When “just write whatever you want” doesn’t work
Ever stood in front of the fridge, absolutely starving, but unable to decide what to eat? You’ve got infinite options—leftovers, cereal, takeout, that one questionable yogurt—and somehow, that makes it harder. But if someone says, “Hey, pizza or tacos?” suddenly you can make a choice.
Writing works the same way.
When we tell kids or teens to “just write something,” we think we’re giving them freedom—but often, we’re actually giving them paralysis. A blank page can feel endless, and endless is overwhelming. A little structure, on the other hand, gives their brain something to grab onto.
If your writer is staring at a page for more than a minute (thirty seconds if they’re under ten!), try shrinking the universe. Offer a nudge like:
📝 “Write a story about a dog.”
...and if they're still stumped, build it up a bit for them...
🐾 “Write a story about a dog who gets lost in a big city.”
...and if they're still stumped, built it up more...
🦮 “Write a story about a dog who uses a robot to save a water buffalo.”
Obviously, those examples are for younger learners, but this method works wonders in my teen classes as well. Sometimes just a little bit of structure allows a world to take shape—and that’s when imagination and confidence starts to kick in.
Structure doesn’t kill creativity; it gives it a place to start. Once a young writer has that foothold, they can climb anywhere they want.
If your learner could use more of these guided-but-fun story sparks, our Ready Writing and Weekly Short Story classes (Under Ten, Tween, or Teen!) are built exactly this way—clear prompts, open possibilities, and lots of laughter in between.
