'Always choose to be amazing'

COEUR d'ALENE — Children's author Gary Hogg told a group of Skyway Elementary students on Wednesday that writing lets you claim a small slice of the universe as your own.

"It lets you feel more self-esteem, more sense of worth, because it's truly you," Hogg said.

Throughout the week, Hogg has worked with first- through fifth-graders at the Coeur d'Alene elementary school for its annual festival on composition and storytelling. Hogg is an Idaho native who was inspired to become an author by his fourth-grade teacher and went on to write a successful series of children's books. On Wednesday afternoon, he told Wendy Culpepper's fourth-grade class that Skyway is his favorite school to work with because of the attentive and creative nature of the students there.

"Now I want you to always make sure you're not just comparing yourselves to other students, though. Instead compare yourself now to your best you," Hogg told the students before beginning the workshop. "Always choose to be amazing."

The week of workshops fits the elementary school's focus on writing, which Culpepper said has been part of the program at Skyway for several years.

"Due to this focus, our students are excellent writers," she said. "Whether it's a personal narrative or a research project, this focus has definitely improved their abilities."

Culpepper's claim was supported by every flurry of hands raised after each question Hogg asked. While working with students on how they can find their own unique "author's voice," Hogg used a drill where he started with an often-used "category word" like "nice" and challenged the kids to find their own, more detailed, word that fit within the category.

The majority of the class immediately raised their hands and responded with words like 'generous' and 'giving.' When an excited student froze, Hogg was quick to reassure them and let them know that, if they kept thinking, the word would eventually hit them.

"Gary has the most amazing ability to bring out fabulous writing in kids of all ages," Culpepper told The Press. "Most of my students have worked with him before in years past, but their excitement was obvious to me, knowing that he would be working with them again today."

Hogg doesn't know any of the students when he comes into the classrooms, Culpepper added, and she is always surprised by the author's ability to find the shyest child in the room, pick them out, and read their writing.

"He makes them feel fabulous," she said. "They are never afraid to read anything they have written to him. He makes them feel like they are the most important person in the room with tremendous writing abilities."

When the hour-long workshop neared a stopping point, Hogg gave the fourth-graders five minutes to write about something significant that occurred in their lives. Prior to doing so however, the author made sure to explain to the students that there is a distinct definition of what a good idea is when it comes to writing.

"For some reason, people think all ideas are the same," Hogg said. "Great ideas, like the fact that you love playing video games, can make for good conversations instead of good writing. Great writing has to have emotion."

Tonight from 5 to 7 p.m., Skyway Elementary will host a Writing Festival, attended by Hogg and other local authors, for students and their parents. Culpepper said the event will feature a spaghetti dinner, as well as writing activities for students and parents alike.