TIP ONE
The first rule of writing is to remember that sometimes it's hard work, but most of the time it's great fun! When you write a story of your own, you can invent the characters and take them on adventures you could never go on yourself. They can do anything with a stroke of your pen, or a tap on the computer keyboard. Your imagination is the only limit. You can create whole universes, if you want to.
    Pick up a pen and paper, or sit down in front of your computer and just do it! Sometimes it's hard to get started but after the first few words, it gets easier. Hopefully, you will begin to "see" the story unfold in your mind, and then you're off and running. 

TIP TWO
Write about what you know, or what you're interested in. If you like ghost stories, then write them. If you like action, then have a go at that. If you know a lot about dogs, then write an adventure story about dogs. If you like horses and ponies, you could write about a riding school. If you like music, then invent your own rock band. No matter what the subject, if you like it, you will find it's easier to write about.

TIP THREE
Ideas, ideas, ideas!!! Start collecting story ideas. Write them down in a little notebook as you think of them, so you don't forget them. Ideas can hit you anywhere - you can be at school, walking down the street, talking to someone, or even be just about to go to sleep. If you write them down when you think of them, you'll always have a good story idea when you come to write a story for school, or want to write something in your spare time.
    Some of my best ideas have come from chance comments that people have made, or something that I've seen. The idea for my book "Bargains From Outer Space" hit me one morning when I switched on the T.V. and it wasn't tuned to a channel. I saw the static and immediately thought how weird it would be if the T.V. suddenly began to pick up a home shopping channel from outer space on that frequency. I wrote the whole book around that one idea.

TIP FOUR
Let's suppose you have an idea, and you sit down and begin to write it. Should you be too fussy about the spelling and punctuation at first? No! Get the story down on paper, or type it out quickly on the computer. Let the story "flow". Don't interrupt yourself with worries over whether you've got a word right or not, or whether a comma should go here or there. The creative part of your brain is in control. Some people call this your "right brain". Let it do its stuff. Let yourself get carried away with the excitement of what you are writing. When you have finished, this will be your "first draft".
    After you've finished your first draft, go back to the beginning of your story and re-read it. Let your "left brain", the part of your brain that is good at finding mistakes, have a go. Look for spelling and punctuation mistakes. Read parts of the story out loud to yourself. Are you happy with it? Does the story sound like you wanted it to? Have you accidentally left any important parts out? Do you have any extra ideas you want to add in? Slowly go back over the story and keep going over it until you are happy.
    With some stories I write, I finish them in only two or three drafts. Those are rare, though. Mostly I have to go over a story lots of times before I'm completely happy with it. Especially the longer ones. Then, of course, when I send my books to my publisher, there are always more changes for me to make before the book finally gets published. This is hard work, but it's still a lot of fun to see the book develop!

TIP FIVE
Be brave and show the stories you have written to as many people as you can. Parents, teachers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends. Ask them what they think of your work and in this way, you will be able to improve your writing skills.
    DON'T be upset or discouraged if someone says they don't like your stories, or find them boring or whatever. It's very important to remember that different people like to read different stories and if you keep on writing, you will find that lots of people will love your work, but some just won't enjoy what you are writing about.

TIP SIX
Try to find time to read lots of other people's stories. Go to your local library and hunt out stories on the web - though always do this with an adult's permission and get someone older to check the websites you want to visit.Reading other people's stories helps you think of your own. I don't mean you should copy other people's stories, or story ideas - NEVER do that! I mean that through reading, you will fire up your imagination. You will also decide what type of stories you like best, and what styles of writing you like best.  You will learn to tell the difference between good and bad writing, and take some of those skills into your own work.
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I hope that some of these tips have helped you. Remember though, different writing methods work for different people. What works well for me might not always work for you. Good luck with your writing and remember,
good readers make good writers!
 

Heather Hammonds.
July 2004.

Copyright 2004: Heather Hammonds.
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