In The Creativity Project, Colby Sharp masterminded an idea swap between beloved kidlit authors and illustrators.

First, each participant created a story prompt. The prompts range from sketched images, to photographs, to words of all kinds–poems, instructions, story starters, and more.

After each participant submitted their prompt, they received one in return. And then, the story creation commenced!

What we love about this book is the way writers model the “Yes, and…” approach to the creative process. Their prompts and responses are all daring acts of ideas out there and following inspiration where it leads.

How might this book inspire creativity in your classroom? You could of course use any of the prompts as story starters for your writers, but what about setting up an idea swap of your own? Maybe your students could swap ideas with classmates, or what about trading with another classroom in the school, or even across town?

After all, there’s something highly exciting about receiving a secret mission by actual mail.

How to Tell a Story, by Daniel Nayeri, may look like a toy, but that’s the joy of it. This book makes the work of creative writing into play.

Even if you don’t teach in an elementary classroom, you’ll find that the experience of working through the activity book, along with the opportunities provided by rolling various dice, will stretch writers and thinkers at all levels.

One of the most important first steps in building a Writerly Play mindset is for writers to let go of viewing writing as hard work. Once they can see writing for what it is–creative, experimental, an opportunity to shape their thinking, to learn, and to express themselves–much of their writing resistance goes away.

How to Tell a Story creates an experience that turns writing into a game, teaching that mindset shift effortlessly. In our view, effortless mindset shifts are the very best kind!