Creative writing for the whole family

From works of elaborate fiction, to delicate poetry and even raucous comedy, writing is a fun and imaginative way to spend your free time.

There’s no age limit or requirement – anyone can get involved – and here are a few great suggestions to get you started…

For kids

It’s never too early to get writing, and with the incredible imaginations that children possess, stories are likely to be some of the weirdest and funniest you’ll ever read. To harness this creativity, there are some great resources such as Oxford Owl, which provides tips, inspiration, writing challenges and even advice from some big names in children’s fiction like Malorie Blackman. BBC Bitesize is also another great place to look, with useful content for 7-11 year olds who need help planning their story and fleshing out characters.

For young people

If you’re looking for something slightly more in-depth, the National Centre for Writing has some amazing resources for young people. There’s a war poetry resource pack that contains recommended activities and discussion questions, as well lots of creative writing prompts which give you a suggestion of something to write about. For example, ‘Write about something you can’t control, from the perspective of that thing’.

Adults

Sometimes all you need is a bit of a nudge in the right direction. This article by Bookfox contains a list of 50 creative writing exercises you can get your teeth stuck into. Separated into five categories, the exercises let you practice writing about senses, dialogue, objects, emotions and characters. Or if you’re looking for something more specific, take a look at the free classes on Skillshare – there’s a variety of projects, from finding your creative voice, to writing characters, crafting poems, and even a lesson on how to get published.

With your creative juices well and truly flowing, all you need now is a nice cup of tea, a pen and some paper, and a masterpiece is sure to emerge.