When I look back on my writing life as a teen, I think about the summer a lot. I loved nothing more than spending hot sunny days swimming, evenings working at the restaurant, and late late evenings writing in my books. (Seriously, how did I have so much energy?)
That said, there are a few things I wish I had done differently while writing back then and things I’m really proud (and grateful) that I did, so I thought I’d share a few tips as you all embark on your summer break.
Take Advantage of the Long, Lazy Days and Explore Your Ideas (And Life!)
Summer is the perfect time to relax and let your imagination run wild. Explore different genres, styles, and voices. When I was a teen, I always used to pick one book and stick with it for wayyyyy too long. (Sometimes years!) That has its benefits—one of mine ended up becoming the Timely Death trilogy—but I highly encourage young writers to dabble in a handful of manuscripts instead of getting hyper-focused on one.
Why?
Because the creativity I had as a teen was far superior than what I have now. I never held myself back with expectations, such as wondering if a strange magic system could sell. I just wrote what I wanted.
Magical swords in the Midwest? Check.
Shadow powers and sparkly rain? What about telepathy? Check.
People who have two faces/identities and no one knows who the others are? Check!
I came up with the magic system of the Timely Death trilogy when I was fourteen. I can’t confidently say I would’ve allowed myself to write it now. I would’ve been too discouraged by genre expectations. And once you get wrapped up in that professional mindset, it can be really, really difficult to harness that raw creativity of childhood again. So lean into your teenage-ness! You are awesome for it. The ideas you come up with now are ones you will carry with you for the rest of your creative life. Trust me. Now is the time to go exploring. Not just with your writing, but also real life. Search for free or cheap things to do in your town/city, and get out there with your friends. Living life fuels imagination.
Study Grammar
Seriously, not to kick school or anything—I went to a great high school—but I didn’t learn grammar in class. I’m sure teachers taught us the basics, but it was so fast (and we were flooded with so much information all of the time) that most of it didn’t stick. My first manuscript is proof of that. It’s riddled with mistakes I shudder at now. I was incredibly embarrassed when people read it and asked me if I knew the difference between “then” and “than,” because—Well, I didn’t. Not really. (And I was in AP English!) It sounds hard to believe, but for me, school was less about retaining knowledge and more about surviving all my classes, homework, and life and still getting decent enough grades to go to college…which I did, despite fumbling my grammar. It wasn’t until I shared my book with others (and got so embarrassed) that I realized I needed to learn grammar for real. I recommend reading craft books or checking out resources such as Grammar Girl. Those resources weren’t available to me as a teen, though. And honestly, they can feel a little boring. So, if that’s not your style, the way I taught myself as a teen was to study the books I was currently reading. I would take them off my bookshelf and look at examples of how dialogue was formatted under different circumstances. Same with any other element. (And yes, I eventually learned the difference between “then” and “than.”) In fact, I started reading books with a highlighter and colored pens so that I could take notes while I was going. It was super helpful!
No matter how you decide to write this summer, make sure you have time to just be you: a teen on summer break. It’s so easy to think you’re running out of time when you’re young, but you truly do have lots of time in front of you to write your books, find your voice, and decide how/when you want to pursue publishing. What matters now is enjoying the moment.
~SAT
P.S. At my day job, we’re hosting a free, virtual (and in-person) novel-writing program for teens. Check it out.
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hmm i like this.. uhmmp
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading!
~SAT
Good advice all round! Even when you know your grammar, it is worth spending time developing it further when you’re a new writer. My last book was the first manuscript I ever finished but it then got shelved for many years. I cringed when my editor gave it back to me with suggested edits. There were soooo many rookie errors!
Thank you for sharing your story! Same thing happened to me! I think every writer eventually has that AHA moment where they realize how much they need to study grammar. 🤣
~SAT
I’m with you. Kids (of all ages) should write all the things to build their skills and flex their creativity like a muscle.
Yes! It’s so easy for writers, especially new writers, to get focused on one story. (I’ve been there!) I wish someone had encouraged me to explore my other ideas more often. It would’ve set me up for more success (and happiness) earlier on. When writers get hyper-focused, it can be more difficult to move on to new stories if that first one doesn’t work out, which is likely if they’re pursuing traditional publishing. Wanting (and learning) to explore new ideas is part of the process.
~SAT