This document provides tips and guidance for becoming a better writer. It discusses choosing a topic, developing ideas, crafting an engaging beginning and conclusion, using transitions, voice, style, tone, mechanics, appearance, and evaluating one's writing with rubrics. The overall message is that strong writing incorporates various elements and following best practices leads to writing that stirs the soul.

2. • To relax
• To reflect
• To express yourself
• To stop consuming and start creating!
• To practice
• To Vent!
• To become a great writer
• To tell your story!

5. • What is my topic?
• Consider choice, focus, elaboration, and details
• Is my topic narrow enough to manage?
• Is my topic broad enough to give details?
• Ideas are the cheapest part of the writing.
They are free. The hard part is what you do
with the ideas you’ve gathered. ~ Jane Yolen

6. • Did my beginning entice my readers?
• Do I have an effective conclusion?
• Do my transitions lead my readers to the next topic?
• This trait will keep your reader from getting lost in your writing.
• Work extra hard on the beginning of your story,
so it snares the readers instantly. And know how
you’re going to end your story before you start
writing; without a sense of direction, you can get
lost in the middle. ~ Joan Lowery Nixon

7. • This is your unique style of writing.
• This is the tone of your writing.
• Does my writing have a voice?
• Did my writing elicit a reaction from my reader?
• The golden rule of writing is to write what you
care about. If you care about your topic, you’ll do
your best writing, and then you stand the best
chance of touching a reader in some way. ~ Jerry
Spinelli

8. • Is my writing interesting?
• Do my ideas sound just right?
• Do my words convey the tone I have intended for my
writing?
• Did I include ‘Smiley-Face Tricks’? 
• The difference between the right word and
the almost right word is the difference
between lightning and a lightning bug. ~ Mark
Twain

9. • Did I use complete sentences?
• Did I use fragments for effect when it was appropriate?
• Are my sentence beginnings, lengths, and types working
together to achieve the voice with which I am writing?
• I have read the writing aloud to check my fluency?
• I think what is really hard is making sense
and making what you write clear and smooth
flowing. ~ Ray Blount

10. • Is my writing correct?
• Have I proofread?
• Have I had my writing edited?
• Did I use proper mechanics, usage, spelling and
paragraphing?
• You write to communicate what’s burning
inside you. You edit to let the fire show
through the smoke. ~ Author Unknown

11. • Does my piece LOOK appealing?
• Is my writing neat?
• Is the font appropriate for the piece, and easy to read?
• Is the spacing done appropriately?
• Are my images placed correctly?
• The maker of a sentence launches out into the
infinite and builds a road into Chaos and old
Night, and is followed by those who hear him
with something of wild, creative delight. ~Ralph
Waldo Emerson

14. • The rubric helps you know what is expected in your
writing.
• The rubric helps you to assess and evaluate your writing.
• The rubric helps your teachers and the state assess the
quality of your writing.

15. Writing is like a guitar. Guitars have six different strings. Each
string has a different note or tone to it. Some are high, and some
are low. If you were to play a song with one string, the song
would be rather dull, boring, and monotonous. However, if the six
strings are played together, and they are given an interesting
rhythm, the gorgeous melody
floats across the room and stirs the soul.
Writing is the same in many ways, There are many different
elements, rules, and steps that need to be followed. Without all
of the elements, the writing lacks something. With all of the
elements, and a little
interesting creativity, the writing can stir the soul.
by – Mr. Bryan Hatch

16. Writing is like…