How to Motivate Students to Write

Writing is a skill that is important throughout life, whether it is the ability to write an essay, a story or a proper email message. Motivating students to write can be a challenge, but it is necessary to help them improve this skill and expand the range of their creativity and thought.

Instructions

1. Create an open environment for discussion and help about writing. When students are able to ask for help and opinions of their classmates or teacher it eliminates some of the fears of writing. Approach writing as something fun and useful in their lives to ease any apprehension.

2. Give students time for free writing. This is a great assignment when students have been working hard on more structured assignments such as essays or research papers. Allowing them time to write freely in journals or on computers helps them to release stress and temporarily abandon structure.

3. Teach students to focus their energies on writing their story creatively without worrying about perfect form. Discuss the importance of character and plot first and then follow with lessons on structure and form. When giving creative writing assignments make them specific to keep students from feeling overwhelmed.

4. Inspire students to write by incorporating reading. Have them choose their favorite story genre and then create their own version. If they like comic books or mysteries, have them study and read those and put together their own characters and story in that genre.

5. Have students write as a form of expression. You can use lead questions or have them write poetry to tap into some inner emotion. This helps them to connect writing with something deeper and allows them to let go of any negative ideas they may hold about writing.