Teen Girls Book Club discussion

If you have any ideas about how to craft the perfect story, share them here:

I’m planning on writing a YA dystopian but I’m not sure how to start :(
Do you guys have any ideas and tips on writing the first chapters??

Taif wrote: "I’m planning on writing a YA dystopian but I’m not sure how to start :(
Do you guys have any ideas and tips on writing the first chapters??"

Sounds fun! How about a post-covid world?

Taif, when writing dystopias, you should always have a plan in mind. World building is one of the biggest aspects in dystopias. The best dystopias seem to have their own little...thing, for lack of a better word. Like THG was the Hunger Games! Divergent was factions. The Giver was jobs chosen. The Maze Runner was escaping the glade. Delirium was life without love (I think so, but I’ve never read the book.) Maybe you wanna do something like that! But there are also great dystopias that don’t have a specific...thing. So don’t fret if you’re having a hard time coming up with one. You just want to made your story unique, and you can do that! Every book is different!

Once you get an idea in mind, start writing when things get interesting. Don’t info dump. The readers want to be bored out from the start. If they are, they won’t go onto read chapter 2. I know for my book, I’ve avoided this completely by writing an intense action and tension packed chapter. It will entice the readers (hopefully) and keep them reading!

I hope this helps 🤞 and good luck!

Now here comes my biggest tip and piece of advice I have ever been given: you just gotta write. I know it sounds stupid, but there are SO many people out there with a story in mind that just don’t have the guts or “time” to write it. So just keep writing. Don’t look back. Get all those rambles of a story on paper, call it your sloppy copy, and get editing. Don’t stop editing to work on something else. I’m telling you, if you put aside your baby of a book, you’ll be said. You did all that work and now you’re not even going to finish it. Stick with it, and trust me, you’ll be happy in the end.

Thanks Emary, all your tips are helpful

Emary wrote: "Now here comes my biggest tip and piece of advice I have ever been given: you just gotta write. I know it sounds stupid, but there are SO many people out there with a story in mind that just don’t ..."

Completely true!

I am currently working on the first draft for my story (I'm about 80% done) but my plot needs some major changes and most of the scenes I'll be writing in the first draft will just end up being deleted. Should I finish my first draft or just go ahead and fix my plot and start my second draft?

I would suggest finishing your first draft so you have more material to work with. For instance if you know this character gets sick at this point then maybe you could add a scene leading up to that in your second draft… but that’s just my opinion..

Ok, so this actually isn't a writing tip... I just wasn't sure where else to put this question...
So I am working on a novel that I wish to publish and one of my main characters lives in England... I know very little about English culture (aside from stereotypes, which I really want to avoid) and I was hoping that since this is an international group some of you might have some insight to help me make my novel more realistic...

Oh wow that’s a good idea! I never would have thought to ask here! I’m not from England but that’s a great idea!

Anyone have any tips for ‘showing not telling’?

@Roisin

I’m sure I do! Let me check my notebook I have notes for writing in and I’ll get back to you!

Okay, I think I found something that might help.

• Describe objects, scenes, situations, and events in a way that allows the reader to feel the emotions with the characters
• 5 ways to add emotion:
- objects
- metaphors
- situation
- chain of events
- movement / gestures
• Objects can mean something important and/or represent something
• Metaphors help the reader feel the same as the characters. Helps get into a characters mind
• Situations demonstrate contrast. Use oxymorons.
• For chain of events, set things up early on in the story and connect dots.
• A way to show instead of tell through movements and gestures is to use set ups early on. Use the way a character acts in a situation kr the sound a character makes.

I hope this helps!

Thank you so much, your advice has really helped and was really great!

Charlotte wrote: "Ok, so this actually isn't a writing tip... I just wasn't sure where else to put this question...
So I am working on a novel that I wish to publish and one of my main characters lives in England......"

Ooh a bit late but I'm from England, what advice do you need?

Hey! I’m thinking about writing a short romance story, any tips you would like to share?

Im taking a creative writing class at my school and some notes are:
-dont use big words to sound sophisticated (really hard to read)
-dont use to much description but also not to little (so confusing but trust me)
-make sure to indent when you write dialogue
:P

Rowan wrote: "Im taking a creative writing class at my school and some notes are:
-dont use big words to sound sophisticated (really hard to read)
-dont use to much description but also not to little (so confusi..."

heyy! these are really nice tips! I am young and trying to write a novel and it is not doing so well rn because I keep having these blocks! Do you have anything for that! If you do THANKS!