Hi Teachers!

I can't believe we are already starting Week 3 of Teachers Write!

This week, I want to explore ways to give our characters a place to think.

In my book, PEARL, Bean crawls out the upstairs bathroom window and sits on the roof when she needs to be alone. In SEE YOU AT HARRY'S, Holden retreats under a pine tree, where he hides from his family and later has private conversations with his little sister, Fern.

In real life, I used to go to similar places as a child and teen. These quiet spaces were where I felt most alone and safe and free to think. I believe we all need these special places--whether in nature, somewhere in the home, or another safe space, such as in a school or library.

For today's warm-up, imagine what type of place your character would retreat to, and then either describe the space, or write a scene in which your character goes there to think.

Even if you don't end up using this scene, you can learn a lot about your character (whether writing picture book, middle grade, YA, fiction or nonfiction) by imagining the kind of place they'd feel safest retreating to, and what they might think about while there.

As always, have fun! And try to think carefully about what space best matches what your character wants and needs. Let me know how it goes!



This is one of the snow forts I make every winter out behind our house. One of my favorite things to do is sit by the fire with my dog and enjoy the peace.