enough writing time. Rediscovering childhood memories and associated feeling can help as you brainstorm ideas, write your story, or revise your manuscript.
Where I live, we are celebrating the beginning of summer break. I remember counting down the days when I was a child, and I admit I still do the same thing as an adult. However, as much as I love the slower pace of summer, it can be hard to squeeze in enough writing time. Rediscovering childhood memories and associated feeling can help as you brainstorm ideas, write your story, or revise your manuscript.
Here are a few summer-themed prompts to keep you writing during this season:
1. Think about your childhood summer activities and adventures. Did you spend time at the beach, by a pool, or at a lake? Or maybe you ran through sprinklers on your lawn. Write a few lines describing how you felt skimming though the cool water.
2. Imagine some of the summertime foods you enjoyed as a child. Write a scene about eating an ice-cream cone, enjoying a sunny (or ant-filled!) picnic, or sipping lemonade on a shady porch swing. Describe how you each treat tasted, smelled, and looked.
3. Did you enjoy family road trips as a child? Or do you take summer vacations now? Write the beginning of a story incorporating some memories or hopes for summer travel. Include sensory details.
4. What books did you read during summer vacations as a child? Can you use any as mentor texts now? Think of a book title or plot based on your favorite summer reading list, or revise a work-in-progress with a specific book in mind.
5. Do you have any memories of summertime pet-friendly activities? Did you walk your dog along the ocean, or horseback ride in the mountains? Write a few lines including a pet.
1. Think about your childhood summer activities and adventures. Did you spend time at the beach, by a pool, or at a lake? Or maybe you ran through sprinklers on your lawn. Write a few lines describing how you felt skimming though the cool water.
2. Imagine some of the summertime foods you enjoyed as a child. Write a scene about eating an ice-cream cone, enjoying a sunny (or ant-filled!) picnic, or sipping lemonade on a shady porch swing. Describe how you each treat tasted, smelled, and looked.
3. Did you enjoy family road trips as a child? Or do you take summer vacations now? Write the beginning of a story incorporating some memories or hopes for summer travel. Include sensory details.
4. What books did you read during summer vacations as a child? Can you use any as mentor texts now? Think of a book title or plot based on your favorite summer reading list, or revise a work-in-progress with a specific book in mind.
5. Do you have any memories of summertime pet-friendly activities? Did you walk your dog along the ocean, or horseback ride in the mountains? Write a few lines including a pet.
I hope these prompts brought back pleasant memories that you can convert into story ideas, scenes, and revisions. Let me know in the comments.
Happy summer!
Happy summer!
MELISSA'S BIO:
Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island (Clear Fork Publishing); and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush, Ready, Set, GOrilla!, and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories. (Clear Fork). Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer and editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and long beach walks.
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