tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post791195534336268194..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: 5 Tips for Finishing Your First DraftStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-45032343524713890112016-01-26T10:32:00.369-06:002016-01-26T10:32:00.369-06:00THANK YOU!!!! Thank you, thank you! This is exactl...THANK YOU!!!! Thank you, thank you! This is exactly what I needed!! I have a really hard time actually WRITING my book. Hopefully this will help me a lot.Lexinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-52043854127559819812015-04-06T18:41:00.359-05:002015-04-06T18:41:00.359-05:00I'm an extreme edit-as-I-go type person, tryin...I'm an extreme edit-as-I-go type person, trying to write a first draft without looking back. It's rough! I've spent all my fourteen years of life starting things and editing them into nonexistence. Also, I tried doing The Marshall Plan - you know, plotting my whole book out and everything - but it didn't work for me. <br />Somewhere on this site, I saw a thing about keeping a notebook full of edits for your first draft. That's a great idea! I am going to do it. ;D<br />You have an answer for every one of my HELP! questions. Thank you!<br />Maddy, Teen Writernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5928310395423686742014-05-26T20:38:10.689-05:002014-05-26T20:38:10.689-05:00I'm no professional, but I'd say that, if ...I'm no professional, but I'd say that, if you've been doing this for a while, just stop all the world-building and start writing. You'll never write anything if you're always afraid of screwing up. Like this quote I read recently, "Everything you want is on the other side of fear." In order to write a good story, most writers have to write a sucky first draft. And that's OK. Just write away, and you can take care of the mistakes later.<br />If writer's block is a problem, I'd suggest writing in ten-minute increments or so, forcing yourself to write whatever comes to mind, no matter how crazy. You never know what might spark your imagination in a brilliant new plotline.<br /><br /><br />Alexa Skrywer<br />alexaskrywer.blogspot.comAlexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36348637565697083792014-05-21T14:26:20.070-05:002014-05-21T14:26:20.070-05:00sadly, I have tried to write a book three times an...sadly, I have tried to write a book three times and failed three times. I am trying to work on structuring my characters this time and I'm having trouble choosing plot structure. I have been using both as an excuse because I am afraid I will mess up again. how much work is enough before I should really start writing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-68554425212269890632014-05-19T20:10:56.264-05:002014-05-19T20:10:56.264-05:00Totally relate to the squirrels! Mine is Pinterest...Totally relate to the squirrels! Mine is Pinterest and music. I just love to rock out to my favorite bands and not have to write at the same time. <br />But I'm also celebrating now! A poem of mine was accepted for publication for a student writing anthology. So yeah, I'm pretty psyched.<br /><br />Alexa Skrywer<br />alexaskrywer.blogspot.comAlexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-59051980275319988722014-05-17T20:41:37.755-05:002014-05-17T20:41:37.755-05:00Oh ouch yes! I need to get rid of my squirrels! I...Oh ouch yes! I need to get rid of my squirrels! I listen to music on Groovshark while I write, I notice a song I like is playing and go to turn it up. Then I hear I line from it I am dieing to find on Pinterest so I can pin it. Then I check my email to see if anyone else repinned it....... Just one bad cycle. I need to turn my wifi off every time I write in order to not get distracted. Thanks for the reminder! I am headed to work on not getting distracted....... hopefully. Melody Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834931983443465648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85889204964711280532014-05-17T09:46:58.008-05:002014-05-17T09:46:58.008-05:00You could use it for anything really. School, work...You could use it for anything really. School, work, projects. Anything that you don't want to be distracted while working on ^^ That's why I named mine 'Serious Stuff' instead of just 'Writing stuff' XDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11035503887636892821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48682982276197193032014-05-17T00:38:10.617-05:002014-05-17T00:38:10.617-05:00I used to have that too, Alea. Then I tried to rea...I used to have that too, Alea. Then I tried to really 'get into' and think about and work with one story. Now with all the work I've done, I don't want to go and do it over with another story, even if it sounds better. :) I hope you can do that too. Sofia Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03703884443937255154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-6090749295667886702014-05-16T19:36:04.081-05:002014-05-16T19:36:04.081-05:00I think I can use this for life in general right n...I think I can use this for life in general right now, too, Mrs. Morrill. Thanks. This was very thoughtful. :)<br /><br />As for me and my writing, I've been doing pretty well. Didn't write today because this afternoon I had some weird insane level of dizziness for hours, which was pretty miserable, but I have been doing well recently. I figured out I can't let myself off the hook for more than a few days or else I let writing go over...and over...and over and before I know it, it's been a month since I wrote. Oops. So I've been trying to stay on top of that.<br /><br />Side note: My family yells "SQUIRREL!" like that alllll the time, so I'm very familiar with the phrase ;)Amanda Fischernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56558502804673488912014-05-16T19:33:17.564-05:002014-05-16T19:33:17.564-05:00Wow, making a whole other user account is a very.....Wow, making a whole other user account is a very...original idea! I'm not sure I can do that (I don't have my own computer), but it's still cool.Amanda Fischernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-57227532857153440542014-05-16T18:26:57.327-05:002014-05-16T18:26:57.327-05:00Wow, I needed this!! Currently, I have given mysel...Wow, I needed this!! Currently, I have given myself permission to plot & plan, but not to write. I have finals coming up and term papers due. (Thanks a lot Professors!!) Now off to read Jill's blog post!! :)Tichel Reviewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06149257227958601087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28035230903582091252014-05-16T18:22:53.802-05:002014-05-16T18:22:53.802-05:00Good timing on this post!
I struggle with getting ...Good timing on this post!<br />I struggle with getting an idea that I love enough to finish, as well as procrastination.<br />My squirrels are probably the internet, my phone, and other things I want to do more than write.<br />Now that school's almost out, I should have time to build up a writing routine!!!!!!!<br /><br />Katienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-38768433699991261502014-05-16T16:30:50.365-05:002014-05-16T16:30:50.365-05:00Thank you Mrs Morrill for that amazing post!My str...Thank you Mrs Morrill for that amazing post!My struggles are selfdoubt and after reading an amazing book,my own ideas start to sound extremely boring.But thanks for the encouraging post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-63864170227453786172014-05-16T15:18:17.834-05:002014-05-16T15:18:17.834-05:00I'm trying right now to finish my first draft ...I'm trying right now to finish my first draft of my WIP. I am soooo close to being done. Only a couple chapters worth left. And I can feel myself wanting to slow down. To procrastinate since "It's almost done anyway". But I'm not going to. I'm going to keep working at it and not start any of these awesome new ideas I've got until it's done. Maddie Morrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10881137664211550244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-69833049042222693232014-05-16T12:28:07.098-05:002014-05-16T12:28:07.098-05:00Such an encouraging post. Good to remind myself th...Such an encouraging post. Good to remind myself that not every word I write needs to come out perfectly. I'm allowed to screw up and press that backspace button as many times I need. :)<br /><br />Write now, I've a got a new story idea. It took a looonnngg time for it to come because of all the "life" stuff. But now it's here, and I love it and am excited about. I'm in the "honeymoon" phase I think, where all my characters are behaving, the plot is layering itself nicely, and I'm caught up in the story world once again. My biggest "squirrel" can be this phase in of itself. Because sometimes I love my story building/brainstorming phase so much that I don't want to even write it. I just want to research it, post pins on Pinterest about it, and stay up late plotting it in my head. But I know that pretty soon, I'm just going to need to sit down and write it. Those first couple paragraphs are some of the scariest to write, because that's when I realize that I'm out of that honeymoon phase and in the "let's get down" to business phase. It's both intimidating and exhilarating at the same time. ;-) Clarebearhttp://unitedinhislove.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-2618078808948553072014-05-16T10:55:23.094-05:002014-05-16T10:55:23.094-05:00My usual writing routine involves interrupting mys...My usual writing routine involves interrupting myself with Facebook, email, and Pinterest every couple sentence or so. BUT THAT WORKED FOR ME. But I didn't stay on pinterest for hours. Usually I barely even looked, I just changed the tab for two seconds and then went back to writing. That's probably NOT the best way to write, so if you're really easily distracted and STAY distracted, please please do not try that, or I'll feel bad XD<br /><br />But anyway, the other day, I realized that I was getting distracted TOO much and I wasn't writing hardly anything. So, to get away from the squirrels, //I made a whole new user account on my laptop.// I named it 'Serious Stuff' and if I'm having a hard time staying focused on my manuscript, I switch user from my main account(I don't make myself close everything and LOG OFF, I just switch user) and I go to the other account and I ONLY open my manuscript. No email, no blogs, no facebook, no nothing. I only have my manuscript open and it makes me write. Then, after I write a page or two or a chapter, I allow myself back on my main account for a few minutes as a reward. It's working great for me and I love it. <br /><br />As for being accountable, my mom helped me with this a while ago and at the time, it didn't even pertain to writing, but I've applied to to almost every area of my life. It's also good for strengthening your character XD<br /> First: You're a trustworthy person, right? You would die rather than lie to your best friend or break a promise to her, right? <br /> Second: You would feel betrayed and let down if your best friend lied to you or broke a promise to you right? So you are a trustworthy person, AND you would hate it if someone was untrustworthy to you. <br /> <br /> So make promises to yourself //and keep them.// You'd keep a promise that you made to someone else, and you would expect someone else to keep a promise they made to you, so give yourself the same respect. Promise yourself things and make yourself keep those promises. Sometimes they're hard. A couple weeks ago, I promised myself I wouldn't eat chocolate until I finished my first draft. I'm probably not going to finish it for several more weeks. I WANT CHOCOLATE SO BAD RIGHT NOW. But I can't break my word to myself, because I want to be a person of my word. <br /><br />*gets off soap box* okay that's my speech, I hope it helps someone XDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11035503887636892821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-31078656996216640572014-05-16T10:54:09.097-05:002014-05-16T10:54:09.097-05:00Aw, Stephanie, thank you so much!! I really needed...Aw, Stephanie, thank you so much!! I really needed to read this today. Stephanie Kehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04081484352266653615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40382950423359211662014-05-16T10:44:50.848-05:002014-05-16T10:44:50.848-05:00Thank you so much for this post, Mrs. Morrill! MY ...Thank you so much for this post, Mrs. Morrill! MY struggle is definitely reading AMAZING books {for instance- Mrs. Williamson's Blood of Kings series, Lord of the Rings :) } Also, the "rough" part of the first draft- I'm a perfectionist :) I haven't finished my first draft yet, bet everything still applies to me, if not more :) Aaaah, Pinterest- SO many pins about writing........and everything else possible :) Once I start writing, I'm fine, but I have to get off before that. Sometimes I will leave it in another room, and I will not get it until I'm finished :) kind of like a reward!! Again, thank you SO MUCH for this post!! GoTeenWriters is such an encouragement to me :) and when those days come along when I don't know what to write- I can look on here on how to kill characters and other wonderful writing stuff >:) <br /><br />Emily Emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-54273501917997596142014-05-16T10:13:57.174-05:002014-05-16T10:13:57.174-05:00oh my word, this was EXACTLY what I needed to read...oh my word, this was EXACTLY what I needed to read today. I'm at the final 30,000 words of my rough draft and while I've finally figured out this go around to write a bad rough draft I'm struggling with some inbetween chapters. My reward for finishing them will be to finish the final chapter (oh how I am longing for that one). Saving this. THANK YOU!Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01735663549830277590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-60952110166903187992014-05-16T08:43:52.130-05:002014-05-16T08:43:52.130-05:00These are great tips, Stephanie! Every time I find...These are great tips, Stephanie! Every time I find a video I'd like to watch or an article I want to read, I tell myself that I can't look at it until I have finished at least one scene/chapter. I don't know how I would motivate myself to meet my daily goals otherwise, especially with so many distractions circulating around on the internet. =)<br /><br />Tessa<br />www.christiswrite.blogspot.comTessa Emily Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08625256104634830104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84122257119744921952014-05-16T08:30:56.359-05:002014-05-16T08:30:56.359-05:00Wow. Thank you, Mrs. Morrill! This post was just...Wow. Thank you, Mrs. Morrill! This post was just what I needed, and I found it such a blessing. I read, ". . . or a strained friendship is weighing you down." That's me. ;) I participated in Camp NaNo, and had my word-count set to a goal of 30K; I reached it with almost two weeks left to go, and was aiming for 40K. My friendship troubles climaxed three days after I reached the 30K, and in the days after that for Camp NaNo, barely made it to 34K. I haven't written anything in my first draft since then. Struggling with the friendship problems - especially since they came because of my writing (they don't agree with the Christian romance in my book) - has been really hard, and I know I need to get back to writing; yet I just feel . . . stuck. <br /><br />"Please remember there's a time to have grace with yourself" stood out to me. :) It's difficult, and I want to move on; I hope to move on very soon.<br /><br />Thank you again for the post! It came as an encouragement to me. And a great inspiration! :)Patience Bledsoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-21569459515504195062014-05-16T08:15:03.541-05:002014-05-16T08:15:03.541-05:00I haven't had time to write, lately (thank you...I haven't had time to write, lately (thank you, dear teachers. I appreciate it. Not). I'm planning to do CampNaNo in July, but I'm not writing a first draft right now. But still these points are valuable, especially number #2. It really works!<br /><br />arendedewit.blogspot.comArende de Withttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08143950359368928929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84474986537593385032014-05-16T08:00:20.104-05:002014-05-16T08:00:20.104-05:00I am struggling because I keep getting story ideas...I am struggling because I keep getting story ideas. I start one, and then don't think that its The One. Then, I come up with another idea and the process starts over.Alea Harpernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49584832376334965072014-05-16T06:16:55.633-05:002014-05-16T06:16:55.633-05:00This may have been exactly what I needed today. I ...This may have been exactly what I needed today. I just have to write a few more chapters to finish my CampNaNoWriMo draft, but I'm struggling so much now that April is over. I keep getting frustrated over how messy and unstructured it is, but I think I just need to remind myself that it's a draft. It doesn't matter if it's sloppy. At least, not yet... Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com