Celebrate Words Matter Week, March 6-12, 2011!

There are many ways to celebrate the importance of words during Words Matter Week. We’ve listed a few below to help you get started, but we encourage you to get creative and share the message in as many ways as you can. If you’d like to be a Words Matter Catalyst, print copies of the poster and share them with your local libraries, bookstores, schools, or other organizations.

During Words Matter Week, we’ll post a daily writing prompt (Monday-Friday) on the blog portion of this site, so that you can write or blog about it, then link back to the original prompt. There will be a prize of a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com for a randomly chosen blogger who has blogged and commented/linked back to the original prompt post on this site each of the five days of the challenge. It takes a post on all five days to qualify for the drawing, so don’t forget!

Libraries

Create an interesting display of books about words, including dictionaries, grammar guides, thesauri, and even etiquette guides.

Host a special storytime with books about words.

Bookstores

Create a special display of word-related books with funny titles such as Woe is I, Things that Make Us [Sic], and others.

Host a panel of communication experts such as authors, journalists, broadcasters, and others for a discussion of why words matter in the 21st century.

Bloggers and Webmasters

Blog daily on the topic of the writing prompt, then link back to the prompt so that others can find your posts.

Link to the Words Matter Week 2011 page.

Copy the Words Matter Week poster image and share it on your own site with a link back to Words Matter Week.

Churches

Do a special study on the Word, and discuss the meaning of John 1.

Have a treasure hunt for all the verses that address words, speech, and conversation. Award a prize to the person who find the most verses.

Schools and Homeschools

Gather a basket of books about words, and spend time each day exploring them. You can find a list of possible titles listed at Notes from the Windowsill to get you started.

Have children write on each day’s writing prompt.

Nursing Homes and other Group Homes

Post a copy of the Words Matter Week Poster in a central spot to remind staff about the importance of communicating kindly and gently with residents.

Offer residents the opportunity to talk or write about each of the daily writing prompts, or to share word-related memories.

Play word games suitable to the resident’s abilities.

Writers and Writers’ Groups

Write daily on the writing prompts as they are posted.

Celebrate Words Matter Week by visiting an open mic night and sharing your work.

Professional Associations and Networking Groups

Schedule a special seminar on communications or public speaking.

Financial Advisory Firms

Provide a copy of the Words Matter Week poster to each member of the firm to remind them to communicate clearly with clients.