Story Walk #SOL21

On most Tuesdays I blog and post to the Two Writing Teacher Blog . Teacher writers read and then comment on at least three others posts.

I have been working with the 4 year old kindergarten in my building this year. One class I visit weekly for a writing and reading lesson. These little ones are embracing their author and illustrator identities whole heartily. Today one of the first questions I got from students today is “Why is your hair black?”

I decided to dye my hair black from blonde again. It is October, it is almost Halloween, and it feels more like me right now.

In my town the library does a story walk in parks and other public outdoor spaces with a children’s book. Pages are printed and dotted along the path so kids can walk and read. I decided this was a perfect project to do with some classes in my school.

The 4K teaches with themes. Trees has been a great thread through the weeks. We have read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Caps for Sale. The students were learning about deciduous trees today!

When we did Chicka Chicka Boom Boom we talked about what else could be in the tree besides letters and coconuts. Lemons came up and then we called it a lemonade tree.

Today we talked about what silly things could go into trees and that is what they each wrote about.

Here are some the ideas:

Door tree

Macaroni tree

Pizza tree

Toy tree

The lost stuff tree

Shoe tree 

Sock tree

In order for the students to draw a tree they were advised to trace their hand which was a great way to have them do it.

The teachers wrote the sentence on the page and then they are going to be displayed on their lockers for everyone to read as a story walk.

It is exciting for everyone to see the great work these little ones are doing.

I cannot wait to see what they write next.

October 20, 2021 by TammyB Categories: Challenge, creativity, Delights, Gatherings, holidays, MYNEXTRIGHTTHING, Mywriting, Questions, reflection, Slice of Life Leave a comment

#IWSG October

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

October Question

October 6 question – In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pitt,J Lenni Dorner,Cathrina Constantine,Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!

In my writing, I do not censor myself for the most part. If I feel it isn’t something to be shared, then I do not. That is up to me as a writer.

There are a couple topics that I feel I cannot write about…yet. Maybe I need to move to another state again to get more distance. I have been thinking a lot about the stories I retell over and over and to write them down. Some things that have happened in my life I feel I would never write about either because I do not want to relive the memories.

This month I am examining some more of my shadow self and try to examine why I do not want to revisit certain topics. I am paying attention to what I read and what appeals to me and what doesn’t.

I am certain it is a fine line.

#happyreading #happywriting

October 6, 2021 by TammyB Categories: Challenge, Insecure Writer's Support Group, IWSG, Mywriting, Questions, sarahselecky, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 7 Comments

Endings and Beginnings

Today is the last day of September and I am excited that tomorrow is October! Lots of great things are happening in the month for me!

The Storyaday prompt today is to look behind and forward. I revised the story I wrote in May this morning. There are several stories I revised this month through the prompts that will need to get final pass throughs and sent off into the world. I have two stories out to a reader for feedback. As soon as she is done with them I will rewrite and then send them off. I have some goals before the end of the year!

The next challenge for October is OCTPOWRIMO so I will write a poem a day. I have been reading a lot of poetry and enjoying it. There is a new podcast called The Slowdown which is hosted by Ada Limon who I adore. She has her own commentary before reading the poem and it is delightful. Her voice is amazing.

My #last100day2021 project is continuing. I am creating a #100dayMFA for myself. I am tracking all the writing life activities I engage in every day on a beautiful spreadsheet. I did my writing this morning but right when I felt I was on a roll was when I had to get ready for work. I did write a piece in my own PUSH group last night that I liked. I will transcribe that sometime over the next few days and see where I am at with it.

I am preparing for NANOWRIMO in November in my mind. There is a project I am kicking around in my head that came from a conversation with Kim Flodin. I highly recommend her intuitive readings. It was an eye opening process for me.

What are your creative plans for October? I would love to hear!

September 30, 2021 by TammyB Categories: #100dayproject, Challenge, creativity, Gatherings, Mywriting, podcast, Poetry, Reading Life, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 1 Comment

23 on Tuesday #SOL21

On most Tuesdays I blog and post to the Two Writing Teacher Blog . Teacher writers read and then comment on at least three others posts.

23 Things I Did This Morning:

1. Woke up at 4 a.m.
2. Had coffee
3. Wrote in my notebook
4. Responded to writers in Slack
5. Listened to the MFA Writers Podcast
6. Showered
7. Found my green pants
8. Straightened my hair
9. Drove to work
10. Did door duty
11. Made schedules for two reading coach visits next week including links to tools and documents needed
12. Drank more coffee
13. Answered email
14. Updated my calendar
15. Looked at reading reports
16. Delivered a student book to a teacher
17. Read The Very Lonely Firefly to a class
18. Facilitated writing and illustrating for the class
19. Picked up a 4 year old student who is reading
20. Made log entries for the work I did yesterday
21. Changed the schedule after hearing from one of the coaches
22. Had a conversation with the EL teacher about reading assessment
23. Went to a grade level team meeting

It is interesting to see what I do when I list it out…

September 28, 2021 by TammyB Categories: Challenge, creativity, Delights, Gatherings, holidays, MYNEXTRIGHTTHING, Mywriting, Questions, reflection, Slice of Life 6 Comments

It’s FALL! #WeekendCoffeeShare

Thank you for joining me for a coffee chat today. I link up with Natalie the Explorer for the share every weekend.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I had to take a trip to Ohio this week. It ended up being a writing immersion two days for me. It was the first day of fall and glorious writing and reading time for me. I also had some time to catch up on my work with the Sarah Selecky Writing School Story Intensive. I was closely reading Aimee Bender’s novel The Butterfly Lampshade and I am captivated by her writing style. I then was able to sign up for a workshop with her that I took Saturday. It was a well spent 2 hours. The exercises were amazing, I was happy with my writing, and I found some other short story writers that are amazing who attended the class.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I have been continuing the walking after school. Writing time is in the morning and I feel much more like myself.

If we were having coffee I would tell you my PUSH group is continuing through The Artist’s Way. We had a bit of a detour since I was out of town but we are all good. These weekly hour long meetings are the heartbeat of my community. There is so much joy and energy each week.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I was able to be on the Centered call this week. Sarah talked about rejection and submission. There are a couple of stories in the hopper that have just been sitting there. I will give them a couple more read throughs and then send them off somewhere.

If we were having coffee I would tell you the weather has turned much cooler and I am thankful for it! Sweatshirts are back in the rotation! WHOO HOO!

I hope your week was amazing and full of things that bring you joy!

September 26, 2021 by TammyB Categories: bradbury, Challenge, creativity, Mywriting, Questions, Reading Life, reflection, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Prompt, WritingLifeTags: #ideas, amwriting, bradbury, writing, writingprompt 3 Comments

Ten on Tuesday #SOL21

On most Tuesdays I blog and post to the Two Writing Teacher Blog . Teacher writers read and then comment on at least three others posts.

Tomorrow is the first day of fall and I am thrilled.

Here are ten delights about AUTUMN:

1. twinkle lights
2. cozy blankets
3. coffee, but sometimes hot cider
4. crows
5. candles
6. thick stew with crusty bread
7. thick Irish wool sweaters
8. reading the book In November to my students
9. layers of clothes
10. the crisp breeze flowing through colorful leaves on my walks

I would love to hear what fall means to you in the comments.

September 21, 2021 by TammyB Categories: Challenge, creativity, Delights, Gatherings, holidays, MYNEXTRIGHTTHING, Mywriting, Questions, reflection, Slice of Life 8 Comments

Holiday Weekend Coffee Share

Thank you for joining me for a coffee chat today.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I had to look back at my calendar to even recall all that happened. Such a contrast from the quarantine weeks. The thought of the individual and the collective have been on my mind and what this will mean as we move forward into the world. COVID is not over, several countries are in lock down again and there is a contrast to many people who have gone back to their normal life. It gives me a headache sometimes.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I had the open house at my new school. It was great to see students in the building walking slowly with their backpacks so excited to come to school. It was a late night however and that seems to zap my energy more than in the past.

If we were having coffee I would tell you my PUSH group started Week 1 last Wednesday. It is a great group of people and the conversation was life giving. They are the weekly hour long meetings that are the heartbeat of my community. There is so much joy and energy each week.

If we were having coffee I would tell you writing challenges started on Wednesday: Storyaday and September Sentences. I continue freewriting with my Sarah Selecky prompts. I am teaching with the Intensive this fall and that has been an amazing experience so far. We are in the middle of week 2 now.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I was glad for the holiday weekend and the extra day off. We went to a Brewer’s game yesterday. There is a roof and it was drizzling so it was closed sadly. The food at ball park is not even close to the caliber of White Sox park so that is disappointing.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I submitted a piece of writing this weekend. The last time I submitted it was May! I have not been in the same space to share my writing lately, and that is ok but worth examining.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I have a touch of dread moving into this week. I am not sure where it is coming from. The full blown school schedule will be activated which means later evenings a couple days a week. I walked Wednesday though Sunday last week. I will continue walking each day this week but will have to move the times around. It is quite dark at 4:45am. Tomorrow is a new moon so I imagine it will be darker than last week too!

I hope your week was amazing and full of things that bring you joy!

September 5, 2021 by TammyB Categories: bradbury, Challenge, creativity, Mywriting, Questions, Reading Life, reflection, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Prompt, WritingLifeTags: #ideas, amwriting, bradbury, writing, writingprompt 3 Comments

September Story Challenges

September means the Storyaday challenge I have been doing for years. This year is also means #septembersentences hosted by Caroline Donahue, and the continuation of daily Sarah Selecky’s freewrites.

Potentially, this could mean a lot of writing.

Caroline Donahue is posting prompts for her challenge of writing two sentences each day for September. Her prompts are shared on IG.

Sarah Selecky’s prompts are shared through her community CENTERED. You can find that link here.

For the Storyaday challenge, Julie reuses the prompts from May, so I have been diving into the Google file and revising those stories from 4 months ago. This is the first time I have done this. Usually I write a brand new story and add to the words and drafts in my drive. The prompts from May did resonate with me this year, and I was happy with most of the stories I wrote.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the amount of words and the quality of words I am producing and what to do with them afterwards [if anything.] The revision aspect seems to be working – these first couple of days anyway.

This morning while writing in my notebook I remembered that I had publicly reflected on the challenge!

Here was my agenda for May’s Challenge: If you would like to read my reflections from Day 4 in May click here

• Reflect about how I approached the prompt – Did it resonate with me? Did I use it? Did I use something else or combine it with something else?
• Write the story and analyze if it different as an outcome than what I expected when I started.
• Would I use this prompt again?
• Reflect if the writing surprised me.
• Did I learn anything?

Today’s prompt is an ending line from my friend Neha. You can read the whole prompt here and find links to her work.

The story I wrote involved a character who emerged as a Mother Nature like figure and the story involves a magical gate.

Starting with an ending line leads you to where you are going.

Anchors for my May Day 4 story: gate, splinter, time, dark

Are you participating in any September writing challenges? I am certain we will be discussing them in my PUSH group. You should join us. This month we are using The Artist’s Way to drive our discussion. We meet every Wednesday evening at 7:30p.m. Central time.

September 4, 2021 by TammyB Categories: Challenge, creativity, Delights, Mywriting, sarahselecky, storyaday, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 2 Comments

#IWSG September

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

September Question

September 1 question – How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?
The awesome co-hosts for the September 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Over the years, the definition of success has been layered for me. At first, it was just to write and finish stories. Then it became about being published and I began my 100 submissions project. Then it became about teaching and sharing what I have learned.

Now it seems I am back to just the writing. It is what is fueling to me and always what it comes down to. The idea of what constitutes finished is different now though. I have to find a time that I will stick to revision. The ways of the past do not motivate me lately.

I think I bridge revision with submissions and sharing. I am not motivated by sharing my work at the present moment. Even a strict schedule I used to keep for the blog has fallen to the side and that is ok.

If I write, I am a writer and that fact will always be true.

#happyreading #happywriting

September 1, 2021 by TammyB Categories: Challenge, Insecure Writer's Support Group, IWSG, Mywriting, Questions, sarahselecky, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 3 Comments

Weekend Coffee Share

Thank you for joining me for our weekly coffee chat today.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I am loving my Wayhome Tarot deck. I learned about it from the Healing Thru Tarot podcast. The host is a Clinical Psychologist and I find her perspective smart.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I am absorbing that my summer is now over. With the new position I am starting Monday so my summer was cut short by a week. I am thankful for the time before teachers and students come back into the building but an adjustment nevertheless. I have to pack up the books and items from my classroom and move it to my new office. Ugh, another move. I hope this is the last one.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I am learning patience and how to transition back to regular life. I am welcoming new inspiration into my life like art and fashion design. It has been fueling for my writing and creative life.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I am rewatching the Harry Potter movies! I loved the books and read them as they came out. I have watched them all in order in one weekend which was an interesting experience!

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I am writing a story based on a tarot and writing class I am in and also with the DIYMFA Scriblandia prompts. It has been an interesting story with a hotel setting. I am struggling with the idea of having things more plotted out than normal. I always find a bit of resistance.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I am reading which was also recommended by Healing Thru Tarot. I am also reading different short stories and poems of course.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you I have kept up with my walking. The schedule will change next week due to work. The plan is to walk in the morning and when I come home.

If we were having a beverage I would tell you that I am examining the schedule in relationship to my PUSH groups. They are the weekly hour long meetings that are the heartbeat of my community. There is so much joy and energy in these meetings. We are looking at freewrites and what to do with them this month. Next month, we are starting The Artist’s Way. It will bring a great framework to the conversations.

I hope your week was amazing and full of things that bring you joy!

August 14, 2021 by TammyB Categories: bradbury, Challenge, creativity, Mywriting, Questions, Reading Life, reflection, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Prompt, WritingLifeTags: #ideas, amwriting, bradbury, writing, writingprompt 5 Comments