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Creative Writing parameters for 7th grader?


Doodlebug
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We're going to fight the winter doldrums by varying our writing schedule next month with a creative writing assignment.

DS (7th grade) wants to do a spin-off story from the Hobbit. He's incredibly excited about it.   

I'd like to provide him with some some parameters, but I don't want to overwhelm his creative impetus as this is supposed to be fun.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

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12 hours ago, SanDiegoMom in VA said:

If he needs structure you could use the book Adventures in Fantasy by John Gust. It has clear lesson plans walking the student through the brainstorming. My daughter really enjoyed it (especially making the map to go along with her domain). 

 

Thanks for the recommendation!  That sounds perfect!

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It depends on your goal. You could just let him write. If the goal is to enjoy writing, then just giving him time to write with no judgment or pressure might be really useful. And the practice of getting words on the page is a good one.

Or, you could just let him write, but also do some side assignments where you help him with creative writing exercises to focus on things like character or dialogue.

Or, you could use this as a way to help him learn better editing skills. He finishes a bit of the story, you together practice editing mechanics.

To me, the most challenging parameters to set out for a kid who is excited about writing a creative piece is to require that it have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most middle schoolers I've taught who actively want to write a story can't figure out how to finish the story. Even if they have an ending in mind, somewhere a dozen pages or so into their epics, they run out of steam or get frustrated. That, or somewhere around 200 pages in, they run out of steam or you really need to move on and they're not having it because they're still on the first plot point and nothing has been resolved. Ah, pre-teen writing.

Since he's writing fanfiction, he can post it online, which can feel really good and be a good goal to aim for - a story that's worthy of being published. Just be sure you monitor since there's a heck of a lot of X-rated fanfic out there. But there are also a lot of teens and pre-teens writing cute stories for each other. You just have to monitor and make rules if you do that.

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5 hours ago, Farrar said:

It depends on your goal. You could just let him write. If the goal is to enjoy writing, then just giving him time to write with no judgment or pressure might be really useful. And the practice of getting words on the page is a good one.

Or, you could just let him write, but also do some side assignments where you help him with creative writing exercises to focus on things like character or dialogue.

Or, you could use this as a way to help him learn better editing skills. He finishes a bit of the story, you together practice editing mechanics.

To me, the most challenging parameters to set out for a kid who is excited about writing a creative piece is to require that it have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most middle schoolers I've taught who actively want to write a story can't figure out how to finish the story. Even if they have an ending in mind, somewhere a dozen pages or so into their epics, they run out of steam or get frustrated. That, or somewhere around 200 pages in, they run out of steam or you really need to move on and they're not having it because they're still on the first plot point and nothing has been resolved. Ah, pre-teen writing.

Since he's writing fanfiction, he can post it online, which can feel really good and be a good goal to aim for - a story that's worthy of being published. Just be sure you monitor since there's a heck of a lot of X-rated fanfic out there. But there are also a lot of teens and pre-teens writing cute stories for each other. You just have to monitor and make rules if you do that.

 

Farrar, this is really wonderful!  Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience!    

Based on DS's last creative writing endeavor, the point you made about stories having a beginning, middle, and end, is spot on. His story definitely had flow and plot points, but there was a lot of dialogue... a LOT of dialogue.  🙂  I have no idea where that story was going, but he enjoyed it!  He employed a lot of detail and transitioned beautifully, which are areas where he struggles in typical writing assignments.   

Focusing on beginning, middle, and end gives direction with freedom to move.  I think that's a great starting point for our assignment. 

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