By Melissa Stoller Cheers to January 2021. On January 1, I opened a new journal and took out a fresh pen. I jotted down several writing intentions for the New Year. I indulge in this exercise every year as I set the mission statement for my writing life. Here are a few prompts to hopefully spark some thoughts about setting your own January goals: Write your observations, questions, ideas, bits of dialogue, doodles, and more, either in a notebook or on your phone or computer. Try to find and capture several new story ideas today, this week, and this month.
BIO: Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island (Clear Fork Publishing, 2017); and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush, Ready, Set, GOrilla!, and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories. (Clear Fork, 2018 and 2020). Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a Moderator for the Debut Picture Book Study Group, 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. CONNECT: https://www.MelissaStoller.com https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller
16 Comments
1/7/2021 05:32:08 pm
This is fantastic, Melissa! I plan to use all of your suggestions as I dash into this new year.
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1/13/2021 07:11:12 pm
Hi David - I'm so glad this post was helpful! Happy dashing into the new year!
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Eileen Mayo
1/7/2021 05:51:59 pm
What an inspiring post!
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1/13/2021 07:13:05 pm
Thank you Eileen! I'm so happy to hear that the post was inspiring...it's such a good time of year to set intentions and start moving toward goals.
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Sandra Sutter
1/8/2021 04:08:23 am
You always have wonderful words of wisdom for us, Melissa!
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1/13/2021 07:11:57 pm
Thank you dear Sandra! And I'm so excited for your wonderful new publishing venture!
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I love this list, Melissa. I think there's something here that every writer, regardless of what stage they are at, can act on this month and as we go through 2021. One of my "new" things for this year is that I've started a writing journal chronicling a historical novel I'm writing. I started it a day or two before the new year and I'm finding it so helpful.
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1/13/2021 07:09:59 pm
Hi Faygie! What a great idea to start a writing journal chronicling your historical novel. I wonder if it will help you spark more ideas and paths for your story? Please keep me posted. Thanks for commenting.
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1/8/2021 09:30:33 am
This is wonderful, Melissa, and your suggestions partner really well with StoryStorm! What a great way to start a new year. Thank you!
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1/13/2021 07:13:59 pm
Hi Jolene - thanks for your continuing support! And yes...I LOVE Storystorm! See you there!
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Jenny Buchet
1/9/2021 06:33:03 am
Great tips, Melissa! I can't wait to be able to wander into my library again & meander through the stacks! Maybe I'll take an entire day off work to do so :)
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1/13/2021 07:14:52 pm
Hi Jenny - thanks for your nice comment! I agree...can't wait to get back to my library and bookstores too!
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Sharon Giltrow
1/9/2021 05:50:38 pm
Great post Melissa and very helpful. I love writing goals. I have yearly ones, monthly ones and daily ones and love my bullet journal.
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1/13/2021 07:15:45 pm
Hi Sharon - thanks for the comment. I have tried a bullet journal and didn't get very far...will have to give it another shot!
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Sheila Lewis
1/13/2021 02:23:55 pm
Love your resolve, and also your Sadie's Shabbat Stories (my grandma was a Sadie, and working on an offbeat take on Shabbat story), I find the lists manageable in small chunks, otherwise they pull me out and away into ... anxiety. Thanks for the push re critique partners, they are gold. I will use all in a balanced way. thanks, Sheila new to CBA, and it is wonderful!
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1/13/2021 07:17:30 pm
Hi Sheila - so glad you are enjoying CBA! It is wonderful! And also good luck with your own Shabbat story! Please keep me posted about your progress. And yes about the name Sadie - I'm sure your grandma's memory is a blessing.
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We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with awesome Aussie debut author and former student Amanda Lieber who will be focusing on Aussie kidlit. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature STEM, STEAM & SEL obsessed author Kourtney LaFavre sharing delightfully dorky, quirky, and fun info. 4th Mondays will be a mystery for right now. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
September 2023
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