Your child may love writing, and feel like once they write a story, they find it hard to put their pen down, they go on overdrive and end up writing pages of their own fictional story.
If you are unsure if your child is a writer in the making, the best way to nurture this talent is to see which genre they enjoy writing about.
And research the author of that genre by looking at what inspires them in their writing and practice, practice, practice!!
Take a look at these early signs that may tell you if your teenager is a natural writer:
1) The ability to create a detailed storyline
As a mother with a 3-year-old toddler, she is starting to memorise and tell elaborate stories verbally, which is great!
So if your teen is expressing this verbally and in their writing, pay close attention. Especially when they do this in their downtime.
Do not ignore it!
2) Your child is a daydreamer
I was a daydreamer, and you would think that a daydreamer is a person that is not serious and their head is always floating in the clouds.
Well, just to reassure you that the most famous minds in the world were also daydreamers, like the amazing Barack Obama, who Michelle Obama mentioned in her autobiography that he was always in deep reflective thought.
Also, experts say that people who daydream are more intelligent, and may get distracted because they have 'too much brain capacity'.
Check out this interesting article from The Independent to find out more:
3) They had imaginary friends and create imaginary conversations that are not based on reality.
To create some fantastic stories that take an audience into a different world other than their own takes a lot of practice, and they have to start somewhere!
So if you think your child is insane, this may be something that can be the start of your child's stories coming to life!
Carefully monitor if you feel alarmed and see if they are using these imaginary characters in their stories.
4) They have always been an avid reader
If your teen has a burning desire to read in their free time, or at any time in the day, this can also be abundantly visible in their writing.
In my experience, usually, if a child is very fluent in their reading it will help make them a better writer, as they are familiar with seeing a range of vocabulary, especially if they are reading books that challenge them in a positive way.
Therefore, they are constantly exposed to ambitious vocabulary and this will develop their writing.
5) They enjoy English as a subject in school
The typical child that usually enjoys English is someone that reads a lot of books and is interested in discovering new vocabulary.
If your child enjoys English, but struggles with the subject, in my experience, they tend to like the teacher more than the subject itself.
But if you have a child the subject, then this might be one of the early signs of a natural writer.
6) They find it fun to create their own stories
Every fictional author loves creating stories, so you might have a child who loves to write scripts or short stories.
Make sure you continue to show an interest in what they are writing, so you can boost their confidence.
7) They have a portfolio of different stories
It is so sweet when I have students approaching me after class, and asking me to take a look at their stories.
It is really flattering, and incredibly admirable when a child wants to share their portfolio with you.
And you never know, these stories might in published soon, so pay close attention to their work.
I would never force them to show it to you, but wait for their invitation.
8) They write about one particular genre most of the time.
This can be a good sign of a young writer trying to perfect their craft, by writing several stories from the same genre.
Even if they eventually change the genre in the future, be sure to hone in on this skill that they are developing of being focused and consistent.
If you are seeing most of these signs in your child, then you might have a writer in your household. So what do you do now?
Wise Words From The Famous Author David Walliams
If your child is into comedy and adventure, David Walliams, a British comedian, actor and children's novelist who has one of the best collection of books for children ages 8 - 12 years old.
Here are his top writing tips for an aspiring young author:
1) Write the story that you would read yourself.
2) Be original and don't copy other authors.
3) Read your story aloud to someone else so you know if it makes sense.
4) A story can be funny and sad at the same time.
5) Keep it simple, if you don't need a hundred words just use one instead.
6) Think about a catchy title that would interest others to read your story.
7) The only one that can limit your story is your imagination.
8) Always add a twist to a short story.
So to conclude:
How Do You Know If Your Child Is A Natural Writer?
The ability to create detailed storylines either verbal or written
Your child is a daydreamer
They had imaginary friends and create imaginary conversations that are not based on reality.
They have always been an avid reader
They enjoy English as a subject in school
They find it fun to create their own stories
They have a portfolio of different stories they have written
They write about one particular genre most of the time.