I'm new here and I'm a writer who doesn't write

i love reading romance novels. we really could use some good writers so much of the stuff i read seems so similar. some one new and fresh would be delightful. perhaps someday one of us may inspire you.

i hope something we say may somehow someday inspire you.

Glad to read that you are writing. Although I am not an expert on children's books, I can see the tornado idea working in a young adult story about families that lose their homes to one and how the main character or two work together to instill the spirit into others in town to help rebuild those homes. Maybe they can go from being not popular and possibly troublemakers to heroes and being well-liked for a feel-good ending.

As far as a technical approach only, maybe others have ideas on that.

Condolences on losing your home. Check out Woman's World magazine at shopping checkout for a possible article about how your family overcame that loss and persevered and what lessons you learned about tornadoes and surviving them. Email the editor for writing guidelines. Wishing you much success. Please keep us updated. -- Lou

Hi there ! Yes, I am a want to be writer. I really like mystery books and historical romance novels. However, lately I have been working on a children's piece about tornadoes. I cannot figure out how that idea came to me, but the meteorology of a tornado and how it builds fascinates me, especially since 3 years ago my home and those of many of my neighbors were wiped out. A children's book though? Go figure. Why would I like the idea of teaching kids about tornadoes?

Do you see any point in it?

, Emma. If you have planned to be a writer, what kind? What genre? Or a variety? Books -- what kind -- adult, young adult, children's? Newspaper and magazine articles? Training manuals? What is your plan? If there isn't one, it's like saying, "I'm planning on becoming a millionaire," yet not studying finance, stocks, or economics, or reading of the steps and secrets successful millionaires have taken.

I think becoming more specific with your plan will enable you to focus past the world of class assignments. Check with local librarians and bookstores for writer's groups and, if there are any, join them, get to know them, then decide which one(s) offer you the best feedback and advice from experienced writers, not people merely sitting around and talking about writing but never producing anything.

Lou

EMARIOKART and to SparkPeople and the team...Nice to have you with us on the journey to a healthier lifestyle. Some really great suggestions given. Pick one or a few and try them.

Emma, I have an idea for you to jump start your process if you are interested. Somewhere near you there will be a senior citizens group, a assisted living center or the like. See if you can go and collect stories from their memories to write down. It will be good for you to practice your craft, good for them to see a different face and you might copy the stories as a gift for them to give to their families.

We are losing so much oral history in our country today because generations don't talk to one another.

Just write. There's a great TED talks by Elizabeth Gilbert that talks about the power of just turning up and writing. You may not like everything you do to start with, but you'll be constantly improving your craft and getting a clearer idea of what you do like. I hope you find your passion for it.

Maybe start a blog. Start writing random stuff until you figure out what you want to do.

Do you keep a journal? What do you read?

Hey guys! I'm new here to spark people. My name is Emma, I'm a Freshman in college (an English major, go figure), and my whole life I've planned on being a writer. I enjoy writing. I've been told I'm good at it. But, uh... I don't write. Not in my free time, anyway. I relish writing assignments and just generally writing for a grade, getting the positive feedback, etc, but for some reason when I'm writing for fun I lose all motivation. Is that bad? Anybody else have this problem?