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National Novel Writing Month
Here's an interesting creative writing challenge. Write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30. NaNoWriMo has been orchestrating this challenge for several years now and the site has plenty of directions on the process,...
Other
Teachit.co.uk: Library of English Teaching Resources
Teachit.co.uk is a free online resource for English teachers. Content includes classroom materials, schemes of work, lesson plans, and teaching tools. Look at the Top 5s, the English Teaching Online, the Teachit Trails, and the Tweakits....
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The Missouri Review: Homepage
The Missouri Review includes fiction and nonfiction and is provided for by the University of Missouri.
Other
Fiction Writing Tips: Creating a Vivid Setting
Some excellent guidelines to consider when evaluating your setting in a short story or novel. Discusses the importance of setting, some examples, as well as practical advice in setting your story. W.11-12.3d Sensory/precise lang narratives
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: Description: What's It For?
This is the twelfth article in a series that is designed to help the new novel writer. This article focuses on how to effectively use descriptions in any writing.
Other
Constructing Critical Literacy Practices Through Technology Tools and Inquiry
This journal article examines how the use of technology has helped to promote critical thinking and creativity. The article includes examples specifically focused on Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451."
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: Pacing Anxiety, or How to Stop Padding and Plot!
This is the seventh installment of a series giving advice to the author who is new to writing novels. This article focuses on how to take your characters and use them and their conflicts to develop the plot of your story. W.9-10.3b...
Other
Kim's Korner: Six Trait Analytic Writing Model
Check out this comprehensive website featuring ideas for teaching writing based on the six trait analytic writing model.
Other
Storytelling to Assess Speaking and Listening
An effective use of rubrics that encourages the student storyteller how to determine if his/her audience is listening. Learn about the different listening skill rubrics, storytelling rubrics and a self-assessment guide that asks the...
Other
Canadaone.com: Sailing the Seven Cs of Effective Writing
Interesting article from Canadaone.com that outlines the author's seven C's of effective writing. Each of the concepts (all beginning with the letter "C") includes an explanation that demonstrates why the concept is important to the...
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Creative Writing
An introduction to creative writing with links to more information on the following topics: Fiction Writing Basics, Pattern and Variation in Poetry, Pattern and Variation: Aural, Pattern and Variation: Visual, characters and Fiction...
Other
Boggle's World: Creative Writing Worksheets
A large collection of downloadable writing prompt worksheets to encourage students to develop their writing skills. Includes a variety of themes and some on special celebrations, such as Christmas and Halloween.
Teachers.net
Teachers.net: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
This site features a lesson plan for William Steig's "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble." Come and check out this creative activity.
Other
Nancy Polette: "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone" Literature Guide
Check out this literature guide for the book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," by J.K. Rowling. In addition to a very brief overview of the book, there are questions to think about, several activities, and a song. All help...
PBS
Pbs Parents: Creativity Haiku
Using this activity students can test their understanding of language and poetry by creating a Haiku using the word tiles in the box. Teachers and parents check out the interact, understand and expand buttons for more activities.
Other
Writing World: Four Ways to Bring Settings to Life
A great resource outlining four major ways to make settings appear more real and genuine in fiction. Deals with themes such as motion, experience, mood, and the senses. W.11-12.3d Sensory/precise lang narratives
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Super Gene [Pdf]
In this lesson, 5th graders learn about basic genetics and how genes can affect someone's behavior. They will write their own narrative about a character they create as a class in order to illustrate the effects of inherited traits and...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Backyard With Clem
This Plum Landing activity from PBS Kids engages students in using imagination. Students will think about their environments and then write and or draw what visitors would see.
Other
Fiction Factor: The Importance of Setting
An interesting article concerning the importance of setting to any piece of fiction. Gives good information about how setting affects characters and "world-building."
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Jason and the Golden Fleece
Explore characterization, plot and setting and compare these elements in mythology and modern works of literature, film and television. Retell myths in modern settings or modern-day stories using a mythological Greek setting. While this...
Other
The Neverending Tale
This is a fun site geared primarily for students 8-16. It allows students to read and add to stories already begun by others and to decide what path the story takes. Because there are some rules and procedures to follow, this site is...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Clay Animation
This is a hands-on, technology-based project to incorporate creative writing and technology in the classroom. Clay Animation is one way of presenting a story in a nonverbal way. [Requires QuickTime.]
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: That's the Story!
This is a fun lesson where the learners use thinksheets and digital cameras. The students take an "interesting" picture using the digital camera. After they have printed them they are given at random another student's picture. They write...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco by Janice Repka
This instructional activity will lead students in relating literature to their own lives. The book, The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco, will be read aloud to students. Afterward, students will create short stories about things which they'd...