The Seven Steps to Writing Success Program

Small Kids Need Small Chunks

The Seven Steps Program takes its concept from the way we learn sport. Take tennis. First we learn the individual skills - forehand, backhand, serve, volley and smash. THEN we put the skills together to play a game.

Yet in schools we often ask students to 'write me a story' – in other words play the 'whole tennis match'. Hence they struggle.

In hundreds of schools across Australia and the USA, the Seven Steps program has children challenging and encouraging each other to write, and the NAPLAN scores are flying.

Here are the Seven Steps to Writing Success:

Seven Steps story graph

Step 1: Plan for Success

A joke, a movie, a TV sitcom, a book and a great story - what do they all have in common? They all follow the same 'story graph'. Start with a bang, slowly build up the tension and end on a real high point.

Step 2: Sizzling Starts

Start where the action is. Not at the beginning of the day where nothing is happening. Begin when the volcano starts oozing lava or as you walk in the door to the big disco competition.

It has already made a huge difference to the children’s writing. The excitement that it has generated has been amazing! As for the story graph I am seeing it everywhere!!!

Step 3: Tightening Tension

You must believe the hero (male or female) will fail. The tornado is too strong, the villain is too evil, the black forces of depression are too overwhelming. Yet, through strength, talent and determination, somehow our hero wins.

Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue

Think of dialogue as a mini play in the story. Let your characters walk, talk or even stalk - that's how we get to know them.

Step 5: Show, Don't Tell

If I tell you I am generous, do you believe me??? No way. But if I buy all 20 raffle tickets to help cancer research, are you more convinced? Actions really do speak louder than words.Seven Steps drawing

Step 6: Ban the Boring Bits

Everyone gets up, gets dressed, travels to school...it's not exactly exciting. So why write about it? Ban all mention of the 'boring B' words - beds, breakfast and bus trips. Think like the movies, the heroes never travel, they just arrive...

Step 7: Exciting Endings

Would you tell a joke without knowing the punch line? If you want to build to a big climax you have to know where you are heading.

Seven Steps Teacher Manual

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