So, where exactly is your plot taking you? What happens next? What is this story about? It’s time to think about plot. Plotting Worksheet
Whether you are trying to write a novel, pen an epic poem, or maintain a blog about this or that, it’s inevitable that you will at some point experience one of the following: lack of inspiration decrease in motivation general malaise writing burnout general I-don’t-give-a-shit Some people refer to these symptoms as “writer’s block,” but I … Continue reading What to Write About When You Have Nothing to Write About
Writing a novel is hard, especially if you’ve never done it before. You’ve spent hours researching, building your world and becoming an expert on your…
If you're looking for a starting point for creating a character, you will enjoy this character interview worksheet.
Are you ready to create a life that makes more room for what you love? Check out these tips on how to live like a writer.
NaNoWriMo is just over the hill now. Why don’t we dig a little deeper into the minds and details of our characters before we embark on that adventure? Character Profile and Interview
Read for a peak into a novelist's notebook for ten creative ideas for your own writer's notebook.
As a writer, you need to have one. Just like you should have a reading journal to help you become a better writer. But, what goes in a writer’s journal?
Wondering if you're a real writer? You aren't a real writer unless you can pass this test. Give it a shot and see if you are a real writer!
A story problem is a simple way to envision your character's plot arc. Choose your main problem, break it down into smaller challenges, and...
Writing is one of my favorite times during the day! In these first few weeks of school, my students have blown me away with their creativity in their writing. It excites me for what is to come this year! The best thing about being part of the College of Education was you got to pretend you were a kid again. We participated in several lessons that were applicable to our classrooms. In a writing course, my junior year, my professor led us on a Writing Marathon. Our mission was to roam campus for an hour and find different locations to write. He sent us on our way and told us to return in 60 minutes! In my Writer's Notebook, I wrote down my sights around Brady Commons, the Columns, and the steps of the College of Ed. Thinking back on that day, I remember having a great time with friends and writing ..writing... and more writing. I decided to test this strategy out with my kiddos this year. My school utilizies the 6+1 Writing Traits program and our first trait is "Ideas". We have been working on gathering ideas and zooooooooming in on one idea. After specials, I told my kids to grab their Writer's Notebooks because we were taking a little marathon. Their goal: use their 5 senses and observe the area they are in. Minimum of 4 sentences per location! We hit up the following spots in school: Classroom Front lawn Cafeteria Library Playground I had the best time reading through their entries. Several cracked jokes and expressed hunger throughout the process! Besides getting to move around the school, my students practiced generating ideas and focusing in on one idea at a time. I don't know about you but I love anchor charts. It's a great time for the class to get together and collaborate ideas. I believe that charts created together are more powerful than pre-made ones. Yes, I have store bought posters on my wall... but I also have ones we made. It's a nice mixture! You can take the girl out of second grade... but you can't take the anchor chart out of the girl! That's the saying, right? Anywho, here are a few fun anchor charts from around the web. Click the captain for the source! The First Grade Parade First Grade Parade Mrs. Williams Kinders I need to stop this late night blogging. What has gotten into me!? It's bedtime. But first, I'm obsessed with this performance from the VMA's. Enjoy! 2011 VMA - Music - Beyoncé
This past week we launched our writer’s workshop lessons! I use my writer’s workshop units throughout the year, but before we dive into small moments we talk about what Writer’s Workshop looks like in our first grade classroom. This poster is hanging in our classroom and we go through each of these bullet points throughout […]
How to outline your memoir using a simple 3 step process. Make sure you write a memoir outline before you start drafting the manuscript!
Editor’s Note: The following article continues Johan Liedgren’s series on storytelling and its role in crafting narrative in design, advertising and film. On New Research Suggesting There Are Only …
Are you struggling to keep your story ideas and inspiration organized? Check out these tips for organizing a writer's notebook!
How do you know if you’re a good enough writer to pen a bestselling book? Book editor and author of THE BOOK YOU WERE BORN TO WRITE, Kelly Notaras, gives 3 clues for assessing if you're a gifted writer.
What is the Zettelkasten method? Can it help you organise your notes? How can you use a Zettelkasten to write fiction or non-fiction?
Creative Writer Worksheet – Character Sketch (PDF) You may have written a character sketch for a fictional person before, but how about for someone from your real life? Try filling in this character sketch worksheet to gain a deeper understanding of people you love, hate, or feel indifferent towards. “People do not seem to realize…
Learn how to create a story outline that will ensure that you finish your draft without running into the dreaded writer's block.
If you want to keep better track of your ideas, or get serious about regular creative brainstorming sessions, here's how to start a writer's notebook:
A magic system is a set of rules, however strict or loose, that govern magic in a fictional world.
These methods of outlining will help you create a novel outline that makes writing your first draft a breeze, whether it's your 1st or 10th time writing a book.
Having trouble outlining your book? Use this free BookMap template to get clear on your ideas before you dive in.
Create an inspiring writing space to support your writing practice. When you have a writing space you love you will be more productive.
If you're writing a book for the first time and you're not sure what the steps to do it are, you can follow these simple tips to start writing your novel.
Looking for ideas on how to create your own writer's notebook for NaNoWriMo? This inspo post has got you covered with a super simple writing tracker layout.
Jami Gold's Writing Worksheets: Help for all writers, from newbies to experts and from plotters to pantsers.
If you want to know how to write a book with no experience, this post shows you exactly how to get started writing. Yes, even without a degree.
It is true that many writers won't emphasize on outlining a novel. After all, they write fascinating books without outlines. But, the importance of detailing the outline for your novel is enormous.
We’ve been working hard on writing personal narratives. It’s hard business. Of all the writing genres we teach in second grade (narrative, informational, and opinion), I think personal narratives are the hardest to teach, and the hardest for students to write. While personal narratives are challenging to teach, they’re also one of my favorites because ... Read more
These emotional writing prompts will help you dive into your feelings, challenge you, and bridge the gap between your experiences & the page.
Creating mood in writing is a lot easier than it sounds. Find out how to help your students with this important skill with this post!
A blank novel outline template for use with Google Docs, Google Keep, and Scrivener. The One Page Novel is a simple, memorable structure for novelists.
Use this page to help you understand the “tone” for any article or story that we read in class. If you understand the author’s tone, you will most likely understand the main idea …
Looking for memoir writing advice? Check out these do's and don'ts for struggling memoir writers.
How a writing journal can help with your writing, your creative ideas and your writing business. My notebooks or journals have been instrumental in turning around my attitude to writing. It has increased my focus, encouraged my ideas and helped me turn one sentence into a fifty thousand word workbo