Advice for a Teen Writer?

Makayla could publish her stuff on one of the online fiction web sites. She could get good feedback there. She may also find an editor, if she wants one.

Work closely with your high school English teacher. Some of the best advice as a teen writer (I’m now a 30something writer) was from my H.S. English teacher. I still remember it: “You have great talent, but you must learn the rules so that you understand how, why, and when to break them.” Plus, H.S. English teachers are aware of many contests and publications directed toward teen writers, and these activities are excellent venues for improving your work as well.

My favourite book on writing is Anne Lamott’s ‘Bird By Bird.’ It’s emotional and yet extremely practical – a nice combination. I’m a playwright and I use her exercises all the time.

Thanks for your advise! I am going to try and follow through with it to the best of my abilities. Somes though the clasicis give me trouble. If you want to check me out I have a blog http://www.punkiebrusterblog.blogspot.com

Keep a journal. I have found that writing just for myself has helped write for the public.
A few years ago I realized I needed to bone up on grammar, so I picked up books on English grammar, such as the Barron series available at most book stores. Working through the exercises was the best thing for improving my writing. And the last thing: keep writing.

Here’s one more idea: When you are stuck, start with a sensory detail, and see where the writing takes you. Explore. Read (I know it’s been said.) When you finish a piece, read it over and ask yourself what you want to know more about.

Want more tips? Go to Writer Advice, http://www.writingadvice.com and click on Writing Advice. There’s lots to explore in the e-zine.

Lynn
http://www.writeradvice.com

I don’t mean to sound like I’m just promo bent, but I have a whole blog on this…as I write a teen novel online at http://www.MaydenChronicles.com, I blog about the writing process. The idea is to get teens engaged in a good story, then help them see how the different story elements actually come together. Thanks for this…our teens need this kind of creative support.

hi im a teen writer and i would like to publish my writing but how?

All of these comments are worthwhile, Kiana, and you might also check out some of the publications here:
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/thebusinessofwriting/tp/Teen-Publications.htm
Best of luck to you!

hi, I’m a teen writer also and I loveto write and read, and do both on a daily basis. But whenever I start writing, I seem to get distracted by other ideas so I have a bunch of unfinished stories. Any way to help keep me on track?

Hi, Alex,

Some writers set goals for themselves, to finish a story by the end of the month, for instance. If you have any friends who also write, you might set deadlines for each other, promising to email a finished story by a certain date. Then set a date, about a week later, to meet to discuss the work. You could also set aside time each day to only work on old stories. So you work on an unfinished story every day for a half hour or an hour and then have time to write new stuff. It does take some discipline to finish things, but it’s well worth the effort.

Hope one of these ideas helps!

Best,
Ginny

Hello…
I am a senior in high school, but I am going to a community college in which I am having trouble with having focus on my papers.
I had asked my writer instructor for suggestions,but it seems like he doesn’t like me because he told me that if I didn’t want to be in school then I should go travel or drink a beer..
Which didn’t help at all it just made me feel like I had met the dead end of writing.
Is there any advice that would be helpful in having focus in a paper.

Dear Elisa,

That’s horrible! Sounds like he doesn’t want to be working at a college–probably he’d rather be drinking a beer or traveling–his attitude has NOTHING to do with you. Writing is a skill like any other; almost everyone can learn to do it competently. If you’re in high school taking college classes, you’re definitely someone who can.

Finding a topic to write about was always the hardest part for me, too, and it still is. When I’m writing an article, I have to stop and think, what’s the angle here? Why am I writing this? Why would someone read it? When writing papers, I was taught to start with an idea that I want to prove. I know it’s out of vogue now, but I learned to write the classic 5-paragraph essay: first paragraph, state your thesis and list three main arguments supporting it. Then write one paragraph supporting each argument (or more, if it’s a longer paper), then a paragraph restating your thesis and supports and ideally suggesting ideas for further thought. It’s very simple and boring, but it helped me think practically about how to structure papers. They might get longer and more sophisticated, but at heart, this is what you’re always doing: stating an idea, supporting it with arguments or examples, then summing up. (And actually, you did a short version of this in your question here.)

You might see if your college has a copy of Rules for Writers by Diana Hacker. It’s not perfect, but she does break down the writing process–and better than I’ve done here!

And is the writing instructor your professor, or someone who works in the writing center? If they’re different people, go to your professor and have him or her approve your thesis first. Then you know you have a strong foundation. From there, just make sure everything in your paper somehow supports this thesis. If it doesn’t, then cut it.

Hope some of this helps. Hang in there with your writing. Don’t let this one lazy person discourage you.

Best,
Ginny

I just wanted to Thank You!!!
It was very helpful of you to help me with this issue. It really made me feel like there is a path to enhance my writing skills.
I will try checking that book of Rules for Writers. I feel a great relief and once again Thanks a millions Ginny.
You really made my day.

I’m glad it helped! Good luck with your writing, and with the rest of the semester.

Best,
Ginny