CREATE

This is going to be a major part of my new site, a place to explore, with lots of creative juice and tips, storystarters and, coming soon, a creative writing app for download.

In the meantime, here is a Daily Writing Challenge for you, a challenge to pay yourself first and put some time in the Creative Bank. It includes a free timer app to keep you honest. Check back regularly as this area of the site expands.

Anything Goes Daily Writing Challenge 

When I was in fourth grade our teacher, Mrs Bannister, made us write, every morning, in an 'Anything Goes' book. Here is mine:

Our Mission was simply to write – to pour the contents of our minds onto the page.

The Rules were something like:

1. Don't Think. Just Write.

2. Write for 5-10 minutes, flat out.
3. Once you begin, your pen is not allowed to stop moving across the page until the time is up.

My Life as a Chocolate Bar. Most of my stories were about lollies in fourth grade.

Every story didn't have to be amazing (as you can see above). We were allowed to make mistakes. It wasn't to teach perfect spelling or neat handwriting. We weren't being marked. It was just about creativity. This is where I learned to write. This is how I discovered my Voice as a writer.

My 'Anything Goes' book now. The cheaper the book the more free I feel to try new things and make mistakes.

I still do 'Anything Goes' every morning at 6.00am. I write three pages, flat out. The biggest secret to being a writer is simply to write. I challenge you, whether you are a kid, a teenager or an adult, to spend 5 or 10 minutes each day simply writing. Fill up an exercise book. Fill up ten.

Below is a timer app. Set it for 5-10 minutes at the same time each day and begin putting time in the creative bank. And remember, like Mrs. Bannister said - Anything Goes.

Good luck! Leave a comment below and let me know how you're getting on.

Story Starters Click One For Inspiration

* Vision Boarding

* Worst Job Ever

* Food, Glorious Food

The Writer's Studio Go Inside Children's Authors' Writing Spaces

Deborah Abela (Max Remy Superspy, Grimsdon)
Brian Falkner (The Tomorrow Code, Brainjack)

Wendy Orr (Nim's Island)
Ian Irvine (Grim & Grimmer)
John Boyne (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)
Michael Pryor (The Laws of Magic series)

Tristan Bancks (My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up, Galactic Adventures)

Gus Gordon (Wendy & Illustrations for My Life & Other Stuff I Made Up)

Gabrielle Wang (Poppy)
Katherine Battersby (Squish Rabbit)
Richard Newsome (The Billionaire's Curse)

Shamini Flint (Diary of a Cricket God)

Oliver Phommavanh (Thai-Riffic)
George Ivanoff (Gamers' Quest)
James Phelan (The 'Alone' series and Lachlan Fox thrillers.)
James Roy (Town, Captain Mack, Anonymity Jones)
Pat Flynn (To the Light, Alex Jackson)
Libby Gleeson (Mahtab's Story, Amy & Louis)
Kate Forsyth (Rhiannon's Ride, The Witches of Eileanan)
Tohby Riddle (Nobody Owns the Moon)

Some Tips on Writing

1.   Write a lot. Read a lot. Live a lot. Everything you write, read and experience will help you become a better storyteller.

2.   Develop a writing practice. That means writing every day. Even five minutes or three pages a day will make you a better writer.

3.   Stay inspired. Stay loose. Feed on the world and let it flow into your writing. Don’t make your writing perfect at first. Just get it down.

4.   Writing is Rewriting. Be prepared to rewrite and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite.