IT’S ALL ABOUT . . . ORGANIZING IDEAS IN OCTOBER!

​By Melissa Stoller 
www.MelissaStoller.com
 
 
This October, organize all the ideas that are floating around, ready to be put into a story manuscript.
 
Here are some prompts to get you started:

                                                                        Canva Image


​1) Organize ideas by seasonal topic: seasons, holidays, foods, decorations, and more.  

2) Organize ideas by theme: friendship, family, growing up, sharing, siblings, kindness, and more.  

3) Organize ideas by place: home, school, beach, library, playground, outer space, and more.  
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Once you organize – choose one idea and write a story. Or smash up a few ideas to create a new manuscript. Have fun and play!
 
Enjoy the month of October and organizing your ideas. Let me know in the comments if these exercises helped. 
 
Happy writing and cheers to creativity this month! 

 
MELISSA’S BIO:
 
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, released from Gnome Road Publishing in September, 2025. Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, will release from Kar-Ben Publishing in Fall 2026. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks. 
 
​CONNECT WITH MELISSA:
 
https://www.MelissaStoller.com
https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog 
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
www.twitter.com/melissastoller
www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller
@MelissaStoller.bsky.social 





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