Inspiration Several writers have given us a glimpse of their origins, their words evoking the sounds, smells, touch of the world as they came into being. Use one of these writers as inspiration (Brian Komei Dempsters Origin, Jacqueline Woodson’s opening lines of Brown Girl Dreaming, …
Inspiration Today, we’re raising up voice while considering how people are recognized. To really explore this pairing, we must push toward brutal honesty, explore that which might be dismissed. We must become the voice. Process Using Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem “A Palestinian Might Say” as …
Inspiration Once again, we turn to Michelle Burke for inspiration. Today, we will rethink the way we interact with our world. Synesthesia is the result of sensory pathways in the brain stimulating other pathways. Imagine what it’s like to taste sound or smell color, for …
Inspiration This idea comes to us from Michelle Burke through the Poetry Foundation. She writes, “We all have words we love simply because of how they sound.” Today, we will move beyond both the connotation and denotation of words to explore aural textures by creating …
A very special thank you to Allison Berryhill for hosting the February 5-Day Writing Challenge on Ethical ELA. We deeply appreciate your creativity in crafting the inspirations and taking care of our hearts and minds with your words of encouragement. Love all the tips for …
Welcome to Day #4 of February’s writing challenge! Here is my next tip for grinding on! Be generous to others. As you read and respond to the poems here, remember that we are vulnerable as we share our hearts and minds. No one in this …
Congratulations! You’ve arrived at Day #3 of this month’s writing challenge! Here is my next hint for sustaining your momentum: Be kind to yourself. Look at your poem as if it had been written by your son, or your mother, or someone you love. …
Congratulations! You’ve arrived at Day #2 of this month’s writing challenge! Let me share a hint for maintaining stamina through the whole week: I never read others’ poems before I write my own. People share beautiful words here, and I run the risk of sinking …
Good morning! I am a teacher/writer/poet from Iowa who has been participating in the ELA writing challenge since June. Over the past eight months I’ve written 40 poems with this supportive community! If you are new here, prepare for all the feels as you read others’ …
A very special thank you to Stacey Joy for supporting our writing lives this month. Please follow Stacey Joy on Twitter for more resources and inspiration all year long @Joyteamstars. We will see you back here on February 15-19 with Allison Berryhill. Please share the …