Students As Authors
Bringing Writing to Life
http://bit.ly/studentsasauthors
FYI:
The Project
- Create a non-fiction children's picture book to reflect research on a concept/topic you and your team have chosen to be published to a broader audience.
- Create a fiction or non-fiction short story with illustrations on an approved topic to be published to a broader audience.
- Create a book of poetry with illustrations to be published to a broader audience.
Goals:
- To create an engaging, easy-to-understand, well-written book an approved topic.
- To create a repository of non-fiction/fiction books for MISD students.
- To understand and implement all required elements of writing presented in class.
Step 1: Create a Project Folder
- Log into Google Drive and create a Project Folder.
- While the folder is selected (highlighted blue), click the Share icon.
- Add any collaborators to the folder and set to Can Edit.
- Click the Advanced link in the bottom right corner, and click the change link to Anyone With A Link...and keep it to Can View.
Everything you do for this project and all assets needed (illustrations/pictures) should be housed in this folder.
Step 2: Complete Part 1 of the Project Prep Sheet
- MAKE A COPY of the Project Prep sheet by clicking the blue button. (You will need to log into your Google Drive.)
- Click the folder icon next to the document title.
- Move this document to the project folder just created.
All other group members need to:
- Open their Google Drive
- Click on Shared With Me and find the project folder.
- Select the folder by clicking on it once (it will turn blue)
- Click the Drive Icon up on the menu bar next to the Trash Can to move the folder into your Drive.
Now, everyone has access to your planning doc. Complete part 1.
Once you have completed Part 1 of this document:
Some Examples to Examine...Ideas Are Everywhere:
ABCs of the Universe
The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey
Rutherford B. Who Is He? Poems About Our Presidents
Step 3: Complete Part 2 of the Project Prep Sheet
- Do some research, find some children's books that you like and implement some of those techniques.
- Explore the graphic at the bottom of this page to examine different ways to structure a children's picture book.
- Then, re-open your Project Proposal, scroll down to Part 2 and complete the Storyboard planning portion of the document.
"Good painters copy, great painters steal." ~Picasso
Step 4: Write your Rough Draft
To begin writing, one group member must:
- Click here to access the book template
- After you make a copy, click the folder icon next to the document title
- Move this document to the project folder; after this all group members will have access.
Make sure every word is vital to telling the story. If it isn't, omit it. You don't want your audience to get lost in the non-essential details. Remember, if your teacher instructs you, do not write more than 26 lines of text.
Submit your rough draft to your teacher for editing by clicking here.
Now, let your writing rest for now and let's proceed to your graphics!
Check out these Writing Tools Below:
StoryToolz
Hemingway
Click here to check out their new Beta version with even more options!
WordCounter
Step 5: Create Your Graphics
If you want to illustrate your own graphics you have two options:
- Use the free iOS app, Paper by 53 to draw your illustrations and save them to the camera roll.
- Draw your pictures on paper and take pictures of them. If you choose this option, be careful to have good lighting and no glare.
*After all of your graphics are in the camera roll using either of these two options:
- Open Google Drive
- Open the project folder
- Click the '+' sign in the upper right corner (lower right corner on an Android)
- Upload all graphics to the project folder.
If you want to use real photos, you have two options:
- Take your own photographs
- Gather photos from the resources provided at the bottom of the page. THESE ARE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND LEGAL TO USE.
*After all of your photos have been selected load them into the project folder in Google Drive. This allows you to stay organized and everyone will have access to all content.
Step 6: Make Your Final Edits
Make all edits, revisions, and allow as many people as possible to review your manuscript. Finding an error after publication is hard to see!
Click the Share button and copy the link to submit your manuscript below.
Want to PUBLISH Your Work? Check out 3 options below:
Option 1: Publish With Liberio to create an ePub for the Google Play Bookstore
Once you are SURE it is ready to publish:
- Click Log In in the upper right hand corner
- Use your Google Log in and connect your accounts
- Click the large '+' sign
- Select Google Drive and find your document
- Complete all of the information regarding your book
- Click on the book in the left corner to add a front cover to your book.
- Click More Options and complete any additional information about your book
- Click Go, Create!
- Once it is done, it will go back to your library of published books.
- Click on your book and it will take you back to your information page
- Look at the menu on the left.
- Download the ePub file, then upload it to your project folder.
Check out this Liberio Tutorial:
Option 3: Want to get a printed copy of your book?
Check out the iOS app, Shutterfly Photo Story App. Watch the video below to get an overview.
Resources To Use For Your Project
Digital Media Resources
A MitCrew Publication
Email: mit_crew@misd.gs
Website: bit.ly/mitcrew
Location: Midlothian, TX, United States
Phone: 972-775-8296
Twitter: @mitcrew1