Tip #134 from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents (Trombly, McKinley) - story starters

 

Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.

                                                       #134

Story Starters

 

When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only halfway there.

~Ancient Japanese proverb

 

Have you ever heard from your child, “I can’t think of anything to write about!” If you have, you will probably recognize that this is a major hurdle. Of course, it will be tough to write about something if she can’t even think of a topic to write about! The journey’s adventure aside, she can’t even figure out where to go!

When your child does not have a specific writing assignment, writing for fun can be enjoyable and can also help her increase her writing skills along the way. If choosing a topic is tricky, you can jump-start your child’s imagination in a variety of ways.

Beginning with a picture can often spark her creativity and help with writing. If she can’t even think of a picture to draw, here are some fun ways you can help her begin:

 

●      Drop a blob of paint onto the open crease of a piece of paper. Refold the paper and gently press. Open up the paper and see the unique shape created. What could it be? Have her finish a drawing around it and write about it.

●      Save cards your family receives in the mail. Let your child cut out interesting pictures to glue onto a piece of paper.

●      Drop a string or piece of yarn onto a piece of paper. Glue it exactly as it lies. What is it?

●      Draw a large number or letter on a piece of paper. Have your child turn it into something else.

●      Cut or tear a hole in a piece of drawing paper. What could the hole be?

●      Glue a cotton ball onto a piece of paper, or glue several. What are they now?

●      Try it with a toothpick, coin, or something else that you find around the house.

 

Have your child determine what the picture will be and draw details all around it to complete the picture. Now, she has a detailed setting with which to begin creating a story around. Chances are she will now be able to think of plenty to write about!

 

   

     Cindy McKinley Alder                                            Patti Trombly

 

For more posts about the authors and their books (this is not the only one), click HERE.

For excerpts from more books, click HERE. 

For more excerpts from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents, click HERE.

          For more posts about books about parenting, click HERE. 

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter

(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)

Check out recent issues.

 

 

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram. 

 

 

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?  
Check out information on how to submit a proposal. 

 

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

   

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.