Helping Writers Show Good Form

You’ve Got Form!

Writing choice is so clearly in evidence when the writer is afforded opportunities to decide for themselves the form their writing piece shall take. It is in this headspace the writer is faced with many options. Every writing piece possesses the potential to assume a variety of forms, so it becomes important to choose the form that best suits that writer’s intention. When the writer in inexperienced, it becomes important to support them in making a good decision.

More often than not, the writer knows immediately how they want the writing to be presented. When words and ideas bubble up in my mind, it frequently presents as a poem -but not always. Another idea may be perfect as a memoir piece, or a short story. When this happens, I can move into the writing effortlessly.

Sometimes deciding which form best suits our ideas can prove a little more difficult. When this happens, as writers we must be prepared to experiment. Try it one way and if that doesn’t strike the right note, try writing in another form.

I once found myself visited by an idea based on a childhood experience. It was borne out of my one and only game of kiss chasey. Initially, I wrote it as a memoir piece- a slice of life story with all the trepidation, missteps and embarrassment included. Sometime later, I was rereading the original -still nestled in one of my notebooks and decided to rewrite it as a narrative poem. I quite liked the resultant poem and decided to include it in my 2016 anthology, ‘I Bet There’s No Broccoli on the Moon.’ The form is not set in concrete. This is an example of using the same idea in a different way.

In your search for the best form for your writing ideas consider the following possibilities:

• Novel, novella, verse novel, play, script
• Short story, or possibly a collection of short stories, narrative poem, picture book
• Memoir, vignettes, narrative poem
• Cartoon comic, graphic novel
• Travel stories, travel blog
• Fairy tale, myth, legend, quest, science fiction, fantasy
• News, magazine article
• Poem, anthology of poems, themed anthology

Increasingly books are being published  incorporating a range of writing forms. Hybrid texts are more abundant than ever. And yet, I see little evidence of this kind of writing emerging in classrooms. We must encourage young writers to take risks and be creative in the forms of writing they consider. What partnerships could they see as writing possibilities? Initiate a search for books that cross over writing forms. Encourage possibilities...

In our home kitchen there are a range of recipe books incorporating procedures and vignettes. Such a bonus. I get the recipe as well as the story behind it. – a touch of history to go with the ingredients.

I love it when I see the growing presence of narrative non-fiction texts in book shops. Books like Claire Saxby’s ‘Big Red Kangaroo.’

The book, ‘Vivid’ by Julie Paschkis incorporates poetry and informational writing. Playful poems combine with facts to celebrate the colours of the rainbow in this beautiful picture book. I find myself attracted to such groundbreaking books.

Consider these possibilities:

Consider an event from your life. Write it as a poem, then a memoir piece. Which form do you prefer?

Write something in a form you have previously considered was not for you. Note your reactions.

Make a conscious decision to combine two forms of writing in the same writing piece.

Visit your school library, local bookshop and do some close browsing. Look for examples of hybrid texts. Share your discoveries with your students.

Show your form...


*PLEASE NOTE
This post pre-supposes that choice is an established and highly visible component of the writing workshop.