TEEN WRITER QUESTIONNAIRE
GENERAL INFO. ON YOUR WRITING STYLE/HABITS (Fill in what applies to you, and skip any that don’t really grab you, or apply to you If you’re into dance, music, art or some other form of “creative outlets” just answer the question according to what you do.)
1.) First Name, Age, Year in School, City & State (or when graduated… H.S. or College?)
2.) E-mail address or School Address to contact you with any questions:
3.) Do you enjoy reading?
3a.) Favorite author(s)?
3b.) Favorite Book(s)?
3c.) Writer that has truly mastered certain writing skills you admire and would even try to emulate.... Who?
3d.) Which work or works (from 3c) of his/her writing displays the particularly well writing you describe?
3e.) Do you enjoy writing?
4.) WAS writing ever a thing you did NOT enjoy, or even got anxious about it?
5.) How did you overcome that fear/dislike and get “turned on” to writing?
6.) Was there a certain friend, teacher, mentor perhaps that got you interested or at least made you attempt to write stuff down?
7.) How old were you when you started writing?
8.) What were the first ways you began to write? (Journaling, diary, pen pals, school yearbook or newspaper, etc.)
9.) Do you keep a journal or a diary now? Do you have more than one? (i.e. – I have several different journals: one for me - like a diary; one to talk about my writing career; one to talk about each of my kids; etc.)
10.) If you could write any style/genre, what would it be? (poetry, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, etc.)
11.) Who would your first two choices be for your reading audience: small children (picture books), early readers (K-2nd grade), middle grade readers, Young Adults/Jr. High and High School, or Adults?
12.) Do you like to write long pieces (books) or articles, or poetry? Describe the length most of your writing ends up being, if there is a “usual” length.
FEELINGS DURING WRITING:
1.) Where do you go to write, when given the choice (for example, up in your room, alone with the door closed; during study hall at school; on long bus or car rides; at a quiet library; in your family room with a bunch of stuff going on around you…)
2.) Does it need to be noisy and loud, or super quiet?
3.) How does writing make you feel?
4.) Do you ever rely on writing to help you feel better? (I write out my frustrations sometimes when I’m mad to get it out of my system instead of fighting w/someone and regretting something I might say; or sometimes I’m so happy, I just want to get down every emotion on paper so I can have that feeling again to refer to when I’m having a horrible day…) Explain.
5.) Do you have any “writing buddies” that “get” what writing gives to you? (Who are they? Same age, or what is the age difference? Same gender or different than you?)
6.) Do you have someone who you let read your stuff? Do you let them tell you if they like it at all, or even critique it for you to make it better? (Who is it, and what is their relation to you… friend, teacher, brother, etc.)
GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL:
1.) Would you know how to find a mentor, an organization to join, or even a critique group you could attend? (If yes, how?)
2.) Do you ever think about actually submitting a piece of your work to a contest, a magazine, or even a book publisher?
3.) Would you know where to go to find the correct way to format everything and send it to the proper places to get published? How?
4.) Do you think you might want to pursue writing as a career someday, or do something related to the field? (Give details)
5.) Do you know what high school, college or even extra-curricular classes would be most helpful in developing and furthering your talents and skills in the craft of writing? (If so, give examples.)
6.) What other creative outlets do you pursue? (Music, acting, singing, art, dance, etc.)
7.) Are your parents/guardians aware of your writing abilities/aspirations?
8.) Are they supportive and/or encouraging? How does there reactions (good/bad/or indifferent) make you feel about your writing?
9.) What are some of the ways you get encouragement for HOW or WHY you write?
10.) Who gives you that encouragement? (And what is his/her relationship to you?)
11.) Are you a peer support/mentor for others trying to learn to write, or further their skills?
12.) Are you interested in submitting a piece (250 words or less) to go into a book for teens on “WRITING & PUBLISHING: Famous Teen Authors - How to Add Your Name to the List – The Ultimate Teen Guide”?
13.) Would you be able to give permission for your work to be published, and have your parent/legal guardian give permission as well? (If younger than 18 years old.)
In signing below, I give Tina P. Schwartz permission to use any e-mail, phone conversations or other interview conversations for her book on Teen Authors.
X ________________________________________________________________
(Signature / Printed Name of Participant / Date of Birth) (Date)
X ________________________________________________________________
(Signature / Printed Name of Guardian / Relationship to Participant) (Date)
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me through my website at www.tinaPschwartz.com. Thank you for your participation. I will contact you if I have further questions. You can be reached at (e-mail: _____________________;
Phone#_______________.) Thank you for your participation!
Tina P. Schwartz
Author & Public Speaker
P.S. If you’d like to fill this out and e-mail it back to me, send it to Email:
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