u Writing regularly is one of the best ways to improve as a writer. Doing the same thing over and over, however, can be a prime recipe for writer’s block. Regardless of what season of writing life you are in at the moment, flexibility and exploration are key. With that in mind, below are five ideas for ways to bring some play into your own writing and that of the young writers in your life.
- Switch up the genre or form
We all tend to have genres and forms with which we feel more comfortable writing. That doesn’t mean, however, that you always need to or ought to write in that vein. Do you typically write prose? Try a form of poetry. Do you typically write fiction? Spend 20 minutes writing creative non-fiction or journaling. Writing the inverse of what you usually do can freshen up your practice. It can also help you acquire and strengthen skills that you can use in your main work. For example, even though I write primarily in prose, I spent years studying and practicing poetry. As a result, I employ poetic techniques in almost everything I write.
- Try out a new craft element
Take a look at your current read, or an inspiration for your writing project and pick one or two writing techniques the author employs that you admire. Study how the author goes about using the technique in the work. Then try it out in your draft or current project somehow—maybe in just one scene or on just one page. Emulation is a great way to break through a writing rut and to expand your writing prowess.
- Re-read your favorites
Whether they are your favorites in the genre in which you’re writing or just your overall favorite books, revisiting books that have shaped you as a writer and reader is important. Spend time taking notes as a reader and as a writer and really sit with the books. What techniques do you find especially effective in connecting with you as a reader? How can you emulate those techniques in your own work? This is an especially useful practice for grounding yourself as a writer if you’re feeling lost or stuck.
- Do some observation adventures
Pulling from lived experiences, overheard conversations, and other observations is a classic writing tip, but maybe it’s been some time since you let yourself take in your surroundings with your writer’s eye. With this in mind, go outside to a park, a mall, a restaurant or wherever is most appealing and take a notebook with you. Write down as many observations as possible, no matter how obvious or random. Even ten minutes in your neighborhood is enough to fuel an abundance of ideas. This is great to jumpstart your creativity on days when you’re feeling restless or uninspired.
- Change point of view
No matter what genre in which you’re writing, perceptive is key. Try rewriting your current project (or a part of it) from a different perspective—or even more than one. If you’re feeling as if you need to get to know a character more, rewriting a scene from a different perspective can reveal new things about that character. You may be feeling like the structure of the scene isn’t working. In that case, this exercise can break it into new directions. If you’re feeling like the tone of your piece is flat or ineffective, a new perspective can drastically change that. In other words, don’t be afraid to try playing with this core element—it can help you with numerous issues.
Wherever your writing is taking you right now, I hope this list can bring some exploration and fun into your process. And, maybe it’ll inspire you to come up with other writing exercises too!
The Cartoonist Club is about a group of middle school kids who form a cartoon making club. Along the way they learn a lot about the craft of making comics from the fairly simple, how to cut and fold and 8 page zine, to the more challenging, how to make an infinite number of facial expressions by combining 6 core emotions.
Speechless is also a school based story about a girl who is so affected by her anxiety that she cannot speak aloud at school. Mira, the hero of Steinke’s graphic novel uses stop motion animation to express herself creatively and that medium of speaking through animation forms the spark of learning how to use her own voice.
Though it is not a graphic novel, Whale Eyes by James Robinson is a visually interesting and intimate look at what it is like to have a visual disability as a child. It’s fascinating and thoughtful, based on the Emmy Award winning film created by the author. Books on visual impairment are few and far between. Glad to have such a high quality option for young readers.
magical world which at first seems too good to be true, but in the end forces her to be true to herself and face her deepest fears. This is a debut from an author/illustrator I hope to see much more from.