ATTENTION -
All of the posts submitted to me are now online. If you attended the event, but took your work home, it will obviously not appear below. Feel free to email me (dbarbour@cwmars.org) with your creation and I will add it to the stories below!
If you attended the writing workshop with praised author Mitali Perkins this past weekend, then you know how much fun it was! If you missed it, here are some of the creations that came from the writing workshop and Mitali Perkins great direction.
The participants were asked to choose a place, a character, and an emotion for their paragraphs. I'll let you figure out which was which in the following pieces.
The writing creations are going to be typed as they were written unless my spell checker caught something obvious, and I apologize for any typos in advance. Any possibly offensive language has been omitted.
From Anonymous
Alex sighed, slumping down in her seat she closed her eyes and let the music and the screaming children fill her ears. All her stress melted away and relaxation washed over her. It was another rough day at school and she had tried not getting in trouble but those 11th grade girls made her blood boil and it seemed to be getting worse and worse every day. Many aromas filled the air and she could almost see the golden, buttery popcorn through her closed eyelids and taste the big fluffy pink cotton candy melting in her mouth. The Ferris wheel came to a halt, and Alex climbed out and disappeared into the darkness.
From Anonymous
I hear the waves crashing against back. Everything's normal and calm. The salty air tickles my nose. I grow a big smile on my face. I feel damp, cold. "Oh, sorry let me introduce myself. I'm Meg, 11 years old. I'm an average girl that has a ton of friends." I spread my arms out to feel the nice cool breeze filling my body with joy. The blue sparkling ocean catches my eye as I look out at it for miles. And just then, out of the blue, a humongo wave hits me like a rain storm crashing down on me "Blech! Puh! Eeew!" I make these horrible noises as salty water pours out of my mouth.
From Sahil S.
Paul stared down at the bustling streets of New York through a window of a huge towering apartment. It was a gloomy and stormy night. There was a knock on the door. Paul's guardian walked in and started towards Paul with dinner. Her name was Sara. She knew at first glance Paul was a handsome teenage American. He had brown silky hair with eyes filled with sorrow. She knew those eyes. They were eyes that had seen too much. She didn't blame him, for his uncle had been shot. It was unexpected. Paul could see a gang smoking on the sidewalk from his window. Paul sniffed at the thick foggy gray smoke reaching his window on the 12th floor. Paul had never known his parents. Their death was unexpected as well. He started to eat the steaming pancake with a thick juicy cover of maple syrup that Sara had prepared for him for dinner. He poked the tender pancake. Sara is Paul's only relative that is alive that is. He heard a knock on the wooden door. The knock was so loud that another one like that would break the door. Sara opened it. Slam! Sara was hit and slumped to the ground. Two men in tuxedos walked in with a wide grin which had slowly formed on their faces. Paul stood and realized his fate had been sealed.....
From Kevin S.
The towering oaks dappled shadows over my body with the full moon shining over my head. Leaves crunch and crackle under my feet as I kick pebbles along the path trying to relieve myself from the pressure on me.... With the icy mist sending shivers up my spine, I survey this dark, icy land that I placed myself in and think, "How fit this place does." Running down the path, trying to run away from what happened...I am powerless.
From Olivia A.
I watched as my younger sister happily scurried down the stairs and towards the Christmas tree. I followed behind much more tired, looking out the window to find that the sun was barely over the horizon line. It was too early. From the other side of the room my mother pushed a knob on the stereo and Christmas Carols filled the entire room. My sister wasted no time getting to her gifts, and was surrounded by a flurry of wrapping paper. The scent of freshly baked Italian Christmas cookies lingered in the air, as it had for me past week. My father entered the room with a green box with holes in it, and placed it on white carpet in front of me. I let out a yawn as I opened the box in one swift motion. Inside was a small, brown, fuzzy creature...a dog.
From Nidhee K.
I sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office, watching the dozens of mothers comfort crying babies, or read them stories or flip through magazines that were months old. As I inhaled deeply trying to calm my nerves, a great amount of antibacterial sanitizers assaulted my nose. It did nothing but hatch more butterflies in my stomach. It seemed as an eternity had passed until I heard "Lauren, the doctor will see you now!" A strong sense of foreboding washed over me as I followed the overly happy nurse, with the fake smile plastered on herself, into the examination room. I tried not to take this as a bad omen.
From Hannah B.
I ran into my seat loosing my shoe to the floor of the school bus. Once again I was too late and the big yellow monstrosity that I call a bus almost left without me. The small of turkey sandwiches engulfed me as I slid into the
pleather seat next to Ellen. I voices yelling all around me blocked out what Ellen was saying. "Hey, did you finish the science paper? It took me about 2 hours to finish only 3 pages." Ellen stated. I looked at her as if she had three heads. "What science paper?" I asked, my voice rising. "That 5 page paper we had to write for Mrs. O..." Ellen trailed off, "You didn't do it, did you?" I had five minutes to write a five page paper on a subject that I was failing in. Good job Miss Forgetful.
From Rohit S.
Fear coursed down my spine as I walked slowly through the forest. I hadn't realized how dark it was until now, with the trees
swallowing up any sliver of light the moon cast. Dead leaves, twigs, and the smell of dirt surrounded me. The slow rhythm of footsteps behind me suddenly began to get quicker as well as loud. My pace picked up to a slow trot. My heart was now pounding as if it wanted out. Crunch. Crunch. The sound of dead leaves being stepped on was getting louder and louder. Now, I was sprinting. My mouth was as dry as sand paper and my breath, a wheezing. The world began to sway as I ran on, my eyes
stinging from the sweat and tears pouring into and out. And then--
From Anonymous
Finally! How long does it take Mommy to eat her stupid lunch, anyway? I darted into the car and told my mom to hurry up. When we arrived at the fair, my sister (who, by the way thinks that she's all that just because she's twelve and I'm "only" 6) told me to shut up or else. I can't believe that we had to wait
FOREVER just to get our tickets, I mean who needs those things, anyways? Anna says that I was running around like some Maniac, I don't even know what that is but it sure sounds like a good thing, I hope! That pizza smelled so good, I almost hit my mom when she said no. My mom said that I already had that fluffy, warm cotton candy, but I just think that she doesn't have enough money!
From Anonymous
I tiptoed toward the giant white door at the end of the long hallway. It seemed to glow like a star as I continued my way down. Finally, I approached the
majestic door. This was it...the moment of truth...I grasped the door knob tightly, slowly turned, and then pushed the door forward. And there in front of me laid the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Delicate pink flowers seemed to pop out of the wallpaper and bring their sweet
fragrance with them. As I made my way across the room, I noticed a faint noise coming from a musical box. The ballet music made me want to dance and run...and even fly. I was in such a trance that I fell over onto the enormous bed. The soft, warm blanket made me want to fall asleep--and sleep for all eternity.
From Anonymous
As I was riding my horse in the gloomy forest I knew something was chasing me but I couldn't look back. I grabbed the leather reigns harder the horse neighed. It was catching on so I whipped the reigns and the hoofs of my horse grew louder. The birds in the sky screeched and flew away. It was catch on so I whipped the reigns again and I knew my horse was galloping faster. The sun was peaking down in to the mountains as the evening sky looked like fire. I knew I couldn't keep doing this but the nearest allied encampment army group is still far away. I kept whipping the reigns telling my horse to speed up.
From Himansu D.
It was my first day in this school. All the kids looked at me like I was different. I had to go to my class, but I was too nervous to ask anyone. I just kept wandering the school until I found my classroom, when I got in I heard a warm welcome song that my new classmates sang me. Then I tasted the sweet m and m cookies my new teacher had got. I thought this new school was going to be hard and scary but it turned out good. I even made a new friend he was 2x as tall as me but really nice. I really like this school.
Thanks for all the great works!!!
One could argue that it's just a $10 poster and we shouldn't worry about it, but on the other hand, it's more than just a $10 poster. It's a part of the new Loft which I for one am very excited about. Every detail, including the $10 posters help add something to the room which makes it more inviting. I will not replace the poster for a good long time, and I am not looking for anyone to donate another in the time being. I don't think anyone should have to spend money on something we already own. 
