Writing Prompt: Z is for ZODIAC SIGN

The Is of Writing: Inspirational Writing Prompt

Review Zodiac signs. Choose a birth date. Create a horoscope for a character. Write one for today, tomorrow, and yesterday. Where does your character read his/her horoscope? Or write about a horoscope your character read in the past that he/she is remembering. Why is it important years later?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Z is for…

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Inspirational Resource: Y is for YOGA (Breathe, Stretch, Write by Sheree Fitch)

Use Sheree Fitch’s book Breathe, Stretch, Write meant to inspire by combining yoga and stretches with writing. Learn how to relax, focus on breathing and movement, and then discipline the mind to free write on suggested topics. Ideal in the classroom for teaching children or for anyone searching for a writing resource, this book is worth checking out.

Visit Sheree Fitch on her website.

Check out this review of Breathe, Stretch, Write by Jocelyn A. Dimm in CM Magazine.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Y is for…

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X is for Project X Series for Kids

Designed with 21^st Century children in mind, the Project X series is meant to appeal to boys (but the girls enjoy them too!).

Watch the video clip on the Oxford University Press website dedicated to Project X.

Then read the free ebooks for ages 3-11 for a sense of what appeals to the children of today.  As a teacher, I can say that boys and girls from ages 6-7 love these fiction stories.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: X is for…

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Writing Prompt: W is for WEIRD and WACKY

Writing Prompt: W is for WEIRD and WACKY

The Is of Writing: Inspirational Writing Prompt

Think of something weird, wacky, odd, unusual or everyday. Then imagine it growing in a garden. Did you plan and plot out your garden, then plant a seed only to find something else grew instead? What is it? Or did you come across this garden when wandering through the woods, along the country side, or during vacation? How did it come to be there? What is growing in it?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: W is for…

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Inspirational Photograph and Writing Prompt: V is for VANISH, VANQUISH, VIOLENCE and VICTORY

Is of Writing:      Inspirational Photograph and Writing Prompt

As inspiration for a minor or major setting, use this photograph and combine it with one or all of the words below to write a scene or develop some background information for a new plot.

Vanish             Vanquish         Violence          Victory

A to Z Blogging Challenge: V is for…

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U is for Ultimate: Who is the Ultimate Writer?

The Is and Os of Writing: Fellow Writers & Authors, Inspirational Blogs and Blogs on Organization

In this day and age, writers – whether they are published or not – are promoting themselves by developing their writing platform. Technology allows people from all over the world to view a blog or website, read samples of writing, order published works and converse with writers.

Here are some of the writers and authors that I have been following:

• Katie Davis – Author-Illustrator Katie Davis
• Joanna Penn (J.F Penn) – The Creative Penn 
• Kristi Holl – Writer’s First Aid
• Hunter Emkay – Hunter’s Writings

Who do you think is the ULTIMATE writer? What writers are you following? Please leave a comment below or leave a link back to your blog – where (if you choose) you can re-blog this post, include a list of who you think is the Ultimate Writer and list links to their blog, webpage or sites for others to enjoy.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: U is for…

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Inspirational Photos and Inspiration Boards: T is for TURKEYS

Inspirational Photos and Inspiration Boards: T is for TURKEYS

The Is of Writing: Inspiration

Thanksgiving may be a long way off yet but use these pictures as inspiration to help you write about a memory, create a short story or design a picture book.

I created this Turkey Inspiration Board after reading the steps in How to Make an Inspiration Board, posted on Squidoo. Although I used HP Photosmart Essential, the directions found under the heading “Creating your collage” were fairly universal and easy to adapt to my program.

See Inspiration Board: Step by Step for directions on how to create an inspiration board with your photographs using Google Documents.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: T is for…

The larger images of this mother turkey and her babies can be found on Facebook

Please comment by sending me an email (Denise) before checking out the other blog posts for the A to Z April Blogging Challenge at the link:

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S is for SPRING CLEANING: Attacking the Desk Mess!

By Denise Reashore

Do you feel like you have too much stuff – we won’t say junk – tidbits of information,  jot notes of a dream, setting descriptions, unfinished stories, elements of a complex plot, and snatches of dialogue cluttering your desk, shelves and drawers? Instead of washing walls, wash your hands of stress caused by a messy writing space.

Try these 8 simple steps:

1)      Create an inspiration board on which to tack photographs, colour samples, descriptions, and bits of dialogue or any relevant information that belongs with your current project.

2)      Stand writers’ magazines in a magazine rack for easy access.

3)      Sticky notes of all sizes are great for when inspiration makes a splash – clean up by tossing them into a colourful bucket that you can put on display.

4)      Check yard sales, second-hand stores, or schools and businesses that are closing for used filing cabinets and create files to store your work in progress.

5)      Use magnets to hold schedules or notes to the front or side of your filing cabinet where they are visible and easily accessible.

6)      Keep note pads, sticky tabs, and to do lists in a designer box or tin you received with a birthday or Christmas gift.

7)      Stack storage baskets on a top shelf to hold research and writing on a particular topic.

8)      Use a decorative box or basket that appeals to your creative side as an EVERYTHING box, store items out of sight and put them away in their proper place at a later time (preferably when you are not writing).

Spring cleaning doesn’t only apply to the house. It may be time to organize your writing space for ease of access and peace of mind.

Related Articles:

HOW TO: Make an Inspiration Board  (theartofjordan.blogspot.ca)

How to Make an Inspiration Board (supergirlscheme.blogspot.ca)

Examples of how to store with baskets (bing.com)

Decorative Storage Boxes (interiordesign.lovetoknow.com)

Simple Storage for Less (bhg.com)

A to Z Blogging Challenge: S is for…

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Inspirational Photo and Writing Prompt: R is for Rooster’s Love Classified Ad

R is for Rooster’s Love Classified Ad

Is of Writing: Inspirational Photograph & Writing Prompt

In the first or third person, write a love classified ad for an animal.

Love Classified Ads

Handsome Bantam player tired of roaming, looking to turn over a new leaf and settle with a fine lady. He enjoys bugs, crowing, dirt baths, and leisurely walks around the neighbourhood. He is a real traffic stopper! Harold, finding the coniferous trees adjacent to lot 3107 a bit too breezy, moved into new lodgings last fall. He settled for a darker home with more acreage, hiding out in a grove of trees farther from the flow of traffic but within easy reach of a garden and constant supply of bird seed. Then winter struck. Harold does not like snow! With clear intellect, Harold realized he was ready for another move. Harold has now taken up residency in a one story, olive green shelter with lots of available space. He is searching for roommates who would be willing to share the rent fee by clearing the garden of pesky little insects and chasing off wild turkeys. They would need to be willing to share the surrounding estate with a friendly canine. Harold believes in an “open door policy” so roommates would need to be in a state of awareness and have a sense of self-preservation. Ladies with broods are not unwelcome.
If interested, contact RoaringRooster@cockadoodledo.com.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: R is for…

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Looking Back: Q is for QUOTES

Is of Writing: Inspirational Quotes

It is time to VOTE! Which quote or quotes speak to you as a writer or a reader? Which one(s) inspired or caused that ah-ha moment? (Note: these quotes were all previously posted on this blog and can also be found under Quotes in the Categories list at the bottom of this page.

Please leave the # for the corresponding quote(s) and your comment below. 

1.      It takes courage to do what you want. Other people have a lot of plans for you.

-Joseph Campbell

2.      Writing something down, I often feel that I am “making room” inside my own mind so that new thoughts can arise or so that my mind can rest.

-Stephanie Dowrick

3.      …to be able to write consistently, this is a skill you absolutely must develop.

-Kristi Holl

4.      Just be yourself; you are wonderful.

-WING’S fortune cookie

5.      Talents that are not shared are not talents.

-WING’s Fortune Cookie

6.      Talent is the assumptions we make about other people’s abilities that keep us from developing our own.

– Barbara Baig

7.      It’s not about how talented you are – and it’s not who you know – that gets you published. Most often the published writers are simply those writers who refuse to quit.

– Kristi Holl

8.      Creativity is key to feeling alive, to meeting situations freshly even when things are not going as brilliantly as you may want. It’s key to doing things, thinking about events, facing life with some originality, using your senses – in your own way and style.

-Stephanie Dowrick

9.      Passion drives the popularity of blogs. Share your passion and enthusiasm, and readers are sure to be impressed.

-Robert Lee Brewer

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Q is for…

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