Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Writer's Summer Survival Kit

Summer is a great time for writing!

Here's what you need for your Writer's Summer Survival Kit:

1. A notebook you can carry around with you.

2. A bunch of pens and pencils in different colors. Write in a color that suits your mood!

3. Scotch tape.

4. Your 5 senses: We experience the world through our senses. Write in your notebook what you see, smell, touch, hear, and taste during the summer. (Yes, licking ice cream can be a writing assignment!)

5. A writing prompt for days when your brain is on vacation. Here are a few:

  • Tape a ticket stub into your notebook. Write a scene where a character you make up goes to that event.

  • Write a sentence that is one page long. (Commas, colons, semicolons, and dashes are OK. No periods.)

  • Pick a pen color that suits your mood. Write a scene where your character is in the opposite mood.

  • Write a paragraph of description. Use sounds, alliteration (when words begin with the same letter), repetition, rhythm, and silly words.

  • Write a poem about your favorite cereal (taste), your friend’s cell phone ring (hearing), your pet’s breath (smell), a stone on the beach (touch), your face in the morning (sight).

Take your Writer's Summer Survival Kit to the beach, library, pet store, playground....everywhere. Have fun writing this summer!