Be an amateur. So often, this word has a negative connotation. But the root, "ama", means, "love", so if you're an amateur, you're doing something you love. Maybe you're not Michelangelo, but if you are expressing your creativity and you are loving doing it, then stand proud and wear that "amateur" label proud!
The task was to find an object, area, corner, or window within the limits of the hotel that reminded you of your childhood. Shelley described how memories are often sharpened by not being where you live. Boy, was she right about this! I photographed a window of the hotel. Not really a special window in any way, but it's vastness and the curtains hanging reminded me so much of The Georgian Motel. Some of you might remember it, but for those of you who don't know, I grew up in a small motel and my family's home was essentially part of the building. Our living room was the biggest window in the middle of the long row of doors and windows. I remember the curtains being closed often, but as a child, peeking out to see what new, interesting people were arriving that day. Being forced to think outside of the box got me to think about this window, one that I have not thought about in a long time. It was nice to go back to those no-tell, motel memories.
Later, we wrote postcards. Three identical postcards, but to three completely different people. This is an excellent lesson for teaching voice. The postcard I wrote to my dead mother was vastly different from the one I wrote to my dear friend, Rhiannon. Different people provoke different feelings and require different language. This could even be modified for characters in a book or poem. So fun to grow my bank of teaching strategies!
The task was to find an object, area, corner, or window within the limits of the hotel that reminded you of your childhood. Shelley described how memories are often sharpened by not being where you live. Boy, was she right about this! I photographed a window of the hotel. Not really a special window in any way, but it's vastness and the curtains hanging reminded me so much of The Georgian Motel. Some of you might remember it, but for those of you who don't know, I grew up in a small motel and my family's home was essentially part of the building. Our living room was the biggest window in the middle of the long row of doors and windows. I remember the curtains being closed often, but as a child, peeking out to see what new, interesting people were arriving that day. Being forced to think outside of the box got me to think about this window, one that I have not thought about in a long time. It was nice to go back to those no-tell, motel memories.
Later, we wrote postcards. Three identical postcards, but to three completely different people. This is an excellent lesson for teaching voice. The postcard I wrote to my dead mother was vastly different from the one I wrote to my dear friend, Rhiannon. Different people provoke different feelings and require different language. This could even be modified for characters in a book or poem. So fun to grow my bank of teaching strategies!
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