Creative Writing Workshop: Childhood



Creative Writing Workshop: Childhood Ms. Diana

Our writing exercise today is about childhood—your childhood. Interestingly, people have different levels of recall about childhood. While some recall a great deal, a few find it difficult to remember anything. To enhance your ability to remember an experience from early childhood, I have compiled the following list of questions in a “guided imagery” format. The results of this exercise will be different for different people; please don’t worry while beginning how long the final product should be or what you are going to write about—just see where the exercise takes you.

For some the exercise may result in a page-long description of an early childhood experience; for others the result may be a narrative poem or a “once upon a time” sort of story. This exercise will (I hope) be about self-discovery, lending intellectual as well as emotional insight into your own childhood and the formation of your personality. My only suggestion is that you relax and try to enjoy yourself. Let yourself go and see what happens.

Close your eyes. Imagine yourself back in the first home you can remember. Let the pictures emerge.

Now write down the first impressions you have. (Be as descriptive as possible.) Write down what you see—people, furniture, pets, etc. Look around the room for details—colors, shapes, decorations, doors, windows, etc.

Next, try to re-experience your other senses in relation to this home. What do you hear? Smell? Taste? Touch?

How about the people in your home—are they happy? How are they interacting with one another? How are they interacting with you? Describe their faces, gestures, postures and clothing.

Now you need to look at the details you have compiled—what sticks out? What might make an interesting short memoir piece or narrative poem? Remember that, when making your first draft, you do not need to include each and every detail in your original notes (doing so might result in more of a list than a story); simply focus upon one memory and describe it as fully as possible.

Many people will have strong reactions to these writing prompts—yet some may still have little to say. If you are a bit stumped, consider the following issues:

1. Select an experience from childhood, rather than your first memory. Describe this experience as fully as possible. (What happened? What did you discover?)

2. Describe your favorite toy or pet.

3. Do you have a favorite photo of yourself as a child? Look at the picture—what do you see in the picture that you see in yourself now? Do you see anything in the picture that you would like to see in yourself now, but do not?

4. Describe your favorite relative, and what you liked about him/her as a child.

5. Kindergarten: Many children have strong reactions to going to school—what was your reaction to kindergarten? Describe your first day of school, the people you met, your teacher, etc.

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See me if you have questions!

Have fun!

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