The hypothesis discussed in this article is that positive attention to the creative process with ample opportunity to write and tell stories and ideas will result in more competency in the skills of writing - and considerable more success and joy in the art of writing - than will the teaching of the skills per se in the early years. To nurture creativity in writing, the teacher of the primary grades must create situations in which each child can succeed in some respect, pose problems in which the challenges will allow for individuality, and talk with the child about what the child is talking about. For example, after a class has visited the zoo, each child could then do a take-off on an imaginary animal. (CK)