Calling all aspiring young writers! Everyone has a story to tell, and your voice is important! To me, writing is one of the best forms of self expression and helps you scream to the world about what’s important to you. There’s endless possibilities in writingyou can create a book that makes one laugh, cry, or take action. Your words have power, so why not go for it?
I encourage young writers to create a story that represents who they are and inspires on a greater level. Here are my writing tips and tricks for aspiring young writers that are ready to dive in!
Getting Started
Read books, poems, or stories by your favorite authors, and let those words spark ideas.This reading will help you figure out what topic you want to focus on in your book. It will also help you decide the writing style and genre of your book.
Keeping a journal for notes or brainstorming will also help. Write down anything that pops into your head—you might even stumble upon the perfect idea when you’re not expecting it.
Time to Brainstorm
To brainstorm topic ideas, start by answering writing prompts or what-if questions such as: “What if a young polar bear wanted to save her melting home? What would she do? Taking 10 minutes each morning to respond to these random prompts and questions will also give you a feel for the topics you like, so you can truly expand upon them in book form.
Think about characters, the world they live in, or little problems they’ll face—sometimes the best stories start with a tiny idea! Scribbling down little notes or questions will help you see the bigger picture.
Maybe you even have a book ending already and working backward may be what works for you. To me creating a plot for your book is all about connecting small ideas to a larger story, making it all harmonize in a book.
Who are Your Characters?
A little trick that worked for me when describing characters was to imagine them as friends. I thought of what they liked, disliked, what their quirks were, what they wanted to fight for, and more. This exercise helped me gain a clearer vision of my characters. Think about who your characters are, not what they do in the book. Try to create detailed identities for each one and maybe even write some dialogue to feel their character come to life. Try giving each character a small flaw or unique quality—even something as simple as being scared of heights—this is what makes your characters real and relatable and your book unforgettable.
Writing
Now it’s time to dive into your first draft! Let go of perfection and just write.Even though your first draft may be messy, it’s progress. Writing isn’t about being perfect the first time; it’s about letting your story flow.
Along the way, think about your book’s structure—do you want a one-day story or a journey over months? First-person or third-person narration? Long or short book? Through a first edit, be sure to correct grammar mistakes, refine ideas, clarify descriptions, and enhance dialogue.
Once you’re ready, ask friends and family for feedback. This feedback will give a new perspective of your book from a fresh set of eyes, helping you spot things you might’ve missed.
Additionally, don’t get discouraged if it takes you a long time to write. In this process, patience is key, but if you keep at it, there will be fruition.
Illustration
For aspiring illustrators, know that illustrations truly bring the story to life–especially in children’s books–and make it more engaging for the readers. Illustrations give readers a visual representation of the characters and scenes helping them see your vision. Sketch out your characters, focusing on expressions or little features that reflect who they are. Finding out what you want your characters to look like, will also help push along your writing, giving you newfound inspiration!
Last Steps
Be very thorough as you write, revise, and edit your work. Take the time to check every sentence to make sure it fully represents your vision and is a perfect book. Once your story and illustrations are ready, it’s time to publish! Self-publishing gave memore creative freedom, but both publishing routes are exciting paths to getting your book out into the world.
To all young writers: Keep creating, dreaming, and writing! Even if you’ve never tried writing before, just pick up that pen because you never know. Maybe the story you write could change someone’s life—or even change the world!
