Welcome to the summer writing community! Everything is now set up for you to begin your summer writing, and everything is set up for “me” to begin my summer writing, too. Although I am truly psyched to begin, it is hard to make the shift from the writing we do at school to the writing we do on the summer blogs. I don’t know if I want to write a song first, or a poem, a story, an essay (yes, even essays can be fun--really fun) or just a journal entry about what I did, or what I am going to do, today. No matter what we write, the hardest part is finding the time, sitting down, thinking of direction to go (or a place to end up), and then to start tapping out the first few keystrokes, but these are the habits that every good writer needs to master--or at least practice (for there is never mastery without practice). The carpenter draws a line on a board and then cuts the board all the way through; a writer gets a thought in his or her head, and they start writing until that thought is fully expressed. Sometimes the results are amazing; sometimes they are not amazing, but it is always time well spent; moreover, I can promise you that if you make the time this summer, and if you make the effort, and you listen to the advice of the people in your community, you will become a much better writer--and a much happier writer. It is really that simple.
You are welcome to write “anything” on your blog, as long as it is appropriate and not hurtful or embarrassing to any person. I will also give you a number of prompts this summer to help you write in different genres, or just to give you ideas for what to write about. The golden rule for all writers is to write about what you know and what you can imagine. You are the expert of yourself!
Our first prompt this summer is to either write about your school year, or to write about your hopes for the upcoming summer. Remember that your readers are not in your head, so they need to “see” and “feel” everything you are describing, which is why your teachers always talk about the need to use the fives senses when you write: see, touch, look, smell, and hear. I would also add to always make sure your readers know the who, what, when, why, and where of every event you are describing. Just keeping these two suggestions in your head as you write (and even more so when you edit) will make your writing that much more interesting and rewarding to your readers.
So, start writing--and call or e-mail me if you are having any problems with your summer blog. We do have room for more people, so if you have a friend you think would like to join your community, put them in touch with me.
Thanks, and have fun!
~fitz
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