It's not often that people get excited about homework, but at 826 Valencia we do, and we're especially excited right now. What's got us all worked up is Don't Forget to Write, our new collection of lesson plans from our best workshops and favorite writers. Folks have been asking us to produce this book ever since we opened our doors. We just finished it and we couldn't be more pleased.

Because it's coming out in November, we can't help thinking of it as a flu shot: a fresh infusion of creativity and ideas just when things are starting to get stuffy and wearisome. The book offers 54 inspiring writing lesson plans, from the supremely silly, like "Writing for Pets," to the extremely practical, like "College Application Essay Boot Camp." It was created with teachers in mind and was teacher-tested for effectiveness. But we think non-teachers will enjoy it too. The exercises are great for any aspiring writer, and the lesson plans themselves make for some very entertaining reading. Tony Millionaire supplied the illustrations. Contributors include Sarah Vowell, Jonathan Ames, and Dave Eggers. They offer a glimpse into their processes that's fascinating and incredibly useful.

Every day now, we get calls and emails asking when the book will be out. Teachers who got a sneak peek are already using it in their classrooms. We're so excited that it will allow us to bring our techniques to students all over the country. It's like 826 to go, and we're just thrilled.