Camp Pendleton fire viewed from Moonlight Beach
Photo by Kim Douillard

What is it about October? It can be glorious–and downright spooky, shapeshifting from the epitome of fall with crisp mornings, perfect apples, and everything Halloween to sweltering heat that lasts all day and into the night complete with Santa Ana winds–fire weather masquerading as endless summer.

If you need some “moves” to wrangle October into place, you might enjoy this article by Marcus Luther at The Broken Copier. I love his second suggestion–counterbalance less than ideal interactions with something good. Finding moments of joy to celebrate can really make a difference. I am less successful with his third suggestion: take something off your plate. How do you handle all that October dishes up?

Looking for inspiration about why our jobs are so important and why we write? Watch this 10 minute documentary video Dear, Dreamer where Jason Reynolds talks about why students need to see themselves in the literature they read and write the stories of their experiences. And as a bonus, watch the first couple of minutes where he masterfully shows the power of line breaks/white space to create rhythm in writing.

It’s also the height of #WriteOut (running from October 11-25). How have you been participating in #WriteOut, for yourself or with your students? This week is also the National Day on Writing. Why do you write? Where do you write? What makes writing your superpower? Do you have any mentor texts to add to this document we’re creating?

If you haven’t yet signed up for Study Groups, it’s not too late, but our first session is this Saturday, so don’t delay any longer. 

Making space for #WriteOut,

Kim

#WriteOut 2026 is happening right now! How are you participating and staying inspired? Join the Write Now Teacher Studio to connect with others and complete your Write Out challenge prompts!

Here are some upcoming events you should check out:

• The Write Time with Write Out Ambassador Grant Snider
  • October 20th
  • 4-5pm PT/7-8pm ET

• National Day on Writing & #WriteOut
  • October 20^th all day!

Visit WriteOut.NWP.org for more information on Write Out and for additional resources/events like the ones provided below:

Join us and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) tomorrow, October 20th, for the National Day on Writing! Participate and celebrate by using the hashtag #WhyIWrite on social media. 

Make sure you visit NCTE.org to access the resources linked below:

Educators and their students are invited to participate in Dear Gov by the California Writing Project (CWP)! It's an opportunity to write to the next governor regarding issues that matter the most.

Visit the links below for more information on Dear Gov, access to the lesson plans, the submission link, and the teacher survey:

The New York Times' 'Tiny Memoir' contest is now open until October 28^th! This 100-word Personal Narrative contest is open to students between the ages of 13-19 and students are required to also include information on the process of writing their submission.

For more contest information and the submission form visit the links below: 

The San Diego Area Writing Project (SDAWP) believes that socially responsible approaches to teaching writing support the education and success of San Diego's culturally and linguistically diverse student population. Our work ranges from professional development workshops to summer programs for young writers; we believe that writing is critical to learning and a vital tool for communication in all disciplines. 

We ask for your one-time donation or a sustaining monthly contribution to support all of the SDAWP programs. Your tax-deductible donation to UC San Diego Online Giving directly supports the San Diego Area Writing Project-Programs & Young Writers' Camps Scholarships Support Fund (4787). Donating to the San Diego Area Writing Project is your opportunity to support high-quality teacher education that guarantees the academic achievement of all of our students.