By Melissa Stoller
October is the perfect time to let colors inspire your stories. Here are a few prompts to help you develop your ideas:
1. October is filled with the color orange - think pumpkins. Write a story featuring a pumpkin or pumpkin pie. Look around your home or office for other orange items and incorporate a few into your manuscript.
2. The color yellow lights up October with chrysanthemums. Write a story about this flowering plant. Stroll around your neighborhood searching for other yellow objects and add some to your stories.
October is the perfect time to let colors inspire your stories. Here are a few prompts to help you develop your ideas:
1. October is filled with the color orange - think pumpkins. Write a story featuring a pumpkin or pumpkin pie. Look around your home or office for other orange items and incorporate a few into your manuscript.
2. The color yellow lights up October with chrysanthemums. Write a story about this flowering plant. Stroll around your neighborhood searching for other yellow objects and add some to your stories.
Canva Image
3. October is also filled with autumnal reds found in changing leaves. Write a title or first line that includes leaves, trees, or the autumn season. Search online for photos or videos of autumn and let those inspire you.
4. Reflect on any trips you took or activities you did last October. Scroll through your phone for photos and notice the colors you captured. Write a story based on one of the colors in your favorite image.
5. Choose a handful of markers or crayons and write a few lines based on the colors you selected . . . or let them be springboards for further ideas.
This month, allow colors to spark some creativity! Let me know in the comments if these suggestions helped. Happy writing!
3. October is also filled with autumnal reds found in changing leaves. Write a title or first line that includes leaves, trees, or the autumn season. Search online for photos or videos of autumn and let those inspire you.
4. Reflect on any trips you took or activities you did last October. Scroll through your phone for photos and notice the colors you captured. Write a story based on one of the colors in your favorite image.
5. Choose a handful of markers or crayons and write a few lines based on the colors you selected . . . or let them be springboards for further ideas.
This month, allow colors to spark some creativity! Let me know in the comments if these suggestions 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, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing in Fall 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 Book Meshuggenahs member, 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.
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