Welcome to the *fuel car*                           aboard

 The Story Train(R)

Are you trying and trying to get those ideas in your head written down on paper? Well guess what, that happens to all writers at the beginning of a new story.  Do you know what that's called?

         ****************USING YOUR IMAGINATION***************

It might seem like a big mess, but it's really where all of the best writing comes from.  

                      For a writer, having many ideas at the same time means

                   ******************BEING INSPIRED********************

To be a writer, a really good writer, you must...... PRACTICE; just the same as anyone who is really good at anything.  Think of your favorite baseball player (like Manny Ramirez), football player (like Tom Brady), or singer (like Jessica Simpson). Don't believe for one minute that they didn't have to practice to become good at whatever it is they do.  It is the same with writing.

           The more you write, the better at writing you will become.

Here are some suggestions for writing:

1) You can write in a journal (or a diary).

2) You can write a letter to a friend.

3) You can write to an author of a book you read and tell what you think.

4) You can write your thoughts (an editorial) to your local newspaper.

5) You can enter a writing contest (ask your librarian where).

6) You can make up a story.

7) You can write to The Story Train (I'd love to hear from you).

If you really want to be a good writer you must also read a lot.   Reading helps you to learn how other people write.  This gives you an example to follow.    

If you exercise your imagination(one-two-three) you'll have plenty to write about.                                              You'll be so inspired

                    *************AND HAVING IDEAS*****************

       "But I can't think of anything to write about?"
      First of all, try to remember that it is a lot easier to write about something you know something about. If you like sports, write a story about baseball or football.  If you like gymnastics, then write about gymnastics.  If you like science fiction and outer space, then try to write about that.  If you are not interested in what you are writing about, then you'll probably write a boring story.  

      You can also write about something that means something to you or maybe something you feel strongly about.  If something makes you feel very happy, sad, mad, or angry, then it is probably a good subject for you to write about.  The best writing comes from an author who has feelings about what he or she is writing about.  So, if something is on your mind make sure you write it down.  You'll be glad you did, and so won't your reader.

Here is another tip to help you come up with ideas:  

       Sometimes I meet students who are convinced that they have no imagination.  

                             Imagine that?  No imagination.

I tell those students, "Believe it or not, everyone has an imagination!"

                                               One way to find imagination is to:
                                          BRAINSTORM

"What a funny word." you say.
Yes, you are right.  It is a funny word.
"But what does it mean?" you ask.
Well, first I'll tell you what it does not mean.  

It does not mean a 'tornado in someone's head'.

Nor does it mean 'a hurricane caused by someone's brain'.

      Brainstorming is when different people think about the same idea. It is so interesting to watch how one idea can mean so many different things. The way one person see's (visualizes) something is always different from the way someone else see's (visualizes) it; and it is for that very reason that brainstorming is so much fun. One story idea shared by a group of people has endless possibilities and that makes it so much easier than trying to figure out everything all by yourself.
If you are having a problem with ideas, try brainstorming with a friend.  If you're okay on your own, that's great.  Now grab some paper, a pencil, and start to write and write and write.

Click the word 'passenger' below to read stories and to find out how you

can have your story put on board the 'passenger car'.

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