What's the Word Wednesday! Incidents - Incidence

in·ci·dence

 [in-si-duh ns]

noun

1. The rate or range of occurrence or influence of something, especially of something unwanted: the high incidence of heart disease in men over 40.

2. A falling upon, affecting, or befalling; occurrence: The incidence of murder that Sunday afternoon shocked the sleepy village.

in·ci·dent

 [in-si-duh nt]

noun

1.

an individual occurrence or event
An occurrence or event that interrupts normal procedure or precipitates a crisis: an international incident.

Write a story about an international incident or an incidence that shocked a sleepy village.
NOTE: Write about something other than murder. What else can be shocking?

Storee Wryter is working on a mystery. What are you working on?

Friday Inspiration - How bad Can You Be?

To keep readers revved up, make things worse for you main character, (preferably much worse) before things get better.

Outline of what will happen in your story. One way to do it is to think of your story as mountain, like this:

Beginning – Introduce your characters and the setting

*Start climbing – Something happens to your character to start the action.– a problem, a dramatic event, a mystery. 

* Introduce more than one problem.  Two or three work best to keep interest  growing.

Resolution – The problem(s) get resolved.

End – The threads of the story are tied up.

 

Friday Inspiration - Carving Your Story

"Carving a story is just the opposite of carving a turkey; cut away everything that isn't essential and keep the carcass."

Storee loves turkey and she loves to read. She also has a friend, Jim Calder, who is a Master Carver. She is getting a lot of ideas for future stories from today's inspiration.  Are you?

Write a story then set it aside for a while. Then edit it to cut away words and information that aren't needed to keep the story moving. 

Share your story here! Happy writing.


Links to Books of interest:
Thanks to Tank by Maureen Howard (A Great Turkey Story)
http://www.communityvoicemedia.com/thankstotank/index.htm

So You Thought You Couldn't Cut It, A Beginner's Guide to Wood Carving by Jim Calder and Jen Coate
http://www.communityvoicemedia.com/jimcaldercarvingbook.html

What's the Word Wednesday? - Adverb

An adverb is a word that describes an action verb.

An adverb can describe how an action happens.

example: Jason quickly read the book.

How did Jason read? Quickly.

An adverb can describe when an action happens.

example: Emma left early.

When did Emma leave? Early.

An adverb can describe where an action happens.

example: Lily and Ben played here.

Where did Lily and Ben play? Here.

 

Write a story that includes one or more adverbs. Storee and her pets say, "Happy Writing!"

Storee's Tuesday Writing Tip

Where are we?

 

Where your story takes place is important.

Is it day or night? What’s the weather like? Is the action taking place inside or out? Are you in another land? On a different planet? Is it comfortable and familiar like your home or the barn where your favorite horse is kept?

How to describe a scene using Show vs. Tell

Tell: The house was dark and scary looking.

Show:  Nobody liked to walk past the house on Mulberry Street. The broken glass in the front windows glinted like tiger fangs in the dim streetlight. An eerie wind blew shreds of rotted curtains through the gaping holes. Blood-red threads of drapery waved an  invitation to anyone who happened by.  Come in, the sagging walls seemed to whisper. The party is about to begin….

Let’s practice: Write a paragraph or more describing a place you want to include in your story. Use words that create an image of the feeling you want the reader to understand without saying it.

 www.storeewryter.com

Storee's Tueday Writing Tip

What a Character!

Your characters:

Make them real. Make them funny or sad or strong or weak but make them real.

Write a paragraph describing someone you know. Show how that person looks without using describing words like fat or skinny. Is he good or bad? How do we know that?
Or
Write about an animal. Without saying  if it’s a dog or fish or a horse or a lizard can you describe it so readers can tell not only what it is but what it looks like?

Example
Josh is tall, kind of skinny and he’s nice.
Becomes:
Josh was lucky.  He could spot Mrs. Heeney’s weird grey bun bobbing down the hall long before the other kids  knew she was in the building. Of course he had watch out for low hanging branches when they rode their bikes along the creek but it seemed more than a fair trade to the two boys when she was on prowl.

 “Duck! Josh whispered out of the corner of his mouth, if she sees you you’ll have detention for sure!”

 “Oh man! I should’ve finished my homework last night instead of watching that old vampire movie,” Tim whined. “Hide me!” he said, trying to ease behind his friend.

“Like that’s going to work,” Tim’s sister snickered. “As if you can hide a beach ball behind a flag pole!”

The second version takes a lot more words but it's more interesting to read. Think about the characters in the books you like to read. Look at how the author describes them.

Recommended reads: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Peter and the Star Catchers.

 

Super Writing Prompt

Write a story including the following information:

Place: The Super Bowl

Quote: Where are all the ballerinas when you need them?

Object: A hot dog.

Online Writing Workshop for Kids and Teens

INSTRUCTOR: Bobbi Carducci

Open to beginning writers of all ages

To enroll click here: http://www.youngvoicesfoundation.org/onlinewritingworkshop.html

DATE: February 4 - March 25, 2013
LIMITED CLASS SIZE: Enroll Now Fee: $45.00 per student payable via Paypal or check. (Fee must be received prior to the start of the workshop)

How Does it Work? Students will log on to a specified Yahoo group to attend classes. Workshop materials are posted by the instructor once a week. Students post their responses on the workshop site or send them directly to the instructor at any time during the day or night via an email address that will be provided on the first day of the workshop. Parents will have access to workshop materials at all times and may assist their child to access the lessons.

Instructor: Bobbi Carducci - Published Author, Writing Instructor, Young Voices Foundation Director. More information about Bobbi and her writing can be found at www.communityvoicemedia.com

To enroll click here: http://www.youngvoicesfoundation.org/onlinewritingworkshop.html

Course Schedule:

Session 1 - February 4, 2013
I want to write but how do I get started. (Where do you get your ideas?)

Session 2 - February 11, 2013

I have an idea. What's next? (Figuring out what happens when and who does it.)

Session 3 - February 18, 2013

Where are we? (Using time and location to set the mood.)

Session 4 - February 25, 2013

How many characters do I need and who are they?

Session 5 - March 4, 2013

Let's talk about it. (Who says what and how and why they say it is important.)

Session 6 - March 11, 2013

Help! I'm stuck. What to do when your story stalls.

Session 7 - March 18, 2013

Is it over yet? (How to write a good ending.)

Session 8 - March 25, 2013

Know your craft. (The importance of grammar, spelling, punctuation.)

This workshop is intended for beginning writers actively seeking to improve their craft. Participants will be encouraged to share portions of their work in progress with the instructor and the group on the message board.  To enroll click here http://www.youngvoicesfoundation.org/onlinewritingworkshop.html

Comments and suggestions will be monitored by the instructor before being posted to ensure they are polite and constructive in nature.

What's the Word Wednesday - Warn -Worn

warn, worn

warn (WORN) (verb)

To tell someone to do or not to do something in order to avoid danger or trouble: "Parents warn their children to be careful when crossing streets."

 

 

worn (WORN) (verb)

Having been affected by wear or use: "Matilda has worn the same shoes for five years!"

Paula tried to warn Bill that his shoes have holes in the soles. Actually, it looks as if he has worn them out.

Write a story using the words warn and worn. And don't forget, people can become worn out too!

I hope that doesn't happen to you!

 

 

 

What's the Word Wednesday - Dangling Participle

 

 

Beware the dangling participle. It changes the meaning of the sentence.

After falling from the tree, Jane picked up the apple.

In the sentence above, Jill fell from the tree. Ouch!

Jane picked up the apple after it fell from the tree.

In the sentence above, the apple fell from the tree and then Jane picked it up. That's correct!

Write a story about what Jane did with the apple after it fell from the tree.

Did she settle for just one? Did she pick more and bake a pie? Where is the tree?

Is it a magic apple? Have you ever dangled from a tree?

 

Use your imagination and have fun writing.

Welcome Guest Author - Clara Bowman-Jahn

Clara Bowman-Jahn

 

Hi Storee,

So glad I could stop in and visit with you. You are an inspiration to me. I love your book and writing prompts. I understand that you would like a story about how I started writing. I have written since the eighth grade. My mother copied quotes from books she read and I started doing that, too, when I started reading books that impressed me.

Once upon a time in school I read books that impressed me and I started copying quotes from them about what I thought was earth shattering. Insights the characters had that were insights to me. Then one day I started writing my own feelings. I had been angry with my older brother and had no one to talk to about it. I started journaling about that and have never stopped. My journals are in a room I call my office. They are spiral notebooks full of emotion and ideas. They fill one and half filing cabinets. I have them organized according to year.  

The time I started writing was when I changed from just journaling to a character named Annie in a children’s book about four years ago. I was sick and wanted to record the birds outside my window. It was just coincidence that made me write it into a character instead of just journaling. During the time I was recording the “times or o’clocks" that the bird came out, I realized I wanted this to be a children’s book and after I had written it I began asking my kindergarten teacher sister questions about it. She really is the one who made it a reality. She encouraged me and re read it a hundred times giving me help with revisions. Without her support and encouragement and her saying I could write a children’s book I would not have continued.  

 Around this same time I had wanted to make my journals a public writing like a memoir but didn’t know that was what it was called. My writing education began then. I began to be interested in writing something more than just journaling. It was a sudden and unexpected turn of events. I had been a knitter until then. I knitted sweaters for everyone in the family and now I write. I still journal. But with a twist. I journal for someone else besides my self. I’ve included the reader.

Writing Prompt:  Write down your feelings the next time you are angry or especially happy. See what happens.  

 

http://www.eTreasurespublishing.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cbowmanjahn 

https://twitter.com/#!/CBoJahn 

http://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/ 

Welcome Guest Author, Dixiane Hallaj

Dixiane Hallaj

When I first read about Storee Wryter, I thought she was a lot like I was as a young girl.  I always loved to read and I always wanted to write stories.  There was one big difference between Storee and myself.  Storee sat down and wrote her stories.  I just started them and got discouraged.  Pretty soon I stopped writing because I thought I wasn’t any good at writing because I never wrote any good stories. 

It was many years before I realized that the only reason I didn’t write any good stories was because I didn’t sit still long enough to finish them!  Now I have three novels published, and have received awards for my fiction and non-fiction writing.  I still remember the thrill I felt when I held my first book in my hand, and I still think about all the good stories that were never written because I didn’t think I could do it.

I started writing about families like my own.  Have you ever tried to write a story about someone in your family?  Has your little brother or sister done anything that might be part of a funny story?  Have your parents every given you a surprise that would make a good story?  Has your grandmother or grandfather ever told you a story about something that happened long ago?  I’ll bet you could write a really good story about your family, but you’ll never know if you don’t give it a try—and you’ll never feel the thrill of seeing your very own story in print if you don’t sit down and write it.

Writing Prompt: Write a story about you or someone in your family.

Have some fun. Include one or both of the following words: refugee, Lola.

Thank you, Dixiane Hallaj!

Books by Dixiane Hallaj: Born a Refugee, Refugee Without Refuge, It's Just Lola.

 

Born a Refugee

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1450513948

Refugee Without Refuge

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456486055

It’s Just Lola

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478119470

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's the Word Wednesday - Accept, Except

Accept is a verb and it means to receive. You accept a package from the delivery man. You accept a prize when you win the writing contest.

 
Except is usually a preposition and means to exclude. I like all vegetables except peas. They are too squishy.

Except can also be a verb meaning to exclude. Please except me from the decorating committee.

 

Write a story using the words accept and except.  If you’d like to share your writing, post it on the blog for a chance to receive a book as a gift from Storee Wryter.

Teachers: For a FREE e-book copy of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog send an email request to: bobbi.carducci@youngvoicesfoundation.org 

www.storeewryter.com

 

Pizza, Texting, and Horseshoes!

Write a story including the following:

Place: Pizza Parlor

Quote: "Can you believe this text message?"

Object: Horseshoe

Navy Seals - Writing Prompt

According to information on their official website:
"Navy SEALs are a unique breed of warrior who conduct special operations in any environment, but who are uniquely trained and equipped to operate from, around and in maritime areas. SEALs take their name from the environments in which they are trained to operate: sea, air and land. Their small highly trained teams usually work quietly at night conducting some of the nation's most important missions. SEALs are constantly deployed throughout the world to protect national interests."


Write a story about a Navy Seal and a successful mission he takes part in.

When writing your story consider the following:  

• Who is he?
• Where did he grow up?
• Why did he become a Navy Seal?
• What is his mission?
• What special training does he need?
• What problems will he encounter and how will he solve them?

Your story can be written for very young children, teens, or adults. Try adapting your story for various audiences. For extra points, insert humor in your story.

For more information on Navy Seals go to  http://www.sealswcc.com/seal-default.aspx

 

 



What's the Word Wednesday. ALOT is Not a Word

ALOT is NOT a word.

Think of it this way - You don't write afew or adozen. You don't have asecond helping of pie. However, you can have more if there is a lot left over.


Writing prompt:

Write a short story wherein someone has a lot of something.
Does your mother have a lot of patience?
Did you save a lot of money for college?
Do like enjoy writing a lot?

Teachers: To receive a free e-book version of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog, simply send an email request via this blog or to bobbi.carducci@youngvoicesfoundation.org
  www.storeewryter.com

 

 

 

That's Debatable - Writing Prompt

 

Debate   

To discuss a question by considering opposed arguments

 

Last night people all across America tuned in to watch the Presidential Debate. The purpose for the debate was to clarify their position on issues important to voters and to convince people that their viewpoint is correct.

 

Write a story wherein two of the main characters have very different beliefs on a subject important to both of them.

 

Suggestions: Use dialogue to move the story forward.  Show how the characters feel about the subject by the way they say things. Do they stand straight or do they lean toward one another and use gestures?

 

 

For Teachers: To request a FREE electronic version of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog contact Storee via this blog or via email at bobbicarducci@youngvoicesfoundation.org

 

 

 Mom's Choice Gold Award Winner and Named A Best Dog Book for Young Readers

 

 

 

What's the Word Wednesday - Too Many Twos

Two -Too-To!

 

Say the words fast and they almost sounds like a train whistle.

 

Do you find that your writing goes off the track as you struggle to make the right choice? Never fear. The solution to your problem is here.

 

Two  is a number. One, Two, Three.  May I have two cookies?

 

Too can be an adverb as in, "Billy has a stomach ache. He ate too many cookies.

or

Too can be a synonym for the word also.  Jenny wanted some cookies, too.

 

To can be used as a preposition as in, "Billy went to the store. His favorite cookies were on sale." 

or

To can be an infinitive phrase as in, "Jenny planned to eat more vegetables in the future.

 

Write a story using the words two, too, and to.  Storee would love to hear from you. Post a note about your writing, ask questions, or share your writing any time. 





 

 

For Teachers: To receive a FREE electronic version of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog, send an email request via your school email via this blog or directly to me at bobbi.carducci@youngvoicesfoundation.org



The Hunger Games - Writing Prompt

Turn to any page in the book, THE HUNGER GAMES and copy the fifth sentence from the top.

Use that  sentence to begin a new story. Share your story on the blog.
Or
Just for fun, copy the sentence to the blog as inspiration for others.

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023483#_

For Teachers: To receive a FREE electronic version of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog, send an email request via your school email via this blog or directly to me at bobbi.carducci@youngvoicesfoundation.org

Are You Ready for Some Football?

 

Write a Story About Football  

Some things to consider when plotting your story:

Where and when does the game take place?
Who are the players? 
What's at stake if your team loses.
Why do the characters behave the way they do?

 

 

Storee says,

 

GO STEELERS!

 



http://www.steelers.com/

Teachers: Go to www.storeewryter.com for details on how you can receive a FREE electronic copy of the award winning book for young readers, Storee Wryter Gets a Dog.
Homeschool instructors welcome.