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 →
I don’t know, I just didn’t want to share it. Here’s an image I created to go with it, though. Join us for Slice of Life Challenge on Two Writing Teachers… Read more what happened to your sols post? →
Remember this conversation I had a few weeks ago with my crit partner? Well I have to face her and the others tonight. In the last six days, I’ve not discovered more about Krums or Sophi or their stories. This is because I’ve not listened for them or written or sketched or jotted or anything. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but I think I need to figure it out before I have to face my writing group tonight. I’m afraid Ruth’s sinister approach to my writing life may be contagious.… Read more a little note to my writer-self →
In the past two weeks I know people who have been having a hard time. A mother was checked into a behavioral health hospital because life is too overwhelming for her. A marriage is unraveling. A home was broken into, valuables stolen. A man was diagnosed with cancer and will have surgery. A child had seizures and the doctors don’t know why or if it will happen again. A high school senior’s boyfriend cheated on her. She was the last to know. A son went to jail. A single mom… Read more i am so blessed. →
Much of my energy in a day is spent protecting people from THE RUSH. I get up early, plan ahead, am intentional about conversations and length of minilessons and taking advantage of moments throughout the day in order to make space to breathe. At home I build in buffers so people can finish the thing they’re doing (building train tracks, reading a book, drawing a picture) before they have to move on to the next (dinner, bath, books, bed). I try not to look or sound harried on the outside (even when… Read more protection detail →
I’ve been playing with characters for a new YA story since April. About six weeks ago, I started to play with a draft. Last month at writing group, Ruth helped… Read more notebook #4 for my current wip →
This defines me. A few weeks ago someone emailed me a link to a blog. The note said, Here’s a blog I read and it makes me think of you.… Read more a glimpse →
This week I talked with some third grade writers about the way writers generate story ideas. The point of a writer’s notebook is to use it as a tool to… Read more {Discover.Play.Build.} Generating Story Ideas →
The predictable nature of a conversation between a teacher and student during writing workshop. The conversation I have about my writing with other writers is crucial to my work. Without those… Read more Conversation Between Writers →
Ruth Ayres Writes 