Feeling S.A.D. or just cooped up? Put those emotions to work!

On these cloudy winter days when you are feeling a little sluggish–put the dreariness to work.

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ALL CREATIVE WRITING IS BETTER WHEN IT INCLUDES EMOTION.

Is that a rule of writing? . . .  I think it is!

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If you would like to cheer up, WATCH THIS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqhaMewA2K0

See what I mean? I doubt you can feel blue after watching that.

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Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have a great book for us:

(click to enlarge)

Remember, emotions vary from sad to gloriously happy and giddy!

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Also, if you love book lists like I do, you might want to check out Becca’s 2014 book list:

http://writershelpingwriters.net/

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Now go write something filled with emotion!

Wollstonecraft Detective Agency

Hey! I just discovered this neat new book from Random House Kids:

The Case of the Missing Moonstone (The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 1)

“History, mystery, and science collide in a new series for middle-grade readers, perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and Lemony Snicket!”

This would be a great addition to a co-curricular history-science-creative writing unit.

Plus, look at all of these fun supplements: (click to enlarge)

http://www.randomhousekids.com/media/activities/WollstonecraftMembershipCards.pdf

Thank you Jordan Stratford and Kelly Murphy!

Now, readers, go write a detective story!

Happy Birthday Edgar Allen Poe!

On 19 January 1809 Poe was born.

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Click below to enlarge:

Visit the Poe Museum site for excellent teaching resources and information about the MYTH that Poe died drunk in a gutter.

Here: http://www.poemuseum.org/docs/TeacherPacket10-23-12.pdf

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This assignment can become co-curricular by including bird habitat research:

http://beautyofbirds.com/

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An excellent read for today:

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Include a bird (somehow, some-way) n your writing today!

I See! Natural Science, Art, and Creative Writing: A Co-curricular Activity about What We See

Today is a perfect day to go for a walk. Take a picture or make a sketch of something interesting that you see.

This picture may be useful for the story you are about to write.

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Watch this short presentation about the amazing zebra fish:

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/could-a-blind-eye-regenerate-david-davila

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Then, write a short story about sight. Perhaps your character:

-loses their sight

-needs glasses

-has the ability to see things that others cannot see

-uses their sight to solve a mystery

-or?

Go write!

Writing Historic Nonfiction: Imagine a Time-Capsule . . .

Imagine a time-capsule which contains genuine artifacts from the past.

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It is unearthed, examined, and . . .

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reburied (with new items added)–

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to be unearthed again in 200 years.

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This is a true story!

“Last month, workers repairing a leak at the Massachusetts State House in Boston uncovered a time capsule originally placed in the building’s cornerstone in 1795. It took conservators from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts nearly seven hours to remove the box from its encasing; it was later transported to the museum to be X-rayed and thoroughly examined. Yesterday, in a press conference at the museum, officials from the museum and the Massachusetts Archives opened the time capsule and revealed its contents—some 220 years after it was originally planted” (Pruitt).

http://www.history.com/news/contents-of-boston-time-capsule-buried-by-samuel-adams-and-paul-revere-unveiled?et_cid=69877497&et_rid=1179955491&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.history.com%2fnews%2fcontents-of-boston-time-capsule-buried-by-samuel-adams-and-paul-revere-unveiled

The news can be an excellent source of inspiration for creative writing.

Now, go write!

Today is (well–it should be) an official Paddington Bear holiday!

Why? Because the Paddington movie is in theaters today.

Michael Bond, author:

 

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http://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/bring_your_bear/school/byb_paddington_extract.pdf

 

While you’re at it–pull out that beloved copy of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Actually, in the U.K. there is a Winnie-the-Pooh day:

Winnie the Pooh, the “Bear of Very Little Brain,” continues to be a bear with lots of fame. In fact, Pooh is honored every January 18th, otherwise known as Winnie the Pooh Day. That particular date was chosen because it’s the birthday of Alan Alexander Milne (A.A. Milne), author of Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).

This photo shows the real Pooh and the real Christopher Robin.

The best thing about this story is how it sounds when it is read aloud. Try it:

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CHAPTER I

IN WHICH WE ARE INTRODUCED TO WINNIE-THE-POOH AND SOME BEES, AND THE

STORIES BEGIN

HERE is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the

only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.

And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t. Anyhow, here he is at the bottom, and ready to be introduced to you. Winnie-the-Pooh.

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It amazes me how these stories transcend age.

I suggest you pour yourself a fresh cup of tea and read some more.

Art and English Composition: A Co-curricular Project

As we write–our characters really seem to come to life. They become more and more real. One fun project might be to create a figure representing a character from a novel or from our own writing.

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For example:

This is Pocahontas.

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There are other tricks that can help you slip into writing mode–such as wearing a hat similar to the one your protagonist wears or keeping a journal which looks like the one that belongs to a character in your story.

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Bring it to life!

Project here:

http://www.michaels.com/school-project-english-main-character/B_62691.html#cm_mmc=EMAIL-_-0115Kids-_-ProjectInspiration-_-b8&start=5

Go create!

Globalization and Creative Writing: British English

See more here: http://www.learnbritishenglish.co.uk/british-vs-american-food-vocabulary/

ESL (English as a Second Language) is very much in the news these days.

Even within English speaking countries there are differences.

As technology brings us closer to the rest of the world, we see more and more examples of regional differences in writing practices.

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For example, comparing the U.S. and the U.K.:

We would see periods after Mr. and Mrs. in the U.S. Like this:

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Mr. and Mrs. Smith (in the U.S.)

Mr and Mrs Smith (in the U.K.)

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Time is written differently also:

9:45  in the U.S. is

9.45 in the U.K.

See http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/british-versus-american-style.html for more.

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Quotation marks

In the British English, the use of quotation marks is more apt to follow logic. In American English, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic.

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Examples:

My favorite poem is  Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” (American English)

My favorite poem is Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. (British English)

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See http://upeppenglish.blogspot.com/2012/08/differences-in-their-similarities.html

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Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

See more here: https://prezi.com/p_e1yvcvogcx/copy-of-cascading-into-night-prezi/

Co-curricular assignment: History and Creative Writing

One of my favorite works of fiction is the Murdoch Mysteries TV Series. Science and History are included in every episode. Alexander Graham Bell appears in the photo here with Detective Murdoch.

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The Scott O’Dell Award focuses on historical fiction:

“In 1982, Scott O’Dell established The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The annual award of $5,000 goes to an author for a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults.  Scott O’Dell established this award to encourage other writers–particularly new authors–to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world.”

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This site gives a list of Scott O’Dell Award winners according to their historical period.

http://www.scottodell.com/pages/ScottO%27DellAwardforHistoricalFiction.aspx

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One of my favorites is The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan.

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Perhaps you need a lesson plan on Amelia Earhart. Find one here:

http://idptv.state.id.us/ntti/nttilessons/lessons2002/taylortatten.html

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http://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/women-in-aviation/earhart.cfm

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Find lesson plans relating to other famous historical figures here:

http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-famous/names.html

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This shows that historical fiction can be created for ALL ages.

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Check out Murdoch here:

http://murdochmysteries.com/

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An inexpensive traditional art project such as silhouette portraits  could be included in this unit.

https://librarysocietyfriendsblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/playing-with-shadows-silhouette-portraits-and-how-to-make-them/

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Now, go write some historical fiction! Don’t forget to have fun with it.

(Steampunk is permitted!)

Chunking, Serializing, Baby-steps: Don’t Feel Overwhelmed Before You Begin!

Starting a writing project is a little like starting a craft project. First you assemble your materials and review the instructions. You have an end result in mind.

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(Read on for instructions for this colorful craft project.)

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Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed with your writing project before you even begin.

Some writers claim that writing an outline before beginning a longer work is just the ticket.

But what if the idea of an outline seems daunting to you as well?

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Edgar Allen Poe, author of the famous poem, “The Raven,” gives us SEVEN writing tips.

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1. Know the ending in advance before you begin writing.

2. Keep it short—the “single sitting” rule.

3. Decide on the desired effect.

4. Choose the tone of the work.

5. Determine the theme and characterization of the work.

6. Establish the climax.

7. Determine the setting.

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Read the whole article here:

http://www.openculture.com/2015/01/seven-tips-from-edgar-allan-poe-on-how-to-write-vivid-stories-and-poems.html

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Today is the anniversary of writer Jack London’s birthday in 1876.

His famous work

THE CALL OF THE WILD was serialized in The Saturday Evening Post,

June 20-July 18, 1903

http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/CallOfTheWild/

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A contemporary story about wolves is Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver series. Find it here:

http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-shiver-trilogy/

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Consider serializing your writing. Set a specified amount of time to write each day. End at a natural stopping point, such as the end of a chapter.

Don’t forget that putting a hook at the end of each chapter is a great way to keep your readers interested.

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Your grammar review for today:

The Oxford comma: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/grammar-s-great-divide-the-oxford-comma-ted-ed

Example: I love song lyrics, short stories, and novels.

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More about this quick heart art project can be found here:

http://www.michaels.com/string-art-heart/B_62741.html#start=7

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Now, enough distractions!

Go write!