Ruth Ayres invites us the celebrate each week. Click over to her site Discover. Play. Build. to read more celebrations.
Hayden reads his story to Jack, the lemur.
This week I am celebrating some great new writers. They attended Write Your Way writing camp with me. Above you see Hayden reading to Jack, the lemur. Jack took a tour of Main Street with us and especially enjoyed frolicking in the Bayou Teche Museum. He sat still long enough to listen to Hayden’s story about Al Hirt and Blue Dog.
Al Hirt and Blue Dog were getting ready for a wedding. Al was wearing a tuxedo and Blue Dog combed his fur. They were about to leave Al’s apartment .But before they could they heard a trumpet. They wanted to know where it came from. They looked and looked until they found it. A trumpet rested there. “Blow me and I’ll take you to the wedding,” it said. They were confused. But Hirt blew it anyway. They were then at the wedding. The End. –Hayden
Inspiration in Books along the Teche
Inspiration for writing was waiting all along Main Street. We stopped in at the independent book store, Books along the Teche. Emery found a line in The Book Thief that jumpstarted a whole new story for her. I hope she will keep writing it. That’s the thing about writing camp. It’s always too short. We set up a blog on kidblog that I hope the kids will use, but I know how summer activities take over and then school will start again. It’s hard to keep their focus once you release them.
Yesterday, I asked my writers to tell me their favorite part of writing camp, what surprised them, and how they will continue to practice their writing. The blog, writing in different places, and meeting new friends were top favorites. The surprises included “I didn’t think I was a poet,” and “I usually plan out my writing before doing it, but I was able to write a story and I don’t know where it’s going.”
We ate lunch yesterday at Victor’s cafateria, a favorite place for Dave Robicheaux (James Lee Burke’s MC). The clerk who checked us out asked me, “Are you a writer?”
I answered, “Yes.” I asked her to ask the students that question. Each of them said, “Yes, I am a writer.” I celebrate young writers today.
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh what a perfect ending to this post and to camp…Are you a writer?!?! YES! Way to go to model it for them!!! I wish I was at a writing camp with you!! I know I’d feel the inspiration!
Just like angels getting their wings…the bell dings and they respond-“Yes, we are writers!” That’s the best! I am so excited for you and for them. I wish I could attend your writing camp. Very inspirational!
It sounds like a fabulous week, and too bad it isn’t two! You did so much, Margaret, & set up a blog, too! I imagine the kids will continue sometimes, and certainly remember the possibilities you showed them! Love that ending at the restaurant!
So exciting! That’s the sort of stuff that stays with kids and stays with us.
Inspiring! Yay to writers. May their words fill up this world!
This is my favorite comment: “I usually plan out my writing before doing it, but I was able to write a story and I don’t know where it’s going.” What a wonderful experience for that young writer! What lucky kids to have you leading them along this path.
I meant to put in her first line. It’s amazing. Taken from The Book Thief, “No one would bomb a place named after heaven, would they?”-Markus Zusak
”People would. They would also tease the girl named Heaven. They would tear her down with words like bombs. ”
If she finishes it, I think it’ll be publishable. I need to find a place to send it.
Such an exciting week at Write Your Way camp. And I love that Jack, the lemur, tagged along. So fun that you introduced these students to the writing life so that each could answer, “Yes, I am a writer.”
It’s a great writing camp that’s too short. Loved the story – kids imagine in the most wonderful ways!