Move It!

Movement is art. It allows us to really show what is happening by creating pictures with our words. Today's writing activity was inspired by the howling, swirling wind that almost toppled the trees in my backyard.

Writers: Choose one of the groups of words listed below to include in a quick sentence or paragraph. As you work on your own writing this week, think about how these "moving" words awakened your creativity and inspired your ideas.

lumbering, meandering
slinking, slouching
gushing, leaking
sauntering, swaggering
scampering, scurrying

If any of the "moving" words on my list inspire other "moving" words for you, go right ahead and use your own words in a sentence or paragraph.

Please share!

Teachers and Parents: You can do this same activity with your kids, but first you have to arouse their imaginations. Talk to them about how a cat moves. Remind them that cats like to hunt and sleep in the sun. Create a list of some of the movements cats make before, during, and after hunting and sleeping. Hopefully, your list will include things like:
stalk
prowl
slink
pounce
stretch
curl, etc.

One more thing. Before you have your kids write about a cat, ask them to move their own bodies like one of the words on the list. You move too. In fact, show your kids how a cat stretches!

Now your kids should be ready to write with you. You might want to provide a writing prompt to start them off. Something easy like: The lazy cat was curled into a ball on the porch. Then......

Please share your kid's work. It will inspire all of us!

Success??

Once again it's Friday evening and I'm thinking about what to post. Since I usually write about what's on my mind, I might as well not hold back.

So many people out there don't understand blogging or networking. They are quick to tell me how useless and unsafe it is to blog. I was asked again today why I spend time posting writing exercises when I could be doing "something more constructive."

Sometimes I ask myself the same question. I could spend more time submitting manuscripts or cleaning my house. I will.

This blog isn't very old...less than two months or so. I started my blog to network with people like you, not to get rich. I confess (and I've told a few of you already) that in a couple years I plan to try to turn the activities that I post here into a book.

These little seemingly nothing activities inspire me to paint pictures with my words. They make me happy when they snap you out of your writer's block or when they unleash creativity in kids who think they can't write.

I used to make lots of money writing. I was blessed with lots of work and a creative mind. Now work is slow, but I'm as excited as ever when ideas tumble in my mind. I'm still filled with joy (that I hope all of you know) when I sit down to write. Making lots of money is not what dictates success.

Here's what I have decided. I'm sure it's been said before, but it's worth repeating... Success is a journey, not a destination. Words lead us on incredible journeys. It's the journeys that take my breath away.

Jason Burke has been taking a wonderful journey of his own. He has self-published two books. The first, "Recycled Again," is a light-hearted story with a subtle message or two. Written in a style like Shel Silverstein, "Recycled Again" is a green book about changing friendships and recycling. You can purchase Jason's book at amazon.com

Jason's second book is titled "Birthdays at Christmas." It combines a classic Christmas story with with wit and wonder. "Birthdays at Christmas" can be found at amazon.com too.

Another journey worth taking can be found at http://www.careandfeeingofthewildthings.com/ .
Amber's blog offers a contest that's being judged by none other than her twelve-year-old son. Give it a try! Send your students and kids there too. We can all have some creative frolicking! When kids and adults participate in the same activity it sends a message. The message is that writing is important and fun.

I'm curious. What is success to you as a writer? What is success to you as a teacher or homeschooler? Can you enjoy the journey or do you feel pressured by what other people think, say and expect? Please share.

Outside the box again....

This one is for all of you. It's sure to inspire creativity without time or effort. NO SCIENTIFIC ANSWERS PLEASE. So...without giving it any thought at all, answer this question:

QUICK! Why does grass grow?

I'll go first: So rabbits have something to eat.

Your turn. Please share.

As usual, if you want to continue writing, please do. If not, we've at least got you thinking outside the box!

You Made the News!

Thank you for all the comments you left concerning Tango and Tilly....MY BOOK! I promise I will update you as things unravel.

Now back to the business....I mean fun....of writing!

If tomorrow's headline in the newspaper was about you, what would it say? Feel free to take artistic license...tell a whopper if you like!

I'll go first. My headline would read:
Local Redhead Battles Farmer During Daring Horse Rescue

Writers, your headline doesn't need to be silly like mine, but we've been much too serious for the past couple days. After you come up with a quick headline, feel free to turn it into a short article or column. I think there's a columnist in all of us!

Teachers and Parents, let your kids see you reading a newspaper. Read a few appropriate headlines out loud. Then make up a headline for yourself. It could be something like: Rambunctious Teacher Seen Using Training Wheels. If your kids see you being adventuresome, they'll be quick to join in on the fun. It won't take long to get their creative wheels turning! By the way, don't be afraid to use vocabulary that is unfamiliar on a regular basis. Kids love big words!

Please share!

Jan Mader Tango and Tilly....my stolen book.....

I sometimes use weekends just to chat with you. Today is no exception, except today I need to share a personal story and ask for some honest feedback.

I'm going to take a deep breath first. This is difficult.

Over six years ago, I sold a children's story called Tango and Tilly to a publisher in Canada. I was contracted for this manuscript and six more in the series.

This book was my heart because it was based on my own horse Tango (who I adore)...and me.

I used Tango's antics as my inspiration. I used my imagination and joy to write the stories.

I won't go into great detail (partially for legal reasons), but through no fault of my own, two years into the process, my rights were returned to me. I've been sitting on the story since 2006.

Last weekend, out of the blue, someone said to me, "I bought your book for my granddaughter, and she loves it!"

I asked which book and she said, Tango and Tilly.

I was flabbergasted. Long story short. Somehow, some way, my book is being sold (or shown as available) illegally through many sources. It would cost me tens of thousands of dollars to pursue this legally. I don't have that kind of money.

Here is my question to you: If I had the book re-illustrated and then self-published Tango and Tilly, do you think I could generate enough interest to sell it through this blog? If it is successful, I could sell subsequent stories to a publisher here in the states.

That's it. Please spill your guts. Be honest with me. I believe in honesty.
The original publisher has nothing to do with this horrible situation.

Why?

A while back, I asked you what stopped you from writing. You left lots of comments that were thought provoking and relevant to all of us.

Writers, I have another question for you now: Why do you write? Please be honest. I'd really like to know. Even if you only write because you have to, that's okay. Once again, it will be interesting to see how we are the same and how we are different.

Teachers, go ahead and ask your students this same question. Save their answers. After you've spent a month or so wallowing in glorious words and playful language, ask the same question again! I think you'll be surprised.

Green! Green!

One idea always lends itself to another. Our last activity was in response to a strong odor. I responded to an odor I hated. Most of you responded to an odor that was pleasant and descriptively beautiful.

I just now wandered into my backyard (along with my three dogs) and noticed the green tips of tulip stems poking through the ground. I started thinking about the color green and how our senses and emotions could come into play again.

Writers, before you complete our quick activity, (turned poem) think about what emotions green brings to mind. For some of you, green might remind you of new life...spring. Others may be reminded of jealousy or movement....you know, green light - go!
Here's the exercise. Just fill in the blanks.

Green looks like __________.
It smells like _________.
It sounds like __________.
It tastes like __________.
It feels like __________.
Green makes me want to __________!


Teachers and parents, do this same writing activity with your kids. Have a hearty conversation first. You lead the way. Guide your young writers to a place where creativity and dreams can grow. You go first. Write and talk at the same time. Then share what you wrote with your kids. I guarantee you, your kids will want write from their hearts too. They'll be chomping at the bit!

As usual, everyone please share!

It stinks!

I was sitting at my desk trying to decide on a writing activity when it came to me from downstairs in the kitchen. My husband did it again. He baked stinking fish. I can't think of another smell that I hate more. My lungs feel like they're being coated with cod liver oil every time I inhale. My nasal passages are swelling shut. My eyes are clouding over and I feel like a lizard with double eyelids. Just the thought of the scales that once covered that dastardly fish in the oven makes me want to toss my cookies (or at the very least, cringe). If he doesn't get a fan in the window soon, I might have to heave...or leave.

Did my words paint a picture for you? Writers, since I'm getting sicker by the minute, I think you should take over.

Write a sentence or two in response to a strong oder (good or bad). Please share!

Teachers and parents, peel an onion or cut an orange and let your kids take a whiff. Ask them to use their senses to describe what they smell. Now would be a good time for you to go into graphic detail. Let the drama of the moment dazzle your young writers! Please tell us how your kids describe their experience.

Just curious....

Just curious, when you hear the words, fresh air, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Writers, please write a quick sentence to paint a picture for us.

Teachers, talk this one through with your kids for a few minutes. Words are the building blocks for all descriptive writing. Sharing ideas (through oral communication) is where the love of language begins!

Just so you know:
Fresh air reminds me of the faded cotten sheets blowing on the clothesline in my grandmother's overgrown backyard.

Your turn! Please comment.

Let's take a trip!

Playing around with words adds something to my life. Most of you know what I mean. We don't have to write about things that are deep and meaningful, (although we can) but that's not what this blog is about.

This blog is totally dedicated to writing exercises that can unleash the forces of creativity that you sometimes forget you have. Why? Because you're immersed in trying to finish your novel or busy "teaching" your children to write. Most of you are probably putting in a 40+ hour workweek (in one way or another).

Stop. Take a deep breath. Let's pretend it's vacation time and we're going on a trip. The first thing we'll need to do is decide where we're going. Write an awesome (fiction or non-fiction) place you would like to visit at the top of a paper.
The top of my paper would read: Virginia (that's because I wrote a book about it and because it's great horse country!).

Now comes the important part. Without stopping to think, get ready to write any thought, word, or phrase that comes to your mind (and reminds you of your dream place) on that same paper... we're braindropping again! Time yourself for two minutes.

Ready.... Set....Go! Don't lift your pencil from your paper even for space purposes. Write as fast and as messy as you can (without worrying about spelling or grammar). And if you can't think of anything else, write, "I can't think...I can't think..." until something comes to your mind. Trust me it will.

At the end of two minutes, look at your paper. Chose a couple words or thoughts that jump out at you to write a quick paragraph about...you'll have tons of ideas that will turn into dazzling descriptive sentences. If you would have taken the time to sit down and think about your vacation destination, you'd still be chewing the end of your pencil. Now, you've unlocked your creativity and YOU CAN WRITE!

Teachers, your kids will love this one. Hopefully you've been doing a lot of braindropping with them. If you've just joined our network, you might want to do this exercise orally first. Remember, you are part of the writing journey...make sure to join your kids in the fun. If you are excited about writing, your kids will willingly take the plunge!

We think outside the box!

I've thought about this a lot this week. Creative people have one (probably more) thing in common. We think outside the box. We might struggle a little to discover something to write about, but once we do, there's no stopping us.

On Tuesday, I asked the question, "How do I know where a rainbow ends and begins?" Some of the answers came from your children (creative parents and teachers grow creative children) and others came people who are full of creativity. Here's one I'd like to share:

Ok, so I read your question and thought "I'll think about this later when the kids are in bed"...and then went off to make dinner. Apparently stirring beef stew gets the creative juices going, because this came to me before I was done:

Silently, stealthily,
on furry toes,
Leprechauns scurry
through forests and groves;
threading like ribbon,
and tying in bows,
stretching it...
hiding it,
...so no one knows
where the end
of the rainbow
goes

How creative is that? Beef stew led to a poem filled with imagery and playfulness. That's how ideas evolve.

Ideas are everywhere. Some of you may be inspired to write after a fantastic trip or vacation. The smell of worms after a spring rain might inspire others. There's no end to ideas or things to write about.

You (all of you) gave me the idea for this post. What idea sparked the last thing that you wrote or thought about? Were you able to ignite the spark of creativity in someone else? Please leave a comment and let me know. Your ideas might just be the the lightning bolt that breaks someone else's writer's block!

Paint with words or stretch your sentence...

You can call it whatever you like, but anyway you look at it, descriptive words turn into delicious sentences (and paragraphs) that begin a playful romp with language. These words can take their reader on a trip to tropical islands across the sea, they can build characters with real emotions, they can do anything that you as a writer intend.

So, writers, let's paint with words again. If you're a teacher and you're more comfortable saying "Let's stretch a sentence," I'm fine with that.

I'm going to paint with words to start us off. For example, the sentence, "He sat down." is boring. It tells me nothing. How about if I said, "His round bum squished into the tattered cushion of the faded corduroy easy chair as he wiped the sweat off his forehead." Does that paint a picture for you?

Your turn now. Writers, get creative. Use this sentence as your starting point: She ate lunch.

Paint with words (or stretch your sentence) to show me your character's strengths and weaknesses, her likes or dislikes. I can't wait to read what you write! My guess is that you won't be able to stop with just one sentence. Your fingers might just be flying across your keyboard!

Teachers, once again, this can be a quick activity to use while you're taking attendance.
Put this sentence on the board: It is winter.

Give your kids a little nudge. Ask them to paint a picture with their words to show you that it is winter. It's okay for you to glance out the window and mention frost on the pane or anything else that you see. In fact, it's essential that you are involved in the writing process. Children who love to write are usually surrounded by adults who show that it's okay to play with words.

Teachers and parents, as usual, this exercise can be done orally.

Let your creativity flow! Don't forget to share.

Easy questions...creative writing!

All of the exercises I post are quick and easy. After all, you don't have to write long stuff for writing to be real. Frankly, if you can't write short pieces, you probably won't be able to write anything that's lengthy...at least not well.

Short writing exercises help to build confidence. They allow the time to rearrange phrases or sentences and to really paint pictures with words.

Writers, if you're already working on a novel, these short exercises are a good break from brain strain. They help to free your mind and get your creativity flowing again.

Teachers, parents,and creative geniuses, kids who love words begin to enjoy writing. In fact, kids who learn to love language want to write.

Are you ready play with words? I like questions. They provide the backdrop for some fun quick writing. Here's a question for you (or your students) to answer. Why can't I ever find the end of a lovely rainbow?

Make sure you paint a picture with your words when you answer the question. Give me details. Since I've always wondered about rainbows, I can't wait to hear your answers!