Creative writing tuition?

[circular]

Touchec on this in earlier thread, DD one of the youngest in yr8, top sets, naturally very bight without massive effort.

Creative writing up to standard, but has always been her weakest topic. Curiously, has produced some exceptional cross curriculum written work (some with a fictional element), but never when it's for English.

Her writtne abilities have always trailed behind her verbal skills, but this is because she is advanced verbally. (Curently working at 6c English, 7a Drama)

It would be a shame if her creative writing let her down, making the difference between (say) an A or B in English GCSEs.

She needs to read more, but it's difficult to find something that grabs her interest. She has not ready a complete book since Easter (when she read 4 in a week as she had to finish the series).

Have searched for summer holiday creatice writing courses, but all seem to be aimed at 18+.
If we were to look at private tuition, is it too early, or should we wai for yr10?

Is it really somethng that can be 'taught', or wil it come naturally once her imagination develops more?

Or maybe we should just be pleased that she is good at everything else, and you can't have everything.....

[Cortina]

I believe good writing can be taught like most things.

We've got some books which stress the importance of essay plans and offer creative writing tips. Maybe have a look in a book shop/amazon for something?

Friends have taught their children a 'formula' which they can use for composition (this has worked especially when for those more logically minded.) Sounds dull but but a few had 'light bulb' moments when they realised creative writing wasn't quite as daunting and tricky as they had first thought.

It might also be DC needs some inspiration - can you give them a plan, some sheets with some interesting adjectives they might consider using and get them to write a story about something that really interests them? Then keep going, practice makes perfect.

[frakkit]

I think it can be taught - there are certainly things you can do to inspire 'creative' fictional work such as giving her a list of words to include, asking her write a linking scene between two other scenes, getting her to write a story from another person's point of view (the sinking of the Titanic by rat for example). You say she's done some exceptional cross-curricular work. Is this writing a diary for history, for example? Does she find it easier when she has something to hang it on to?

What is 'wrong' with her creative writing? Is it full of dialogue? Pedestrian? Unstructured? Limited in vocabulary? Heavily reliant on boring active narrative (he did this, she did that rather than describing)? Can you identify it and set her challenges to overcome these things?

Reading definitely exposes people to a range of styles but a wide-read person is not necessarily a good creative writer. Personally I think it's too earlier for formal private tuition but there's nothing to stop you doing a bit of extra work.

[circular]

It's difficult to identify the problem - I've not seen any of her English compositions as they are not in her books.
The impression I get from the teacher is the structure, lack of enough complex words and description. DD has all the right words/ideas when discussing, then goes blank when it's time to put pen to paper

The exceptional pieces of work I was thinking of were a project about her own life[PSEC), letters to politicians re environmental issues (science) and an RS essay writen through the eyes of a younger child. There have been others in History/Geography too.

[EvilTwins]

Having read your other thread OP, you do seem very hung up on the creative writing thing. Your DD is only in Yr 8, and there could be a number of reasons why her creative writing isn't as advanced as some of her other work - many children find creative writing tricky, and prefer to be allowed to stick to factual stuff as it feels "safer". As an English teacher, I wouldn't be too concerned if I had a student whose creative writing, at yr 8, wasn't as advanced as, say, their comprehension of text, or ability to write different types of letter. Creativity is something which can be dependent on confidence - not wanting to look "silly" for writing something imaginative, which many Yr 8 girls lack, albeit temporarily (confidence, that is)

I think that creative writing courses are indeed aimed at older students - and often those who have discovered they have a flair for it, and want to develop their skills in order to become a novelist or a poety. For your DD, I really think that, unless her abilities in creative writing are upsetting her, it's not worth trying to get a tutor - far too formal.

Yes, a "structure" can be learned, and, TBH, that is all she will need in order to be able to get a good mark for GCSE - there isn't a huge amount of creative writing involved. IIRC, the difference between A and A*, certainly in one of the exam board's criteria, is "flair", which, IMHO, can't be taught.

My advice would be to encourage her to read more - try to find some novels she will enjoy - let her choose from a library. Set her the challenge of choosing and reading at least one or two books over the summer holidays, and then, when she hopefully finds she enjoys it [optimisit emoticom], encourage her to move on to different sorts of literature. You say that she is a high achiever - well, at her age, she ought be able to tackle quite a range of books. That will enable her to develop her vocabulary, and might inspire her creativity too.

[EvilTwins]

novelist or a POET.

[EvilTwins]

Oh dear, my spelling is terrible in that post. Tired. Need bed.

[circular]

Thanks EvilTwins

I agree that 'flair' cannot be taught. English anf Art must be the hardest subjects to teach.
She gets frustrated with her composition efforts, and I get frustrated because I cannot really help. I tried to persuade her earlier to look at the relevant section on the BBC bitesize website for KS3.
DH will be home with her this week, so will have a quiet word with him too to get her motivated.
As for the reading, once she has read a book she really enjoys, she finds it hard to find anything else to match it - so often reads no other novels until there is a sequel. Although, having said that, she gave up waiting for the final 'Power of 5' book after reading Necropolis, and moved from Science Fiction/Horror to the Noughts and Crosses series, reading all 4 in less than a week. Then started on the Twilight series, but threw it down a couple of chapters in moaning at how 'badly written' it was.
She then started to read Animal Farm, which I think she has been secretly enjoying, but she has refused to discuss it - probably because she knew I wanted her to read it.
The onset of puberty certainly isn't helping, but I guess thats a whole new thread.

[LadyInMauve]

Is she being taught a method for writing creative pieces at school?

It definitely can be taught as it is at my DDs school and her already strong creative writing skills have improved massively as a result.

[englishpatient]

There's another thread going about courses for creative writing which might be of help to you:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/975728-Does-anyone-know-of-any-creative-writing-workshops-residential -camps

[circular]

Thanks wnglishpatient - nwhere near Dorset unfortunately.

LadyInMauve - I am trying to tease some info out of her, but it's not easy at the moment. She readily admits that she knows it is necessary to be more descriptive and set a scene, but wants to get straight into the action and dialogue. Also gives this as the reason for finding so many novels boring.
I have triwd to explain that certain methods are necessary to please the teacher/examiner, but it's not quite clicking yet.

[englishpatient]

The creative writing courses DD's been on at Kilve Court were run by Colin Macfarlane, who is brilliant. He has his own website and you could email him to see if he's doing anything more locally to you - he is very nice and very approachable. The website is www.colinmacfarlane.co.uk/.