Read This Introduction!!!

Some people can sit down and write a story without much thought before they start. The story seems to just drop right out of their fingertips as they sit at the keyboard.

I never could do that. I could always tell a story to my buddies at the cafeteria table at lunch. I could make the milk come right out of their noses with the funny, crazy stuff I came up with!

But if the teacher asked us to write a story—HELP!! I was suddenly lost.

Then I became a professional writer. How did THAT happen? Not by magic, I can tell you. I needed to learn the story elements first, and then I needed to learn how to use them.

The steps I will show you are the very steps I follow when I am writing a new story. I have used them to help thousands of students write stories. Thousands over twenty years as a writer/teacher/storyteller visiting schools. That’s my job. Some people are lawyers or doctors or carpenters or balloon animal makers. I’m a writer/teacher/storyteller. Try saying that all at once and fast five times.

Anyway, all you need right now is something to write with (pencil, pen, computer, chalk, crayons, jar of mustard, ketchup, peanut butter—wait! Is it lunch yet?). Better start over. All you need is something to write with and your imagination, your Dream Mind.

After a little warm up on the next blog, we’re going to cover three areas together.

Area 1: I’m going to walk you through a prewriting exercise. It’s kind of tough, but kids who have done it have written some awesome, award winning stories. Kids at all levels. Even kids who didn’t think they could.

Area 2: This is where I’ll guide you through your first draft. We’ll use a kind of Story Skeleton. In fact, that’s what we’ll call it—The Story Skeleton or Story Bones. Also, in this part I’ll introduce you to some kinds of characters who can give added twists to your story.

Area 3: This is the part most kids avoid like a computer virus. Want to know a secret? Most adults do, too. But skipping out on Area 3 is a BIG MISTAKE. Unless you don’t want to write a great story. You do want to write a great story, right? Okay. In this part, I will give you some pointers for how to go back over your story to improve what you have written in your quick draft. I’ll help you to polish your work.

Ready? Good. Look for my next entry and we’ll get started!