Adults Quote by Alice Mattison
“When I've taught writing to five, six, and seven year olds, it's not very different than talking to an adult writer. They're writers then, and when they get to be young teenagers they're not anymore. You might go and talk to them about writing, and they'll be very self-conscious or will have detached themselves from the group.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Workshop, 2015
Teaching young children to write mirrors adult instruction; they become writers early, but later may feel self‑conscious.
In simple terms: Kids write like adults, but later feel shy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and support confidence at each stage.
Themes
education
confidence
development
writing
growth
Mood
encouraging
reflective
Type
instructional
inspirational
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- parent‑teacher meetings
- creative writing clubs
- adolescent workshops
Key Concepts
Pedagogy
identity formation
self‑concept
Questions to Reflect On
- How can mentors sustain enthusiasm as children age?
- What strategies prevent self‑consciousness in teen writers?
A Different Perspective
Older teens may resist guidance due to peer pressure.
![“The only thing I might have noticed [and this is pretty anecdotal] is that there is some tendency to need to be taught that 'writing is rewriting' - maybe more of a sense than was pervasive 10 years ago that the first or second pass of a story is sufficient. That is an idea that is easily…” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/249/george-saunders-317_blogging_the-only-thing-i-might-have-noticed-and_2019915.jpg)
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
