Living Life Twice

Every writer has special sources for the ideas that spark their writing. In reality, ideas are waiting all around us. Those inspirational sparks are many and varied. They are hiding in plain sight, awaiting discovery. They saturate the world in which we operate daily. The writer must develop the skill of recognizing an idea’s potential and then shaping it to their particular vision. The challenge in the classroom is how to assist those beginning to discover writing, how best to harness ideas and express them in a multitude of ways. The inexperienced writer needs support in becoming a keen observer, an enthusiastic collector and an active listener in order to better capture these writing ideas. Stories begin to loom large in the lives of young writers. It is therefore important to nurture this growing sense of story while simultaneously creating opportunities for them to create their very own -real, imagined or blended. Storytelling Before the invention of the printing press, books were...

 A continuing narrative of my work in schools has been to promote the idea of writers as storytellers. I have always been a person who has enjoyed sharing stories and jokes, whether from first hand experience, or relating stories gifted across a lifetime. I encourage developing writers to tell their stories too. It presents as perfect rehearsal tool for any writer. Telling  stories before you write not only eliminates the notion of 'cold starts'- it frequently results in a much enhanced end product. Often a writer's story may be told many times before it emerges as written words. I often tell my stories many times before I commit them to the pages of my notebook.  It is in the telling that the story and the words are refined. In the end the reader benefits from these repeated tellings. Each of us has stories unique to our experience. It is folly not to see value in sharing them. It is here that we begin the process of living life twice. I once had a student comm...

  I am constantly pondering the art of storytelling... One of the continuing 'narratives' of my work in schools has been to promote the idea of writers as storytellers. I have always been a person who enjoys sharing stories and jokes, whether from first-hand experience, or relating stories gifted across a lifetime. These stories have greatly informed my writing. I always encourage developing writers to tell their stories, too. It is a rehearsal tool for the inexperienced writer. Telling their stories before they write not only eliminates the notion of cold starts, it frequently results in a much enhanced end product. The story is well established in the inexperienced writer's mind before it emerges on the page. Often, a writer's story may be told many times before it emerges as written words. I often tell my stories numerous times before I commit them to the pages of my notebook.  It is in the telling of the story the words are refined, sharpened. Ultimately, it is ...

In recent days I have been pondering the art of storytelling... A continuing narrative of my work in schools is to promote the idea of writers as storytellers. I have always been a person who has enjoyed sharing stories and jokes, whether from first hand experience, or relating stories gifted across a lifetime. I always encourage developing writers to tell their stories too. It is a rehearsal tool for the inexperienced writer. Telling their stories before they write not only eliminates the notion of cold starts' it frequently results in a much enhanced end product. Often a writer's story may be told many times before it emerges as written words. I often tell my stories many times before I commit them to the pages of my notebook.  It is in the telling that the story and the words are refined. The reader benefits from the repeated tellings. Each of us has stories unique to our experience. It is folly not to see value in sharing them. I once had a student comment a...