It’s Tuesday! Time to share a story from your life with our amazing community of writers. Here are some words of wisdom about writing from author John Green, who, if you didn’t already know,… Continue reading 
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By: Elizabeth Moore (@BethMooreTCRWP),
on 5/19/2014
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, writing workshop, quote, Add a tag
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 5/9/2014
Blog: Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Katherine Paterson, writing process, First Drafts, quote, bad, spilled milk, Add a tag
Once again, I am writing a really, really bad first draft.
That’s OK.
I know that I can clean it up.
But every time I do this, I am slightly embarrassed. Really? That’s the best I can do?
I have avoided the draft of the last two chapters of this story for over a month, but finally, deadlines loomed and I had to buckle down and do this.
I tried my best to write two good chapter. Instead, they are very bad.
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By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 4/27/2014
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: inspirational quote, poetry, photo, writing, children's literature, ideas, song, quote, Add a tag
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 3/9/2014
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: picture book writing, submitting, quote, inspirational quote, 12x12, reading, editing, writing, children's literature, waiting, revising, Add a tag
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 12/1/2013
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kidlit, poetry, writing, children's literature, dogs, ideas, poem, picture book writing, quote, PiBoIdMo, inspirational quote, Add a tag
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 11/7/2013
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: poetry, pets, writing, children's literature, character, ideas, poem, picture book writing, quote, inspirational quote, Add a tag
By: Dana Murphy,
on 11/4/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, quote, Add a tag
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 9/16/2013
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: PiBoIdMo, inspirational quote, 12x12, kidlit, writing, children's literature, ideas, revising, critique group, picture book writing, submitting, quote, Add a tag
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By: Jennifer DeDonato,
on 9/5/2013
Blog: Colorfly Studio (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: quote, jennifer dedonato, colorfly studio, pinterest, Add a tag
By: Ingrid Sundberg,
on 8/24/2013
Blog: Ingrid's Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Quote of the Week, Quote, Figurative Language, Figurative Writing, Add a tag
By: Ingrid Sundberg,
on 8/24/2013
Blog: Ingrid's Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Quote of the Week, Quote, Figurative Language, Figurative Writing, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/29/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing workshop, quote, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/27/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/10/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: student work, quote, solar system, reflective practice, blogging, professional development, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/8/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Ruth Ayres,
on 4/29/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Ruth Ayres,
on 4/24/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/14/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/14/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/13/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, wn entry, quote, writing, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/11/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/10/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/9/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/7/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, writing, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/6/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Elizabeth Moore (@BethMooreTCRWP),
on 5/19/2014
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, writing workshop, quote, Add a tag
By: Darcy Pattison,
on 5/9/2014
Blog: Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Katherine Paterson, writing process, First Drafts, quote, bad, spilled milk, Add a tag
Never cry over first drafts! Instead, take heart in Katherine Paterson’s wise words: Make ice cream.
Once again, I am writing a really, really bad first draft.
That’s OK.
I know that I can clean it up.
But every time I do this, I am slightly embarrassed. Really? That’s the best I can do?
I have avoided the draft of the last two chapters of this story for over a month, but finally, deadlines loomed and I had to buckle down and do this.
I tried my best to write two good chapter. Instead, they are very bad.
I knew that was going to happen!
That’s why I put it off.
But putting it off doesn’t change the reality. Sometimes, no matter how you try, you must just write the draft, even if it’s bad. Then, you can revise and refine ad nauseam. But you can’t revise what isn’t written. It’s a cold reality.
I should have embraced the bad.
Just done it a long time ago.
But I want so badly to write well. (That’s really all I ever want–to write well.)
The writing process is crazy. But it works. Bad first draft is done today! Now, for the joy of revising.
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 4/27/2014
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: inspirational quote, poetry, photo, writing, children's literature, ideas, song, quote, Add a tag
Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway.
Mary Kay Ash
I would like to fly. Sometimes, I fly around my house – from the floor to the bed and from the ottoman to the sofa and from the chair to the door.
But I’m not allowed to fly outside. If I could, I’d fly up into the trees to catch birds and squirrels.
They are up there laughing at me, so flying would come in handy to put a stop to that.
Mom writes picture books. But sometimes, she goes outside her comfort zone to write other things. Once she wrote a non-fiction story, but she hated it – ALMOST as much as she hated doing the research for it. She said, “This is too much like work.” and “I dread writing time.” and “You cannot climb a tree – you’re a dog, not a bear.”
Last weekend, Mom wrote a song. Her friend needed a little pre-k song for graduation, so Mom made it up and sang it out loud to herself over and over and over and over and over. She said, “That was easier than I thought.” and “I didn’t know I could write a song.” and “You cannot climb a tree – you’re a dog, not a bear.”
Sometimes we need to go out of our comfort zones and TRY to see what we really can do. Mom is no Paul McCartney, but she wrote a song. I may not be a bear, but if Mom would unclip my leash for 5 seconds, I think I can climb a tree. After all, bumblebees fly….
10 Comments on Inspirational Quote of the Week, last added: 4/28/2014
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By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 3/9/2014
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: picture book writing, submitting, quote, inspirational quote, 12x12, reading, editing, writing, children's literature, waiting, revising, Add a tag
Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.
-Bruce Garrabrandt-
Moments matter – Every single one of them. I try to use each one wisely.
Climbing.
Kissing.
Exploring.
Eating.
Playing.
And helping.
This past weekend we lost 60 moments of sleep for daylight savings. Well, the humans did. I got those moments back in spades 60 times over.
Mom uses one hour of moments each day for work. And by work I mean she sits there and types on the computer and talks out loud to herself. Sometimes the Creativity visits her during that hour. I love visitors. I’m not sure I’ve ever met the Creativity Visitor, though. Maybe tomorrow…..
If the Creativity doesn’t visit at that exact work time, Mom still works. Each month, she makes a new story and fixes up an old story (or two or three) for her 12×12 Challenge. She also reads books about writing books, and reads books like the books she writes. Wait. What?
Writing time is not for blogs, not for Facebook, not for email, not for Words With Friends, and not even for TV.
It’s just working on stories in one way or another – writing them, reading them, fixing them, thinking about them, submitting them to agents and publishers, and giving me cuddles and treats…. (See what I did there?) If the Creativity doesn’t come – Oh well. Maybe tomorrow…..
We’ll be ready.
10 Comments on Inspirational Quote of the Week, last added: 3/10/2014
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By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 12/1/2013
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kidlit, poetry, writing, children's literature, dogs, ideas, poem, picture book writing, quote, PiBoIdMo, inspirational quote, Add a tag
All the effort in the world won’t matter if you’re not inspired.
Chuck Palahniuk
Experiences inspire ideas. Mom has completed her PiBoIdMo challenge with 35 inspired ideas for new stories.
Some of her ideas will become picture book manuscripts. Some will become poems. One of them might become the elusive Book #2 or eBook #2. Some of them stink so bad that they will stay in her phone and rot. But somewhere, somehow, all of them were inspired for a few minutes by an experience during the month of November.
At her author visits, students or teachers often ask Mom if she ever has writer’s block. She says, “Never.” That’s because as long as she has a list of ideas, even if one story gets stuck, there are a bunch of other stories just waiting to get started.
I was inspired last night, so I started playing the piano with my paws…
…and my face.
Mom came in to see what was inspiring me. Was I a genius and she was just finding out? No. Did I suddenly get skills that no dog in the world ever had? No. Would I play at Carnegie Hall and be famous? No. There was a fly in the house. And I wanted a closer look at it.
*Not actual fly
The fly disappeared after my concert, and later he met with an unfortunate end. Rest in peace, little fly. I think you would’ve been delicious.
*Not actual fly tombstone
10 Comments on Inspirational Quote of the Week, last added: 12/2/2013
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) I bet all of your mom’s ideas are great, Cupcake, even when some of them”stink” – that sometimes are the best! If you see a fly in your house in winter, you shold keep it as a pet, the superstition says, that’s the “money-fly” and brings good luck&wonga
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 11/7/2013
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: poetry, pets, writing, children's literature, character, ideas, poem, picture book writing, quote, inspirational quote, Add a tag
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
~Franklin D. Roosevelt~
Trying something is important. This Roosevelt guy knows what he’s talking about. What would life be like if we didn’t try? Mom tries all the time. She tries to write awesome stories.
She tries to write funny poems.
She tries to get unusual ideas and to dream up unique characters.
Even though Roosevelt says to – she doesn’t frankly admit failure, but she does keep on trying something.
I try all the time, too. I try to sit on my ParkIt Mat.
This is boring…
I try to reach things on the table.
I try to fetch the ball and to walk past things even if they’re scary.
Like Mom, I never admit failure. I only admit, “Oh well.” and “Maybe next time.” and “Is that pumpkin trying to kill me?”
*gulp*
10 Comments on Inspirational Quote of the Week, last added: 11/8/2013
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By: Dana Murphy,
on 11/4/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, quote, Add a tag
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. ~Maya Angelou I am thankful to be hosting the Slice of Life Story Challenge on Tuesdays during the month of November.… Read More 
By: Genevieve Petrillo,
on 9/16/2013
Blog: Cupcake Speaks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: PiBoIdMo, inspirational quote, 12x12, kidlit, writing, children's literature, ideas, revising, critique group, picture book writing, submitting, quote, Add a tag
But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking lucky, the chance is there. The chance had to be there.”
― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
I struck lucky when Mom found me a few Decembers ago. Purrs n Pups found me in Georgia in a kill-shelter, where my puppies had been adopted…
….and I was left behind.
They brought me to foster care and my foster-mom brought me to an adoption event where Mom found me.
She said some bad words like, “Too small.” and “Too old.” But then she said some good words like, “I’m taking her home!” and “This is my new dog!”
My first day at home, I said, “This is my new couch!”
Mom is always waiting to strike lucky. She works on stories, revises them and revises them, makes cover letters, signs them with her lucky pen, and submits story after story to magazines, book publishers, and agents. Whenever Book #2 gets accepted, that will be her lucky day.
PiBoIdMo is helpful. Mom gets a new idea every single day during that month.
Mom’s 12×12 Challenge is helpful. It keeps her writing new pieces every month.
The class she took named Making Picture Book Magic was helpful. It taught her about planning a story to make sure it has all the parts it needs.
Her writing group named DavidLaurieandOtherDavid is helpful. They help her stories get better and better.
Where’s the work? This looks like a party!
Her computer friends at RateYourStory help her by giving her a reality check about what she writes.
And of course, I help her by taking her to the park to clear her head,
staring at her while she’s working,
and sometimes, I fall asleep on the iPad and type LLLLLLLL with my ear.
18 Comments on Inspirational Quote of the Week, last added: 9/17/2013
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By: Jennifer DeDonato,
on 9/5/2013
Blog: Colorfly Studio (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: quote, jennifer dedonato, colorfly studio, pinterest, Add a tag
By: Ingrid Sundberg,
on 8/24/2013
Blog: Ingrid's Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Quote of the Week, Quote, Figurative Language, Figurative Writing, Add a tag
By: Ingrid Sundberg,
on 8/24/2013
Blog: Ingrid's Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Quote of the Week, Quote, Figurative Language, Figurative Writing, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/29/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing workshop, quote, Add a tag
“We all have our own stories. The story you tell about yourself, even if you only tell it to yourself, drives your actions and has a significant impact on your focus.” ― Mani… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/27/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: quote, Add a tag
Here’s hoping your Memorial Day was filled with remembrance, rest, and gratitude. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. —James… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/10/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: student work, quote, solar system, reflective practice, blogging, professional development, Add a tag
Unfortunately I don’t have a photo from one of my favorite Friday Favorites. Christy Rush-Levine and I met for a walk + dinner on Tuesday. Christy is one of those people who help… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 5/8/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: quote, reflective practice, Add a tag
I love this quote. It is one of my favorites to share in a workshop. I read it today with an epic-cool group of teachers at Southbury School. (I learned epic-cool from a… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 4/29/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: opinion writing, books, authors, quote, Add a tag
So I was planning to try a new kind of post last Friday. And then Friday came and went. How does this happen? So right now, let’s just pretend it is Friday. Or… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 4/24/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: quote, Add a tag
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/14/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
“Write about what makes you different.” Sandra Cisneros WRITE. Each day in March write a slice on your own blog. SHARE. Link your post here (using the SAME username each day) before… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/14/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
“Write about what makes you different.” Sandra Cisneros WRITE. Each day in March write a slice on your own blog. SHARE. Link your post here (using the SAME username each day) before… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/13/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, wn entry, quote, writing, Add a tag
“Everybody–even monsters–needed a little attention once in a while.” ― Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief {Care} WRITE. Each day in March write a slice on your own blog. SHARE. Link your post here (using the… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/11/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
“I love the way that each book — any book — is its own journey. You open it, and off you go. You are changed in some way, large or small, by having… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/10/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. — Harriet Tubman {Dream}… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/9/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writing, Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
“Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.” ― Samuel Johnson {Persevere} WRITE. Each day in March write a slice on your own blog. SHARE. Link your post here (using the SAME… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/7/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, writing, Add a tag
Everyone has a story that makes me stronger. I know that the work I do is important and I enjoy it, but it is nice to hear the feedback of what we do… Read More 
By: Ruth Ayres,
on 3/6/2013
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Slice of Life Story Challenge, slice of life, Write: It's good for you!, quote, Add a tag
“I do not want to pass the time. I want to grab hold of it and leave my mark upon the world.” ― Libba Bray, The Sweet Far Thing {Time} USERNAME UPDATE: It is only… Read More 
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Oh Cupcake – you best stay leashed up little lady! Flying isn’t for little doggies…. :(
Whee reckon you can be whatever you want to be, Cupcake. Then again being a dog must be pretty cool so don’t go making your decision too quickly. Sometimes it’s nice to pretend to be something your not, Billy likes to pretend to be a shoe for example and sit on the shoe rack!
The Pigs xx
Do pigs fly Cupcake? After this post, I am just wondering…. Say hi to mom and tell her that it is cool to go outside of your comfort zone! I do it all the time…Not always a good thing, but most of the time it is. : )
Piggies fly! We saw on Pink Floyd album cover! XXXX
Oh Cupcake…..I think you WOULD be able to climb a tree – you certainly have the willpower! As for your Mom writing a song – that’s really wonderful! Aren’t you proud of her for trying something new? I’m sure if she let you climb a tree (which would be something new) she’d be proud of you too (at least until she had to get a ladder to go up and rescue you!!!!).
Hugs, Sammy
P.S. the trees are BOOOOOOOOtiful!
I think you could climb a tree, but I think you should have a friendly fireman with a ladder on standby to help you back down again – just in case!
Can you sing along with your mom when she sings the song?
A great reminder! xx
Cute firemen are always a good idea to have handy ;)
So true!
Cupcake your mum is very much an intrepid explorer going out of her comfort zone..much like your desire to climb…we really are only limited by our ego I think…the fear of failing not flying :) hugs Fozziemum…pee ess I think you can climb..i am pretty sure Doc could too…it’s a terrier thing ;) xx