- If you only sat down to write after reading other people’s books, what would you have to write about except, well, other people’s books? If you want to come up with your own stories, you also have to get out and experience things for yourself.
Try It: Imagine there’s a new girl in your class you want to get to know. Make a list of five (true) things you would tell her about your life that would get her interested in you. Now you have five things you can write about. Don’t have five things? Think of five things you would like to be able to tell someone about yourself, and start working on the list. Wanna tell someone that you tried out for your school’s soccer team – and made it? Wanna tell someone that you cook to the best macaroni-and-cheese (Yum!) ever? You can’t until you do it, so go out there and try!
- The main reason new writers can’t think of things to write about is because they aren’t looking at their own very cool lives – and everybody has experiences that nobody else does!
Try It: Sit down with your best friend (maybe over a plate of cookies!) and write down all the experiences that you have each had that the other hasn’t. (Have you been to New York City, but she knows how to water ski?) Those are all perfect things to write stories about.
- People often fall into the trap of thinking, “I have a boring life—I don’t have anything to write about.” If your life is boring, the thing that’s boring about it might just be the way you’re looking at it. Pay attention to what’s fascinating about ordinary, everyday life. That’s the stuff great stories are made of.
Try It! For one day, keep a list of everything that might possibly be turned into something interesting in your life. Is your little brother a huge handful? Do you have a dog/cat/turtle that’s truly spectacular? Is it common for your family to burst into song in a restaurant? You’ll be amazed at what you’ll come up with.
