YAWC: The Garden - Member's Writing Tips
Here is where you will find writing tips sent in by members of YAWC!
From: Crystal
Age: 11
Tip: If you need something to write about, try doing 'A Day in a Life of a _______' Choose a person, animal or object to write a story about the day in their life. Suggestions:
People: The president, movie stars
Animals: dog, fly, horse, cat
Things: scissors, toothbrush, pencil, flashlight
Let your imagination go wild!
From: Jo
Age: 12
Tip: When you are writing a story or poem don't force yourself to write. Let it come to you. If you wake up everyday and think, "I feel like writing," you're going to become a true writer.
From: Tami
Age: 11
Tip: Detail is good, but a) avoid repetition, and b) too much can get boring.
From: Jenn
Age: 9
Tip: When you're writing you have to feel as if you're the person, thing or animal you're writing about. Try and think like they would and use their mind and your creativity to make a fasinating story.
From: Ardious
Age: 15
Tip: If you're having trouble keeping your story interesting, I found this a good idea. Most novices try to just do a main plot problem. Well if you look at any good T.V. show, they have something called a B story, where there is also something not quite as important happening, but interesting enough to help the book, try adding a B and C story. You can really tell the difference.
From: Julia
Age: 12
Tip: It helps to keep a writing portfolio or journal. One reason is that it can improve your writing greatly because you write in it so often, even if you just write about your day. It also helps because you can get some inspiration for your stories from what you write in your journal or what you have written from past writings in your portfolio.
From: Phoenix736
Age: 13
Tip: Try writing a story without an outline. Just let your imagination flow. Then try re-writing the same story - you know what happens, but how else could you make it happen? Which works better?
From: Megan
Age: 12
Tip: Don't let anything stop you. Go on and do it!!
From: Di
Age: 10
Tip: To write a song, I mostly write about what's going on currently . . . it's real cool how the song ends up!
From: Misty
Age: 12
Tip: When I'm writing a poem, I choose a subject that I feel strongly about. Like a favorite animal or sport.
From: Heaven
Age: 11
Tip: Give yourself a mark. Do the same thing all the time. Like directors do. James Cameron, (director of Titanic) has a thing for feet. So if you watch the movie, you will be able to point out all the times he has the camera right on feet. (ie: Rose's foot at the beginning, the feet while dancing, ect.) Give yourself your own mark. Try it, it's fun!!
From:clint45
Age: 14
Tip: Never give up. No matter how much people put you down, try to striveto do your best. I know from past experiences. I have written many bad stories, and been criticized. Just remember to do your best.
From: Julia
Age: 12
Tip: Don't use the same wrod too much. Like, for example, if you are talking about people thinking, don't keep writing down "he thought, she thought, then she thought, after a while she thought..." because that gets monotonous and makes a story boring. When you start writing a story, poem, song, etc., don't worry about what you are writing in your first draft. When you are done with your rough draft, then take the time and revise it and change the words that are overused. Use your thesaurus. This will make your writing more interesting and fun for others to read!!
From: Centurion
Age: 15
Tip: When you are stuck on a name thinking, "what on Earth is a good name?" and ripping your hair out, just pick an object in the room. If it has an ordinary name rearrange the letters of the name and try that....In one of my stories there is a ship called the Luxoi Ranger- that is the name of the pen I was writing with at the time!!
From: Macen
Age: 16
Tip: Use personal experience in your stories. This gives you more of a variety of ideas. I'm not saying to write about something that happened to you, what I'm saying is if something interesting did happen to you, then have one of your characters in your story come across it. You can always change it however you like, but when you're stuck on details and explanations use details and explanations about your own life and work them into your story.
From: wackywriter
Age: 11
Tip: 1. Always write in past tense, never in present.
2. But, when in a speech, it is mostly in present tense.
3. When using certain words, remember to put them in the correct order, from past-present-futur Eg. Everything lay in my classroom- my feelings, my whole life, my destiny! Common error: my whole life, my destiny, my feeling! (present-future-past/present)
4. Never say, "I and my friends." It will always be, My friends and I." Always put yourself as the last person.
5. There is no such thing as "most dumbest, more dumber, etc." You cannot use more or most with words ending in er or est.
6. When writing a story where only one certain character expresses a large amount of emotion, try making it look as if it happened to you. Eg. My whole life crashed down when he left me sounds better than Jane's whole life crashed down when he left her.
From: Timmy
Age: 11
Tip: Stuck halfway through a story? Shouldn't be! Before you start a story, always do a "Skeleton". Write down: ~Beginning (Introduction) ~Middle (Problem) ~End (Solution)
BACK!
Email: Kristy; President of YAWC