There is something wonderful about bringing a group of young people together and giving them permission to do one thing: use their imagination.
There were no tests to complete, no grades to worry about, and no pressure to make sure every comma was in the right place. Instead, there were interactive word games, stories to invent, characters to create, ideas to explore, laughter to share, creativity to enjoy, and plenty of writing to do.
That was exactly what we experienced during the Young Writers Summer Storytelling Camp at Accomplish Press.
Over the course of the camp, children aged 9 to15 explored different aspects of storytelling, stretched their imaginations, developed new writing skills and, most importantly, discovered how much fun it can be to create their own stories.
We were delighted to receive such encouraging feedback from participants and their parents. Now that the camp has come to an end, I wanted to share a glimpse behind the scenes: and offer some ideas for parents who would like to continue nurturing their child’s love of writing when September arrives.
A summer camp built around stories
The Young Writers Summer Storytelling Camp was created for children who love stories.
Some already spend their spare time filling notebooks with adventures. Others have lively imaginations but are still learning how to turn their ideas into complete stories. Some love reading but have not yet found the confidence to call themselves writers. They were all welcome.
One thing I have learned from working with young writers is that children do not need more pressure around writing. They need permission to experiment.
At school, writing often comes with rules, targets and assessments. Those things have their place, but creative writing offers children a different experience. They can ask:
- What if my main character discovers a secret door?
- What if an ordinary family holiday turns into an adventure?
- What if the villain is not actually the villain?
- What if animals can speak?
- What if the whole story takes place on another planet?
Once children realise that creative writing does not always have one “correct” answer, something shifts. They begin taking risks with their ideas. That is where the fun starts.
Creating characters we want to follow
One of the most enjoyable parts of storytelling is creating characters. During the camp, we explored how writers develop characters with personalities, motivations, strengths, weaknesses and problems to solve. Rather than stopping at:
“There was a boy called Daniel.”
we encouraged our young writers to dig deeper.
- Who is Daniel?
- What does he want?
- What is he afraid of?
- What secret might he be keeping?
- What would he do if everything suddenly went wrong?
- What makes him different from everyone else?
These questions help children understand that memorable characters are not simply names on a page. They are people or dragons, aliens, talking cats and mysterious creatures: with desires, emotions and personalities.
A character does not have to be perfect to be interesting. In fact, characters are often more engaging when they make mistakes, have fears or find themselves in situations they do not know how to handle.
Once a child creates a character they genuinely care about, they usually want to discover what happens to that character next.
Building worlds with imagination
Characters need somewhere to live, so we also explored setting and world-building.
Young writers often have extraordinary imaginations. Give them permission to create a world and you may hear about floating cities, secret kingdoms, strange schools, futuristic planets and mysterious forests within minutes.
But effective world-building involves more than writing, “It was a magical kingdom.”
We encouraged our writers to think through their characters’ senses:
- What can the character see?
- What can they hear?
- What does the place smell like?
- Is it hot, freezing, noisy, crowded, eerie or peaceful?
- What might they touch?
- Is there something unusual about this place that visitors would notice immediately?
These details transform a basic setting into somewhere the reader can imagine visiting.
A forest becomes more memorable when the trees whisper at night. A school becomes more intriguing when one classroom changes location every morning. A futuristic city becomes believable when the writer considers how people travel, eat, work and communicate there.
This is one of the reasons I love teaching creative writing. Children often have fantastic ideas already. Sometimes they simply need someone to show them how to bring those ideas alive on the page.
Plotting, problems and the question: “What happens next?”
An interesting character and an exciting setting are a great start, but stories need movement.
They need problems that challenge the characters. They need decisions that force characters to choose. They need consequences that show what happens because of those choices.
During our sessions, we explored how stories develop from beginning to middle to end, and how writers can introduce challenges that keep readers wondering what will happen next.
This is an important skill for young writers because many children begin stories enthusiastically but struggle to finish them. They may have a brilliant opening scene and a fascinating character, then suddenly realise they have no idea where the story is going.
That is a normal part of writing. I have been writing for years, and I still occasionally reach the middle of a story and get stuck. Simple story-planning techniques can make an enormous difference.
Instead of staring at the page and thinking, I do not know what to write next, children can ask:
- What does my character want?
- What is stopping them from getting it?
- What could go wrong?
- What choice will the character make?
- How will that choice change the situation?
- What might the character learn by the end?
Those questions give the story somewhere to go.
Learning that first drafts do not have to be perfect
Another important lesson we reinforced during the camp was one adult writers need reminding about too:
Your first draft is allowed to be messy.
Young writers can be surprisingly hard on themselves. Some worry about spelling. Some erase sentences repeatedly because they do not think they are “good enough.” Others compare their first attempts with published books and wonder why their writing does not already sound like something written by a professional author.
So we focused on separating creating from correcting.
First, children need space to tell the story. Later, once their ideas are on the page, they can improve the sentences, strengthen the descriptions, check the spelling and revise anything that is not working.
When children stop trying to produce perfect sentences immediately, they have more mental space for imagination and experimentation.
That freedom matters. A blank page is difficult enough without expecting every sentence to be perfect on the first attempt.
Watching confidence grow
The camp was not only about writing techniques. It was also about community.
Writing can be a surprisingly solitary hobby, particularly for children who do not know many other young people who share their passion for books and storytelling. Bringing young writers together changes that.
Suddenly, being the child who loves inventing characters is not unusual. Everyone else is doing it too.
They can share ideas, laugh together, encourage one another and discover that other writers get stuck sometimes. That sense of belonging is incredibly valuable.
As the camp progressed, it was lovely to see our young writers becoming increasingly comfortable with their ideas and voices. They had stories to develop, writing challenges to tackle and new possibilities to explore.
They were not expected to arrive as polished writers. They were given the guidance and encouragement to grow.
And then, they finished their stories
One of the most satisfying moments for any writer, no matter their age, is reaching the end of something they created themselves. During the camp, our young writers were not simply learning definitions such as “character”, “setting”, “dialogue” and “plot”. They were putting those ideas into practice.
That distinction matters.
A child can understand what a character is in theory. But there is a different kind of learning that happens when they create a character, give that character a problem and then try to write the story through to the end.
They discover why a character needs motivation. They notice when dialogue sounds awkward. They realise why the middle of a story can become difficult. Most importantly, they learn that writing problems can be worked through.
That is how writers grow: by trying, noticing, revising and trying again.
What happens after summer?
The end of the Summer Storytelling Camp does not have to mean the end of your child’s writing journey.
For some children, it may only be the beginning.
Our Creative Writing Club for Kids and Teens returns in September, and registration is open through our Creative Writing Club registration page.
The club gives children and teenagers regular opportunities to develop their storytelling skills in a friendly, structured and encouraging environment. Instead of enjoying one exciting burst of creativity during the holidays and then forgetting about writing when school resumes, they can continue practising throughout the term.
Writing improves with regular use, much like playing an instrument or developing a sporting skill. Children do not need to write for hours every day. Consistent opportunities to read, imagine, draft and share can make a meaningful difference over time.
What can your child gain from the Creative Writing Club?
Through creative writing, children can strengthen:
- Storytelling and narrative skills
- Vocabulary and written communication
- Character development
- Plotting and story structure
- Descriptive writing
- Dialogue
- Imagination and creativity
- Confidence in expressing ideas
- Perseverance when a story becomes difficult
- The ability to give and receive constructive feedback
Most importantly, they get to write regularly.
The aim is not to turn writing into another academic obligation that feels like extra schoolwork. We want children to enjoy creating stories and feel proud of the ideas they bring to the page.
We want them to become curious about words and discover how language can help them express themselves. We want them to experiment with characters and storylines without worrying about getting everything right the first time.
And we want the child who says, “I have an idea, but I do not know how to write it,” to eventually say:
“Look! I finished my story.”
Could your child be one of our September writers?
Perhaps your child already has notebooks filled with stories. Perhaps they love reading but have not tried writing much themselves. Maybe they are constantly inventing characters and imaginary worlds. Or perhaps they have plenty of ideas but struggle to organise them into a complete story. They do not need to arrive at the Creative Writing Club as polished writers. That is what we are here to help them become.
What they need is curiosity, imagination and a willingness to give writing a try. If our Summer Storytelling Camp showed us anything, it is that wonderful things can happen when young writers are given the space, encouragement and guidance to take their creativity seriously.
We are excited to continue that journey when the Creative Writing Club returns this September.
If you would like your child to join us, find out more about the Creative Writing Club and register their place today.
Let us give them somewhere their imagination is not only welcomed but encouraged to grow. Who knows where the next story might take them?
Let’s help your young writer grow
At Accomplish Press, we specialize in helping children and teenagers find their voice and build the confidence they need to succeed in writing and in life. Whether your child is just starting out or is already working on their first manuscript, we have the resources to help them get the stories out of their head and onto paper (or screen).
If you would like support for your young writer, consider working with me through a one-to-one coaching programme or joining one of our Creative Writing Courses for children and teens. Sometimes a bit of structure, guidance, and encouragement makes all the difference.
- Creative Writing Club for Kids and Teens: Join our community of young authors for interactive sessions that build confidence, literacy, and emotional intelligence.
- One-to-One Coaching: For children who want personalized guidance on their writing journey, our coaching programmes offer professional support to help them finish their books and develop their skills.
- Young Author Acceleration Programme: A dedicated path for those ready to take their writing to the next level.
- Need resources? Check out our Resources Hub for ebook guides on many different ways you can support your child and even improve your own writing too!
Ready to see your child flourish? Let’s turn those stories into reality!