Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

If you need more inspiration for creating a cluster or a mind map, here are some helpful images and links.

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• Clustering video
• How to Use Clustering to Jump Start Your Writing
• Clustering & Mind Mapping Techniques
• Mind Map Inspiration

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My mom introduced my sisters and I to a variety of writing tools and techniques while we were in school, and one of my favorites was mind mapping, or clustering. We used it most often for starting reports, but it’s useful for so much more, since it’s simply a very visual way to chart out how things connect.

• Select a word or idea and write it in the center of a piece of paper. Circle it.
• Write down the next word that comes to mind. Circle it, and draw a line connecting the two words.
• Now write another word and circle it. Draw a line between this new word and whatever word it’s connected to.
• Continue adding to your cluster until you’re out of space or ideas.

Your finished cluster should look something like this:

If you want to add drawings or doodles, use a variety of colors, or nix the circles, that’s allowed. The goal of clustering and mind mapping is to generate ideas, organize thoughts, and discover connections. You could even use a blank wall and a ton of sticky notes!

CHALLENGE!

Create your own mind map. Use the clustering method above, or turn your mind map into a piece of art by adding images and using color. If you’re stuck for ideas, try one of these:

• yourself
• your favorite color
• vacation
• fruit
• a room in your house

After you’ve finished your mind map, take a photo or scan of it to share with us. You can post it on your own blog or upload it elsewhere and leave the link in the comments below, or you can share it in our Flickr group. Once you’ve shared it, head over to the Grand Prize Giveaway and snag your entries for participating.

When we consider creative thinking, our minds often wander towards the “fine” arts – writing, photography, painting – or towards DIY and crafting such as scrapbooking, cardmaking, etc. But nearly every aspect of our lives, and of homemaking in particular, can be approached with an eye towards beauty and creativity. This is especially true when it comes to the kitchen arts.

CHALLENGE!

The next time you make dinner, consider not only the nutritional value of what you’re cooking, but also of how you’ll present it. A dish with a beautiful color palette is more appetizing than a plate filled with monotones. Cloth napkins and a pretty centerpiece will make your meal feel more extravagant, and may cause your family to linger just a little longer around the table. Or maybe the addition of a tablecloth is all you’ll need to give your dinner that special something.

Take a few extra minutes to add a creative spark to your next meal, then share with us what you did, whether it was adding garnish to your chicken, or an extra color to your meal, or learning a new way to fold your napkins. Take a photo if you can and share it via our Flickr group, or leave a link below. Or leave a comment describing how you gave your dinner a good dose of creativity. (And remember to claim your entries for the Grand Prize Giveaway!)

CHALLENGE!

Go on another walk. This time take your camera and your journal with you. Photograph the bark on the trees or the clouds reflected in a puddle or a window. Write about the sounds you hear or sketch something you see.

When you get back, link-up to photos or journal entries by posting in the comments below or adding your images to our Flickr group. (And don’t forget about claiming your entries for the awesome giveaways – see them all here!)

Over the past couple of weeks we’ve covered several different ways to write (letter writing, freewriting, etc.). Yesterday’s challenge was to play a game that challenges your creative thinking.

Rory’s Story Cubes stretches your creativity and helps with writer’s block at the same time. This little game includes 9 dice with a different image on each side. The instructions are almost non-existent, but that’s what makes it so versatile. Play it solo or with a group. Have each player create their own story and then vote on the best, or work together on a collaborative story. There are so many ways to play! And because all it requires is an imagination, anyone can play along, regardless of age, reading ability, etc.

My family played this a couple of times and the only complaint we had is that there are a few “modern” dice (cell phones, etc.) mixed in with otherwise timeless images (such as bridges and directional arrows). This really interrupted the flow of our story, but next time we’ll just know to roll those dice again if we’re working on a story within a particular time period.

We enjoyed Rory’s Story Cubes as a game, and will probably purchase the new Action Cubes set as well (they can be used together or separately). However, we’ll probably use this as a tool more often than a game. I’ll keep my set in my desk and use it for writing prompts. Just roll and write! They’ll make great prompts for freewriting.

My sister is planning to purchase her own set to help her daughters with their language arts skills. Instead of just telling a story, they’ll have to write it, which will give them an opportunity to work on spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but in the context of something fun.

One last point that stood out to me is how efficiently the game is packaged – there’s no excess materials to deal with and the small size makes it perfect for traveling. It fits easily inside a glove box, purse, or laptop bag.

Overall, Rory’s Story Cubes is a great game for a wide variety of ages, whether used as a solo game, group game, or as a tool for writers.

BUY IT!

Gamewright doesn’t sell their games directly, but you can purchase Rory’s Story Cubes at local stores such as Barnes & Noble, or online through Amazon.com. They also make dozens of other educational games – be sure to look at all their other titles.

WIN IT!

You could win your own set of Rory’s Story Cubes here, courtesy of Gamewright.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary set of Rory’s Story Cubes in order to facilitate this review. However, all opinions are 100% my own. Additionally, the links to Amazon above are my affiliate links. If you would prefer NOT to visit Amazon via my affiliate links, simply visit the site as you normally would.}

CHALLENGE!

Today’s challenge is to pull out a game that requires some aspect of creativity, vocabulary stretching, or thinking skills. Below is a list of games to try – many of them can be played with a homemade version.

• Scrabble
• Pictionary
• Thinkblots
• Balderdash
• Rory’s Story Cubes
• Scattergories/Googenheim
• Charades
• Mad Libs

Be sure to come back and let us know what you played! Then stop by the Grand Prize Giveaway Page to claim your entries. Remember, you get 5 entries for each challenge you complete, so check out the rest of the challenges for Color Outsides the Lines.

{Disclosure: the scroll bar of products is linked to my Amazon affiliate account. }

 {copyright Lynsey O’Donnell}

Yesterday we talked about freewriting. Last week we were challenged to use photos as writing prompts. And before that we sat down and wrote letters. That’s a good amount of writing, so I wanted to share some resources and websites with y’all that I’ve found encouraging, helpful, or inspirational for my own writing.

• Join Five Minute Friday. Each Friday brings a new writing prompt. Set your timer for 5 minutes and write. Participate every week, or just the weeks you choose.
• Enter to win Words to the Rescue.
• Read Joel Orr’s post, Get Rid of Writer’s Block Once and For All.
• Join Write it, Girl! This link-up started back in November and Part 2 is happening right now.
• Follow the 31 Days to Become a Better Writer series by Allume.
• Stretch your vocabulary.
  
• Stay tuned for tomorrow’s giveaway. It’s a great tool for writing, or teaching writing.

 

1 EXTRA POINT: Earn an additional entry for the Grand Prize Giveaway by sharing another writing resource you enjoy.