With our rainy, cooler days, a family project of hand writing letters to a grandparent or friend can be a practical tool to improve spelling and cursive writing.  If you are isolating on your own, what a great opportunity to get started writing that novel you have been thinking about, or ‘roughed out’ at one of our Writers’ Forums. You could have a complete manuscript ready to go for the next Writers’ Forum at the library. Our online resources can help start a lesson plan, novel, screenplay, or provide ideas from a “master storyteller’ like Stephen King.

For the family activity of reading and writing try:

  • Little Red Writing by Joan Holub  - "Acclaimed writer Joan Holub and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet team up in this hilarious and exuberant retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, in which a brave, little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of writing a story, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000)... and saves the day."
  • Write On, Carlos by Stuart J Murphy - "Carlos wants to write his name like some of his friends can. After he practices over and over again, Carlos is proud to show his friends what he can do."
  • Stacey Coolidge’s Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting by Barbara Esham - "Try as she might, second grader Carolyn struggles with cursive. A wise teacher, however, helps the child recognize that her imagination and creative writing are her strengths, just like some other famous writers."

For the novelist to be:

  • Easy Writing by George Kirazian - "Easy Writing will help you to ‘write clear, correct sentences without worrying if they are clear and correct;’ create well-structured paragraphs that will present and expand your ideas effectively, structure and develop the longer forms: eBooks, Blogs--even books--with new confidence and control. Whatever you have to write, whatever you want to write, Easy Writing will show you how"
  • On Writing by Stephen King - "Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have."
  • Class Letters by Claire Chilton Lopez - "In an attempt to reach her students on a more personal level, Anne English, single mom and high school English teacher, begins writing them letters and asking for honest responses. Taking place over one full school year, Class Letters reveals how letter-writing can lead to deep-and unlikely-connections."
  • Writing Screenplays by Jessie Coleman - "Find your voice - Everyone has a story. Whether it is a drama, thriller, comedy, or horror, writing a screenplay is about finding your voice as a writer and writing your own unique story that will come alive through plays or movies.” 

Local authors are a great addition to our library collection so give it a try. To warm up you could pen a fan letter to your favorite author or musical group. Happy writing!