By Melissa Stoller
www.MelissaStoller.com
This May, mine for ideas in your own life and in the history of your family or friends. These can be wonderful starting points for story sparks.
Here are some tips to get started:
www.MelissaStoller.com
This May, mine for ideas in your own life and in the history of your family or friends. These can be wonderful starting points for story sparks.
Here are some tips to get started:
1. Interview members of your family (or neighbors and friends), especially people from older generations. Do they have any stories that you find compelling? Can you turn their adventures into a story idea?
2. Walk around your home – what family ritual objects are visible that you could use to help ignite a story idea? Choose one and think about and/or research the origins of the object and how the object is used. Try to incorporate this object into a story title or opening.
3. If available, review old letters, diaries, and photos. Or, check out current photos on your phone or current text or email exchanges. Listen to old songs and watch old movies. Do any inspire book ideas?
I hope these prompts help you mine for ideas in your family, your home, and your history. Let me know in the comments. Keep digging deep! Happy writing and creating.
2. Walk around your home – what family ritual objects are visible that you could use to help ignite a story idea? Choose one and think about and/or research the origins of the object and how the object is used. Try to incorporate this object into a story title or opening.
3. If available, review old letters, diaries, and photos. Or, check out current photos on your phone or current text or email exchanges. Listen to old songs and watch old movies. Do any inspire book ideas?
I hope these prompts help you mine for ideas in your family, your home, and your history. Let me know in the comments. Keep digging deep! Happy writing and creating.
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.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller
