For the month of March I will be participating in the Slice of Life 
Challenge sponsored by The Two Writing Teachers Blog. Each day I will be sharing a Quick Write as my way of slicing. The idea is to offer a SPARK that will kindle thinking and then write as quickly as you can for 5-10 minutes. No filters, no revisions. I’ve been curating a collection of Sparks and will share some with you all month. It’s a great way to ignite your writing life.
This quick write idea comes from my dear friend, Linda Rief. Linda is one of the most amazing teachers and authors I’ve ever had the privilege to know, and I am constantly inspired by her. Her latest book The Quickwrite Handbook contains 100 mentor texts that invite students to ride the waves of someone else’s words to find their own. She encourages her middle school students to write for 2-3 minutes, capturing anything that comes to mind. I highly recommend this book to every writing teacher. You’ll love it!
In honor of Robert Frost’s birthday (March 26, 1874) I thought I’d ride the wave of words from one of his most famous poems. Here’s my 3 minute quick write:
I knew which words I wanted to lift and lean on, and how I’d start my idea, but it was fascinating to see which words raced ahead of my pen in my mind and then made it to the paper. Images, memories, emotions all came flooding over me, just by leaning in and leaning on a few words of Robert Frost’s. I stopped after 3 minutes, knowing right where I can pick up and go if I choose to return to this piece. (Yet knowing how way leads onto way, I doubted if I should ever come back”!)
Try a line from a poem or a page from the book you are reading. Lift a tiny bit onto your paper and ride the wave! It will be magical!
litcoachlady 
I love this idea. I’m going to add to the ideas for the poetry nit I’m helping teachers craft. Thanks, Paula.
This is a favorite idea to write for me! Thanks for the reminder that it is Frost’s bday on the 26th as well. He is a fascinating writer…as are you!
Isn’t Linda lovely? I was able to meet her years ago at Writers At Work. I always look forward to seeing her at conferences but it has been a while.
All good writers (including you Tammy!) lean into and on the work of other writers for inspiration. Linda has been an inspiration to me for years. Authors and poets and all of these slicers continually inspire me! It’s the best!
What a. great idea to create a spark. I think will try to do that as well. Thanks for the idea.
I own The Quickwrite Handbook but haven’t started using it yet. Now that we’re through mandatory testing, we’re starting into creative writing and I’m pulling it out. Thanks for more inspiration.
Linda Rief is brilliant. I think you and your kids will love those quickwrites. Glad you are done with your testing. We have a few more days to go!
I love line lifting. I do it often when creating poetry. This one sent you to a memory. You can use this activity in many ways.
I have Linda Rief’s Quick Write Handbook, and I love it! I had a HS teacher who posted a quote and gave us four minutes to write at the beginning of every class. We rarely did anything with those quick / free writes. Individually they didn’t do much, but cumulatively their effect was incredible.
That’s a pretty cool observation, Alice.
Thanks for the idea, Paula! You have been a wealth of ideas whether through your slices or in your great book!
Thanks, Tracy!
I loved doing Quick Writes in my 6th grade classroom (I have her older book). I don’t have her new book, but keep wanting to buy it even though I’m retired!
These are such great ideas as usual, if I get the chance to do this with my students I definitely will (depending on their English ability!) I do love Robert Frost’s poems, was reminded of this one just the other day. Thanks!