Words Out West
Tips for Young Writers
1. Read, read and read. Read everything you can: signs, cereal boxes, newspapers, magazines, comics, CD covers/inserts, movie reviews, and books, anything and everything. It’s true, the more you read – the better you will write. All good writers read and talk about what they are reading. Have you joined your local library? It’s free.
2. Keep a writer’s notebook – this is the place to write down all your ideas and stories. It can also be a place where you keep postcards, lists of favourite songs or bands, tickets, photos, family history, cards, pressed flowers – whatever you like - it might give you an idea for your next story and carry your notebook with you.
3. Create a space at home, in the bedroom, playroom, study or corner of the loungeroom to write. It doesn’t have to be a large space, just a table top with room for your notebook, pad of paper and pot for pencils, crayons or pens.
4. Get writing. Write in your notebook, write letters, keep a diary, send postcards, make up stories, and try writing poetry or song lyrics.
5. Keep writing. Use your senses: what is your favourite view/colour/sight, food/taste, smell, touch, sound/song?
6. Have fun. You can write about your name, family, pet, car, house, yard, school – whatever you like. And anything can happen – aliens, floods, overgrown plants, crime, giant gold fish, time machines, romance, make up your own country…….
7. Make sure your story has a place, one main character and maybe two other characters, think of three amazing and exciting things that you want to happen. Create a problem for your character that they have to overcome. Start in the middle of the action and make sure you have an ending too. If you get stuck ask yourself “What if?” What if the alien could talk backwards? What if the alien only ate chocolate ice cream? What if he couldn’t tell you that and you had to figure it out? What if? What if? And if you have a problem finding an end to the story then sometimes it helps to re-read the beginning and include something from that at the end. So in the beginning of the story the alien may have had a bellyache from no ice cream and in the end you were helping him recover from a bellyache because he ended up eating too much ice cream.
8. Look for writing competitions to enter. Remember to follow the competition rules. For example, each year the Central West Writers’ Centre runs the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. These are announced on the anniversary of Banjo’s birthday – 17 February and close in April with winners announced in June. If you would like an entry form please email writing@orange.nsw.gov.au or phone 6393 8125.
9. Read your story aloud (even if it is just to yourself) to make sure all the words flow. If you stumble over a word, you may need to change it.
10. Check your spelling and punctuation.
Tips for young journalists
For young writers interested in journalism read a range of newspapers - not just your local paper, try writing stories, practice interviewing your family and friends, write film or CD reviews for your school newsletter, become a publicity officer for your local social or sporting group and write letters to the editor to newspapers and express your opinion. Always check your facts (if you are not sure double check) and your spelling. Have someone else read over it too. And learn to type.
Vibewire opportunity
Vibewire.net is a project of non-profit youth media and arts organisation Vibewire Inc and is designed to provide young Australians with a forum where they can comment on matters relevant to their lives In our society where the local media is inaccessible to most young people, vibewire.net seeks to offer an alternative channel for youth expression, for those who are creative, political, or just plain interested. Their goal is to engage young people in active citizenship through their involvement with local arts, culture, politics, current affairs, poetry, fiction, ideas and beliefs. The website is run for youth by youth and relies on your participation and active involvement to work. You can submit an article, write blogs, or provide Vibewire with images, video or podcast material. Go to www.vibewire.net
The Central West Writers' Centre is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW
