Related to this notion of practicing writing is the idea of playing with writing. We play music, play around with colors or shapes or layouts in visual art, play around with vocal arrangements, so why is it so "weird" to play with our writing? When we play, we step back to our childlike selves when creativity was unbound and living room furniture and a bedsheet could be transformed into a Bedouin tent in an instant. Little brother is swaddled in a blanket and a dish towel is thrown over the back of the family dog. Suddenly, we have a setting and a story that pours forth where before there was none. And in the next moment, with the same props rearranged, a different story can emerge. Spontaneous and fun. Full of joy and movement. Yes, practice this by writing something one way. Then jumble everything up and write another way. Look through the kaleidoscope-the story is there.
'I blame thank-you letters and "what I did over my vacation" school essays.' I'd add book reports to this! Vivid memories of being confined to my room to finish reading 'Little House on the Prairie' and write a report, turned me off reading and writing for years. Practice that isn't perfect is so much more gratifying, we all benefit from goals but letting our minds wander does indeed invite creativity into our world.
Book reports! I'd managed to wipe those ghastly enjoyment-killing things from my mind. Really, school does everything it can to drive one away from reading and writing.
Related to this notion of practicing writing is the idea of playing with writing. We play music, play around with colors or shapes or layouts in visual art, play around with vocal arrangements, so why is it so "weird" to play with our writing? When we play, we step back to our childlike selves when creativity was unbound and living room furniture and a bedsheet could be transformed into a Bedouin tent in an instant. Little brother is swaddled in a blanket and a dish towel is thrown over the back of the family dog. Suddenly, we have a setting and a story that pours forth where before there was none. And in the next moment, with the same props rearranged, a different story can emerge. Spontaneous and fun. Full of joy and movement. Yes, practice this by writing something one way. Then jumble everything up and write another way. Look through the kaleidoscope-the story is there.
you are so right! I read a book recently about the importance of play, and that is exactly what we are doing.
'I blame thank-you letters and "what I did over my vacation" school essays.' I'd add book reports to this! Vivid memories of being confined to my room to finish reading 'Little House on the Prairie' and write a report, turned me off reading and writing for years. Practice that isn't perfect is so much more gratifying, we all benefit from goals but letting our minds wander does indeed invite creativity into our world.
Book reports 😭
Book reports! I'd managed to wipe those ghastly enjoyment-killing things from my mind. Really, school does everything it can to drive one away from reading and writing.