“Your hair is fierce,” he said.
Someone at a middle school told me this today. I learned what fierce means! There’s a whole new world of word definitions out there. What words in your sphere have different meanings to you than other people? Make a list! Or write a funny story about miscommunication with these words.
*** Extra Extra Credit. If you send your list or story to me, you get even more credit. I’m sure the credit counts somewhere. Ask your teacher, boss, or God.
In honor of March’s National Nutrition Month, become a food writer. Mimic a food critic of a newspaper. As you eat a meal, describe it in that “newspaper critic style.” Don’t forget to note the sounds, sights, table service, etc. You could be at home, in a restaurant, or it could be a review of your own superior cooking.
If that doesn’t get your pen moving, try your hand at a funny song about food you crave, or food you hate. Or write about the funniest or best food memory from your past.
Happy Birthday Howard Pyle! Born in 1853, he’s often called the Father of Illustration and well-known for his Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.
Exercise: 1. Choose an illustration you like and admire. Write a story or poem to go with it. 2. Google Howard Pyle and choose one of HIS illustrations. Write a work of fiction of your own to accompany his art. 3. Read Robin Hood and let it inspire your own illustrations.
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Earlier this week (March 2, to be exact) it was the good “doc’s” birthday. His real name was Theodor Geisel and he is beloved to millions around the world.
His fun and funny, silly rhymes are famous. Like this, from The Cat in the Hat:
“I know it is wet
And the sun is not sunny.
But we can have
Lots of good fun that is funny!”
Exercise: Try your hand at fun and silly rhyme. It doesn’t even have to make sense! Write a few lines in “Seussical style.” Any subject! The weather, dogs talking to each other, make-believe animals with fantasy powers . . . or something silly that you’d like to have happen in your classroom or setting right now!
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?swf=http%3A//s.ytimg.com/yt/swf/cps-vfl78303.swf&video_id=D85yrIgA4Nk&rel=1&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//i1.ytimg.com/vi/D85yrIgA4Nk/hqdefault.jpg&sk=kXsMpgY3qrAknDpPUU-Myww-A9H78Z8-C&use_get_video_info=1&load_modules=1&cr=US&title=Dog%2C%20Cat%2C%20and%20Rat&avg_rating=4.87531094527&length_seconds=167
Go to the above You Tube video. It’s amazing! Exercise 1. Write a story from the point of view of one of the animals. 2. Write a personal narrative/essay on the topic of peace, using this video as an anecdote. 3. Use this video experience to inspire a poem. 4. Anything else? Your choice!
In honor of Library Lovers Month, write a scene set in a library. Make it unexpected. Create a sweet romance, a suspenseful mystery, or an intriguing thriller.
How? Why wander through the library and read what you would like to write. Sometimes to start your writing day, all it takes is a chapter or a page or two to begin your own creative journey.
Jan. 30
This date in 1969, the Beatles made their last public performance.
Music often brings back strong sensory images to us. Some songs relate to specific people and events. Does a song relate to a special person in your life? A special time? Write about that music, song, or even a stanza that may hold meaning for you.
Or perhaps there was a moment of coincidence/serendipity? You were thinking about that person and suddenly their song comes on the radio?
You can also take your memories and sensory experiences another step and create a short story or poem of your own.
**Today, take special notice of each and every sound you encounter. Appreciate them. Think about their tone, their quality, rhythm and cadence. Describe them with details you may use later for future writings.
Make a Date with Writing Jan. 29, 2009
I’m author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff, and I’m beginning a blog today that will tie in dates in history with ideas to inspire your imaginations. We all have days where we stare at our computer screens or the blank piece of paper in front of us and say, “What shall I write about? What shall I draw?” I hope these prompts will spark something within you for your creative project.
This date in 1959, Disney released Sleeping Beauty in the movie theaters. (One of my favorite fairy tales)
Write a fairy tale of your own. Or take an old fairy tale, and give it a new and exciting twist. Update it, combine a bunch of fairy tale characters together, mix and match and presto. Your own fairy tale.
And . . . if you’d like to take this another step . . . illustrate your fairy tale in any medium you choose.
**Reminder** If you are a Contra Costa middle school student, you can enter the California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Young Writers Contest FREE as many times as you like. Categories are short stories, poems, and personal narratives/essays. See www.lizbooks.com or http://mtdiablowriters.org/ for specifics.
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