Category Archives: Writer’s resource

Discussion a range of topics for those interested in improving their writing skills

Transformations

Posted on October 19, 2013 by knlistman

For a recent assignment, students were to examine an advertisement. Questions led them to look at the visuals: subject of emphasis, originality of image, the placement of objects, type of people pictured. Then, they examined techniques such as use of  … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching writing skills, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The complexity conundrum

Posted on October 18, 2013 by knlistman

While working with the development of a secondary language arts and literature curriculum, I had a co-worker say “If you don’t live by the 6 + 1 trait writing model, we are not going to get along.” At the time … Continue reading →

Posted in Education trends, The information age, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The lesson of the limes

Posted on October 17, 2013 by knlistman

“I’m so degraded, I owe at least a dozen limes.” Amy confesses. She is basically in a pickle, or perhaps more correctly out of pickles, pickled limes that is. She is deep into the fad of bringing limes to school … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Allusions and airs

Posted on October 16, 2013 by knlistman

Imagine you are discussing a current government situation with a friend. You mention an insight you learned about behind-the-scenes working of government while in our capitol. Perhaps you briefly mention that when George Bush explained this the first time, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Figures of seeing

Posted on October 15, 2013 by knlistman

Reading ancient literature is difficult not just because of archaic words, but also ambiguous figures of speech that attempted to help the reader see the image and not just hear the words. Translate an early English text, such as Beowulf … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Word of media

Posted on October 11, 2013 by knlistman

Recently we had to evacuate the school due to a gas leak. Students were jammed up against the back fence of a subdivision across from the school. Fire trucks roared past, lights flashing and phones were raised in the air … Continue reading →

Posted in Style and voice, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Vibrant verbs

Posted on October 9, 2013 by knlistman

Writers can throw around the terms used to describe interesting language – sensory images, unusual syntax, well-developed descriptions, and vibrant verbs. But incorporating these into writing and preserving the flow is a challenge. Recently I worked with some nascent writers trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Style and voice, Teaching writing skills, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Superhuman weakness

Posted on October 5, 2013 by knlistman

At one time there was a “story” circulating about a famous producer of modern supernatural fiction movies, and an unknown screen writer. The famous producer says “I have a new idea for a movie.” “What’s the plot?” asks the writer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Story structure, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Avoiding flat earths

Posted on October 4, 2013 by knlistman

A few years ago, over the holidays, I stayed at a hotel on a scenic bend in the Riverwalk in San Antonio. It had been build in little over 200 days. How? Concrete cast room units, already decorated, were stacked … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unhuman geography

Posted on October 3, 2013 by knlistman

Science Fiction and Fantasy do not describe the type of plot as much as the setting – a world in which imagination changes some of the rules. It is a world in which coming of age, adventure, mystery, romance, war … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment