teens

Writing Myth B-U-S-T-E-D! What You Really Need to Know About Writing

I’m consistently shocked by how many young kids and teens say they can’t write. I write say they can’t write because they can actually write – if given the right tools and motivation. Unfortunately, the right tools and motivation aren’t often given to kids and teens within the school system. Heck, sometimes even in creative… Continue reading Writing Myth B-U-S-T-E-D! What You Really Need to Know About Writing

What is Creative Anxiety?

There’s a story I just love, that I heard from the popular TED talk with Sir Ken Robinson. (It’s a very good talk, by the way, if you haven’t seen it; really funny and really moving.) He’s talking about creative kids and the traditional school system, and he goes into a story about a young… Continue reading What is Creative Anxiety?

I Want to Be Published, NOW! Obliterate the “Get Rich Quick” Mentality: Be Brave, Start Small

When I was in high school, I secretly wanted to be a young, published author. I think every teenage writer does. What else can we expect of our young writers when, as a society, we’re constantly throwing the likes of J.K. Rowling’s explosive Harry Potter success story in their faces? I mean, for a couple… Continue reading I Want to Be Published, NOW! Obliterate the “Get Rich Quick” Mentality: Be Brave, Start Small

Don’t Be Lazy with YA: What Makes the Genre Fly?

Once a week in a while, I share generalized writing tips from my beta reading experiences with the aim of helping you better yourself as a writer. Recently I found myself breaking down the Young Adult (or YA) genre, mostly to focus my own thoughts and figure out just what makes a novel YA in… Continue reading Don’t Be Lazy with YA: What Makes the Genre Fly?