This one is a challenging exercise, and one for you to do as well when working with children who are reluctant to write.

Begin with a description of the ocean. Get them to tell you everything they know about the ocean, using all their senses.

When it begins to slow down, ask the class or child you are working with to spend five minutes writing about the ocean. They need to write as quickly as they can, and there is no need to worry about spelling or punctuation.

When they have finished, congratulate them on working so well and getting so much down in the five minutes. Then stun them by asking them to spend the next five minutes writing about the ocean again, only this time they aren’t allowed to use any of the words they used in their first description.

This forces us to think beyond what we think we know and get creative as well. It also ensures we delve deeper than all the thoughts we have on the surface about a subject.

The first may go on about the wild stormy waves, and the sharks and whales that live in the ocean.

The second will have to go ‘deeper’, perhaps exploring wrecks and how they became wrecks, sunsets over the horizon on calm, flat days and how icebergs can sink huge liners.

Oceans are vast places with an infinite number of possibilities when it comes to writing about them. After they have written their first description there will be a brief panic period for some however, because they don’t believe they know anything else other than what they’ve already written.

This of course isn’t true, and they’ll discover this themselves. It’s this discovery that gives them that extra confidence in their ability to write more, and realise they know more than they thought they did..

An excellent idea for helping children be more concise with their writing, is to ask them to write their entire life story – in 14 words exactly. Do this exercise straight after writing about the ocean, and give them the opportunity to share what they have written.

This one will delight kids who don’t like writing much anyway, because they’ll see an opportunity for them to have a good win with this one. Anyone can write 14 words! Those who love to waffle will have to be careful about the words they choose.

Ask them to write it with style too, so it isn’t just a random list of dates and events.

Rob Daniel is a children's author, creative writing, memory and self-esteem teacher. He lives in beautiful Albany on the south west corner of Western Australia, has a passion for mangos, the Greek Islands and bringing the best out of young people. He has been booked to go on a creative writing tour of primary schools around the south-west in September, and is very excited about the adventures he's about to have!

Rob creates 'turn the page' children's e-books with illustrators from around the world. You can check out and buy these books instantly from http://www.chocmint.com You'll also find an opportunity to join the chocmint adventure yourself, if you have a passion for writing and illustrating for children.

LATEST book published 'A Tail's Tale', illustrated by UK artist Elizabeth Stringer. Part proceeds from these books go towards sponsoring children at the Bear-Care orphanage in Kitgum, Uganda run by the extraordinary Murray Kidd