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Ideas Escape Me
by Linda S. Dupie
Have you ever said, “I have nothing to write about.” It’s just not true. You have plenty look around. Everywhere you go; everywhere you look there are hundreds of ideas. You have to open your eyes and mind and let them in.
Before you say the ideas been done, let me say this, it probably has a hundred times over but what makes it original is your slant on the topic. If writers were to avoid ideas because someone else has covered it, the written world including movies would cease to exist because there wouldn’t be a need for writers.
No matter what your age, open your eyes and mind, absorb your surroundings, and then write.
WHERE TO FIND WRITING IDEAS
Playgrounds are great to jog your memory of events that would make excellent essays, plots for short stories and articles.
Libraries-There is literally thousands of ideas at your fingertips here. You could write book reviews. Write a rebuttal to an article you don’t agree with.
School/College-Why not write a survival guide article. How to survive the eight grade, how you completed your first year of college without gaining the ‘Freshman 15’. A how to article is perfect for magazines that target your peers.
Pets-How to articles. For example, you convinced your parents to let you have a pet; you have what you need to write a how to for other kids based on your experiences. Be serious or funny whatever works for you.
Your community-Has a peer or adult accomplished something extraordinary or ordinary that benefited others? Interview them for a profile piece.
Trends/Fads- As a kid or teen you’re in a unique position of spotting a trend before it really happens. Look around at your peers, what are they wearing? How are they talking? Did a friend just return from Europe? Did they bring back anything that might become trendy here? Write about it!
Television-Write about the reality shows from your point of view. What do you really think of them? Your perspective will vary greatly from that of an adult.
Grocery stores-This is a great place to observe people and gather traits for characters in your short stories. You could write a humorous essay comparing your shopping list with that of your parents.
Hobbies-Do you have a unique hobby? Write about it and share your expertise with others.
Politics-You’re never too young! Is something happening locally, state or nationally that affects you and your peers? Dig around, make some calls and try to talk with the individual or individuals involved to help you understand and then write about it to help others understand.
Ideas are everywhere, just look around, and you’ll never say I have nothing to write about again.
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Visit the website at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-dupie-862982b6
AGENTS & EDITORS
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- Landing An Agent Elements Of A Winning Query
- Literary Agents List
- Preditors and Editors
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Tips for a Successful Editor Appointment
- Want More? Here’s How to Get It
- What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
- Windup for the (Story) Pitch
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
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CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS MAIN PAGE
- 2026 JAN Calls for Submissions
- 2025 DEC Calls for Submissions
- 2025 NOV Calls for Submissions
- 2025 OCT Calls for Submissions
- 2025 SEP Calls for Submission
- 2025 AUG Calls for Submission
- 2025 JUL Calls for Submission
- 2025 JUN Calls for Submission
- 2025 MAY Calls for Submission
- 2025 APR Calls for Submission
- 2025 MAR Calls for Submission
- 2025 FEB Calls for Submission
ENCOURAGEMENT & IDEAS
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ENCOURAGEMENT & IDEAS MAIN PAGE
- A Dream Realized
- A Guide to Assessing Writing Contests
- Beyond the Basics
- Fiction vs Nonfiction
- Finding Time to Write
- Finding Your Writing Compass: A Guide to Freelance Adventures
- Five Ways to Promote Yourself
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- How Not to Procrastinate
- How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists
- How To Write Your Own Press Releases
- Ideas Escape Me
- Keep a Clipping File
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Knowing and Finding Your Voice
- Moving Up the Rejection Ladder
- Mud Pies
- Plan for Success
- Pop Quiz: Who Are You?
- Rules for Writers
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- The Art of Being Rejected–475 Words
- The Juggling Act
- The Literary Food Chain
- Tip Sheets on Inclusion for Children
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Why Children Like to Write Fiction Stories
- Working with a Critique Group
- Write Diaries for Your Children 01
- Write Diaries for Your Children 02
- Write Diaries for Your Children 03
- Write Diaries for Your Children 04
- Write Diaries for Your Children 05
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing By Moonlight
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 1 The Story Idea
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 2 The Meat of the Story
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 3 The Climax
GRAMMAR & FORMATTING
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GRAMMAR & FORMATTING MAIN PAGE
- Achieving 250 Words / 25 Lines Per Page
- And Sammy, Too? Oh, No!
- Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
- Edit Easier
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Misused Words
- Navigating In Your Novel
- Proofreaders Marks
- Research Links
- Rules for Writers
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- Tightening Your Manuscript and Trimming the Word Count
MARKETS & JOBS
- 35 Online Work Ideas to Earn Good Money Whilst Studying
- An Interview with Holly Ambrose
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- EBooks-Fears to Possibilities
- Finding Markets Fiction and Nonfiction
- Freelance Writing 101
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- How to Write a Novel Synopsis
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Magazine Links
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Market News–All Genres
- Need a Clip? Open a Newspaper
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Science & Science Fiction Writing Organizations
- Selling to Children’s Markets
- Submission Tracking
- Submitting to UK Markets
- Syndication 101
- To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
- Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelancer 2025 Update
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Why E-Books?
- Words That Pay-The Rewards Of Choosing Writing As A Job
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
- Write Your Way to $1000 a Month
- Writing Groups List
- Youth Writing Markets
ONLINE SAFETY
SHORT STORIES
TARGETING THE YOUNG
- How to Write a Children’s Book and Submit It to Publishers
- Ideas Escape Me
- Keep a Clipping File
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Knowing and Finding Your Voice
- Mud Pies
- Plan for Success
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- Tip Sheets on Inclusion for Children
- To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
- Why Children Like to Write Fiction Stories
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 1 The Story Idea
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 2 The Meat of the Story
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 3 The Climax
- Youth Writing Markets
TEEN WRITERS
WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES
WRITING CONTESTS
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ABOUT WRITING CONTESTS
- A Guide to Assessing Writing Contests
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing Groups List
- 2026 JAN Writing Contests
- 2025 DEC Writing Contests
- 2025 NOV Writing Contests
- 2025 OCT Writing Contests
- 2025 SEP Writing Contests
- 2025 AUG Writing Contests
- 2025 JUL Writing Contests
- 2025 JUN Writing Contests
- 2025 MAY Writing Contests
- 2025 APR Writing Contests
- 2025 MAR Writing Contests
- 2025 FEB Writing Contests
WRITING DIARIES
- Keep a Clipping File
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- Write Diaries for Your Children 01
- Write Diaries for Your Children 02
- Write Diaries for Your Children 03
- Write Diaries for Your Children 04
- Write Diaries for Your Children 05
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 1 The Story Idea
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 2 The Meat of the Story
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 3 The Climax

