Talented Young Writers’ Relationships With Writing

Through a qualitative research design, the author explored how eight talented young creative writers related to their craft. The construct, “relationship with writing,” emerged as the study’s overarching theme; this theme includes students’ influences, goals, values, identity, and emotions as these relate to writing. The findings indicated identity development and the expression of an authentic self were central to students’ relationships with writing. Multiple positive influences led students to view writing as a means to understand and express their identities. Students valued academic writing, but felt creative writing was more congruent with their emotions, goals, and values. Overall, students’ relationships with writing can be described as positive, personal, and context dependent.