The Year I Stopped Drawing

by Grant Snider

Grant Snider captures the universal struggle of creative block and the importance of perseverance in the creative process. Through poignant verse and imagery, it validates the feelings of frustration and eventual joy found in artistic expression.

Big Idea

The journey of creativity is never a straight line, and returning to your passions is a victory in itself.

Discussion Questions

1.Why do you think the author stopped drawing?
2.How does the author show that the creative 'spark' never really dies?
3.What are some things you do when you feel frustrated with a project?
4.How do the pictures in the book change how you read the text?
5.What does 'starting again' look like in your own life?

Lesson Plan

⏱ 60 minutes📦 Drawing paper, colored pencils, journals

Learning Goals

Examine the theme of perseverance
Integrate text and visual art
Express emotions through metaphor
Practice self-reflection

Activity Steps

1.Reflect on a time you gave up on a hobby.
2.Write a short poem about the frustration.
3.Add an illustration that represents the 'block'.
4.Write a new stanza about finding the spark again.
5.Peer share and discuss common barriers.

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.6

Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

Grant Snider teaches students how to pace a narrative of frustration and resolution. By alternating between short, sharp lines and longer, flowing thoughts, the text mirrors the heartbeat of the creative process. Writing craft is highlighted here by the way Snider uses visual spacing to signal a 'reset' in his thinking. Students will learn that pacing can be used to show both stagnation and progress.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pacing	Vary your line length to show feelings of being stuck versus moving forward.
Plot	Focus on the internal change of perspective as a central plot point.
Prosody	Use repetition to emphasize the feeling of a recurring habit.
Word	Choose verbs that describe action and movement.
Voice & Worldview	Adopt a vulnerable and honest voice regarding your personal challenges.

Pace-Write It!

Write five sentences about a problem you have, then rewrite them in verse, emphasizing the frustration through short, clipped lines.

Classroom Activities

The Creative Comeback

Students create a visual and textual timeline of a time they felt stuck and how they moved past it.

The Creative Comeback

Students create a visual and textual timeline of a time they felt stuck and how they moved past it.

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Discussion questions PWR workshop PDF download