Why freaking out is a good thing :-) And welcome to Teachers Write!!!!

[jbknowles]

Hello everyone and welcome to Teachers Write 2016!!!! I'm super excited to be able to take part again this year and cheer you on every Monday with some food for thought and a prompt to warm you up for a week of writing

Comments

A Richer Life

[anonymous]

It's funny, but I have been more of a reader than a writer. Writing seemed to be this mysterious activity for certain people, who were naturally good at it. Then, I began teaching ELA. I am a decent writer. I like some of the pieces I had to write for college or for modeling for students, but I haven't done it regularly. Until now. If I ask my students to do something, I must do it too. I have come to see that writing leads to thinking more deeply, making connections between actions, ideas, feelings and people and living a richer life. Time to stop preaching and start doing and stop being a hypocrite about it! I will write something that makes me uncomfortable and "just do the work" as one of my favorite acting teachers used to say. It can be difficult, but, in the end, satisfying--thrilling and scary, all at once. Jen

Re: A Richer Life

[jbknowles]

I love this. I need to follow this advice as well :)

Developing Character

[ext_2665811]

Good morning, Jo!

While reading your list, I realized that I have not taken a character on a wild ride since last summer (have your character realize something unexpected; have your character do something that hurts). Character development activities are extremely important while writing or reading a good novel. The sixth grade students often engage in character development activities (i.e. - an interview with a character, putting the character in another story/novel) and this almost always leads to a new perspective (or solidifies something that they already suspected about the character).

My 2016 Teachers Write approach will be guided by a list of goals and/or expectations to accomplish with my own writing this summer. I have a feeling that this list will lead to the creation of lessons or mini-lessons that will be executed in the fall.:) The first bulleted goal: character development.

Thank you, Jo!
Happy writing!

Re: Developing Character

[jbknowles]

Hooray! Glad you'll be able to use this for yourself and students

Situation

[ext_3722704]

Good Morning!

Simply writing meaningful sentences feels like taking a risk. They are visible for anyone to see, even though they are hidden in a notebook or an online document. What if they don't mean what I think they mean? What if I have failed at what I was trying to accomplish? Writing is uncomfortable. I know this already. What I would like to try is writing about something that makes me uncomfortable, put my character (sorry character) in a situation that makes others uncomfortable. It's important to me to write about something that makes me uncomfortable because I will have to know more about it. But more importantly, maybe it will drive others to want to know more about it.

Re: Situation

[ext_3722704]

This is the hardest thing for me, as well. Thank you for sharing.

Re: Situation

[jbknowles]

Yup. This is really important. As for failure, see my comment for Deb above :) There is no such thing as failure when you are writing. All roads lead to a better outcome eventually.

Fears...

[jdtrier]

I love writing. It’s been a passion since…as long as I can remember. Life, of course, as pushed that to the back burner, so I don’t always get to do as much as I like, but it’s still there. Growing up, I always had this small group of friends that would read my writing, and I felt comfortable with it. Now, as an adult, I am terrified of sharing it. What if it sucks? What if they (the readers) think I’m weird? These are just a couple of the things that keep me from sharing, and sometimes finishing something. So I am going to combine a couple things…I am going to take risks (and write what I want), and push myself to write what I am afraid to.

And I am starting with this project...I've never commented on a blog before or taken part in something like this, so thank you for doing this. :) You've given me (and others) a needed outlet. :)

Re: Fears...

[ext_3722727]

You are brave. Jump on in! The water's fine and the fish in this pond are friendly :)

Re: Fears...

[jbknowles]

It's so important to admit to this. But also, to understand that it's OK to "fail", whatever that means. Please see my response to Deb above for a little more on this. <3 You can do it!

"Push yourself to write about something you are afraid to"

[anonymous]

This summer I hope to write about an event that occurred IRL and has sent negative ripples throughout my world. I have been reluctant to write about it for fear that I would upset those involved. My challenge is how to speak my truth without hurting others. Should I fictionalize it and change the details? Of course they will recognize themselves in the telling, no? Whether or not my WIP ever sees the light of day publicly, or not, I need to write this. I don't know how I will proceed, I just know that I must proceed. This story has taken hold of me and won't let go.

Re: "Push yourself to write about something you are afraid to"

[jbknowles]

Yes, write it. Write it all. Then decide what to do from there. Try not to worry about what's way down the road. For now, write what you need to write and see where it takes you. Good luck!