Do you notice your students getting stuck by free-writing assignments? It can be common for young writers to become overwhelmed. They often don’t know where to start when staring at a blank sheet of paper.
Giving them a short-form writing “container” in which to work can feel safer and allows them the freedom to begin within a comforting boundary.
This blog is adapted from the webinar “Unlock Student Writing Potential: Short-Form Writing Strategies for Every Classroom” with author Kim Culbertson and Collaborative Classroom’s Vice President of Organizational Learning, Peter Brunn.
Tip 1: Use The Container Concept
Short-form writing necessitates structure and promotes boundaries. Short-form writing, particularly when utilizing a specific container, allows the writer to operate within an established structure that creates important boundaries for the young writer, both mechanically and creatively.
This practice gives students something to push against. A specific container—such as a 100-word story—allows students to demonstrate their thinking, their process, and their imagination.
Tip 2: Try a 100-Word Story That Emphasizes Omission and Implication
A 100-word story is defined as a complete narrative contained in exactly 100 words (excluding the title). This tiny package holds all the elements of a story, including a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Crucially, in this format, omission is as important as inclusion, forcing the writer to lean into hints and implication. This allows young writers to start understanding subtext and connotation.
Tip 3: Leverage the Act of Noticing and Detailed Observation
One core concept we are presenting is that “Writing Is Noticing.” We can foster this skill through exercises like the “Observation Station,” where we utilize lists to focus on specific details—for instance, using a list to notice details about feathers.
An Observation Station Exercise:
- Includes a clear description of the subject being observed
- Interprets the observations
- Uses sensory details to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind
- Reflects on the writer’s own experiences and biases in relation to the subject
Tip 4: Try the 30-Minute, 3-Draft Approach
A structured three-draft approach guides revision from macro to micro. This process outlines specific goals for each stage of revision, reflecting the dynamic that “writing is just expand-contract-expand-contract”:
- Draft 1: Focused on getting ideas onto the page.
- Draft 2: Dedicated to macro revision, focusing on the big picture.
- Draft 3: Focused on micro revision, concentrating on the sentence level.
Short-Form Writing Removes Pressure and Inserts Playfulness into the Process
Students can be very hard on themselves and their writing. A short-form story assignment removes some of that pressure for many students.
The short story form can be playful. If the student isn’t happy with what they’ve written, it’s easy to throw it out and start again. The stakes are low. The shorter the assignment, the more playful they can be, the easier it is to start fresh, and the more learning that’s taking place throughout. Starting over and beginning with new ideas each time ensures writing practice is a natural part of the process.
Related Reading:
Building Skilled Writers and a Strong Classroom Community in Berkeley County, West Virginia
Using Student Writing Samples to Assess Early Literacy Skills