{"id":52912,"date":"2017-04-10T06:00:39","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T10:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplehomeschl.wpengine.com\/?p=52912"},"modified":"2026-02-12T10:04:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T15:04:13","slug":"writing-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplehomeschool.net\/writing-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Practice, explore, play! Helping kids enjoy the writing process"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nWritten by children’s author Caroline Starr Rose<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A<\/span>s a former teacher, I\u2019m well aware that writing isn\u2019t everyone\u2019s cup of tea.<\/p>\n

Can I let you in on a little secret? It\u2019s not always my thing, either.<\/p>\n

This is a strange confession coming from a children\u2019s author, but an important one, I think.<\/p>\n

If writing is sometimes \u201cunfun” for a person who does it for a living, how much more challenging is it for the kid who doesn\u2019t enjoy it in the first place?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some things I\u2019ve learned about the writing life \u2014 both as a teacher and as a student of the discipline \u2014 that I hope might encourage you and your young writers:
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1. Everyone is creative.<\/h4>\n

While writing might not be every child\u2019s strong suit, every person has a creative side. (For grown ups, it might take a bit of digging to find, but I promise, it\u2019s there.)<\/em><\/p>\n

When it comes to writing, it\u2019s easy to focus on mechanics or fluency as ultimate measurements of ability or skill, leaving some kids at a disadvantage before they’ve even begun. We need to help children understand they already have what it takes to write because they were born creative.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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2. Choice and freedom are key.<\/h4>\n

There will be times when young writers need to tackle particular assignments like research papers or responsive essays, but I believe it\u2019s even more important that kids are given the freedom to choose their own topics as often as possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They should be given the freedom to write without some higher purpose (including concerns about grammar and spelling)<\/em> and have opportunities to create for their own pleasure and benefit alone.<\/p>\n

3. Listen to the world.<\/h4>\n

Creative people listen to and observe the world around them. In listening, we catch details we might otherwise miss, bits and pieces that enrich our thoughts and lives. If we invite children to look and listen, they will come to their writing with artistic pumps already primed.<\/p>\n

One simple way to do this is to regularly model the things that make us stop and wonder. Another is to ask kids to keep notebooks where they paste, color, and collect ideas or questions that might lead to future writing projects of their own. Here\u2019s a ready-made notebook<\/a> your writers might enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Tinker, explore, create, play!<\/h4>\n

I\u2019ve transformed my own approach to writing in the last year by dropping the \u201cw-word\u201d from my vocabulary. Instead of writing, I now practice, explore, or play. It\u2019s impossible to have a \u201cbad\u201d writing day when I\u2019m simply practicing, just as there\u2019s no right or wrong way to play.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any time I show up to my work with this mindset, there is something to be gained.<\/p>\n

When young writers can be taught to approach their writing playfully, the heavy burden of getting it \u201cright\u201d falls away.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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5. Frustration is part of the process.<\/h4>\n

There comes a point when I\u2019m writing a book that I\u2019m sure I\u2019ve broken it. The story feels like it\u2019s beyond repair. Sometimes this happens multiple times!<\/p>\n

If kids know ahead of time frustration is a natural part of the writing process, the experience can be less intimidating.<\/strong> Those moments of struggle might be shorter lived.<\/p>\n

Instead of fearing them, writing challenges can be seen for what they are: opportunities to go deeper and wider, obstacles that if faced will eventually lead to breakthroughs, growth, and change.<\/p>\n

6. Revision\u2019s where the real writing happens.<\/h4>\n

Revision means exactly what\u00a0it sounds like \u2014 a chance to see a piece of writing again, this time in a new light. As a young teacher, I didn\u2019t understand how crucial revision was.<\/p>\n

I wish I\u2019d known then to ask my students the questions I now ask myself after I finish a draft:<\/strong><\/p>\n