This is a strong interview by Kate Messner for her book, Writing is Magic, or is it? Her message is simple and direct: writing is about revising. She talks about when she was a child thinking she could never write as well as her favorite authors, like Judy Blume. Then, she learned that it isn’t what you first put down on paper but rather what you end up with – and that she could! Young writers cannot hear the message too often! I’d play this video at least once ever couple months in your classroom. • Writing is about revising! • A work is done when you find yourself going in circles over minor corrections. Kate Messner’s Wake up Missing has been reviewed in Stone Soup Magazine. Internet links for Kate Messner Website Facebook Twitter Books by Kate Messner Hide and Seek All the Answers The Seventh Wish Rescue on the Oregon Trail (Ranger in Time #1) Capture the Flag
Pirates: a parody video made by nine-year-olds.
A parody of the blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean, by nine-year-olds. Exaggerating gestures, calling attention to possibly ridiculous plot lines are aspects of what make parodies work. Talk about this video — what makes it funny — and apply ideas developed in the conversation in a writing project.
Stone Soup Author Interview: Richard Ma, 12
Stone Soup author Richard Ma, 12, talks about how he finds his ideas, what he likes to write about most, and how being published has made a difference to his writing. Richard has published a poem, “Goes the Ball” (September/October 2014) in Stone Soup, and reviewed two books for us: the biography of Steve Jobs (July/August 2012) and Temple Grandin (May/June 2013). Here’s a list of the questions he answers in this video. 0:33 — How did you begin creative writing? 1:06 — What do you like to write about? 1:34 — Where do you get your ideas for stories? 2:03 — Describe your writing process. 2:48 — What was your reaction to getting published in Stone Soup? 3:55 — How has being published in Stone Soup benefited you? 4:15 — What advice would you give to others who want to get published in Stone Soup?
