WRITING is a vital skill, yet in many Jamaican school curricula it is often not given the same priority as subjects like mathematics and reading, insists long-time teacher Paulette Lawrence after spending over 40 years in the classroom and attaining a master’s degree in education. Hoping to bridge the gap, Lawrence authored The Write Workbook: Building Creativity and Imagination to create “a practical and comprehensive resource that is designed to help learners build strong writing skills”, she says.

The way Lawrence sees it, many people assume that speaking a language and understanding its grammar, punctuation, and spelling naturally leads to good writing. In The Write Workbook she challenges this assumption, demonstrating that effective writing requires much more, and emphasising the importance of nurturing creativity, developing imagination, and mastering essential writing techniques — all elements that are too often overlooked in the traditional curricula.

The workbook analyses key elements of the writing process, including descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive techniques. Each is broken down into clear, manageable steps, with numerous exercises and guided activities to help learners apply each concept, she points out.

Driven by a deep passion for reading and writing, Lawrence spent seven years thoughtfully developing this resource, ensuring that it is both comprehensive and engaging. She reinforces each lesson through original stories included throughout the workbook, many of which draw on culturally relevant Jamaican experiences.

Paulette Lawrence, teacher and author

At the same time, the book incorporates universally known stories, fables, and illustrations, making it accessible to a wide audience and reflecting the Jamaican motto, “Out of Many One People”. For example, after outlining how to write a personal narrative, she presents an original story titled:
A Scary Experience, in which the main character, Patsy, is so frightened she takes off running, “making fast strides like Shelly-Ann Fraser”.

Dr Carolyn Hayle, CEO of Etalon Global Solutions Ltd, praises the book, saying: “The format used by the author makes it very easy for the user — over time and with continuous practise — to acquire the skills to write effectively on their own.”

Carolina Godines, a graduate from Holland College, Prince Edward Island, Canada, wished that she had access to such a resource during high school and even college, confessing: “I especially appreciated the hands-on practical exercises, which would have helped me sharpen my writing when I needed it most.”

By the end of The Write Workbook readers will have improved their ability to write descriptive essays, letters, personal narratives, short stories, poetry, and more, Lawrence suggests, whether they are students, teachers, or just “someone simply looking to enhance their writing skills”.

Lawrence’s aim is that The Write Workbook, which is available on Amazon, will become a staple in Jamaican classrooms and homes alike, alongside classics like The New First Aid in English and
New Junior English Revised, hopefully with the endorsement of the Ministry of Education, which is pushing reading.

The author currently offers creative writing workshops for both teachers and students, individual assessments, and tailored programmes through the Writers’ Plus Academy located at 28 Red Hills Road in Kingston, and can be reached at writersplusacademy@gmail.com