By Melissa Stoller
www.MelissaStoller.com
This June, notice all the ideas that are blossoming and blooming all around you. Reach out and grasp them before they flitter-flutter away!
www.MelissaStoller.com
This June, notice all the ideas that are blossoming and blooming all around you. Reach out and grasp them before they flitter-flutter away!
Here are some prompts to get started:
1. Take a walk through a botanical garden, a small local garden or park, or a neighborhood. Journal about what you see. Or draw some doodles. Do any story ideas spark from these strolls?
2. Dig deeper. Research about flowers and trees online or at the library. Choose one flower and one type of tree and try to incorporate them into a story idea.
3. Scroll through photos on your phone or in a photo album. Focus on 3 that contain images of flowers or trees. Describe what is happening in those photos. Choose one to include in a story arc.
I hope these prompts help you find ideas that will bloom and blossom this month.
Happy writing and creating.
MELISSA’S BIO:
Melissa Stoller writes to bring heartfelt connection and joy to her readers. Melissa’s newest picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe: A Rosh Hashanah Story, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, releases from Kar-Ben Publishing on August 4, 2026. 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 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.
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