Join the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge.
As students become writers, they learn that it can be hard work. In my classes, we have been discussing what makes a good blog post. What are the qualities of good writing? During one of these discussions, Matthew was playing with paperclips, making a paperclip chain. He then started talking about how the chain related to staying on topic in a Slice of Life story. I stopped him and said, “Could I video you saying that?” Here he is:
Kylon has been posting chapters each week of his story, “Something in the Mist.” He posted it over the summer, but since few students were reading, I encouraged him to post once school started. He told me that when he posts new chapters, he revises. He also told me that he printed the whole story out and found that it needed a lot of editing. My response was a laugh because, if you write at all, you know this. I did not prompt Kylon to write about writing, but I am so glad he did. His advice is wise and comes from hard work.
Let me start by saying, “It was pretty hard to write Something in the Mist.” I started writing in March, and finished on one of the last days of school. One of the hardest things about writing it was writing the dates and times. I had to go to the last chapter, calculate about how much time since the beginning of the last chapter, and put it down at the beginning of the new chapter. I also have to think about what would be going on at that time. I wouldn’t be eating lunch at 3:45 PM. I wouldn’t be at home at noon on a weekday. I tried to make the setting as realistic as possible. (SPOILER: When the settings are constantly changing towards the end of the story, it’s really hard to write.)
Another hard thing about writing: making sense. Your character can’t be getting out of bed, and 20 seconds later, he’s running from the police with a weapon and a thousand dollars in his pocket. I know it’s a bit of exaggeration, but it’s true. When I started recording the explosions earlier in the story, my iPod had to be in the car, still recording, after the action.
Next, you don’t want your reader to be falling asleep. You need to keep the action, but not too much action. Example: don’t blow up a building, get hit by a car, run from the police, and steal a car in one chapter. That’s TOO much action.
Also, add extra detail. Don’t say, ‘The car blew up and I covered my head.’ Instead, say, ‘I dived for cover just as the car erupted into a violent fireball. Glass and metal rained down, and I put my hands over my head.’ That’s cool.
One more thing: Writing a long story. Something in the Mist has 6,713 words. That’s a long story!
–Kylon (aka Twinfish)
To read Something in the Mist, click here.
Reflections on the Teche 
Kylon IS a writer! I loved chapter 8 and must go back to read from the beginning! I know some kids who would most likely enjoy this! Sort of reminds me of Roland Smith’s IQ series. Is Kylon a fan? I like his writing tiop, too. They work for new writers and seasoned ones! As a teacher I always tried to get kids to write with more details. I think Kylon nailed that in a way kids will relate. Thanks, Margaret for your post.
Oh. My. Word. I’m floored by this young writer, Kylon. He “gets” the whole writing thing and how old is he? Impressive. He’s learning because he’s writing. We don’t grasp all the fundamentals until we sit our butts in the chair and write. Some of what Kylon already knows I didn’t figure out until my 40’s. I didn’t have good writing teachers like you, Margaret. But I also never thought I’d be writing for a living. Thanks for sharing! Please give Kylon a few claps from me.
Kylon is only 11. He is a gifted child. Unfortunately, he moved to another school, so I am no longer his teacher. We still see each other at times, and he continues to post on our Kidblog site. Audience is important, too.
Wow what a kid. And he is right writing is hard, no matter how we look at it. With that in mind it is so interesting that we do it! The drive to create is stronger.
Thank you Kylon, I will have to keep a paper-clip chain beside my desk to remind me to stay on topic when I write a blog post.
It is nice to see you Margaret again. You are one teacher I would love to hear talk.
xo
Pamela
Will you be at NCTE? We could meet face to face!
Kylon has learned this at a much earlier age than I did. Good for him. Excellent video. I suspect he has a most wonderful writing teacher as guide.
Kylon has great insights!
Ah yes… making sense! I know it’s time to quit for the day when my words don’t make sense.
I’m going to play Kylon’s words for my writing workshop kids tomorrow, Margaret. He has wonderful writing advice.
This is really stupid, but all day long I was worried because I just knew advise did not look right. The most trouble I have with spelling is homophones. And I get so nit-picky over there, their, and they’re.
The video is Matthew, not Kylon. Kylon is the writer of Something in the Mist. Another knock on my head for not identifying Matthew. I think I have some editing to do.
Oops, I think I was the first one who named him “Kylon.” It’s wonderful to see that others make mistakes, too. Kylon is blessed today. Ha!
I’m going to be in a classroom for a teacher next week, Kylon, because the teacher’s wife is having a baby. The opening remarks by me will be reading your post. Just a great piece about writing. Thank you, and thanks to Margaret too!
What insightful kids. Thanks for sharing their thoughts. It’s always amazing to me what kids take away about their learning. It’s so important for us to listen closely.