Author Archives: Leslie

Writer’s Notebook: A Mixtape of Words

Looking for a fun way to collect the things that you hear and see every day that make you think, laugh, or want to write? Well check out this mixtape of words exercise that can allow you to do just that!

What I Learned About Myself in 2019

So much can happen in a year! But, how much do we stop and take note of before we move into the next year? Well, here I’m sharing my top lessons from 2019 and I’d love to hear about yours as well.

Setting Scene Goals and Intentions

Looking for a good way to amp up, play, connect, or just write your scenes? Why not start with scene goals and intentions? Today, I’m diving into what helps me to create scenes as I outline my book.

Three Plotting Methods

Whether you are a plotter, pantser, or a hybrid plantser, plotting methods can help either in outlining or revising your story. Check out three awesome plotting methods that I’ve used and loved over the years.

World as a Platform for Theme

What came first, the character or the world? What about the theme? When crafting your world, it is important to consider how your theme or message will be expressed throughout the setting. Take a look at some info about world and theme in this article.

What Makes a Well-Written Character?

What makes the difference between a well-written character and a poorly-written one? Well here are some of the things my students said as well as tips to help you avoid the mistakes that many authors make when putting their characters into their stories.

Making Prompts Work for You

Last week, I talked about different types of writing prompts in the hopes that it will help anyone looking for help getting ideas for their stories to realize that there are a ton of options out there for you. This week, I wanted to dive into a few helpful tips and tricks that I’ve learnedContinue reading “Making Prompts Work for You”

A Few Types of Writing Prompts

I absolutely love writing prompts. That’s why I use them in my classroom and have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to them. I have written a number of stories using prompts, but I’ve come to realize that not everyone likes them or uses them like I do. Some of my students mentioned that they reallyContinue reading “A Few Types of Writing Prompts”

Finding Inspiration Through RAFT Writing

Put simply, RAFT writing is a creative writing exercise that was designed to make you consider different perspectives and formats for your writing. I use it all the time with my students and many of my students had a hard time grasping the concept the first time, but found it more and more interesting theContinue reading “Finding Inspiration Through RAFT Writing”