As the snow melts (at least in New Hampshire) we’re excited about spring.  Last night we set the clocks ahead for Daylight Saving Time, so it seemed as though spring was truly on its way.
Write about your feelings and spring.
Here are some ideas:

What flowers bloom in spring?
Do you plant a garden in spring?
Are there baby animals in spring at your home?
Are the birds making nests?
What scents and sounds do you associate with spring?

Write a poem, a report, an adventure story, a journal page with photos and your thoughts, a trip you and your family take or a field trip at …read more

As I was preparing writing lessons for a group of homeschoolers, I pulled out some childhood photos for inspiration.  I’ll have the young writers use photos of events in their lives.  However, as an example, I’ll take photos from my childhood and incorporate them in similar projects.
I looked at a photo of my family (Father, Mother, my sister, brothers and me) seated on a rock with the Cape Neddick “Nubble Lighthouse” in the background.  This brought back memories of trips from our home in New York State to visit relatives in Maine and our picnic suppers at the lighthouse view.
How can I use …read more

Writing Tip
Write about the weather…that sounds boring, you think.  I don’t mean you have to write something scientific.  You can, if you like to do research.  But make it fun.
The kids in my neighborhood have been building snowmen because the snow was just right.  It packed well so they could roll big snowballs.  What are some ideas you could come up with to write about involving snowmen?

Making a big snowman.  Perhaps you have pictures of one you made.
Tell why some snow is better for making snowmen.
Make up a story about a snowman or woman.
Interview your mother about the snowmen she made …read more

 Writing Tips
Writing Thank You Notes sounds so boring to some people, but is a necessary part of our life that seems is becoming a “lost art” these days.  I wrote about this in a previous post, Teaching Your Youngsters the “Art of Thank You.”
I was delighted to receive comments from Lindley and tanyetta:
Lindley mentions: My son really enjoys sending thank you notes now. I remember it being more of a “chore” as I grew older but my parents always made it a priority and I will, too.
tanyetta shares with us: I am very serious about thank you notes. If and when we …read more

An adventure, an event you’ve experienced, or an unusual natural occurance provides material for your writing.  You can turn this into a fiction story, a journal entry, an essay or a non-fiction report like you’d find in a newspaper…even a poem.
 If you live in New Hampshire, you may have experienced the ice storm that made its way across the state Thursday night and into Friday. Although where I live, we had mainly rain, with nothing sticking to the trees, the central and southern part of the state was almost paralyzed.  Falling trees laden with ice fell across roads and power lines.  Winds also …read more

 Brainstorming a Word

Take one word (or a phrase), then write down on a piece of paper everything that word brings to mind.  You can combine the ideas into an article/story/poem.  Or you can choose just one to write about.
Christmas Tree – Twinkling lights, bubble lights, getting the tree, cutting down the tree, tree trimming party, origin of the Christmas tree, indoor tree, outdoor tree, tree for the birds, live Christmas tree, making Christmas tree decorations, favorite decoration, tree trimming snacks, popcorn and cranberry chains for the tree, artificial tree, environment and Christmas tree, saving trees,  family tree memories.
I’ve often written about getting …read more

Writing Tips

Although I always thought of story writing as something achieved with words first and pictures after (even though I might have scenes in my head), I’ve discovered that many young writers work better if they start out by sketching.
“I like to doodle,” one youngster told me during a writing workshop I taught at his school.  “Then when I see something taking shape, I write about it.”
Other youngsters draw realistic pictures about the stories in their heads, then put the ideas into words.  Maybe they’ll draw a picture of something they see from a window, viewed on a outing, or did at …read more

Thanksgiving Writing

You’ll find many ways to write about Thanksgiving.  Whether you celebrate with a family gathering, eating dinner with others in a community setting, preparing special dishes to give as gifts, or recognize the day in some other way, you can find something to be thankful for. 
Here are some ways to turn your ideas into writing.

Write a poem about harvest
Write a poem listing the items you’re thankful for.
Write an acrostic poem using the letters THANKSGIVING.
Do some research and write about the first Thanksgiving.
Learn about the lady who had Thanksgiving declared a national holiday in the US.
Start a thankful journal, writing down …read more

OneBookTwoBook.com
Here’s a Story Starter:
Draw a large pumpkin.  You can color it or not.
Print or write words inside that come to mind about pumpkins. Write at least six.
(Words such as – pumpkin, orange, pie, carve)
Then write a story or poem using these words and other related ones.  This is an activity that writers of any age can try.  If youngsters are too small to write and spell, mom, dad, teachers or siblings can help them.
Have Fun!
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen