Year of Goodbyes: Writing Workshop Guide

Sometimes I visit schools, or speak with groups of educators or writers or community members, and the subject is my book, The Year of Goodbyes. More specifically, the subject is writing: using the book as the backdrop for a series of writing exercises that, collectively, look something like a workshop.It's been thought-provoking and rewarding--and, you know what? I don't have to be present for it to be so. So I've collected and refined the writing activities that I think work best and put them together in an illustrated hand-out (in printable PDF form). You can get it here: Writing Workshop Guide. It's now also on the Year of Goodbyes page here on this website.I've been thinking about this Year of Goodbyes Writing Workshop Guide ever since the paperback edition of the book was released earlier this year. And in the last several months I've been thinking even more about the connections between the events and people in The Year of Goodbyes and the experience of people and communities today. Once again, refugees in search of life in a new land. Once again, goodbye to all that is familiar. Once again, in the countries of refuge, fear of the unknown outsider. Once again, intolerance--as well as kindness. I hope educators and book/writing group leaders will find that the activities in the guide get readers thinking and writing about these connections and others.I'll be doing this tonight as part of the monthly meeting of a Teen Writers Club at one of our local libraries. But remember, teachers, librarians, and other book people: You can do this without me!