rebelling against low expectations

The Success Path for Young Writers (Lesson #3)

By Jaquelle Crowe Ferris
June 24, 2017
72 comments
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Have you taken the WriterScore yet?

We released the WriterScore to help young people measure their growth and development as writers.

It’s an assessment that gives you a numerical score — which translates into one of four categories. You’re either a Dreamer, a Starter, a Planner, or an Achiever.

A lot of thought and nuance went into the actual scoring system. It’s not just a vanity metric. It actually means something.

We’ve done all we can to make your WriterScore a realistic measure of how close you are to getting published. The higher your score is, the closer you are to getting a book contract with a traditional publisher or successfully self-publishing your work.

Learn more about the WriterScore here.

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Why We Created the WriterScore

But the WriterScore doesn’t just evaluate where young writers are at; it educates them on how to move forward.

The thing is, there’s more to writing than just writing.

Obviously writing itself is important. But it’s not the whole picture. There are more ingredients and pieces that go into making young writers become young authors.

Many young people dream of getting a book published someday or having a career as an author — but all they know to work on is writing.

The WriterScore is designed to show young writers all the pieces they need to work on in order to become young authors. It’s like a map.

In lesson #3 of our video class, Young Writers, Young Authors we show you how to read that map.

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Lesson 3: The “Success Path” for Young Writers

In lesson #1, we tried to convince you that it’s both possible and realistic for young writers to become young authors. Then in lesson #2, we shared my story to prove that can actually happen. Now, in lesson #3, we’re going to tell you how that can happen to you. We’ll lay out how to improve your WriterScore fast and take practical, measurable steps to map out your own success path to publication. Acccess The Video Series

Click here to start watching Lesson #3:video-3-blog

Take the WriterScore Now!

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The WriterScore Assessment is a way to measure your growth and development as a writer in ten different categories. Click here to take the assessment. Once you’ve taken it, share your score and join the discussion in our private Facebook group.

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About the author

Jaquelle Crowe Ferris

is the former editor-in-chief of The Rebelution and author of This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years (Crossway). She's the co-founder of The Young Writers Workshop and hosts a podcast for youth called Age of Minority. She's married to Joe and lives in Nova Scotia, Canada.

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72 comments

  • Jaquelle and Brett,
    I only just now got a chance to watch a couple of the videos and I love them. Ya’ll have done a fantastic job and I have been encouraged and inspired by them. My only complaint is that your tempting me to join Facebook again just so I can be a part of the writers group. 😉 (Why does everything have to be on Facebook! 😉 )

  • This has been so awesome and helpful for me! 😀 I must say though, I am disappointed that Paul the Polish Polar Bear didn’t get to be the example… ='(
    XD

  • LOL, Hannah. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the videos. And you really don’t have to be on Facebook. Of course, if you *wanted* to, well, we wouldn’t turn you away. 😉

  • I also couldn’t help but notice Brett wearing the headphones the other way around in all the videos. The one with the pause/play buttons was on his left, even though it’s supposed to be for his right. I’m not saying it’s bad, just funny, I also wear them that way and I like it that way.

  • Haha! Actually, I think the program that records the videos flips things around — so actually the microphone is in my right ear. Everything is just backwards. I didn’t realize that until you pointed it out!

  • Oh my gosh….THIS IS SOOOOOO EXCITING!! I just watched the video, and I have typed up in a word document my current writerscore, the ways I regularly write (such as my blog in a notebook, the book reviews I write on goodreads, random open letters I write, google+ posts, etc), and some ideas for a bigger platform such as actually getting a blog up and running, or getting published in a newsletter or magazine. Also, I thought about what I need to do such as talk to family, find a mentor and join a community! Plus, I want to start on book ideas THIS YEAR!!

    Thanks Brett and Jaquelle!! I am now motivated and SO VERY excited!!!

  • Oh my gosh! I just watched all of the videos and retook to writerscore and I went from 31 to 50! I plan to step it up on my blog and start posting more again. I have a plan. I am going to research WW2 (which i already planned to do) so I can write a novel. I wanted to publish, but now I think I can! I believe that I can do this! Thanks so much, @jaquellecrowe:disqus @BrettHarris:disqus!!!

  • I didn’t notice that either. I was too busy noticing the headphones and his head. Pretty much watching the show.

  • I can’t believe it!! Now I know what i’m missing! Researching! No wonder I feel so bored, ’cause I didn’t research it.

  • Thank you so much Delaney! If you haven’t put ‘research’ on your comment, I would have still been blinded by what I lack in my goal to becoming a young writer then to a young author.

  • Well, he talks with his hands a lot so… And idk if I would have noticed if I hadn’t read your comment about the headphones first

  • YAY! Excited for you!

    Btw. have you considered writing for theRebelution if you don’t already? I know, we could always use more young, motivated writers like you.

  • I just really want to thank you guys for these videos! They are very helpful and encouraging. I loved hearing your story about how you got published, Jaquelle. 🙂 Also, on a side note, I love the poster of “Singing in the Rain” hanging in your room. 😉

  • Thank you, thank you, thank you for these videos! I’ve been wanting to start writing more seriously, and these videos are helping and encouraging me so much! 🙂

  • Thanks!

    Yes actually. I plan on submitting something soon. The only thing I ever submitted in the past was a discussion question. Say, are you newer to the Reb, or have I just never seen you within the almost two years I’ve been around?

  • Lol. . .I’ve been getting this a lot. I guess it’s what I get for changing my name and profile pic and then not being on theReb for a while. I’m actually not new, and I know you.

    My previous name was liv737johnoxide and I had a picture of a cute puppy dog as my profile. I actually interned with theRebelution editorial team for a while.

  • OOOH yeah….I remember!! How are you??

    What? You interned?!! That is so awesome!! How was it?

  • I’m doing really great! What about you?

    Yeah. . .Brett is actually married to my sister, so I kind of help out whenever I’m wanted. But two summers ago (so not last summer) I was interning more full time. Jaquelle is the best! She’s super encouraging and fun to work with it, so it was really great!

  • That makes a lot of sense how you personally know Brett. I was actually wonderfing about that. And, I have to admit, I was wondering who you where too at first. lol

  • Pretty good. Just busy trying to finish high school!!

    Yeah that’s right!! i actually remember an old conversation some of us had on a thread sometime last year I think and you had mentioned that!! 🙂 Btw, is Anna doing okay?

    Awesome!! Yeah…she’s the best!!

  • Thank you so much for creating the writers score! I got a 46 several months ago, and I retook it on Wednesday and got…. 56! Being part of the Facebook group is really helping me, thank you again for helping me on my writing journey. 🙂

  • Thanks so much to Brett and Jaquelle for helping us out! I wouldn’t be so close to being published right now if it hadn’t been for you. That said, I’ve still got a ways to go.

    It’s a little off-topic, but if anyone is looking for an online writers’ group, I highly recommend one called Figment or a more popular one, Wattpad. If you’re looking for meaningful input on your writing, I suggest Figment; but Wattpad has more experienced writers. However, most of Wattpad (at least ninety percent) consists of readers inactive in reviewing and writing.

    On a side note, neither of these sites are devoted Christian sites; Christian content is allowed, however.

  • Haha…And am I the only one who tried clicking the “X” button in the top right corner of Brett’s half of the screen? *snicker*

  • Congratulations, Joye! That’s a solid score. I hope you were able to identify some key areas that you can improve in to keep that score going up! =)

  • Yay, Samuel! I’m so happy you’re moving closer and closer to publication. Hey, what matters isn’t that you’re there yet. What matters is that you keep moving forward — which you are. 👍

  • Ah! Thank goodness! I finally found something to help me publish all these plot maps I’ve made for my OCs. Thank you so much Jaquelle!

  • I got 31(starter)
    Pretty nice. I should start with my projects!
    Thank you for this confidence boost <3

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By Jaquelle Crowe Ferris June 24, 2017
72 comments
rebelling against low expectations

The Rebelution is a teenage rebellion against low expectations—a worldwide campaign to reject apathy, embrace responsibility, and do hard things. Learn More →