Dallas Woodburn's Blog, page 41

Books Make Great Gifts!

My wonderful friend Jack Collins forwarded this video link along to me ... it was released during the holiday season, but I think the message is true the whole year long! Books always make a perfect gift for your friends, family, teachers, and loved ones!

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New Online Resource for Teens

I recently found out about a new free resource for tweens and young teens that’s available from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s NetSmartz Workshop. It’s designed to help kids make smarter choices when it comes to some of today's tough issues like online gaming, cyberbullying, and social networking.

This site stood out to me because all of the materials have been peer reviewed along the way, and the suggestions of real kids have been incorporated in the content. Go to www.

Thank You, 93rd Street School!

Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in "Career Day" at 93rd Street School in Los Angeles. I got to spend the day visiting classrooms and talking about my life as a writer. The kids were enthusiastic, respectful, and asked the most insightful questions, including one I'd never been asked before: "Did your mom and dad and teachers turn you into a writer, or was writing something that was always inside of you?" I had to think on that one a moment! I was definitely encouraged and

Calfornia Learning Strategies Center

Write On! supporter Susan Goodkin has created an amazing online resource for parents: the California Learning Strategies Center. My article "Parents are Key to Nurturing Writers" is part of the "resources" page.

Check it out here: http://www.learningstrategiescenter.com/resources.html#a.[image error]

A Blog Event for Literacy

Our friends over at The Reading Tub -- huge supporters of Write On! and literacy -- sent me an e-mail about an exciting upcoming event from March 9-13, 2009. The online community of bloggers (librarians, teachers, authors, illustrators, and literacy advocates) at Share a Story-Shape a Future (http://www.shareastory-shapeafuture.blogspot.com) are launching a grassroots effort to promote reading. Their goal is to create a community of readers, one book at a time.

We aren't born readers; we learn to

Guest Post by Kelly Kilpatrick

Contemplation and Stream of Consciousness in the Art of Expression

In our hectic world we are constantly assaulted by advertisements, images, and sound bytes. Technology keeps us plugged in at all times, rarely giving us the opportunity to actually be alone with our thoughts. The art of contemplation is something that has been lost along the way, but it can be a crucial part of the writing process that ultimately brings about many benefits when used to its fullest capacity.

Getting Started

Contem

The Power of Words

No matter your political views, President Obama's inauguration speech today was a vivid reminder of the power of words to touch, move and unite people. His words inspired hope in my heart and a feeling of connection with strangers across not only our nation, but our world as a whole.

Not only are words powerful when said aloud to others -- the words we say to ourselves are also incredibly powerful, perhaps the most powerful of all. What words do you say to yourself? Do you lift yourself up, encou

Article Published in Ventura County Star

I wrote a short piece about my experiences studying abroad in England, which was published today in my hometown newspaper. Perfect timing, as it was nearly a year ago -- January 7 -- when I left for my semester abroad in Norwich at the University of East Anglia.

Here's a link to the article:
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/dec/28/young-writers-study-in-england-unforgettable/[image error]

Article on Trojan Entrepreneur

I published an article titled "Turning Disadvantages into Advantages" on the Trojan Entrepreneur website. My thoughts about building a successful business are also very true about writing. Enjoy!

http://trojanentrepreneur.com/2008/11/turning-disadvantages-into-advantages/[image error]

Guest on Radio Show

Recently I was honored to be a guest on The Homeschool Companion Radio Show to talk about the cartoon I write for Listen Magazine, "Windermere Blogosphere." I also talked with the delightful hosts Rose and Candy about following my passion, overcoming rejection and disappointment, and lessons I've learned through my nonprofit literacy foundation "Write On!". You can listen to the full interview at this link:

http://www.lifetalk.net/media/HSCompanion/mp3/HS080924.mp3

Big thanks to Rose, Candy, and m