An adult to be an adult?

Question

I am 14 going on 15. I've got writer's block. I've got writer's block and even when I write it doesn't last very long, maximum fifteen pages. People have told me that I simply can't write as good as adults because I'm not one. I read and I read. I understand. Or do I? Adults and teenagers have read the little excerpts I've written and they tell me mostly positive things. Am I paranoid and simply just need the right idea for a story or do I just need to be an adult?

Answer 1

You don't have writers' block. People are right. You simply lack adult experience and therefore have less to write about.. What is wrong with 15 pages? Since when is writing short stories bad? That is a great way to cut your teeth on writing. That is how I teach students. I would recommend for now you get a nice sturdy black and white marble notebook and fill it with all kinds of thoughts. Doodle if you want. Cut out articles from the paper and paste them in. Then go back in and cross out all the junk and start trying to use some of the good ideas. Put them on file cards. Try to hook some of them together. Write some short stories or just fragments. Work on building your discipline as an author. Sit at the mall and write about people you see. Observation is very important. Describe a beautiful room you saw. A great car. Anything. The day you get your drivers' license, you aren't ready to drive in the Indy 500 and just because you can write doesn't make you ready for a novel. Build up to it. Give yourself some time to succeed and also time to fail. Grow and learn through trial and error.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

I am 15. I am a writer. You can write amazing revelations or you can write drivel. You're still writing. Don't let anybody tell you anything different.

Maturity does have a lot of play on the quality of your writing. But not some much adult experiences; teenagers like ourselves can understand well enough. Because you are asking this question and are worried about it shows that you ARE mature. Immaturity is paired hand in hand with its ugly twin Overconfidence. Modesty is a good way to go. It's not "If you got it flaunt it." If YOU know it's good, you don't need to constantly advertise. I've found this is an unrelenting trait of amateurity. They think they're the best. In actuality they suck. You're questioning your work. That would persuade me to think that it may be worth checking out!

And it's not even that immaturity doesn't have as much, or the wrong things, to offer. It's just a different audience you're pitching to. An acquaintance of mine has trouble getting published because they are CONVINCED their writing is amazing stuff that every TEEN should read. The stuff would be brilliantly received if offered to a younger audience! Everybody has something to offer. It may not be for every one. But until it is, work with what you've got, right?

Perseverance is also key. And it's just constructive critisim. You can choose to listen to it or not. "Give men your ear but not your heart." You can keep your own counsel, and yeah, any kind of advise will do good things for your work even if it's totally off the mark.

I also have a terrible problem with writers block. I've started a bunch of works and never finished any yet that are longer than a short story, although I'm trying really hard. It's all to do with plot. But anyway. Find something that works for you. Like Persiphone said, what's wrong with short stories anyway?

Answer 3

Saying that teens can't write is a lie. I could denounce our adultocratic society until Hell freezes over.

I am a teenage novelist and poet and yes, i get writer's block too. Pretty much every writer gets it at some point. You don't have to be an adult to write the best work of literature in the world, or perform the best song, or design the grandest chateau in the history of architecture. What counts is your natural ability and your motive to write.

I suggest that you write down possible topics. What's troubling you in life? What are your hopes, dreams, fears, etc.? That's the first step to writing, and your story should fall into place when you brainstorm. It helps to take a break from your desk and take a walk to think about it.

I pray that you are successful in overcoming writer's block! It's people such as you and I that will form the future citizens of our world and writing is an excellent way of proving that you don't have to be chronologically advanced to have a great mind.

Answer 4

You dont need to be an adult to produce good work. Since your max is like, fifteen pages, have you ever thought of just writing short stories? maybe longer just isn't your thing, thats what I think it is

Answer 5

the maturity that naturally comes with age will help you view the world as an adult and therefore, hopefully, write like one.