Anyway…here’s the tip, in case you always look for it on Sunday, my usual Writing Tip day: Using “Mysterious” As a Prompt.  I came across a sentence that Marcie used to explain her Word of the Week and thought it was a great writing prompt, or beginning sentence.

You also can take any interesting or fascinating sentence you come across and use it as a prompt.  Or take a word, associate other words with it, and come up with a poem, essay or story.

Have fun!  I’ll try to keep my dates straight next week.

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – “Mysterious”

Wouldn’t Marcie’s sentence, using “mysterious,” be perfect for beginning a story. Or you could replace “ancient tomb” with another word…gravestone, basement wall, closet door, rock inside the cave.  Also, replace “historian” with boy, girl, or younster(s)’ name.

What a perfect prompt for a story!  You could do this with many sentences you find in your reading.  Use them as prompts, changing to fit your needs.

(Haunted Tombstones image at Amazon)

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – Using “Mysterious” as a Prompt

Here’s a writing prompt I used with youngsters when I was teaching the other day.  They had great fun. 

Put a valentine in the mail box.  Think about its journey on the way to the recipient. 

• Where does it go?
• What adventures does it encounter?
• Does it reach its destination in time?
• Will this be a fiction or factual story?
• Will you develop it into a mystery?

If you wish cut a piece of lined paper into a heart shape and write your story on it.  When finished, paste to a sheet of red or pink colored paper and make designs around the edges.

Have fun!

(Century Novelty image at Amazon)

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – A Valentine’s Journey

Were you ever sort of invisible?  You might be reading and so quiet that someone coming into the room didn’t realize you were there.

What would happen if you were invisible for an hour?  A day? A week?

Write about your “invisible” experience if you have had one.

Pretend you’re invisible and write about what would happen.

Or you can make up a story about an animal who is invisible.

It can be funny, scary, adventuresome.   And very enjoyable to write.

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – What If You Were Invisible?

Since the Inauguration of Barak Obama as 44th President of the United States was the highlight of the news this past week, perhaps you’d like to write something about it.  This could take many forms:

• If you actually traveled to Washington and attended the Inauguration ceremonies (and some youngsters I know did this with their families), you might like to write a journal of your experience, along with photos and souvenirs.
• If you watched it on TV, either at school or at home…or in some other location, you could write about this.
• You could express your opinion about whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Obama as President.  Are you in agreement or are you concerned about his policies? 
• If you watched the Inauguration, what was your favorite part?
• Perhaps you’ve been interested in his daughters and the experiences they as someone close to your age have been having.  You could research and write about them.
• Why did Mr. Obama ride in a train to Washington, like Abraham Lincoln did? 
• You can read a book about Mr. Obama and give a book report or book review.

I have a list of books about Obama & the Presidency you could research and review.

Here are some Resources about Abraham Lincoln.

Do you have some other ideas for writing about the Inauguration?

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – What Did You Think of the Inauguration?

I was away for the weekend, so didn’t get my writing tip posted on Sunday.  However, I’ll give you one for Monday.  If you’re a teacher in a school or a home schooling mom, perhaps this writing tip will be something you can use this week for a writing lesson. 

I’ve found youngsters often respond to “Finishing First Sentences.”  First Sentences also are good writing prompts when writers (of any age) can’t think of something to write about.  Here are three First Sentences. 

Choose one.  Finish the sentence, then proceed to write a story.

1. I heard a rumbling noise and looked out the window to see…..
2. The flash of light in the darkness made me…..
3. When Jake heard someone yelling in the garage, he……

What do these sentences make you think about?

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – Finishing First Sentences

As I browsed through a book my quilter daughter received for Christmas, The Uncommon Quilter by Jeanne Williamson, I thought, “What fun to include some of these into one’s writing.”

You might write about a topic, then find an idea from Jeanne’s book to use as an illustration.

*The one titled Forsythia (p. 92-93), using fabric paint, pencil eraser and small paintbrush among the materials, would be easy for youngsters.  Then write a poem about forsythia or spring flowers, or compose a memory piece about forsythia in childhood.

*Red Leaves (p.102-103) is easy with fabric  paint, too, and can remind you of autumn, raking leaves, jumping into piles of leaves, collecting leaves.

*Cemetery Visit (p. 104-105) involves making gravestone rubbings on fabric.  This could involve researching and writing about one’s family history…an interesting project in itself.  I also wrote about this project idea at Quilting and Patchwork in Gravestone Rubbings for Fabric Art.

You don’t even have to get ideas from this book.  You can make collages of any size on paper or fabric, from postcards to larger pieces, then write about them.  Perhaps you’ll eventually organize them into a collage or fabric book.

I’ll have to let you know how my project is coming along.  What about you?

(Amazon image)

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – Incorporating Art Projects into Your Writing

 You don’t even have to think about book publication.  Simply write down individual and collective memories and experiences.  This eventually may branch out into fiction and writing totally unrelated to family affairs.

 However, getting together, whether the whole family or a few members, can be a fun time to work on projects together.  You might include family journals, scrapbooks, or a family blog. 

 The holiday season is a good time to write down current happenings as well as memories of past celebrations.

 If you have family writing projects under way, I’d enjoy hearing about them.

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – Write as a Family

Do you become intrigued by foods mentioned in books and want to prepare them yourself or with your children?  Since research is connected with some types of writing, checking out recipes gives you practice in this area.

For instance, if your character lives in the Southwest and the author mentions him/her eating foods typical of that part of the United States, do you ever like to search for recipes so you can make them?  Do you like to experiment and write down your own variations, complete with directions?

Perhaps you’re reading about pioneer characters?  Why not research and write about the foods they might prepare and eat? 

These could be reports for school…for a social studies project (foods of different countries), or a math one (measurements), science (why baking powder makes cakes rise), or health (nutritious vs. non-nutrious foods).

Next time you read about foods, menus, and recipes in books, think about researching them and even making your own recipe booklet.

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – Researching & Writing Recipes

Why not write a Thankful Poem for Thanksgiving?  You can do this any time of year, but this coming weekend in the United States, and earlier  in Canada, we’re thinking of what we’re thankful for.  Other countries may have a thankgiving or harvest festival.

This can be a simple list poem…consisting of a list of words or phrases.  You can be thankful for material possessions.  However, think of intangibles like friendship, love, and happiness.

Your title could be My Thankful Poem, or something completely original.  Then start it, “I’m thankful for” and write at least 15 lines, culminating in a summary phrase.

This also could be a Thanksgiving Day activity for your family.

(Amazon image)

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Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – A Thankful Poem