DS gifted writer

[mightyducks]

DS is now 9, always been a ferocious reader ( a book a day most days) and is an exceptional writer, been writing at high school levels since end of year 3 , at a recent parents evening the teacher told us he almost didn’t believe he had written what was in his book because of the high level of his working- now what to do? I feel his gift should be explored and encouraged but apart from maybe entering some writing competitions- what else should I, of ensuring his teacher is doing? Anyone else in a similar position?

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

Try looking at child version of nanowrimo
ywp.nanowrimo.org

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I do adult version and found support invaluable on main site.

[Jeffers3]

Is he reading a wide range of books? Encouraging him to read lots of different types of books would improve writing.

Perhaps he could write from different perspectives and formalities? To extend our greater depth year 6 writers we challenge them to do this. For example reading a book and writing diary entries from 2 different character's perspectives.

Above all, keep the enthusiasm going! Make sure he knows that even if everyone's saying it's amazing there can still be improvements made. Enter a few comps. 100 word challenges are amazing for getting them to think.

[mightyducks]

Thanks all - I will check out that link - he doesn't read a huge variety of books so that's something to think about too - and I will try and get him to enter some competitions

[BertrandRussell]

Just let him write. Don't do anything. Nothing squashes artistic talent more than trying to "direct" it!

[mightyducks]

Just wanted to say thank you tomorrowwillbeachicken , DS came home from school and declared he was going upstairs to write a novel so it was perfect for the website link you gave me, we registered an account and he is typing away. Apart from using it to track his word count, do you have any advice about how to use it?

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I only really use it to track words and never used the young writers site. I sometimes go onto the forums and I am registered with local Facebook group but not terribly active in either. There’s also some emails sent with ideas from main site.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

Do they offer word sprint tool on junior site?

[mightyducks]

Yes it has the word sprint option- I am going to go on the forums and try and find more info - thanks

[Schoolquery1]

Well done to your son, what a wonderful gift! I definitely recommend following up on the competitions suggestion. Unfortunately neither of my children have been blessed (yet?!) with a gift for writing. However as a child, many moons ago, I was a very keen writer, and was forever on the lookout for competitions to enter. I won many over the years, from poetry to short stories and even a song writing competition! It was a wonderful way to harness that gift, and the enjoyment I took from it, was really priceless. Best wishes!

[Bellamuerte]

It's very difficult to make a career of writing. Journalism jobs are very competitive and mostly located in London. Encourage him to publish from a very young age, get work experience as soon as he's old enough, and set his expectations for having to move to another part of the country when he grows up. Perhaps also encourage him to develop other skills as a back-up because very few people are able to make a living from writing.

[Ullathegreat]

Agreed. Personally, I'd be doing my best to discourage all thoughts of being a writer! Far better to earn his bread doing something that actually pays and that gives him time time to write for pleasure. Most professional writers don't have that luxury. Besides, he's only 9! Encourage him to explore all sorts of things, feed his love of books and see what happens. If he's going to write, he'll write no matter what you do, or don't do.

[YoungYolandaYorgensen39]

Get him a library card and a stack of jotters and pens. Let him loose.

[drummersmum]

Just let him write. Don't do anything. Nothing squashes artistic talent more than trying to "direct" it!
I totally agree with this.
And beware of competitions. They can also create disappointment, lack of confidence, kill enthusiasm. DS wrote a short novel when he was 10. At the time he said he just "needed" to write. Whenever I mentioned the possibility of entering his writing into something he experienced a block!
The one magic thing about childhood is: freedom.

[Katescurios]

Chris evans does a BBc children's writing comp every year. Are there any creative writing workshops that run as 1 day events near you? I know our city has an independent cinema/theatre and during holidays or over weekends they do play writing, improv, script and creative writing sessions. There are also things live 'everyone is readng' week where libraries, museums and so on do meet the author sessions and such like.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

There’s a couple of camp nanos every year at
Campnanowrimo.org

One in April and one in July. Turn off the cabins though.

[Hebenon]

DD (now Y6) is a keen writer and all I have done is encourage her to write as often as she wants to and to do it for fun. I gave her my old laptop and got her started with typing skills as it is so much easier to edit in Word or Google Docs rather than in handwriting. Other than that, I have done very little to drive her - she generally, like your son, comes home and announces she is going to write a play or something and then just gets on with it. She had a very supportive teacher in Y4 who allowed her to rehearse and direct one of her (numerous) plays with children from her class. That was a great boost for her. Has your son showed his teacher anything he has written at home?