Tips for Teens on Triond
A couple helpful hints on writing for Triond, and other writing sites, for teenagers and young adults.
Okay, you are up and running! Your stuff is getting published (yay!) and you feel like an author! Want to be a better one? Here’s some easy steps to remember:
First: Go ahead and ask for help. Every good writer that ever was and ever will be had help at some point. Many still do. Quite a few authors have someone edit their work for them, and show me a professional writer that doesn’t use spell check. You can use a word processing program that will check for errors in both spelling and grammar and then copy and paste your article right into the ‘article body’ section on Triond (most sites let you do something similar). On Triond you are lucky enough to be able to message other writers, also. Don’t solicit people to ‘read my stuff’, solicit advice! If you like a particular author-their style, their content-send them a message and ask for some advice. Most people have been where you are now and would be happy to give you a hand. Just ask! On Triond we also have a helpful ‘help’ feature. Use it. Read the hints provided, and send an email if you need to right to the Triond staff. No matter what your problem is, I’m sure that they have heard it before. And if they haven’t you will have at least given them something interesting to look at today!
Second: You aren’t texting. In the body of your work don’t add OMG, LOL, BFF or anything like that. Also, every sentence starts with a capital (unless it is a particular feature of a free style poem) and every sentence should have punctuation. “I”, as in Me, Myself and I, is ALWAYS a capital letter. Yep, always. Now, I am not getting down on you for texting. I, myself (did you see the capital?) am a terrible texter, but I can type like a wizard. Use those typing classes you had to take and make a healthy profit.
Third: Read!!!!! The best way to become a good writer is to read. And read. And read. Read about what you want to write about. If you want to write poetry, read poetry. If you want to write about the Tibetan Mastiff and the breeds role in traditional Tibetan life, read about the Tibetan Mastiff and the role it plays in traditional Tibetan life. Do some research, and if you are writing an article about something-say the Monarch butterfly-don’t just go to Wikipedia and copy what you find. Visit many sources, paraphrase into your own words and site your sources. Plagiarism (copying other people’s work and calling it your own) is actually a crime, and can have quite serious consequences. And it ticks people off.
Fourth: Take a little criticism. Just because some guy half a world away said your stuff is crap, doesn’t make it so. Yes, your stuff might need a little work, but most people write things over. And over. And over, before they get it right. Learn from what people have to tell and don’t get angry and don’t get even. If a particular comment bugs you, delete it from your content page (P.S. I am one of those people you could message and I will tell you how-for free!)
and finally, Fifth: Market in a good way. Don’t leave messages in every single users box on how you want to read their stuff, but only if they will read yours first. That is annoying, and doesn’t really work. You might get a couple of views and no good advice or comments. There are many good articles here on Triond that will tell you step by step how to quickly and easily market your intellectual property. Read them, and follow some simple instructions. You might not become a millionaire, but that’s not the point is it? Become a better writer. That’s worth so much more than money.
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February 24th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I like it a lot! Great Advice! Now just getting teens to read this and take it is the issue.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Good advice.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
annie where do you find the time to write things like this ? it ws a good read thanks
February 24th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
addendum: post a max of 3 a day.. your first ones are getting buried and misses out on views..
February 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Great advice. Keep on writing !
February 24th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Wonderful advise, and will be appreciated.
February 24th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Great tips, Annie, I just hope people read this…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Nice advice, though I would just like to point that though the majority of chatspeak might be because of teens, I am a teen and I don’t use that. I know a lot of adults that do however.
But nice tips!
February 25th, 2009 at 12:42 am
haha im a teenager im doing alright
February 25th, 2009 at 12:58 am
You’ve got the elders here. Your target audience must be preoccupied with something else. They don’t know what they’re missing. I like your concern for these youngsters.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Good advice for anyone–not just teens.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I’ve really enjoyed what some of our promising young authorspost on triond,however the markiting approach could use your advice,I hope they read it. Your friend,fan,smile
February 26th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Thanks for the read. It really helps teenagers like me trying to start a writing career. love to hear more from you
February 26th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
@ ComplexBanana
Same here. I am a teen but I try to use correct grammar and avoid chatspeak whenever I can. Typing like an adult gets you treated so.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I am new user joined one day before. I got information what I am searching for.
Thank you for your information.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
ON THE MONEY! Well done!
March 1st, 2009 at 2:18 am
This is great advice, not just for teens and young adults, but for everyone! Great job!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:34 pm
These are helpful….yes, a little constructive criticsm would be a great lesson. !and will improve ur writing skills…I used spell check all the time and something —still missing—Haha!
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:57 am
Great tips for all ages
March 6th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Great work! well-written piece and very helpful article 4 Triond’s members as well. Thanx 4 sharing
March 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
very informative i have just posted what a great poet had to say. ITs a perception , i always say read read dont read dont read . money in terms of cents is tuppence only ur ego gets aired when others read and maybe comment
March 12th, 2009 at 10:29 am
good article!
March 13th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Terrific stuff. The Moose says ‘make this required reading for all new citizens of Triond”
March 24th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Thabk you for taking the time to write this..this is a good refresher for me too! These are very relevant and good points.
March 28th, 2009 at 1:24 am
“You might not become a millionaire, but that’s not the point is it? Become a better writer. That’s worth so much more than money.”
Are you joking with me or something, Mr. Mustafah?
March 29th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Nope, “Art is it’s own reward.” Besides, if you want to make money writing, you must first be good at it. In theory.
October 28th, 2010 at 8:55 am
These are EXCELLENT tips that will be beneficial to any Triond user. Thanks a lot for sharing. I agree with all your points, especially the one that suggests that you should use a word-processor and do a spell-check, then paste the corrected work straight to “Submit” at Triond. You might have wanted to add the idea of using a picture.