This post has little to to with technology in the classroom but a lot to do with the launch of my latest prehistoric fiction, Endangered Species, Book 1 of the trilogy, Savage Land. Join the Blog Hop over at my writer’s blog, WordDreams!

Curious? Not sure you want to invest your time yet? Here’s the trailer:

Alright! Here’s what’s going on:

I’ll be visiting writer friend blogs January 6-26, 2025, and then continue with the occasional “I’m Traveling” visits throughout 2025. We’ll chat about Neanderthals, early man, Endangered Species, and writing in general. Here are articles you can read in alphabetic order: (more…)

A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog for writers. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month here.

In my prehistoric fiction, my characters must squat because sitting in chairs didn’t become popular until about 4,000 BCE and my current trilogy takes place 75,000 BCE. To my surprise, a lot of readers had comments about this. If you have time, click through to the original article and check out what they had to say! (more…)

Ask a Tech Teacher is officially on Thanksgiving break so I’m going to pop in here with two posts from our international team that just couldn’t wait:

• From Blank Page to First Chapter: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Start Writing a Book-–for the teacher-authors following Ask a Tech Teacher, a how-to primer on writing the book that rattles around in your head (see below)

• Top 5 Game Development Platforms for Young Coders: Building Skills with Fun–perfect for those still doing Hour of Code in December (click here after 11-26-24)

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From Blank Page to First Chapter: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Start Writing a Book

The truth is, many of us dream about writing a book, but we stop ourselves because we think we lack experience or don’t know where to start. Here’s the secret: no one starts as an expert. Whether you’re an educator hoping to inspire others, a student exploring creativity, or simply someone with a tale to tell, this guide is here to show you that the hardest part—getting started—isn’t as scary as it seems.

We’ll break it down into small, achievable steps, from brainstorming ideas to turning them into something tangible. Ready to take that first leap? Let’s begin your journey to becoming a writer.

[caption id="attachment_70524" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo by Glen Noble on Unsplash[/caption]

Embrace Your Inner Storyteller

Think about what sparks your desire to write. Are you an educator who wants to turn classroom experiences into a guide for others? A parent with stories to inspire your kids? Whatever your reason, it’s valid—and it’s the fuel that will keep you going.

Identify your audience

Are you writing for fellow teachers? Students? A general audience? For example, if you’re writing for educators, your book might blend personal anecdotes with actionable tips. Writing for students? Maybe you’ll create relatable stories that inspire them to dream big. Your audience shapes the tone, structure, and even the language of your book.

Find your voice

Don’t worry about sounding “perfect” or “writerly.” Instead, focus on authenticity. Are you humorous, empathetic, or straight-to-the-point? Let that shine through—your readers will thank you for it.

The Idea Phase—Where Do Stories Come From?

Inspiration doesn’t have to be dramatic. It might be something simple, like a funny interaction with a student, a challenge you overcame, or a lesson that stuck with you. Even mundane experiences can become meaningful when viewed through the right lens. The key is to turn your raw inspiration into a clear, actionable theme. If you’re more of a visual thinker, try mind mapping—grab a piece of paper, write your main idea in the center, and branch out with related thoughts.

[caption id="attachment_70525" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash[/caption]

Crafting Your Blueprint

Before writing, take some time to sketch out the structure of your book. Think of chapters, key points, and takeaways for your readers. If outlining feels overwhelming, start with a simple method.

For example, if your book is about engaging students in creative ways, your outline might include chapters like Understanding Student Motivation and Practical Classroom Strategies. Over time, you can add details and expand on these topics.

Technology makes outlining a breeze. Apps like Scrivener or Plottr allow you to visualize your book’s structure, rearrange sections easily, and even track your progress. If you prefer pen and paper, sticky notes on a wall can give you a physical view of your chapters, which is especially helpful when tackling how to start writing a book.

Writing Without Fear

Once your outline is ready, it’s time to do what you’ve been waiting for—start writing. For many beginners asking how to start writing a book with no experience, this step feels the most intimidating. But remember, no one writes a perfect first draft. The goal is progress, not perfection.

Fear is often the biggest obstacle to writing books. Many first-time writers worry about things like “What if it’s not good enough?” Here’s the truth: every writer, even bestselling authors, has faced these fears. The trick is to silence that inner critic during the first draft. Focus on writing one paragraph or one scene at a time. You’re not writing the whole book today—just a tiny piece of it.

Write first, edit later

Your first draft is your playground. Don’t get stuck trying to make every sentence perfect. Just let the words flow. Editing comes later, and it’s a separate skill from writing. When you finish your first draft, you can revise it with fresh eyes.

Many writers seek assistance, wondering, “Can someone write my paper or help me refine my ideas?” There are plenty of resources, like writing communities or freelance editors, to guide you through this phase.

For on-the-go inspiration, try dictation apps that turn your spoken words into text. If staying focused is a struggle, apps like FocusWriter or Freedom can help eliminate distractions.

Building Confidence Through Feedback

Seeking feedback from trusted sources is one of the best ways to grow as a writer and refine your work. Many new writers hesitate to share their drafts, fearing criticism. But early feedback is invaluable.

Share chapters or excerpts with close friends, colleagues, or even online writing groups. These fresh perspectives can catch blind spots and encourage. Platforms like Scribophile or NaNoWriMo forums connect you with others on the same journey, offering support, critiques, and tips.

Bringing Your Book to Life

Editing is a crucial step in writing. Start with self-editing. Next, consider professional editing services if your budget allows—many platforms specialize in affordable services for beginners.

For beginners wondering how to start writing a book and sharing it with the world, self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark are fantastic options. They allow you to retain creative control and reach global audiences. If traditional publishing is your goal, research literary agents and publishers that align with your book’s theme.

Final Thoughts

Writing a book isn’t just about the final product—it’s about the journey. It’s about discovering your voice, sharing your unique perspective, and creating something that could inspire, educate, or entertain others. Whether you’re starting with a spark of an idea or still figuring out how to start writing a book with no experience, remember that every writer begins somewhere.

Take it one step at a time. Embrace the messy drafts, seek feedback, and use the tools and strategies available to you. Writing books isn’t reserved for seasoned authors—it’s for anyone with a story or an idea worth sharing.

Your story is important. So start today, even if it’s just a sentence or a rough outline. Who knows? That small step could lead to something extraordinary. You’ve got this—now go write your book.

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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month on my writer’s blog, WordDreams:

A lot of teacher-authors also read my WordDreams blog (for writers). In this column, I share the most popular post from the past month. 

A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month on my teacher education blog, Ask a Tech Teacher. 

(more…)

A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month.

A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from previous months: 

I’ve been blogging for about sixteen years, some professionally (for my tech ed career) and others on topics of interest to me (writing, USNA, and science). That first post–

The Edit Block

(don’t bother to click through. It’s boring)

putting myself on the line, ignoring that I had no hits, wanting to approve comments from spammers because that would look like someone loved me–I thought that was the hard part. The second post was easier and so it went.

But somewhere around the twentieth post–

This is why I teach

more personal, but blocky, not visual, too long, and not about writing.

I figured out I had to do blogging right. No comments–no surprise!–so why was I doing this? It wasn’t to show up, spout off and slink away. There was a lot more I wanted from blogging.

I could have quit–it was getting to be a lot like work–but I enjoyed the camaraderie with like-minded souls. I learned a lot about writing by doing it and could transfer those lessons to others. So I honed my skill.

Do’s and Don’ts

Let me share what I wish I’d known early rather than late so you don’t waste as much time and energy as I did:

• Keep posts to a five-ten minute read–How? Avoid big blocks of text. People will skip them, and then skip your blog.
• Only reblog 10% of someone else’s post. If you’re on WordPress and push the ‘reblog’ button (if available), they take care of it for you. But if you copy someone’s post–even if you give them attribution–you blew it. You have to get permission if you are reposting more than 10% of someone’s work. Where was I supposed to learn that?

(more…)

A lot of teacher-authors read both my education blog (this one–Ask a Tech Teacher) and my writer’s blog (WordDreams). In this monthly column, I share a popular post from the past month on my writer’s blog, WordDreams 

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I’ve started a new collaboration over there with an exciting writer’s blog called Story Empire. My column is: What’s happening in the literary world?

This series will spotlight what writers are talking about as well as literary-focused monthly events. I’ll keep the posts brief though I may return to one or more later in the year depending upon world events.

January’s topics:

• AI-powered writing tools
• AI-generated fiction
• Copyright and ownership
• AI training from internet content
• AI–ethics and bias
• AI–loss of creativity
• Calendar of literary events

(more…)

In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from my writer’s blog, WordDreams. Why? Because a lot of teachers are also authors. This one is from a while ago, but it’s about dogs. If you love these critters the way I do, you understand:

 

Today, Thomas Wikman,  proud owner of a Leonberger named Bronco, author of the definitive book on this breed, The Life and Times of Le Bronco, and I, soulmate to my fictional Canis-dog Ump, sometimes star of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, will compare stories about our massive dogs. Despite that Ump passed on about 2 million years ago and Bronco more recently, the two huge furballs have gotten to know each other over the mythical Rainbow Bridge, the passage that carries pets to their Life Ever After. Though Ump is more wolf than domesticated dog (akin to the extinct Borophagus) and Bronco is a Leonberger, one of the largest dog breeds in the world, the two have a lot in common.

Here are the questions Thomas and I will answer:

1. Quick one-sentence intro to our dog friend
2. Tell about life with a large dog
3. How do they hunt?

I’m taking the first three. You’ll have to click through to Thomas’ blog for the last two! I do have a wonderful large dog named Casey…

but for the purposes of this blog, I’m focusing on the proto-wolf Ump (to the right below) who stars in my latest trilogy, Dawn of Humanity while Thomas is sharing his wonderful Leonberger, Bronco (on the left below). Here they are together;

One-sentence intro to our dogs

Ump: Ump is about 150 pounds, the feralness of his proto-wolf genetics blended perfectly with the loyalty of an animal who understands the human who saved his life. She is now Alpha and her tribe, Pack. Nuff said.

Bronco: A Leonberger, which is a very large rare working dog and companion dog originating from Germany. For a Leonberger, he lived an unusually long life.

Describe life with a large dog

Ump: Large is critical in the feral world of our ancestors. Lucy (the 1.8 myo female star of Ump’s trilogy, Dawn of Humanity) doesn’t view Ump as a pet, but as a tribe member responsible for hunting and protection, just like any other tribe member. In Lucy’s view, there is no difference.

Bronco: Leonbergers are very large dogs. A male Leonberger weighs between 120-170lbs. They are also very athletic and strong, and they are considered to be great carting dogs. Their pull is very large, in my estimate 2-3 times that of a German Shepherd. Therefore, they need to be well behaved and the person handling them need to be physically fit. When they stand on their back legs their paws can reach the shoulders of an average sized adult. That combined with their weight makes it important that they don’t jump up on people, which unfortunately Leonbergers love to do, just to be friendly.

They are intelligent enough to open cabinet doors, and their powerful jaws, reach and strength enables them to destroy furniture, doors, and wedding albums. If you can reach something in the kitchen, so can they, making them expert counter surfers. Therefore, training and taking precautions for their size are essential. They need a lot of space so if you live in an apartment a Leonberger may not be a good choice.

How do Ump and Bronco hunt?

Ump: Ump considers Lucy’s tribe his pack so he hunts exactly as he would if traveling with his proto-wolves. They hunt in a group, sniff out clues, communicate with each other with huffs and yips, and instinctively know who protects and who attacks. Because of Ump’s speed, developed senses of smell and hearing, tearing claws and teeth, he is a valuable addition to Lucy’s tribe.

Bronco: Bronco loved chasing rabbits and he wanted to chase cats and coyotes. However, we wouldn’t let him. It is too dangerous to have a 140lbs muscular dog running lose in the neighborhood. He was able to chase rabbits once when he got lose. He was fast but not as fast as the rabbit. What he was good at was sniffing out rodents, like hamsters. Leonbergers have a very good sense of smell. On a few occasions he sniffed out the location of our runaway hamsters. Bronco’s hamster rescue operations gave us some amazing tales to tell.

–photo credit Deposit Photos