Living Life Twice

  This week, I changed over my writer's notebook. Once more with feeling fellow writers... Mixed emotions swirl around me when commencing a new writer's notebook. The prospect of filling the fresh pages brings with it anticipation, presenting as a prospect to be enthusiastically embraced. Honestly, after almost forty years of notebooks, my delight remains undiminished. To see newly generated words spread out across previously unmarked pages, delivers a buzz. The very act of capturing the raw stuff of my writing life, delivers order and a sense of accomplishment to my active mind. The harvesting of words and ideas adds to the energy for writing in this new place. I am akin to the farmer ploughing a new field.  I make a conscious decision to choose a notebook with different dimensions and qualities to its predecessor. Some writers select the same notebook each time a replacement is required. I embrace the notion of change along with the unique shape and form of the potentia...

The late Australian writer, Morris Lurie taught me how important it was to read my writing aloud. It was something he practiced and he shared this good advice most willingly. For many years I have been passing on to young writers I meet this same sage advice.  Another renowned  writer, Truman Capote said, ‘ To me the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the music the words make.’   This is why we must hear our words. We must ensure the music of our words is suitably melodic. Colum McCann in his wonderful book, ‘Letters to a Young Writer,’ suggests we should have a conversation with what we write. I totally agree.  As writers, we need to hear the sound our writing makes. We need to hear the repetition, the alliteration, the assonance and the onomatopoeia –all the wonderful notes. We must listen for the rise and fall. When you read your words aloud, you are able to hear them as a reader hears them. You get to hear the intent of the...

I revisited an old writing friend recently. I once again picked up Nancie Atwell’s ‘ Lessons That Change Writers’ and began rereading. I like to revisit authors I trust. Atwell’s messages about writing are laden with timeless value. I possess a number of books I regularly revisit and reread. Pearls of wisdom frequently reveal themselves to me when I do this. Nancie writes, ‘Writing is as much an act of reading over what we have written as it is drafting new writing.’ These words set me to thinking. A great many of our student writers are not consciously skilled where the act of rereading is concerned. For this reason, its value needs to be drawn to their attention. We need to demonstrate how, and why, rereading is an important skill. A skill to consciously add to their writing armoury. They need to see it explicitly modelled. They need to see it valued by a proficient writer. That way it is more likely to be adopted. A lack of consistent and conscious rereading is fr...

I am a frequent gatherer of words I wish I had written. Words from fellow writers, both inspiring and thought provoking. It is important for student writers to view this type of gathering as legitimate activity for them to pursue. My notebooks regularly reflect this passion for gathering word treasure.  When sharing my harvest of notebook entries, I frequently say things like: 'I love that line, let me tell you why.' 'Listen to the sounds of that magical sentence. Can you hear it too?' 'What great description of the setting. I can see that so clearly in my mind.' Emotional response to the writing of others is important to acknowledge within yourself, as a reader. It is also important to share these responses with less experienced readers and writers. When we are moved or provoked, by the words on the page, the writer has done their job. As writers, and teachers of writing, we need to develop a close relationship with those authors we admir...

 I am forever rereading writing pieces from my notebooks. I greatly appreciate how much rereading older entries assists me in discovering a new idea to feed this writing life addiction. Virginia Woolf defines rereading as a chance to find diamonds in the dust-heap. I find myself frequently covered in dust and constantly looking for precious gems. I am acutely aware that rereading is vitally important to me as a writer. Apart from the possibility of finding a new writing thread, I am also reliving the moment in time when I first captured a particular entry. On some occasions rereading connects me with previously over looked memories or ideas. So apart from reading to revise or proofread, I would also add rereading for the express purpose of excavating ideas. This rereading is akin to rummaging through a toy box as a child and discovering a lost treasure. It works best when I leave some time between the writing and the rereading. Often i deliberately chose an older noteb...

I am forever rereading writing pieces from my notebooks. It is amazing how often such rereading assists me to dig up a new idea to feed my writing addiction. Virginia Woolf defines rereading as a chance to find diamonds in the dust-heap. I am definitely covered in dust and constantly looking for precious gems. My numerous notebooks are a critical part of my reading library. The role they play in my writing life changes upon completion, but the influence is sustained.  I am acutely aware that rereading is vitally important to me as a writer. Apart from the possibility of finding a new writing thread, I am also reliving the moment in time when I first captured a particular entry. What a buzz. On some occasions rereading connects me with previously overlooked memories or ideas. So, apart from reading to revise or proofread, rereading for the express purpose of excavating fresh ideas is important too. This rereading is akin to rummaging through a toy box as a child and discov...

One of the great challenges we face as teachers of writing is learning to observe student writing with a view that encompasses instruction. The trick is to look closely at the writing of an individual to notice what that writer needs and at the same time consider other students who may be faced with the same direct need in the development of their writing.  Patterns of need frequently emerge as you confer with your students. When this happens you may find that you need to develop a teaching focus for the whole class, or a small group. It will not surprise you to learn that this is the perpetual challenge of the Writer’s workshop. Once your students are writing regularly and displaying increased stamina and engagement, you may find yourself asking questions – What happens now? What should I do to most effectively move their writing forward? What do I say to them when I join them for a writing conference? It is easy to look at a student’s writing and immediately jump o...

In my travels between schools I am seeing an increasing number of them engaging in critical conversations around the teaching of writing. They are striving to flush out the important issues that surround the work being done across the school to support writing development. A desire to develop agreed understandings and consistent practice regarding pedagogy are guiding these important moves. There exists in these schools a desire to ensure student writers think more deeply about what they are writing down; to write about the things that matter most to them, -those things closest to the heart. So voice and choice are becoming a centrepiece of the writing program. To foster the emergence of writing during the year there is an understanding that It is important to teach young writers how and where to find great ideas for writing. Ideas often lying deep inside the young writer. Teachers have embraced the importance of modelling such things to student writers...