Writing Tips
I want to give you 5 writing tips that have helped me lot.
(1) TIME TRAVEL, like I do.
The photo above is of me and my two younger sisters, Karen and Ellen. I am the oldest of three. I got lots of ideas for my books by remembering my childhood.
Look through your old photos. Listen to music you used to listen to. Visit your old neighborhood. Close your eyes and remember smells, tastes, sounds, holidays, secret places, funny days, happy days, scary days from your own life,- and write about them.
The next tip may sound very weird to you, and will need some explaining.
Here it is:
(2) DON'T THINK!
When you are writing, whether it be creative writing, just for yourself, or an assignment for school, or even a letter to someone, try to shut down that part of your brain that makes you think bad thoughts about your writing. DON'T THINK about criticisms from other people, or bad grades, or what will happen if you make mistakes. DON'T THINK about being perfect. Especially about being perfect, which leads me to my next tip...
(3) BE IMPERFECT.
You are supposed to be, as you work on your rough drafts. Be ready to change things, throw away, start over. That's what real writers do.
(4) FOOL YOURSELF.
Let's say you have an assignment, or a creative writing idea that you just can't get yourself to begin. FOOL YOURSELF. Tell yourself, "OK, all I have do is write one teeny sentence right now, or just one paragraph. That's all. Then I can take a break." You'll be surprised how just revving up the motor in your brain like that can get you in the mood to write.
Or let's say you have nothing to write about. Not one idea in your head. Write anyway. Write about anything, just to get the motor running. Write about not having any ideas. Write about what you wish you could really write about (if you were the teacher giving the assignment.) You will surprise yourself when the ideas start coming. Writing about anything is better than staring into space.
(5) KEEP A DOODLE-DIARY.
"Doodle" to me means writing about anything in any way you want. A diary can be different things to different people. Your diary can be in a secret, or not-so-secret book. It can even be on a tape recorder. After taping, you can choose to write it down later, or not. Or you can pretend your diary is a letter to someone like my character Lucy did in FOR YOUR EYES ONLY!
Whatever works for you!