Sorry I’ve been absent from the blog lately, but things have gotten hot and heavy this summer thanks to an amazing free online class I’m taking hosted by Nerdy Chicks Rule. It’s called KidLit Summer School: The Plot Thickens. There are blog posts coming at me every DAY! With exercises! I’ve found all of the… Read more »
General writing
Critique My Writing – April 29, 2012 Prompt
I subscribe via email to Sarah Selecky‘s writing prompts. I don’t always respond to a prompt every day, but I do eventually sit down and write. Sarah’s instructions are to write by hand, in a notebook, for at least 10 minutes, so each piece I share will be relatively short. I stared at the wax… Read more »
Critique My Writing – 2003 Creative Writing Class
“Charm City” “This place will never be the same without her,” said Tawnee. She was carrying a box of black garbage bags. Tawnee and I had been across-the-hall neighbors for about three years now. We were about the same age, single women just doing the day to day. She was a nurse who worked the… Read more »
Critique My Writing – Aug 24 2012 Writing Prompt.
Aug 24 2012 Writing Prompt. How to Survive a Broken Heart: A Manual 1. First you must love someone incredibly deeply and commit much of you life to their needs and desires. But this can’t be a hardship for you, it must be something you do willingly, you may almost be compelled to do it…. Read more »
Critique My Writing – Feb 4 2013
Feb 4 2013 Studio30 Writing Prompt “That was Awkward” They walked around the mall for a short while until they came to a store specializing in clothes that would actually work for her. Holding hands they entered and spoke with a saleslady. It only took a few minutes before she had assembled a lovely suit jacket,… Read more »
Critique My Writing
Where I share my fiction writing, accept critiques and suggestions, and be bold. August 29 2013 Studio 30 Writing Prompt “Scratch” Did you ever have one of those workouts that seems off before you even start? The other day the universe just seemed to be telling me to stay home. I stumbled around the house like… Read more »
Summer Reading for Kids
A few years ago I hosted a book club at the summer camp my boys attended. The kids in the club were in the Kindergarten through second grade age group. Each week we read two books and then worked on a literacy activity. The books are a mix of fiction and non-fiction and the activities… Read more »
Inspired by books: Dogsledding
It’s hard to not be inspired by books. When I read about a delicious food in a book, I want to try it. When I read about an exotic – or even nearby – location, I want to visit it. And when I read about a fun adventure, I want to give it a try…. Read more »
Symbols in writing: Birds
Animals make excellent symbols in writing and my children love books and stories about animals. One of their favorite stories is a little one I tell them about my guardian hawk. The hawk lives in the small copse, or group of trees, that borders our property. There are lots of tasty rodents for the hawk… Read more »
New Secret Tip for Picky Eaters
I’ve collected lots of tips for helping parents work with their picky eaters and get more fruits and vegetables into their diet. But new research shows that one of kids’ favorite things – recess – could be a huge help! Schools in a Utah school district switched their schedules so that recess happened before lunch… Read more »