Creating an Effective Creating an Effective Writing Space in your Writing Space in your ClassroomClassroom

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Stephanie ByrnesStephanie Byrnes

Lindsay GriffinLindsay Griffin

Author Nest VideoAuthor Nest Video

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Poll: Where do you do your best writing?

Poll: Do you prefer music when reading/writing...

Poll: If you prefer music when reading/writing...

Poll: Are there any beverages or snacks that y...

Poll: Do you have a writing space?

Poll: If you do What are 3 key things in your ...

Poll: What motivates you to write?

Poll: Do you frequently use to-do lists, check...

Poll: Does the ability to talk to a peer impro...

What real authors say What real authors say about writing space…..about writing space…..

Every time I look away from my laptop screen, I'm reminded of all the household (or Every time I look away from my laptop screen, I'm reminded of all the household (or business) chores that I've left undone, all the burning issues that I desperately need to business) chores that I've left undone, all the burning issues that I desperately need to handle...just as soon as I can finish my scene. Here's how I focus, anyway:handle...just as soon as I can finish my scene. Here's how I focus, anyway:

MusicMusic: I keep a playlist on iTunes for each writing project. I never listen to those playlists : I keep a playlist on iTunes for each writing project. I never listen to those playlists except when I'm writing. That means that from the moment I put on my headphones and except when I'm writing. That means that from the moment I put on my headphones and hear the first song, I'm already in the mood and headspace for that project (especially hear the first song, I'm already in the mood and headspace for that project (especially since each song on the playlist has been picked for its resonance with at least one of my since each song on the playlist has been picked for its resonance with at least one of my characters.) No matter how much clutter might be stacked around me, how many chores characters.) No matter how much clutter might be stacked around me, how many chores might be begging to be done, once my soundspace is full of inspiration, I can focus on my might be begging to be done, once my soundspace is full of inspiration, I can focus on my laptop screen and be swept away to 1803 England (or anywhere else in time and space).laptop screen and be swept away to 1803 England (or anywhere else in time and space).

BriberyBribery: My favorite kind of tea is Earl Grey. My favorite kind of chocolate is dark and : My favorite kind of tea is Earl Grey. My favorite kind of chocolate is dark and gourmet. Guess how I start every writing session? With a cup of hot tea and four squares gourmet. Guess how I start every writing session? With a cup of hot tea and four squares of delicious dark chocolate. It's a perfect bribe to start writing, and it's also become a of delicious dark chocolate. It's a perfect bribe to start writing, and it's also become a ritual - and every ritual helps!ritual - and every ritual helps!

Author of the Most Improper Magick Series Author of the Most Improper Magick Series

What real authors say What real authors say about writing space…..about writing space….. My favorite thing about My favorite thing about

my office is the big my office is the big bulletin board I made bulletin board I made out of insulation board out of insulation board from a home from a home improvement store. My improvement store. My wife covered it in IKEA wife covered it in IKEA fabric, and now I have a fabric, and now I have a big, beautiful board on big, beautiful board on which to plot out stories. which to plot out stories. That one's the new Star That one's the new Star Trek young adult novel Trek young adult novel I'm writing right now.I'm writing right now.

What real authors say What real authors say about writing space…..about writing space…..Stephen KingStephen King ““There are certain things I do if I sit down to write,” he said. There are certain things I do if I sit down to write,” he said.

“I have a glass of water or a cup of tea. There’s a certain “I have a glass of water or a cup of tea. There’s a certain time I sit down, from 8:00 to 8:30, somewhere within that time I sit down, from 8:00 to 8:30, somewhere within that half hour every morning,” he explained. “I have my vitamin half hour every morning,” he explained. “I have my vitamin pill and my music, sit in the same seat, and the papers are pill and my music, sit in the same seat, and the papers are all arranged in the same places. The cumulative purpose of all arranged in the same places. The cumulative purpose of doing these things the same way every day seems to be a doing these things the same way every day seems to be a way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming soon.soon.“It’s not any different than a bedtime routine,” he continued. “It’s not any different than a bedtime routine,” he continued. “Do you go to bed a different way every night? Is there a “Do you go to bed a different way every night? Is there a certain side you sleep on? I mean I brush my teeth, I wash certain side you sleep on? I mean I brush my teeth, I wash my hands. Why would anybody wash their hands before my hands. Why would anybody wash their hands before they go to bed? I don’t know. And the pillows are supposed they go to bed? I don’t know. And the pillows are supposed to be pointed a certain way. The open side of the pillowcase to be pointed a certain way. The open side of the pillowcase is supposed to be pointed in toward the other side of the is supposed to be pointed in toward the other side of the bed. I don’t know why.” bed. I don’t know why.”

Things to consider in your Things to consider in your classroom for writing classroom for writing spaces:spaces:

Space Space Food and drink policies Food and drink policies resources resources comfortable seating options comfortable seating options Ipod policies Ipod policies Music vs. No music preferences Music vs. No music preferences A place to post ideas A place to post ideas Access to researchAccess to research

Possible Solutions:Possible Solutions:

Privacy dividers to limit distractions Privacy dividers to limit distractions Take a survey of who works better with music and who does Take a survey of who works better with music and who does

not. Provide earplugs or headphones to offset differences. not. Provide earplugs or headphones to offset differences. Allow certain foods and drinks in the classroom. Allow certain foods and drinks in the classroom. Have a computer, even possibly your own, available for Have a computer, even possibly your own, available for

students to conduct research on topics they are writing students to conduct research on topics they are writing about. about.

Provide floor pillows, bing bag chairs, and clipboards to help Provide floor pillows, bing bag chairs, and clipboards to help with those who prefer not to write at a desk. with those who prefer not to write at a desk.

Encourage students to bring things from home to make Encourage students to bring things from home to make them more comfortable, like blankets, their journal, a them more comfortable, like blankets, their journal, a special pen, a photograph or quote taped to their binder. special pen, a photograph or quote taped to their binder.

Have model texts easily accessible for students to look at for Have model texts easily accessible for students to look at for ideas about style and voice.ideas about style and voice.

Accessibility of writing tools as needed: (highlighters, Accessibility of writing tools as needed: (highlighters, erasers, pens, etc.)erasers, pens, etc.)

Monitoring student’s Monitoring student’s work work

Strategies that keep Strategies that keep students on task, while students on task, while allowing flexibility allowing flexibility (checklist, multiple (checklist, multiple projects at once)projects at once)

Accountability that is Accountability that is effective and the effective and the different forms it would different forms it would take (peer-to-peer take (peer-to-peer conferencing or conferencing or discussions, final piece discussions, final piece assessments)assessments)

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Wouldn’t this be nice???Wouldn’t this be nice???

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