Note: Have your parents read this article with you. They’ll want to know all about your writing and story sites, too.

Do you like to write stories and poetry? Some kids have notebooks filled with their writing, and others hate to write. At least they say they hate to write.

This article is in two parts: For Kids Who Love to Write and For Kids Who Hate to Write. Pick the part that fits you.

For Kids Who Love to Write…

We love kids who love to write. All teachers do. Sometimes your teacher won’t know that you like to write. Maybe you are too shy to show your writing to your teacher and your parents? Maybe you are afraid it isn’t good enough? You shouldn’t worry about those things. Share your writing with your teacher and your parents.

Your Writing Is Getting Better Each Day

Kids who love to write are practicing their writing skills and are becoming better and better writers. It’s just like anything else. If you are going to be great at basketball or dancing, you need to practice. Good writing takes practice.

Remember to Review and Edit

Some kids think that whatever they write the first time is just fine. They write it and that’s it. Well, maybe sometimes that’s okay, but usually it’s not. Once you write a story or a poem, let it sit for a day or even a week (unless it’s due to your teacher), and then go back and read it over. That’s when you’ll notice mistakes or think of ways to make your story better. Always remember to type your story or your poems into the computer; that will make changing them really easy to do.

Who Are Your Favorite Authors?

If you love to write, you probably love to read. Your reading will give you lots of ideas for your own writing. Maybe you’ll want to try writing in the style of one of your favorite authors? Some kids get really good at that. Guess what—your favorite authors also spend a great deal of time revising their writing so that you’ll enjoy it.

Try the Sites Listed in For Kids Who Hate to Write

We think you’ll enjoy the sites listed below. They’ll give you even more ideas for your stories and poetry. 

For Kids Who Hate to Write…

What’s Your Problem

Maybe the problem is that you just can’t get started writing. You can’t think of a topic if the teacher lets you pick one, and if the teacher picks one for you, it’s probably not the one you wanted.

So Why Not Use Your Computer to Help You?

Your computer can rescue you. If you need a topic, there are sites on the Internet that can help you find a topic. If your teacher gives you a topic, you’ll be sure to find ideas online that will get you started.

Some sites that are meant for teachers, but kids can make great use of what's on them. One of these is A to Z Teacher Stuff. This site has story starters that teachers use. One of the starters is "What if dogs could read?" Now that could be a sensational story.

For fun, you’ll want to check out Scholastic’s Story Starters. You put in your name, click on your grade and then spin the Story Starter wheel. When we did it, it asked us to write a tale about a stubborn turkey who saved a rain forest.

Story It has story sheets you can print. These include pictures and story beginnings to get you started.

The British Council features a list of topics that might fill your brain with ideas for stories. These aren't story starters, but instead activities about pirates, zoos, bugs, superheroes...

Sometimes just reading a short story helps. In the Story Kitchen, you can finish stories that author Bruce Van Patter begins for you. Actually, he lets you pick the ingredients for the story, but then he writes it. What do you think happened to Mr. Slopwash, the superhero janitor?

WARNING: You should just get ideas from these sites, not copy stories or story beginnings. If you really want to use a first sentence from a story starter, make sure to ask your teacher if it is okay. Otherwise, everything needs to be in your own words.

Get the Ideas Then Put Your Mind to Work

Whether you think so or not, there are loads of great ideas running around in your head. When you check out some of the topics and story starters, all those ideas locked up in your brain will come flooding out. For example, you might not want to write about a superhero janitor or a stubborn turkey, but you might want to tell the story of You, the Superhero or The Turkey Who Saved Thanksgiving. You might not want to write a story about a dog who can read, but you might write about Your Cat, the Detective.