Writer's Notebook

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Writer's Notebook
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What is it?
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• A place to write down what makes you angry or sad
  or amazed
• What you noticed and dont want to forget
• A place to live like a writer, not just in school
  during writing time, but wherever you are, at any
  time of the day
• ---Ralph Fletcher

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What do I put in my Writer's Notebook?
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•   A memorable event
•   An idea about a future entry
•      Describing your surroundings
•     Feelings
• Something you experienced that doesnt
  happen every day

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Important firsts

• Your first day in school
• The first time you rode a two-wheeler 
• First hair cut
• First recital
• First home run

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Reflections about family

•    A particular tradition in your family
• Family story
• Family vacation

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An artifact

• Important objects in our lives often provide
  excellent material to write about
• Ring
• An arrowhead you found
• Newspaper article

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Strong Story leads

• His mother was ugly and his father was ugly, but
  Shrek was uglier than the two of them put
  together. By the time he toddled, Shrek could
  spit flames a full ninety yards and vent smoke
  from either ear. With just a look he cowed the
  reptiles in the swamp. Any snake dumb enough to
  bite him instantly got convulsions and died.

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•  The Horribles
•    Horrible haircut
• A disastrous time you had at camp or on a family
  vacation.
•    An injury. Did you ever have to go to the
  hospital?

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Changes in Your Life

•   Are you a middle child? An only child? Were
  you adopted?
•      Best friend. (Did you ever get in trouble?)
•        Moving. Did you leave behind a best
  friend when you moved from your old house?

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And so on

• Favorite pet, or a pet you once had.
• What you are (or used to be) afraid of.
• One thing you never want to do again!
•   Reflections about who you are      

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What does a Writers Notebook look like?

• It reflects your personality.
• It can be a pad, a composition book, something
  that is portable.
• It is YOURS!!

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Why keep a Writers Notebook?

• To enjoy writing
• To remember all the things that you have read and
  seen and heard

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• To get things out of your head so they dont get
  stuck up there

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• To keep memories
• To remember special days

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• Something to do when there isnt anything else to
  do!

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• A writers notebook is your link to YOU and YOUR
  thoughts-your past, your present, your future.

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• As you continue to write in your notebook, you
  will find that the right words come easier

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• Your thoughts seem to just flow from your mind to
  the paper

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• You become the Master of your own writing. You
  will discover the power of the written word.

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• Its true. Just ask your teacher.