Living the Life of a Writer

Write every night.

We've talked a lot in class about living a writing kind of life, but what does that mean?

We know that good writers keep a writing notebook.  As Ralph Fletcher told us in the first chapter of A Writer's Notebook:  Unlocking the Writer Within You, this notebook is NOT a diary, and it is NOT where we respond to our reading.  This is where we capture our thoughts and ideas and the stories of our lives like critters in a ditch.  This is where we record our wonderings, emotions, and life experiences.  This is where we, writers, preserve our noticings about ourselves and the world around us.

As we get warmed up to this new way of living, some of you might find it useful to have a little help getting started.  Fortunately for us, there are all kinds of strategies and tools available for writers to use when we have trouble getting the gears in our mind started.

1.  In class this year, we've already generated many lists of topics, memories, and stories we could write about.  As you sit down to write at night, if you have a hard time hearing the words your pencil needs to write that night, scan over those first pages in your writing notebook and look for the idea that speaks to you.

2.  Many times, writers will not sit down to begin something new.  In fact, they may REwrite an entry they've already written before.  Now, you might be wondering, "Does that mean I should COPY it over again?"  No.  Every good writer knows that a story can be told many different ways.  So, if you feel like writing a story, but think you shouldn't because you've "already written that", don't worry.  Write it again!  This time, try to make it BETTER by using the new writing crafts, skills and techniques you've learned in class.

3.  Sometimes your writing might not be a draft.  On occasion, you might want to sit down and PLAN a story or piece of writing that you might write at a later time.  This week, we learned how to use a "trifold" to help us brainstorm details for the beginning, middle, and end of our story.  You could create your own from a page in your writer's notebook or a blank sheet of paper!

4.  Experiment with other genres of writing.  Sometimes, you might feel like working on a poem or an essay. Some reader/writers even decide to plan, research and write their own report at home!  Or, perhaps you love mysteries or fantasies.  This is a great opportunity for you to try your hand as an author!  Think about what you love about these books and model your writing style after your favorite authors.

5.  Finally, there may come a night, writers, when you just can't seem to find your words.  If that happens to you, consider responding to a prompt.  (You can find a daily writing prompt generator here.  We've also placed a link to this site in the sidebar.)

Writers, what are some topics you've been writing about in your notebooks at home?  What suggestions do you have for writers who might not know what to write?  What would you tell someone who feels "stuck" and can't get started?

Parents, 
We've explained to your fourth grade writer that part of their homework is to write nightly for at least 5-10 minutes.  This is draft writing, so errors in punctuation and spelling are expected.  Encourage them to spell words they should already know correctly, but continue to attempt to use bigger, more precise language and words, even if they aren't sure how they're spelled.    The average fourth grader should be able to produce approximately a full written page (in a composition notebook) within that time if they are writing the whole time.  If your child cannot produce a written page within this time, monitor their writing progress throughout the year.  Writing nightly will help them build the writing fluency that they might be lacking now.  As always, feel free to contact us with further questions.  

Miss Barron and Mrs. Nash