Write about a coat that you have worn. Or a coat that you are wearing. Or might wear. You can write about a real coat or an imaginary one. Maybe you will write about a coat of paint or a coat of sweat. An imaginary coat would be any coat that you can think up. A coat that you could wear or would like to. Or a coat that couldn't exist anywhere except your … [Read more...] about So Many Coats
Memory
Ahead and Behind
Which stands out more in your mind, the things you must do or the things you have already done? When your mind is pleasantly wandering, are you more likely to daydream about your bucket list or dwell on your many accomplishments? Test yourself with this exercise. Draw a line a the top of the page to save room for a title. On the left side of the page, write the … [Read more...] about Ahead and Behind
Older and Younger by 10
Set up your page before you begin writing. Draw a line at the top where the title will go. Then draw a line that somehow divides the remainder of the page in half. If you draw a bubble somewhere in that line, you will have space for illustration or doodling. Write the word "Older" somewhere on one half of the page. On the other half, write the word "Younger." Who is 10 … [Read more...] about Older and Younger by 10
What Teachers Study
Years ago when I was teaching reading and writing to elementary school children, I often incorporated songs into our lessons. It was fun and helped many of the children a lot. Most small children haven’t internalized ideas like “can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” so singing comes easily to them. Some children learn melodies more readily than sentences. I found that children … [Read more...] about What Teachers Study
One Thing, Now Another
Everything used to be something else. Hold that thought. Begin with a sentence that uses this form: Where there was once ...., now there is ..... You can write about something tangible that has changed right there in front of you. You can write about the invisible shifting ideas in your imagination. What used to be different? The weather, your food preferences, the … [Read more...] about One Thing, Now Another