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8 Things I Learned from My Cats about Writing Haiku – A Writing Workshop

Haiku is not just the world’s shortest poetry...or a unique part of Japanese culture...or even a school lesson about syllables. Haiku is also cat-like (compact, elegant, speaking volumes in a few choice ‘meows’)...and learning to write it will help you spy, pounce, and capture the ordinary moments of your day and turn them into something EXTRAordinary!

Lee Wardlaw

45 Minute Program

$395

This workshop will focus on Eight Keys to Writing Haiku:

1. Tabbies vs. Siamese (‘Breeds’ of haiku)

2. Waiting for the Mouse (Observation)

3. The Pounce (‘Aha!” Moments)

4. Living in the Now (Writing in Present Tense)

5. What Part of Meow Don’t you Understand? (Imagery)

6. Catnip! (Playful Writing; How/When to Break the Rules)

7. The Art of Lap-Sitting (Care & Compassion)

8. Catnap! (Importance of R & R – Rest and Revision)

Age Group: 4th-8th grade

Workshop Size: 1 to 30 participants (ie; a classroom)
Workshop Length: 60 minutes (90-minute programs are available)
Materials Needed: Paper, pen or pencil, and your imagination! (No cats needed!)

About the Author

Lee Wardlaw swears her first spoken word was 'kitty.' Since then, she's shared her life with 30 cats (not all at the same time!) and published 30 award-winning books for children and young adults, including WON TON - A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Holt, ages 4 and up) and the middle grade trilogy 101 WAYS TO BUG YOUR PARENTS, 101 WAYS TO BUG YOUR TEACHER, and 101 WAYS TO BUG YOUR FRIENDS AND ENEMIES (fiction, Puffin Books, ages 8-12 and 10-14). Her poetry has been published in many collections and anthologies. A former teacher, Lee has a B.A. in Education, an A.M.I. Montessori Primary Diploma, and studied for her M.Ed. in Child Development. She is a vivacious speaker with 35+ years experience presenting at schools, libraries, and conferences - - both on-site and virtual - - talking with students, teachers, parents, librarians, and writers. Lee has a genuine rapport with children of all ages, and is able to change the complexity and style of her programs to best suit the needs of each audience.

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101 Ways to Bug an Author...with Questions! (Extended Program)

Have you ever wondered what an author's daily routine looks like? How they come up with the names and personalities of their characters? What they do when they get rejection letters or Writer's Block? Maybe you’re curious about their writing process...which of their books is their favorite (or least favorite!) - - and WHY - - or perhaps you're…

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101 Ways to Bug an Author...with Questions!

Have you ever wondered what authors do in their spare time? How they create the names and personalities of their characters? What they do when they get rejection letters or Writer's Block? Maybe you’re curious about their writing process...which of their books is their favorite (or least favorite!)...or perhaps you're simply dying to know the…

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101 Ways to Bug Your Characters – Creatively!

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