How To Assist My Son In Writing And Have Him Enjoy It!

[Lauren Hawkins]

I would just like to ask one simple question of Mr.King. I would like to open my 9 year old son's eyes to the fun of writing short stories. My son has many tall tales that he likes to tell, but when I ask him to write them down he immediately loses all interest. I want to encourage him to not see writing as a chore, but as a way of preserving all the stories he has floating around in his head. My question is, is there any advice you have on how to make writing fun for a 9 year old? Thanks!!! Lauren

 

[Dana Jean]

I would just like to ask one simple question of Mr.King. I would like to open my 9 year old son's eyes to the fun of writing short stories. My son has many tall tales that he likes to tell, but when I ask him to write them down he immediately loses all interest. I want to encourage him to not see writing as a chore, but as a way of preserving all the stories he has floating around in his head. My question is, is there any advice you have on how to make writing fun for a 9 year old? Thanks!!! Lauren

I'm not Mr. King, but do you have a tape recorder? Have him record his stories and then you could transcribe them for him. Maybe when he sees them typed out, he'll want to do it by himself.

Welcome to the board.

 

[Lauren Hawkins]

I'm not Mr. King, but do you have a tape recorder? Have him record his stories and then you could transcribe them for him. Maybe when he sees them typed out, he'll want to do it by himself.

Welcome to the board.

That is a great idea!! Thank you!

 

[king family fan]

Welcome to the board!

 

[GNTLGNT]

....Howdy Hi Lauren!...DJ, as you've already noted, made a very wise suggestion...kids like to chatter-not write...plenty of software out there to dress up his stories if you can get him to rattle a few off...and once he sees them in a "professional" format...it may be enough to set the hook...

 

[Shoesalesman]

Welcome! Dana Jean's suggestion is excellent. My kid ad-libs stories about his stuffy, Oliver the Cat, all the time, so one day I asked him to draw/write me a story of Oliver's best adventure. And BAM! that opened it up for him. He has a stack of stories now, and keeps adding more. Art seems to bring out the words on paper for him. AND his printing has greatly improved, as has his school writing. Whichever way helps your son, I sincerely wish you (and him) luck in finding a way to tap into his tales!!!

 

[prufrock21]

My advice is, at such a young age, don't force him to do anything, especially writing, because then he won't enjoy it. Writing, especially for a professional writer, can be a chore, so why force another chore on the young man. I believe that the actual writing will came later, so give him a chance to
"grow" into it. Remember, when the pupil is ready, the master will appear.

 

[Shasta]

I'm not Mr. King, but do you have a tape recorder? Have him record his stories and then you could transcribe them for him. Maybe when he sees them typed out, he'll want to do it by himself.

Welcome to the board.

I was thinking this EXACT same thing! You could even type it out and put in some pictures. I bet he'd love it!

 

[The Nameless]

You could try suggesting a speach to text program? He speaks them into a headset/microphone, and the program "Types" it on screen.

I've not read it, but "On Writing" is his part biography, part tips for aspiring writers, but I'm not sure whether it would help to get someone young into writing.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Try sitting down with the Sears Roebuck Christmas catalog...open the pages to a character...maybe pick out another character from another section so on so forth...ask him if he can imagine what happens and maybe he tells you...maybe give him a pen or pencil and he can make notes in the catalog...character names or something. Friends come over and you open the catalog to his notes in the margin and you retell the story he made up only you screw it up because it is not written down...royally. Wonder how he'd take that? Would he get all exasperated or would he add more notes in the margin? I dunno...all the already mentioned seems like a plan. Maybe cut out pics from the catalog...or magazines...tape them in a spiral-ring notebook...notes underneath. Start slow. Suggest that the notebook needs a snazzy title. Hawkins' Tales. Add a one-liner: Hawkins' Mother says this is Hawkins' best! Ever!
So on so forth.