IT'S ALL ABOUT . . . WRITING IN SEPTEMBER

by Melissa Stoller


​September. For many, this shift in the calendar signals back to school, end of summer, and a flip in mindset from vacation time toward back to work.

Here are some tips to make the most of this month in terms of your writing life.

​1)    Today, pick one new project to focus on at the start of this month. Write a new draft, sift through your idea notebook for a hidden gem that might become a new story, or take a walk to cultivate new ideas.

2)    Challenge yourself to step outside your normal path this month. If you usually write fiction, perhaps immerse yourself in a nonfiction topic. Or if you usually write picture books, think about a chapter book topic that might be of interest. Maybe you have secretly wanted to write a middle grade or young adult novel – now is the perfect time to give it a whirl.

3)    Craft a list of mentor texts to read this month that are different from the usual books you read. Perhaps in a genre you are working in already, or something entirely different that you want to try this month. For example, if you never read graphic novels, take a look. Or if you don’t usually write in rhyme, make a list of rhyming texts that might spark ideas for future stories.

Use this month to try something new. You might surprise yourself! Let me know how it goes in the comments! 

 And speaking about September . . . I will be speaking on a panel on September 19 at the amazing Children’s Book Academy PICTURE BOOK PALOOZA! I hope you will join me, Mira, and so many talented creatives, as well as members of the publishing industry, for what will be an amazing two days of inspiring and helpful presentations – September 18 and 19, 2021. Plus, there will be prizes, giveaways and submission opportunities! #21Palooza
 
You can still register here - https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/pbpalooza2021.html 
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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.


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