8yo weirdly good at poetry - tips?

[Lindtnotlint]

My 8yo DD is the usual mix of strengths and weaknesses like anyone. I am not worried about stretching or accelerating her academically. She is doing well at school and is happy, all good. I am not interested in trying to make her into anything she isn’t, just wondering how to better support her interest.

She has always been very “creative” - we constantly find new types of art, plays, comic books, paintings, puppets etc that she has created of her own volition using bits of old cardboard and random pencils. Over the last year this general creative output has solidified into a real talent and interest in poetry. She writes poems off her own back in a notebook that are really strikingly excellent - all the technical rhyme and rhythm stuff of course but a load of really sophisticated and striking imagery etc etc. I have two other kids of similar age and see plenty of 8yo school work - she is definitely from a slightly different planet on this and writing stuff adults can appreciate that looks very much like actual published adult poetry. (This is all while also being entirely capable of forgetting her times tables and a terrible speller- I am under no illusions about her!)

We bought her a nice Michael Rosen book about poetry for Xmas, and a lovely poetry workbook - is there anything else that is fun and engaging for a real poetry writing enthusiast of this age? Like if this was netball or the violin or maths or whatever then there would be a load of obvious options to consider - but what do you do to really engage and enthuse a young person who is so into (and so good at) poetry writing? I don’t suppose they have a poetry camp for 8 year olds….

I’d suggest getting in touch with writers’ groups around your area, and asking them if they run, or know of, any good children’s writing workshops. Where I live (not in the UK) local public libraries are also a good source of this sort of info.
Also keep an eye out for any known children’s authors doing readings, as they sometimes will conduct workshops or Q and A sessions for kids.
You may not find poetry-specific stuff, but exploring all writing practice is good for a talented writer of her age.
Give her some interesting prompts at home, for fun. E.g., play a random sound for her and ask her to write a poem based on or using that sound. Give her story dice (or draw random images on paper, such as a pyramid, a lightbulb etc.) and let her see where her imagination takes her. Form, metre and other technical skills aren’t as important at this age (and can be developed); it’s more about revelling in language and its expressive possibilities.

It’s nice that she enjoys poetry writing but it isn’t really a valuable skill. Even adults with years of experience find it virtually impossible to get their poetry published, and it certainly doesn’t generate any money even if it does get published. I would just give her a notebook and let her write as a hobby if she wants to.

This is really cool! You could have a look at the writing side of Twitter (#WritingCommunity) to keep an eye out for events. Sometimes there are literary festivals, readings at bookshops etc. You could even post an example (screenshot/photo) of her work (if she agrees)
and reach out to other poets or even agents to see what they think. You should get some fun ideas, book recommendations etc from the community.

My top tip would be don't push it.

I was told I was a gifted writer in primary school. I lost count of the amount of times I was sent to the headteachers office with a piece of writing to collect an award.

Everyone always talked about how I would have books published, how they would have a shelf full of my books etc...Obviously teachers trying to hype me up.

But it scared the shit out of me and made me feel extremely pressured and I stopped writing.

I still got A+ at GCSE but never wrote for fun in High school or pursued writing in further education because I felt set for failure from the expectations.

Silly really but that's how I felt. Just pressured.

Look up Joseph Fasano poetry writing prompts on twitter. She might enjoy these.

I think the only thing you should do is expose her to good poetry.

Thanks - some really helpful tips! And don’t worry, I am definitely not trying to get her to turn this into money/career/success (or even identity!) - just for her to enjoy something that she is passionate about and good at and for her to get to take the natural pleasure and satisfaction that can come with that. Rather wonderfully, I suspect poetry writing and reading is a hobby one truly can enjoy for its own sake - not as a competition or progress ladder or route to “success”.

There are plenty of opportunities OP. Poetry workshops (online/in-person), groups, competitions, poetry slams. If you search 'writer/literary' as opposed to just 'poetry' online you'll find plenty of resources.
Some are scams (the ones that cost £100's of pounds upfront) but the others are free or very cheap.
Examples:
https://thelowry.com/creativewritingchallenge/
https://chorltonartsfestival.org/events/poetry-slam-for-children/ 
(just to show that these things aren't limited to London!)
Bearing in mind that poetry's meant to be 'heard' rather than seen you can also search for lyrical writing, spoken word events, etc.

The real question is, does she want to be 'engaged and enthused'? Or is she happy just scribbling in her notebook and reading good poetry?

X-posted OP!
Just to share my experience I was a talented writer as a child and forever angling to get my work published. I won quite a few competitions (essays, short stories and poetry) took part in some events. Usually I submitted work already created, tweaked a bit to suit the theme. Despite what everyone here says about prompts/story dice/whatever I could never write on command. I found them too rigid. I got my inspiration from other mediums films, non-fiction, museum visits etc etc I read a lot in general. I wrote poems about poems...

Forming a community especially locally is good IMO. It can be quite an isolating hobby if you put the time in. My interest waned in my teenage years, due to that but also becoming disillusioned with the creative/publishing world after spending time with people in the industry.

I did enjoy my time with the Literature Society in uni but didn't do much once I started work. I do enjoy poetry and reading still but spend more time on other hobbies now. I did however get married at Elizabeth Gaskell's House :)

Best of luck to your daughter, I hope it enriches her life as much as it did mine.

I wouldn't make a big thing of it. Just quietly encourage and maybe enter a few prestigious competitions.

What a weird response. Is something only valuable if you can make money from it?!

I think creativity needs to be left to its own devices! The worst thing you can do is try to channel it. If you get your dd to think too much about what she’s doing with workshops, poetry prompts etc., it might stifle her natural flow. All she needs is exposure to good writing of any sort, not just poetry, and a desire to write, which she already has, by the sound of it!

https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/recognition/

The Rattle Bag and School Bag are anthologies edited by Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes. Most will fly completely over the head of an 8 year old, but it will give her a sense of the singing line and something of the power poetry can have.

Try her on this one?

[ A ]
Long ago, in Kentucky, I, a boy, stood
By a dirt road, in first dark, and heard
The great geese hoot northward.
I could not see them, there being no moon
And the stars sparse. I heard them.
I did not know what was happening in my heart.
It was the season before the elderberry blooms,
Therefore they were going north.
The sound was passing northward.

[ B ]
Tell me a story.
In this century, and moment, of mania,
Tell me a story.
Make it a story of great distances, and starlight.
The name of the story will be Time,
But you must not pronounce its name.
Tell me a story of deep delight.

Robert Louis Stevenson's Child's Garden of Verses turns up.cheap a lot and still stands up.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/4chanlit/images/0/0c/1544982969919.png/revision/latest?cb=20181216200110

Once upon a time I won ( in the country of my origin) national poetry competition for the secondary school pupils. And...and I have not become a poet. I went completely different path and tbh I don't like most of poetry. Yeah. People change.

My kids used to go to Story room-

www.storyroom.co.uk/writing-clubs-for-7-to-11-year-olds/

Have a look at Joseph Coelho’s website (he’s the current children’s laureate) - he has some great resources and videos to teach and inspire children to write poetry. The Children’s Poetry Archive is a super resource for listening to a plethora of famous poets reading their own work. Sandy Brownjohn’s book ‘Does it have to rhyme’ is old but has some super ideas for teaching poetry. I’d happily offer you and your daughter a free half hour chat over Zoom if she’d like to read me a couple of her poems so I can make further suggestions. I was a school teacher for over 30 years and now do private tuition but am always keen to listen to, inspire and be inspired by children who have a genuine passion for poetry as it’s a particular love of mine. Drop me a pm if you’d like to arrange a mutually convenient time.

I was similar at that age - loved writing verse and poems, found it came easily, won competitions, impressed adults

I hated it when adults pushed anthologies on me and I was only interested in very broad prompts. It was my activity, for my pleasure. I felt that the anthologies in particular were meant to move me along to writing differently, and that just annoyed.

I loved some poems that I read, disliked others, and didn't like to be quizzed on them or asked to give a reaction.

It is a funny thing being able to write well at that age because you don't have the experience and maturity that informs adult writing. You may not understand it.

I would consider letting her keep the poetry as it works for her - though she may appreciate some of the suggestions here more than I did! I'd think about whether she'd enjoy other languages, which are an easier opening to hobbies and group experience. And slightly left field but might she enjoy calligraphy?

I don’t think the OP was suggesting she wanted to encourage her daughter’s love of poetry as a future career any more than the parent of a child who loves swimming is expecting them to be the next Olympic gold medalist just because they take them swimming or encourage them to join a local swimming club. Perhaps you should read a few modern poets who make/made a living from their poetry, like Joseph Coelho, Carol Ann Duffy, Benjamin Zephaniah and Michael Rosen to name but a few.

This really made me laugh.

Please don't interfere! Let her get on with it. Make sure she has plenty of books to read, plenty of paper and step away! Don't ask to read her work. Don't talk to school about her. Don't ask her to show Grandma. Don't make suggestions, or sign her up to prompt websites or make her join groups at courses. She doesn't need any of that. If she wants to talk about it or show you she will. But it's her thing. Leave her alone!

No one makes a living from poetry! Carol Ann Duffy is director of the creative writing programme at Manchester Met. Benjamin Zephaniah acted, released music albums, and was director of creative writing at Brunel. Michael Rosen also has an academic job.

But as you say, I don’t think the OP is micromanaging her child towards a career in poetry. Or even prestigious competitions!

Definitely not pimping her out for Big Poetry Dollars, and agree she mostly needs leaving alone. But I don’t think that’s literally 100% of what is helpful - eg I bought her for Christmas a Michael Rosen book on writing poetry (as opposed to a book of poems) that she really really loved. She likes to see she isn’t the only one who is interested and know about other people’s feelings about it. (If school had a poetry club like chess club she would be delighted!).

but don’t worry, I am definitely definitely not wanting to Tiger Mum this - it’s her thing she likes (for now- it could change tomorrow!) and she doesn’t need pushing.

They look great on my CV - worked for me:)