At the beginning of each school year, my students, homeschooler, and I create a Writing Territories List.* I want them to begin the year by setting intentions for themselves, not as students, but as writers. I always create a Writing Territories list with them. I use my list to offer ideas and to share pieces of my life. Kids and teens often enjoy sharing their lists, and the activity not only helps them begin to see themselves as writers, it helps us begin to build our learning community. Our lists are a writing resource we’ll add to throughout the year and use when new projects are introduced or when students don’t know what to write about.

A Writing Territories Lists is a writing tool that can be used again and again, in the classroom and at home, and it can be a valuable practice for transitions (like summer days turning into school days). A Writing Territories List is a great way to encourage writing.

How to Generate Ideas for A Writing Territories List

Invite writers to fill in topics, genres, and audiences they’d like to explore. These may be topics they know or are interested in learning more about. Below are some prompts to get them started.

Topics ~

What places do you love to visit? Where would you like to visit? What travel memories do you have?

Who have you had an adventure with? Who do you like to spend time with? Who has made an impact in your life?

Who could you tell a story about: Pets, Siblings, Teachers, Friends, Parents, Mentors? What stories do you love to tell?

What do you love? Hate? Wish? Wonder?

Genres ~

Generate a list of different types of writing and let them choose what interests them. Some examples might be: Memoir, Poem, Comic Book, Short Story, Letter, Review, Article, Journal, Email.

Audience ~

Create a list of all the people, places, and forums a writer could write to. Again, it’s important they choose who they want to write for. Maybe: Self, friend, parent, mentor, family member, teacher, class, community, peers, online.

A Writing Territories List allows writers to collect ideas, inspiration, and memories. It invites writers to set intentions- One day I might write about _______ or I’d like to try to write a _________. This type of list also gets writers thinking about what writing is and the many ways a writer can share a story or information. Writing can be pretty boring if a student only equates writing with writing a  paragraph or essay. It is also no fun if writing is always tied to grades, time limits, and topics others assign.

Offer children a chance to brainstorm all the stories they might one day tell and all the ways they might like to share their words. It might just be the spark they need to start writing.

For a free printable Writing Territories List lesson plan and access to my resource library, subscribe below.

Invite writers (beginning, reluctant, proficient) to create a Writing Territories List. When they see how many things they could write about, they’ll get excited about offering their words to the page.

*I was first introduced to a Writing Territories List in Nancie Atwell’s In the Middle. 

Looking for more ways to help kids love to write? Try these-

Activities & Games to Get Kids Writing

Writing Prompts for Young Writers | All About Fall

Winter Writing Prompts for Young Writers

Writing Prompts for Young Writers | Spring

Creating a Writing Practice with Our Children

10 Ways to Help Students Revise & Edit Their Writing

I also offer writing workshops and private tutoring on Outschool. I’d love to help them find a love and success with writing.