I have a few students who want to learn how to write fiction. As a rule, they are voracious readers with great vocabulary and strong desire to write. They come to my class hoping to get a professional advice and/or motivation to develop their skills. It is enjoyable to read and discuss their short stories and see how their daily experience is reflected in their writing. However, most of my students have never thought of creating something of their own. For them, “writing” is associated with school assignments, something mandatory, difficult, and tedious.

As a tutor, I try to show to those students that writing can be fun!  Usually we start with something short and not overwhelming. What is it? Poems! Yes, writing poems is a great practice in creativity and a source of joy, but prior to an actual writing the students need to see the  difference between poetry and prose. The difference is not as obvious as it seems, especially for younger students. When assigned to write a poem at school, the fifth-graders do not hesitate to jot down several sentences on the suggested topic and pass their work to the teacher. Usually, these “poems” do not differ from their stories written in prose. However, if to ask a student to read and analyze poems written by great children’s poets, the difference becomes clear. First hesitantly, the children read the lines and find examples of  personification, metaphor, and simile.  Then they try to rewrite their own poems adding “decorative elements.” For some, this simple activity turns into an adventure.

Here is a poem, which has a lot of examples of personification.

APPLES ARE LAUGHING IN THE GARDEN

Apples are laughing in the garden.

A pair of grinning boots is running to work.

A flock of leaves is flying by,

Cackling and giggling.

Here is a smiling umbrella!

A newspaper is chuckling in the mailbox.

Clouds in the sky are roaring with laughter.

Raindrops jump into the puddle and –

PLOP!!! –

Happy splashes everywhere!

An old hat is sitting on my head,

Beaming with joy!