Teen Writing Tip

It is interesting to see how school used to be. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Okay summer is over and now school is ready to begin.  Maybe it’s already started for some of you.  I’m in the same boat as you.  Tuesday is the first day of school and on the 9th my students return.  So what are your writing goals for the coming year?  Did you meet your summer goals?  Great it you did and if you didn’t don’t worry about it.  You’ve got the whole year in ahead of you.

Create a writing schedule around your school schedule.  Remember to create goals that are easy to meet.  Even one to two hours a day of focused writing will make a difference.

Have a great year and remember to keep writing!

Teen Writing Tip

School is coming up or for some of you it may have already started. Why not make a writing goal for yourself early this year?  Writing contests will be coming up and you don’t want to miss out of a great opportunity.  I will do my best to research and post scholarships.  I know there are  scholarships few that have deadlines early in the school year.

Writing Tutorial #3 (Photo credit: topgold)

When you enter contests make sure that your writing is ready to be shared with someone before you submit your work.  The rule of three seems to work for me.  Show your writing to three people.  You can also check out and see if your local library or independent bookseller has a writing group.  Writing groups help you keep focus and set deadlines.

Teen Writing Prompt 574

A blue-themed birthday cake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yesterday was my birthday and I didn’t do too much.  I went to see a movie with my sister, shared birthday cake with my parents and twin sister, and then we went out to dinner.  I take that back I guess I actually did a lot. It’s just that sometimes we have hugh expectations about how things should be sometimes. This year has been rough.  A friend of my died suddenly, Jamila was only 35 years old and a few other things arose.

Each year when my birthday comes around I realize that being alive is something we should be grateful for because so many people die young.  One of my students died this year; he was 17 years old. Instead of wanting a list of things I wish for a healthy stress free life and I do wish that my writing will become something meaningful that I can share with everyone

Write a poem about what your birthday brings.  It’s okay if you have a list of things you want.  That’s what my list was when I was your age. I just evolve as you all do with each experience or event we go through.

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Teen Writing Tip

Cover of Devil in a Blue Dress

I just finished reading “Walter Mosley‘s latest novel All I Did was Shoot my Man. It’ not  YA novel but I think that it’s good to switch things up from time to time.  Walter Mosley writes detective novels.  I would mention the Denzel Washington film Devil in a Blue Dress but even that film is before your time.

The book I am writing is a cross between Walter Mosley’s novels and James Patterson‘s Alex Cross series, at least that’s what I am pitching.  It’s always good to find a way to pitch your book. Comparing it to a successful writer helps the powers that be, be able to image what your novel is like.  Also it helps them find a way to market it.

What’s your book like?  How would you describe.  Check out some book jackets and look at how other writers describe their novels and then use their models to help you write one for the novel or story that you’re working on.

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Teen Writing Tip

Screenwriting Pro Default Interface (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have a million things on my mind for this summer.  I want to finish my novel FINALLY. I have already forgiven myself for not finishing it earlier. Why beat myself up? It was a crazy and busy school year.  The key now is to make goals that are realistic and follow them.  I have two months off with the exception of working with the Writer’s Circle in Summit.  I am going to teach an intensive Screenwriting class.

I plan to read the notes for my latest draft of Bait, my novel.  After I do the rewrite and it’s out being proofed I will continue with the second book.  I outlined the book and plan to do a little of both.  I have a new supernatural book that will have to wait.  I am thinking about embarking on a non-fiction project, and that will be my last project.

Doing a million things at the same time will only end up with nothing done at all.  Set a goal for one of those projects that you have put off because you were too busy this past school year.  Don’t do more than two things at a time and have some fun.

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Teen Writing Tip

The three lead protagonists of Star Wars, from left to right: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

I remember the first female movie character that I admired.  It was Princess Leia from Star Wars.  I loved how tough she was and how he got the dudes out of trouble.  Growing up I use to watch old black and white TV shows where women would twist their ankle only to have a strong man have to carry her as they were chased by the bad guys. Along came Princess Leia and she helped to carry the guys.  And you can’t forget Ripley from Aliens who saved everyone from aliens.  Okay they basically all died but she was the one who lead the soldiers when they were too sacred to fight back.

 

There was Nancy Drew who had some guts too, geez how could I forget her?  Harriet the Sp Spy too.  For as long as I can remember I always longer for the strong woman as much as I wanted to grow up and be one! So think about who you are writing.  Who is this awesome gal?  Even if she has weaknesses and falls in love that sill doesn’t mean she had to be weak. Giving a character a weakness makes them human but just don’t make them weak.  Then again it would be interesting to see them evolve but remember that even Bella from Twilight has her strengths that went beyond being brave enough to date a vampire.

 

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Teen Writing Tip

I try to learn from others as I write my own novel.  At first I didn’t have a boyfriend character but soon a boyfriend evolved because the emerging love is one thing I love in YA novels.  The guy best friend who becomes a new crush is so endearing. The hot guy who would never notice you in a zillion years falls for you.  I just love those scenarios.

I love the weak characters who evolve to become stronger than they ever thought they could be. Look at some of your favorite books and borrow from them the things that make you love them as you write your stories.

Fiction Stacks (Photo credit: chelmsfordpubliclibrary)

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Teen Writing Tip

MidtownScholar Bookstore – interior (Photo credit: origamidon)

 

This summer I will be teaching a Screenwriting class for teenagers at The Writer’s Circle in Summit, New Jersey. Summer is a great time to check out programs at your local library and independent bookstores.  Bookstores don’t just sell books.  Independent bookstores have lots of book clubs and writing programs for kids and adults.

 

If you live in northern New Jersey check out Watchung Booksellers in Montclair and Words in Maplewood.

 

 

 

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Teen Writing tip

Picture of a generic composition book, with a marbled black and white cover. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One thing I do that helps me keep up with my blog and story ideas is my idea book.  I hate it when I am driving somewhere and an idea for a story pops into my mind.  I look around and most of the time can’t find any paper to write on.  I use to have a collection of menus and napkins with ideas on them but most of time those bits of paper would vanish into thin air.

Your local dollar store is the best way to go when searching for an idea book.  You can get a composition book in a range of colors for under two dollars.  I also buy a few books just in case.  So there you have it.  Go out and get an idea book so you can keep up with your awesome, amazing creative mind.

Teen Writing Tip

A Writing Kind of Day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I just looked over the Writer’s Digest 15 Tips for Writers  and I thought I’d add my own top ten list.

1. Don’t ever try to figure out what agents or publishers want.  This is one thing you will never figure out.  Just follow your instincts and go with that story that’s been bugging you to write it.

2. Write all sorts of stories.  Don’t think just because you’ve been writer one genre that, that means it’s all you can write.  Writers just write and that may mean one day they are writing a thriller and the next thing you know a horror books emerges from their creative minds.3. Write every day even if it’s just journaling.

4. Get feedback from your friends but you submit your writing.

5. Edit, edit, edit. Don’t be afraid to rewrite your work. Nothing is perfect the first time around.  All writing needs a little tweeking from time to time.

6. Don’t let anyone tell you that your story idea is no good.  I’ve known quite a few writers who let a teacher or friend discourage them from writing a story only to have their stories be written by someone else and became a big hit.

7. Sometimes it’s okay to take a break from a story because when you come back to it you’ll find you have a new take on the story.

8. Take a chance and enter your work in competitions.  Don’t let your wonderful work remain hidden away.

9. Learn from what works from other writers.  Read lots of different types of stories.

10. Don’t give up.