Creative Writing is Everyone's Cup of Tea

Through a decade of teaching children the skills required for creative writing, we have been asked over a dozen times, “What are the rules of Creative Writing?” Our answer to that is – “There are no rules!” Creative writing, in our view, is a free flow of ideas from the writer’s mind to paper, and thereby to the readers’ minds. The writer’s intuitive understanding of the readers’ needs and likes determines whether a written piece would be effective. 

Academic writing is indubitably a great start for children. Through its structures and formats, it introduces them to the concept of writing. School-based writing activities compel children to put pens to paper which many would not otherwise. On the other hand, the rigid structures, constraining rules, and intimidating time limits often make creative writing seem like a burden. The dearth of an extensive vocabulary and writing ideas often set more hurdles that make writing seem like a Herculean mission. Such intimidation is incongruous with the Classcapades’ mission of making learning seem like an adventure. Hence, we follow a unique tried-and-tested method at Classcapades that we call the three E’s – Equip, Exhibit and Experiment. We EQUIP children during the early years by helping them build a repository of creatives ideas, vocabulary, grammatical rules and the tools for effective writing. As the next step, we EXHIBIT several distinctive pieces of writing to children, including those written by us, by famous authors, as well as those of our senior-level students. Only when we ascertain that our children are ready do we urge them to EXPERIMENT with writing through thought-provoking writing prompts, outlines and exercises.

 How do I begin creative writing?

The most important prerequisite is an opportunity to write without the fear of being judged. We believe that every child is brimming with imagination, and every child may imagine differently. They may not have the right words to express these inner ideas, but the originality that children have can sometimes surpass even the conditioned thinking patterns of adults. As mentors and parents, we could help them take begin by appreciating when they vividly express thoughts in words and probing for clarity when there is ambiguity. We must avoid passing judgements at all costs, especially of the kind that discourages children from writing.

Should I read more to become a better writer?

Any aspiring writer is rendered redundant when someone says, “Reading isn’t necessary.” Besides, for beginners, reading is the best approach to build an understanding of structures. At the absorbent stage of learning, children could learn from the works of famous authors and assimilate the dos and don’ts from their work. Likewise, at Classcapades, our students learn from our worksheets, essays and narratives. They understand the correct usage of words and various sentence structures that they can employ to develop their own unique style of writing. 

Will my vocabulary improve through reading?

Though reading could help introduce you to new words that you may not have already known, it may not be the definitive method for expanding your vocabulary. 

Consider this sentence – “Larry is a lackadaisical lad who loves lolling and lazing in his lounge for hours.”

An sharp young reader would contextually guess that ‘lackadaisical’ in the above sentence means ‘lazy’. But the same reader is unlikely to recall the word or its spelling even as little as a week later. Hence, being introduced to a word in one context may not be adequate for it to become assimilated into one’s vocabulary. Only when a word is presented systematically and repetitively and used in several different contexts can we expect it to find its permanent place within one’s vocabulary. At Classcapades, we provide our students with opportunities to use unique and impressive vocabulary in such a manner.

Conclusion:

To sum it up, creative writing is not primarily an academic subject like the sciences or mathematics. It is an art that flourishes when nurtured as a hobby, and excellence is only a product of extensive practice and sound guidance.

PS: Do check out the Be a Stellar Storyteller contest by Classcapades. It's a great way to help your children explore their story writing skills.

***

Classcapades is an enhanced learning avenue. They offer various courses based on Grammar, Vocabulary Building, Creative Writing, Reading Enhancement, Handwriting, Brush Lettering, Calligraphy and more.

Book your next class with Classcapades here