Author Archive - Stone Soup

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Daily Creativity #45: Write About a Miscommunication

Post Published May 22, 2020 by Jane Levi

Sometimes a plot turns on a mistake or a miscommunication. What if the crucial email, letter, text or phone message never arrived? It could be a disaster, or it might mean a lucky escape.
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Daily Creativity #40: Think about Endings and Try Writing a Different One

Post Published May 15, 2020 by Jane Levi

Endings are hard. Try thinking about endings as punctuation: Period: it’s all neatly tied up and finished. Question mark: a few things are left open - whatever will happen next?
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Daily Creativity #38: Invent a New Technology

Post Published May 13, 2020 by Jane Levi

Technology is great. But what other incredible things do you wish it could do? Let your imagination roam free and write a story about a world where your amazing invention is as normal as a toaster or ...
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Weekly Writing Workshop #6, Friday May 8, 2020: Sense of Place

Post Published May 12, 2020 by Jane Levi

An update from our sixth weekly writing workshop A summary of this week’s project, plus some of the output published below The Stone Soup Weekly Writing Workshop, held on Fridays at 1:00 p.m.
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Daily Creativity #36 | Flash Contest: Write about a Time Traveler

Post Published May 11, 2020 by Jane Levi

Be a time traveler in reverse! What would happen if a character from the past arrived in the present? Choose a time period you like and know a little bit about, and write down at least 3 things that m...
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Weekly Writing Workshop #5, Friday May 1, 2020: Where I’d Like To Be

Post Published May 4, 2020 by Jane Levi

An update from our fifth weekly writing workshop A summary of this week’s project, plus some of the output published below The Stone Soup Weekly Writing Workshop, held on Fridays at 1:00 p.m.
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Daily Creativity #28: Write Historical Fiction with Period Details

Post Published April 29, 2020 by Jane Levi

Be a time traveler! Choose your favorite period in history (ancient Greece, medieval Spain, the Gold Rush–wherever and whenever you like). Think of 3 features that will help your reader know they ar...
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Daily Creativity #24: Think About Theme in a Previous Work

Post Published April 23, 2020 by Jane Levi

It’s Thursday, a day for thinking about theme. Your theme is the underlying meaning of your story, or the main idea that it explores, or the message it is trying to convey.
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Daily Creativity #22: Create a Photograph with Unexpected Perspective

Post Published April 21, 2020 by Jane Levi

In cubist paintings, it isn’t always immediately obvious what all the shapes represent. Look at Still Life with Checked Tablecloth by Juan Gris (1887-1927).
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Daily Creativity #21 | Flash Contest: Write a Poem about Something in Your Kitchen

Post Published April 20, 2020 by Jane Levi

Go into the kitchen. Stand in front of a cupboard with food in it (or the fridge). Close your eyes, open the door (or better still, have someone else open it for you), stretch out your hand, and touch...
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Daily Creativity #15: Write New Lyrics or Music for a Handwashing Song

Post Published April 10, 2020 by Jane Levi

Are you still singing the same old hand washing song? Are you tired of it, yet? Write some new words to fit with your favorite melody. Maybe it’s the tune you are tired of.
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Daily Creativity #13: Focus on the Letter W

Post Published April 8, 2020 by Jane Levi

It’s Wednesday! Today, we are going to be guided by a letter of the alphabet: W! Really focus on the W in the What, Where, and Who of your Work. Create a drama that takes place on a Wednesday, in...
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Stone Soup author Sabrina Guo starts PPE fundraiser for Long Island medical staff: support LILAC!

Post Published March 31, 2020 by Jane Levi

Sabrina Guo, a Syosset High School freshman from Long Island, NY–and a name that readers of Stone Soup over the past few years will recognize from her many contributions to the Magazine and blog–h...
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Daily Creativity #5: Flash Fiction of Social Activity

Post Published March 27, 2020 by Jane Levi

It's Friday--time for some flash fiction! Think of an activity you like to take part in with other people–like football or singing or playing a board game–and write a narrative of fewer than 250 w...
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Daily Creativity #1: Sharing Hope using Spoken Word

Post Published March 23, 2020 by Jane Levi

Radio producer Cathy Fitzgerald is inviting everyone to share their experiences during this time, through the power of spoken word. She wants to hear your voices talking about how you are feeling, how...
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Writing Activity: Using the power of “show, don’t tell”

Post Published May 25, 2019 by Jane Levi

Writers often hear the advice: “show, don’t tell.” But what does it mean? Read and study a story from the Stone Soup archives to see the power of this technique, and then try it for yourself.
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‘Misted’: music for saxophone and piano, by Abe Effress, 11

Post Published September 11, 2018 by Jane Levi

I have been playing saxophone since I moved to Los Angeles from the mountains of Colorado four years ago. This year, I wrote a piece for piano and submitted it to the Composers Today program for young...
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‘Glocken der Fantasie’ for oboe and piano by Justin Park, 13

Post Published August 13, 2018 by Jane Levi

I started to compose when I was about 9 years old and wrote about 5 pieces of music. Back then I had played the piano for about 5 years already. I started to play the oboe when I was about 12 years ...
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Editor Emma Wood interviewed for the #readingwithyourkids podcast – on originality and submissions

Post Published July 20, 2018 by Jane Levi

Stone Soup Editor Emma Wood talks to Jed Doherty (aka Jedlie) about the inspirational and original work produced by kids, how she thinks about children's writing and art, and what kinds of submissions...
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Editor Emma Wood on what makes a great submission

Post Published June 26, 2018 by Jane Levi

Our Editor, Emma Wood, was interviewed by Jim Harrington for his "Six Questions For..." series, where editors and publishers discuss writing flash fiction, short stories, poetry, and novels.
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