It never fails. I find something about writing and writers and join a bit late. This time it is a 15 day challenge entitled "15 Habits of Great Writers."
Today's challenge? Declare yourself a writer.
An ironic challenge as I proceeded today to address that even though I hadn't read the challenge until this evening. (NOTE: The challenge started yesterday.)
As the school year came to a close, our English department staff gathered together at one of our fellow teacher's homes to sit out on his deck and spend some time together as real people and not just teachers.
It was here that I volunteered to write at least one article about the positive things at our school for one of our newspapers. Stuck myself out there and stated that I could write the article because I am a writer.
Later, with this same group, I joined forces with another writer in our midst as a writer support base. We have taught in the same building for some 8 to 10 years, but not connected as writers. It felt good to declare myself a writer.
I am a writer! I am a writer! I am a writer!
I feel like a kid in elementary school who had to write something 100 times on the board. Maybe if I do that, I'll start to actually believe that I am truly a writer.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
A WRITER'S VOCABULARY
I love to read, which may explain why I enjoy writing. Recently, however, I am finding that my reading vocabulary is greater than my writing vocabulary. Grasping the meaning of unfamiliar words in context has never been difficult for me, but then I don't own the word and use it in my daily speaking and writing.
This deficiency became very apparent at my prompt group the other day when I listened to what the other members had written. I was in awe of the words some of them had so smoothly utilized to give their piece a more polished feeling. My written vocabulary pales in comparison to theirs.
This, as an educator, doesn't make sense, as I teach writing, vocabulary, and literature. So, what am I to do?
I need a stronger vocabulary so this summer I am embarking on learning new words and incorporating them in my writing.
There are several books that you could purchase and work through to improve your vocabulary, but some of the online vocabulary sites are more fun.
Why not join me in improving your vocabulary on one or all of the following sites. Don't see your favorite vocabulary site in this list. Let me know what it is and I'll check it out and add it for others to explore.
These two sites as well as crossword puzzles and scrabble are ways to improve your vocabulary.
Or, on a final note, what about taking a short piece of your writing and underlining words that could have synonyms and using the Thesaurus to find what other words you could possibly use.
Happy vocabulary building.
This deficiency became very apparent at my prompt group the other day when I listened to what the other members had written. I was in awe of the words some of them had so smoothly utilized to give their piece a more polished feeling. My written vocabulary pales in comparison to theirs.
This, as an educator, doesn't make sense, as I teach writing, vocabulary, and literature. So, what am I to do?
I need a stronger vocabulary so this summer I am embarking on learning new words and incorporating them in my writing.
There are several books that you could purchase and work through to improve your vocabulary, but some of the online vocabulary sites are more fun.
Why not join me in improving your vocabulary on one or all of the following sites. Don't see your favorite vocabulary site in this list. Let me know what it is and I'll check it out and add it for others to explore.
These two sites as well as crossword puzzles and scrabble are ways to improve your vocabulary.
Or, on a final note, what about taking a short piece of your writing and underlining words that could have synonyms and using the Thesaurus to find what other words you could possibly use.
Happy vocabulary building.
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