Spring Nature Poetry for Earth Day

Free Poety Lessons: Spring Nature Poems
April is National Poetry Month. Poetry is the perfect venue to express the joy of spring. And spring it the ideal subject for poems! Get the young and old outside to explore, enjoy and write!
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April National Poetry Month Selections

Childrens' Poetry Around the World
Poetry is the color of music, the rhyme of the rainbow, and the rhythm of life. Poetry is ambrosia and nectar, the food of the gods, nourishment for the soul. Here are some collections of poetry which you can celebrate with a child.
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Got Writer's Block? All Stressed Out? Simple Stress First Aid...

Got Writer's Block? Or how about Writer's Cramp? Stressed out about that poem, article, essay, narrative or composition? Those are common writers' occupational hazards. But they can be debilitating. Here's some writer's first aid and stress relievers. Easy, free, fast relief from emotional constipation that we writers are prone to...Read more!

Shakespeare: Reader's Guide cum Writer's Guide

DIY Guide: How to Read Shakespeare
If high school students were asked, 'Who would you most wish to see tortured?', William Shakespeare would top the list. English teachers love 16th century dialogue; English students don't. Here's a reader's guide to Shakespeare. And you're asking yourself, 'this is a blog about writing, not reading, right?' (funny how a few homophones can play merry hell with one's point!). I offer this reader's guide for those writer's who wish to learn all they can about the Bard and enhance their own writing. Read on...

And about this image. This portrait is known as the Grafton Shakespeare. I think it has a little more warmth than the older portraits.

Argument/ Persuasive Speech

Last February, when Cindy Tistadt, wife of superintendent Dean Tistadt responded to a student's phone call (complaining about not getting a snow day), I wrote an argument (diatribe) in her defense. I came under some fire myself and wrote an addendum or rebuttal. Here are examples of argument, point-counterpoint and rebuttals for your debate or speech class. Read...

Snow Day Argument

Snow Day Rebuttal

How to Write a Eulogy or Memoirs

How to Write a Eulogy
A eulogy is the speech given in memory a deceased person. It is a significant part of the grieving process. Eulogies are not difficult write; if you are asked to write one, here is a guide to gather family memories for the eulogy.
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Advent Week One Essay: Expectation and the Human Condition

Advent Week One: Expectation and the Human Condition
I did a lot of creative writing when I was young. I wrote about life before I had much experience. I was naive and idealistic. Here are my advent musings. Now I've lived more. I'm still idealistic. I still have Advent hope and expectation.
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