All you need do is (1) read and consider the twenty-six A-to-Z words I selected to best represent a writer’s life and process (listed below), then (2) submit via the comment form at the end of this post, using twenty-five words or less, the lettered entry you would have included and let us know why.
Be sure to provide your name and email address – and - submit your entry before midnight Monday, October 12 (CST). And if you haven't entered one of our giveaways before, be sure to read our general giveaway guidelines.
My selection process was ripe with challenge.
I considered what my readers (ages 6 through 12) likely knew about writing.
I asked, “What might they want to know?”
I weighed, “What do they need to know?”
I pondered my story’s narrative arc and how my words could both inform and inspire.
Finally, I brought my book’s idea to Ms. Jenny Vincent’s talented ’08 fifth graders at Chicago’s Louisa May Alcott Public School, inviting them to help me brainstorm further.
Their brilliant insights earned them my gratitude as well as S is for Story’s author’s dedication.
My Writer’s Alphabet offers up the following A-to-Z words:
Alphabet, Book, Character, Draft, Edit, Fairy Tales, Genre, Heroes and Heroines, Ideas, Journals, (Four) Kinds of Writing, Letters, Notebook, Observe, Plot, Question Words, Revision, Story, Tall Tales, Unstoppable, Voice, Word Choice, eXpression and Your Story.
As for my Z word, check back Monday, October 5 when I begin the first of five posts to answer my fellow TeachingAuthors’ questions. Each post will also offer a Writer's Workout.
FYI:
Zachary Pullen’s singular, compelling S is for Story: A Writer’s Alphabet’s illustrations reflect his respect for young writers and writing. Visit Zak’s website to learn more about his work and other books.
My website offers Young Writers Extras – opportunities to write, read, and discover, at home, in school, or at the library.
Visit my website’s newest page, Tour, to learn the What, When, and Where of my out-and-about book events, signings, school visits, conference engagements, writer presentations, teacher workshops, and upcoming October-through November Blog Tour.
A Teacher's Guide is available at Sleeping Bear Press’ website.
So, what lettered word would you have included were you creating a Writer’s alphabet, and why?
Perhaps A is for Author.
B is for Biography.
M is for Mechanics.
Or P is for Punctuation.
Maybe S is for Sentences.
W is for Writing.
X is for Rejection.
Or Z is for Zeal.
Remember: once you decide, it’s ABC-easy.
And, be sure to submit your entry (including name and email address) before Midnight, October 12, 2009 (CST). The winner will be announced Wednesday, October 14, 2009.
Esther
(Note: book images used with permission)
39 comments:
P is for Plot is absolutely the best choice you could have made for P. However, in another universe, I might also have considered P is Persistence. Why? Given how easily life, homework,(and editorial rejections) can separate us from our characters, every writer needs it.
Kim Winters
kwinters16@sbcglobal.net
My lettered word is "C is for cleverness" because being a writer entails having clever ideas.
V could also be for villain, because every good story has a hero and a villain!
I could also be for inspiration. Inspiration is where great ideas come from.
T for Thick-skinned, because you've got to be able to handle all the editing, critiques, rejections and attacks that come your way!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
F is for Freedom because writing liberates your mind, heart and imagination.
S is for Stubborn, the one character quality that will truly carry you through the writing process.
Darcy
D is for Dream, where imagination flourishes, and stories are born.
:o)
pippirose59 at gmail dot com
No need to enter me; just posted about this on Win A Book.
btw, I'd say E is for Enthusiasm as you need a lot of that to write about your subject.
I'd like to add T for tenacity, because the journey to publication can be long. It can also be applied to the skill of holding together lots of random ideas into a cohesive story.
Stacy Post
stacysue2u at yahoo dot com
E is for Ending - you need a fantastic one! This was fun...and your book looks wonderful! I'd love to be entered.
celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com
I want to say C is for coffee and chocolate because I just had some before I sat down to the computer tonight--oh, another c word. But let me try to be more clever--oh another c word. I'm stuck on c, so let's see, how about c is for conclusion? And hoping you write a good one for your story. But one more, c can also be for contract. Writers love contracts.
Margo Dill
margodll@aol.com
http://margodill.com/blog/
P is for perseverence...without it writers will not get published.
P is for pencil - how else to write notes in the notebooks? And great for editing hard copies!
melacan at hotmail dot com
I would say U is for Unique. Your story has to be unique. Write about something familiar in a unique way.
Janet
wvsmarties at yahoo dot com
P would be for Poetry. Because, as we know..Poetry Hides and I'm always looking for the poetry in every genre.
Oops..My email:
amanda.yates@vbschools.com
(Mandy) P is for Poetry
E is for Easrer - don't be afraid to make mistakes!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
everead{at}gmail
T is for Time -- it takes time to write.
S for simplicity. I wish I could say "enough said" . . . and leave it at that . . .
bruce_frostii@yahoo.com
X is for Xerox - Make sure you save a copy of your work!
Thanks for a chance to win this book - I'm in love with it already!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Esther,
what a fun contest! Maybe "F" should be for "fun!" because that's what writing should be - and you show us all that it is!
Namaste,
Lee
I say, A is for Arc. Your story must get from it's compelling beginning through the challenges of the middle and finally arrive at a most satisfying conclusion.
C is for Chair - I'm learning that a huge part of being a writer is applying my bottom to one every day!
Thanks Carmela for the nudge! I'll give you my R, which I will be posting next week on my own blog series of Author ABCs: R is for Raw. Show us your heart -- the rawest feelings are the ones with the most power to affect readers. irene at irenelatham dot com
B for Bedtime. The best stories read by me to my grandsons are at
Bedtime.
L is for Letting Go... letting go of your characters so they can guide you; of your writing so you can accept the criticism and make those revisions.
How about:
"E is is for Enthusiasm - Writers need some motivation, and readers need to be engaged"
I can only imagine the level of enthusiasm needed to sit down and write and not get distracted (by leaving blog comments, for example).
Z is for Zone Defense. A writer needs to establish and defend his/her writing zone against interrupts and non-writing related activities.
R is for READING, because varied reading makes for interesting writing!
You already have my "S" for story. How about "D" for dialogue? Or "R" for rhyme? Or "B" for blog!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
We posted about this at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/10/s-is-for-story.html
D is for Dreaming! Writing is dreaming. :)
writerlady67 at gmail dot com
R is for Reading. Being a writer stems from a love of words, stories and storytelling and falling in love with books at a young age.
Thanks,
Krisha
krisha_ashley@yahoo.com
C is for Community: We may write alone, but we also find inspiration, support, and our audience in others.
Heather
banksh AT att DOT net
Love is for Lovely, Lucky, Lady Bug flying through the air bringing love and luck to all in it's path.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
F for Fulfilling. Nothing is more fulfilling than touching the hearts of others with the written word.
Thanks to all who stopped by to share the Writer's Alphabet word entry - they - would have chosen, had they been writing S is for Story!
The C-letter suggestions especially struck home: coffee, chocolate, chair, community.
Where would we writers be without those 4 C's?!
Good luck in tomorrow's midnight-deadline drawing!
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