i simply am. it’s the only thing about me that’s simple.
i am a teacher. i am a writer. and i am a photographer. select a link above.
for more insight, read my blog...
i simply am. it’s the only thing about me that’s simple.
i am a teacher. i am a writer. and i am a photographer. select a link above.
for more insight, read my blog...
// writing. the act of putting absent thoughts on present paper.
// why does it have to be so dark inside my eyes?
today’s time writing exercise…
You stubbed your toe on a rock while you walk down the street in downtown. Half a page between contact with the rock and putting your foot back down.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
Half a page between the first and second beeps of the alarm clock in the morning.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You are having your picture taken. The camera flashes. One page between the time that you blink and the time that you open your eyes.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You are writing in your diary. One page of your thoughts between the pen touching the page and the end of the first word.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You lick an ice cream cone and the ice cream falls off the cone onto the ground. Half a page between tongue-to-ice-cream contact and ice-cream-to-ground, please.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You are a puppy. You have never seen a lake before. You smell the water. Half a page between the first scent and identification of the lake.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You hear the telephone ring. The number shows up as 9-1-1 on the display. One page of your thoughts between reading the number and answering the phone.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You are an old man sitting in a boat. You lift your oar and water drops into the pond, making ripples. Write half a page while the ripples disappear.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
You are an orange hanging on a tree. You fall. Write half a page between leaving the branch and hitting the ground.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
It is snowing and I can’t see well. I have a scarf over my face so I don’t catch cold. I walk full-speed into a lightpost and it knocks me unconscious. Write half a page between making contact with the post and falling on the ground.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
here’s today’s quick writing exercise
1. Pipecleaners are the gateway to the afterlife.
2. Pink wool is a miracle.
3. Chocolate milk. Comment.
4. Books make more sense upside-down.
5. Giant sunflowers smell like orange.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
I can taste with my fingertips. I have just taken up fingerpainting. I am going to paint an apple. I’m slow, though. So it is going to take me an hour. One page from the beginning to the end of the apple, please.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
here’s today’s quick writing exercise
1. Pineapple is the meaning of life.
2. Goats knit the best slippers.
3. Only pink cats like tuna.
4. The wheels on the bus… are square.
5. Half a rainbow ends in a pot of aluminum.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
today’s time writing exercise…
I am standing at the top of a grassy hill in the sunshine. I start to roll down the hill. I will now write half a page of interior monologue before I reach the bottom.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
here’s today’s quick writing exercise
1. I think, therefore I eat bananas.
2. Your shoelaces aren’t untied. They’re on fire.
3. Gold is lighter than feathers.
4. Pyjamas are far more appropriate for kittens.
5. Emus make the best tossed salads.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
in the post on time writing, i spoke about quick writing. here is today’s quick writing exercise.
1. homework tastes like cocoa.
2. my puppy is purple.
3. the sun is an urban myth.
4. snow white is actually darth vader in disguise.
5. pencils are the ultimate evil.
(for more, see homework exercises.)
as part of every english and creative writing course, it is important to teach the significance of writing the write type of timing and spontaneous writing.
there is really only one way to get this right – practice.
i start every class with five minutes of “quick writing” and end every class with five minutes of “time writing”.
quick writing exercises are one minute each, stream of consciousness. they are selected at random and students have one minute to write whatever comes to mind. they are not graded but they are shared with the class. it’s not an exercise in quantity or in quality, simply in practice of getting the mind to work quickly.
time writing exercises are five minutes in total (either one exercise for 5 minutes or two for 2.5 minutes each). they give a specific start and end point in a situation and it is the student’s responsibility to pace the action so that it fills the page but doesn’t need more space.
here is your time writing exercise for today. (tomorrow, there won’t be an explanation, simply an exercise.)
i am four years old. i am visiting the fair. i am standing in a bouncy-castle. i have jumped off the ground. i will now write half a page of interior monologue before i land.
(for more, see homework exercises.)