I love words. I am fascinated by how words can change my perspective in a matter of seconds. I want you to feel that wonder too! Kids should have gobs of experience with the magic of words and so should we. Words are a way to stretch our thinking and make our writing more exciting.
Everyone should play with words and that's what we are doing!
What image comes to your mind when you think of the word soft?
Feathers come to my mind.
Here's how I might show soft in a sentence: The snow felt like feathers tickling my face.
Your turn. Think of the word soft. What does your mind's eye see? Can you show me soft in a word or two? Give it a try! Don't be shy. If you think of something after you've already been here, come back! Don't forget...we're creating our own thesaurus!
Feathers was my word to show soft. What's yours?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Magic - Pure Magic
Thank you so much for leaving your ideas. This is going to be so much fun!
Magic is what writing is all about. Finding words to cast that magic is what we can do together. Writing activities don't have to be long or difficult. They need to be joyful. They need to inspire you to "spice" up what you write.
Together, we can find ways to say the same thing in lots of different ways. Then, whenever we want, we can let what we do spill over into our own pieces.
We can help our children learn to think outside the box, just like we do.
We can let our imaginations "run wild" together!
So, here we go! What word or phrase could replace the word "lazy" in the following sentence:
He looked lazy.
Example:
1. like a slow moving train
2. like a sleepy elephant
Your turn. Think outside the box. Help me get rid of the word LAZY. We can start a new thesaurus! Leave as few or many words as you like. Please invite other bloggers to join us. Bloggers are writers. Let's fill our very own thesaurus to the brim!
*Please come back more than once if you think of other ways to show "lazy"
Magic is what writing is all about. Finding words to cast that magic is what we can do together. Writing activities don't have to be long or difficult. They need to be joyful. They need to inspire you to "spice" up what you write.
Together, we can find ways to say the same thing in lots of different ways. Then, whenever we want, we can let what we do spill over into our own pieces.
We can help our children learn to think outside the box, just like we do.
We can let our imaginations "run wild" together!
So, here we go! What word or phrase could replace the word "lazy" in the following sentence:
He looked lazy.
Example:
1. like a slow moving train
2. like a sleepy elephant
Your turn. Think outside the box. Help me get rid of the word LAZY. We can start a new thesaurus! Leave as few or many words as you like. Please invite other bloggers to join us. Bloggers are writers. Let's fill our very own thesaurus to the brim!
*Please come back more than once if you think of other ways to show "lazy"
Monday, July 27, 2009
More Lists?
Do you want to create more word lists that you can store for future use or do you want to do something else? I've got tons of ideas and writing activities that we can do. Lists can be fun, easy, and extremely useful later on.
You tell me. What do you need? What do you want? I've got it! For now, please leave me a list of three things that you'd like to do when we write together. Think of it as a game. Writing is fun. When it stops being fun, we need to move on.
Please indicate what your goals are at the top of your list. If you're an aspiring writer, say so. If you're a teacher or homeschooler ready to head back to the classroom, I need to know that too.
If you just like to write for the fun of playing with words you've come to the right place. Let's IGNITE TO WRITE!
I'll sit tight until I hear from you! My mind will be whirling patiently.
You tell me. What do you need? What do you want? I've got it! For now, please leave me a list of three things that you'd like to do when we write together. Think of it as a game. Writing is fun. When it stops being fun, we need to move on.
Please indicate what your goals are at the top of your list. If you're an aspiring writer, say so. If you're a teacher or homeschooler ready to head back to the classroom, I need to know that too.
If you just like to write for the fun of playing with words you've come to the right place. Let's IGNITE TO WRITE!
I'll sit tight until I hear from you! My mind will be whirling patiently.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
I'm Ready!
I'm back from the horse show and ready to get back at it. I'd love to see what you did with your lists, so for now, I'll leave it at that.
Just refer to the last post and go from there. I can't wait to see what you've come up with. And just for a little extra challenge, somewhere in your paragraph, use the word "ridiculous" if you can. Do you think that this is a ridiculous idea? Only if you you like to have fun! Play with your words. Get creative!!!!!!!!
Just refer to the last post and go from there. I can't wait to see what you've come up with. And just for a little extra challenge, somewhere in your paragraph, use the word "ridiculous" if you can. Do you think that this is a ridiculous idea? Only if you you like to have fun! Play with your words. Get creative!!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Let's Put It Together!
We've come up with some pretty amazing lists in the past week. First we listed words that showed movement. Then we listed words or phrases that described a person we knew (or had seen). We created a setting and then we described the place.
To be perfectly honest, you guys came up with better ideas than me. That's what I like about writing with you! It's lonely being a writer. It's fun having creative people who love to write and create.
With that being said, let's look back at our lists and write a quick paragraph using some of the words or phrases from each list. The words or phrases can come from your list - or someone else's list.
Here's my paragraph:
As Mary drifted past me she brushed her long ashen brown hair away from her face. I watched as she ambled under the umbrella of trees and looked out toward the lush green pastures. Mary is as mighty as she is tiny. It didn't surprise me a bit when she shoved open the heavy metal gate and picked up the overturned water trough. It surprised me even less when Mary gave every horse that came up to see her an affectionate pat. As she engaged each horse, drifting more into their world, I felt as though time stood still.
Your turn. Write as little or as much as you want. Just refer to the lists and have fun! I just did!
Just so you know, I'm leaving for a horse show tomorrow afternoon. I won't be back until Sunday evening. I'll check my blog then. Wish me luck!
To be perfectly honest, you guys came up with better ideas than me. That's what I like about writing with you! It's lonely being a writer. It's fun having creative people who love to write and create.
With that being said, let's look back at our lists and write a quick paragraph using some of the words or phrases from each list. The words or phrases can come from your list - or someone else's list.
Here's my paragraph:
As Mary drifted past me she brushed her long ashen brown hair away from her face. I watched as she ambled under the umbrella of trees and looked out toward the lush green pastures. Mary is as mighty as she is tiny. It didn't surprise me a bit when she shoved open the heavy metal gate and picked up the overturned water trough. It surprised me even less when Mary gave every horse that came up to see her an affectionate pat. As she engaged each horse, drifting more into their world, I felt as though time stood still.
Your turn. Write as little or as much as you want. Just refer to the lists and have fun! I just did!
Just so you know, I'm leaving for a horse show tomorrow afternoon. I won't be back until Sunday evening. I'll check my blog then. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Early Morning Lists!
It's 2:33 in the morning and what am I doing? I'm thinking about words...what else? Below is a list of words that I use to help me paint an even better picture of a place I'm trying to describe...yes ONE place again. Look at my word list and chose five words to help you add more to your description.
If you're just joining us, describe ONE place (setting) that's in your mind's eye. By the way, if you're a teacher or a homeschooler, this is a fun way to teach prepositions. If you're a writer, these words will make you better writers. Most of all, just have fun. Do not worry about grammar with these exercises. Just wallow in the joy of what these words can conjure up in your imagination!
My list of words for you:
about
above
across
after
against
along
among
around
at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
by
down
during
except
for
from
in
in front of
inside
instead of
into
like
near
of
off
on
onto
on top of
out of
outside
over
past
since
through
to
toward
under
underneath
until
up
upon
with
within
without
I'll use my list and go first!
Underneath the umbrella of trees
within the pasture fences
in front of the old door
between the gate and the mud puddle
among the sweet clovers
Your turn! Please share what you come up with. Coincidentally, you may have already used some of these words. Hmmm....I wonder!
If you're just joining us, describe ONE place (setting) that's in your mind's eye. By the way, if you're a teacher or a homeschooler, this is a fun way to teach prepositions. If you're a writer, these words will make you better writers. Most of all, just have fun. Do not worry about grammar with these exercises. Just wallow in the joy of what these words can conjure up in your imagination!
My list of words for you:
about
above
across
after
against
along
among
around
at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
by
down
during
except
for
from
in
in front of
inside
instead of
into
like
near
of
off
on
onto
on top of
out of
outside
over
past
since
through
to
toward
under
underneath
until
up
upon
with
within
without
I'll use my list and go first!
Underneath the umbrella of trees
within the pasture fences
in front of the old door
between the gate and the mud puddle
among the sweet clovers
Your turn! Please share what you come up with. Coincidentally, you may have already used some of these words. Hmmm....I wonder!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Name the Place or....More Lists!
Okay...now we have a list of amazing descriptions of people we know (or have seen). So are you ready to create another list? Let's make a list of words or phrases to describe ONE place. This place can be somewhere that makes you happy. It can be somewhere that makes you thoughtful. It can be somewhere that makes you feel safe. Create a list of words or phrases that describe this place.
Here's my list:
1. greenish-blue roofs that can be seen from far away
2. filled with animals
3. green pastures
4. winding walkway under umbrella of trees
5. smells like hay and manure
Your turn! Describe ONE place. Let your senses fill your mind's eye before you start!
Here's my list:
1. greenish-blue roofs that can be seen from far away
2. filled with animals
3. green pastures
4. winding walkway under umbrella of trees
5. smells like hay and manure
Your turn! Describe ONE place. Let your senses fill your mind's eye before you start!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
More Lists - Don't You Just Love Them?
Okay. Onward and Upward. Now we're going to make a list of words to describe someone. That someone can be a family member, friend, casual acquaintance, or someone you just observed at your local coffee shop.
Close your eyes. Get a person in you mind. Now then, think about what three to five words or phrases you would use to describe that person. The words or phrases can show physical attributes, emotional characteristics, or fashion sense. Actually, anything goes. Draw your senses into this activity if you like.
I'm thinking of my person right now. Here are five words I would use to describe her:
1. hard working
2. long ashen brown hair
3. tiny but mighty
4. smells like sweet grain
5. tired
Your turn!
Close your eyes. Get a person in you mind. Now then, think about what three to five words or phrases you would use to describe that person. The words or phrases can show physical attributes, emotional characteristics, or fashion sense. Actually, anything goes. Draw your senses into this activity if you like.
I'm thinking of my person right now. Here are five words I would use to describe her:
1. hard working
2. long ashen brown hair
3. tiny but mighty
4. smells like sweet grain
5. tired
Your turn!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Just Words - Really?
Let's start another list. This time let's make a list of words that indicate movement of any kind.
Think outside the box for this one. Leaves rustle when they move in the fall wind. Rabbits scurry when they dart out in front of your car. You get the idea. Have fun with this exercise!
Now it's your turn. List three words that show movement. Be creative!
1.
2.
3.
We'll use these words for something else later on, I promise! The more lists we get, the better. Please pass this activity along to anyone who likes to blog. Bloggers are writers!
Think outside the box for this one. Leaves rustle when they move in the fall wind. Rabbits scurry when they dart out in front of your car. You get the idea. Have fun with this exercise!
Now it's your turn. List three words that show movement. Be creative!
1.
2.
3.
We'll use these words for something else later on, I promise! The more lists we get, the better. Please pass this activity along to anyone who likes to blog. Bloggers are writers!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Lists - Quick and Easy -Smile!
I visited Suzanne's blog yesterday and she listed five things that made her happy last week. Her words made me think. I'm big on lists. I think they get creativity flowing. They're quick. They're easy. They can be saved and used for future writing projects.
So this week will be our list week! For starters, list five things that will make you smile this week. Here's my list:
1. my kids, husband, sister or all (I combined them...couldn't help it)
2. my animals
3. a phone call
4. my friends
5. blogging with you!
What will make you smile this week? List five things! Please share.
Have fun thinking and writing. Remember that writing starts in your mind and heart. I'm smiling already!
So this week will be our list week! For starters, list five things that will make you smile this week. Here's my list:
1. my kids, husband, sister or all (I combined them...couldn't help it)
2. my animals
3. a phone call
4. my friends
5. blogging with you!
What will make you smile this week? List five things! Please share.
Have fun thinking and writing. Remember that writing starts in your mind and heart. I'm smiling already!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Our Outrageously Wonderful Story!
I just finished editing our incredible story. Did you have as much fun as I did? Wow!
Are you ready to read from start to finish? Here goes!
Jim and Grace were sitting around the bonfire last night when the most amazing thing happened. It all started when Grace felt something slimy on her leg screamed and fell out of the chair. But that wasn't enough. No, of course not.
The minute she hit the ground, she forgot all about the slimy thing on her leg. They both saw it at the same time - A bright light shone from the sky and it was coming their way.
The light was flashing and getting brighter and brighter the nearer it got. Then they heard it.... a voice...a voice.
Grace's ears strained. Was the voice human? Was it speaking in a foreign tongue? Grace tried to hear but she covered her ears at the same time. She was afraid.
"Earth to Grace. Earth to Grace! Are you alright?" she heard Jim ask.
"I've been trying to pass you a marshmallow and it's like you were in La-La land or something." Jim said.
Grace loved Jim. He's been her best friend for as far back as she could remember.
She brushed her mop of soft curly hair away from her tired eyes and looked at her friend.
"Thanks Jim," she said
Jim looked at Grace. "Where were you?"
"I don't know Jim," I honestly don't know."
That was the only explanation Grace could come up with for the moment.
A moment was all she had to think. Grace was bewildered to see something behind Jim now. She was staring blankly at the thing when Jim suddenly leaped away from the fire; frantically brushing sparks off his jeans.
He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...thought I was on fire for a second. Did you hear me? I thought I was on fire."
Grace was gone again...at least her mind was. She wasn't listening to Jim at all. Instead she was looking at the thorny bushes in the distance. They seemed to be moving...not like with the wind...but moving.
Grace was fixated on the thorny bush until something else caught her attention...in fact it grabbed hold of her and wouldn't let go. Grace was overwhelmed by a familiar fragrance. She couldn't get her mind off the smell.
She was transported back to her childhood. Back to a time when she was five or six. The light that had once frightened her was back again. She felt the hairs on her arm stand up as the thorny bush became illuminated and the smell of her grandmother's perfume drew her closer and closer.
She heard Jim's pleading voice say, "I'm hungry!"
Grace ignored him. She felt a strange feeling that she had been in this situation before. The smells. The sounds. They were so familiar that now the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her skin prickled.
"Do you know what that smell is Jim? It bread. It's chocolate chip cookies. It's all the things my mom made me when I was young."
"I smell it too Grace. That's why everything seems so common. I wonder what it means?"
"Do you want my opinion really? I think it means that our memories are never more than a blink or a sniff away. It means that memories live on in our hearts, as they should. It's just a gentle touch on the shoulder saying...remember me."
"That's a nice explanation Grace, but how do you explain that over there??? Jim turned. His knees got weak. His body shook. "I think I see something landing in the field. I'm getting as bad as you...or at least we're sharing the same delusions."
Grace looked towards where Jim was staring. At first she thought it was a space ship. The she realized it was her grandmother's old station wagon. "Station wagons don't fly," Grace said out loud.
Jim just shivered. He felt like he was in the middle of a dream but he couldn't tell if it was going to be a sweet dream or a nightmare.
They both saw her at the same time. "Come with me," beckoned Grace's grandmother.
"Where are you taking us?" Grace asked. Grace didn't feel frightened anymore. A cozy feeling came over her. She felt safe like when she was a little girl sitting in her grandmother's lap.
Grace's grandmother spoke in a soft tone. "You'll be happy. I'm taking you back to your past."
Suddenly, Jim was glad he was part of this amazing adventure. He and Grace were pulled toward the station wagon like iron filaments to a magnet. The back door of the wagon swung open. Grace and Jim found themselves clambering inside with no apparent effort or intention.
The door closed with a gentle whoosh. Grace's grandmother said, 'There you go. Don't worry. We're going on a little ride."
The station wagon started vibrating and was surrounded by a thick fog. They thought they were moving, but couldn't be sure.
Grace began to feel lightheaded. "What is that smell Grandmother? What is it?"
Her grandmother didn't need to answer. Grace knew. It was the smell of gingerbread. Wonderful comforting gingerbread. Grace smiled at Jim. She wanted to hug him. Instead, she took his hand. Grace wanted to smell the gingerbread forever. So did Jim.
They wanted to but...all of a sudden Jim and Grace heard scratching noises coming from a box that was sitting on the seat next to Grace's grandmother.
At first Grace thought she heard voices coming from he box. Then she realized that the sounds were something that was near and dear to her heart. The voices weren't voices at all. They were the purring of a contented mother cat and her seven kittens.
Jim ran his hand back through his hair. He furrowed his brow. "Did you have kittens when you were little?" he asked.
""No," said Grace. "I always wanted a dog or a cat, but I never had one."
"You do now," said Grace's grandmother. "They were left here for you as a gift from your Uncle Jim. He always felt bad that you never had a pet. He knew how much you wanted one, but couldn't have one because of your dear mother's allergies.
"Oh my, Grandma. Uncle Jim never even bothered to speak to me when he came for Thanksgiving dinner. Why is he giving me something I love now?"
Grace's grandmother smiled. "It's never too late to reconcile with your dear ones. Because of things out of your Uncle Jim's control, he was preoccupied at that last Thanksgiving dinner, but he always loved you.
He wants to you to able to tell your children how important love is...in fact, Uncle Jim has something to tell you. Look! Can you see him over there in the mist?
Doesn't he look fine in his fancy clothes? Your Aunt Marge is right by his side just like always. Those two could never be separated. Never.
Grace's grandmother stopped talking for a minute and stared at Aunt Marge and Uncle Jim. "Why does Marge look so started?" she asked.
Grace answered, "Uncle Jim has something in his hands. It's all wrapped up in a white handkerchief. His hands are shaking but he's unwrapping it and giving it to Aunt Marge," she said.
Grace felt a lump in her throat and she saw tears well up in her aunt's eyes as her arthritic fingers cradled the tattered white handkerchief.
"The reason we were all drawn here tonight," announced Grace's grandmother...
Grace strained to see. She didn't want to listen to her grandmother. She had to know what was in the handkerchief.
Now her ears were tuned into her Aunt Marge. Grace heard her aunt's gentle voice as she began to speak
"It just can't be. the ring... is that the one that I had my eyes on for so many years? The one you promised to me when I was expecting our Gracie?
Grace looked at Jim. "Oh dear I am getting light headed, what is happening to me?"
Grace fainted.
Or at least she thought she fainted.
The warm sun streaming though the window woke Grace up. She ran downstairs and got the key to the locked safe...the one that held her birth certificate. Now she knew why she had always been drawn to her aunt and uncle. They were her real parents.
It took a dream that started around a bonfire to make Grace understand.
Our amazing story was written by:
Tweedles
DJan
Sandy
Sweet Blessings
Al
2 Cats
chicamom
Barbara's Spot on the Blog
Jenni
Amber
Joan and Me
Are you ready to read from start to finish? Here goes!
A Close Connection
Jim and Grace were sitting around the bonfire last night when the most amazing thing happened. It all started when Grace felt something slimy on her leg screamed and fell out of the chair. But that wasn't enough. No, of course not.
The minute she hit the ground, she forgot all about the slimy thing on her leg. They both saw it at the same time - A bright light shone from the sky and it was coming their way.
The light was flashing and getting brighter and brighter the nearer it got. Then they heard it.... a voice...a voice.
Grace's ears strained. Was the voice human? Was it speaking in a foreign tongue? Grace tried to hear but she covered her ears at the same time. She was afraid.
"Earth to Grace. Earth to Grace! Are you alright?" she heard Jim ask.
"I've been trying to pass you a marshmallow and it's like you were in La-La land or something." Jim said.
Grace loved Jim. He's been her best friend for as far back as she could remember.
She brushed her mop of soft curly hair away from her tired eyes and looked at her friend.
"Thanks Jim," she said
Jim looked at Grace. "Where were you?"
"I don't know Jim," I honestly don't know."
That was the only explanation Grace could come up with for the moment.
A moment was all she had to think. Grace was bewildered to see something behind Jim now. She was staring blankly at the thing when Jim suddenly leaped away from the fire; frantically brushing sparks off his jeans.
He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...thought I was on fire for a second. Did you hear me? I thought I was on fire."
Grace was gone again...at least her mind was. She wasn't listening to Jim at all. Instead she was looking at the thorny bushes in the distance. They seemed to be moving...not like with the wind...but moving.
Grace was fixated on the thorny bush until something else caught her attention...in fact it grabbed hold of her and wouldn't let go. Grace was overwhelmed by a familiar fragrance. She couldn't get her mind off the smell.
She was transported back to her childhood. Back to a time when she was five or six. The light that had once frightened her was back again. She felt the hairs on her arm stand up as the thorny bush became illuminated and the smell of her grandmother's perfume drew her closer and closer.
She heard Jim's pleading voice say, "I'm hungry!"
Grace ignored him. She felt a strange feeling that she had been in this situation before. The smells. The sounds. They were so familiar that now the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her skin prickled.
"Do you know what that smell is Jim? It bread. It's chocolate chip cookies. It's all the things my mom made me when I was young."
"I smell it too Grace. That's why everything seems so common. I wonder what it means?"
"Do you want my opinion really? I think it means that our memories are never more than a blink or a sniff away. It means that memories live on in our hearts, as they should. It's just a gentle touch on the shoulder saying...remember me."
"That's a nice explanation Grace, but how do you explain that over there??? Jim turned. His knees got weak. His body shook. "I think I see something landing in the field. I'm getting as bad as you...or at least we're sharing the same delusions."
Grace looked towards where Jim was staring. At first she thought it was a space ship. The she realized it was her grandmother's old station wagon. "Station wagons don't fly," Grace said out loud.
Jim just shivered. He felt like he was in the middle of a dream but he couldn't tell if it was going to be a sweet dream or a nightmare.
They both saw her at the same time. "Come with me," beckoned Grace's grandmother.
"Where are you taking us?" Grace asked. Grace didn't feel frightened anymore. A cozy feeling came over her. She felt safe like when she was a little girl sitting in her grandmother's lap.
Grace's grandmother spoke in a soft tone. "You'll be happy. I'm taking you back to your past."
Suddenly, Jim was glad he was part of this amazing adventure. He and Grace were pulled toward the station wagon like iron filaments to a magnet. The back door of the wagon swung open. Grace and Jim found themselves clambering inside with no apparent effort or intention.
The door closed with a gentle whoosh. Grace's grandmother said, 'There you go. Don't worry. We're going on a little ride."
The station wagon started vibrating and was surrounded by a thick fog. They thought they were moving, but couldn't be sure.
Grace began to feel lightheaded. "What is that smell Grandmother? What is it?"
Her grandmother didn't need to answer. Grace knew. It was the smell of gingerbread. Wonderful comforting gingerbread. Grace smiled at Jim. She wanted to hug him. Instead, she took his hand. Grace wanted to smell the gingerbread forever. So did Jim.
They wanted to but...all of a sudden Jim and Grace heard scratching noises coming from a box that was sitting on the seat next to Grace's grandmother.
At first Grace thought she heard voices coming from he box. Then she realized that the sounds were something that was near and dear to her heart. The voices weren't voices at all. They were the purring of a contented mother cat and her seven kittens.
Jim ran his hand back through his hair. He furrowed his brow. "Did you have kittens when you were little?" he asked.
""No," said Grace. "I always wanted a dog or a cat, but I never had one."
"You do now," said Grace's grandmother. "They were left here for you as a gift from your Uncle Jim. He always felt bad that you never had a pet. He knew how much you wanted one, but couldn't have one because of your dear mother's allergies.
"Oh my, Grandma. Uncle Jim never even bothered to speak to me when he came for Thanksgiving dinner. Why is he giving me something I love now?"
Grace's grandmother smiled. "It's never too late to reconcile with your dear ones. Because of things out of your Uncle Jim's control, he was preoccupied at that last Thanksgiving dinner, but he always loved you.
He wants to you to able to tell your children how important love is...in fact, Uncle Jim has something to tell you. Look! Can you see him over there in the mist?
Doesn't he look fine in his fancy clothes? Your Aunt Marge is right by his side just like always. Those two could never be separated. Never.
Grace's grandmother stopped talking for a minute and stared at Aunt Marge and Uncle Jim. "Why does Marge look so started?" she asked.
Grace answered, "Uncle Jim has something in his hands. It's all wrapped up in a white handkerchief. His hands are shaking but he's unwrapping it and giving it to Aunt Marge," she said.
Grace felt a lump in her throat and she saw tears well up in her aunt's eyes as her arthritic fingers cradled the tattered white handkerchief.
"The reason we were all drawn here tonight," announced Grace's grandmother...
Grace strained to see. She didn't want to listen to her grandmother. She had to know what was in the handkerchief.
Now her ears were tuned into her Aunt Marge. Grace heard her aunt's gentle voice as she began to speak
"It just can't be. the ring... is that the one that I had my eyes on for so many years? The one you promised to me when I was expecting our Gracie?
Grace looked at Jim. "Oh dear I am getting light headed, what is happening to me?"
Grace fainted.
Or at least she thought she fainted.
The warm sun streaming though the window woke Grace up. She ran downstairs and got the key to the locked safe...the one that held her birth certificate. Now she knew why she had always been drawn to her aunt and uncle. They were her real parents.
It took a dream that started around a bonfire to make Grace understand.
Our amazing story was written by:
Tweedles
DJan
Sandy
Sweet Blessings
Al
2 Cats
chicamom
Barbara's Spot on the Blog
Jenni
Amber
Joan and Me
Monday, July 6, 2009
Let's Write a Story Together!
You guys are so good, I think it's time we combine our creativity. I'm going to start a story. What I'd like you to do is to add to the story. Just a sentence will do the trick. In order to do this, you're going to have to read the first sentence here on the post and then read the comments as they come in...I'm excited already!
Are you ready? Here's the beginning of our story:
We were sitting around the bonfire last night when the most amazing thing happened.......
You take it from here! This story belongs to US. It's ours to play with. It's ours to give it colorful characters and delightful twists and turns.
I can't wait to see where our story goes. Since I started it, I think it's only fair that I end it on Thursday. So until then, let's create our very own masterpiece. Feel free to come back and add more to the story as you see how it develops! In fact, I think that would be a great idea.
Please share this activity with your blogging friends. They more people we have, the more interesting our story will be! Kids are always welcome here.
Are you ready? Here's the beginning of our story:
We were sitting around the bonfire last night when the most amazing thing happened.......
You take it from here! This story belongs to US. It's ours to play with. It's ours to give it colorful characters and delightful twists and turns.
I can't wait to see where our story goes. Since I started it, I think it's only fair that I end it on Thursday. So until then, let's create our very own masterpiece. Feel free to come back and add more to the story as you see how it develops! In fact, I think that would be a great idea.
Please share this activity with your blogging friends. They more people we have, the more interesting our story will be! Kids are always welcome here.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
KABOOM!
Happy 4th of July!
If you've been writing with me since January, you know all about braindropping. If you haven't, please take a minute to go back a look at the original post after you have fun with a mini version of a firecracking writing activity right now!
I braindrop with people of all ages. With young children (or when I'm short on time) we do it orally. I say a word and then rely on spontaneity. "Quick! Say the first word that comes to your mind when I say, summer," I tell the kids.
If you're really doing this game with a group of people, you play the same way. Never slow down. Quick! Quick! Quick! If you get to a person who doesn't have an immediate word, that person should say: "I can't think." Move to the next person faster than a race car that's in first place on the last lap. This is what makes braindropping fun.
Okay. Quick! What's the first word that comes to your mind when I say, "July 4th"? My word is the title of this post! Maybe I'll interject a couple of other words as we get on a roll!
If you've been writing with me since January, you know all about braindropping. If you haven't, please take a minute to go back a look at the original post after you have fun with a mini version of a firecracking writing activity right now!
I braindrop with people of all ages. With young children (or when I'm short on time) we do it orally. I say a word and then rely on spontaneity. "Quick! Say the first word that comes to your mind when I say, summer," I tell the kids.
If you're really doing this game with a group of people, you play the same way. Never slow down. Quick! Quick! Quick! If you get to a person who doesn't have an immediate word, that person should say: "I can't think." Move to the next person faster than a race car that's in first place on the last lap. This is what makes braindropping fun.
Okay. Quick! What's the first word that comes to your mind when I say, "July 4th"? My word is the title of this post! Maybe I'll interject a couple of other words as we get on a roll!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Step Outside the Box With Me!
Okay, not many of you got into personifying your pencils. So let's try something else. How about your backyard grill? If you don't have a grill in your backyard, think park or neighbor's barbecue. JUST THINK OF A GRILL!
The whole point of this exercise is to allow you to have fun with creativity. The more comfortable you get with this, the easier it gets. Honestly, you'll begin to think in the same way that you write. Nothing will seem the same anymore. The world will look different. You'll all make millions on your blogs....okay, maybe I got a little carried away, but didn't it excite you just a little? I DO promise you'll start to have fun writing. You'll experience joy like Tweedles and Sasha. You need to go visit their blogs if you haven't. You will find honest to goodness creativity going on and on and on!
Back to the exercise. If I were my grill, here's what I'd say:
I am Jan's grill. I shudder every time she throws in a match. "Why can't she remember I'm automatic?" I think to myself. Then she remembers. She turns UP the gas. Then she pushes the ignite button. POOF! One day, I 'm going to catch that red hair of hers on fire. Maybe after that she'll slow down and light me right. Hey! Maybe she can actually IGNITE the grill...get it? Ignite!
After I'm fired up, Jan puts on the hamburgers. I could tell her to let them sear for longer, but I know she wouldn't listen. After about five minutes, she gives them a quick flip. Five minutes more go by. Jan takes the hamburgers off and goes inside. Less than two minutes later the back door slams. No more Jan. This time it's Chuck. He puts the hamburgers back on the grill and cooks them until their done. Hmmmm.....maybe Jan's got a mission in mind.....
Now it's your turn. You be your grill. What would your grill say about you? What would your kids say that your grill would say about you? Let yourselves go...this could get interesting!
By the way, I've seen so much creativity around here lately, I'm going to provide links back to your sites from time to time. I hope that's okay with you. If not, please let me know.
*Will you travel to this holiday weekend? My guess is that lots of grills will be fired up for some traditional 4th of July cookouts!
The whole point of this exercise is to allow you to have fun with creativity. The more comfortable you get with this, the easier it gets. Honestly, you'll begin to think in the same way that you write. Nothing will seem the same anymore. The world will look different. You'll all make millions on your blogs....okay, maybe I got a little carried away, but didn't it excite you just a little? I DO promise you'll start to have fun writing. You'll experience joy like Tweedles and Sasha. You need to go visit their blogs if you haven't. You will find honest to goodness creativity going on and on and on!
Back to the exercise. If I were my grill, here's what I'd say:
I am Jan's grill. I shudder every time she throws in a match. "Why can't she remember I'm automatic?" I think to myself. Then she remembers. She turns UP the gas. Then she pushes the ignite button. POOF! One day, I 'm going to catch that red hair of hers on fire. Maybe after that she'll slow down and light me right. Hey! Maybe she can actually IGNITE the grill...get it? Ignite!
After I'm fired up, Jan puts on the hamburgers. I could tell her to let them sear for longer, but I know she wouldn't listen. After about five minutes, she gives them a quick flip. Five minutes more go by. Jan takes the hamburgers off and goes inside. Less than two minutes later the back door slams. No more Jan. This time it's Chuck. He puts the hamburgers back on the grill and cooks them until their done. Hmmmm.....maybe Jan's got a mission in mind.....
Now it's your turn. You be your grill. What would your grill say about you? What would your kids say that your grill would say about you? Let yourselves go...this could get interesting!
By the way, I've seen so much creativity around here lately, I'm going to provide links back to your sites from time to time. I hope that's okay with you. If not, please let me know.
*Will you travel to this holiday weekend? My guess is that lots of grills will be fired up for some traditional 4th of July cookouts!
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