So here’s a quick update on my writerly life. Summer with seven kids at home massively derailed my schedule. No surprises there, although somehow it surprises me every year. Now I’m back scribbling away while they’re filling their heads with knowledge at school. My top five tasks for this fall are (drumroll please…)
5. Teach Creative Writing Classes for 4th and 5th graders. This is my second season with the Writers’ Club at my kiddos school. Once again, it is a blast. Mostly. This year, there’s a couple loose wires in the classroom. And, no, I’m not actually referring to wiring. These keep sparking shouts of glee and bursts of creativity. Sometimes they even put some of it into their stories. 😉 I’m hoping to compile a booklet of their writing. If nothing else, these kids are learning to value creativity and to value their own ability to create. A worthy goal.
4. Give Writing Presentations. This year, to my immense delight, I was asked to give writing presentations for two fifth grade classes, focusing on writing poetry and children’s books. I also hosted a poetry slam. I gotta say, these kids are amazing and I love the chance to work with them.
3. Attend a Kansas City Writing Conference. I know, I know, this is something of a betrayal to Oklahoma. But I couldn’t make it to the OWFI conference this year due to a little thing called high school graduation. Not mine, but thanks for the flattering assumption. My son graduated with honors and gave the valedictorian speech. Not a day for Momma to miss. But next year, OWFI, here I come!
2. Complete Storied Women Course. My good friend, Mechel, steered me toward this course. It’s online and FREE! We’re both taking it in anticipation of co-authoring a novel together. So far (3 weeks in), the course is the bomb (My little brother’s slang for awesome). I’ve learned tons about developing voice in my fiction and using characters’ inner yearning to drive plot. I’m sure it’s not to late to start, so if you love to write, give it a whirl! Send me a message through the program if you do. 🙂
1. Write! I’m working on a few new short stories and am super excited to start the new novel with Mechel. We’ll be hammering out the plot this weekend! More on that to come.
What are your favorite writing tasks? Please share!
