This week I am celebrating the written word. As a reader, teacher and writer, words are an important part of my life.
I am currently at a workshop focused on writing for the children’s educational market. It is one of many workshops put on by the Highlights Foundation located on the founders’ family property in the Pocono Mountains outside of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. This has been a wonderful week led by two fabulous writers, Jan Fields and Paula Morrow. The other participants are creative and clever authors. I know we’ll be writing friends for years to come. The past five days have been inspiring, encouraging, and filled with words.
When I walked behind the barn I found myself in an amazing place – a word garden!
Words have been carved into stones which can be moved around to make sentences. I’ve wandered in the garden daily and have arranged my thoughts in a very concrete way.
Loving this cabin!
There’s so much to read around here. I’ve been enjoying the first edition of Highlights Magazine. It even includes a hidden picture page.
If you are interested in writing for children, you might want to consider spending time at one of the Highlights Foundation workshops which are held throughout the year.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Let me know what you are celebrating this week.
This post was inspired by Ruth Ayres who encourages us all to celebrate each week. Visit her blog and see what others are celebrating.
It looks like you had a week filled with fun and learning. The idea of a word garden is so unique and I like how you took full advantage of it.
Hi Bernadette – It was a wonderful garden. The area surrounding was so green with ferns and flowers. I would like to figure out how to make such a garden.
I understand how this place must feel so perfect for anyone who loves words. The photos give credit to the pefect setting too. Love the rocks! And of course I would have loved to say hello to Paula Morrow, the first editor who said yes to one of my short stories! Enjoy, Claire1
Hi Evelyne, Paula is a thoughtful editor. I love your wonderful story that appeared in Cricket. i think of it every year on King Day.
That’s awesome you could take this course with Jan and Paula! I hope it leads to contracts for you.
Hi Tina,
Thanks so much – it was an awesome course in a beautiful setting. It was a dream field trip for me.
So nice that you could attend, Claire. I would love to meet Jan in person some day.
I was thinking just this week of how much I enjoy words. And what an abundance and variety we have of them to choose from as we express ourselves in our writing!
Hi Trine, Jan is so much fun! She really helped us to lighten up our work. Both Jan and Paula really know what they’re doing and they were really generous in sharing their knowledge and experience.
I love the moving words written in stone!
They’ve got a bit more heart than the little word stickers on the fridge, though they can be fun too!
Hi Justine, They are certainly heavier than the little fridge magnets! It really is fun to play with words.
I love celebrating words. I do it often. And a word garden is such a great idea! I’ll probably build one someday.
Commentluv doesn’t get along with Weebly, so here’s a recent post of mine:
http://www.lexicalcreations.weebly.com/jens-blog/writers-bloc-event-september-12th
Hi Jen,
Thanks for visiting my blog. It’s too bad that it is so difficult to make comments with different blog sites.
Claire. Your thoughtful words and photos make the perfect salute to our experience last week at the writers’ workshop. Thanks for sharing
. Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts and stories, Cindy