Drawing the Line: Creative Writing Through the Visual and Performing Arts

The arts provide a valuable and much-overlooked tool for helping young people to improve their writing. Through easy, inviting activities in the visual arts, music, and drama, Gilmore leads students to explore a host of creative approaches to composing. In the process, students will also develop a heightened sensitivity to the mediums they explore.

Each chapter focuses on one genre of art. Individual units offer discussion for the teacher, a simple artistic activity, creative writing exercises, and examples of students' written work. All chapters provide imaginative hands-on opportunities in the arts that have been tested with thousands of students. Nor does Drawing the Line assume or require that teachers have prior experience with any medium.

We haven't come across a richer, more enjoyable way to teach writing.

Barry Gilmore, Ed.D., taught English and social studies for over 15 years before becoming a middle school principal in Memphis, TN. Barry was a National Board Certified teacher and Past-President of the Tennessee Council of Teachers of English. He was the author of seven books for teachers and numerous articles on topics ranging from the common core to plagiarism and classroom discussion methods. Gilmore received numerous honors for his teaching, including the NCTE's Outstanding High School Educator Award, the U.S. Department of Education’s American Star of Teaching Award, and the Tennessee Holocaust Commission’s Educator of the Year.