ABSTRACT
People often take the ability to write for granted. For many, it is an everyday feature of life – from making lists to sending emails. It enables participation in social, cultural, economic and political life, but for those who cannot write, opportunities become more limited. Being able to write means being able to express one’s identity and to communicate thoughts, emotions and insights. Writing is profoundly creative. It allows writers to come to understand their own thoughts through making them concrete. Writing is deeply related to reading and spoken language. It is a complex process involving both composition and transcription and is a means of communicating and thinking through ideas, as well as being a creative and imaginative process. Writing is not always an individual act; it can also be social and collaborative. When teaching writing, talk is essential before, during and after writing process, especially to encourage critical conversations about aspects of language and their effects on the reader.
