Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Early writing (and other musings)

This is part sharing, part "how does this compare with your experience" and a good part of "I'm not ready to go back to work after lunch just yet..."

So DS5.5 (probably closer to 5 3/4ths not that it matters that much) has really started to be interested in writing. In fact yesterday he started writing "poems". Now at 5 the poems are simple, but they do have the basic structure of a poem. We read lots of Shel Silverstein at bedtime, so that's probably why he's got the structure down... well as far as Silverstein's poem have structure.

At any rate, he's a voracious reader reads simple chapter books and would probably be considered to be at a solid third grader reading level. Not sure about his writing/spelling though. I guess I always assumed that reader, writing, and spelling developed in lock-step.... but that's not the case is it?

It's great to seem him write like that. He only hold up is that he doesn't like "Kid Writing" so he insists on spelling each word correctly. That can slow down his writing.

When did your kids start to do creative writing (or otherwise) in relation to reading?

JB

My dd began writing manically at four. She would sit at her little table in the kitchen and write anything, individual letters, copy anything on the table, but her favorite use of writing was to complain and irritate her sister. She would also write to lodge any grievances or complaints with us and school. In Kindy she wrote a letter to the principal complaining about a boy misbehaving on the bus. She really began writing creatively at 6. She spent two weeks writing her very first short story. It was hysterical!

Both of my children are "story tellers" and have been from an early age. My younger dd(7) has writing issues, so I let her dictate to me and we get the stories out.

Older dd (9) sounds closer to your DS's situation. From very early, she wanted to do all the writing and it had to be "just right". I actually bought her a simple dictionary and thesaurus at age 4 and it became her best friend! I also shared with her that even famous authors do a rough draft and they don't worry about spelling until they are ready for a final copy. Then, We used Illustory so that she could add pictures and have her works published in a little book...too cute and very impressive to her teachers. She even wrote a story with her Poppop (my dad) about why he lost his hair! We treasure these books!

There are also "build a book" kits where he can use foam pieces and markers to illustrate his writings. These are not sent to a publisher, but are done when he finishes the last page.

Have fun with this!!

Letters at age four. First short story at age six. First published letter to the Editor at 7. Did book readings and presentations at age 11 and 12. Edited HS paper for two years. Lots of awards for short stories in HS. I stopped in college - mainly because I did not think my ideas were good enough - my writing did not measure up to the best in my class so I had to stop and think about my direction.

Journals are the way to go. A good work, a really good work, will consist of many, many ideas jotted down over weeks and weeks of thinking.

Writers and book club groups ( ie at your local book store) are A LOT of fun, too.

Plays and operas are good. HS plays are especialy good.

DD6 writes letters to DH and leaves them around the house for him to find. Except she pens them in my name!

Ex:

Dick,

You need to find some time to play with Clarissa today.

Shelly

LOL!!!!

When dd was four she was sitting at her little table one day and asked my dh "how do you spell canceled?" He looked down at her paper and as our younger dd twirled around the room in her princess outfit her big sister was writing,

Dear Judy,

The ball is canceled!

This is great stuff!

JB

JBD: you might also introduce the notion of drafts and editing. Talk about getting ideas on paper quickly and revising. It will help to get him past that "everything must be spelled perfectly the first time through.

He could even pencil it in lightly and erase when he gets the correct spelling if he doesn't want to rewrite the whole thing.

Just a thought to combat perfectionism...

Unfortunately the stinker is currently in his room on restriction, but that's a good idea we can try later.

Just what I need, right? Another writer in the family

JB