Lesson Plan - Writing a Novel Before You’re 18 — Is It Possible?
The lesson plan for Writing a Novel Before You’re 18 — Is It Possible? is designed to support parents and carers who are guiding young learners through the exciting journey of storytelling. This resource helps you explore how children and teens can create, write, and even publish a full-length novel before adulthood. It breaks down the writing process into manageable parts, helping learners build confidence while developing their own original ideas.
Inside the plan, you’ll find clear learning objectives, reading and reflection prompts, fun and imaginative activities, and lots of questions to get your child thinking more deeply. Whether your learner is already writing stories or just starting to enjoy creative writing, the tasks can be adapted to suit different ages and abilities.
This is not a classroom lesson — it’s a flexible home education guide that can be used however suits your family best. You can follow it as a structured one-off lesson, spread the activities out over a week, or use it as a starting point for a much bigger writing project. The aim is to inspire young writers and support parents every step of the way.
This topic is part of our Info Zone collection. You can read the full topic, once logged in, here: Writing a Novel Before You’re 18 — Is It Possible?
You’ll also find a full Lesson Plan and a handy Parent Q & A sheet, for this topic, ready to use..
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Lesson Plan Writing a Novel Before You’re 18 — Is It Possible? |
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| Overview | This home education lesson explores how young people can plan, write, and complete a full-length novel before adulthood. It includes reading, writing, creative thinking, and reflection tasks that support learners in understanding the writing process from start to finish. |
| Learning Objectives |
- Understand what a novel is and how it's structured - Learn how to develop story ideas and characters - Explore practical strategies for writing and editing a novel - Build confidence in creative thinking and writing routines |
| Estimated Time | 60–90 minutes (or split across several sessions) |
| Starter Activity |
Ask: “If you could write any book, what would it be about?” Discuss what a novel is and how long it might be. Use a ruler or paper stack to estimate how thick a book of 40,000 words might look! |
| Read and Learn |
Read our Info Zone article Writing a Novel Before You’re 18 — Is It Possible? either aloud or independently. Then reflect on these questions:
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| Activities |
Creative Planning:
Comprehension Questions:
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| Deeper Thinking |
Big Question: “Do you think teenagers have unique stories that adults can’t tell?” Encourage a debate or personal reflection. Consider making a list of things young people notice or experience that adults might overlook. |
| Creative Projects |
- Create a front cover for the novel you’d like to write - Design a writing space (real or imaginary) that would help you focus and be inspired - Write a letter to your future self as a successful author, describing your book and what inspired you |
| Review & Reflect |
Ask the learner:
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| Extensions & Homework |
- Read the first chapter of your favourite novel and note what happens - Start writing the first scene of your own story - Research a famous young author and present three facts about their book journey |
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