Categories
Kids Lit

Writing is a Group Activity!

I recently went to an in-person retreat – one of the few I have gone to since COVID-19. I was hesitant about the person-to-person training, but more conferences are dropping the virtual or hybrid model. Sometimes there are perks for those who show up.

And I remembered how much energy can be generated by like-minded people who have made an effort to drive to rural Iowa to learn and share. Plus my list of “writing friends” just got longer!

Q:    What brings a group together?

A:     Common interests

  • sharing groups who write for specific markets exchange ideas and encourage each other
  • critique group to discuss and analyze manuscripts
  • authors releasing books in the same year who swap launch ideas swapping
  • launch groups focus energy on new releases
  • authors represented by the same publisher or agency
  • subgroups of larger organizations like SCBWI
  • librarians of a particular genre
  • Teachers of a specific grade

Q:     How do you engage?

A:     You bring YOU!

  • support and contribute first, comment on posts
  • build relationships not customers, answer questions, volunteer to help
  • be credible, encouraging, supportive
  • pick 5 individuals or groups of like-minded people and follow them on every platform
  • pick one day a week and comment on every post on one platform

Something new…

I heard about a new group strategy for writers that can assist in publicity and sales but are not with other writers. Since my next book is on trees (specifically the Quaking Aspen), I thought I’d see where the tree lovers are.

INSERT NOV PIX 3

Google: Shot in the Dark

I googled: “groups interested in trees”. I had my choice of several umbrella groups, but I chose one that included national forests. I found not only a blog but also a list of grants and partnerships I might explore. I signed up for the newsletter.

I googled “Quaking Aspen” and one of the first hits was our local Morton Arboretum, 20 minutes away! Which has a gift shop. And library story time!

Selecting one platform: Facebook

I am pretty active on Facebook so I tried the same search “groups interested in trees.” This time I found there were more local to the Chicago area and had volunteer opportunities. And a blog.

Word to the wise: I was excited and did a FB search for Quaking Aspen. I scored a rock music group and a family farm. Not every search was a hit!

Hoped for results: By the time my tree book is published in 2026!) I hope my name is familiar to other writers and maybe even local and not-so-local tree lovers. Stick around to see how this plays out!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie led public library children’s departments as a preschool literacy specialist. With more than 1.7 M copies sold of 40 picture books, she writes stories to read and read again! She is pretty bummed the publication date of her next book was pushed back a year but will use the time to build relationships!

Categories
Kids Lit

Writing is a Group Activity!

I recently went to an in-person retreat – one of the few I have gone to since COVID-19. I was hesitant about the person-to-person training, but more conferences are dropping the virtual or hybrid model. Sometimes there are perks for those who show up.

And I remembered how much energy can be generated by like-minded people who have made an effort to drive to rural Iowa to learn and share. Plus my list of “writing friends” just got longer!

Q:        What brings a group together?

A:        Common interests

  • sharing groups who write for specific markets exchange ideas and encourage each other
  • critique group to discuss and analyze manuscripts
  • authors releasing books in the same year who swap launch ideas swapping
  • launch groups focus energy on new releases
  • authors represented by the same publisher or agency
  • subgroups of larger organizations like SCBWI
  • librarians of a particular genre
  • Teachers of a specific grade

Q:        How do you engage?

A:        You bring YOU!

  • support and contribute first, comment on posts
  • build relationships not customers, answer questions, volunteer to help
  • be credible, encouraging, supportive
  • pick 5 individuals or groups of like-minded people and follow them on every platform
  • pick one day a week and comment on every post on one platform

Something new…

I heard about a new group strategy for writers that can assist in publicity and sales but are not with other writers. Since my next book is on trees (specifically the Quaking Aspen), I thought I’d see where the tree lovers are.

Google: Shot in the Dark

I googled: “groups interested in trees”. I had my choice of several umbrella groups, but I chose one that included national forests. I found not only a blog but also a list of grants and partnerships I might explore. I signed up for the newsletter.

I googled “Quaking Aspen” and one of the first hits was our local Morton Arboretum, 20 minutes away! Which has a gift shop. And library story time!

Selecting one platform: Facebook

I am pretty active on Facebook so I tried the same search “groups interested in trees.” This time I found there were more local to the Chicago area and had volunteer opportunities. And a blog.

Word to the wise: I was excited and did a FB search for Quaking Aspen. I scored a rock music group and a family farm. Not every search was a hit!

Hoped for results: By the time my tree book is published in 2026!) I hope my name is familiar to other writers and maybe even local and not-so-local tree lovers. Stick around to see how this plays out!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie led public library children’s departments as a preschool literacy specialist. With more than 1.7 M copies sold of 40 picture books, she writes stories to read and read again! She is pretty bummed the publication date of her next book was pushed back a year but will use the time to build relationships!

Categories
Guest Posts

Getting Kids Excited About Creative Writing

Whether you have a child of your own or you’ve worked with them before, you already know that most kids have incredible imaginations. They are naturally creative and great at storytelling. However, they don’t always get the opportunity to write down those incredible stories on paper. 

Getting kids excited about creative writing gives them a chance to hone their natural storytelling talents. 

Beyond that, creative writing is beneficial for kids. It fosters their imagination, encourages self-expression, and can boost their self-esteem. It can also broaden the way they think, allowing them to come up with alternatives to problems and creative solutions they can use in real-world situations. 

So, how can you get the children in your life excited about creative writing? What can you do to encourage them to put their incredible stories to paper and foster a love of the written word from an early age? 

Spark Their Imagination

It’s usually easy for kids to come up with interesting stories, but when you tell them to sit down and write something, it’s just as easy for them to draw a blank!

One of the easiest ways to encourage young minds to start writing is to give them a prompt that sparks their imagination. Use creative story starters to get their wheels turning, and you might be surprised what they can come up with on their own.

Some ideas to offer include:

  • What I could do if I could fly
  • What I would do with one million dollars
  • What I would do if I was famous for a day
  • The person I most admire

You can also spark their imagination by reading an existing story! You never know what a child might pick up on from a book they enjoy. They might be able to relate to certain situations and experiences and write about their own. Or, they might be inspired by a particular character and use some of those traits to create someone completely new. It’s just one more reason that daily reading should be a part of every kid’s routine. 

Keep Them Engaged

Let’s face it – kids don’t always have the longest attention spans. Even when they’re excited about something, it can be hard to keep them dedicated to a specific project for any length of time. Letting them verbally share a story is different from having them write something down. 

So, how can you keep kids engaged while they’re writing? 

Try offering a fidget toy to help them while brainstorming. It can help them stay focused on the task at hand and encourage new ideas that excite them. 

Keep in mind that kids can feel “stuck” or experience a block in their writing just as easily as adults. They might feel overwhelmed with having to come up with new ideas while learning about the ins and outs of grammar and punctuation. 

Do what you can to be encouraging. Teach them not to give up when things get tough. By using positive statements in your encouragement, you’ll foster a growth mindset, and teach them to embrace and overcome challenges well into adulthood. 

Finally, don’t be afraid to let them take breaks. Even adult writers need to step away from their work so they don’t get burnt out. Children might need more frequent breaks to stay excited and inspired. Let them spend time outside, socialize with others, and use their imaginations in different ways before coming back to their writing. 

Let Them Share

Again, most kids have no problem being creative and coming up with unique stories on the spot. While writing things down will take more time and effort, every child should be acknowledged and praised for their work. 

With that in mind, make sure you offer opportunities for your kids to share their writing. If they’re doing it at home, sit and listen to their stories before bed each night, or have a weekly “story day” where they share what they’ve written with the family. 

If you’re a teacher, encourage your students to share their stories with the class, and let them answer questions from their peers. Discussions about creative writing can lead to even more unique ideas in the future. 

Getting kids excited about creative writing is easier than you might think. With positive encouragement and a little help along the way, you can foster the next generation of writers, and they’ll experience lasting benefits as they continue to learn and grow. 

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.