Category: writer’s notebook

writer's notebook

A Scavenger Hunt

Ruth Ayres4 Comments

Last week I talked with a group of intermediate teachers about writers' notebooks. We discussed the importance of writers' notebooks to the life of a writer, as well as how to get them going in classrooms. The teachers returned to their classrooms and launched writers' notebooks. Yesterday, a week later, we came back together for… Continue reading A Scavenger Hunt

slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · writer's notebook · writing

GUEST BLOG POST: Weaving the “Slice of Life” Routine into Writing Workshop

guestteacher9 Comments

Tara Smith teaches writing workshop, Language Arts and Social Studies to sixth graders at a middle school in suburban New Jersey.  Before she was a teacher, she was an editor first at the Cloverdale Press and then at Macmillan.  She blogs at “A Teaching Life” (at  http://tmsteach.blogspot.com/) and continues to slice away at Two Writing… Continue reading GUEST BLOG POST: Weaving the “Slice of Life” Routine into Writing Workshop

Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook

{Discover. Play. Build.} Character Wants

Ruth Ayres

One of the best ways to get to know characters (or people in general) is to figure out what they want. Often these wants drive our stories Whether you are crafting a fiction story or living your own story, wants are a motivator for actions and choices. Today's {Discover. Play. Build.} challenge is focused around… Continue reading {Discover. Play. Build.} Character Wants

heart maps · wn entry · Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook

{Discover. Play. Build.} More on Maps

Ruth Ayres4 Comments

Last week... Stacey blogged about updating heart maps. (See everything we've blogged about heart maps here.) B. blogged about hand lists. I was reminded about writing close to the bones. I kept thinking about my slice of life pepperoni pizza. Aren't these just fancy lists? you may be wondering. The short answer is yes. But… Continue reading {Discover. Play. Build.} More on Maps

record keeping · routines · writer's notebook

Facebook Event – Day 5

Stacey Shubitz

Our Stenhouse Facebook Event concludes today with a final downloadable and printable writing tip is entitled "Record-Keeping Systems That Make Sense for You." You can find this tip on our Facebook Event.  Here's what you need to do to participate: 1)  Go to our Facebook Page.  Click on the link that will take you to… Continue reading Facebook Event – Day 5

back to school · heart maps · writer's notebook

Updating Your Map

Stacey Shubitz6 Comments

The navigation system I have in my car is three years old.  Considering there's been a great deal of construction in an area I travel to frequently, my GPS doesn't do a great job getting me around that area.  I know I have to update my navigation system because of this, but I don't want… Continue reading Updating Your Map

routines · writer's notebook

Facebook Event – Day 2

Stacey Shubitz2 Comments

Our Stenhouse Facebook Event continues today.  Today's downloadable, printable writing tip is entitled "Collecting Bits of Life." You can find this tip on our Facebook Page.  Here's what you need to do to participate in our Facebook Event. 1)  Go to our Facebook Page.  Click on the link that will take you to the Stenhouse… Continue reading Facebook Event – Day 2

guest blogger · moleskine · writer's notebook

GUEST BLOG POST: Writer’s Notebooks: Traveling as a Pathway to Writing More (for You!)

guestteacher7 Comments

Sarah Mulhern Gross has been a middle school language arts teacher and currently teaches 9th and 12th grade English.  She has a keen interest in young adult fiction and nonfiction and strives to connect her students with authors outside the classroom.  Her classroom library holds over 1,000 books which she lends out to students and… Continue reading GUEST BLOG POST: Writer’s Notebooks: Traveling as a Pathway to Writing More (for You!)

holiday · Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook

Happy 4th + {Discover. Play. Build.}

Ruth Ayres1 Comment

To anyone celebrating today, we hope you are enjoying all of the good stuff of Independence Day: Watermelon, grilled meals, corn on the cob, and the blessings of freedom. The {Discover. Play. Build.} prompt was inspired by the holiday. It is general enough for anyone not celebrating today to still be inspired. Hop over to… Continue reading Happy 4th + {Discover. Play. Build.}

mentor texts · Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook

Fear as Inspiration {Discover. Play. Build.}

Ruth Ayres3 Comments

One of the basics I've stumbled across while writing fiction is to know what your characters' fears are. Often tension is built around fear, making stories weave around and get to the heart of the matter. Considering our own fears, as well as ways we have overcome past fears, also make worthy writer's notebooks topics.… Continue reading Fear as Inspiration {Discover. Play. Build.}

professional development · Reflective Practice · Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook

All-Write Reflection + {Discover. Play. Build.}

Ruth Ayres7 Comments

Sometimes when an experience seems so big it is hard to focus a reflection. Sometimes it is hard to settle the thoughts and find the meaning. Sometimes it is difficult to even know where to begin processing. So I'm going to make a lists. Lists always seem to make things more manageable. The Twitter feed… Continue reading All-Write Reflection + {Discover. Play. Build.}

Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook

{Discover. Play. Build.} What’s holding you back?

Ruth Ayres15 Comments

There are a million reasons why we don't have time to write. What are yours? What is keeping you from putting words on the page?Today take some time to think about the things that are holding you back. Put them on the page so you can move on and spend the summer discovering, playing, and… Continue reading {Discover. Play. Build.} What’s holding you back?