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

I got my days mixed up this week and published my Writing Tip on Wed. instead of Sunday!  I must have looked at the wrong calendar, when I was putting dates on my posts.
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 …read more

When I read Marcie’s sentence accompanying her Word of the Week, “The historian cannot understand the mysterious inscription on the ancient tomb,” I thought: 
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)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be invisible and the people around you didn’t know you were there?
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.

Writing Tip
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 …read more

Writing Tip
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.

I heard a rumbling noise and looked out the window to see…..
The flash …read more

Writing doesn’t have to consist entirely of putting words on paper.  You can incorporate art projects along with it, like drawing, collage, and fabric art. 
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 …read more

  Have you ever considered drawing upon your family memories, ideas and talents to write together?  In the post, Spencer Family Books, I wrote about this family who combine their talents (storytelling, writing, and illustrating) to publish books.
 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 …read more

Writing Tip of the Week
Getting the Christmas tree often becomes an exciting family adventure…one you’ll want to write about so you will have those memories with you for future generations.  Family traditions create a great bond between the generations.
My grandchildren and their parents went to a tree farm/forest to cut down their tree today.  They made a family outing of picking it out a couple weeks ago.  Today it was snowing lightly, which added atmosphere to the event as they and their dog trekked through the white powder.
It reminds me of going to the woodland on our farm when I was a …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