I Love To Write Day
Please take a moment and read the new press release for this year's I Love To Write Day campaign! Thank you. John Riddle, Founder, I Love To Write Day www.ilovetowriteday.org
For Immediate Release
September 30, 2004
For additional informationContact John Riddle at ilovetowriteday@ilovetowriteday.org 302-834-4910
I Love To Write Day was celebrated last year on November 15th when 12,007 schools all across the country held special writing activities and events. Bookstores, libraries and community centers also joined in the fun. Plans are underway to celebrate the third I Love To Write Day on November 15, 2004.
“I was very pleased with the number of people who came out to celebrate I Love To Write Day,” said John Riddle, a Delaware author who created a special day that encourages people of all ages to write. “The response from schools was overwhelming, and I was amazed at the creative ways they celebrated I Love To Write Day,” he said.
Jane McFann, an English teacher at Glasgow High School in Delaware, and an author of 15 books, is supporting I Love To Write Day. "Writing is wonderful, because it is a great skill to take into any career, and it has a way of clarifying one's thoughts. It is amazing how one skill can touch so many aspects of a person's life," she said. "As a writer and a teacher, I believe that anything that brings the joy of writing to students and makes them realize it has both a personal and a practical value has my whole hearted support!"
On I Love To Write Day, people of all ages are encouraged to write something: a poem, a short story, an essay, a letter to the editor, start a novel, finish a novel…the possibilities are endless. "I Love To Write Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to become better writers," said Riddle. "On that day many people will discover for the first time how important it can be to put your thoughts and feelings on paper. Learning how to write well is something that everyone needs, and on November 15, people will join as a community of writers. For many people, that will be the beginning of their writing career. I Love To Write Day has the potential to launch the career of the next John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King or Toni Morrison."
The Governor of Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner, officially declared November 15th I Love To Write Day in the State of Delaware, and “urges all Delawareans to set time aside today to write something and share the joys of the written word.” Two other Governors quickly joined with Delaware: Pennsylvania and Florida. Riddle is challenging the other 47 Governors to proclaim November 15th I Love To Write Day in their states. “When people become better writers, they become better communicators, and everyone wins,” Riddle said.
This year’s Honorary Chairperson for I Love To Write Day is Jenna Glatzer, a full-time writer and editor from New York. She sees I Love To Write Day as a positive event. “Not everyone gets the kind of encouragement that I was lucky enough to get growing up. In fact, many people see writing as a chore, and write only when they have to—when they have an assignment, have to complete an essay for college admissions, have to write a business letter...
“I can remember many fellow students who were discouraged from writing because they weren’t great at spelling or grammar. They thought this meant they weren’t good writers. Spelling is valuable to learn, but the most important part of writing comes from your heart. If you have a good story to tell, tell it, even if it’s not “perfect.” Some of the world’s best writers were terrible spellers!
“I think I Love to Write Day is a wonderful way to show people the joy of writing. This is a day when there are no grades and no judgments allowed; it’s all about writing for the sheer love of writing. I’m thrilled with what students have done in past years to celebrate this event, like visiting retirement homes and writing down the life stories of the residents there. What a beautiful gift to share! I’ll bet that many of them will share those stories with their grandchildren, who may one day share them with their own grandchildren.
Whether or not we choose to pursue writing professionally, every one of us can touch other people’s lives with our writing. I hope many people will use this day to write poems, letters, and stories to share with those whose lives could use an extra bit of joy... and in the process, learn that writing can be fulfilling, cathartic, and fun!”
I Love To Write Day is FREE, and to be included in the official count, people should stop by the Website www.ilovetowriteday.org to register. Several publishers are donating books to schools that come up with the most creative way of celebrating I Love To Write Day. Help spread the word about I Love To Write Day in your community!
For additional information about I Love To Write Day, please contact John Riddle at ilovetowriteday@ilovetowriteday.org
