Interest: Writers
Writing as a Gift
Published: December 8, 2021
Get ideas for how to make a present for someone special using your creativity and words!
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YpsiWrites Virtual Tutoring Updates
Published: September 14, 2021
Drop-in tutoring sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays with YpsiWrites volunteers have been cancelled for the fall season. Instead, you can continue to receive virtual help on your own schedule. Just as with their face-to face tutoring, you can expect to receive focused feedback on your writing and strategies for development and revision. To get virtual help, submit your writing for feedback at any time using their online form. You can also use the form to request a virtual appointment to discuss your work. You will typically receive a response within 24-48 hours. Writing tutors are available to help teen and …
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Murder Mysteries and More This Summer with YpsiWrites
Published: July 29, 2021
Learn more about the initiatives that YpsiWrites launched this summer.
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The Making of YpsiWrites
Published: March 24, 2021
Do you ever wonder about the work that went in to creating YpsiWrites? This partnership with 826michigan, Eastern Michigan University’s Office of Campus and Community Writing, and the Ypsilanti District Library took a lot of planning, and requires a lot of effort to keep it going. In the latest issue of Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education, Catherine Calabro Cavin from 826michigan, Cathy Fleischer and Ann Blakeslee, from Eastern Michigan University and Mary Garboden from YDL talk about how they created and sustain YpsiWrites, a community writing center that supports youth and adults. In the article “Extending Literacy Work …
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National Day of Listening
Published: November 22, 2020
Use this interview guide from 826michigan and YpsiWrites to be part of the National Day of Listening.
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The 2020 Fall Family Read Virtual Experience!
Published: November 1, 2020
We’ve got this year’s Family Read page packed with activities and thought exercises.
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Ypsi Writes Summer Team
Published: August 5, 2020
Have you been following our Summer Learning pages and noticed that each one has an Ypsi Writes prompt? Wondering who is behind the fun activities? Find out! SONIA KRAFTSON Sonia is a Master’s student studying interdisciplinary arts and creative writing at Eastern Michigan University. She has worked in many jobs, from shoe sales, to outdoor expedition leader, to Human Resources, to writing center GA. She loves the way writing prompts teach us about ourselves and reveal new ways of making sense of our stories. She loves to go for long runs and eat lemon ice to cool down. KELSEY HYDE …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 9
Published: June 3, 2020
Monday: A new challenge!We arrive at the penultimate week of Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge! This week, it seems that this week’s Blotch host is looking to bring all of the Blotches together for one big finale. We’re joined by Dr. A Blotch, Dr. Blotch’s aunt’s brother’s great uncle’s cousin. She’s always thought that it would be interesting to create a documentary about the Blotch family and their many mysteries and secrets. But unfortunately, the previous Blotches that we’ve met don’t want anything to do with Dr. A Blotch’s interviews and camera crews. For Week 9’s Writing Challenge, Dr. A Blotch would like …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 8
Published: May 27, 2020
Monday: A new challenge!We’re down to only THREE more weeks of Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge. This week, we’re joined by Dr. W Blotch, Dr. Blotch’s great uncle’s cousin, who has just “discovered” comics. Dr. Blotch is astounded, and can’t believe that he has PhDs in seven different subjects yet no one told him about this incredible type of story. Putting pictures and words TOGETHER to make meaning? He can’t believe it.For Week 8’s Writing Challenge, Dr. Blotch is asking members of the 826michigan community to create comics that feature some of his favorite comic techniques: faces, setting the scene in one panel, and speech bubbles.To do this, follow these steps:Where will your story take place? Who …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 7
Published: May 20, 2020
Monday: A new challenge!We’re here with Week 7 of Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge. The Drs. Blotch have been busy presenting these weekly Writing Challenges, and have let me know that they would like to wrap up the challenge after week 10 (ending on June 12). Can you believe we’ve been doing this challenge for seven weeks?This week, we’re joined by Dr. O Blotch, Dr. Blotch’s aunt, who’s feeling a bit gloomy after spending all of her time alone in her giant cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.Dr. Blotch is feeling particularly inspired by all of the local heroes during this time of …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 6
Published: May 12, 2020
Monday: A new challenge! This week, we’re joined by Dr. X Blotch, Dr. Blotch’s fourth cousin twice removed, who really misses going outside. The seasons are changing, but they are stuck inside, where everything is always the same, and they are desperate to remember the excitement of…weather! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcyRM0uM9d4 Dr. X. Blotch needs writers to create some wacky weather forecasts, to bring a bit of excitement to their life. The weather reports should describe what the scene is like outside using vivid sensory images. You can use these steps to create your wacky weather report: Think about some possible weather scenarios …
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YpsiWrites Announces Virtual Tutoring
Published: May 6, 2020
Virtual Tutoring is Now Available! YpsiWrites tutors are now providing virtual writing consultations. You have two options for writing support: Comments about writing: If you would like someone to review your writing and provide feedback, please fill out this virtual submissions form. Conversations about writing: If you would like to talk to someone through a video chat about your writing, please fill out our Google Meet consultation form. We have full instructions [PDF] for requesting virtual writing help. Click here for more information about YpsiWrites
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 5
Published: May 4, 2020
Monday: A new challenge! This week, we’re joined by Dr. L Blotch, Dr. Blotch’s sister-in-law, who’s getting a little antsy at home. She had a number of travel plans for the spring, so instead of visiting destinations, she’ll have to bring the destinations into her home using imagination and creativity. She’ll need to redesign her house to make it look and feel like her favorite vacation spots. Dr. L. Blotch needs writers to create how-to guides that will teach Dr. Blotch (and other readers) how to create a travel experience from home. These should describe how the destination will look, …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 4
Published: April 27, 2020
What is Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge? Dr. Blotch is challenging members of the 826michigan community to create stories that will bring Blotch–and all who listen and read–entertainment. Each week, Dr. Blotch will issue a new writing challenge at the beginning of the week, check in with us on Wednesdays with a writing tip, and release a video of themself reading and reviewing submitted stories on Friday. A regular interrupter of 826michigan’s writing field trips, Dr. Blotch is 826michigan’s nefarious, slimy, and unique editor. Dr. Blotch often calls in and demands new and creative stories. 826michigan volunteers, staff, and field trip …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 3
Published: April 20, 2020
What is Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge? Dr. Blotch is challenging members of the 826michigan community to create stories that will bring Blotch–and all who listen and read–entertainment. Each week, Dr. Blotch will issue a new writing challenge at the beginning of the week, check in with us on Wednesdays with a writing tip, and release a video of themself reading and reviewing submitted stories on Friday. A regular interrupter of 826michigan’s writing field trips, Dr. Blotch is 826michigan’s nefarious, slimy, and unique editor. Dr. Blotch often calls in and demands new and creative stories. 826michigan volunteers, staff, and field trip …
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Reading and Writing with YDL during Covid-19
Published: April 17, 2020
Reading and Writing with YDL during Covid-19.
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 2
Published: April 13, 2020
What is Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge? Dr. Blotch is challenging members of the 826michigan community to create stories that will bring Blotch–and all who listen and read–entertainment. Each week, Dr. Blotch will issue a new writing challenge at the beginning of the week, check in with us on Wednesdays with a writing tip, and release a video of themself reading and reviewing submitted stories on Friday. A regular interrupter of 826michigan’s writing field trips, Dr. Blotch is 826michigan’s nefarious, slimy, and unique editor. Dr. Blotch often calls in and demands new and creative stories. 826michigan volunteers, staff, and field trip …
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Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge: Week 1, Day 1
Published: April 7, 2020
What is Dr. Blotch’s Writing Challenge? Dr. Blotch is challenging members of the 826michigan community to create stories that will bring Blotch–and all who listen and read–entertainment. Each week, Dr. Blotch will issue a new writing challenge at the beginning of the week, check in with us on Wednesdays with a writing tip, and release a video of themself reading and reviewing submitted stories on Friday. A regular interrupter of 826michigan’s writing field trips, Dr. Blotch is 826michigan’s nefarious, slimy, and unique editor. Dr. Blotch often calls in and demands new and creative stories. 826michigan volunteers, staff, and field trip …
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