Comments on: nurturing young writers http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/ where a mother tries to cultivate creativity and a sense of wonder in her kids—and does a whole lot of wondering herself in the process Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:49:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1025 patricia Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:22:48 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-1025 Oh goody, that's a topic I'm excited about. I think transcribing their stories--or whatever they like to talk about--is a great start. But also just appreciating the craft of writers: talking about what they do well, and what we like about their writing. My kids and I are huge fans of listening to audiobooks in the car. It always prompts a lot of natural discussion: which character is your favorite; why did that character say that? It's what teachers might call literary analysis, but to us it's just having fun, enjoying a story together. I guess ideally, rather than trying to get our kids excited about writing, we parents can try to pay attention to what excites them. And then help them find ways to get that on paper. But your kids are young--it's no hurry! Oh goody, that’s a topic I’m excited about. I think transcribing their stories–or whatever they like to talk about–is a great start. But also just appreciating the craft of writers: talking about what they do well, and what we like about their writing. My kids and I are huge fans of listening to audiobooks in the car. It always prompts a lot of natural discussion: which character is your favorite; why did that character say that? It’s what teachers might call literary analysis, but to us it’s just having fun, enjoying a story together.

I guess ideally, rather than trying to get our kids excited about writing, we parents can try to pay attention to what excites them. And then help them find ways to get that on paper. But your kids are young–it’s no hurry!

]]> By: melissa s. http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 melissa s. Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:24:54 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-1007 I'd love to learn more about creating a literate environment at home. We read (constantly), we transcribe stories, but I always feel like I'm leading the show and trying to get everyone *excited* about writing. I'd love to hear ideas on how to get kids to become as passionate about writing as they are about listening to stories...or maybe that comes later? I’d love to learn more about creating a literate environment at home. We read (constantly), we transcribe stories, but I always feel like I’m leading the show and trying to get everyone *excited* about writing. I’d love to hear ideas on how to get kids to become as passionate about writing as they are about listening to stories…or maybe that comes later?

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-913 patricia Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:59:13 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-913 Thanks so much, Kristin. Traveling the country and doing book signings? Wouldn't that be a hoot? But I think it's probably better to imagine actually writing the book first. :-) And please feel welcome to address me here as Tricia--you know that most people do! I use Patricia on the blog, since that's the name attached to my meager list of publications. Just don't call me Trish, or Pat, or you might get some wrath! Thanks so much, Kristin.

Traveling the country and doing book signings? Wouldn’t that be a hoot? But I think it’s probably better to imagine actually writing the book first. :-)

And please feel welcome to address me here as Tricia–you know that most people do! I use Patricia on the blog, since that’s the name attached to my meager list of publications.

Just don’t call me Trish, or Pat, or you might get some wrath!

]]> By: Kristin http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-912 Kristin Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:48:11 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-912 Hi Patricia, Good luck with your presentation at the conference. I'm sure it will go well. I bet you could travel the country and share your presentation with your book someday. Can you imagine doing that? How about book signings? How exciting... Any topics about writing interest me. I will read those posts and incorporate them into our at-home learning. Hi Patricia,

Good luck with your presentation at the conference. I’m sure it will go well.

I bet you could travel the country and share your presentation with your book someday. Can you imagine doing that? How about book signings? How exciting…

Any topics about writing interest me. I will read those posts and incorporate them into our at-home learning.

]]> By: Emily http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-908 Emily Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:00:53 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-908 :) I knew. Or, at least, I knew the word was current in my world. I love when things close circle. :) I knew. Or, at least, I knew the word was current in my world. I love when things close circle.

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-907 patricia Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:59:13 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-907 Thanks Sarah! And nothing pleases me more than being passed along! Thanks Sarah! And nothing pleases me more than being passed along!

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-906 patricia Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:57:44 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-906 Thanks so much for taking the time to share this, Carrie. What a fun idea! Kids love getting letters, and how especially fun to get them from their own imaginary characters! Mr. T would love that. I'm so glad that you're seeing the power of transcribing kids' words! You can always see if B. would be willing to write the opening and closing of the letters himself, so he gets a little writing practice on something that doesn't require too much thinking... Thanks so much for taking the time to share this, Carrie. What a fun idea! Kids love getting letters, and how especially fun to get them from their own imaginary characters! Mr. T would love that.

I’m so glad that you’re seeing the power of transcribing kids’ words! You can always see if B. would be willing to write the opening and closing of the letters himself, so he gets a little writing practice on something that doesn’t require too much thinking…

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-905 patricia Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:47:56 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-905 I'm totally with you on the notion that beginning writers should get a lot of words on paper without editing. Heck, all writers should get a lot of words on paper without editing! It's taken me years to learn to write cruddy drafts without revising them as I go. I didn't know about ZigZagZine! I went and visited--what a great site! I'm so glad to have publication possibilities for kids to recommend. I went up and added a link to your blog post about your game--hope some folks see the link and check it out. I was hoping to write a post on wordplay so I could link it, but haven't gotten to it. Maybe soon...I have <i>got</i> to try out the space version with Mr. T. I’m totally with you on the notion that beginning writers should get a lot of words on paper without editing. Heck, all writers should get a lot of words on paper without editing! It’s taken me years to learn to write cruddy drafts without revising them as I go.

I didn’t know about ZigZagZine! I went and visited–what a great site! I’m so glad to have publication possibilities for kids to recommend.

I went up and added a link to your blog post about your game–hope some folks see the link and check it out. I was hoping to write a post on wordplay so I could link it, but haven’t gotten to it. Maybe soon…I have got to try out the space version with Mr. T.

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-904 patricia Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:36:41 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-904 Well, you know where I got the word <i>shiny</i>, don't you? http://emilycotler.com/family/blog/?p=99 Yes, I think farmer's market meetings should be a regular happening, don't you? Finally, a way to make sure we see each other! Well, you know where I got the word shiny, don’t you?

http://emilycotler.com/family/blog/?p=99

Yes, I think farmer’s market meetings should be a regular happening, don’t you? Finally, a way to make sure we see each other!

]]> By: Sarah http://patriciazaballos.com/2009/08/04/nurturing-young-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-903 Sarah Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:36:03 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=1282#comment-903 I would love to read about it all. I am going to pass your blog onto my neighbor too.. looking forward to the good reads. I would love to read about it all. I am going to pass your blog onto my neighbor too.. looking forward to the good reads.

]]>