This month, we talk to author Colby Sharp about his book of ideas and stories, The Creativity Project. In this exclusive video interview, we learn about what inspires Colby as a teacher, writer, and reader, plus Colby’s favorite children’s books of 2019.
Writing Challenge
This month, Colby has challenged us to use Peter Brown’s prompt:
Create something that includes a tree somewhere out of place.
Tell us about it! Draw a picture to help you visualize your tree. What it looks like, and where it is? Why is it out of place? What’s happening in this place?
Aim between 350 and 1000 words. Submit your response with the button below.
A Video Interview with Colby Sharp
INKLINGS CONNECT
Write With Us This Winter!
- Join our Creative Community - Only $10/month to publish your stories and poems, read fantastic work by your fellow Inklings, cultivate your skills with games and resources, and multiply your creative momentum.
- Enroll in a Writers Circle - Take your skills and projects to the next level alongside creative peers who are passionate about their writing just like you -Â Writers Circles begin January 31, 2025.
- Work 1:1 with a Writing Mentor - Get personalized guidance on any writing project - Mentorship is open for enrollment through January 31, 2025.
- Enter the Inklings Book Contest - Writers in grades 3-12 can send in their short stories and poems now through March 15, 2025.Â
A special thanks to Colby Sharp for sharing with us! You can find Special SIGNED EDITIONS of Colby Sharp’s book, The Creativity Project, here.
Colby Sharp is a fifth grade teacher in Parma, Michigan. He and his wife have five children (Breslin, Dharia, Adelai, Hobbes, and Harvey). He loves helping kids find the books that help them fall in love with reading. Colby has been a classroom teacher since 2006. In 2011, he started the Nerdy Book Club blog with his friend Donalyn Miller. He co-hosts The Yarn podcast with Teacher Librarian Travis Jonker. He also serves on the Nerd Camp Michigan team. Nerd Camp is a free literacy event that takes place in Parma, Michigan each summer.
Â
<script src="https://f.convertkit.com/ckjs/ck.5.js"></script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> <form action="https://app.convertkit.com/forms/710606/subscriptions" class="seva-form" method="post" data-sv-form="710606" data-uid="27a59d70c0" data-format="inline" data-version="5" data-options="{"settings":{"after_subscribe":{"action":"message","success_message":"Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.","redirect_url":""},"modal":{"trigger":null,"scroll_percentage":null,"timer":null,"devices":null,"show_once_every":null},"recaptcha":{"enabled":false}}}" style="background-color: rgb(249, 250, 251); border-radius: 4px;"><div data-style="minimal"><h1 data-element="header" style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-size: 30px; font-weight: 700;">Never Miss an Ink Splat!</h1><div data-element="subheader" style="color: rgb(104, 104, 104); font-size: 16px;"><p>Enter your email to get our monthly Ink Splat delievered right to your inbox.</p></div><ul data-element="errors" data-group="alert"></ul><div data-element="fields" data-stacked="false"><input name="email_address" placeholder="Your email address" required="" type="email" style="border-color: rgb(227, 227, 227); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;"><button data-element="submit" style="background-color: rgb(245, 130, 34); border-radius: 59px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700;"><span>Submit</span></button></div><div data-element="guarantee" style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400;"><p>If you’re 13 or younger, you’ll need a guardian to use their email and fill out this form for you. This extra step helps keep you safe online. We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.</p></div></div><style>.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] *{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;box-sizing:border-box;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] legend{border:none;font-size:inherit;margin-bottom:10px;padding:0;display:table;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] fieldset{border:0;padding:0.01em 0 0 0;margin:0;min-width:0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] body:not(:-moz-handler-blocked) fieldset{display:table-cell;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] p{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][data-format="modal"]{display:none;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="submit"]{border:0;border-radius:5px;color:#ffffff;font-size:15px;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;margin-bottom:15px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="submit"]:hover,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="submit"]:focus{outline:none;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="submit"]:hover > span,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="submit"]:focus > span{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.1);}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="submit"] > span{display:block;-webkit-transition:background-color 300ms ease-in-out;transition:background-color 300ms ease-in-out;padding:12px 24px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] input{font-size:15px;padding:12px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;line-height:1.4;margin-right:15px;-webkit-transition:border-color ease-out 300ms;transition:border-color ease-out 300ms;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] input:focus{outline:none;border-color:#1677be;-webkit-transition:border-color ease 300ms;transition:border-color ease 300ms;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] input::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:#848585;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] input::-moz-placeholder{color:#848585;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] input:-ms-input-placeholder{color:#848585;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] input::placeholder{color:#848585;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="dropdown"]{position:relative;display:inline-block;width:100%;margin-bottom:15px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="dropdown"]::before{content:"";top:calc(50% - 2.5px);right:10px;position:absolute;pointer-events:none;border-color:#333333 transparent transparent transparent;border-style:solid;border-width:6px 5px 0 5px;height:0;width:0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="dropdown"] select{height:auto;width:100%;cursor:pointer;color:#333333;line-height:1.4;margin-bottom:0;padding:0 6px;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;appearance:none;font-size:15px;padding:12px;padding-right:25px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#ffffff;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="dropdown"] select:focus{outline:none;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"]{text-align:left;margin-bottom:20px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"]{margin-bottom:10px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] *{cursor:pointer;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"]:last-of-type{margin-bottom:0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] input[type="checkbox"]{display:none;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] input[type="checkbox"] + label::after{content:none;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] input[type="checkbox"]:checked + label::after{border-color:#ffffff;content:"";}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] input[type="checkbox"]:checked + label::before{background:#10bf7a;border-color:#10bf7a;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] label{position:relative;display:inline-block;padding-left:28px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] label::before,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] label::after{position:absolute;content:"";display:inline-block;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] label::before{height:16px;width:16px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#ffffff;left:0px;top:3px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="checkboxes"] [data-group="checkbox"] label::after{height:4px;width:8px;border-left:2px solid #4d4d4d;border-bottom:2px solid #4d4d4d;-webkit-transform:rotate(-45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-45deg);-webkit-transform:rotate(-45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-45deg);transform:rotate(-45deg);left:4px;top:8px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="alert"]{padding:12px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#f9fafb;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;border-radius:5px;margin:25px auto;text-align:center;width:80%;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="alert"]:empty{display:none;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="alert"][data-element="success"]{background:#d3fbeb;border-color:#10bf7a;color:#0c905c;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-group="alert"][data-element="errors"]{background:#fde8e2;border-color:#f2643b;color:#ea4110;} .seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"]{text-align:center;color:#686868;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;border-radius:8px;box-sizing:border-box;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;max-width:800px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-style="minimal"]{padding:25px;width:100%;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="header"]{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:27px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="subheader"]{margin:18px 0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="guarantee"]{font-size:13px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="fields"]{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:25px auto;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="fields"] > *{margin:0 0 15px 0;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-flex-basis:100%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:100%;flex-basis:100%;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="fields"] > *:last-child,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="fields"] > *button{margin:0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="true"] > *{margin:0 0 15px 0;-webkit-flex-basis:100%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:100%;flex-basis:100%;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="true"] > *:last-child{margin:0;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="powered-by"]{color:#7d7d7d;display:block;font-size:12px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:25px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"] [data-element="powered-by"][data-active="false"]{opacity:0.5;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="500"] [data-style="minimal"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="600"] [data-style="minimal"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="700"] [data-style="minimal"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="800"] [data-style="minimal"]{padding:40px;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="500"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="600"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="700"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="800"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"]{width:80%;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="500"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] > *,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="600"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] > *,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="700"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] > *,.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="800"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] > *{margin:0 15px 15px 0;-webkit-box-flex:none;-webkit-flex-grow:none;-ms-flex-positive:none;flex-grow:none;-webkit-flex-shrink:none;-ms-flex-negative:none;flex-shrink:none;-webkit-flex-basis:auto;-ms-flex-preferred-size:auto;flex-basis:auto;}.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="500"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] [data-element="submit"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="600"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] [data-element="submit"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="700"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] [data-element="submit"],.seva-form[data-uid="27a59d70c0"][min-width~="800"] [data-style="minimal"] [data-element="fields"][data-stacked="false"] [data-element="submit"]{-webkit-box-flex:0;-webkit-flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;margin-right:0;} </style></form>
