{"id":178,"date":"2008-02-21T05:06:55","date_gmt":"2008-02-21T13:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=178"},"modified":"2008-02-21T05:06:55","modified_gmt":"2008-02-21T13:06:55","slug":"writers-as-mentors-bringing-children-along","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=178","title":{"rendered":"Writers as Mentors: Bringing Children Along"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is excerpted from my book, The Successful Writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Handbook.<\/em><\/p>\n

Most writers develop a passion for writing early in life. Some of those I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve interview tell me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been writing since I could hold a pencil.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t remember not wanting to write.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d And this is probably true of some of the children in your family or neighborhood.<\/p>\n

If you know a child with an interest in and\/or a talent for writing, you can make a difference in his or her life. How? Get involved.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tBecome a formal mentor either in person or online. There are many young people out there just waiting for someone to guide them in their writing efforts.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tRespond to those children and youths you meet who have a talent or an interest in writing. Offer to read their work and give constructive criticism. Help them to get published. (See links below.)<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tInvite the child to attend a book signing or hear an author speak.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tTake a child to a book festival where he can meet authors.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tStart a writing group for children in your city\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthrough your library or the school district, for example. I worked with a group of home-schooled students on a writing project, once.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tOffer to teach a creative writing class.<\/p>\n

If you are already involved with a youthful writer or a group of budding writers, here are some ideas for helping them along.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tGive the child assignments to complete and then discuss what makes the work good, how to make it better, etc.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tSearch out online writers groups and writing opportunities for kids.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tFind books on writing for kids.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tSponsor the child in writing contests.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tEncourage the child to display his\/her work at the county fair.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tHelp kids design and compose greeting cards for special occasions.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tPrint the child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s story and bind it as a surprise for him. Frame one of her poems.<\/p>\n

Children are our future. Give one or several of them a boost by offering the kind of help and support you either had or wish you had as a child. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a win-win situation.<\/p>\n

Get started as a mentor:
\n http:\/\/www.netmentors.org<\/a> <\/p>\n

Sites for kids who love to write:
\n http:\/\/www.stonesoup.com<\/a>
\n http:\/\/www.youngwriter.org<\/a>
\n http:\/\/www.realkids.com\/club.shtml<\/a>
\n http:\/\/www.kidpub.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is excerpted from my book, The Successful Writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Handbook. Most writers develop a passion for writing early in life. Some of those I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve interview tell me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been writing since I could hold a pencil.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t remember not wanting to write.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d And this is probably true of some of the children in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t