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B. Writing Can Be Dirty Work | Periscope

Writing books can be dirty work. At least, it is when you are April Pulley Sayre and Anthony Fredericks. Both of these authors write books for young people who are curious about the natural world. And both authors believe in going out, getting muddy, and getting close to your subject!

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What Can You Write About? | National Book Month

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What Can You Write About? | National Book Month
Episode 14
You probably have some ideas about your story now. Look at your field notes and the rest of your research. What in the world can you write about? For more information on April Pulley Sayre's books...
April's First Line | National Book Month

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April's First Line | National Book Month
Episode 12
Here is an example of how April turned her facts and notes into a story... Dig, Wait, Listen: A Desert Toad's Tale begins with the line, "Deep in the desert, under the sand, the spadefoot toad waits...
Sitting Down To Write | National Book Month

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Sitting Down To Write | National Book Month
Episode 11
Have you answered your question? After April and Anthony are satisfied with their answers, they finally sit down to write. Like other stories, a story based on facts can have a main character, a...
Facts & Notes | National Book Month

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Facts & Notes | National Book Month
Episode 10
To answer your inquiry, you will have to find more information. Here are some ways to do more research. Visit the area you observed earlier and study it a little closer. Now that you have your...
Look Over Your Notes | National Book Month

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Look Over Your Notes | National Book Month
Episode 9
Now sit down in a quiet place and look over your notes. Do you have any questions? Your question can be based on any of your observations. Why did the butterfly go to one flower and not another? Why...
Do As Authors & Scientists Do | National Book Month

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Do As Authors & Scientists Do | National Book Month
Episode 7
These are some of the things authors and scientists who study the natural world do. You can do the same! Note the time, place and date of your field research. Observe the size, shape, color, texture...
Begin Your Research | National Book Month

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Begin Your Research | National Book Month
Episode 6
Look for an interesting spot to begin your research. It might be a place where you see lots of activity -- a pond, a garden, or a bunch of flowers, for example. Or it might be a place that needs to be...
Let's Do Some Research! | National Book Month

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Let's Do Some Research! | National Book Month
Episode 4
Like April and Anthony, you can find the ingredients for a story right in your own backyard. Go somewhere outside - the playground, the lawn, a garden, a park, or the woods, perhaps. And don't forget...
April Pulley Sayre: Dig, Wait, Listen | National Book Month

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April Pulley Sayre: Dig, Wait, Listen | National Book Month
Episode 3
April and Anthony study everything around them -- the animals, the plants, the rocks, the weather, well...everything. They use their five senses and take a lot of notes. Their field notes help them to...
Anthony Fredericks: Under One Rock | National Book Month

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Anthony Fredericks: Under One Rock | National Book Month
Episode 2
Anthony Fredericks says, "Under One Rock has a lot of facts about creatures like insects that live in the soil. But I also wanted to weave a story around it so I could open up some of the mystery...