It comes as research shows that the Covid lockdown has led to a resurgence in creative writing. The new study finds that students have been writing much more during lockdown, including short stories or fiction (40 per cent), letters (39 per cent), diaries or journals (27 per cent), and poems (21 per cent).
The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has released both the research and the resources to mark National Writing Day on Wednesday, June 24.
The study is based on two surveys of young people aged eight to 18, including one conducted in May and June and involving 4,141 pupils.
They said that having the time and space during lockdown inspired them to write and that writing has helped them to cope with the worry and uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic.
Indeed, 41 per cent said that writing makes them feel better and 25 per cent said that writing helps them when they feel sad that they can’t see friends and family. The young people said that writing poems, diaries and journals was particularly helpful.
This year’s National Writing Day has launched its #247challenge, which asks young people to write 24 words in 7 minutes about their experiences, starting with the prompt: “One day...”
To support National Writing Day and inspire more children and young people to get writing at home, the NLT has published a series of free activities. These include:
- Make friends in lockdown with My Dear New Friend letter writing resources.
- Write and perform a poem about something you really love with poet Simon Mole.
- Write a poem about your lockdown experience with poet Laila Sumpton.
- Create and start you own gratitude journal.
Further information
- For more information on National Writing Day and the #247challenge, visit www.nationalwritingday.org.uk
- For more on the NLT resources, visit https://literacytrust.org.uk/about-us/national-writing-day-24-june-2020/
- The NLT’s Family Zone houses all of its home learning resources: https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/