This is a resource for literature and communications instructors. It is part of a presentation Debbie Elicksen and Kim Greyson gave at the Palliser Teachers' Convention in Calgary.

1. Engaging the Reluctant Reader
and Reluctant Writer
A teaching resource
By Debbie Elicksen
www.freelancepublishing.net/wp

2. FEAR
Where is your delivery comfort?
• Audio
• Video
• Words
• Photography
• Painting

3. CONQUERING FEAR
•
•
•
•
•
Break down into sub-categories
Find a reason
Face the challenge and do it anyway
Take small steps to build stamina
Mix it up

4. WHERE TO START

5. • Follow along when
someone else reads.
• Watch a video of the
same work (Pride and
Prejudice) as a book
and find parallels and
references; read the
first part and show the
first part of the film.
•
• Blend things like poetry
and songs: pick a song
you like, Google the
lyrics, re-write the
words.
• Rewrite an article—how
would you write it
differently? Offer
choices on how to
approach it.

6. • Read a novel (if not on • Play a video on mute and
the school’s
describe it in detail so
recommended list, get
that a blind person can
a note from parents
understand the storyline.
that it is okay to read it)
and present your
understanding of it.

7. WRITING

8. • Practice writing.
• The first draft will have
errors and flaws.
• Your work is more than
likely great, it just
needs polishing.
• What are things you
are passionate about
that you can write
about?
•
• Write a paragraph from a
favorite novel and
redo it.
• There is no right or
wrong way—it’s about
developing the story the
best way you can.
• Write about a person.
• Write a piece of fiction
from a picture.

9. • Get it down first—then • Make a story about what
edit.
you see in your
environment: a flock of
• Share it with a friend, if
pigeons—from the
comfortable (the
pigeon’s perspective.
purpose is not to
change or correct, but • Stories do not have to be
fill in the gaps, look for
in written format; can be
holes or sense, and
pictures, audio, video,
give credit for what
comic book.
looks good).
• Take ideas from other
writers.
•

10. • If you read specific
types of books, write
that style.
• Use tools from books
and magazines that
provide exercises to
combat writer’s block.
• Show, don’t tell.
• Use all five senses.
• Write about what you
know.
• Give your eyes a break
after a long stretch of
writing.
• Write an outline to give
you structure before
embarking on your
piece.
• You don’t have to write in
sequence.
• Write a list of elements
you want in your story
then research it.

11. BREAK IT DOWN INTO TOPICS

12. EDITING

13. SPELL CHECK IS A TOOL ONLY
“Ode to the Spell Checker!“
Eye halve a spelling
chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my
revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot
sea.
As soon as a mist ache is
maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error
rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
• It starts as a slab of stone.
• Look for errors in grammar,
punctuation, spelling.
• Look for poor construction,
flow, redundancy.
• Use a style guide,
dictionary, and thesaurus.

14. WHERE TO FIND YOUR VOICE
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•
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•
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•
Blogs
Journal
Ezines
Newsletters
Social networks
YouTube
iTunes
•
•
•
•
•
•
Flickr
Scribd
Blogtalkradio
CNN iReport
SlideShare
Facebook notes

15. http://www.freelancepublishing.net/wp/
http://www.youtube.com/user/debbieelicksen
http://www.youtube.com/user/delicksen
http://about.me/debbie.elicksen
http://pinterest.com/debbieelicksen/
https://www.vizify.com/debbie-elicksen
http://debbie-elicksen.brandyourself.com/
http://twitter.com/bookpublish101
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/debbieelicksen/
http://debbieelicksen.tumblr.com/
http://www.stage32.com/profile/76429/debbie-elicksen
http://www.scoop.it/u/debbie-elicksen-lion
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100541659917578195502/about
http://www.youtube.com/user/VirtualNewsmakers

16. An adaptation of a PowerPoint Presentation from
joint workshop with Debbie Elicksen and
Kim Greyson at the
Palliser Teacher’s Convention
2011