Writing methods???

Question

I love to write. Stories, poems, songs. But, I want to be better at writing. I'm trying to find good writing methods I could use. I'm really really young and still in middle school (Yes, THAT young). I don't want to ask my english teacher for better methods because she's such a pain, and her method sucks. I really don't want to buy any books on writing eaither cause my mom will ask what it's for (she's really nosey) and I really don't want her to read any of my work. I know I'm being difficult but, please help!

Answer 1

http://www.poewar.com/articles/
this one can help

Answer 2

Number one, you're not being difficult...who told you that. You
have a right to complete privacy in your personal world of
writing or the right to gather a few other young writers
together to discuss all of your works. Each of you would
bring a poem or short story or song to the group. Each
person would listen to it and make comments on how they
think it could be improved. You also get to do this with
their works. It's very very helpful and will help your writing
as long as you remain open to constructive critics. See if
there are some of your friends that would like to get together
once a week or so for this process.. Your writing will get
better as you make it more concise and poignant, sticking
to the material you know best at first and then branching
out in your imagination. Write every day and don't forget
to mention unusual things that you've observed along with
your own feelings. Try to write one really intruiging or
interesting thing on each page and make the reader want
to read on.

Answer 3

"Sierra"

Hey!
Well, as an introduction, that providing you get the right answers, you've come to the right place!

First of all, you're not alone. Even those who we call good writers have problems as it's not always easy to get your thoughts onto paper. But most people would probably tell you to read in order to improve your writing skills. Read anything and everything you can! Even those little puns and slogans on advertisements that are all around you everyday.
Also, make a regular practice of listening to the radio and hear how language is being used.
Despite what your mum would think about the how-to books, I can say that there is no book that can tell you how to write. Writing is ant art and one that only you, as an individual, can muster and with the tools of every-day speech in different, in dialogue and dialect, in order to say what you want to.

There are the basic rules and basic guidelines that we universally use as writers, and that's punctuation and the art of speaking. That means you have to be able to speak what you're writing, comfortably.
Saying it like that seems complicated, but once you are completely familiar with all the punctuation signs and what they actually do to sentences, it becomes easier over time.
Becoming a good writer is not going to happen over night. As I said, even good writers have problems.

A tip, or a few:

As I told you to read anything and everything, while you are reading, keep an open mind and criticise what's in front of you. Arguing on paper is one of the best ways to show your pen that you have the courage!

Also, I don't know what your favourite genre of book is, but let’s just say that it's fantasy. Don't stick around looking for fantasy books to read them alone. Take up other genres because different ones have different ways of how to convey ideas. It'll do you good to see a range of writers, too.

When you write, notice how you find that you're never really happy with what's on the paper. Take time to go over your work, and over and over, if you must. There's nothing like diting your own work, it sharpens your grammatical insight.
Finally, never, ever fret about spelling mistakes and word definitions because that’s why dictionaries were invented!

_____________

I wish you all the very best, it’s nice to hear that someone so young is taking an interest into something rather more grown-up.

Best wishes,
~Jazmine

Answer 4

A journal. Something simple like a wire-bound notebook so that your Mom won't notice it. And then just write, just for you, just for fun, doodle in the margins, take whole pages for ideas to explore later, for words that you like, for quotes, for well formed phrases that you find, or even examples of really bad writing for you to dissect (what makes it bad).

Then, when you're on to something that you want to pursue, a story, a poem that you want to revise and edit (the basis of all good writing), in google you can create an account, with a password and save your stuff (under my services "Docs & Spreadsheets"). That way you can access your work from anywhere and no one else can (plus it's backed up).

E.B. White wrote one of the best books on writing ever. It's really tiny and I'm sure that you can find it at the library, either at school or the public library. A lot of people have written about writing (their techniques, disiplines etc.). My favorite is Ray Bradbury said that he vomits in the morning and cleans it up in the afternoon. Stephen King wrote a book called "On Writing" recently. I haven't read it as I don't think much of his prose, buy hey the guys prolific and sucessful. I'm sure that's at your local library, too.

All the best to you, follow your muse!

Answer 5

This is the method I teach to students

1) Before you start writing, read - at least two books - Classics.

2) Brainstorm on paper - anything no matter how silly it sounds. Fill a notebook with ideas if you want - just come up with lots.

3) Write the ideas on file cards one per card. Sit down at a table and start shuffling them around trying to create a story from them. Keep moving them - dont be afraid for it to sound silly.

4) Make an outline from those cards when you find something interesting.

5) Try to write a very very short story from that outline. Then write several more very very short stories from the cards. See which one lends itself to a longer work

6) Start doing character studies and analysis - back to the file cards. Write down anything you know about your characters - adjectives, habits, appearance, likes and dislikes, occupation, age, anything. Look in magazines and catalogs and cut out pics that resemble the character as you see them in your mind.

7) Back to the table. Start pushing the character cards around - see who rubs who and how -- Who likes who? Who hates who? Main character to main character - then main character to secondary character - then secondary character to secondary character. This will help you come up with subplots

8) Back to your outline. Plug in the subplots. It helps to use different color ink for each subplot. Easier to keep track fo them.

9) Come up with a kick tail first sentece that will draw your readers into the story.

10) Start writing.

It works for my students. Just make sure you dont skip the two classics - that is the inspiration that unblocks and inspires you. If you are still blocked, move onto something else. I have about 4 books on disks - started but it just wasnt the right time to write them for me. One goes back to when my 20 yr old son was a baby. Maybe I will finish it one day, maybe not. So far the mood hasnt struck me. And it is a great idea - never been done. Im just not ready for it yet. No shame in leaving something aside.

Good luck. Pax - C.

Answer 6

Free writing is when you just write for fifteen or twenty minutes. Sometimes the best ideas come out of free writes. Make an outline after that. I know that this sounds like a teacher telling you to do this, but trust me it works wonders.

Answer 7

Here's a list of very helpful "Writing Tools" by a professional writer named Roy Peter Clark.
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=103943

You may also want to take a look at
http://teenink.com/Resources/WritingR.html
I'm not sure what all they have there, but it looks like a lot of great links that might help you build your writing skills.

Best wishes!

Answer 8

use the reaserch report. it makes your Writing better