Meg's Solutions for Writer's Block
If your child is having trouble writing, feel free to choose one or some of these ideas to help him/her get some words and/or stories out!
- See if your work environment needs more silence or music.
- Draw and/or look at pictures to start stimulating some thoughts and ideas.
- Look around for inspiration (daydream).
- Read something.
- Move your body.
- Ask a peer, a teacher, or a parent for help.
- Take a break. Stop writing for a while and then return.
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Meg's Revision Tips
When your child has finished writing a story, feel free to use these suggestions to help make his/her piece better.
- Identify the parts you want to revise.
- Add details and images.
- Delete any unnecessary language (boring words, vague words, etc.)
- How are your verbs? Are they strong enough? Examine them. Are they “standard” and/or too ordinary? Do you use the same verb repeatedly? (A thesaurus can become your best friend. Don’t forget!) Sometimes, a great verb can make an image sharper instead of a list of adjectives.
- Look at your lead. Is it good enough? Is it a good hook? Is your opening line (or two) inviting, provocative, and engaging enough to get the reader to keep going?
- Look at your ending. Is it good enough? Is it complete? Is your subject or “issue” resolved, with the reader not left hanging?
- Open up your sentences. Are ALL of your words and sentences visual, vivid, and unusual enough so that the reader doesn’t get bored or confused?
- How is your title? Are you inviting the reader in? Are you telling too much so that the reader doesn’t need to keep going?
- Often times, revision is actually WRITING MORE, NOT CUTTING! Think about your piece. Have you said enough?
- All good writers revise. Don’t give up! Keep going to make your piece the best it can be!
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