November is right around the corner, and I couldn’t be more excited. Every year, I dedicate this month to unleashing my creativity. I work in a very data-heavy job, and my creative side often gets pushed to the back burner. But for the last five years, November has been different—I wake up early each morning, sit down with a notebook or laptop, and write. Every single day.
A few years ago, I adapted National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo) for children’s authors and created Children’s Book Writing Month: #ChiBoWriMo. The challenge is simple and fun—write one story a day using an open-ended writing prompt. With this framework, I’ve written more than 150 children’s stories across five cozy Novembers, and today I’m sharing 30 brand-new prompts to help you start your own creative sprint.
But in full transparency… I’m switching things up this year. After writing 150 children’s stories, I think it’s okay—maybe even necessary—to give my brain a new adventure. So I’m taking it full circle and hopping on the #NaNoWriMo train. This children’s book writer is about to attempt a full-length adult novel!
Will I hit the official 50,000-word goal in November? Honestly, we’ll see. My true goal is to finish a complete rough draft by the end of the year. Wish me luck as I attempt to double (or quadruple!) my daily word count. Here’s to trying new things, stretching our creativity, and letting November surprise us.
And if you love women’s fiction, please reach out—I’m going to need a fresh group of beta readers!
I’m sitting at my kitchen table, and it’s dark outside.
My kids are still sleeping, and this is my window to write.
It’s still October, but come November 1st, you’ll find me here every morning.
That’s because November is Children’s Book Writing Month (#ChiBoWriMo), where WE write one children’s story a day for the entire month. When I say “we” I mean you and me. Don’t worry I’ll show you how.
This writing practice piggybacks on a long-standing tradition called National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo), where authors aim to finish writing a rough draft of their novel in thirty days.
I love that idea, for them.
But in this little corner of the internet, we are all about children’s books, and I love the creative rough drafts that come from showing up consistently and letting my mind wander in silly, strange, and imaginative places.
Because I have been an “adult” for quite some time now, I’ll admit that sometimes it’s challenging to let my mind go free. So the idea of putting creative writing into practice for an entire month really lets me lean in, and go deep.
By the end, I’m creatively spent, but also thrilled to have thirty rough drafts to develop all winter long. I look at my November stories and pick a handful to write second drafts of.
*This step includes typing up my favorites because I do my first draft in a notebook, with a pen – gasp!*
Because I’ve done this writing challenge for four years now, it means I’ve got over one hundred rough drafts written, solely in November.
Let me share one key tip that has always helped ensure I complete all thirty stories . . .
I ALWAYS print out a list of simple writing prompts.
That’s it.
I don’t have to fight to find a starting point each morning. These prompts are always pretty broad so I can take them in a thousand directions, but they give me a creative jump start.
If you’ve always wanted to write a children’s book, or just want to write more, give this one simple trick a try.
I’ll even share the exact list I’ll be using this November.
decide on a daily time and place to show up for yourself,
set your laptop or notebook out so you are ready to go,
then put a reminder on your calendar for November 1st.
Over one hundred stories later, I’m still using this formula because it consistently works.
Now it’s your turn.
Go get prepped – you creative writing machine. I’m cheering for you!
*Use #ChiBoWriMo on FB/IG
**For the rule followers:
What if it’s not November when I read this? Do I have to wait until next year? The exact month does not matter. But the idea of starting on the first of the month and showing up daily for the entire month is powerful. Give it a try!
Am I alloweed to switch locations or times once I set them? Sure, You do you. For me, 90% is at my kitchen table at 5am, 10% is at coffee shop whatever time I can squeeze it in).
If I miss a day, did I fail? Nope, you don’t fail unless you quit. Personally, I really like to test my creativity and write something for every single prompt. This means if I miss a day, I will double up and write two the next. Always finishing all prompts by the last day of the the month.
So you have an idea for a children’s book. A very good one I’m sure. Now what? I want you to take one morning and write it down. A super rough draft is fine, but get it down on paper or typed on your computer.
Guess what I am going to challenge you to do next? Write 30 more stories. What? Your goal was one. I know, I know. But this will be fun. Stick with me.
Let your story sit for a month and write some other stuff you didn’t plan on. It’s a good exercise to get your creative juices flowing, and will make you a better writer when you go back to your first story and write draft number two.
Every November writers work on completing a novel in one month (#NaNoWriMo), and us children’s book writers engage in #ChiBoWriMo – where we write a short story a day in November.
Grab your notebook and pen, and schedule in 30 minutes a day in November to use the list of story prompts below to take you from blank page to rough draft in about 30 minutes.
Stick to it! You will be amazed by the book of stories you end up with. You may even find a new favorite. But even if you head back to your original idea, you will be 30x the writer you were just a month ago!
Last year I wrote THIRTY children’s stories in the month of November.
Want to join me? I made it easy. Just download this list of writing prompts
Last year I wrote THIRTY children’s stories in the month of November.
I was inspired by some friends that were doing #NaNoWriMo and writing an entire novel in one month. Based on a children’s book word count of 500-1k words, I figured I could handle writing a book a day for the month, and thus Children’s Book Writing Month (#ChiBoWriMo) was born .
Kya Mouse, a character created during a writing prompt
I was able to use the stories I wrote last November to publish three books this year (Check out the Smart Girl Fairy Tale Series), and I hope to do it again.
Want to join me? I made it easy. Just download this list of writing prompts here.
Hang it somewhere special and plan at least thirty quiet minutes a day to sit, think, and write.
Trust me, I know a prompt may seem odd when you first read it, but give it five minutes and see where your mind begins to go. Before you know it, you’ll have a rough draft before you.
And a rough draft is all we are going for here. At the end of the month you can read your stories over and pick a handful that deserve a second draft.
Use #ChiBoWriMo on your social posts so we can cheer each other on.
My Mom is the Worst 