18 Comments
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Laurie Buchanan's avatar

I love the insights you shared!

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Thanks, Laurie. Fun to share them with you!

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CHRISTINE DESMET's avatar

There's a certain type of joy in teaching writing. I discover so much about my own writing and myself whenever I teach others. One of my best memories about high school is of a teacher who was very kind and patient, and another memory is cemented in me and it's about my creative writing teacher who played the guitar in class. Talk about inspiring me to write! He knew that words are music.

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

One of the many things you and I have in common, Christine, is the joy of teaching writing. I love your memories of your teachers, and I know your students carry similar memories of you.

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

You are one of the top creative authors I've met, Saralyn. Thanks for sharing your lessons from teaching! As teachers sometimes we get as much as we give. I love teaching music lessons. My kids have taught me a many life lessons! (There's a blog post in there somewhere... 😂)

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Thanks for the compliment! I'd love to hear some of your lessons!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Wonderful insight and thank you for the conclusions. I'm also glad I picked up writing after I had life experiences I could draw from. Loved learning more about your background ❣️

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting. So many things we have in common. xo

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Sharon Lynn's avatar

Thank you for sharing a few of your insights from teaching! I love what you said about how no one tells a story the same way. Individual perspectives allow a topic to be written about in an almost infinite number of ways, and there is always something new to be gleaned!

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

As a fellow teacher, you have more than a few insights, yourself! I'd love to hear them.

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Kathleen Donnelly's avatar

Wonderful post, Saralyn! I love reading about the number of students you inspired. My high school English teacher inspired me to write. Wonderful insights and yes, I think it helps to live life for a while when it comes to topics to write.

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Valerie Biel's avatar

I love going to sessions at conferences that challenge me to approach writing in a different / new way. There's always something new to learn. And, I wholeheartedly agree with your second insight. I love it when I'm teaching a workshop and everyone is using the exact same prompt and you get such variety in the responses. It's delightful!

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Great comments, Valerie. I'd love to be in one of your workshops!

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Sherrill Joseph's avatar

It's certainly wonderful hearing about your teaching experiences, Saralyn. I learned many lessons from teaching elementary school students creative writing, e.g., Reading helps a writer's skills, and writing helps a reader's skills. Never let anyone tell you that you can't or shouldn't write. Writing is a vital artistic outlet for expressing our innermost feelings. And very important: Always write along with your students to model your successes and areas needing improvement. It makes you real in your students' eyes.

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Thanks for your insightful comments, Sherrill! :)

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T.K. Sheffield's avatar

Thank you for sharing this wonderful info, Saralyn! ✨

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Thank you for reading and commenting, TK. :)

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

So glad you were also inspired by an English teacher. No limit to how many people have been touched by that inspiration of your writing.

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