Today we met to prepare presentations for the Youth Writing Conference on May 8. Teacher-consultants Laurie Sullivan from Hillcrest High School and Tanya Hannaford from Mt. Vernon High School facilitated. The morning started with an excerpt from Terry Tempest Williams called “Why I Write.” After listening to the reading, the 25 teachers from areas schools shared why they write:

I write to encourage and cheer those that are young and old.

I write because any time we have freewrite time and I don’t write I feel the eyes of Debbie Jones burning into me.

Writing is a away of adjusting the BS meter.

I write to make music just for me.

I write to bring new things into existence because I am an inventor of imaginary worlds.

I write for the surprise at the end of a poem.

I write to clarify my thoughts and better understand my self and my books.

lI I write to capture a moment everlasting ever strong every moment.

I write because I don’t know how else to get my thoughts across.

I write to heal.

I write to singlehandedly keep the post office alive

I write to keep my mouth from getting me into trouble.

I write to make lists and plans that I may never get through but I feel better.

I write to let my inner child scream.

I write to remember and to forget.

I write to consider the beauty around me.

I write for future generations to hear my voice.

I write because I think when I don’t write I don’t know what I need to know.

I write to leave a record of my thoughts for myself and others.

I write my messages on the mirror when it is fogged up.

I write to belong to people who write.