Suzy's Writing Corner - Lesson 6- Writing Cameras Part 1

Reach for the Stars! Writing Workshop for Kids

WORKSHOP LESSONS

WRITING CERTIFICATE

WHAT'S NEW?

OUR STORIES!

AMY (BOOKLOVER)

MARGO MARGOLIA

ANGELHORSE

STORY MAIDEN

WRITING "STARS"

Suzy's Writing Corner

Welcome to my writing workshop for budding young authors. Learn how to create your characters and "show don't tell" their feelings. Write beginnings that "hook" your readers. Learn to use a "writing camera" to freeze a scene, and more! Download free worksheets. Click LESSON 1 on the left sidebar to begin.
****************************************************

Sep. 7, 2007

Lesson 6- Writing Cameras Part 1

Maybe you're wondering why I posted a picture of a camera and some paints in a lesson about WRITING. Here's why:
A good author should "paint a picture" for her/her readers.
A good author should "take pictures" for his/her readers.
But there's just one problem. Authors don't use cameras; they don't use paints; they can't make movies to show their readers what things look like! Authors have one tool:
WORDS
It's important that the words we write are able to "paint a picture" or "make a photograph" in the reader's mind.
I like to take along my "writing camera" when I'm writing a story. If I see something in the story that I want readers to see too, I snap a picture of it with my imaginary camera. Then I make sure I use specific words to describe the scene that I see in my head.

The worksheets today are going to be fun! But you can't peek ahead. You must do the first worksheet without looking at the second one, or you'll ruin the lesson for yourself. You will be drawing and coloring a picture for this lesson---a picture of a really cool, very awesome, fabulous ship. If you can get somebody else in your family to draw a really cool, very awesome, fabulous ship, you will have someone to compare pictures with. As you draw and color, you may begin to see that perhaps words like really, cool, very, awesome, and fabulous don't tell you much about what kind of ship to draw. In fact, these words tell you (and your reader!) nothing. Words like these are called "dead" words, and you will learn to avoid using them. Instead, you can practice using words that help your reader see, smell, taste, hear, and feel what you are describing.

Learning to use a Writing Camera is such an important skill that we will spend 3 lessons on it.

Here is the download for the worksheets:
WRITING CAMERA---Part 1

Your assignment:
If at all possible, post the picture you drew of your awesome, wonderful, magnificent ship on your blog. Next week, I will post the picture of the ship I use when I do this assignment with a group of students. They are all amazed at what my ship actually looks like. OBVIOUSLY, my "dead" words don't help the students draw the ship I'm describing to them!

1) Make a list of more "dead" words and post them. At least 5. Ask your family if they can think of dead words, too. Don't post the ones from the worksheet. Think of others.
2) Post the "Tour of Your Bedroom" (or other room) and sign Mr. Linky. When I read it, I don't want to find any "dead" words. I want you to paint a picture (or take a snapshot) of your room using WORDS, so I can "see" it in my mind.
3) Have you started a story yet with those wonderful characters you've been creating? Remember, you can go back and download more character charts anytime you need them to create more characters. Your story can be full of memorable characters!

. Post A Comment! . Send to a Friend!

Comments

Oct. 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BookLover

I did it!!! I did a tour of our family room. It has alot of titles, which you will hear about in my post! I know that I have told you this before, but thanks so much for doing this! I am having so much fun! Now I have to wait another LOOOOOONG week for next Wednesday. When you say do it at your own speed, for me that is almost everyday I want a new lesson!!! :-)
Amy