Read on Twitter
Also for #NationalWritingDay here are my 10 v personal tips on encouraging reluctant writers.
1. MOTIVATION
No-one, said Samuel Johnson, but a blockhead ever wrote except for money. Well, we all need our different motivations! Why are you asking a child to write today?
1. MOTIVATION
No-one, said Samuel Johnson, but a blockhead ever wrote except for money. Well, we all need our different motivations! Why are you asking a child to write today?
2. ENCOURAGEMENT
There is no "right" response to a creative writing task by a child. For there are no right answers to be given and no right way to write, only an ever evolving conversation. Forget about the spelling or the vocab at first, and focus on what matters to a writer:
There is no "right" response to a creative writing task by a child. For there are no right answers to be given and no right way to write, only an ever evolving conversation. Forget about the spelling or the vocab at first, and focus on what matters to a writer:
3. ENJOYMENT
When a child writes, ask them this question.
Are you having fun?
Because if not, perhaps you're doing it wrong. The task might be too hard, too long, perhaps time to draw a picture instead...or just play a game.
Writing that's hard work can wait, trust me
When a child writes, ask them this question.
Are you having fun?
Because if not, perhaps you're doing it wrong. The task might be too hard, too long, perhaps time to draw a picture instead...or just play a game.
Writing that's hard work can wait, trust me
4. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Writing is about ordering the thoughts in our head onto the page and developing an authentic view of the world.
This is hard enough without worrying about using certain words in a certain way as well.
Focus on what the child WANTS to say, not HOW they say it.
Writing is about ordering the thoughts in our head onto the page and developing an authentic view of the world.
This is hard enough without worrying about using certain words in a certain way as well.
Focus on what the child WANTS to say, not HOW they say it.
5. IT'S ALL GOOD
Writing is a confidence trick. You persuade yourself that others want to read your words. This self confidence in written work is best built up incrementally, word by word. Whatever is written today, that might be enough for today. Small steps!
Writing is a confidence trick. You persuade yourself that others want to read your words. This self confidence in written work is best built up incrementally, word by word. Whatever is written today, that might be enough for today. Small steps!
6. THE POWER OF YES
"Can I make up my own animal?" or "Can I write about Minecraft instead?" of course really means "Do you think I have good ideas?" to which one answer can be "Yes. Write what makes you feel happy" - because then the writer might return tomorrow and write again
"Can I make up my own animal?" or "Can I write about Minecraft instead?" of course really means "Do you think I have good ideas?" to which one answer can be "Yes. Write what makes you feel happy" - because then the writer might return tomorrow and write again
7. DON'T PLAN
Would you ask a child to plan a game they were making with their toys or plan their imaginary friend or plan their drawing of a tree? Writing begins as play, not as a grant application. It needs to be at least as much fun as playing or why not do that instead!
Would you ask a child to plan a game they were making with their toys or plan their imaginary friend or plan their drawing of a tree? Writing begins as play, not as a grant application. It needs to be at least as much fun as playing or why not do that instead!
8. CELEBRATE
When we write creatively, whether 10 words or 10,000, we always learn a bit more about ourselves. We have to think about the world we find ourselves in, and make sense of our relationship with it. We grow as people, every time. Celebrate that achievement, every time!
When we write creatively, whether 10 words or 10,000, we always learn a bit more about ourselves. We have to think about the world we find ourselves in, and make sense of our relationship with it. We grow as people, every time. Celebrate that achievement, every time!
9. NEVER GIVE UP
Some write 2000 words a day and their first novel at 18. Others write 10 words a day and their first poem at 60. I cannot stress enough how long it takes to learn how to write. The great news is IT IS NOT A RACE! Whatever a writer's developmental pace, allow it.
Some write 2000 words a day and their first novel at 18. Others write 10 words a day and their first poem at 60. I cannot stress enough how long it takes to learn how to write. The great news is IT IS NOT A RACE! Whatever a writer's developmental pace, allow it.
10. READ
But lastly, mostly importantly of all, there is one sure way to learn how to write and that it is to READ WIDELY. Read picture books and comics. Read Wimpy and Walliams, read Carnegie and Costa. Read diversely, read books to see yourself AND other people. Read to write.
But lastly, mostly importantly of all, there is one sure way to learn how to write and that it is to READ WIDELY. Read picture books and comics. Read Wimpy and Walliams, read Carnegie and Costa. Read diversely, read books to see yourself AND other people. Read to write.
