my son is gifted

cathy01

no really.His teacher is amazed by his talent.Is ther short story competitions he could enter.Hes 15 in Second year.
thanks.
cathy

Sleepy

The times ran one for Christmas... keep an eye on the papers!

Witcher

so am i but you dont see my mother on here blowing her my trumpet


most 15 years olds are good at writing for instance my whole class

got an A or B in Higher Level English in the Juniour Cert last year!


you sons not gifted he's just in a stupid class.


dont put pressure on the chap by putting him in competitions


:cool::cool::cool:

cathy01

By one post you seem to think I am putting pressure on him?
How Stupid are you.No, I encourage him, support him,listen to him, care about him, love him . Maybe you need to see things differently.
He is GIFTED, he has me as his mother.
Sleepy, thanks I will keep and eye.As he is young ,I want him to know that I believe he is great, its so important for teenagers to feel they can do.
I have a approach where , if he does something , I will always say , well done.Even if its terrible, as long as its his best. I also make sure he knows we all have room to improve.
thanks,
cathy

deman

blay1 wrote: »

so am i but you dont see my mother on here blowing her my trumpet


most 15 years olds are good at writing for instance my whole class

got an A or B in Higher Level English in the Juniour Cert last year!


you sons not gifted he's just in a stupid class.


dont put pressure on the chap by putting him in competitions


:cool::cool::cool:

No you're not. Haven't you ever heard of punctuation? How you ever got an A or B is beyond me when you can't even spell Junior!!

Back to the OP - encourage this as much as you can in a passive manner and don't let other jealous people put you off.

cathy01

Thanks Deman, sorry If I am a proud mum. watch this space.

Brian Capture

Sunday Tribune publish short stories - 'New Irish writing'.
If he's good enough, they'll publish it.
Don't think they have age restrictions.

Nice that he has a parent to encourage his talent. Not everyone is so fortunate.
Best of luck.

cathy01

Thanks for that,
cathy

Witcher

blay1 wrote: »

so am i but you dont see my mother on here blowing her my trumpet


most 15 years olds are good at writing for instance my whole class

got an A or B in Higher Level English in the Juniour Cert last year!


you sons not gifted he's just in a stupid class.


dont put pressure on the chap by putting him in competitions


:cool::cool::cool:

disregard that sh*t thats just me being a prick OP sorry.



seriously though does your son write stories in his own time or just for school etc?


has he got any particular topics he likes to write on? it helps for the Junior

Cert to know what you like, but to be able for any type of question that

comes up.



i presume he's doing higher for the JC, it's pretty easy tell him not to worry

about it but be prepared to write pages and pages and pages, which

essentially repeat what the page before said.

but he'll be grand.


once again sorry for that BS i posted






:cool::cool::cool:

Degsy

cathy01 wrote: »

no really.His teacher is amazed by his talent.Is ther short story competitions he could enter.Hes 15 in Second year.
thanks.
cathy

If he is the apple has fallen along way from the tree.

SuperSean11

Any chance of a sample of his work cathy

Sarky

You're not helping, Degsy. Post something constructive or don't post at all.

rainbowtrout

Degsy wrote: »

If he is the apple has fallen along way from the tree.

I was just thinking the same

If he's 15 and in Second Year (where age is normally 13-14) maybe it's just that he's older than the other kids and getting on better. If he was with his own age group (3rd/5th year) it might be a totally different story.

cathy01

hi ya, no hes 15.He had to stay back as he had meningits and missed a lot of school when he was 8. His teacher told me his work that he handed up would get a A in the leaving cert.
And as some may have noticed ,DEGSY, I cant spell, at all .I find it very difficult.Thank God for Goodle spell check when I remember to use it.
Does it make me thick...I think not.
I will see what he has but to be honest, I think to post on this board , with so many smart Ar**d comments , it would do nothing for his self esteem.
Anyway, thanks for the tips.
Blay1, thanks for the comments.:)
Cheers all.
Cathy.

eggplantman

its not nice to brag

Sarky

Any more smartarses will be banned. Final warning.

cathy01

Honestly, its really disappointing that I cant come and post here about something good without getting comments and replies such as I read here.
It is really a sad day.
I have don't nothing to anyone here.
No...shame really.
bye,
Cathy

DonJose

cathy01 wrote: »

Honestly, its really disappointing that I cant come and post here about something good without getting comments and replies such as I read here.
It is really a sad day.
I have don't nothing to anyone here.
No...shame really.
bye,
Cathy

Cathy, post one of his short stories here and shut up the begrudgers

Karlusss

blay1 wrote: »

seriously though does your son write stories in his own time or just for school etc?


has he got any particular topics he likes to write on? it helps for the Junior

Cert to know what you like, but to be able for any type of question that

comes up.



i presume he's doing higher for the JC, it's pretty easy tell him not to worry

about it but be prepared to write pages and pages and pages, which

essentially repeat what the page before said.

but he'll be grand.

If he is actually a good short-story writer then that should be encouraged independent of secondary school. Last thing you want is to associate creative endeavour with that sort of thing.

But if he's gifted, post a story. Otherwise it sounds a little like bragging.

Witcher

Karlusss wrote: »

Last thing you want is to associate creative endeavour with that sort of thing..

well he's going to need his creative endeavor when he's writing 6 pages of an essay on a sh1tty

topic for the JC :rolleyes:




:cool::cool::cool:

Witcher

DonJose wrote: »

Cathy, post one of his short stories here and shut up the begrudgers

+1




:cool::cool::cool:

camroc

Hi Cathy, congratulations on your son! Just thought I'd bring to your attention an article that might be relevant to you.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids&print=true

The jist of it is that when complimenting your son on academic achievement, you should focus on the work he puts into something rather than his natural intelligence. Some kids of extremely high intelligence can be afraid to try out new challenges for fear of not being instantly brilliant at them. Children/teenagers need to be told that the effort put into anything (especially schoolwork) will be more closely linked to the results than how naturally smart they are.

Oh one other thing, if you're going to post some of your son's work on boards, you should probably ask his permission first! I don't think I'd have wanted my Ma posting any of my school essays online. Then again he might like the exposure! All the best!

desmondkenny

[EDIT: I will not tolerate pointless abuse like this. I'm not banning you only because the rest of your post was a welcome contribution. I won't do it again.
-Sarky]

Cathy - I would love to read some of your son's writing - I'll happily let you know in a completely non-biased fashion if it's any good, if it can be improved (and how) and if it's good enough for writing competitions.

I started out just like him and I am now several chapters into my first book. I also (thanks to a brilliant and very influential leaving cert english teacher) studied arts in NUIG, and went on to do a masters in writing. I grew up surrounded by books as my father was a bookseller (as is my uncle and my grandfather, my godfather is a book binder, my other uncle runs an art gallery and my great uncle was one of the most famous Irish authors of the last century).

The big dog as far as writing competitions go is the fish competition - http://www.fishpublishing.com/ - though the deadline for this year has come and gone. I would recommend getting a hold of the book they release every year to get an idea of the quality of the winners. Then he can prepare a story for next year's competition.

I would also recommend that you buy him three books:
-The writers' and artists' yearbook 2008 - it has a list of competitions and publishers which is more up to date than you would get anywhere else. It also has some useful articles on writing.
-The elements of style by Strunk and White - this is the writer's bible as far as grammer and style goes
-On Writing by Stephen King. This is absolutely essential reading. No book equals it for good solid advice on writing, with absolutely none of the BS you get in other books of the same topic. It is also a beautifully written book and a great biography of one of the most successful authors of all time.

I hope this helps

Much encouragement to your son,

Des

cathy01

Thanks for that.I am hoping he can type up something for me, or even write it and Ill type.
I will pmyou,thanks for the help and advice.Cathy

desmondkenny

Have him type it - if nothing else, he needs to learn how, when and where to type - it's like learning how to walk if you're thinking of running marathons in the olympics.

maninamousesuit

You are doing the right thing. Get him to get used to writing and taking criticism. There is a good site for this called deviantart.com Both my 17 year old and I are on it. It also is a good way to store his work. They are mainly young people on this site but there a few (ahem) older people. Also look up poetryireland and read their competition page.
We started this last year and my lad has already won one or two competitions. He also got published in a local rhyme rag in Kilkenny.
What we do is get a list of upcoming competitions and he decides which of his poems we will send out. It has become a family affair because his doting gran gives him large envelopes and books of stamps, and i gave him a briefcase to keep his work in order.
Ignore all those who speak ill.
You are right to encourage and help.
The maninamousesuit has spoken:D
feel free to contact me beardymouse@yahoo.ie

cathy01

Thanks for that.He has been unwell for a while and I hope to get him sorted.€250 to see a DR.Maddness, maybe whe hes older and a successful writer he will pay me back.

thanks again,cathy

cathy01

just an update on this.Maybe it is bragging...
Hes going into TCD for some award....€100 scholarship ...
hes nearly finished his 2nd year in school.I heard he won some other writeing competition..€500 but I am waiting to hear this for sure...before we spend it.
To all that gave advise, thanks, I took it.Hes doing well, not pushing him to much...just the odd nudge..re maths etc.
I am delighted...
cathy:)

Georgiana

Dear Cathy

I wish you and your son all the best. Only from one mother to another ..dont lose sight of the fact that your dreams and ambitions for him may not be his dreams and ambitions for himself. I believe that a mothers role is to nurture in the son or daughter whatever potential they have that also fulfills their own needs / dreams/ desires / ambitons.

Its not so unusual for a 15 year old to be a very good writer so dont raise your expectations too high, for both your sakes. It is a very tall order to be called 'gifted' and raises the pressure bar very high for your son at a vulnerable age. I would get the advice of an educational psychologist before I would use that word, especially to him. 'Gifted' implies very significantly better than the average and by defintion its not that common. Dublin City University has services for gifted children I think which you might be able to check out.

Also, I do agree with your positive philosophy in general. However in real independent life, which is not so far away for a 15 year old, we all need to learn that our efforts and performance can be good, fair, and not so good in comparison with others. Nobody is perfert all the time in every way. Real maturity comes when we realise that and can handle it. A teenager who is always told everything he does is great is cushioned a bit too much from reality and may find it hard to to work effectively in teams at college or in the workplace, allowing everyone to shine in their own way.

Good luck. I know its tricky being a Mum. And I do hope your son has a great future in front of him.

davyjose

cathy01 wrote: »

Thanks for that.He has been unwell for a while and I hope to get him sorted.€250 to see a DR.Maddness, maybe whe hes older and a successful writer he will pay me back.
thanks again,cathy

This is the sentence that worries me Cathy. I'm not going to tell you that you sound like your bragging (although it does seem needlessly conceited), but I do think you run the risk of putting undue pressure on your child to succeed. This business takes a hell of a lot more than just talent; it's not the sort of business that you can predict success in, and it can be more a case of who you know, rather than what you know (if you don't believe me, look at towards certain former Taoiseach's daughter).
Assuming your son is a prodigious talent, he still has a long way to go before he makes it. Statements such as the above won't do him any favours.

cathy01

ah I think I have the balance right.For now Im happy to watch him chase after girls, dye his hair, normal teenager stuff but also encourage without putting pressure on him.
I am very aware of the need for balance to everything inc study, life and love.
He is doing great , but does still need to work at other subjects.This can be difficult for a person who finds one subject very easy and the other very hard.So it is difficult to get things right.I do wish children came with a manual , I am not a pushy mam, just a proud one.
Cathy

tbh

Hi Cathy - have you ever heard of Ireland's Own magazine? They publish a lot of short stories. You remind me of my mam, problem is, I don't have any talent

davyjose

cathy01 wrote: »

ah I think I have the balance right.For now Im happy to watch him chase after girls, dye his hair, normal teenager stuff but also encourage without putting pressure on him.
I am very aware of the need for balance to everything inc study, life and love.
He is doing great , but does still need to work at other subjects.This can be difficult for a person who finds one subject very easy and the other very hard.So it is difficult to get things right.I do wish children came with a manual , I am not a pushy mam, just a proud one.
Cathy

That's cool. As long as your just as proud of him if he never gets published.

Best of luck

skateing dragon

No offence Cathy, but this thread just seems to be an update on a 'genius' sons work which any of us are yet to read. Although it's great that you support your sons talent (my parents couldn't give a flyin f**k about my writing) I don't see the point in dedicating a thread to this mysterious writer simply because you claim he is amasing. I think you have gotten the praise and help you needed so I think this should be closed.

RATM

Cathy, one thing that might really help him out at that age is to improve and expand his vocabulary. The traditional way of doing this is by reading a lot and having a dictionary on hand.
But another way ( if he has email? ) is to go to www.dictionary.com and sign up for their 'Word a Day'. They'll email you a new word everyday, with explanations of it in different contexts and examples of it being used in published work.

Its really handy, I save the emails of the words I like or think I might use and look them up now and again to refresh my mind.

One of my favourites was a few weeks ago, the word Tarradiddle which means pretentious nonsense or a petty falsehood:-

Other amendments, such as a chef at the birthday party, a dancing bear in the hunting scene, and a brief solo for the usually pedestrian Catalabutte, seemed more capricious, and the synopsis suggested further changes had been planned but perhaps found impractical. Some tarradiddle with roses for death and rebirth also necessitated different flowers for the traditional Rose Adagio.
-- John Percival, "The other St Petersburg company", Independent, November 22, 2001

JumpJump

Tarradiddle

If I were reading a book and this word popped up I'd stop reading immediately.

An Sionnach Rua

tl;dr

Why don't you post something of his?

cathy01

thanks all for the replies.If I get two mins I will try and post something.
cathy