Ep 11 - Writing for Pleasure: Rekindling Joy Across the Curriculum, with Simon Blower

In this episode I sit down with Simon Blower (Co-founder of Pobble) and we discuss: What first made you so passionate about writing? And what did you notice about pupils who did enjoy writing compared to those who didn’t? We talk a lot about “reading for pleasure”, but what does “writing for pleasure” mean to you? And why does enjoyment matter so much in writing? Why do so many pupils decide early on that they’re “not a writer”? and what mistakes do adults sometimes make when trying to motivate reluctant writers? You often talk about experiences being the spark. Why are experiences such a powerful starting point? How can subject teachers use their own disciplines as writing catalysts? What differences do you see in attitudes to writing at different ages? And where do schools unintentionally squeeze the joy out as pupils get older? Why does writing matter so much beyond exams? What would you want every teacher, whatever their subject or phase, to rethink about writing