Once again, we find ourselves at the brink of summer, no doubt exhausted from 40 weeks of school. Although many will certainly enjoy a few months of relaxation before the onslaught of the upcoming school year, others may find that the lack of work can prove to be quite tedious. For those of you who feel a creative urge coming out in your plentiful downtime, I suggest trying creative writing.
Obviously, writing isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when finding a way to kill time, but writing for fun is significantly different from writing an essay for class. There’s a lot less stress involved; there are no deadlines you need to meet, no picky guidelines to follow. Everything is up to you, from your subject matter to the length of your works, and this simple change is often enough to draw forth an idea that you never felt motivated enough to develop before. Getting started may be a bit difficult, and you may feel under- or overwhelmed by your thoughts. Take the time to sort them out, and don’t be afraid to branch out multiple plotlines. It takes effort to find the perfect story.
Even if you only have a vague outline, write out as much as you can from that idea and develop on it. Write the introduction of a story and mess around with different characters, or sketch out a quick stanza and see if the lines flow well. Your first draft probably won’t look great, but that’s okay. Out of the mess you’ll salvage one or two good things you hadn’t noticed before. Through this write-and-recycle method, you’ll eventually get a clearer idea of what you like and what you’re good at writing. Take note of these strong points and use them as much as possible. If you become confident in your skills, try to write more seriously with a definite goal in mind. Challenging but reasonable objectives can provide a push towards finishing a work. Five or six hours every week is not all that much, but is plenty of time to flesh out your literary works.
As you write, you will become frustrated. Your brain will empty itself of any inspiration, or the words you type will seem awkward or forced. Discouragement is something that all writers face in their lives. But if you find yourself losing it over your writing, take a break. After all, you’re writing for your own recreation. Enjoy the hot summer days without worry, but at the same time pay attention to the events occurring around you. As lame as it may sound, small adventures or interactions with your friends can be all you need for a sudden stroke of genius. Writing about situations you’ve been in can also help to transfer your thoughts into words.
As for sharing your writing, that’s up to you. Your parents or friends can be excellent—if slightly daunting—sources of encouragement and suggestions. If you receive criticism, don’t let it get to you. Think over complaints from others, but if they don’t follow your own style, then keep what you have. Small edits can vastly improve your perception of writing and how to develop a unique personality. And who knows; when the 2016–17 school year rolls around, maybe you’ll feel confident enough to publish your work in The Tattler.