Support for creativity
Ren Allen
"But, does anyone know of any online forums or courses
along the lines of any of his interests especially ones that would be
geared towards homeschoolers or at least, children? I recall that
someone had started a writers' workshop. Does anyone have information
about that?"
Why is your first response to his interests all about a class?
Sometimes that is the very WORST way to assist a child in expanding
their world. I could be way off-base here, but you said he's just
getting through the DE-SCHOOLING process....why put him into classes
just now?
The BEST way to help a child explore their interests imo, is to get
them around other people with those interests. Whether online or in
real life (preferably in real life at that age) they have a wonderful
group to bounce ideas off of, relate to and create with.
I did see that you asked for classes geared for homeschoolers...but
sometimes those are the worst.
I know someone started an email group for writers...that might be a
fun way to explore creative writing. I believe it was Pam S (correct
me if I'm wrong?) and it's writing prompts...so he could pick and
choose what he would like to use from that.
Classes in general are not my first response to an interest. We DO
take classes here and there, but not before buying the child materials
they want, seeking out others with same interests and exploring it online.
Some interests lend themselves to a group experience, like theatre or
Choral singing. But many interests are actually better explored in
smaller, intimate groups, without formal instruction of any kind.
I think the best thing anyone can do for a child that is interested in
writing, is fill them up with amazing, beautiful and rich experiences
to write about. Good writing comes from passion....live a life of
passion and the writing will start flowing.:) The structure of it and
editing skills can come later. It's the ideas that matter most right now.
Ren
along the lines of any of his interests especially ones that would be
geared towards homeschoolers or at least, children? I recall that
someone had started a writers' workshop. Does anyone have information
about that?"
Why is your first response to his interests all about a class?
Sometimes that is the very WORST way to assist a child in expanding
their world. I could be way off-base here, but you said he's just
getting through the DE-SCHOOLING process....why put him into classes
just now?
The BEST way to help a child explore their interests imo, is to get
them around other people with those interests. Whether online or in
real life (preferably in real life at that age) they have a wonderful
group to bounce ideas off of, relate to and create with.
I did see that you asked for classes geared for homeschoolers...but
sometimes those are the worst.
I know someone started an email group for writers...that might be a
fun way to explore creative writing. I believe it was Pam S (correct
me if I'm wrong?) and it's writing prompts...so he could pick and
choose what he would like to use from that.
Classes in general are not my first response to an interest. We DO
take classes here and there, but not before buying the child materials
they want, seeking out others with same interests and exploring it online.
Some interests lend themselves to a group experience, like theatre or
Choral singing. But many interests are actually better explored in
smaller, intimate groups, without formal instruction of any kind.
I think the best thing anyone can do for a child that is interested in
writing, is fill them up with amazing, beautiful and rich experiences
to write about. Good writing comes from passion....live a life of
passion and the writing will start flowing.:) The structure of it and
editing skills can come later. It's the ideas that matter most right now.
Ren
Betsy Hill
**Good writing comes from passion....live a life of
passion and the writing will start flowing.:)**
I'm trying to think of non-class things. (My son is really negative
about the word "class". And he's never been in school, just Kindermusik
and Gymboree long ago. I think he really just hates to be told what to
do when. A natural unschooler and really lucky not to be in school.
He's subversive and funny. I used to joke that the government should
pay me to keep him home, as I can picture him being the class clown. I
should get a subsidy! <g>)
Journaling may be one way to get writing to flow, if the idea appeals to
him. Certainly many writers like to have a notebook or computer file to
jot down their fleeting ideas.
When stuck in the car, my eleven year old has listened with me to author
interviews on National Public Radio. (Mostly "City Arts and Lectures"
and "Fresh Air".) It could be intriguing to hear authors he likes
talking about their upcoming works and answering questions about how
they write. I think both of these programs have audio archives, so
with a fast internet connection, one can listen to old programs on the
computer, for free. And skip any dull parts!
Betsy
passion and the writing will start flowing.:)**
I'm trying to think of non-class things. (My son is really negative
about the word "class". And he's never been in school, just Kindermusik
and Gymboree long ago. I think he really just hates to be told what to
do when. A natural unschooler and really lucky not to be in school.
He's subversive and funny. I used to joke that the government should
pay me to keep him home, as I can picture him being the class clown. I
should get a subsidy! <g>)
Journaling may be one way to get writing to flow, if the idea appeals to
him. Certainly many writers like to have a notebook or computer file to
jot down their fleeting ideas.
When stuck in the car, my eleven year old has listened with me to author
interviews on National Public Radio. (Mostly "City Arts and Lectures"
and "Fresh Air".) It could be intriguing to hear authors he likes
talking about their upcoming works and answering questions about how
they write. I think both of these programs have audio archives, so
with a fast internet connection, one can listen to old programs on the
computer, for free. And skip any dull parts!
Betsy
Joyce Fetteroll
On Nov 5, 2005, at 8:31 AM, Ren Allen wrote:
It's 3 prompts per week (one story prompt, one a play with language
prompt and one that's usually both) and something (tip, adopt-a-plot)
on Saturday.
I've found most prompts tend to be geared towards contemporary
writing and since I like fantasy and science fiction and historical
mysteries -- basically anything that isn't contemporary ;-) -- these
tips are at least speculative fiction friendly :-)
Here's a bunch of the most recent ones:
===
Here's a nifty thing on line:
http://www.literacyrules.com/storystarter.htm
Just click on "Start the Modern Story Starter" button and get a story
starter. Wish they were more fantasy based! But the idea is neat.
If you don't like the one's generated there, here's a more
speculative fiction one inspired by those at the website:
My protagonist is a female. My protagonist is a ghost hunter. The
antagonist in my story is a archaeologist. A key object or symbol in
my story is a spider's web. My story will be set in an old temple. My
story is about pride.
====
When writing dialog, it's okay to use "said" when you want to help
the reader keep track of who's speaking. In fact it calls too much
attention to your writing (rather than keeping the attention on the
story!) if you try to use a lot of different words instead of said.
But sometimes characters *are* "blustering" and "cooing" and
"lisping" and occasional use of them can add some sparkle to the
story and the character :-)
Write the alphabet down the side of the page. Set the timer for 10-15
minutes.
For each letter come up with a different way (or ways) to say "said".
===
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes.
Link one word to the next until you have a sentence. Pick a word to
begin a sentence. The next word in the sentence should start with the
ending letter of the previous word. For example if the first word is
Good you might come up with:
Good dogs shouldn't tell lies.
And if the first word is Twenty you might come up with something like:
Twenty yellow waterlillies skunked Donald Duck's snake.
Here's some initial words. Use whatever random words pop into your
head for more :-)
Cat
Stupidly
Fire
Wings
Pinned
===
This is from WritersDigest.com -- Free Writing Prompts
http://www.writersdigest.com/writingprompts.asp
Something�s rotten in your refrigerator. Write a scene in which the
condiments residing in the door shelves plot to take over the prime
real estate on the top shelf, front and center. Will milk be spilled?
(And who�'ll be crying?)
===
Here's another list of real movie titles. Pick one. Set the timer for
10-15 mintues and write.
For those who are new, you probably won't have a complete story when
you're done, just the beginning. If you're really liking it, of
course keep going when the timer goes off! :-)
Aelita: Queen of Mars
Africa Screams
After the Fox
Against the Drunken Cat Paws
Fear Eats the Soul
Almost Angels
Queen of the Desert
Anna to the Infinite Power
Ark of the Sun God
Autopsy of a Ghost
===
Write the alphabet down the side of the page. Pick a favorite topic
like video games, baseball, Star Trek, unschooling, fantasy
characters and so on.
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes.
Using strong images that you could illustrate list colorful words and
phrases for each of the letters. Use alliteration if you want, eg,
Ailing Aliens arming ancient alligators, Belligerent Batboys
bellowing at butterflies ....
===
Write the alphabet down the side of the page.
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes.
Write a fantastic food for each letter of the alphabet, like Alicia's
Alluring Apples and Bernie Bott's Every-flavor Beans :-)
Make up words that sound like foods if you can't think of something
right away since I'm betting X at least will be tough! :-)
===
I was going to suggest you embarrass yourselves by buying one at the
supermarket, but The Weekly World News is online now.
:::whew!:::
The print version is still more fun but you can now get stories about
3 eyed aliens living among us displayed right on your computer :-)
Read some of the articles in the print version or at:
http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/
to get a feel for the style.
Make up a headline or choose one of the following.
* My Ex-Wife's Face Keeps Appearing On My Toast! ...and she's making
my life crumby!
* Vampires Picket Blood Bank!
* Bush To Use Bigfoot G.I.s In Iraq!
* NASA Idiots Turn Mars Rovers Into Battlebots!
* Psychic Cat Makes Predictions In Kitty Litter!
* Noah's Ark found on Mars!Moon will hit Earth in five years!
* CIA using cats as secret agents!
* Scientists mix dog and cat to create the Dat!
* Real reason for war in Iraq: Bush wanted to protect the Garden of
Eden from Saddam!
* Dolphins are growing arms and legs"("If they learn to walk and make
weapons, they would become a formidable foe for all mankind" we are
warned)!
* Librarian wants rating system for nursery rhymes!
* BLIND MAN REGAINS SIGHT AND DUMPS UGLY WIFE!
* Visiting space alien endorses candidate for president!
* Bat Child Found in Cave!
* Merman Caught in South Pacific!
* Millions of 3-eyed Mutants Living Among Us!
* Twelve Members of Congress Are Space Aliens!
* Ten Ways to Tell If Your Mail Carrier is an E.T.
* Middle Earth being found in the swamps of New Jersey!
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes and write your own Weekly World News
report.
BTW, they have a "Guess the Headline" feature with a photo and you
submit headlines for it. There are previous winners. (Note, some do
have sexual references.)
http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/guess/29
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions: http://home.earthlink.net/
~fetteroll/rejoycing/
Weekly writing prompts: [email protected]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> I know someone started an email group for writers...that might be aIt was me. :-)
> fun way to explore creative writing. I believe it was Pam S (correct
> me if I'm wrong?) and it's writing prompts...so he could pick and
> choose what he would like to use from that.
>
It's 3 prompts per week (one story prompt, one a play with language
prompt and one that's usually both) and something (tip, adopt-a-plot)
on Saturday.
I've found most prompts tend to be geared towards contemporary
writing and since I like fantasy and science fiction and historical
mysteries -- basically anything that isn't contemporary ;-) -- these
tips are at least speculative fiction friendly :-)
Here's a bunch of the most recent ones:
===
Here's a nifty thing on line:
http://www.literacyrules.com/storystarter.htm
Just click on "Start the Modern Story Starter" button and get a story
starter. Wish they were more fantasy based! But the idea is neat.
If you don't like the one's generated there, here's a more
speculative fiction one inspired by those at the website:
My protagonist is a female. My protagonist is a ghost hunter. The
antagonist in my story is a archaeologist. A key object or symbol in
my story is a spider's web. My story will be set in an old temple. My
story is about pride.
====
When writing dialog, it's okay to use "said" when you want to help
the reader keep track of who's speaking. In fact it calls too much
attention to your writing (rather than keeping the attention on the
story!) if you try to use a lot of different words instead of said.
But sometimes characters *are* "blustering" and "cooing" and
"lisping" and occasional use of them can add some sparkle to the
story and the character :-)
Write the alphabet down the side of the page. Set the timer for 10-15
minutes.
For each letter come up with a different way (or ways) to say "said".
===
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes.
Link one word to the next until you have a sentence. Pick a word to
begin a sentence. The next word in the sentence should start with the
ending letter of the previous word. For example if the first word is
Good you might come up with:
Good dogs shouldn't tell lies.
And if the first word is Twenty you might come up with something like:
Twenty yellow waterlillies skunked Donald Duck's snake.
Here's some initial words. Use whatever random words pop into your
head for more :-)
Cat
Stupidly
Fire
Wings
Pinned
===
This is from WritersDigest.com -- Free Writing Prompts
http://www.writersdigest.com/writingprompts.asp
Something�s rotten in your refrigerator. Write a scene in which the
condiments residing in the door shelves plot to take over the prime
real estate on the top shelf, front and center. Will milk be spilled?
(And who�'ll be crying?)
===
Here's another list of real movie titles. Pick one. Set the timer for
10-15 mintues and write.
For those who are new, you probably won't have a complete story when
you're done, just the beginning. If you're really liking it, of
course keep going when the timer goes off! :-)
Aelita: Queen of Mars
Africa Screams
After the Fox
Against the Drunken Cat Paws
Fear Eats the Soul
Almost Angels
Queen of the Desert
Anna to the Infinite Power
Ark of the Sun God
Autopsy of a Ghost
===
Write the alphabet down the side of the page. Pick a favorite topic
like video games, baseball, Star Trek, unschooling, fantasy
characters and so on.
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes.
Using strong images that you could illustrate list colorful words and
phrases for each of the letters. Use alliteration if you want, eg,
Ailing Aliens arming ancient alligators, Belligerent Batboys
bellowing at butterflies ....
===
Write the alphabet down the side of the page.
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes.
Write a fantastic food for each letter of the alphabet, like Alicia's
Alluring Apples and Bernie Bott's Every-flavor Beans :-)
Make up words that sound like foods if you can't think of something
right away since I'm betting X at least will be tough! :-)
===
I was going to suggest you embarrass yourselves by buying one at the
supermarket, but The Weekly World News is online now.
:::whew!:::
The print version is still more fun but you can now get stories about
3 eyed aliens living among us displayed right on your computer :-)
Read some of the articles in the print version or at:
http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/
to get a feel for the style.
Make up a headline or choose one of the following.
* My Ex-Wife's Face Keeps Appearing On My Toast! ...and she's making
my life crumby!
* Vampires Picket Blood Bank!
* Bush To Use Bigfoot G.I.s In Iraq!
* NASA Idiots Turn Mars Rovers Into Battlebots!
* Psychic Cat Makes Predictions In Kitty Litter!
* Noah's Ark found on Mars!Moon will hit Earth in five years!
* CIA using cats as secret agents!
* Scientists mix dog and cat to create the Dat!
* Real reason for war in Iraq: Bush wanted to protect the Garden of
Eden from Saddam!
* Dolphins are growing arms and legs"("If they learn to walk and make
weapons, they would become a formidable foe for all mankind" we are
warned)!
* Librarian wants rating system for nursery rhymes!
* BLIND MAN REGAINS SIGHT AND DUMPS UGLY WIFE!
* Visiting space alien endorses candidate for president!
* Bat Child Found in Cave!
* Merman Caught in South Pacific!
* Millions of 3-eyed Mutants Living Among Us!
* Twelve Members of Congress Are Space Aliens!
* Ten Ways to Tell If Your Mail Carrier is an E.T.
* Middle Earth being found in the swamps of New Jersey!
Set the timer for 10-15 minutes and write your own Weekly World News
report.
BTW, they have a "Guess the Headline" feature with a photo and you
submit headlines for it. There are previous winners. (Note, some do
have sexual references.)
http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/guess/29
Joyce
Answers to common unschooling questions: http://home.earthlink.net/
~fetteroll/rejoycing/
Weekly writing prompts: [email protected]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deb Lewis
***He has expressed interest in interested
in getting support for some of his creative interests. These include
creative writing, cartooning, computor animation and game making.***
Check with your local comic book stores. Some of the stores around here
are publishing comic book anthologies by local cartoonists. The
anthologies come out four or six times a year (or whatever) and there's
no charge to get work into the book. The comic book store gives the
authors/cartoonists copies free to pass around to friends and sells the
others. It can be really fun to see one's own work in print and for
sale on the racks at a favorite comic book store.
Deb L
in getting support for some of his creative interests. These include
creative writing, cartooning, computor animation and game making.***
Check with your local comic book stores. Some of the stores around here
are publishing comic book anthologies by local cartoonists. The
anthologies come out four or six times a year (or whatever) and there's
no charge to get work into the book. The comic book store gives the
authors/cartoonists copies free to pass around to friends and sells the
others. It can be really fun to see one's own work in print and for
sale on the racks at a favorite comic book store.
Deb L
Pamela Sorooshian
On Nov 5, 2005, at 9:38 AM, Joyce Fetteroll wrote:
another activity that might really interest those who enjoy being
really creative in making up stories. My kids are involved in
Destination Imagination and a LOT of our team meeting time involves
them being given story elements very much like Joyce's story starter
and their challenge is along the lines of: you have 4 minutes to plan
and 2 minutes to perform. So they do lots of those, throughout the
year PLUS they have one "central" challenge that is worked on over
the months. At the tournaments, they get one quickie challenge and
they present their solution to the long-term performance.
<www.destinationimagination.org> is the website, if anybody is
interested. It is structured sort of like sports competitions, so I
can see that it might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it has been
really fun for us. This is our fifth year and the team of 6 kids is
adamant that they don't even care how they do at the tournament, they
just want to do it because they enjoy the process. I think it has
been REALLY good for them in learning to problem-solve
collaboratively, for one thing, but also how to put together a
coherent sequence of events - it can be hard but really useful for
people to be REALLY creative, off-the-wall, outside the box - and
still be intelligible, internally consistent in telling stories.
I think this activity allowed my kids to keep "playing pretend" long
past the age that most children seem to give it up. Another way they
do that is by playing all kinds of role-playing games.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> My protagonist is a female. My protagonist is a ghost hunter. TheReading what Joyce offered as a story-starter made me think of
> antagonist in my story is a archaeologist. A key object or symbol in
> my story is a spider's web. My story will be set in an old temple. My
> story is about pride.
another activity that might really interest those who enjoy being
really creative in making up stories. My kids are involved in
Destination Imagination and a LOT of our team meeting time involves
them being given story elements very much like Joyce's story starter
and their challenge is along the lines of: you have 4 minutes to plan
and 2 minutes to perform. So they do lots of those, throughout the
year PLUS they have one "central" challenge that is worked on over
the months. At the tournaments, they get one quickie challenge and
they present their solution to the long-term performance.
<www.destinationimagination.org> is the website, if anybody is
interested. It is structured sort of like sports competitions, so I
can see that it might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it has been
really fun for us. This is our fifth year and the team of 6 kids is
adamant that they don't even care how they do at the tournament, they
just want to do it because they enjoy the process. I think it has
been REALLY good for them in learning to problem-solve
collaboratively, for one thing, but also how to put together a
coherent sequence of events - it can be hard but really useful for
people to be REALLY creative, off-the-wall, outside the box - and
still be intelligible, internally consistent in telling stories.
I think this activity allowed my kids to keep "playing pretend" long
past the age that most children seem to give it up. Another way they
do that is by playing all kinds of role-playing games.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
anisadancer1218
Ren, you are right. I do err when I tend to think of classes. That is
definitely my inclination and not necessarily what is good for him.I
think that my priority would be to help my son meet peers who have the
same interests. But this is hard to do especially with these pasttimes
which are mostly solitary. My son does not like to be a part of groups
or structure in fact, but he does getlonely. He would like others to
talk about his interests with and share ideas. I guess I am really
looking for ideas about how he could meet other children who are
interested in creative writing, technology and online game creation. I
fear that he is getting pretty isolated. Most of the homeschoolers
around here that we have access to are doing traditional school at
home stuff.
Thanks, Andrea
definitely my inclination and not necessarily what is good for him.I
think that my priority would be to help my son meet peers who have the
same interests. But this is hard to do especially with these pasttimes
which are mostly solitary. My son does not like to be a part of groups
or structure in fact, but he does getlonely. He would like others to
talk about his interests with and share ideas. I guess I am really
looking for ideas about how he could meet other children who are
interested in creative writing, technology and online game creation. I
fear that he is getting pretty isolated. Most of the homeschoolers
around here that we have access to are doing traditional school at
home stuff.
Thanks, Andrea
Pamela Sorooshian
On Nov 7, 2005, at 4:31 AM, anisadancer1218 wrote:
The technology interests might be able to be a "hook-up" point with
other kids. You might introduce him to the "First Lego League"
organization - see if that interests him. Just an idea.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> I guess I am reallyI'm sorry I've forgotten how old he is?
> looking for ideas about how he could meet other children who are
> interested in creative writing, technology and online game creation. I
> fear that he is getting pretty isolated.
The technology interests might be able to be a "hook-up" point with
other kids. You might introduce him to the "First Lego League"
organization - see if that interests him. Just an idea.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]