In this post, we provide an explanation on how to add humor to a novel.
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"Shadow theory" is one of the most intuitive tools a writer can use to identify the contrasting elements that create complex characters.
Structuring your story can frighten some writers and confuse others, but it doesn't have to be so - here is a simple way to look at story structure.
Want to know how to describe hallucinations in a story? This post will show you!
Want to start your speech with humor? Consider acknowledging the 'elephant in the room.' It's a great way to break the ice, get a laugh and immediately engage your audience. (Watch time: 4 minutes)
It’s no secret that I have an author-crush on Ralph Fletcher. I was lucky enough to see him in person (twice! woohoo!), and I could hardly contain my joy. I threw my hand up like an excitable fourth grader when he asked for volunteers. I asked questions - so I could pretend he was talking just to me. And at the break, I got him to sign two books for me (I always thought it was ridiculous to stand in line to have an author sign books…until I became a bonafide Ralph groupie.). I love the way he writes. I love the way he speaks. And I love the way he looks. Okay, I know the last one was a little bit more information than I needed to share – but it’s true. So what sparked this author crush? His crazy-good, life-changing Writer’s Notebook books. Book Love A Writer's Notebook Ralph Fletcher has written a lot of books about teaching kids to write the way real authors write (and each one is filled with ah-ha moments and practical tips), but the one that sparked my insatiable desire to learn more was A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. I’m not kidding when I say that once I applied the techniques in this book, I started looking forward to the ELA writing block – every single day. Why? Because my students loved it! Not only did Writers’ Notebooks change the way I taught writing, but they turned even my most reluctant writers into writing machines - who actually wanted to share what they wrote. Be. Still. My. Heart. Writer's Notebook Defined So what exactly is a Writer's Notebook? Ralph Fletcher describes it this way: “A Writer’s Notebook is a blank book where a writer can engage in the fun, often messy job of being a writer – practicing, listening, playing with language, gathering images and insights and ideas. The purpose of such a notebook is to nourish the writer. It is one of the most essential tools of the trade.” Yep. It’s just a simple, blank notebook where writers collect ideas (lists), free write (fluency), and practice targeted skills (figurative language/word choice/sentence structure). Essentially, it’s the place where ideas for future writings (i.e. pre-writing and drafting gems) are stored. That’s it. Nothing else. No full-length pieces. No final drafts. But believe me, if you want to see dramatic improvements in your students’ writing it’ll be more than enough. Writer's Notebook in Practice There are many ways to use Writers' Notebooks, but I either use them as stand-alone exercises to build writing confidence or as warm-up exercises during the mini-lesson portion of Writer’s Workshop. Sometimes students generate lists (e.g. annoying personality traits, character names, substitutes for overused words). Not only do student-generated lists serve as great pre-writing tools and year-long reference pages, but students feel a sense of ownership as they create and share these lists in pairs and small groups. Writer's Notebook Collections and Quick Writes Sometimes they'll draft free writes about something that's on their minds or about something I suggest (e.g. recounting an event that happened over the weekend, taking a stand on a controversial issue, writing a character description). Free writes (10-12 minutes drafts) help students experiment with different writing styles. Since free writes are non-threatening by design, students find it easy to develop a style that feels natural and conversational. ***An extra free write bonus is that many of these short pieces will become part of longer assignments later in the year. Character Snapshots And sometimes students fool around with language to help them develop a unique writing style (e.g. playing with punctuation, practicing sentence-building techniques, experimenting with word choice). I can't think of a more entertaining way to teach grammar and mechanics than to have students create visually-rich pages which will be repurposed as valuable guides for the editing and revising stages of the writing process. Visual Writer's Notebook Although Ralph Fletcher emphasizes that a pure Writer’s Notebook should be filled only with pieces dreamed up by each student, I have found that many students need to have a suggested topic to fall back on in case they're not inspired to come up with their own on any given day. There are also times when I require students to write about a pre-determined topic (Shhh…don't tell Ralph.) in order to make the scary process of writing a five-paragraph essay or a full-length narrative fun, easy, and achievable for inexperienced writers. I'll talk more about that in a future post. If you'd like to view more sample pages you'll find them under the Visual Writer's Notebook tab above this blog or by clicking the button below. In my next Writer's Notebook post, I'll be sharing a short video on how to set up notebooks and I'll be including a downloadable Writer's Notebook cheat sheet. Until next time…stay committed…teach with passion…and inspire students with who you are.
One of the most important aspects of a good movie is having stakes that actually matter to both the main character and the audience. Stakes are what keep us on the edge of our seats,
Learn tips to plan your year, gather materials, launch your writers' workshop for homeschool, teach routines, teach the writing process, and use the four components of the writers' workshop. Get 5 free printables to help you get started.
In order to resonate deeply with your very human audience, your character's goal needs to be one of five specific things.
Strengthen the way you FINISH YOUR NOVEL. The Pantser Planner is a Fast, Easy, and Straight-to-the-point story outline designed to map out your story without being overwhelmed with unnecessary details. Focus on the core elements of your Plot, Character Journey, and Settings, ensuring a fast and effective outlining experience. No matter what genre you write, Pantser Planner has a flexible structure that allows you to customize your outline to fit the unique requirements of your story. Get an outline that captures your idea and provides clarity for an engaging narrative. From experienced writers who understand what it means to get the first draft DONE! ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧INCLUDES✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ — STORY ESSENTIALS(GUIDED) — SCENES — THEME — CHARACTER OUTLINE(GUIDED) — NEEDS — WANTS — GOALS — MORE! — PLOT STRUCTURE — VISUAL GRAPHS — GUIDED — MORE! — HELPFUL SHEETS — 100 CHARACTER WANTS — UNIVERSAL GOALS AND WANTS — MORE! — 3 PAGES FOR NOTES, EXTRA, DRAWINGS, AND IDEAS ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧By the end...✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ — Finish your novel — Learn what outlining method works best for you — Learn the Key Story Elements necessary in every great story ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧HOW TO USE✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ — BY ITS SELF — ALONG WITH A OUTLINING METHOD YOU ALREADY USE — A STARTING POINT FOR CREATING YOUR OWN OUTLINES — AT THE MIDDLE OR END OF YOUR FIRST DRAFT(don't worry if you already started writing;) ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧HIGHLIGHTS✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ — Edit Instantly (without any apps) straight on your computer — Easy to use — Guided — Key Essentials to Good Storytelling — Character development — Plot structure — Instant delivery upon purchase — Easy to use(for all ages and skill sets) — This is a PDF so you can use it digitally with notability, good notes, or the software of your choice — Buy one keep forever. Use for all your novel or short story outlines — Print! Use in a clipboard, or binder, or use binder clips — low-risk HIGHVALUE purchase. (No matter what stage of outlining you are on —beginner or pro— you can use this as a guide, to finding the right style suitable for you.) TERMS OF USE These files are for your personal use only. Do not copy, distribute, alter, or sell. By purchasing this item you agree to these terms. For more in-depth pantser-friendly writer downloads please check out my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WritersPenByKendra?ref=l2-about-shopname
Scene and Story Construction Spreadsheet and Nanowrimo Writing resources and recommendations. Writer and Artist Patricia Tiffany Morris shares her favorite resources since starting her writing career in 2018. Click on some of the links to share affiliate goodness and find your next writing book.
Italians are said to have one of the best senses of humor. We selected 35 of the best Italian jokes in this article that clearly fall into the Italian humorous category.
Should you write a novel in present tense or past tense? Read this post to find out what is the best tense to write your novel in.
