FILL-ins
You supply the words to complete the book!
By Bill Zimmerman & You Art by Tom Bloom
FILL-ins
You supply the words to complete the book!
This book belongs to: YOUR NAME
By Bill Zimmerman & You Art by Tom Bloom An Interactive Digital Diary from MakeBeliefsComix.com
Copyright © 2014 by William Zimmerman Drawings Copyright © 2014 by Tom Bloom All rights reserved under international and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations or critical reviews. Book design: Barbara Berasi The author welcomes your comments and suggestions which you would like to see included in future editions of FILL-ins. Please write to: William Zimmerman, Guarionex Press Ltd., 201 West 77 Street, New York, NY 10024. Thank you. For other books by Bill Zimmerman, visit http://www.billztreasurechest.com or http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
For my wife and daughter, Remembering all the fun times we have had! —B.Z.
Dear Reader,
Write from your heart!
This do-it-yourself comic e-book provides a place where you can give characters your own words and thoughts. In this comic book, unlike any others you’ve read, you’ll get to decide what happens and have the final say. All you need to do is just follow the prompts and fill in the talk and thought balloons to determine what the characters say and think. Many of the fill-in pages are funny, and some are also serious. Many are about family and friends or other people you know. Others are about your dreams, the things that give you pleasure and even the things that puzzle or worry you. You see, this is a real-life comic book. This book provides a safe space for you to express many of the feelings and thoughts that are inside you waiting to be revealed and which make you special. You can write silly things, you can write serious thoughts; just write
what is in your heart. And as you fill in the pages, you will also learn a lot about yourself, and what makes you YOU.
One thing that the pages share in this book is that they are all incomplete. They need your good thoughts, your personal words to be finished. All you need to enjoy this book is your wonderful imagination. I hope you have much fun. Yours sincerely,
Bill Zimmerman Creator, MakeBeliefsComix.com P.S. This book is formatted as an interactive digital journal and the comic modules were created at MakeBeliefsComix.com. When this book is downloaded, you can type directly on your computer screen into the thought and talk balloons shown with the comic characters. When you are done typing on a page, simply save the document until the next time you are inspired to make new entries on the other pages.
A Word to Educators and Parents
This is a playful book and our best educators understand that playing is learning. Educators can use the fill-in writing prompts in this book to encourage creativity and imagination in the classroom. By responding to the prompts, students can practice language, reading and writing skills. The individual fill-ins can also be used as subjects for essays, poems and plays.
Educational therapists who work with children or adults with special needs can use these fill-ins to draw students out of their silences and help them give voice to their feelings and imagination. As they respond in writing or verbally to the blank thought or talk balloons, students can get a better sense of themselves and what’s really inside them.
For those who teach people learning English as a second language, the fill-ins can be an invaluable tool for helping people try their new language skills in a nonthreatening manner. And for those of you who are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles or big brothers and sisters, why not sit down with a child in your life and do the fill-ins together? It will give you a unique insight into how the
spirits and minds of the youngsters you care about work. If your child is too young to read the questions on the page, you can read them aloud and ask the child to dictate a response which you can write for them. This will reinforce the value of their creative voice. In using FILL-ins, please remember to convey to your students—and to yourself—the thought that there is no single ”right “answer to each writing prompt. The only correct responses are those that come from the heart.
You can find additional writing ideas in the other MakeBeliefsComix e-books:
Hummingbird Joy: A Book of All the Things That Make You Happy; Laptop Letters: Sending Wise & Loving Messages to Young People in Your Life and Make Beliefs to Spark Your Writing.
Also, please try our writing prompts blog, Somethingtowriteabout.com, and the many printables at MakeBeliefsComix.
Now, your turn to supply the words to complete this comic book…
TYPE HERE
They are pledging their love.
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
So many things on her mind!
TYPE HERE
Give her some good words to say.
Your words make me happy.
Two sides of her...
I love...
I hate...
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
Quick, give her some lyrics to sing!
TYPE HERE
A heavenly thought...
If you could discover a new star, what would you name it?
TYPE HERE
?
? What’s he wishing for?
?
?
?
Which three magic wishes would you like to see come true?
TYPE HERE TYPE HERE
An interesting discussion...
TYPE HERE
$
$ Million-dollar question...
$
$
$
If someone gave you a million dollars, what would you do with it?
TYPE HERE
What’s her answer?
If you could be a flower, what would it be?
TYPE HERE
A new destination... N E
W S
What new place or land would you like to go to?
TYPE HERE
Planning the perfect day...
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
He has something important to say.
TYPE HERE
A chance for adventure...
If you had wings to fly, where would you go?
TYPE HERE
Anything is possible!
Make believe you had the luckiest day in your life. What would happen?
TYPE HERE
Something happened today!
TYPE HERE
Using her power...
What would you do if you were President?
TYPE HERE
A very special conversation...
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
Which will she choose?
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
What’s your dream act for the circus?
A chance to perform...
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
?
? What’s the BIG secret?
?
?
?
Oh...
TYPE HERE
What will she answer?
What is the most beautiful word you know?
TYPE HERE
Overcoming a challenge.
What has been the hardest thing you have had to do in your life?
TYPE HERE
What will she reveal?
What was the most amazing dream you ever head?
TYPE HERE
She’s thinking of changing her name.
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
ha a h
TYPE HERE
What’s so funny? ee h e he
ha
ha
?*!#!!
TYPE HERE
The latest gossip...
? * !#
*!#?
!
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
A BIG question...
If you had the power to make things better in the world, what would you do?
TYPE HERE
Singing her favorite song...
TYPE HERE
He’s talking, she’s thinking.
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
What she wishes she could say to them...
TYPE HERE
How did she show courage?
That took real courage on your part.
TYPE HERE
What’s he thinking?
TYPE HERE
What’s worrying her?
You can do it! Don’t worry.
TYPE HERE
What’s in store for the future?
What do you think we’ll be doing five years from now?
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
They’re sharing stories.
TYPE HERE
The words she always wanted to hear...
TYPE HERE
They’re making some plans.
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
The Apology.
TYPE HERE
So many worries...
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
Brainstorming ideas for a new business...
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
A worrisome situation...
TYPE HERE
Awesome!
What did he just say to her?
TYPE HERE
Know the answer?
What is the secret to a good life?
TYPE HERE
What’s in her heart?
What is your deepest dream?
TYPE HERE
An intriguing question...
If there were no tomorrow, what would you do today?
TYPE HERE
What will she say?
What would you change about your parents if you had the power?
What’s the big thought?
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
She’s thinking of her big goal.
TYPE HERE
Daydreaming as usual...
TYPE HERE
A grandmother’s important words...
TYPE HERE
What words come to his mind?
TYPE HERE
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
She’s remembering...
TYPE HERE
Evaluating oneself...
What’s the one thing you’d like to change about yourself?
TYPE HERE
He’s giving himself a pep talk.
TYPE HERE
What is he fearful about?
Stop worrying. I’ve got your back!
Meaningful words...
Make believe you received the most important message in your life. What would it say?
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
His secret wish...
If you could transform yourself into an animal or beast, what would you become?
Calling Hollywood...
TAKE
2
If they made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you?
TYPE HERE
What’s worrying him?
You look so down, What’s the matter?
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
Some key goals...
What do you want to achieve in life?
...
TYPE HERE
hmmm.
What’s bothering her? ...
hmmm.
hm
mm
....
TYPE HERE TYPE HERE
Says one thing, thinks another...
TYPE HERE
Can you remember?
What was your most embarrassing moment?
TYPE HERE
Some words are never forgotten...
What were the best words ever said to you?
Some day I’m going to invent... TYPE HERE
Time to be creative...
TYPE HERE
The time he told a lie...
TYPE HERE
Let’s do it!
What are they planning?
Whom do you truly admire?
What famous person in history would you like to be?
TYPE HERE
TYPE HERE
Enter the world of make-believe!
If you could live in your favorite book, which would it be?
TYPE HERE
What he wants to say to the bully...
TYPE HERE
What’s troubling him?
Don’t worry! You’re a survivor! You’ll get through this.
That’s my favorite movie! TYPE HERE
They have something in common.
TYPE HERE
Finding some words of comfort.
Sometimes I feel so alone, I don’t know what to do.
TYPE HERE
What is he so proud about?
TYPE HERE
What was your wierdest dream?
Dream
(maybe nightmare)
talk...
About the Author In his many books and work as a newspaper editor, Bill Zimmerman has pioneered innovative writing techniques to help people express all the important things within them. His books and web sites are used in literacy and English Language Learning programs around the world and to encourage creative thinking and expression. His web sites are: http://www.billztreasurechest.com, which features excerpts from all his books, and http://www.makebeliefscomix.com, which enables visitors to create their own online comic strips. Please visit them. Among his popular books are:
•Pocket Doodles for Kids; •Make Beliefs: A Gift for Your Imagination; •Lunch Box Letters: Writing Notes of Love and Encouragement to Your Children
•How to Tape Instant Oral Biographies.
About the Artist
Tom Bloom created the art for MakeBeliefsComix.com which, in turn, was used to create the comic panels for this fill-ins book. He is an artist who has brought joy to the world with his cartoons and illustrations which have appeared in many publications, such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Fortune and Barron’s. Tom has collaborated with Bill on many other books.
Share With Us
Your feedback on using FILL-ins is very welcome. Please send us your thoughts or suggestions on how we can improve this book, along with your permission to use your ideas. We welcome your ideas for new fill-ins writing prompts. For every idea used, a free copy of one of Bill Zimmerman’s books will be sent to you. What was your experience like in using this book? Please share with us. Write to: Bill Zimmerman Guarionex Press Ltd. 201 West 77th Street New York, NY 10024 E-mail:
[email protected]
Another Free Interactive Digital Journal from MakeBeliefsComix.com
FILL-ins is one of a series of free interactive digital journals being published by MakeBeliefsComix.com. They are part of our mission to help people of all ages discover their writers’ voices and express their deepest thoughts through writing. The first book in this series was Laptop Letters: Sending Wise & Encouraging Messages to Young People in Your Life, also written by Bill Zimmerman, creator of MakeBeliefsComix. Other books in his e-book series include Hummingbird Joy: A Book of All the Things That Make You Happy and Make Beliefs to Spark Your Imagination. If you find the work we are doing as useful to your life, please consider making a small financial contribution to us at PayPal. com at: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/ Contribute/. And please share our work with your friends, family members and colleagues. Thank you.
Make Beliefs To Spark Your Writing
By Bill Zimmerman & YOU Art by Tom Bloom
