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IT’S ALL ABOUT – USING OBJECTS AS WRITING PROMPTS

7/12/2021

4 Comments

 

By Melissa Stoller 
 
Glance around your home, in rooms such as the living room, bedroom, and office. Chances are you will find objects that can become excellent story starters. Here are a few prompts to help spark your imagination as you write stories this month:
​Find a photograph sitting on your living room mantle. Describe the setting. Who is featured in the photo? What do the people look like and what are they wearing? Choose to write about the subject’s actual history or make up a tale about possible background, goals, and dreams. Create a plot drawing from your observations and imagination.
  1. Notice your bedroom dresser and identify special personal objects. Perhaps you will find a perfume bottle, a leather change holder, or a jewelry box. Write a paragraph describing this object, paying close attention to details like colors, shapes, and textures. Also include where you got the object: was it an heirloom or from a local store? Form a story around this object.
  2. Scour your home office desk for interesting work items. Perhaps you have files, books, a pencil sharpener, an antique typewriter, a computer, or a beautiful pen. What’s the story behind the item? If this item could speak, what would it say? Draft a few paragraphs based on this object’s history.​
​I hope these prompts help inspire a few new manuscript ideas or add layers to any works in progress. Let me know in the comments. Happy writing! 
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​BIO:
 
Melissa Stoller is 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!, and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories. Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written with Callie Metler and Shirin Rahman, illustrated by Kate Talbot), releases from Clear Fork Publishing in October 2021. Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, 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
https://www.TheBookMeshuggenahs.com 
​

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4 Comments
ANNETTE SCHOTTENFELD link
7/13/2021 05:41:17 am

Melissa, I love these inspiring ideas! There are so many treasures around us that hold stories. Thank you! Annette

Reply
Brigitte Cushman
7/13/2021 09:30:27 am

I like your ideas about using objects as prompts in your writing. I use poetry in my writing with metaphors and similes for describing objects and things.

Reply
Charlotte Dixon
7/13/2021 02:32:38 pm

Thank you, Melissa, for these ideas to find writing prompts around our own surroundings. I found several!

Reply
myaarpmedicare link
8/10/2021 03:10:40 am

I have express a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorite’s blog site list and will be checking back soon

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 new bloggers!!

    Here's our lineup:
    1st Mondays begin with editor/art director, & CBA Director Mira Reisberg PhD who is handing her Mondays over to awesome former now traditionally pubbed students to widen their audience.

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

    3rd Mondays will feature
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    4th Mondays will feature STEM, STEAM & SEL obsessed author Kourtney LaFavre sharing delightfully dorky, quirky, and fun info.

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  • Home
  • WRITING
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • Mastering Graphic Novels
    • 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
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • MN Course Access
  • 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