Blowing dandelions can lead to a magical storybook world....

Your words inspire me. On Tuesday, I asked you to use only five words to describe yourselves. Your descriptions blew me away. I realized that as a writer, I am part of all of you. Your words nudged me to think and dream more. Let me share a few of your descriptions about yourselves. Here goes:

I am doing my best.

My spirit gets distracted easily.

With love, they grow perfectly.

I'm traveling barefoot through life.

I believe I can fly.

Wishful thinking makes things happen.

After I read your descriptions, I visited your blogs and headed straight for your interests. I wanted to know more about you. I wanted to know why we are so alike and how we might be different.

I'd like to comment on each and every blog that I read, but one in particular made me want to write a best selling children's book. That person listed "blowing dandelions" and "watching bubbles" in her bouquet of interests.

I wanted to walk barefoot through her dandelions (that I'm sure grow perfect with love). I wanted to fly through her bubbles. Since my spirit gets distracted easily, I won't sit down to write that book tonight, but I know that wishful thinking makes things happen.

I love language. I play with words. I am dazzled by how we are alike and how we are different. Blowing dandelions. Watching bubbles. What do they make you think about? What do they make your kids think about? Ask them! Please share.

Five Words....

Five words can tell a lot. They can paint an honest to goodness picture when you throw in a little imagination. My daughter-in-law is a second grade teacher. She asked her students to use only five words to tell about themselves. You may think that's not a lot, but it is...especially if you can read between the lines. One boy in her class wrote: My dad is in jail. Those five words told me a lot about this young man. They painted a picture of his life for me.

Since I'm all about quick activities, let's try this one ourselves.
Writers, use five words to tell me about yourself. I'll go first: I'll keep trying and trying!! What does that tell you about me?

Your turn, you got next! If you feel like writing more after your five words, go for it, especially if you're having fun.

Teachers and parents, as usual, you can do this activity orally or in written form. Don't forget to model the exercise first or you'll get responses like: I have long brown hair. That's not the kind of picture we want to paint!

Rejoice in the good time that a simple writing exercise can offer and please share your five little words. Let us all read between the lines!

Let's start at the...ENDING

Since many of you talked about having trouble with beginnings and endings of stories, I want to share something that I do from time to time. It sort of unlocks the gates to let in the flood.

Writers, you have an idea forming in your mind but don't know how to begin. You've started once or twice, but are getting nowhere. Try writing the ending of your story first. That's what I do. I'm not sure if that's an original idea or not, but it works nonetheless.

So, just for the heck of it, write a quick paragraph about where you'll be ten years from now or (any other fantasy that comes to mind). Write your ending first. Don't take more than ten minutes to go back and complete...yes complete... the rest of your paragraph. You should have a much easier time getting started now.

Does my ending always stay the same? No. In fact, frequently it changes as my story evolves, but for whatever reason, it gets the ball rolling.

Teachers, do this same exercise with your students. It's a great exercise for the beginning of the week. All of the writing exercises that I share should be quick enough to finish while you're taking attendance, even if you're sounding out ideas as you call each child's name.

Teachers and parents, once again, with younger kids, you can do this exercise orally. In fact, you can turn it into a game. For example, your ending might be: And the squirrel ran up the tree and into his nest as the stars twinkled in the sky. Then ask, "What happened before that?"

Fooling around with words is what it's all about. Writing isn't scary when we pull out whatever gadgets we need to make writing fun. We're only just beginning to gather our supplies. I have to keep remembering which toolboxes I've used over the years!

How Do You Really Feel?

How do you really feel about writing? Come on now, it's Friday, you can take a deep breath and let it all out. What are the reasons that keep you from writing? It takes courage to write, especially for those of us (including kids) who feel a little insecure at times.

Do you ever wonder if anyone would want to read what you write? Do you even care? How many of you write for yourselves? How many write with the goal of publication?

Since my blog is about igniting the spark of creativity in writers who just need a little jump start (or are in the midst of writer's block) and teachers and parents who are trying to excite children about writing, I need to know!

Please dump your comments out! Let me know what gets in the way of your writing and what helps you. I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted a network of writers who were thrilled with the entire writing process. Let's take the lid off together! Please leave me a short list of things that get in the way of your writing and a list of ideas that help!

I Promise.....

I promise this will be a quick exercise for writers, teachers, parents, and students!

Let's go back to our lists again. This time, write a list of ten promises you'd like to make to yourself. For me it would look like this:

I promise to do my laundry before it overflows the basket.
I promise to keep my cell phone minutes under 1500.
I promise to spend less time at the barn.

You get the idea.

After your list is completed, chose one promise that jumps out at you. I promise one will. Take five minutes and elaborate on that promise. This is a fun exercise that will take no time at all. Why? Because you already have all the background knowledge that you need. No research or thought is required...I promise.

Just one thing, remember to paint a picture with your words. For example: I plan to spend less time at the barn even though the sweet smell of the hay is calling to me right now.

Teachers, be prepared for some of your student's deepest thoughts...they might just tumble onto paper!

Teachers and parents, if you're writing with younger children, this exercise can be done orally. Help them unleash their creativity. Prod them for awareness. Talk about a promise you would like to make. Model for your children what it means to be a writer by demonstrating spontaneity and fresh ideas....YOURS! Dazzle your children with the love of language that I keep telling you about!

Metamorphosis.....What happened????

Let's have some fun. Pretend you were holed up in your house all weekend because of a huge blizzard (not so far fetched for some of us) that literally closed your city.

On Monday you awaken...slowly, groggily. Something feels strange. You're not the person who went to bed on Sunday night. Maybe you're not even a person. What are you? Who are you?

Writers, do this exercise without thought. Write quickly and without worrying about grammar or spelling. See what you come up with! Share!

Teachers, use this same exercise with your students. Start out (while you're taking attendance) by saying something like, "I feel like a bear just out of my cave this morning." Explain why you feel that way. Ask your students to raise their hands to tell you what they feel like.

If you have older students, have them write a QUICK paragraph about who or what they are and how they feel.

If you have younger students, have them draw a picture of who or what they are, after they communicate their reasons.

Parents, you can do this same exercise at home. YOU go first. Who or what have you become? Explain theatrically. Writing flourishes in an environment where creativity is embraced.

Power of words

I've decided to use the weekends to share some words that have inspired me during the week. Some words have inspired me to write more. Others have inspired me to think about the importance of parenting and teaching. Words are powerful. Language is powerful. There's never a day that I'm not reminded that life is what poetry is made from....we'll get back to writing exercises on Monday!

The first link is from a writer by the name of Annie Wickling. I actually forgot today was Valentine's Day until I read her post! Her powerful words made me think about all my loved ones...and the cards that I forgot to sign and give!

Here is the link to Annie's lovely words:
http://annieandlo.blogspot.com/2009/02/three-little-words.html

The words below are from one of the most creative and thoughtful teachers I've had the pleasure to get to know, all through the magic of the blog world. When I asked her about using her words, she said, "Parents might not like to hear what I'm saying." I think she's wrong. You be the judge. Here are her words:

I reflect constantly on my literary development and progress through life, and one constant thread is woven throughout my reflections; if I had not had a mother who was a reader and lifelong learner, I would not be where I am today.

I know there are people who look upon teachers with some disdain and talk about "doing" versus "teaching," but I am the oldest child in a family of twelve children, and I am the only one with college degrees. More than half of my brothers and sisters are high school drop-outs, and my father had only an eighth grade education, so I hope you can understand what an accomplishment it was for me when, at the age of thirty-five, I decided to attend college.

The point I want to make is that I wish more parents would encourage their children to engage in literacy activities at home. Our entire society is so wrapped up in the concept of instant gratification and constant stimulation of the senses, whether through technology, sports, or always being on the go, that literacy education is left entirely to the schools. Schools don't have the time or resources to make sure that students are practicing strategies taught in school and honing their skills to be ready to move on. I'm afraid that many of the students I have are going to have difficulty finding jobs that will provide life's necessities, much less allow them to live the responsibility-free lives many of their parents are now allowing them to live. Also, I hate to burst any budding athlete's bubble, but those big money contracts go to those who work HARD and have big talent, and everyone needs a backup plan.

Even if parents just allow kids to scribble pretend letters and lists or point out environmental print, or tell nursery rhymes to their children, in the end it will impact the way they process and approach literacy, and improve their background knowledge. This last is a biggie with me. Sometimes it is unbelievable to me the lack of background knowledge students are bringing to the table. Is this just because our oral traditions have gone the way of the horse and buggy? I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I do think parents need to interact verbally with their children more often and do some of the other things I've written about to help their children be better able to navigate the world of print. Enough! I'm off my soapbox!

Words are powerful. Language is powerful. Life is poetry in motion.

Change it up....

Did you know that you can take an old story and rewrite (and publish) it as long as it is in public domain? You can!

Take for example, the story of Little Red Riding Hood. As a children's writer, you can take that story and rewrite it from the perspective...there's that word again...of Little Red's grandmother. What a story that would be!

Rewriting a short story is a great creative exercise for any writer. Even rewriting the beginning or the ending of a story to change it up, gets your creativity flowing. Give it a try writers!

Teachers, there's no better way to get your kids involved in the writing process than to have them take a story that they love and change the ending. You might want to read a familiar book several times to your class, (over a period of a few days). Ask your students to change the ending of that same story to anything they like. Suggest that their new ending can be happy, sad, or mysterious. Then ask each student to individually share their new ending.

You write your own new ending too! I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again, children become terrific writers when an adult eagerly joins them in the writing process. That simple action says that writing is special. It validates that writing is important.

Parents, you can do this same activity at home. It is fine to do this exercise orally at first. In fact, maybe it's even better. Remember, writing doesn't start on paper. It starts in the heart and mind!

What do you really see?

One of the most difficult writing assignments I have ever had was to describe famous artwork for blind children. I remember saying to the editor, "This assignment's not for me. I'm not the kind of person who truly appreciates fine art."

The editor's reply was, "You're just what we need. I want you to describe what you see, not in terms of art, but in terms of what is relative to someone who is blind."

I took the assignment. Normally I finish way ahead of deadlines, but not this time. I had to really think about things through my senses. Blind people feel. They hear. They smell. They just don't see...obviously.

I was able to describe most of the art by relying on my sense of touch. For example, it was easy to describe an abstract sculpture by saying that part of it was shaped like a large spoon. Since eveyone has held a spoon and knows how it feels, I was able to paint a sensory picture. In the end, I became a better writer with a heightened awerenss of how things really "looked."

If you're a writer and you want an exercise that will help you paint pictures with your words, describe your stove for us. Trust me, it won't be easy, but it will help you with future descriptive writing. If you'd like to describe something else, that's fine, but please share!

You poets who have been writing with me should have a great time with this exercise. I would love to know how you would describe a hair brush.

Teachers, have your students describe something in your classroom. They can do it orally or on paper. You can actually turn this into a quick game.

Parents, you can do the same thing with your children by using objects in your house.

There's no better way to cultivate creativity than by thinking outside the box. This exercise is truly way out. Have fun!

Kick you senses into gear...

It's all about perspective really. It's about how things seem when we see them, hear them, taste them, feel them, or smell them.

Since it's the first of the week, let's let our senses run wild. Perceive things as we usually wouldn't. Let's unleash our imaginations and dazzle our papers with words and thoughts that are free from stress or purpose!

Writers, try writing a paragraph about how red might smell. Write quickly and without thought. Some of you might imagine that red smells like anger. Others might find that red smells like passion. Write! Write! Write! Then please share what you've written. I'd love to see your creativity gone wild!

Teachers, let your students wallow in the freedom to take risks with what they write. Encourage them to fantasize and be unconventional. Create a moment in your classroom where it's okay to just have fun and write...to be spontaneous.

Ask your students to tell or write about how green smells. Ask them to write or tell you how spaghetti sounds or how their book tastes. If things are going well keep going! Ask your students what a bell feels like or how a stomach ache looks. If your students are struggling, YOU tell them how green smells, how spagetti sounds, and how your book tastes. It won't be long before your kids get the idea!

Parent's, join your children as you help them prod through exercises that are filled with ideas and sensations. Remember, kids learn best when a grown-up guides them through the process of writing.

This kind of activity reminds us how important our senses are when it comes to writing. It reminds us of the power of words and the wonder of language.

Tell a whopper....

Here's a great exercise to get some creative juices flowing. Tell lies. Yes, I said it...tell lies. Whoppers in fact. You can tell really big whoppers about fishing trips, the weather, eating, singing....ANYTHING at all. Your whoppers can be really fun to write. Kids love whoppers. Adult writers often start their stories with whoppers.

Why not write a few whoppers now and see what happens. Here, I'll give you some starter sentences. See what you come up with!

Today is hotter than....
She was so slow that....
My mother likes to ......
I made more money than you would ever dream of just by.....
It's hard to believe that my old friend.....
Yesterday I saw a duck.....

Teachers, you can adjust these starter sentences for your students. If your students are young, do this exercise orally. Once again, you'll begin to create that love of language. Words will tumble. Laughter will follow.

Parents, this is a great activity for a long car trip. Think up a few sentences in advance to get your car game rolling.

Writers, see how far you can get into a story just by starting out with your very own whopper. Have fun!

My first Award

My sister-in-law and blog designer gave me this award! She deserves the award more than me, but I'm thrilled nonetheless!

Her award inspires me to write more. It makes me think of something else too. There's nothing more fun and challenging for writers (young and old)than to enter contests.

Adult writers can find all kinds of contests everywhere. Contests can be found online. They can be found in magazines and newspapers. If you see a contest that interests you, go for it! It's not about winning or losing, it's about having fun while you write. If you happen to win, it's a great publishing credit. If you don't, it's a good experience...especially if you write for the simple joy of writing.

Writing contests are a great way for teachers to inspire their students. Nothing is more fun than a writing contest in the classroom. Keep it simple. Have word list contests...remember those lists we talked about? Announce a contest to find the most creative words on your student's lists. No pressure...just fun. Every child in your class will strive to add just one more word to that list that describes cold or winter. Every child in your class can have a winning word.

Parents, you can use the same kinds of contests at home. Make them easy. Make them simple. Your child will begin to feel the success and joy that coincides with a playful love of language and words.
Ready? Set? Go! Tell me about the contests you've entered or created. I really want to know!

Oh, by the way, I'm going to figure out how to pass this award on. I've seen some fabulous blogs in the few weeks that I've been blogging!