The Mixed-Up Files is a group of more than thirty writers. Many of them wrote their first stories when they were middle-grade readers, just like you. If you want to become a writer, the best thing you can do is to write a lot. I have a journal that I write in every day. When I’m not using it, I hide it in between Webster’s Dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus. One time, those nosey mice tried to sneak a peek at it but it fell off the shelf and they went skittering away as usual. Silly creatures. You can hide your journal under your bed or in a drawer. You might have a nosey brother or sister try to read it but you can camouflage it like a homework notebook. They’ll never look there. Here are some more ideas you can use to get started on your own writer’s journey.
Story Starters
Story prompts from a fun “mechanical” phrase generator, set up by grade level:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/storystarters/storystarter1.htm
Writing prompts presented as blog posts by Scholastic staffers, with a few well-marked “sponsored” posts sprinkled in:
http://blog.scholastic.com/ink_splot_26/category/writing-prompt
A “choose your own adventure”-type exercise. At each stage, pick from four alternatives; story generator writes story based on your choices:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/english/storyplant.shtml
Mainly a teacher-resource site, writing prompts are available in the blue menu at left on the home page:
