Dawn Rice is the inspiring mompreneur behind Write On Frisco! She works consistently to spread her love for words and empower her local community to fall back in love with writing. Write On is her passion project turned business. The creative writing center is a hub for creative minds of all ages to come and explore the magic of putting your thoughts on paper and transforming them into stories and much more.

Dawn is an educator by excellence, during our interview, the one thing that touched me the most was her love for teaching. She has been an educator in the classroom and at home for over a decade and her happy place is supporting curious and creative minds in a journey of discovery. I am inspired by her passion and love for the art of writing. Maybe because I am an elder millennial mom or just because I love writing this blog I feel connected to her mission. Writing is an art that has been down-trending as new Tik Tok generations keep distracting us with all the cute dance moves. I dream for my crazy creative daughter, my natural storyteller, a place like Write On where she can put down on paper all the incredible stories she comes up with every day.

 

Adults, children, and everyone in between is welcome to join Dawn’s writing adventure as she keeps giving back to her community and sharing her love for writing!

 

 

Let’s meet Dawn

Q+A

WHO IS DAWN RICE?

Dawn Rice is the Founder and Lead Instructor of Write On! Creative Writing Center, is a place where curiosity and inspiration are set free, and imagination and creativity are brought to life through Creative Writing Workshops, Camps & Events! Dawn is an experienced educator having taught in the classroom for over 8 years, served as an Adjunct Professor at UNT, homeschooled her son through high school, and taught writing workshops and camps for over 8 years. 

She has a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from California State University San Marcos as well as a California State Teaching Credential and a Texas Teaching Certification. When Dawn isn’t planning for the next workshop, camp, or event you’ll most likely find her curled up in her favorite chair attempting to read a book or write in her journal while her three loving and extremely rambunctious golden retrievers are vying for her attention.  She loves to spend time with her husband and their two adult children playing board games, vacationing, or about anything that has them all together. Capturing a picture of the sky in all its amazingness, scuba diving in the depth of the sea, or sitting in the audience of a musical performance is sure to be how she’ll fill a vacation or free time. If you ever find you have an extra ticket to somewhere amazing or a musical, she will clear her schedule and gladly accept!

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? WHY DOES IT RESONATE WITH YOU?

“You don’t think your way into a new kind of living. You live your way into a new kind of thinking.” ~ Henry Nouwen

This quote is a reminder to me that just thinking I want to see change is not effective and that I must make adjustments in my actions in order for change to occur. 

 

WHAT IS THAT ONE SONG THAT GETS YOU MOVIN’? 
This is challenging!! Almost all of Queens songs or songs from my favorite musicals.  

 

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? 
I am inspired when a learner finds understanding or discovers the unknown. 

 

TELL US ONE SURPRISING THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Not many people know that I am a Master Scuba Diver. I started diving in my late teens and discovered the underwater world to be peaceful, calming, and filled with beauty and wonder. 

 

WHEN OR WHERE DO YOU FEEL MOST AT PEACE?
I feel the most at peace when I am at our cabins in Broken Bow, enjoying nature or in the depths of the ocean on a scuba adventure or with my family on vacation or reading a book or writing in a journal in my favorite chair, creating & exploring new worlds and ideas. 

 

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Reading or watching historical fiction & non-fiction books, series, & movies. 

 

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MOVING FROM CALIFORNIA?
Our biggest challenge has been being away from our west coast family. We visit, but not as often as we’d like to be able to. 

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE FRISCO COMMUNITY?
The people are friendly and welcoming. This is one of the qualities that made us want to move here. 

 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE YOUR STUDENTS TO OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK? 

When writers hit writer’s block I encourage them to observe & brainstorm. By observing the world, people, and events that happen around us daily, ideas can be discovered anywhere.  Brainstorming about a subject or idea will not only help with writer’s block, but it will also give us a resource to refer to when we are faced with writer’s block in the future. 

 

HOW HAS WRITING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
With writing being the foundation to every story, script, news article, and written piece of work, writing has given me opportunities to go on adventures, learn, and discover. As a writer, writing has allowed me to express myself and create. As an educator, writing has been an avenue to make a dream a reality, to provide opportunities to make writing fun and attainable for everyone, to help ALL WRITERS feel confident and successful in their writing skills. 

 

YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL AGE GROUPS IN YOUR WRITING PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. TELL US A STORY ABOUT A STUDENT THAT YOU FEEL HAS BEEN POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY THE PROGRAMS AND WRITING.

The student I will tell you about is representative of many writers that walk into Write On! for the first time. They are apprehensive and unsure and may very well feel that they aren’t writers at all. Sometimes after the first workshop or maybe it takes a couple, they discover that writing can be creative, fun, and exciting. They become excited about the possibilities and look forward to what each weekly workshop or camp day has planned. 

 

The other student I want to share about is the one that loves to write, they can discover a story in every situation, experience, or object. They come to Write On! and feel that they have finally found a place that fits them and who they are. 

 

WHAT IS THE WORLD MISSING?
The world is missing the importance of lifelong literacy support. A person that can read, write, and communicate  

 

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A MOMPRENEUR?
The hardest thing for me as a mompreneur has been staying focused, confident, and driven. With Covid closers striking just two weeks after our doors opened, doubt filled my mind. Necessary modifications to the original plan, adding online options, and reaching my target audience during the pandemic were unexpected and proved to be both trying and challenging. Seeing where we are today, makes all the struggles and worry worth it. We’ve grown in ways that we would not have had the circumstances gone as planned. 

WORK-LIFE BALANCE IS THE DREAM… WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE?
I find balance by organizing my days so there are times work and times for me and my family. This allows me to be present and engaged where I am. 

 

TELL US ABOUT A FEMALE ROLE MODEL IN YOUR LIFE. A WOMAN THAT INSPIRES YOU ON A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.

My mom has always been a role model in my life. She was strong, honest, loving, and giving to all. She didn’t let society dictate her path in life. She worked as a telephone repair person in a time when the workforce was dominated by men. She loved, spent time with, and gave to individuals that had been forgotten or had found themselves in a challenging time. She was an amazing listener and when you asked for her opinion, and even sometimes when you didn’t, she spoke truthfully. She lived her life with confidence and love. It was through her example and belief in me that I made decisions growing up and with all of my life journeys.

 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PARENTING STYLE?
I would describe my parenting style as authoritative with grace. 

 

HOW HAVE YOU CULTIVATED YOUR  OWN CHILDREN’S LOVE FOR READING AND WRITING?
By making time to read to them when they were little, reading with them having a special journal to write to each other in as they learned, bought & checked out books they wanted to read, as well as being an example by reading and journaling over the years. 

 

HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS? (ACTIVITIES, GAMES, MOVIES, MOMMY DATES?)
Quality time together, mother/daughter or son trips & meals out, playing board games and going to the movies. 

 

TELL US ABOUT SOMETHING FUNNY YOUR KIDS HAVE SAID LATELY.
Rather than my own children, I want to share something that our writers often say that always makes me giggle. “It’s not very good” …and then we are amazed by the quality of their writing, their imagination, and the ideas they have created.  

WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE SCARED OF DOING SOMETHING NEW, HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE/SUPPORT THEM?
We talk through their worries, pray for their strength, and support and encourage them the whole way through. 

 

Let’s talk about WRITE ON FRISCO

HOW DID “WRITE ON” START?

It was after completing the Invitational Summer Writing Institute with the San Marcos Writing Project that my passion to discover and create opportunities to make writing fun and exciting for everyone grew. I started in my classroom, implementing daily writing workshops for my students. The results were exciting as my students grew in their writing skills and confidence.  After relocating to Frisco, Texas, I offered weekly workshops and summer camps out of my home with dreams of opening a brick-and-mortar to bring Write On! to many. 

WHAT IS THE ELEVATOR PITCH FOR “WRITE ON”?

Write On! Creative Writing Center is a place where CURIOSITY and INSPIRATION can be set free and IMAGINATION and CREATIVITY discovered and brought to life. Write On! is first and foremost a place for writers ~ reluctant, struggling, and proficient. Write On! is for ALL writers looking for a place to write that isn’t solely for academic purposes or obligation but because they need to improve or have a love for writing, just like we do.

 

PEOPLE COME TO “WRITE ON” LOOKING FOR?
People come to Write On! looking to improve and grow in their writing skills. To have a place where they can be encouraged and supported with their ideas and works. To have the freedom to write without constant correction and to discover and release the writer within them. 

WHAT IS THE IDEA YOU ARE WORKING ON?

Establishing the Yasmin Mullings Scholarship opportunity for financially challenged writers. Yasmin was an amazing Write On! writer who passed away in early 2021.  We were blessed to be welcomed into her writing journey and want to carry on her passion for writing and passion for helping those in need. And ironing out the details and promoting a writing contest for North Texas students and adults. We are hoping to have both ready by August of this year. 

 

WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR 2021 FOR YOUR “WRITE ON”?

Goals for Write On! in 2021 are:

• to establish an awareness of Write On! and what we offer.

• to grow our registrations for workshops & camps

• for our writers to see significant changes in their confidence and success with writing tasks & assignments.

• to add to our staff.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKSHOP FROM ALL THE ONES YOU OFFER? 

Our weekly workshops are my favorite. They are where we see the most growth in our writers and where we are challenged the most to offer a variety of original and engaging lessons. 

 

Want more? Check out her website

www.writeonfrisco.com

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