Blogfish

• Blog
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . MINING IDEAS IN MAY!

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...

• Blog
• Debra Collins

RESTRAINT BECOMES UNBRIDLED JOY

Imagine that your every action must be perfect. It’s paralyzing! I observed a third-grade teacher leading her class in discussing “Sam,” the main character of a book they were reading. The teacher...

• Blog
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . ARRANGING IDEAS IN APRIL!

This April, arrange your ideas so they are organized and ready to fit into your manuscripts. Here are some tips to get started:

• Blog
• Debra Collins

WHEN “HOLDING ON” HOLDS YOU BACK

When events are spinning out of control, when loss is unbearable, we strive to steady ourselves. Cling to a lifeline. Find firm ground and plant our feet. Ideally, we find...

• Blog
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . MAPPING IDEAS IN MARCH!

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:

• Blog
• Debra Collins

KNOW-HOW

It’s amazing what kids can do. Take, for example, this story of a young woman named Victoria who turns discarded, unwanted clothing into lovely, lively, fashionable pieces that are sold...

• Blog
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . FINDING IDEAS IN FEBRUARY!

This February, make a special effort to find as many ideas as you can. If you are wondering where to locate possible topics, try these locations:

• Blog
• Debra Collins

FROM CODDLED TO COMPETENT

Picture the shining eyes of a child celebrating another milestone. “I can do it, all by myself!” What of a pampered child who never needs to lift a finger? Does...

• Blog
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . DREAMING OF IDEAS IN DECEMBER!

It’s the end of the year – goodbye 2025 and hello 2026! This month, take stock of your ideas for the past twelve months, and dream about all your ideas...

• Blog
• Debra Collins

WHAT SHALL WE CELEBRATE?

Every day, we grown-ups are inundated with messages urging us to mistrust, exclude, and expel certain people. How do we “grow up” to this? Children do not find these attitudes modeled...

• Blog
• Debra Collins

I SEE MYSELF IN YOU

A friend of mine, a fellow writer, laments that picture books are considered little children’s books. Great picture books offer wisdom for humans of all ages. Consider the two books we’re...

• Blog
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . FALLING FOR IDEAS IN SEPTEMBER!

Where I live in New York, Autumn starts in September. This is the perfect month to fall for ideas. Here are a few prompts to get you started:

• Debra Collins

SAFE ENOUGH TO BE BRAVE

Children who are easily overwhelmed have narrow comfort zones. It is far too easy for everyday situations to trigger self-protective “fight or flight” reactions, whereby the autonomic nervous system equips...

• Blog
• KidLit
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . SHINY IDEAS IN JUNE!

In the Northern Hemisphere where I live, the month of June signifies the start of summer. This year, June 20 will be the official summer solstice, the longest day of...

• Blog
• KidLit
• Melissa Stoller

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . FLOWERING IDEAS IN MAY!

Last month, I encouraged everyone to find ideas using the phrase “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” So this month - May - enjoy and appreciate the beautiful flowers that are...

• Blog
• Debra Collins
• KidLit

WARMLY WELCOMING EVERY ONE

This month’s book highlights and nurtures social-emotional capacities of Social Awareness and Relationship Skills through metaphor, rather than a character-driven plot.

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . SHOWERING IDEAS IN APRIL!

According to the old proverb, April showers bring May flowers! I love using sayings to help generate ideas. This month, think about showers of all types to inspire your stories. 

A “HOLE” LOT OF OPPORTUNITY!

Last month’s spotlight featured a character with attributes that truly were quite different from his peers’.  In this month’s story, PAULA'S PATCHES, a girl who believes her situation is unique...

FITTING IN WHEN YOU’RE UNIQUE by Dr. Debra Collins

Forming a group, by definition, involves making many into one. It’s a unit made up of multiple, non-identical elements. For the group to run smoothly, the purpose or expectations of...

IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . MARCHING INTO MARCH WITH IDEAS! By Melissa Stoller

Each March, Melissa Stoller thinks of the phrase, “In like a lion and out like a lamb.” This refers to the weather during the month of March, which often comes...