Founder Sondra Hall sat down with Carol Miller of Rarebird Radio to talk creative writing, processing trauma, and fostering a regular writing practice. Bonus poetry readings included - have a listen!
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It's another Why Not Write Wednesday and Father's Day is this upcoming Sunday, June 15th! To celebrate all our favorite fathers, why don't we write something about them? And maybe, you can give your creation to them for Father's Day!
Here are some ideas to keep in mind as you write a story or poem about your favorite father!
Why do you appreciate your dad or someone else's dad?
What do you appreciate about them?
What does your dad smell, sound, look, feel like?
What does you dad do that astonishes you or impresses you?
What do you love most about you dad, uncle, grandpa or brother?
What's a favorite memory you have with your dad?
Do you have something special that only you and your dad share? What is it?
In this session, the 3rd-5th grade writers at Joaquin Miller Elementary explored the theme of flight. They composed letters from Amelia Earhart to the girls of the world, used sensory details to describe the flight of the bumblebee, and wrote a first person account of Icarus’ fateful flight. Students experimented with a variety of craft elements such as point of view, sensory details, simile, personification and metaphor. The result was a collection of imaginative, colorful, odd and humorous fiction and poetry that illuminated humankind’s age-old obsession with flying. Prompt: Write about Icarus’ fateful flight from the first-person point of view.
Flight of Icarus
My name is Icarus. I have been locked inside a stupid tower almost my whole life. One boring day I was putting out birdseed when my dad said that something was done. I was like, “Whatever,” but he said, “Let us fly!” He put a pair of wings on and jumped out the window and I followed. I flew high, the wind in my face. After a while, the feathers started falling off. I thought, Oh no! I went too close to the sun! I fell into the water. It felt cold on my flesh.
-Dylan
Prompt: Invisibility vs. Flight – Write a story in which you have one of these powers.
Dr. Ginko’s Amazing Am-777
Hi. I’m Dr. S.R. Ginkos. Some people call me Dr. Sr. Ginkos, and some people call me Dr. Sr. I’m a scientist who works for the military and I have figured out a way to make people invisible using an acid called Antrixamacility or Am-777. About ten other scientists know about it. We only have about five quantities and we plan to use it on the five most aggressive soldiers at a base in South Florida.
-E.J.
I Am There
I am there. Following. Watching. Waiting. Why, I wonder, do I do this? I am a shadow. I must mirror your every move. Sliding in and out of existence as if can’t die. But I can. I’ve been killed over and over by deadly assassins but regenerated every time. I wake with no feet, live without a heart. Skimming the ground, I fly soundlessly over light. Dying slowly every day, vengeance has become a part of me.
-Marley
Nox and Nob
There once was a man who discovered a gem the size of a bowling ball. He named it Nox and went home with it. When he got home, he was about to turn on the lights when he noticed that Nox was giving off a whitish blue glow. Nob went to brush his teeth but nearly fell into the bathtub. He looked in the mirror. In the reflection was nothing but the bathroom wall.
-Miko
Prompt: Use sensory details to describe what it feels like to fly.
When Pigs Fly
When I, Mr. Piggy, fly, I don’t fly straight. I have special wings that glide through frost and coldness, high in the air. The feeling is completely different from being on the ground. It’s better. High above the humans, I feel safe.
-Marco
Prompt: Use Significant Detail to render the place you are from using the phrase "I am from..."
I Am From
I am from clean up your room from cinnamon roll donuts and maple oatmeal with brown sugar. I am from Mexico on Spring Break from from swimming with my friend and reading Greek mythology. I am from snorkeling in Belize from from Mine Craft and reading for too long.
-Josh
INFO ON OUR CREATIVE WRITING & ART SUMMER CAMPS 2012
“Take My Word For It!” is offering our East Bay summer camps through Piedmont Parks and Rec.* this year.
We are currently working out additional locations in the East Bay as well as San Francisco, so please stay tuned!
To make certain you receive camp updates please sign up for our newsletter.
*Parents who want to register for Piedmont camps can do so through their online catalogue at http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/recreation/catalog.shtml. Their 2012 catalogue will be available soon.
Here’s a preview of our Creative Writing Camp Adventures
at Piedmont Parks & Recreation in the East Bay
for kids 9 years old and up
Peanut Butter & the Pen© – Food Writing for Kids!
June 18-22 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-12:00
Do you have an appetite for writing? Then come join us for Peanut Butter and the Pen – our unique food writing class for kids. We’ll taste food, read excerpts from some of literature’s greatest writing in praise of food, and explore tantalizing ways to describe all things edible. Then we’ll write love letters to our favorite foods, food mysteries and more!
Grammar-ama and The Punctuation Party©
July 9-13 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-12:00
Brushing up on writing mechanics should never be boring! Take our Dangling Modifier Dare and join our Participle Parade. Our take on commas and conjunctions will tickle your funny bone and leave you wanting more!
Stamps and Letters©
July 16-20 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-12:00
What is to become of the hand written letter? We’ll practice the (almost lost) art of letter writing, make mail art, have fun with rubber-stamping and then mail our creations to strange and distant lands.
Take Flight!©
July 23-27 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-4:00
Using art and creative writing we’ll explore flight – flights of fancy, the flight of the bumble bee, the first airplane flight, space flight, the flight of Cupid’s arrow, and more. Come fly with us!
Bedtime Story: Write & Illustrate Your Own Children’s Book©
July 30-August 3 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-4:00
Come in with a notebook, a pencil and your imagination and leave with an original children’s book. We’ll learn the building blocks for creating an engaging story for younger readers (K – 2), and after exploring different illustration techniques, create original illustrations.
Found Treasures & Scavenger Hunts©
August 6-10 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-4:00
Ever wonder how writers get their ideas? In this workshop we’ll explore the art of found inspiration. We’re going to scavenge for words, collect phrases, and hunt for hidden ideas in unusual places. We’ll create original poems and stories using what we’ve collected. Using found and recycled materials we’ll also make art that transforms trash into treasure!
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Camps at Classroom Matters, 2436 Sacramento St. in Berkeley
Stamps and Letters©
July 30 - August 3 (1 week) M-F, 9:00-4:00 Kids ages 8 - 12
What is to become of the hand written letter? We’ll practice the (almost lost) art of letter writing, make mail art, have fun with rubber-stamping and then mail our creations to strange and distant lands.
Bedtime Story: Write & Illustrate Your Own Children’s Book©
August 6 - 10 ( 1 week) M-F, 9:00 - 4:00 Kids ages 8 - 12
Come in with a notebook, a pencil and your imagination and leave with an original children’s book. We’ll learn the building blocks for creating an engaging story for younger readers (K – 2), and after exploring different illustration techniques, create original illustrations.
Cost: $350 per camper for 9 am - 4 pm. After- care until 5pm for $25 extra per week. Tuition includes a journal and pen, snacks and art materials.
Registration available soon.