aclJohn's Creative Writing Finds

The Scholastic website has an area called "Writing with Writers" that might be of interest to practitioners and learners because it pulls back the veil on the writing process.

The progression of activities and sequencing of tasks (along with insights by known authors)

• Jane Yolen,
  
• Virginia Hamilton, and
  
• Jack Prelutsky,
  

...makes Writing with Writers a valuable tool for most learners. A bonus is that learners can get stories published here, too, so the writing is an authentic experience.

The section about myths, by Jane Yolen, lays out what a myth is, and she shares one of her own short myths. Each step in the process - from brainstorming to publication - is laid out in simple language, with useful pointers.

The site's interactive elements are also helpful. There is, for example, a brainstorming tool that is a mind mapping activity in which a learner can choose images of gods, monsters, and settings, then write some notes on each.

Another useful element of the Scholastic site is that any word in any text can be chosen by a click of the mouse, and a pop-up box will provide a definition search. This can make the lessons accessible to a wide range of learners.