Writing a rough draft gets the thoughts from the head to the paper. It's okay if paragraphing is wobbly, organization is unclear, and spelling is atrocious. Revising and editing will take care of all that later.
A writer’s journal
Give your kids a composition book, a place to add impromptu writing pieces. While some of these entries may end up being polished for publication, that is not necessarily the goal. The composition book invites the budding writer to fill its pages. Whether kids dabble in poetry, write their observations from a nature walk, compare two characters in a book, write a list of synonyms, or make up some jokes doesn't matter. What matters is that they are writing, and doing so consistently.
Be well supplied.
Create a literate environment. Lined, unlined, colored, and white paper, pencils, pens, markers, erasers, a dictionary, thesaurus, books--whatever it takes to grab a child's interest for writing, have it available and accessible.
Get comfortable.
It doesn't matter where and when writing happens as long as it's optimal for the writer. Does he like background music or silence? Does she prefer a straight-backed chair, a sofa, or a bed? Is it easier for him to draft with pencil and paper or keyboard and screen? When does she focus best--early morning, afternoon, or evening?
Snippets of time
A draft doesn't need to be written from start to finish in one sitting. Writing a little bit, taking a break to do something else, then writing a bit more may make the process less painful.
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