By: Bruce Black,
on 6/14/2015
It took all day to write something that I didn’t even know I wanted to write. I sat at my desk for hours trying to think of something to write and at the end of the morning I left an unmarked sheet of paper on my desk, the same blank sheet that I'd started with when I sat down earlier. It was like diving and returning to the surface empty-handed. I hadn’t found any pearls on the sea
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By: Jan Mader,
on 10/12/2009
I was away competing at a horse show all weekend. When I got home I looked at the list of words in the comment section of the last writing activity we did together.
I am so excited by all the new and interesting words, I don't want to stop. So, now you look at the last activity again and let's keep going! Listen for more amazing, beautiful, rhythmic words or phrases for the next few days. List them for no other reason than the way they sound.
Let's make more music for our ears together!
Here's my new word: dollop
Here's my new phrase: Click clop goes the horse!
Your turn to add to our very own thesaurus of fascinating words!
By: Jan Mader,
on 8/16/2009
I just returned home from a wonderful weekend with two of my lifelong friends, Joan and Linda. You'd think my brain would be filled with ideas. It's not. So when I have a hard time concentrating on one idea, I just let my pencil or computer keys write about anything and everything.
This time I want you to help me! Please go to the comment section. Check the comment directly before where you will leave your comment and write the first thing that comes to your mind ...for example, if the comment you see is dog, your word might be cat. Words, sentences, or phrases are fine. Remember nothing you write is wrong. Everything you write is right!
I'll start us at the comment section. You'll see. Go play!
Teachers, this is a great way to break the ice the first few weeks of school. Your kids will look forward to this activity. Why? Because it's pure, simple, and spontaneous!
Writers, this activity will snap you out of writer's block. Later, you might want to chose one of these ideas and really use it to write something specific. Oh! By the way, if you want to have some more creative fun, head over to Sasha's blog for an ongoing story!
Okay. I'm ready. Go look at the comments!
By: Jan Mader,
on 7/11/2009
I visited Suzanne's blog yesterday and she listed five things that made her happy last week. Her words made me think. I'm big on lists. I think they get creativity flowing. They're quick. They're easy. They can be saved and used for future writing projects.
So this week will be our list week! For starters, list five things that will make you smile this week. Here's my list:
1. my kids, husband, sister or all (I combined them...couldn't help it)
2. my animals
3. a phone call
4. my friends
5. blogging with you!
What will make you smile this week? List five things! Please share.
Have fun thinking and writing. Remember that writing starts in your mind and heart. I'm smiling already!
By: Jan Mader,
on 7/4/2009
Happy 4th of July!
If you've been writing with me since January, you know all about braindropping. If you haven't, please take a minute to go back a look at the original post after you have fun with a mini version of a firecracking writing activity right now!
I braindrop with people of all ages. With young children (or when I'm short on time) we do it orally. I say a word and then rely on spontaneity. "Quick! Say the first word that comes to your mind when I say, summer," I tell the kids.
If you're really doing this game with a group of people, you play the same way. Never slow down. Quick! Quick! Quick! If you get to a person who doesn't have an immediate word, that person should say: "I can't think." Move to the next person faster than a race car that's in first place on the last lap. This is what makes braindropping fun.
Okay. Quick! What's the first word that comes to your mind when I say, "July 4th"? My word is the title of this post!
What a fun activity...I was out of town and missed your last post!
I scrapbook for POSTERITY. (I don't know why I like that word so much; it just sort of rolls off of my tongue!)
Serenity, Singularity, Serenade, Cicada.
I find words with 's' in the beginning are much nicer to say than other words.
rhythmically
tic toc the mice ran up the clock
ridiculous rhinoceros
Although I have to agree with JUST ME AND TEDDY BEAR that words that begin with "S" are nice....
smithereens.....
sensational
lulabye
probability
harmonious
peculiararities
sibilants
I love to tickle her tummy.
Butterfly.
Ladyslippers.
Tremendous orange pumpkins
Floccinaucinihilipilification
So fun to say (once you learn how!) I sometimes chant it to myself when I'm bored. It means "the action or habit of estimating something as worthless"
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.....I sing that phrase over and over, and my hubby catches the fever from me, so we both sound ridiculous together!
I love this idea, Jan.
:-)
predictability !!