The Write Way: Nurturing Young Writers at Home this Christmas

We are delighted to share a guest feature by local author, artist and photographer Dee Barragry.

Dee lives here in Dublin and was the winner of the inaugural Staróg Prize in 2023. Her debut middle-grade novel, The Moon Seeker, was published internationally by Walker Books this year. When she isn't writing, she’s usually found with a paintbrush or camera in hand.

With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, Dee has shared her thoughts on how we can encourage children to find a quiet, creative space to write for fun.

The Write Way: Nurturing Young Writers at Home

I'm not sure exactly when I got the idea of becoming a writer, but I've loved stories for as long as I can remember. As the eldest of three sisters, I was a lore-maker long before I ever put pen to page. When I was about nine, I was gifted a portable Olivetti typewriter and I treasured it. I gleefully hammered out a Christmas short story on it and sent it to a local newspaper. I got my first publishing credit. A tale-weaving monster was born!

Words are bewitching and there are many ways to encourage children to fall under their spell. While writing for pleasure can improve literacy and problem-solving, more importantly, it is a wonderful tool for expressing emotions and imagination. Best of all, it's fun! And with Christmas holidays on the near horizon, here are a few suggestions to get kids scribbling.

Setting the mood. The first step is to set an inviting tone. Common hurdles for writers - across all ages - are a lack of confidence, digital distractions and short attention spans. Additionally, some children associate writing with heavily structured academic tasks that leave little scope to explore their own creativity. Flights of fancy need freedom! So start with improvised storytelling, encouraging oral stories or drawings at first. Ask questions in response, perhaps including some prompts to further explore their ideas. "What do you think our cat would do if he was a person for a day?" More ways to generate initial ideas include playing with puppets, retelling a favourite story or book in a fresh manner, or talking about family anecdotes and memorable events from a child's life.

Setting the scene. A writing-friendly space can also establish a supportive atmosphere. This doesn't have to be big, elaborate or permanent, and could be anything from a corner of the kitchen table to the pages of a dedicated notebook. The idea is to gently build the act of writing into a rewarding ritual through positive, comfortable associations. Many writers carry a notebook around with them in which to catch their ideas on the go, and I am no exception. Over the years I have received many from friends and family. Each is unique and I appreciate them all, both as a stationery fiend and as an author. When I open whichever notebook I'm working in, I think of the person who gave it to me. This awareness of their encouragement is a lovely way to begin a writing session. An unsubtle hint about what I'd like for Christmas? Perhaps, but a notebook could make a simple, thoughtful gift for a child to personalise their own creative space with and to foster a sense of ownership and joy in their writing.

Exploring genres. Many children will naturally gravitate towards writing short stories. Others may be drawn to try poetry, non-fiction, comic strips, journalling and so on. Whatever genre or format catches their attention, enjoyment is the most important ingredient. They may be disciplined or dabblers. They might prefer to work independently or privately, or to collaborate with friends or family members, passing a writing project back and forth for others to contribute to until it feels complete.

How to be supportive. To ensure the activity remains fun, let those budding writers loose! The aim is to celebrate effort, not perfection. Don't focus unduly on spelling and grammar, but show enthusiasm, interest and pride. Read their work attentively if they share it with you and talk to them about it. For older children (9 -11 years) interested in learning more, there are some great books available, such as "Making It Up As You Go Along: A Children’s Guide to Writing Stories" by Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde (Little Island, 2025). It's full of imaginative exercises and tips on craft from well-known Irish authors.

Setting an example. Another meaningful way to foster a child's interest in writing for pleasure is to model it yourself. Children absorb a lot by observation, and when they see adults engaging with writing, it can spark their own curiosity. Even activities like writing brief journal entries or postcards can be inspiring. My young nieces have recently produced their own homemade books, complete not only with illustrations but also with accompanying blurbs – and they have informed me in no uncertain terms, with a gravitas beyond their years, that the blurb is a very important part of selling a book. It's so rewarding to see children undertake things like this of their own volition and to witness the shine in their eyes as they jostle to present what they've made.

Numerous published writers discover the delight of shaping words during childhood, through doodling in notebooks and dreaming up stories. But writing does not have to reach a wider or future audience to be valuable. Writing can open new doors into a child's imagination and develop their empathy as they consider the experiences and perspectives of their characters. It can enhance their confidence in their creativity and ability to communicate. In a busy world it can offer them a slower, quieter space to explore and invent in. There's real treasure in the act of channelling thoughts into words and seeing ideas come to life on the page, a gift that can last far beyond the festive season.

The Moon Seeker by Dee Barragry (Walker Books, 2025) is available in bookshops across Ireland, in store and online. You can follow Dee on Instagram @deebarragry.