Stories

Step 1: Come up with an idea! Sometimes creative writing idea generators can really help. Or you can give yourself a prompt, and build off of it. It can be simple! You can always expand.

Step 2: Think about the general way that you want your story to unfold. What comes first? Second? Third? It doesn't have to be an exact play-by-play. Just a general order of events.

Step 3: Start writing! The best way to be a good writer is to just write. And then edit. But you can't edit a blank page! It doesn't matter if it's the most horribly written story in the world. That's what friends and the backspace button are for!

Step 4: EDIT! EDIT! EDIT! Read your story out loud and ask yourself which sentences add to your story. Which ones take away from it? It can be hard to chop up something you've worked so hard on, so enlist the help of friends and family!

Step 5: Email it to us! We'd love to read it! And we'd be happy to work together with you on polishing it up and helping you make it the best it can be.

• Take a story you wrote in ELA. Look over it and maybe change it a little, with things like new characters, endings, or even most of the story. What you wrote is just a base for what you can write.

• Work with a friend. They can help with writing or brainstorming, and it is a great way to connect.

• Your work should be original, but that doesn't mean you can't be helped out. Idea generator websites are super helpful, and great for even the worst writer's block.

• Make an outline. It seems like more work, but it will be your best friend. Use this to make sure you actually know what you are writing and where the story is going to go! Templates for one are below: