Thank You 2017 SCWriP UCSB Young Writers

It was a privilege to be your fellow writer, and I will always cherish our community of writers. Please leave a reply to this post with a memory, an inside joke, or some reflection from our time together!

Build A Society Instructions

Yes, writers, when you are building a society it is collaborative effort. As you and your fellow founding fathers and mothers of your country are working, please follow this link for the explanation of the individual roles and responsibilities. Happy society building!

Coat of Arms Template and Instructions

Hello Writers,

Please use this template for your personal Coat of Arms.  Do not type directly on the template, instead make a copy of it, rename it "Yourname_CoatofArms" and then create your coat of arms on your copy. Please don't forget to share them with Daryl and post to your blog as well.

Also, if you have your "Jabberwocky" copy change poem, please share that with Daryl as well, and well, you guessed it, post that to your blog too!

How To Write a Buzzfeed Style "Listicle" That Will Get Your Readers "Buzzing"

Bad puns aside, Buzzfeed is so popular because the content on the site incorporates some of the best digital writing strategies that engages your readers in multiple ways. Of course, we too can create compelling content, and much of what goes into making Buzzfeed one of the most popular places on the Internet can also apply when we are creating content for our blogs.

To create your own "listicle" that will have the Internet buzzing, please keep the following guidelines in mind.

You should approach your article with a unique perspective. Sure, anyone can write a list of "The Scariest Books," or "The Best Baseball Teams," but that won't make your writing stand out. How about "Four Books So Scarily Good You Won't Want to Read Them With The Lights Off;" or, "Five Baseball Stadiums Everyone Should Visit Even If You Hate Baseball?" Remember, while you should always write about your passions, you want to have an angle that may not have been explored before, and that should be reflected in your title.

You should also include a "cover" image and a brief introduction before you start your lists. You may choose to describe your ranking criteria, or just generally introduce your topic, and your take on it, to your readers. This is your chance to "hook" your readers and get them to read on, even if they may not have any interest in your topic.

For each item in your list, you should include:
     -A title
     -A hyperlink (If it's a book, you can link to it's Amazon page. If you're reviewing the "Best Secluded Beaches," you can link to Google Maps or a travel link, etc.)
     -An image, GIF, or video file.
     -A one or two paragraph description or explanation of the entry.

If you need inspiration, here is a Buzzfeed article on "53 Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down" for reference. So, what cool, funny, hip, edgy, Buzzfeed article are you working on? Please leave your reply comments.

Blogging Challenge!

Want to improve your blog, increase your readership, or connect with likeminded young bloggers, why don't you do the blogging challenge?

Okay, technically the blogging challenge is over for the year, but that doesn't mean you still can't use the resources and links to improve your blog.

Please click on the student blogging challenge link and scroll through the resources and attached links to improve your blog. Happy blogging!

The Where I'm From Template

Greetings Writers,

Please click on this link for the "Where I'm From" poetry template and two example poems. Remember, templates are just guides, and as a writer, you should feel free to expand, rearrange, or otherwise make the poem uniquely yours.

--Daryl