April 10 is National Encourage a Young Writer Day. As human beings, we all gravitate towards storytelling. Children especially are drawn to imaginative tales and often make up their own original stories. National Encourage a Young Writer Day is about fostering that creativity and motivating young writers to put pen to paper (or fingers to a keyboard!) and write.
There are lots of great ways to encourage a young writer in your life. Here are just a few!
- Get them a journal!
Writing is about getting your creative juices flowing, and having paper handy when inspiration strikes is key. Get a notebook or a journal as a gift for a young writer so they can practice their writing skills daily.
- Try out some writing prompts!
There are hundreds of great writing prompts available online for writers of all ages. Share some of them with a young writer, or try working on one together!
- Encourage them to read!
Reading often helps you write well. Reading different stories - poetry, memoirs, different genres of fiction - exposes young writers to a variety of writing styles and different voices. You can check out some of these recommended resources from Black Children’s Books and Authors, or ask a librarian what they recommend on your next visit to the Yonkers Public Library.
Alison Robles is a part-time page at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, history and science fiction. A Yonkers native, she graduated from Iona University in 2020 with a dual-degree in Marketing and Public Relations.