Writing for enjoyable: A information to playfulness for severe writers
Writing is a lot of work and there are definitely parts of the process that are not fun. But if writing has become a drudgery, if it becomes something that you fear every day, then maybe it is time for a little piece to revive your love of writing. What if you were writing for fun?
I have spent most of my teaching career with high school students, but I have had the opportunity to work as a primary librarian for a few years, run book and writing clubs, and basically playing with children in the literary sandpit. It was a great time.
The children who came to my book and my writing clubs accepted the experiment in their work and were ready to play with words in a way I hadn't seen in most of my teenage and adult students. I remember a student reading the same line or page in a multi-voice book, each adding a new line or changing the message and tone slightly until we couldn't hear his voice over our laughter.
It was pure joy.
Joy: lost and found
When I returned to my high school and college classrooms, I found that most of my students hated writing. When I announced a writing project or exploration, I encountered groans. The questions asked by these authors included: "How long does it take?" and "Am I done?" Writing had become torture.
Somewhere along the way, someone made them feel like they weren't writers. They stopped trusting their own creativity and voice.
When I started unpacking why, most reported that all the fun had come out of the letter with uninteresting prompts and five-paragraph essays. They had no time or opportunity to write about things that interested them. Too often we prioritize academic niche writing at the expense of any other form that we consume and enjoy on a daily basis.
My first goal is always the same: help them rediscover their voice and ability to play with language. In other words, help them rediscover writing for fun. I gently nudge writers on topics and forms they like, hoping that they will revive some of the curiosity and creativity of that childhood. We see pages in notebooks that were filled where once empty lines were hopelessly sitting.
Without exception, I hear conversations that include: "Listen to this!" and "OMG, I've never written so much."
Some students are still looking at me cautiously, sure that I will force them to turn their fun into something they will fear. Instead, we find the lines that sing, we find one thing that we can improve, and we keep going.
Volume and targeted practice lead to results. And the way to more volume? The way to continue? Writing is fun.
But what about (cough, cough) serious writing?
That's okay and good, you might say, but what about * serious writing *? I teach that too, but the students need as much freedom in topics and form as possible. And I would argue that * serious writing *, like all good writing, arises from a place of fervor (some call it Exigence) – the subject is important, and the form is increasing to meet the needs of the writer and the public .
But don't underestimate the power of the game. We don't grow out.
My college classes are completing an argumentative writing course and their graduation project is asking them to creatively explore a form that uses the same skills that we have used for formal academic writing: research, curation, analysis, and synthesis.
Some students analyze real crime podcasts. Others are building public announcements. Some write fiction and others improve creative skills such as learning a complex piano piece and tracking development.
I have comments like "I didn't think of it as writing!" Belongs. and "I can't believe I can do that for school. I'm learning so much. Thank you very much!"
It turns out that the best way to take your writing seriously is by playing.
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The best way to take your writing seriously is to play. Give yourself permission to have fun writing.
For adults: meet your mentor, a child
Then how do we do it? Is it really as simple as "OK, I'm going to play today"?
It's like this for children – they don't think too much about the rules and what sells and what is expected. If you've ever played a game with a child who has improvised the day over time, you've experienced it.
For adults, I bet we are all sitting on our laptops trying to force ourselves into a childish state with their fingers over the keyboard. "Game, damn it! Write for fun! " Really, we have to start letting our thoughts wander.
What games did you love as a kid? Make a list or describe a game the way you remember it. Then write a variation.
Add something absurd. Add an alliterative line. Smile as you type or type.
Take a snack break. Smell something near you and describe it to your dog.
Read something that will make you laugh. Read something that will take your breath away. Describe what happened or copy the form.
Do not think about what you will do with the upcoming letter. Just play. Experience is its own reward.
For children: the Write Summer Camp 2020
Do you have a child aged 7 to 14 who you would like to see if they keep writing and continue to develop this summer?
We have put together a group of bestselling authors, professional writers and award-winning teachers to create a fun, interactive, and week-long writing experience.
The camp sessions all take place online and we combine the right mix of writing lessons, encouraging feedback and a lot of fun writing for children.
During your child's Write Summer Camp experience, you will receive:
- Learn from professional writers
- Find and develop ideas for writing
- Write your own story that you can share until the end of the camp
- Practice revising your own work based on feedback
- Build your creative muscles and write confidence
Play time
Regardless of your age, you can rekindle the joy of playing while writing. Relax and give yourself permission to be stupid. Let yourself be guided by your curiosity and mood.
Remember, the more you write for fun and enjoy the process, the more others will enjoy reading it!
When did you enjoy writing? What are your favorite types of writing? Share in the comments.
WORK OUT
Take fifteen minutes. Make a list of your favorite childhood games or describe a game the way you remember it.
Then write a variation. Add something absurd. Add an alliterative line. Smile as you type or type. Take a snack break. Smell something near you and describe it to your dog.
Alternately? Just sit on the floor and tinker with something for ten minutes. Then come back and describe the experience.
Share your piece in the comments below and leave feedback for your co-writers!
Sue Weems
