Brianne Wragg
As a copywriter and ghostwriter, my work often involves writing to match other people’s voices, styles, and ideas. However, this is a first for me. Today, I embark on a new journey of writing a blog that not only allows me to explore the ideas swirling in my head about creativity and writing but also prompts research and discovery. Surprisingly, despite my experience in writing, I find myself a bit nervous to begin, which is a unique feeling.
The reason behind starting with this blog topic is twofold. Firstly, I frequently receive inquiries from parents seeking advice on how to get their kids started with writing, particularly from those interested in joining our community. Secondly, my own personal journey as a teacher, writer, reader and researcher informs my perspective. Additionally, mentoring young writers has allowed me to witness firsthand the differences between those who write more frequently and those who write less.
Now, my intention is to blend my diverse experiences and insights into this guide, aiming to provide practical advice without relying on the use of typical “catchy” or “power” words found in SEO-optimized content. I’ll steer away from phrases like “Comprehensive Guide,” “Beginner’s Guide,” or “Creative Notebooks 101.” Instead, let’s engage in a meaningful conversation about how you can introduce your child to the world of creative writing.
As I always emphasize to my current writers, these perspectives may evolve over time. However, I can revisit this guide to incorporate newfound knowledge, fresh insights, and updates as they arise. Together, let’s embark on a captivating journey that nurtures creativity and cultivates a genuine love for writing in young minds. Join me in this exhilarating endeavor as we unlock the doors to imagination and foster the art of self-expression.
So, what is a writer’s notebook? It’s a physical or digital tool where writers capture thoughts, observations, ideas, questions, memories, quotes, doodles, sketches, lists, or snippets. Simply put, it’s a dedicated space to mind dump, experiment, express and collect writing.
Ralph Fletcher, in his book A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You, says:
A writer's notebook gives you a place to live like a writer...When you come right down to it, a writer's notebook is nothing more than a blank book, but within those pages, you've got a powerful tool for writing and living.
It provides a safe space for writers to explore various styles and the writing process. Unlike workbooks focused on specific subjects such as science, mathematics, and history, a writer’s notebook serves a different purpose.
As a middle school teacher, I developed writing workshop books for my students, drawing inspiration from teacher YouTube influences and TpT resources. These books were meticulously organized with vibrant tabs, playful fonts, and sections dedicated to vocabulary and grammar, mini-lessons, reading materials, and a free writing section. While this approach effectively organized the resources, I noticed that most students didn’t engage with the journal section intended for free writing. In fact, many of them didn’t even bring it home.
In my second year of teaching, I made an important change. I provided students with two notebooks: one for their writing workshop assignments and another exclusively for their personal use as a writer’s notebook. It’s crucial to note that the writer’s notebook was never graded, and I respected their privacy by only reading sections upon their permission.
Throughout that school year, I observed several noteworthy outcomes:
These observations highlight the transformative impact of embracing a writer’s notebook as an essential tool for nurturing students’ writing skills and fostering their creative expression.
Additionally, I made an important observation regarding the usage of the creative notebook among teenagers, which differed from younger children. While some teenagers genuinely embraced the experience and produced remarkable personal essays and stories, many struggled to make it a consistent habit. This observation holds true for the older writers who seek my mentorship as well. Those who have never used a notebook before often find it challenging to generate excitement, whereas individuals who have grown up with diaries or notebooks are more inclined to adopt the practice effortlessly.
In my opinion, introducing children to writing with a notebook for enjoyment as early as possible yields better chances of cultivating a genuine interest in writing. Whether it’s gifting them a notebook for Christmas or on their birthdays, these early experiences play a crucial role. However, this doesn’t imply that teenage writers will never appreciate a notebook. Instead, it suggests that alternative strategies might prove more effective in engaging them in writing for enjoyment, which might warrant another blog topic in the future.
Building excitement begins by selecting the perfect writer’s notebook. Whether your child leans towards a traditional composition notebook or a digital alternative, granting them the power of choice and agency is essential.
By allowing them to have a say in selecting their notebook, it becomes something they genuinely desire to use consistently. Take into account factors such as size, paper quality, shape, color, and additional features like pockets or dividers. The goal is to choose a notebook that evokes a sense of comfort and invites their creative expression.
It’s also important to note that there’s no need to spend exorbitant amounts of money on a notebook, especially considering that customization and decoration are integral parts of the experience. Instead of fixating on high-priced options, focus on finding a notebook that fits within your budget while still meeting your child’s preferences. Remember, the act of personalizing and embellishing the notebook is part of the joy and creativity.
Their writer’s notebook should be personal and inspiring. Make it their own notebook by customizing it with stickers, drawings, ticket stubs, or inspirational quotes. Encourage your child to add their unique touch by using stickers, drawings, or other decorative elements to make it truly their own. This way, the notebook becomes a reflection of their individuality and fosters a deeper connection to their writing journey.
It is also okay if your child doesn’t want to decorate the cover or the first page. Some kids don’t enjoy that part of the process. When we force kids to decorate their journals when they don’t want, it removes their agency. Remember, as your writer gets stuck into the notebook, the whim to decorate and customize may come later.
Remember that writing goes hand in hand with various artistic techniques, such as doodling, drawing, map-making, and collaging. Encourage your child to unleash their creativity by designing a cover page that sets the tone and purpose for their notebook – how they want it to look, feel, and what they aspire to include within its pages.
Consider discussing with your child the idea of creating sections in their notebook to ensure their writing is organized and easily accessible. Would they like to have different sections dedicated to various types of writing? They might find it beneficial to have divisions based on their favorite genres, such as poetry, drawing, generating new ideas, fiction, non-fiction, or journaling. They may even choose to allocate sections for writing prompts, anchor charts and learnings, character sketches, reading journals, or research notes.
Encouraging your child to take charge of organizing and planning their notebook serves a dual purpose. It allows them to explore their own creative process while simultaneously engaging in meta-learning – the act of learning about learning itself. Some writers may prefer less structure and organization – that’s all part of the learning process.
One important reminder: This notebook should remain separate from school work! It is intended as a school work-FREE zone. Encourage your child to avoid creating sections solely devoted to academic subjects. This approach will help maintain the distinction between their personal writing space and their school-related materials.
A writer’s notebook sets itself apart from composition notebooks as it encourages something beyond perfection.
To establish a supportive atmosphere, consider incorporating guidelines or expectations on the first page of their writer’s notebooks. These guidelines focus on embracing the writing and creative process, freeing writers from the pressures of achieving flawlessness while fostering healthy writing habits.
Here are some examples of guiding principles that can be included:
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that some writers find value in conducting research and incorporating quotes from their favorite authors and books, which can serve as inspiration for their own writing endeavors.
You may get the itch to read their notebook – RESIST! A writer’s notebook is an emotional release, a way to problem solve, or just to be silly. More importantly, it is space to write that is free of the influence of others.
I advocate writing with the door closed – a technique coined by Stephen King in On Writing. It’s a metaphysical door to your child’s writing room. What exists outside their writing room should not affect their seed ideas, including parents, teachers, and other writers. A writing journal is a barrier to keeping the outside out and the door shut.
However, children also love feedback and sharing – which we see a lot in our Writers’ 45 Workshops. Set up a home system if your child genuinely wants you to read their writing or get feedback.
Designate a place in the house, a bookshelf or tray, which indicates permission to read by placing their writer’s notebook there. If they have prying younger siblings, you may select a more secret or discreet place or a shelf under lock and key. Using sticky notes, colorful tabs, or bookmarks to indicate specific pages they want you to read may be a great idea.
Again, however, you set up your feedback system and have your child lead the process, emphasizing privacy and the notebook’s purpose.
I love this quote by Mem Fox: “If we are so foolish as to dare to teach writing without ever writing ourselves, we are treading with arrogance on shaky ground.”
Share in the experience and become a writing mentor yourself. Lucy Calkins, the Founding Director of the Teachers College Reading & Writing Project at Columbia University, emphasizes the importance of teachers and parents engaging in writing as expert writers and authors. By doing so, we not only refine our own writing skills but also exemplify healthy writing behaviors for children.
I understand that as adults, we have numerous responsibilities, careers, and parental duties to manage. It’s not necessary for everyone to become professional authors or journalists, but simply normalizing and modeling writing can have a significant impact. Research has shown that parents who read to and around their children increase the likelihood of their child becoming a better reader. Similarly, when it comes to writing, why not aim to create a family that not only values reading but also embraces writing?
It all starts with picking up the pen and paper. Modeling healthy notebook behaviors could be as simple as:
Studies show that kids who take notes long-hand have better comprehension and memory retention than those who either do not take notes or do so electronically. We know that the physical nature of books, reading books, and writing in notebooks gives our brains cues via links and anchors to help us encode, decipher, and articulate meaning.
So, there are certainly more benefits to a hard copy writer’s notebook, and I always encourage wholeheartedly a writer’s notebook to be hard copy and handwritten over digital, where possible.
However, I firmly believe that a digital notebook is more suitable if handwriting prevents your child from writing or creating. This is especially true for kids with additional learning needs or sensory cases that make a hard copy more challenging. Some features, like speech-to-text, mood boards and more, make writing and creating more accessible to students online.
The takeaway is to create a place that invites your child to write long and deep, whether hard copy or digital.
As we come to the end, I encourage you to grab your own notebook, just like I did when I first started this blog. Remember, this isn’t just about the act of writing; it’s about cultivating a lifelong passion. By providing children with the tools and freedom to explore their creativity, we open doors to infinite possibilities and inspire them to become confident and resilient writers.
So, grab hold of your own notebook, encourage your writer to embark on their own writing adventure, and join me in celebrating the joy of storytelling. May the writer’s notebook become a treasured companion, a gateway to dreams, and a testament to the incredible stories that lie within us all.
And hopefully, they will bring it along to our next Writers’ 45 session! Our daily Writer’s 45 offers designated Writing for writers to explore and record ideas and start or draw on the inspiration for stories using their writers’ notebooks. Ultimately, they are 45-minute guided workshops with creative exercises like quick writes, writing prompts, storyteller tactics and more. I make a space online for young writers to dedicate 45 minutes of their day to write on topics that interest them!
So grab a notebook and start writing!
For more writing prompts, activities and ideas, also subscribe to my YouTube channel!
About the Author
Brianne Wragg is a deschooled English teacher. She started as a copywriter, ghostwriter and editor for companies and individuals after leaving schools. She returned to education, working at Synthesis School before running a creative writing & mentorship program for kids aged 10-15 years old.
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