Baby steps. That’s the best way to teach and the best way to learn. I began thinking about this when I read a quote by Samuel Johnson: “The chief art of learning, as Locke has observed, is to attempt but little at a time. The widest excursions of the mind are made by [...]
Filed under: Teaching, Teaching Tips, Writing | Tagged: baby steps, summary writing, teaching summary writing, teaching with baby steps, teaching writing, writing summaries | 2 Comments »
Fifth Annual Geist Literal Literary Postcard Contest Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1, 2008 Guidelines: http://www.geist.com/postcard-contest Try to say the name of this contest three times fast. Seriously, this looks like a fun contest. Find a postcard picture to write about, write a flash fiction piece of up to 500 words about the postcard, and [...]
Filed under: Contests, Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged: geist literary, postcard contest, postcard writing contest, writing contest | Leave a Comment »
Lilith Magazine Sixth Annual Fiction Competition Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: November 1, 2008 Guidelines: http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm Lilith Magazine publishes articles, poetry, and fiction that has to do with the female Jewish experience. All writing should shed light on modern Jewish women. According to their website, they are looking for “unpublished stories with heart, soul, and chutzpah.” [...]
Filed under: Contests, Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged: fiction competition, fiction writing contest, lilith magazine, lilith writing, writing contest | 1 Comment »
52PerfectDays.com Travel Writing Contest Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: October 31, 2008 Guidelines: http://www.52perfectdays.com/2008-travel-writing-contest If you have a favorite place to visit, you can write about it and enter this contest. 52PerfectDays.com is looking for travel writing on little known destinations within the United States. In 750-1,000 words, describe your perfect itinerary for your favorite spot. [...]
Filed under: Contests, Contests October, Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged: 52 Perfect Days, travel writing, what I did on vacation, writing contest | Leave a Comment »
The vamp, the man hunter, the gold digger, whatever you call her, the seductress is a powerful female archetype. She is flexible, (and I do mean that metaphorically), so that she can be used in just about any character role. She makes an excellent villain, obviously, but used correctly, she can become a heroine [...]
Filed under: Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged: bad boy archetype, character archetypes, character development, seductress archetype, seductress character archetype | Leave a Comment »
Joy in the classroom isn’t a term you often hear. In fact, many people think of drudgery, unpleasantness, or a twelve-year prison sentence when they think of school. Yet, with the right teachers, learning can be a joyful and satisfying experience. If you make your classroom a joyful place, both you and your students will [...]
Filed under: Teaching, Teaching Tips | Tagged: joy in the classroom, joyful attitude, joyful classroom, joyful teaching | Leave a Comment »
How do some writers make characters leap off the page and into our hearts? By making us get to know the characters so well that we love them or hate them. To have a character that takes root in a reader’s heart, first he must take root in the writer’s heart. This can’t happen if [...]
Filed under: Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged: character archetype, characterization, get to know your characters, writing characters | Leave a Comment »
Yes, it’s getting close to Back to School Night. For many teachers, it’s a nerve wracking time. We’re going to be meeting the parents who love the little angels we teach, and we want to make the best impression possible. Yet, with a little bit of planning, it can be smooth sailing. At Back to [...]
Filed under: Teaching, Teaching Tips | Tagged: back to school night, back to school night checklist, Teaching, teaching tip | Leave a Comment »
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