Curiosity- Essential To Growing Young Writers


Curiosity

Writers are well served by the presence of natural curiosity. Curiosity about a wide range of things. The great thing about curiosity is that once it takes hold, there is no cure. A curious writer is never in danger of becoming bored.  At least that's how it has always been for this curious learner...




Curiosity frequently leads me to writing. It is a natural form of learning and helps us to become more attuned to observation. By becoming a collector of information-whether trivial or significant, I can apply the findings to my writing projects. Writing provides a powerful outlet for the learning and observation we have acquired.

Writers learn to observe closely the world around them. They read books, watch news and current affairs programs, they do a lot of people watching and examine things within their daily lives. They also ask themselves lots of questions about the things they've seen. Furthermore, they jot down their observations and then use their notes to help them write a whole host of things- stories, poems, plays, articles, reports and so on. For writers, curiosity is a tool...



When working with young writers, teachers can do so much to strengthen the connection between curiosity and writing:

  • Share things that you as an adult remain curious about.
  • Share something that first piqued your curiosity in some matter- a conversation, a book, a news article, a family story, an observation, a discovery, a wondering. 
  • Share how you satisfied your curiosity; the actions you took. 
  • Share how you moved from being curious to writing about something.
  • Have students discuss recent experiences that have sparked their own curiosity.
  • Invite students to create a list of curiosities regarding things they wish to know more about.
  • Encourage students to consider references, authorities, experts they could seek out to satisfy their curiosity. 

There are many ways to uncover information:

OBSERVE: Watch the focus of your curiosity. Take notes.

ASK AN EXPERT: Find someone who has expertise and experience with your chosen topic. Ask questions, take notes, record an interview.

USE REFERENCES: Read a range of references, visit websites, take notes.

EXPERIENCES: Undertake a new experience. Write down what you discover.

Think about how all this collected information might be used to develop a piece of well-informed writing. Then it's time to make a decision. 

What form will your writing take? 

What have you seen that is like what you are trying to write?

I urge young writers and their teachers to remain curious. It's the pathway to writing with authentic purpose...

Alan j Wright







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