Encouraging the Next Generation of Writers.

The 'books' created by Tully's classmates in year 1. 

I had a completely different topic planned for today, but after reading Ellie’s fabulous interview with Lena Nelson Dooley (see below), I gained some fresh inspiration. Something Lena said resonated with me. The quote is:

‘I grew up in a family where everyone wrote, not for publication, just wrote.’

This statement made me think long and hard about the encouragement we give our children to write. 

I also wrote as a child. It was always fiction - big vibrant stories about crazy characters and even crazier situations. But somewhere along my childhood I lost my passion for writing. Maybe this was because I was steered into drama (which I also loved), but my writing fell by the wayside. Thankfully the Lord reminded me of my talent and renewed my passion.

Over the last few years I have taken this passion into my son’s classrooms. I talk to the children about the elements incorporated in books and writing, then give each student a blank booklet for them to write their own stories. It is amazing what these children produce. Their imaginations and talents astound me.

My son, Tully loves storytelling, and still produces his own 'books'. Recently he came home from school quite irritated. His third grade class had been given the task of completing a narrative. All the students were excited by this prospect until they were told they could not construct a story of their own. It had to be the story set out for them by the teacher. I can completely understand why a teacher would ask them to do this, but I shared his disappointment knowing how much these children love to write their own stories. It actually saddened me a little, because it was a task that seemed to lack passion.

It is so important that we encourage our young people to write their own stories. Who knows what passions we could be igniting when we share our enthusiasm for writing with the next generation?

I will finish off with the following ‘magnificent’ piece of writing. I encouraged Tully to dictate a report on a camping trip. He initially resisted the task, but then enjoyed it so much that he went on and on.

Here it is, in his words:

Mt Britton.

When I went to Mt Britton I saw 3 little creeks, a dead rat, lots of signs, and a very funny one. It said: ‘The owner of this land is very unstable – Smile’.

Mt Britton is a historical gold mining town near Nebo. The only things that are left are pieces of glass, an old fig tree to camp under, and some pieces of mining machinery. There are also lots of signs telling people about the past, and what was in the town.

A man planted the fig tree when the first white baby was born in the town.

Some of the buildings that used to be there are: A school, Mackay Hotel, Finch Hatton’s House, bee keepers. There are some random post signs too.

I went for walks. I mined for gold, but I didn’t find any.

I would definitely go there again because we finally got a piece of land up there, and if I am really good for Christmas I will get my own quad bike.  

Rose Dee is the author of the three book 'Resolution' series, and co-author of the Greenfield Legacy. You can visit Rose at; 

http://rosedee.com/