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IT’S ALL ABOUT – NEW YEAR WRITING INTENTIONS

1/7/2021

16 Comments

 
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.
  1. Pick a few manuscripts that you will revise over the next few months. They can be new or old. View them with fresh eyes, and don’t be afraid to completely revision the stories if necessary.
  2. Resolve to read three new kidlit titles each week this month. Study the books and note what works and what doesn’t work. Think about how these mentor texts can inform your writing.
  3. Perhaps try writing in a different genre – if you usually write fiction, try researching for a non-fiction story. Or perhaps if you usually write picture books, try writing a chapter book or middle grade novel!
  4. If you are ready to submit to agents and editors, make it a goal this month.
  5. Spend time with your critique partners – renew your commitments and double down on your critiques. Or create a group to work with and enrich your writing life. 
  6. If you are marketing a book, find new ways to get your message out there. Review your social media, and think outside the box in terms of publicity methods, virtual school visits, other speaking engagements, guest posts on kidlit blogs, and more.
Let’s all make the most of the start to a new year! Cheers to creativity and to continued writing success in 2021! 

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
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16 Comments
David McMullin link
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.

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
1/13/2021 07:11:12 pm

Hi David - I'm so glad this post was helpful! Happy dashing into the new year!

Reply
Eileen Mayo
1/7/2021 05:51:59 pm

What an inspiring post!

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
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.

Reply
Sandra Sutter
1/8/2021 04:08:23 am

You always have wonderful words of wisdom for us, Melissa!

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
1/13/2021 07:11:57 pm

Thank you dear Sandra! And I'm so excited for your wonderful new publishing venture!

Reply
Faygie link
1/8/2021 07:27:46 am

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.

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
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.

Reply
Jolene Gutiérrez link
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!

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
1/13/2021 07:13:59 pm

Hi Jolene - thanks for your continuing support! And yes...I LOVE Storystorm! See you there!

Reply
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 :)

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
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!

Reply
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.

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
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!

Reply
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!

Reply
Melissa Stoller link
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.

Reply



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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 multi-published former student Shirin Shamsi who will be focusing on Muslim and cultural kidlit.

    2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books.
     

    3rd Mondays will feature
    Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer, man of mystery, and professional magician among other things.

    4th Mondays will feature STEM, STEAM & SEL obsessed author Kourtney LaFavre sharing delightfully dorky, quirky, and fun info.

    And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break

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  • Home
  • WRITING
    • Mastering Great Graphic Novels >
      • 2023 Mastering Graphic Novels Registration
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
    • Never a Dull Moment Workshop
  • TECH
  • About Us
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    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
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  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship