Brilliant but can't write essays...

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Does anyone here struggle with writing? My 16 year old daughter is so bright, but has such difficulty getting what's in her head down on paper. It is not the mechanical act of writing, but the challenge of sorting and synthesizing all the information in her head. She struggles to distinguish essential information from details...Any clues on how I can support my kid?

Without pretence, I am an excellent analytical writer. However, I did not develop this skill until later (after middle & high school). Unlike mathematics/science, writing was not intuitive for me. In grade school, my bad handwriting (& it's still not so good!) was a detriment to writing, which is fairly common for Aspies. I was actually forced to write poetry, which I screaming hated. I know most neurotypicals use the 'free-writing' approach....does not work for me at all!

I might have an idea though. For me, before I write an article, paper, thesis or any manuscript, I storyboard it using PowerPoint slides. Use a structured format for your daughter: what's the premise of the essay? Then make a slide for each argument to support the premise, even using descriptive pictures and coloured fonts. Each slide has a title section, which effectively hones out those extraneous details. Use that PowerPoint as a template for her paper. She can even write the paragraphs on those slides. Could she then present it to you as a story?

She may have the ideas well entranced in her own mind, but she will need to imagine presenting that for the reader, much like an advert. Many/most Aspies are 'picture thinkers' which may not readily translate into words. If she is motivated, it will come. Writing develops with practice, so try to not to be too critical of her tries.

Oh, and Welcome to the Wrong Planet!

Thank you, Labpet, for your reply. I like the Powerpoint idea and will communicate it to my daughter. I am not hard on her for her writing struggles, in fact I sympathize and realize how frustrating it is for her. Her self-esteem is non-existent due to the fact that she feels she cannot write and will never be able to go to college. And she beats herself up terribly.

Oh, you tell her to please not feel badly. I can be sooo impatient with myself, which is always counterproductive. Just let her know that it will come over time with practice. No one writes a book in a day and every writer grapples with writers block every now and again. For me, ideas tumble out all at once - it is frustrating!

Look, not sure if this applies, but last summer I wrote a major manuscript. Whilst I did really well, I'd have those times when I'd stare at a blank screen Not sure why, but this video put it in perspective me, although this author just writes fiction. Here's Auntie Anne with writing advice.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw2KXX7WrOY[/youtube]

As a writing teacher, I can assure you that most people struggle with writing. Successful professionals do, too, which is part of why I'm employed (I also edit scientific grant proposals, and hoo boy, are some of them messes).

If she's good at explaining things verbally, try having her use speech recognition software and talking her essays first. Once she's got some raw material to work with, it may be easier to shape what she's saying so it flows well on the page.

I have difficulties writing some essays, but if it's a topic I'm passionate about, then I usually have no trouble at all.