Unchain the Boy Writer

[Gaetan Pappalardo]

Action figures covered every flat surface in my room; my imagination stretched way beyond it. G.I. Joe, Super Heroes, The Smurfs––whatever it took to satisfy my fantastical hunger, I played with it. Sound familiar? Yes, of course I’m a boy. I’ve been one for more than three decades and in the words of the hardest rockin’ band ever, KISS, it’s time to Shout it, Shout it, Shout it out Loud. Newkirk did it, Fletcher did it, and now I’m doing it. I’m here to shout it out for them, for us. Boys.

Every specialist in the field of writing has penned at one point or another that the freedom to choose topics will bring about a child’s best effort. I really mean choose. Not, “you can write about this, BUT…” This is especially important to boy writers. This past year I had a boy writer ask me at least two or three times a week for about a month if he was allowed to write a story about Transformers. Twice a week for a month! That’s a tough knot to untie. But once the twine untangles––poof! Gone, like the roadrunner. If mechanical contraptions from another planet inspire creative writing, we need to exploit the energy therein. Case closed. This choice, real choice, engages boys in the painful, yet beautiful act of writing. It allows them to explore it on their turf, in their backyard, where they’re discussing the texture of vomit and the invasion of the gigglefarts. Bingo! They are engaged. At this point, step in and do some teaching. Make sure you stay in their backyard though.

If your boy writers are struggling and you’re pulling out your hair in frustration, my advice to you my friend is to let go. Let go and see what happens. Just let them write; let them choose; let them own it. Super Duper Pow!

Books on boy writers:
Boy Writers: Reclaiming their Voices by Ralph Fletcher
Misreading Masculinity: Boys, Literature and Popular Culture by Thomas Newkirk

Online interview with Ralph Fletcher about boy writers: http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2006/11/boy-writers-by-ralph-fletch...

Oh, and remember. I am a grown up boy writer so my boy brain is open to your questions.

This little piece was initially posted on the PA Writing and Lit Project's blog--Write Out Loud http://pawlp.wordpress.com/

[Barry Lane]

Choice is the big bugga-boo, Teachers talk about it but when they really believe it it, things can sometimes get a bit edgy. That's when the miracles happen.

[Gaetan Pappalardo]

YES YES YES!!!!

Barry Lane said:

Choice is the big bugga-boo, Teachers talk about it but when they really believe it it, things can sometimes get a bit edgy. That's when the miracles happen.

[J McKeown]

I agree. Let them write. When they feel freedom to write then they will never stop. Lots of stories can come from boogies and farts. They can trigger a story that is barely related to a gross booger or a SBD (Silent But Deadly). That might just be a hook to engage them. In conferencing I usually bring them up to generate ideas for struggling writers. It is fun for them and it hits them at their level.

What is great about allowing the boy writer to be himself and rip out some "crazy topics" is that the girls usually love it and it opens their writing up to a higher level too. I know that in my classroom the girls enjoy the freedom to "go there" with their own pieces.

It was evident when we were creating GIANTS after reading the BFG. You wouldn't have been able to tell if a giant was created by a girl or boy. They were equally inventive and nasty. They all dove head first into their giants. Description flew from their pencils. They did those pieces in October and they still are writing stories about their giants now.

[Patricia Ripley]

Jay, I have been wrestling with choice! I think I did not really accept fantasy as I preferred personal narrative! I think I was afraid that kids would not know that their lives count! So now I say choice means choice! I do know that boogers and farts will be not accepted at the higher grades. I also remember a Lucy Calkins workshop that I attende years ago and the question of farts came up. She said if the farts do not help the writing then say no farts! This stayed with me a long time! I look for does this improve the writing? If yes, then fine. If no, then add more story stuff, make it more visual, but not just farts for farts sake! Can you believe that I can now actually talk about writing without worrying about who I offended(sounds like Catholic school days, having offended thee!) Miss you. Pat

[Suzanne Kazi]

As administrator of an all boys elementary school, one of my challenges is to help parents and teachers feel comfortable with the blood, guts and guns that appear in the writing of even our kindergarteners. The reward is when the boys look at the schedule and say "Yeah! writing time."

Now, if we could just get them to like punctuation marks as much as farts!

[Gaetan Pappalardo]

It will come. Theory shows that grammar and mechanics are only mastered over extensive periods of time reading and writing. Keep up the good work.

Suzanne Kazi said:

As administrator of an all boys elementary school, one of my challenges is to help parents and teachers feel comfortable with the blood, guts and guns that appear in the writing of even our kindergarteners. The reward is when the boys look at the schedule and say "Yeah! writing time."

Now, if we could just get them to like punctuation marks as much as farts!

[Barry Lane]

Hah! : ) I have seen some boy writing where the farts are the punctuation!

Suzanne Kazi said:

As administrator of an all boys elementary school, one of my challenges is to help parents and teachers feel comfortable with the blood, guts and guns that appear in the writing of even our kindergarteners. The reward is when the boys look at the schedule and say "Yeah! writing time."

Now, if we could just get them to like punctuation marks as much as farts!

[Jason Lilly]

As I said before, I wasn't much of a writer until my fourth grade teacher approved of my stupid story about two of my He-Man action figures coming to life and killing somebody. I was so proud of myself, I continued to write and have ever since. I believe that if you start early, you can change the way boys view writing and reading.

[Susan]

I have taught writing to high school age young men/boys who are discovering their desire to express themselves beyond their previous fascination with bodily functions. This can be tricky too. The key is setting up an environment in which they feel safe and comfortable sharing, in which they aren't expected to be rough and tough all the time, and in which they're encouraged to write their thoughts and feelings. When they take risks like this I have really been blown away by what they have to say.

[Jerard Lafuente]

I remember sitting in Mrs. Gresham's class, penning my own versions of Shel Silverstein poetry. "The Wishing Well", "The Lion's Hunt", and "One Dead Sister" were circulating the classroom when she quickly put a stop to it. "Mr. Lafuente, you can put those papers on my desk. I'll talk to you after class." My writing career was over before it began! After class, Mrs. Gresham called me to her desk, calmly read each of my poems, and then handed them to me. "Young man, you have talent. Let's try to keep your readers entertained on the playground. Keep it up, though." No punishment. No reprimand. Just encouragement and a compliment. Let the boys choose!

Jason Lilly said:

As I said before, I wasn't much of a writer until my fourth grade teacher approved of my stupid story about two of my He-Man action figures coming to life and killing somebody. I was so proud of myself, I continued to write and have ever since. I believe that if you start early, you can change the way boys view writing and reading.

[J McKeown]

Hey Pat, I finally read your reply! We miss you at Green-Fields. I can't believe I like to teach/allow Writing. I never liked it. You, Gaetan, Ralph Fletcher, and Barry Lane, really got me hooked. I used to do "What If?" writing at the catholic school where I started my teaching career. Nobody understood that we were just writing creatively - making stuff up. Having fun. Laughing - being silly. That was a big no no. Then I met you guys and knew that writing was supposed to be fun and a way to express ideas. Choice is what allows kids the freedom to write. Unchain. Perfect word for it, Gaetan. Sometimes just talking to the kid writer is more beneficial than writing. You talk with the writer and he/she opens his or her mind and deliver details and explanations and you can taste their stories. Their is much more voice in their writing when it is CHOICE. That is pretty much all we did this year in 4th grade - self-selected. My students have helped make me a writer. They've shown me the joy and excitement through their choice writing.

Patricia Ripley said:

Jay, I have been wrestling with choice! I think I did not really accept fantasy as I preferred personal narrative! I think I was afraid that kids would not know that their lives count! So now I say choice means choice! I do know that boogers and farts will be not accepted at the higher grades. I also remember a Lucy Calkins workshop that I attende years ago and the question of farts came up. She said if the farts do not help the writing then say no farts! This stayed with me a long time! I look for does this improve the writing? If yes, then fine. If no, then add more story stuff, make it more visual, but not just farts for farts sake! Can you believe that I can now actually talk about writing without worrying about who I offended(sounds like Catholic school days, having offended thee!) Miss you. Pat