The Inspired Writer

The Inspired Writer I offer experienced writing instruction and evaluation to middle and high school students by buildin

Summer ends this week, and while I will miss the warmth of the sunshine, I am excited to welcome a new group of students...
08/29/2022

Summer ends this week, and while I will miss the warmth of the sunshine, I am excited to welcome a new group of students. Our focus this year will be to develop creativity & style, while we read & write from multiple genres, practice verse & storytelling, & build our presentation skills. You have one week to sign your student up for this year long course starting September 14!

07/15/2022

Recently I read that 94% of employers will seek a candidate who demonstrates creativity, probably because such an individual is more capable of problem-solving, innovation, and teamwork. Creativity in the workforce doesn’t just happen. From childhood, imagination can be fostered and even developed. Through the practice of writing, students gain communication and persuasion skills, helping them develop their own sense of expression and confidence. The work it takes to form a stanza of poetry or create dialogue between characters in a fictional scene will plumb the depths of your child's imagination — and the result will be an inspired writer.

My kids are up for a challenge if the reward entices them. Yesterday’s annual trek to see the fall colors suddenly chang...
10/19/2020

My kids are up for a challenge if the reward entices them. Yesterday’s annual trek to see the fall colors suddenly changed its tone when my husband gave all the kids a challenge. Turns out, they had no idea just how hard winning this bet would be. When we reached the midway point of our hike at the Kettle Moraine State Forest, he offered $100 to anyone who could hold their arms out straight for the rest of the walk.

We watched as kids of all ages changed their tone from cocky to concerned. What had appeared to be an easy way to earn a Ben Franklin was becoming more difficult with each passing minute. In their attempt to distract themselves from the searing pain creeping up their shoulders, they hollered as they traipsed through a forest of deciduous trees in various stages of changing color and losing leaves. They stomped, shook, and sang out, but stubbornly refused to surrender.

I brought up the end of the line, intermittently cheering them and laughing out loud. I had tried, but was greatly unmotivated and dropped my arms at under three minutes. Strictly adhering to the standards, the teens heroically lasted past the ten minute mark; but the surprise contender was our baby of the family who is nearing his 11th birthday. He is a gentle soul. When he was little, his mistakes were always followed up with a sad apology; and currently, he dreams of ways to save the sharks, who he thinks are greatly misunderstood.

No one thought he’d last a minute. I watched him recite to himself all the reasons he couldn’t give up, and I saw tears well up in his eyes. I was shocked to see him place one tired foot in front on the next, doggedly taking that trail back to where we’d started our nature hike. After twenty minutes, he absolutely refused to quit even though his face was soaked with tears and his arms fired in agony. Poked by his nagging conscience, my husband finally relented the dare; and yet my son had so bought into the bet that he rebuffed our attempts to end the challenge. In the end, we had to promise him the $100 in exchange for a cease. Only then, did a fresh dam of tears escape him while he collapsed to the ground.

His bravery cost him sore shoulders and

Maybe we don’t like to write because we don’t like to think. Or feel. Or remember. Or at times, take appropriate actions...
10/07/2020

Maybe we don’t like to write because we don’t like to think. Or feel. Or remember. Or at times, take appropriate actions that might put us in conflict with others. Sometimes we prefer to ignore our emotions or walk on clouds of denial. It’s easier that way.

Sometimes the truth is staring you in the face, but you are blind and deaf to its reality. That was the situation when an 8th grade teacher handed out spiral bound notebooks and told us we were going to write in “Journals” each day. While my stonewashed jeans and Top 40 playlist seemed more significant to me at the time, I began scribbling words into the journal.

Some really awkward things spilled out on the page. Like how it felt to be kissed by a boy. Like how much it hurt to not be chosen to play the lead in the school play. Like how much I struggled with my worth because I wasn’t a size 2. Like how I was afraid that sometimes my mom drank too much.

Loose fears, random troubles, and rogue dreams were showing up in that spiral notebook. Until they were ink, my thoughts and feelings were secrets, sometimes even from me. Until that moment when my words became my own kind of memoir, I hadn’t faced uncomfortable facts competing for my attention.

Our language has purpose and power for both the individual and community. Our words express thoughts and feelings, relate our stories, inform essential information, and persuade others to important belief and action.Our writing is dangerous because it first changes us, and then initiates transformation in our world.

It was Snoopy who did me in. Until 6th grade art class, I thought I could draw. Until Mrs. Anders asked to imitate Charl...
10/02/2020

It was Snoopy who did me in. Until 6th grade art class, I thought I could draw. Until Mrs. Anders asked to imitate Charles Schulz’s sketch of the famous pup, I felt like I might be an artist. Until I dejectedly stared at a cross-eyed, unevenly-eared dog, I never questioned my artistic ability. I had already fashioned hundreds of tulips and daisies, drawn dozens of trees with birds’ nests, and covered multiple notebooks with butterflies. Art was my friend, and sketching was a calming pastime during my childhood; but at a certain point, I realized the wonderful images in my imagination were not making their way onto canvas.

Since that day, I have learned so much about individuality and creativity, so I don’t grieve the death of my Art Dream. Expression of imagination, gratitude, and wonder is possible in so many ways. I have a daughter whose creativity is demonstrated every time she starts cooking, and another child who believes he’ll find Megalodon fossils every time he visits Lake Michigan.

For me, words are the expression of my perceptions of the world. Sentences are my images, and paragraphs are my paintings. Every syllable and every sound reveals my voice. Writing allows me to ponder, question, and contribute generously to my universe of people, places, and things that I love.

If you remember the stories of Zeus and Poseidon, you might also recall the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology who...
09/29/2020

If you remember the stories of Zeus and Poseidon, you might also recall the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology who presided over music, poetry, art, and science. That’s where we get the idea of a muse being the source of our inspiration for creativity. In our day, we might refer to a special person or vision as the impetus for our creation. And there are so many things which can inspire us toward creativity!

In my own life, I find many people, places, and things which inspire me, motivate me, and encourage me to unlock the passion and creativity that is within.

Holding my newborn babies, kissing my beloved, and laughing uproariously with a good friend...these relationships stir up my desire to communicate deep truths about connection, intimacy, and community.

Surveying majestic mountain peaks, hiking through wooded forests, and canoeing through a winding river...these places of beauty initiate my desire to wonder at creation and ponder the incredible meanings of our existence.

Examining a treasured Christmas ornament, bringing a fine wine to my lips, and lighting a scented candle at dusk...these items usher me to a place of nostalgia, reverence, and gratitude to the universe for providing such bounty in one special moment.

As human beings, we need creativity for it awakens our souls, deepens our relationships, and defines our purposes. Creativity is an easy friend to a child, but as adults, we choose whether or not to open the door when the Muse begins to tap on our hearts.

Recently my teen lost his tech for a few days. The result was that he learned about Medieval warfare and even got busy b...
09/24/2020

Recently my teen lost his tech for a few days. The result was that he learned about Medieval warfare and even got busy building swords and shields from PVC pipes and wood panels he found in the garage. His little brother got roped into his surge of creativity as afternoons were spent in swordplay.

One night after dinner, I wanted to know if I could re-enact my favorite scenes from The Princess Bride, and I learned it’s harder than it looks! The laughter and hugs that ensued from that backyard battle are some of the good stuff that creativity gives us.

How many stories and skits do kids naturally write and perform when they have a day left to themselves (and nothing to entertain them?) Have you watched a scarf or old sheet become a costume or a landscape for some creative endeavor?

This beautiful experimentation and expression is creativity at its finest, and no matter the many advancements that we make as a civilization can we forget the import of imagination and innovation to us as a people. Creativity, studied and measured, is found to fuel critical and expansive thinking, promote self-expression and self-esteem, and relieve stress.

That night under the summer sky, sweating, snorting, and circling my son, I surrendered to creativity. I tried something new. I let someone else guide me. I celebrated in someone else’s imaginative expression. The result was joy.

Categories can be helpful. Like when organizing your dresser drawers. Or sorting the silverware. Or putting away groceri...
09/23/2020

Categories can be helpful. Like when organizing your dresser drawers. Or sorting the silverware. Or putting away groceries. You don’t want to find ice cream in the pantry or peanut butter in the refrigerator (yes, that has happened at my house!) But at other times, strict lines of differentiation can hinder us.

Expression is necessary, and not just for “those creative types.” Psychologists are understanding how essential it is for our feelings to be identified, and sociologists are teaching us as a society to name and value our experiences. People have a need to be seen, heard, and understood.

Finding our voices as human beings is a beautiful part of growing up, and children who are given the freedom to express themselves are fortunate. Something new and important occurs when creativity is pursued. In fact, the result of creative expression is invention, breakthrough, validation, and beauty.

Parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, and mentors have the unique privilege of creating space for the development of creativity in our children. Our homes, classrooms, fields, churches, and businesses can be places where we are allowed to learn, rather than just parrot information. We can create an atmosphere where mistakes are allowed because the goal is not perfection, but rather the phenomenon of creativity. Creative thought comes as we ask questions and sit in the awkwardness of a moment, rather that crowd every minute of every day with activity and accomplishment.

mistakes

A blank page. A blinking cursor. Ideas that seem to scatter as far as the east is from the west. Some call it writer’s b...
09/19/2020

A blank page. A blinking cursor. Ideas that seem to scatter as far as the east is from the west. Some call it writer’s block. Some seek the inner muse. Some go organize their closets.

But we must explore because language is the medium by which we understand the world around us and within us. Language is the way that we share and understand ideas.

Surrounding us are worlds of ideas and meanings. Math, music, and art: they all have in common the fact that they are symbols that enable us to count, measure, feel, sing, dance, learn, express, draw, and paint. Written language is a powerful way that we share what we know, what we believe, and of what we want others to be aware.

It’s okay that it’s hard work. It’s even okay that we often don’t know where to start. On this journey, we have permission to make mistakes, need a guide, change our minds, and occasionally go clean a closet!

I think writing is more than a finished assignment. Reaching an essay’s page requirement is not the end goal. And if the joy of language is reduced to writing to a rubric, then have we served our youth in helping them find their voice in their culture?

I enjoy language because I enjoy ideas. Written words excite me because they are a medium to a world of knowledge or fantasy or intimacy or faith. Teaching children to think and write is meaningful to me because I know that helping them gain the skills and confidence they need to express themselves will result in them becoming capable and positive contributors to the world they live in.

Are you overwhelmed yet? It's easy to feel like you are in over your head when you are trying to find the last purple fo...
09/14/2020

Are you overwhelmed yet? It's easy to feel like you are in over your head when you are trying to find the last purple folder in your city the day before school starts, or when your child is struggling to learn an essential subject.

Part of the trick with learning is knowing you that have the time to learn without being judged or penalized for it. In my classroom, I focus on two aspects of education.

First, I break up this BIG idea of writing into many many little ideas that we learn and practice together. The BIG mystery of how to write is solved for students of any age and any level.

Second, I remember each student is unique. They have different life experience, family dynamics, learning styles, and varying interests. Learning is individual, and we each progress along our own timetable. I provide a safe and happy environment in which kids can really make attempts to try, practice, and LEARN!

This year, my classrooms are virtual and individual. It's the same proven curriculum. It's the same incredible concept to help students become competent and confident writers But it's Covid-friendly, meaning your student is safe at home and we connect with online resources.

Contact me today with questions or to sign up for a fall semester for your child.

09/08/2020

Today marked the first day of class for a handful of my students. Each of them is in a different place in their writing knowledge and experience, and THAT IS OKAY because I can teach exactly what each student needs!

If you have a child who needs to learn the basics of sentences, you can contact me. If you want your student to learn to build cohesive, unified paragraphs, contact me. If your child is ready to tackle research and citation for a senior year project, contact me. If you want your student to have a chance to explore creative writing, contact me.

All of these writing goals are possible, and the best part is that I can start right where they are at. Please join me for an incredible journey!

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Eagle, WI
53119

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+12622377517

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