Writing

What to write?

You can write a story - the story of a child soldier or a former child soldier, for example. Use the information you've been given and your imagination...

You can write a poem - inspired by what you know about child soldiers and by the pictures and quotes you can see on this site. It could be about the experience of a child soldier, or your own response to what you know about them.

You can write an essay, arguing your point of view - so why is this subject important to you? Why is it important that people in Britain know about child soldiers? What responsibility do we in Britain have to child soldiers elsewhere in the world? This is about your point of view - so make your case.

Inspiration

If you're stuck for inspiration, have a look at the photos in our picture gallery, and read some of the quotes from child soldiers on our fact sheet.

What are their lives like? Think about the way their lives are different from yours, but also about the ways in which they are like yours. How would they tell their story?

Suggested titles

You can choose your own title, but if you can't think of one to start with, have a look at these suggestions. Remembering what you know about child soldiers, what do they make you think of?

• New recruit
• Lessons learnt in childhood
• Rehabilitation
• The messenger
• The rights of a child
• Children in the ranks
• In another country

Starting off

Whether they are writing prose or poetry, many people find that the hardest thing is knowing where to start. But the truth is, it doesn't matter! Write something - anything - a first line, doesn't matter if it's good or not; then the second will be easier, then the third, just to get yourself going. They're not set in stone, so you can always come back and change them later...

When you're done with your first draft, ask yourself a couple of questions:

Story:

• Is my main character someone I find interesting? (If I don't, no one will.) What makes this person interesting to me, unusual, engaging? Does that come across clearly in my story?
• What is it about the story that will make people want to read on? Is there something in the first sentence that will make people curious about the second, something in the first paragraph that will make people want to read on to the next?

Poem:

• Some poems rhyme and some poems don't, some have repetitive rhythms and some are irregular - does the kind of poem you've chosen suit the subject you want to write about best? Read other poems to look at ways other people have used words. How do you want it to sound?
• Read your poem aloud to hear the rhythm and the sounds of the words. Think about alternative words you could use instead. Play with the words and try different combinations. Which version sounds best?

Essay:

• Do I really know what my argument is? Could I express it in a single sentence or question?
• Have I thought what the counter-arguments might be to what I'm saying, and have I addressed them? (Just imagine you're being interviewed by a really tough, really clever journalist who's trying to pick holes in what you've written.)

Advice from Lemn:

Poet Lemn Sissay, writer in residence at the South Bank Centre and one of the 2008 Right Words competition's judges, has offered these writing tips...

• Try writing everyday - no matter how busy you think you are set aside say half an hour (minimum) every day dedicated to writing. Even if you don't know what you are going to write about spend that half hour with pen and paper. You will be rewarded.
  
  
• Read as much as possible.
  
  
• Keep a notepad on you to scratch down ideas which you can work on in your daily schedule.
  
  
• Join a writers' workshop in your area; if you don't like the one you attend, find another. There are writers' workshops everywhere. Doing it on your own is all, but get support and feedback too.
  
  
• If there was any book I could suggest for your own growth as a writer/artist it is The Artist's Way (Vein of Gold) by Julia Cameron. I use it myself.
  
  
• Start to see where poetry is. It is around in Valentine's Day, at weddings, on adverts, when there is a war, when someone dies, it's on posters, on statues, in plays, in films, in songs. It is not as hidden as many believe...

 

The Right Words competition is being run by members of the Human Rights Watch London Network, in support of Human Rights Watch. With thanks to The Literary Consultancy and Gua Africa for their support. All photos on this site copyright © Kate Shortt and reproduced by kind permission of the photographer and Invisible Children. Site designed by Kate Gallé and developed by Philip Calvert.