Have you ever wanted to write your own story? All you need is some paper, something to write with and an idea. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Scholastic’s Story Starters for some quick ideas. Librarian Amy from Northtown Branch shares some books and activities to craft your own stories.
Jerome is a collector of words but after he discovers the power of putting them together, he decides to share his collection in The Word Collector.
In I Am A Story, a story explains all the different ways it has been told throughout history.
Characters from the My Weird School series by Dan Gutman give you tips and tricks to help you write a story in My Weird Writing Tips.
Explore Bronzeville Boys and Girls, a collection of 34 poems inspired by the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Poet Gwendolyn Brooks lived in Chicago and liked to write about people and places she knew.
Chester tries to write his own book in Chester's Masterpiece, but it turns out to be a lot harder than he thought.
Are you ready to try some activities to create your own story?
Follow instructions to design your own easy-to-make blank books, a layered book or a flip book of faces (you can replace the metal rings with yarn or string).
Build a poem out of old magazines, books or newspapers using cutout words or phrases. Try different types of poems, like haiku, acrostic and free verse poems.
Make found poetry. Use markers to add your own words if you can’t find the ones you're looking for. Add pictures to go with the poems when you’re done.
Create a story as a family, with each person saying only four words at a time to add on to the story. There’s also an easier version where everyone just says one word each time. To add a writing element, pass around a piece of paper and have everyone write down the words they add to the story.
Reflect on Your Learning
- What was the easiest part of writing your own story or poem? What was the hardest? Why?
- Which kind of story was your favorite to create? Why?
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