Living Life Twice Reaches 1000 Posts
Living Life Twice launched on June 9th 2008 and the first post was titled Memories Of Red Pen People. Since that time there have been almost 400 Slice of Life Stories and over 600 posts dealing with theory and practice surrounding literacy and more specifically -writing!
When I launched this blog way back in 2008, I wanted it to provide support for teachers of writing, but it has also served to provide additional meaning and reflection around my own writing life. I am most pleased that I continue to strive to fulfill these original aims.
In a time of increasing teaching mandates, scripted lessons, AI and pre-packed programs, support for teacher/writers who work tirelessly advocating for young writers is even more imperative. These brave educators, who by their actions present as risk takers to impressionable learners deserve recognition. I shall continue my support and be a voice for writer agency, voice, and choice.
In this post I am sharing a few snippets of writing wisdom encountered on this wonderful journey. I have shared many of them before. They still sing true and loud. These writers/educators are some of my unwitting collaborators. Hopefully their words will provide a little more of the vital sustenance we educators need to maintain our vital work.
'All the nuts and bolts of writing—including spelling, punctuation, and grammar, but more importantly the subtle style and structure of written discourse, the appropriate organization of sentences and paragraphs, and the appropriate selection of words and tones of voice—are learned through reading. The point deserves emphasis.-You learn to read by reading and you learn to write by reading.'
Just like a wallet, put things that are important in your notebook and put them where you, the writer chooses.'
'Nobody but a reader ever became a writer. We write by the light of every story we have ever read.'
'Be careful what you read, for that is what you'll write.'
‘Write yourself. Invite children to do something you're already doing...You can't ask someone to sing a duet with you until you know the tune yourself.’
‘Before you can write anything, you have to notice something.’
'When you read your writing aloud you hear the original intent. You discover rhythm, or the lack of it.'
'If the expectation of what we teach students about writing is changing, then so should our preparation. If we are to teach the craft of writing to students, and not just mechanics and spelling, most of us cannot rely solely on our own histories of writing instruction.'
‘Reading and writing are like siblings. But there’s no sibling rivalry. They are intimate collaborators. Active reading supplies language, ideas and structure you can use when you write. Reading fosters literacy and literacy enriches writing.’
'This writing life is all about faith in a fragment.'
'Writers go back to drafts not because the drafts are bad and need fixing, but to see what else is possible.'
'Words call you.You aren't content to merely take note of life swirling around you and rising within you. You have to have a say about it and talking isn't enough. Talk is evanescent. You want some permanency to your words, You want to examine what you say after you've said it. You want to revisit it, adjust it, improvei it, perhaps chuck it out and start anew. I value the opportunity to rethink and clarify.'
With Gratitude
For the comments and feedback which sustain me.
Alan j Wright
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