Finding Your Writing Self

Your Inner Teen

You want to create characters that who will appeal to your readership. The following list of questions is designed to invoke the emotions of teenhood. Make notes to yourself while going through the list. You might be surprised by which questions strike you more than others. Don't be concerned if the answers to some of the questions happened during times in your life that fell before or after ages 13-19. Remember, the spirit of youth can move us at any time of life. The important thing is to get a feeling for how that spirit has affected you personally.

1] What is your clearest memory of feeling alienated? Misunderstood? Betrayed?

2] What is the most unfair thing that has happened to you? What did you do?

3] In what way did your upbringing seem utterly different from that of your peers?

4] When have you gone against peer pressure to follow your conscience?

5] How do you react to authority? What's an example of authority being right? Wrong?

6] What has been your moment of greatest rebellion? How about your greatest dream of rebellion?

7] What's the greatest risk you've taken? How did it work out?

8] Have you done something impulsive that had a long-lasting effect on your life?

9] Have you been disbelieved when your were telling the truth? Have you feared the truth enough to lie? Or has someone lied to you about something important?

10] What is the most traumatic historical event you have lived through? How close were you to the actual events of that history?

11] Have you grown apart from a dear friend? If so, was it gradual or sudden?

12] Have you ever been so embarrassed you wanted to sink through the floor?

13] What's the most unconventional thing you've done? The most thoughtless?

14] What's the biggest mistake you've ever made?

15] Have you been in a situation from which there seemed to be no way out? What did you do?

16] When was the loneliest time in your life? How did you deal with it?

17] When did you first fall in love? What happened?

18] Has someone important to you rejected you?

19] Have you ever lost control completely or done something so wild you surprised yourself?

20] Have you laughed so hard you cried? Cried so hard you laughed?

21] Have you ever suddenly changed your appearance dramatically?

22] What has been your most euphoric moment? How did it change you?

23] What have you longed to do but never done?

24] What have you yearned to find but never found?

25] What and whome would you die for?

Teen Voice

After answering the questions, what sort of mood has been invoked? Do you have a sense of a teen voice inside you with something to say? If so, write a paragraph or two in that voice. Do not analyze while writing the paragraph(s).