Dear ,

You don't have to actually write to learn about writing. Hold a glass of champagne in one hand and try out these writing activities for yourself. (Share them with your students too, though without the champagne!) Happy holidays.

Step 1: Plan for Success

By the barbeque, around the dinner tables, whenever friends and family are around, watch how great conversationalists craft their tales. The ones who make you burst out laughing or exclaim in delight have the best understanding of 'story.' See how they do it. I'm betting the prawns off my Christmas dinner plate most of the great story tellers all follow the pattern of the Story Graph.

Step 2: Sizzling Starts

Put your feet up and watch a movie. Then a TV show. Then read a book. What will most modern entertainment have in common? They all start with a bang to capture your interest immediately.

Step 3: Tightening Tension

It's time to unwrap the Chrissy presents. Kids tear off the wrapping paper and jump with glee. Yet some other people carefully unfold the paper around the gift, smile at the giver, wonder aloud what is in it.... they know to build up the tension and appreciate the moment.

Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue

Hey it wouldn't be Christmas without a few family feuds, a few faux pas and a few hilarious jokes. Watch, listen and laugh. It's all about the dialogue!

Step 5: Show, don't Tell

A few years ago I started a tradition where I got a photo framed of something significant that happened that year in my kids' lives. Hidden behind the frame was a list of their important events in that year, with some small words from me about what I felt during that time. It is hard to 'tell' kids outright that you love them, but something like this shows you have been watching and celebrating with them all year long.

Step 6: Ban the Boring

Instead of writing the usual three page 'annual summary' to go in the Christmas letter to friends, challenge each member of your family to write one paragraph about the highlight of their year. The different voices and energy will make people want to read it.

PS: Also ban these if you hate them: cooking, cleaning and car washing.

Step 7: Exciting Endings

Life doesn't always 'End with Impact' but here is one way that your students might remember your influence just one more time. Write up on the board a list of Keeper words.

Risk, Gentleness, Pleasure, Freedom, Clarity, Care, Integrity... Then ask students to add their own words onto the board.

Then get them to pick one word and act on it over the holidays. It is a powerful gift to kids, helping them to rise to new heights. Don't forget to pick your own word too.

Finally, at the end of the year it is time to celebrate, to look back on what you have achieved and the lives you have changed. Sometimes you will never know it. Sometimes you just have to take it on trust. And sometimes a kid will come back 10, 15, 20 years later and say 'Remember when you...' Somehow you will.

Happy holidays and wonderful memories.

Jen McVeity
Author, Churchill Fellow, creator Seven Steps to Writing Success.

SEVEN STEPS SEMINARS – ACT FAST FOR 2012

Simple and SO easy to master, the Seven Steps to Writing Success program is now used by over 16,000 Australian teachers.

Significantly increase your NAPLAN scores – and students' engagement in writing.

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First Term Workshops for 2012

• QLD GOLD COAST – Tuesday 21st February 2012
• QLD BRISBANE – Thursday 23rd February 2012
• QLD SUNSHINE COAST – Saturday 25th February 2012
• NSW SYDNEY – Monday 27th February 2012
• VIC RINGWOOD – Tuesday 28th February 2012
• NSW NORTH SYDNEY – Wednesday 29th February 2012
• VIC PAKENHAM – Friday 2nd March 2012
• VIC MORNINGTON – Monday 5th March 2012
• VIC BRIGHTON BEACH – Wednesday 7th March 2012

BOOK EARLY: Traditionally most of our workshops are booked out!!!

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WANT TO WRITE?

Have you always wanted to write for children, create a screenplay, complete a novel, dabble in some poetry or pitch a manuscript to publishers?

Check out our sister website Fast Track Writing.

Garry Disher gives the top tips for writing fiction, Libby Gleeson shows how to write a picture book, Margaret Clark inspires you to write for children, Hazel Edwards reveals how to write your family biography, and Jen McVeity gives eight simple steps to pitch your book to publishers.

These holidays you can finally get that manuscript finished and on a publisher's desk!

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