I'm Writing a Book!

Sometime last week, before my vacation, I was laying in bed around midnight when I a strong urge swept through my brain.  The urge to get up and start writing.  Not a blog or a Facebook post or anything like that, but a book!  The story just started to come together in my head, and I just had to get my ideas down on paper.  

I've had writing urges before, and they usually come to me at night.  But, those urges are usually directed toward my blog. Something I want to get off my chest, or an idea that pops in to my brain for a topic of discussion. But this particular urge was different.  It was almost as if I didn't get up right at that second, the idea would get away from me and be gone forever.

I got up, jotted down a few notes, and went back to bed with no problems.  But, the next morning, the urge was back and it was time to get started.  In fact, I spent half a day writing out the first two chapters into a journaling app that I have on my iPad.  I was so excited to be writing, and the words and storyline were pouring out of me.  When I was finished with my first two chapters, I went back to reread what I had written, and found that half of what I wrote was missing.  Gone.  It hadn't saved like it was supposed to.  That was very disheartening and frustrating, but I decided to not give up and just find a more reliable app in which to do my writing.  One that I could save the writing and access it on my iPad or my laptop.  I finally found what I was looking for, and off I went again.

I'm sure all this writing business has stemmed from the fact that I've spent a lot of my time off reading. I'm a huge YA (Young Adult) literature fan, and in the few weeks I've been off I've already read two of the Divergent Series (almost done with the third), Evermore which is book one of the Immortal Series by Alyson Noel, and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  I just can't get enough of them.  In fact, I'm making a trip to the library today to get the second book of The Immortal Series, and I even have a book waiting to be read on my Kindle reader that I borrowed.  So, it's no surprise that the book I'm writing is YA focused.  More mature YA, but not exactly an adult novel.  

I have finished the first three chapters, and I am pumped and excited to continue.  

I have always wanted to write a book.  In fact, I've started several times over.  I started a biography-type story a few years back, a murder mystery, and even dabbled with starting a weight loss motivation book.  Of course, the last one would have been pointless.  Although, maybe if I had kept writing the book, I would have kept the weight off that I lost.  

But, none of those ideas really gave me much desire.  I started without really knowing where I was going.  I was stupid enough to believe that if I just sat in front of my keyboard, the story would just come to me.  That's not how books get written, and I've realized why.  You just have to know where you're going... what the plot will be, what the beginning, middle and end will look like.  Sure, I write the story as it comes out, but I have a purpose and direction (now) when I'm writing.  I know how I want to the characters to interact, I know what the big problem and solution will be, and I know how I want the book to end.  All information that is VITAL to writing a book... or any story, really.  

I have spent the last couple of years engraining this very thing in to the minds of my students, to write with purpose.  It's OK to randomly write out thoughts and ideas in a journal format, but once it's time to get down to business, there has to be a plan of action.  

I have no idea how long it will take me to write a book.  I have no idea if it'll be any good.  I have no idea if I'll even consider trying to get it published.  I do know it's something I've always wanted to do, and I finally believe I have a storyline I'm happy with.  

And I have a few more weeks to really take advantage of my "down time" and put my heart in to getting as much done as I can.  Even if it's just a very rough draft, I want to at least get that out of the way. 

I've read that some authors can take YEARS to write a book.  I don't want to be that kind of writer.  I don't mind it taking years to be finished, but I'm not taking years to get my story down on paper (or iPad).  And, I'm not writing some kind of series thing.  There will be no vampires, no werewolves, no kids dying from cancer, no wizards, and no kids competing against each other in a fight to the death.  So, I guess ruling all of those things out means it might not be any good.  I mean, it has to have those things to be good, right?

Hopefully not.

My story is simple, yet powerful.  It's something that can happen at anytime.  It's stuff that kids can actually relate to, yet still get warm and fuzzy with the characters.  At least, that's how I picture it in my mind.  Realistic fiction without anyone having to cry through most of it.  

I love to write.  I was born to write.  Nobody else maybe interested in what I have to say, or think that my writing is any good... but it's in my veins.  It gives me strength, it helps me tackle the deepest of my emotions, and in the words of my 6 year old "It's my most favoritest thing to do in the whole wide world!"

So, that's what's going on with me.  That's how I plan on spending my time for the remainder of this summer.  On my patio, coffee cup next to me, iPad on lap... for as long as I can stand the humidity.  Then it's in to the pool for a cool-down session, and right back to it.  

Man, I love summer break!!

Just Pretend There's Something Attention Grabbing Written Here

                                        

One thing I know about myself is that I'm a writer.  And by that, I simply mean someone who loves to write.  I may not be all that great at it.  I'm not hilariously funny, or witty, inspirational, or motivational.  But, I've had my moments where I think I've achieved those things.  

I don't write for the amusement of others, I write for the therapy that it provides me.  And, when writing almost every single day for the past couple of years (sometimes on two blogs), there's going to be times when I find it hard to come up with material to write about.

But, do you know what I've learned about myself recently?

When my life is in turmoil, I'm stressed, angry, frustrated, or sad, I am able to write the most thoughtful, thought provoking, and best pieces of writing I've ever written.

When I'm happy, content, life is good... I sit staring at my screen for a long time wondering what on earth to write about.

Weird, right?

I mean, I'm not surprised that I do my best writing when I'm having the negative feelings.  Again, my writing is my therapy.  It's very easy for me to dig down deep and pull out my emotions and put them in to words.  In fact, it's WAY more easier for me to write about my feelings than it is to express them in any other way.  If I'm having a problem, I write about it until the solution to my problem pops in my head... or I just feel better.

What surprises me, though, is why it's so difficult to write happy, funny, and/or amusing posts when my life matches those feelings.  

If I'm good at writing sad, deep, and emotional.  Why can't I write happy, funny, and amusing?

I'm a reader of blogs just as much as I am a writer of them.  I prefer to read blogs by authors who are witty and funny.  And, I have a few on my blog roll that can have me literally laughing out loud just by sharing their normal lives.  They have the ability of writing about life in general by making wise cracks, finding humor in just about anything, and keeping an upbeat and funny attitude.  They even have the ability to keep the laughs coming even when life isn't so great for them.  And, out of nowhere, they can write a blog post that has me crying and blubbering because there words are so touching, thought out, and emotionally captivating.  

I envy those writers.  And, have tried with all my might to be like them.  But, I've faced the reality that I'm not like them.  I'm me.  I write about whatever is in my head, and that's how I like it.

This past week has definitely had me on an emotional rollercoaster.  And that has been evident by my blog posts.  Each morning, I've gotten up and had no worries deciding what I was going to write about.. the words just came.  

What I didn't write about was the fact that the reading situation was one tiny aspect of the day.  There was some good stuff happening in my classroom, yet I chose to focus on that one thing that was majorly stressing me out.

Then, I was able to decide how I was going to deal with that one little problem I was having, my mood switched gears, and I went from stressed to excited.  Yet, once that switch came in my mood, I had no idea what to write about.  I've already shared how I'm fixing the problems I was having... so now I'm happy, but now I'm not sure what to write about.

Here lately, I've written A LOT about teaching.  In fact, it's started to kinda take over my blog.  And, honestly, I'm OK with that.  Life is good at home (now), the kids are good, the house is good, and really there's not much more to elaborate on than that.  This blog is supposed to be about my life in general, and the majority of my life revolves around my classroom.  It doesn't mean that my classroom is the most important part of my life, it just provides the best material.

It's so frustrating, though, that I can come on here and whine and cry about all the worries, but can't come on here and give anything more than "had a great day today", and that's about as much as I can muster in sharing the good stuff.

Like I said, I was stressing about the whole reading thing, but failed to mention the fact that I started the week off with having NO students that could multiply 2 digits by 2 digits, but ended the week with having only a few kids struggling with it.  Or, the fact that for the first time since school started, 95% of my students turned in their spelling contracts, or that most of my kids passed their science test.

The honest truth of the matter is, negative feelings and frustrations only take up about 10% of my day... so why am I not writing about the other 90%?

This next week, I want to dig down deep and try and come up with more upbeat stuff to write about.  I like to think I'm a pretty funny person.  When I'm having conversations with people, I have the ability to make them laugh.  OK, so sometimes they might be laughing at me instead of with me, but a laugh is a laugh.  Surely, I can write something that does the same thing.  

Moving in to this next week, I'm super excited about getting the new reading unit up and running.  I've been working hard coming up with the new plans and new activities the kids will be doing.  I'm sure there'll be some kinks that will need working out, I'm sure the kids won't understand everything all at once.. but my goal is to focus on the good that's happening, and not the "kinks".  

I am not a negative person.  I'm actually quite a positive person, having a positive look at most of my struggles.  I'm not a person who just makes lemonade when thrown lemons, I also like to make lemon squares, cake, pudding, and throw a few slices in to the mouths of others... just so I can get a kick out of the expression on their faces when the sour hits their tastebuds.  

So, this week, I want to really buckle down and bring some light and amusement in to my blogging world.  

I'm sure it will be a challenge.  

I know enough about myself to understand that I like to live in a world of rainbows and sunshine, and I have no need to write about that stuff, because I live it as much as possible.  I only write about stuff I struggle with:  Tough situations.  If I see a raincloud coming my way, I write about it until it evaporates.  But this week, I'm going to write about the sunshine and rainbows, even if there's rainclouds on the horizon.  

I don't like being a whiner.  I don't like being "poor me and my difficult situations".  And, I actually cringe when I read comments along the lines of "hang in there", "you can do it", and "I'm sure it will get better".  When, the truth of the matter is, it's not really as bad as I portrayed it to be, and I'm hanging in there, doing it, and making it better... but somehow have no ability to write about that stuff. 

So, the challenge is on.  I'm gonna have a go at being funny or at least upbeat.  Not just randomly going on with babble... because I have nothing else to write about.  But, actual, focused blog posts about GOOD stuff.

I can do it!! 

But, right now, I have to finish up the work I still have to do.

Those that Love Writing, Teach Writing

I meant to write this post on Saturday, and then I didn't.  So, I just figured I'd write it yesterday.  But didn't.

So, today...I'm going to write the post.  

It's not like it's any special post, just what I consider an appropriate post for a person that wakes up at 4:30AM each and every morning JUST so that person can write.

On Friday, it was a professional development day for me.  The entire 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade group of teachers from the district were signed up for a Writer's Workshop workshop.

This made the 6th...maybe 7th Writer's Workshop workshop I've attended since beginning my educational path 6 years ago.  Every time I had to attend some form of PD workshop for college credit, I opted for Writer's Workshop.  And then I found that the schools I student taught in or worked for after college sent me to similar workshops.  So, if I don't know how to do Writer's Workshop by now, then I never will.

Writer's Workshop is a FANTASTIC model for teaching writing.  It focuses on students becoming authors, rather than just learning how to write.  It's about the craft.  The creativity.  Putting ideas and thoughts and stories and imagination on to the paper.  Then, and only then, are the fundamentals of writing addressed...and only one at a time.

Kids are not asked to write to prompts (for the most part).  They are not expected to write a certain amount of paragraphs.  They aren't even expected to write using proper spelling or punctuation, at first.  It's just about instilling a love and passion for writing.  Right up my alley.

There's just one problem with attending the workshops created for teaching Writer's Workshop.  They don't actually teach teachers HOW to put Writer's Workshop in to place.  And that's a big problem for teachers who aren't big fans of teaching writing.

Take the workshop from Friday, for example.  It was an OK workshop.  However, had I not attended a workshop that was almost identical just a couple of months ago, and several more before that, I would have no real idea what the purpose behind the workshop was.  And it was one, and is one, of the biggest complaints that I hear from teachers who are interested in teaching Writer's Workshop but don't know how.

Rather than teaching teachers how to put Writer's Workshop in to practice, the PD workshops focus on what Writer's Workshop is and why it's important for students.  

That's great.  But, one question that is on the lips of almost every teacher is HOW do I get my kids to write?  

I am a firm believer that teachers learn by doing.  Take becoming a teacher.  For three years, I sat through classes and listened to lectures, read text books, and wrote papers and lesson plans based on educational theory.  However, the first day I walked in to my student teaching classroom, I didn't really know how to be a teacher.  That came from doing.  Being in the classroom.  Seeing how kids respond, taking their interests and levels in to account, and just doing it.  

Sitting through a six hour workshop being told how important writing is, won't teach a room full of teachers how to use Writer's Workshop.  They need to do.  Be lead how to instill.  Be shown what a mini lesson looks like, be shown what a writing conference looks like, be guided through a unit of lessons using writing examples.  Just telling teachers what the model of Writer's Workshop should look like doesn't help them one bit when it comes to putting it in to practice in their own classrooms.

Teaching writing is my "thing".  However, I will say, that had it not been for the fact that I was fortunate enough to student teach in a classroom that used Writer's Workshop, I may be a little lost about putting it in to place.  Even after attending 6 or 7 Writer's Workshop workshops.

Not all teachers love writing, which is where I find that the PD workshop we attended missed the mark at making teachers feel more secure about using a model like Writer's Workshop.  I have used and still use Writer's Workshop, and my team wonder how I do it.  With so much going on in my classroom, how on earth does somebody come up with time to teach writing...and ONLY writing.  

When I was interviewed for my job, last year, I was asked what my favorite subject to teach was.  I immediately responded with writing.  Duh, right?  A person that loves writing as much as I do must love teaching it.

I couldn't wait to get in to a classroom and put Writer's Workshop in to effect.  The only problem was, last year, I just didn't have the time.  I was a first year teacher, I had different kids for reading, math, and social studies and science.  It was so difficult to just get through the material I was expected to teach, writing had to take a back seat.  

BUT NOT THIS YEAR!

From day one, knowing that this year my class would be self contained, I've started using Writer's Workshop.  And on the first day of school, I had a class of kids that when told they were going to write, complained and whined.  Now, six weeks later, I have kids that would much rather write than do any of the other classwork that's expected of them.  They ask to write when they are done with an assignment.  They ask to write when it's reading time.  They ask to write after recess, during their 10 minute "cool down" time.  They can't get enough of it.  And I've only barely scratched the surface of putting Writer's Workshop in to place.  I haven't even started getting in to the nitty, gritty of teaching them to become authors.  I've just got them to feel comfortable opening up their Writing notebook and writing about whatever they want to write about.

My team wonders, though, how I do it.  Once again, there's so much to do in our already jam-packed schedule, that it seems impossible that I can fit in WW... especially the model that was somewhat shown to us during PD workshops.

And it really does come down to teachers who love to write will teach writing.  

This week, I'm starting a whole new schedule...one that will better allot for WW as a core part of my day...rather than something I try to fit in when I can.  Right now, it happens at the end of my day, but several of my students are out of the room for interventions and stuff.  So, half of my class don't get the WW mini-lessons.  That doesn't work for me.  Writing is a key foundation in bettering reading skills, so the kids that could really benefit from it the most are missing out.

Starting this week, ALL of my kids will be there for WW.  I'm excited to see how it goes.  My hope is, if I can make this work... I could help other teachers that are struggling with putting WW in to their own classrooms.  Rather than attending another workshop that just tells them what WW is, I could help show them what it is, how to use it, and how great it is for the kiddos....regardless of whether or not the teacher actually likes writing.

Going back to that interview, when I responded with writing being my favorite subject to teach, I remember the superintendent of education telling me that writing was definitely a subject that needed some help.

Maybe I can help.

Writing is like a best friend to me.  I've gotten through some very tough times by putting a pen to paper.  And, even though all of my writing, nowadays, is done on a computer... it doesn't change the fact that writing is so good for the soul.  

The kids I work with need this in their lives.  Need a place to let it all out.  Share their creativity and imaginations.  And develop and discover talents they never knew they had.

And, again, there is countless research that supports writing as a fundamental in increasing reading levels.  So, there's that.  

So, today I get to start my experiment, and see how it goes.  I'm thinking it's going to be great.

Fingers Crossed.

This week is spirit week at school...so there'll be plenty to talk about.

Today is Disney Character Day.  Fun, right?

And you know that this "Queen" of spirit week is up for the challenge.  That's a little hint on what I'm dressing up as.  There will be pictures to share tomorrow....

Have a great Monday!