12 Easy-Peasy Writing Secrets, or How to Find Ideas

I get to talk with 4th graders this week about writing. 

As they especially want to know where writers get their ideas, 

I thought I should make a list. 

I decided to share it with you, too. 

This isn't the quantitative, end-all list of idea-catchers, mind you

because, as all writers know, ideas can be found....

• 1. At the bottom of the dryer
• 2. In snatches of conversation 
• 3. In the waiting room at the doctor's office 
• 4. Under the couch, next to the monster's eyeball
• 5. Inside a pair of Seven League Boots
• 6. Buried under the witch's bones in the graveyard
• 7. In a fistful of stolen pirate gold
• 8. In the pocket of the Wrong Coat at the Lost & Found
• 9. Behind a secret staircase in the old castle
• 10. In the next chapter after the final chapter of the last book you read

Of course, this list goes on 

and on

and on...

Writer friends, where do you find your ideas?

Any special plants or potions or special tricks

 that keep your ears and eyes 

ready for your next idea?

Teachers, you are welcome to use this freebie printable as a teaching resource.  Feel free to share links to this page. 

To use this resource, just drag the image to your desktop and print. 

Thank you for keeping this original content credited to its creator.  Cheers!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Words still glomm together in my mouth
like lumps of peanut butter.
I speak to people and wonder if they notice, too.
Can one be socially stuttered, but robustly well?
Because I am so alive, so well 
since the surgery.

Maybe these word troubles are writer's block,
part of my recovery from troubles;
an awakening to the idea that life is short.
that more than publishing stories,
I want to love.
to make it count wherever I am.

I still want to write, but my words are hiding.
So...
I'm taking an art class.
 
And oh, what a class!
It's UCSD extension course llustrating Books For Children
with renowned book designer Joy Chu.
And it's amazing.

Maybe I'll find a back door to writing this way,
through visual storytelling.
Or not.

Maybe I'll just enjoy it -
watering a different part of my brain.
creating art.
(happy sigh)


And how does the rest of this garden grow?
How is that sacred dirt of every day?
 
We have a lot of dirt lately.
Lots of squiggly worms that I don't take pictures of -
like scowly faces, and kids throwing fits,
messy hair,


















piled-up laundry,
crumbs under the table.

But how can I not be thankful?
Even for the wormy parts.
There is less to show from this garden now.
but more to feel.
more to soak in and wiggle around.

more family days.
paint and shaving cream.

 a new outlook for Pip!

Sugar Snack turning five!

Not much of a gardener in reality,
still I will tend this sacred dirt,
I will water my back doors to writing, 
and see what wriggles.
what grows.

What are the back doors in your creative life?

What are your cover crops?

When you get stuck, discouraged or allover uninspired,
what do you plant?

How do you water your creative self?

Cooking class? Archery lessons? Trapeze?
Balloon animals? Book club?

My friends,
I thank you for your friendship and patience. 
for the many ways you make this world beautiful.
through your actions and special talents.
for your unique words and work.
for the nurture of your families and friends.
for the many creative ways you give of yourself to the world.

May your garden grow and grow
and grow,
with lots of good dirt
and wiggles. 

Another bonus from my new class? Library finds!

Here are some of my latest faves:

Journey, by Aaron Becker (Won a well-deserved Caldecott Honor this year!)
Mr. Wuffles, by David Weisner (Another Caldecott Honor winner)
Sea of Dreams, by Dennis Nolan

Flora's Very Windy Day, by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan

Harry & Hopper, by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Freya Blackwood
Missing Mommy, by Rebecca Cobb 

On a Beam of Light, A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky
Nelson Mandela, by Kadir Nelson
Bon Appetit!, the delicious life of Julia Child, by Jessie Hartland
Martin de Porres, the Rose in the Desert, by Gary Schmidt, illustrated by David Diaz

Valentiny Prints

 Here's a new batch of Valentine freebies, just for you.

Right-click on the image, and print, willy-nilly.

Add a page of Valentines to color, for your crayon-happy crew.

Enjoy!
This is original art, by me.
It's free for your own personal or classroom use,
but not to be resold.
If you're sharing this, please credit me and/or link this page as the original source.
Thanks for the respect!





This post is linked to Tatertots and Jello.

Confessions of a Math Shirker

Yesterday was Pi Day. 

Did you know?

We don't know our Pi days, our prime numbers,  

or the square root of umpty-three. 

Is that such a bad thing?

PIE Day, now, that would be memorable.

Not a hard day to celebrate. Yum!

Or Color Day. 

Or Dictionary Day! 

But this post is really about confessions of a math shirker... 

and resolutions.

It's one of my New Year's Resolutions, see:

A resolution to add math as one adds vitamins, 

but to add it creatively, 

as one adds air and water and beauty. 

(How does one bring in math beautifully? )

Ideas, anyone?

Measuring snow

The kids loved sticking rulers in the snow
and recording their data in a soggy notebook.

Birdy - a little brown bear at the start of our adventures, 

and polar bear by the end.

Did they absorb a love of math?

I don't know. I got distracted making lunch. 

Popcorn math

We added handfuls of popcorn together, and ate our sums.


Jellybean Trees

This one was a big deal,
as we don't see much sugar around here.
I wrote out rows of addition (fact families)
that equalled 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The girls had to write out the answer,
then put that number of jellybeans in the square.
Reward: eating jellies!

Math Pillow


For our pal Kenna's birthday, we made
a Wee Wonderfuls flannel dolly pillow.

It works like an old-fashioned flannel board, only cooler,
because clothes get stashed in the back pocket and well,
because it's just so dang cute.

(Her spa outfit. With cucumbers.)

The girls loved it.

So I thought to myself, "Hey! Why not numbers?"

Perhaps not as fashion-friendly,
but when they get tired of all that arithmetic,
(or, dare I say...bored?)
they can take a nap on it.

And Now.... 
for the Winner of the A-Z Mystery Contest!

For this Worthy entry :

ONE, ELEGANT, AZALIA, FLOWING, AZIMUTHALLY 

(Azimuthally!)

I choose Jan Morrison, intuitive writer pal - 

for her clever gusto. 

Jan, I can only imagine how enjoyable and mind-blowing Scrabble games with you must be! 

I shall contact you for mailing details soon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

And Happy Pi Day! 

Playing Hearts

The King of Hearts and the Queen of Hearts 

Went out to a soirée

They came for tea and a fine romance, 

Then danced in the Boureé

But oh, the King, he sloshed his tea, 

And slipped on the splash when he came to dance

He tripped the Queen, who gasped and fell, 

And then - he ripped his pants - 

A great, wide gash for the world to see  - 

His under-wonders, yes, oh yes!

A great, wide gash for the world to see, 

His garishly red underpants.

So the King and Queen, they scampered out, 

And as they departed, they turned to shout:

“It’s not a party that we want; it’s not a fine soiree!

But a cup without holes and a nice game of bowls

A sup without mockers or giggledy gawkers

That's all that any of us can ask: 

A dinner and dance, a small romance

But nary a snort if we should split

The seat of our royal pants."

I thought it would be fun to do a series inspired by playing cards.

These are India ink and watercolor on Canson paper.

I made the picture bones into free, printable coloring pages.

You can gussy them up to your heart's content,

or give them to your pals for Valentine's Day!



Some of our Favorite Royal Reads:

from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,
illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

from Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Brigette Barrager

Princess Hyacinth, the Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated -

by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith

Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Silk Princess - Charles Santore

Aida - Leontyne Price, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters - John Steptoe 

Twelve Dancing Princesses - Ruth Sanderson

Twelve Dancing Princesses - Brigette Barrager

Rapunzel - Paul O. Zelinsky

Rumplestilskin - Paul O. Zelinsky

The Sleeping Beauty - Trina Schart Hyman