This week I was out walking and a character popped into my mind. I walk past this farm many times each week. It’s been showing up in my notebook a lot lately, and I’ve been thinking about the kinds of people who could live on a farm like the one I walk past. I’ve been asking myself What if…What if…What if… So I began to dream about the kinds of people who may live there. I walked and thought. Walked some more and said What if…some more. When I returned… Read more {discover.play.build.} take a walk. →
Earlier this week I was overpowered by the smell of school. This led me to write my slice this week. Writing my slice this week made me think about capturing… Read more {discover. play. build.} scents →
My friend Tam is writing a story about a rodent who wants to visit Paris. I’ve been enamored by Tam’s work on this project. (And I’ve even found myself liking… Read more {discover.play.build.} research a place →
{Discover.Play.Build} is a challenge to join me in some notebook work. I’ve missed these little posts and hope you have too. My plan is to bring them back every Thursday… Read more {discover.play.build.} a new look at place →
Yesterday I spent time in my art room. I wish I could share good stuff I created with you. But, my time was spent putting away, throwing away, and creating… Read more tidying up →
Every week there’s a group of high school kids that hang out at our house. I make a dessert and they eat it and talk. It’s the best. One of the reasons I like it is because I get material for YA books. I love to listen to them talk and watch their mannerisms. Mostly, though, I love how they make me laugh. So here’s a quick list of things I noticed that may (or may not) influence my writing. “She’s in hot water because she posted about the play on… Read more teens — a notebook entry (soLs) →
One of the things I try to really tune-in to is what project I should be spending time on. I have a lot of writing projects: Blogs Professional book, Celebrating Writers, due out later this year from Stenhouse YA book Choice Literacy articles Scrapbook pages, where I like to document stories with photos + words Writing to use with students Work responsibilities Recently I added another project to my list of writing projects. I’m not even sure it can be called a project, but it is taking up my 1000… Read more writing project decisions →
I gathered several of notebooks together a few weeks ago to take some photos. A few years ago I did this and then took a stab at creating a video… Read more a notebook project →
You know how the little things make a big difference? It’s a mantra of mine: notice tiny, find big meaning. Yesterday I was thinking about this mantra in relationship to… Read more {discover.play.build} little things →
Ruth Ayres Writes 