Free Write (Writing Fiction)
"Writing fiction is one of the best ways to get children to grow a passion for writing. Most children wish to create characters in situations of their own design. In many classrooms the child who has moved from writing their own personal narrative to composing an imaginary tale has become a "real" author" (Graves 287).
Personally, I feel that writing fiction is truly a great way to get children "lost" in the passion of writing. You grow a sense of passion when you create something of you own. Fiction allows the child to explore their creativity with no bounds.
A great method to use would be to have the children, on their free time, start a fictional story of their own. Do not assign it as part of school, it's more fun this way and they will be more passionate about it. Encourage them every week write some of it, and to be as creative as they possibly can. All the while the lessons that you teach in class should be geared to helping them understand form and order for them to later utilize on their own. Encourage them to have their family read it every so often and ask them for their input on how they could make it better. Over time they will get a feel for it and learn the ins and outs of making a fantastic fiction.
I would be the perfect model for this process. During high school, I started my own fictional novel and I can't explain to you right now the wonders it has done for my ability and passion for writing. I consider myself a true author now and I've never appreciated good writing before as much as I do now. I have respect for writers who dedicate their time to such an art. It is not easy! But man is it exhilarating!
A couple of years after I started my novel, my younger siblings started reading it and were inspired to write their own fictional novels. Of course, when they did you could immediately notice the difference in our writing levels. But after a couple of years of sharing and comparing, I have to say they have improved so much. I love their stories so much I would recommend them to be published for sure. As they plunged head first into these stories, they had no idea of the true importance of organization and structure, suspense and timely unfolding of events in the plot. It was something that they caught on to and eventually they learned for themselves why these things are important.
Just as a reminder, if anyone wishes to utilize this method, remember that it is very important that the children have a model to which they can refer to. They will soon begin to pick up on the very important key pieces of writing that might not have been so obvious when it was taught to them during the formal hours of the classroom. So model, model, model! My novel was the excellent model for my younger siblings and I was the best teacher seeing how I had just embarked on the same journey only some years ago. I can even see my improvement from the time I first started.
Remember, writing is a process! The more you do it, the better you will be at doing it. Improvement is emanate!!!
Personally, I feel that writing fiction is truly a great way to get children "lost" in the passion of writing. You grow a sense of passion when you create something of you own. Fiction allows the child to explore their creativity with no bounds.
A great method to use would be to have the children, on their free time, start a fictional story of their own. Do not assign it as part of school, it's more fun this way and they will be more passionate about it. Encourage them every week write some of it, and to be as creative as they possibly can. All the while the lessons that you teach in class should be geared to helping them understand form and order for them to later utilize on their own. Encourage them to have their family read it every so often and ask them for their input on how they could make it better. Over time they will get a feel for it and learn the ins and outs of making a fantastic fiction.
I would be the perfect model for this process. During high school, I started my own fictional novel and I can't explain to you right now the wonders it has done for my ability and passion for writing. I consider myself a true author now and I've never appreciated good writing before as much as I do now. I have respect for writers who dedicate their time to such an art. It is not easy! But man is it exhilarating!
A couple of years after I started my novel, my younger siblings started reading it and were inspired to write their own fictional novels. Of course, when they did you could immediately notice the difference in our writing levels. But after a couple of years of sharing and comparing, I have to say they have improved so much. I love their stories so much I would recommend them to be published for sure. As they plunged head first into these stories, they had no idea of the true importance of organization and structure, suspense and timely unfolding of events in the plot. It was something that they caught on to and eventually they learned for themselves why these things are important.
Just as a reminder, if anyone wishes to utilize this method, remember that it is very important that the children have a model to which they can refer to. They will soon begin to pick up on the very important key pieces of writing that might not have been so obvious when it was taught to them during the formal hours of the classroom. So model, model, model! My novel was the excellent model for my younger siblings and I was the best teacher seeing how I had just embarked on the same journey only some years ago. I can even see my improvement from the time I first started.
Remember, writing is a process! The more you do it, the better you will be at doing it. Improvement is emanate!!!
You will be a great writer and or teacher.
ReplyDeleteI read you entire blog....I do hope you will continue making entries every once in awhile. Love Grandma .. Barbara
Thank you so much!
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