Comments on: Fiction Writing: Discover Your MonkeyBoy

By: J.Morgan

J.Morgan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:54:53 +0000

The little girl stood in the rain as the thunder echoed. She smiled and closed her eyes enjoying the sense of danger and excitement. Until her mother called her in from the rain, she looked back to the house and sighed. Her storm went away as she entered the house, the rain stopped and the wind died. She looked out the window longing to be out there to make the wind pick up agian. Then lightning flash for a moment outside hitting a tree that grew near the house. The storm was longing fo her too.
.-= J.Morgan´s last blog ..Kakashi Vs. Bleach =-.

By: Weekend Links 05/02 | PureBlogging

Weekend Links 05/02 | PureBlogging — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:28:26 +0000

[...] with Pens wants you to discover your MonkeyBoy. One of the best posts I’ve read in a [...]

By: Janice Cartier

Janice Cartier — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:28:21 +0000

Wendi- You just made my morning. There are oodles of kids and teens out there to hand a brush, a camera, a pen…the wiggles and giggles and the ooh and aahs…priceless.

My older teenage cousin Joanne took me to her Saturday art classes at a caretaker’s stone cottage out on a beautiful rolling hill one sunny morning and for most of the year when I was in fourth grade. To model actually, but they let me play with all of their art supplies in between sittings. The scent of the paint, the clay, the light and excitement in everyones’ eyes…I was hooked then and there. Oh, I had always been artistic and my parents feed that, but as “cute”, just like the dance lessons…But these were real artists and they welcomed me in.
My mentor John Scott always insisted that, we “pass it on”…and I agree. The ROI on that is beyond calculation.
Thanks for reminding me.

Janice Cartier’s last blog post..The Function of Form

By: Wendi Kelly

Wendi Kelly — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:49:26 +0000

This is one of my joys working in community theater as an actor and a director. Working with the kids, the teens, who like myself wander in and think they can't do anything and we give them a chance to open up and find their talent. When I was 15, I was a confused druggie girl who showed up one day at a community theater. They handed me a paint brush and let me help paint the set. They didn't look down at me for the way I dressed or my *bad* attitude. I found a place where I was accepted. Well, that bad attitude and the drugs melted away as I was able to express myself through acting and painting and carpentry. Thank God for them. I have no idea what would have happened to me. I've been there ever since. Wendi Kelly's last blog post..Slow Cooking Frogs

By: Janice Cartier

Janice Cartier — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:38:37 +0000

@ How Not to Write, Kelly and James- One of the top ten reasons to have artist in residence programs in middle and lower schools!!!! To put back what is taken away from them. Seriously. First hand in the field work here.

I handed a little boy in second grade a big fat paint brush and said, “Okay paint that strip of river on our huge piece of canvas…his eyes widened…Me? he questioned.. “yes, who else? It’s your river.” He told me (second grade now), no one ever lets him do this. We, 60 kids and I, made a huge collage canvas in a little over two hours, of all the places his grade and the McGehee 6th grade girls went that year in a foundation literacy program…putting that spark back in…aiding that discovery…still brings tears and joy to me…We made a rainforest in their own school stairwell two stories high. Behavior problems, academic disparities disappear. You give them another way to respond to everything that comes their way, another arrow in the quiver..one that gets drummed out too quickly if we do nothing.
I LOVE DOT. I used it as much for grownups as for children.
Just give them supplies and play … close to my heart here…. I will bring out the artist in any kid, just give me a bit of time and some supplies.

Janice Cartier’s last blog post..The Language of Line

By: Game 28: #2 Seed I’d Rather Be Writing Versus #5 Seed Men With Pens | Writer's Resource Center

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:50:17 +0000

[...] Tom Johnson over at I’d Rather Be Writing is a technical writer and it shows. Judging by the last ten blog headlines, Johnson tends toward long (11+ word) descriptive headlines. When you read a Tom Johnson headline, you tend to know exactly what you are going to get out of the post. They aren’t clever or flashy, but if it is a topic that interests you, you’ll know it from the headline. James Chartrand and Harry McLeod over at Men With Pens are more concise, but for the most part they achieve the same effect. Their headlines are informative, and are often goal-oriented, such as How to Show You Care About Your Customers. They do occasionally go for flashier headlines such as Fiction Writing: Discover Your MonkeyBoy. [...]

By: How Not To Write

How Not To Write — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:36:59 +0000

@Kelly No worries. I’m actually glad you did because it was bugging me.

By the way, Gordon also has a great book about learning to paint watercolors. Good stuff.

How Not To Write’s last blog post..Why Writing Matters or How I Helped Save an Old Stone House

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:32:32 +0000

Oh, I wasn’t trying to correct, I just figured they run in different circles. My 4th grade-9 year old says she’s going to be an architects so she can build the buildings that I put fabulous businesses into. I’d better live up to her expectations of me.

She used to draw floorplans, logos, whatever the day was calling for, right alongside me. Hers were incredibly fanciful. Now she sits with me and draws an endless stream of Pokemon. *sigh* How long does this phase last?

I’m going in search of the Hairball book today. I know I’ll love it. Thanks!

Kelly’s last blog post..Brand Propheteers: Part One – Golden Opportunities and “I’ll Have What She’s Having”

By: How Not To Write

How Not To Write — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:23:15 +0000

@Kelly Thanks for correcting the grade. I wasn’t quite sure. 4th and 5th is still depressing. I have a 9 year old (4th grade). He still scribbles in his notebook. His drawings are amazing and fun. Doing all I can to help him stay that way!

How Not To Write’s last blog post..Why Writing Matters or How I Helped Save an Old Stone House

By: How Not To Write

How Not To Write — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:21:03 +0000

@James No doubt, but Gordon is very inspiring. The key is never giving up your crayons. I liked that book so much I carried it around with me to meetings for weeks. People would ask me about the book and I’d try to relate a little story.

Most of the folks thought I was plain crazy – Weak member of the herd! Get away! He’s attracting predators!

But a few actually went out and got their own copies. Interesting to think about that now, because none of the people who read the book ended up staying… Except me of course, but then crayons are a state of mind.

How Not To Write’s last blog post..Why Writing Matters or How I Helped Save an Old Stone House