I always used to think ‘Write What You Know’ was the
best method for writing a story, but sometimes it’s surprising how changing it
up can bring fresh ideas to your palette. In my books, Call Me Amy and Amy’s Choice,
I have a connection to my main character—13-year-old Amy—because she lives in a
tiny fishing village on the Maine coast that is very similar to where my
grandparents lived all the while I was growing up. However, lately I’ve
switched gears. My most recent work-in-progress is about a boy who lives in a
big city.
Breaking out of your comfort zone by changing the
way you always write can set your writing free, while avoiding the usual
setbacks and roadblocks. Rather than thinking, ‘oh, he wouldn’t do that…’ think
instead, maybe she would!
Many fourth and fifth graders are more comfortable
reading and rereading the same series of books over and over and this may
factor into their writing, as well. Here’s a fun way for your students to come
up with new ideas to write about.
Give everyone in your class a slip of paper. Have
them write three items on the paper: main character’s name, main character’s
age, setting (city, country, space, under the sea, school, etc.). Collect the
slips in order and then pass them out again in reverse order. This takes the
pressure off. Rather than writing about their own very familiar beloved
characters, they’re now writing about someone or something else.
Have them ask themselves ‘what if?’ as they write
their stories. What if there is a sudden snowstorm? What if the bike gets a
flat tire? What if the main character isn’t even human, but an alien,
superhero, or beast? Write fast, the first lines that come to them. They
shouldn’t think about it too much, just go with their thoughts and keep
writing.
Another story starter idea is to pass out pictures
from old calendars and have your students use the scene for their setting. No
matter which methods they use, changing it up is bound to uncover all sorts of
new possibilities for their stories.
After these mind stretching exercises, students can
go back to ‘writing what they know,’ but hopefully they’ll be less wary of experimenting
and including new ideas. Happy writing!
BIO: Marcia
Strykowski works at a public library. Earlier, after earning her BS in Fine Arts, she worked for seven years in textbook publishing. She is a member of
SCBWI. After numerous magazine and anthology contributions, Call Me Amy was
Marcia’s first novel. It was chosen for Bank Street College of Education’s Best
Books of 2013. Amy's Choice , a sequel to Call Me Amy, was released the
following year. Both tween novels were published by Luminis Books. You can find
out more about her and her books at http://marciastrykowski.com/
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