When you are little, you're encouraged to follow your dream. ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ When you ask this question to a child, you'll hear all sorts of amazing, weird and wonderful answers, from Superhero and Princess, to Premier League Footballer and...
ENOUGH I’ve been out of the loop for some years, but now I find myself with a 13, going on 14 year old and I’m learning there’s been a lot of changed in the world of teenagerdom. Of course, I’m not naive enough to think teenagers will remain tee-total until they’re...
When comedian, David Walliams, signed a book deal with Harper Collins to become a children's author, did he know his stratospheric sales would make him one of the three highest-earning authors in the UK, clocking up print sales of £11m? Possible not, but he might have...
For reluctant writers, the mere mention of story writing is enough to bring them out in a cold sweat. I know from experience that my own little reluctant writer will do the minimum he can get away with when it comes to English homework. He might have ideas, but he...
The majority of the children who come to my creative writing workshops are girls. There aren’t many boys who come to my courses and workshops purely because they enjoy writing. I think mainly it is their parents who are keen to encourage them to enjoy writing because...
As our family grows and develops, our home needs to reflect that. We moved into our current home over seven years ago, following a complete renovation. At the time, we had to get everything new, from furniture to white goods, so you know what that means don’t you?...
With the effects of his delayed gross motor development still very much present in his everyday life, my youngest, who is now eight and a half, is becoming increasingly reluctant to write. You can read more about his developmental delays, hypermobility and food...
Wonder is a story of strength, courage and bravery, of overcoming obstacles and not letting your fears stand in your way. It reminds us not to judge people based on how they look. Wonder is a story every child should read. My eight year old is one of my reluctant...
Storymakers offers two-hour workshops, a six-week story writing course and a regular (fortnightly) writing club. Held in Sevenoaks, all are suitable for children aged 8 years and above. I have just added some new workshops to the list, with dates running up to the end...
Why is creative writing important for children? Writing is inextricably linked to all forms of creativity from art to drama, so why shouldn't children enjoy writing as much as they do these other disciplines? I am a firm believer that fostering a love of stories in...
I'm often asked how do I find time to write and the answer is quite simple - I don't know. Whether you work full time, part time or are a stay-at-home parent, there are never enough hours in the day and using any of this precious time to write seems, well, just plain...
Did your child come home with a recommended reading list for the summer holidays? Mine did and it's always met with a rather large sigh, already too much for her to cope with just by looking at it. For some children, reading is a challenge and because of that, they...
It’s been another glorious week of sunshine and down in our little corner of the UK, we even escaped the thunder storms predicted for yesterday. How has your week been? Mine started with a run (literally), which is rare because I never usually pick up a speed much...
New research shows children who write creatively outside of school do significantly better in the classroom. In an effort to assess how writing enjoyment has changed over the years, along with children’s enjoyment of writing, The National Literacy Trust used data from...
I have a number of four and five star reviews for my children's fiction book. This is what some of my readers have to say: "I am 10 and I usually love adventure stories. The front cover of this book appealed to me .... as did the idea of a mystery! I have laughed at...
Creative writing is not just about language practice, it supports literacy, helps children develop their reading skills and most importantly, it is fun. I am an avid reader and writer so you won’t hear any arguments from me about how important creative writing is....
I’ve written many times before about my children and their reading struggles. The eldest found learning to read difficult and as a consequence refused to even try. The reading schemes did nothing to inspire her and rather than face a daily battle of tears and...
I had a day of writing planned for today: a rare occasion for me and one that I should have been able to cherish. Instead, I've moved from one computer to another and back again, each time staring at the screen and finding myself unable to focus, my thoughts drifting...
When we left the house where we'd begun our little family, I was so emotional, I wrote about it (of course!). I love where we live now, but leaving the place which was filled with so many memories from our children's early lives was so hard. I came across this piece...
After getting my hands on a few copies of my debut novel from the publisher, as well as setting the stage with props and prompts from the book, the day of the launch party finally rolled around. Pink fizz and conversation flowed, amidst sampling of my homemade gluten...