April 10 is National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Kristin Ward, a YA author, created this holiday, but I don’t think one needs to have any publication credits to participate.
I know a number of youngsters who need only be given a piece of paper and pen, perhaps a box of crayons, as a means of encouragement, but for those more reluctant, I’d like to offer three writing prompts. They are for all age groups, including those who are children at heart. Since I believe modeling behavior is a form of encouragement, I’ve briefly answered my questions. None of your answers to these prompts need to be in the same form as mine, although I’m always interested in limericks inflicted on the world at large. And so:
- This prompt from a book by Kristin Ward: What would happen if Little Red Riding Hood met a dragon?
There once was a girl named Red,
who wandered from her homestead,
and in the deep, dark forest,
encountered a fire-breathing beast,
and cried, “I’d take a hungry wolf instead!”
- What would you do if you met a unicorn?
Slowly walk toward her, whispering the song “What a Wonderful World,” and, when I was close enough, open my palm and extend a handful of peanut M&Ms to the creature’s mouth. Once she had finished chewing my offering, I would ask for a ride on her back; then rainbows would fall out of my laughing mouth as we galloped through a field of wildflowers until we joined the herd of unicorns, which is called a blessing. I’d have more M&Ms to share.
- Write a story about a troll named Forest Greenhair.
This pint-sized troll with verdant, flowing locks had the idea that he could ride on the back of a squirrel. But rather than asking one of his nut-eating companions of the wood for a lift, he hatched a sneaky plan. Mr. Greenhair stacked a pile of acorns in a tantalizing display, then hid behind a protruding oak root. Sure enough, an unsuspecting squirrel descended from the tree, and while the critter was snacking, Mr. Greenhair leaped onto her back! The squirrel bolted up the tree like gray lightning, and the troll lost his grip and fell backward, hitting his head against the trunk before landing in the pile of acorns like a bowling ball. Next time, Mr. Greenhair should ask permission for a ride.
My daughter, one of my favorite young writers, illustrated that last one.
The best encouragement I can give is to take up a pencil and start writing. Take it from Ward: “To view life as a writer is to see infinite worlds with endless possibilities.”
Andrew Taylor-Troutman is the author of the book with Wipf and Stock Publishers titled This Is the Day: A Year of Observing Unofficial Holidays about Ampersands, Bobbleheads, Buttons, Cousins, Hairball Awareness, Humbugs, Serendipity, Star Wars, Teenagers, Tenderness, Walking to School, Yo-Yos, and More. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he is a student of joy.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines