By Robin MellomWhat You Can Do Instead
There was a time when my writing block was the most exhausting part of my day. I wanted my students to write with purpose, explore ideas, take risks, revise boldly, and find their voice. But no matter how hard I tried, it just… didn’t work.
Some students barely wrote anything. Others scribbled five lines and said, “I’m done.” A few thrived, but only because they were natural writers to begin with. The rest were lost. And, honestly? So was I.
What Finally Changed Everything
The shift didn’t happen overnight. It came after years of trying to make writing programs “fit” my students, but failing. Then I stepped away from the classroom to tour as a children’s book author. I worked with editors, publishers, and writing teams and saw how real writers actually worked.
It was mind blowing!
And I couldn’t stop thinking: Why don’t we teach students to write the way professional writers actually write?
That question led to the creation of a new kind of writing block: The Structured Writer’s Workshop®. It combined everything I learned in the publishing world with what I knew my students needed. It had to be:
- Structured (because chaos helps no one)
- Motivating (because if they don’t care, they won’t write)
- Student-led (because I can’t be the only one doing the work)
- Repeatable and sustainable (because no one has time to reinvent the wheel every week!!)
What The Structured Writer’s Workshop® Looks Like
Now, we follow the same rhythm every week. Once students get it, they own it.
🕯️ We Start with Mood & Routine
When students walk in, the tone is clear: twinkle lights on, soft playlist, author quote projected. My student leaders kick things off. Writers set goals, draw a line on the page to show how far they want to write, and get started. It’s calm. Focused. Predictable. (And sorta magical!)
🔥 Mini Lessons Are Short and Strategic
No long lectures. Just one of six core writing skills taught in under seven minutes:
- Voice
- Hooks
- Sentence Complexity
- Figurative Language
- Vivid Imagery
- Show, Don’t Tell
These skills spiral all year. I make my students a promise: If you follow along, you will become a strong writer. And I prove it with before-and-after student work, like the ELL student who started the year hesitant and ended up writing beautifully expressive stories by semester two.
💎 We Go Diamond Mining
As students write, I quietly scan for diamonds which are lines that shine. I share them anonymously on the projector or whiteboard. Students light up. They want to be featured. At the end of class, they meet in trios and highlight each other’s diamonds, too. It builds community, confidence, and clarity about what great writing looks like.
The Results
Since launching The Structured Writer’s Workshop®, I’ve seen more student writing (and more joy while doing it), fewer behavior issues, and students using real writing terms in conversation.
Want to Learn Exactly How I Run It?
If reading this made you nod along, I want to show you exactly how I set it all up.
I created a full, on-demand training that walks through:
- How to set up the student-led structure
- What each day of writing block looks like
- How to teach those six core writing skills (with examples)
- How to keep students motivated and revising without burning out
It's self-paced and super practical, and it’s designed for real teachers with real classrooms. You’ll walk away with a plan that’s flexible, repeatable, and honestly… fun again.
💻 Check out the full training here:
👉 LEARN THE STRUCTURED WRITING METHOD
I hope it helps you reclaim writing time and get your students fully engaged!
Happy Writing!
~Robin