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Perhaps try different writing exercises with some friends or family. Or maybe try just getting some ideas down and ask some friends or family to help you develop them.

Okay, first of = Write, write, write! The best way to get good is to do it as often as you can! Buuuuut that probably isn't helpful just right now. So lemme see. You are finding it hard to start writing and get your mind flowing with ideas? Hmmm interesting. Okay, so what is the scholastic prompt? Is it just write a short story about anything or does it have to be about something?

I would suggest writing either about things that you know about, or things that you can make up. For example - write a short story about soccer, if you play soccer. Write a short story about the time you put too much salt in the pudding or lost your sister's Christmas present, if these things have happened to you, put a twist in it, write about how it wasn't you who lost the Christmas present, but rather a unicorn who came and took it away. Write about the unicorn's home and why he/she wanted the present in the first place.

Even if you can't write, the best way to write is to write. Okay, that might not make sense, but when you feel like you just can't thing of anything to say, sit down and write. Or don't write. Just doodle, or stare into space, or daydream, or call up your best friend and have a chat...but don't drop writing. I've found that writing every day has been a HUGE help for me. I try to push myself to write so-and-so many words perday, it doesn't matter if I HATE every word while I write it. The important part is that I DO write. And when i go back and read it the next day, I might throw it all away...which might just seem sad, but really it is important, because it drives me to write better. Okay, don't throw your writing away. Cut if from your story and save it somewhere, because it is often inspiring. So my point is, just write...it is by far the best way to get better and write good that I know of.

Another idea is talk to real writers. People who make money from writing. Go to writing blogs - they're the best! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Gail Carson Levine's writing blog. She posts every 2 weeks and her posts are SO helpful. You can ask questions right on the blog and ask her personally as well. If she doesn't get back to you on the blog, another writer surly will. It is a really nice blog.

And lastly, asking for help isn't bad. In fact it's great! For example, assuming your scholastic thingy has a prompt. Either ask someone on here, or a friend of a family member or a teacher for a few ideas or suggestions. Inspiration isn't theft. Even ask someone to write a little bit so it could give you an idea. Don't steal people's writing, but get inspired. It's a great way to write!

Also, ask people for pep talks, or come on here, every time you want to write. It is also inspiring.

Maybe music would help? For example, I'm writing a fantasy novel right now, and i LOVE listening to Adrian Von Ziegler's music while i write that. It's very inspiring. I like listening to music without words, because the words conflict with what you're writing, but whatever works for you.

Another tip is; when you do start writing, always stop in the middle of the plot/peace that you're writing! If you stop when you run out of ideas, then you're just setting yourself up for a harder start tomorrow, or when ever you write again. Does that make sense? 

Also, you don't need a plot. I rather working without a plot, because I find that whenever I write WITH a plot, I always go off plot and it is just annoying. I rather working with just the ideas I have at hand. Sure, sometimes I have loose plot ideas. But I'm not gonna go "Righty, so they go to Christmas at their grandmas and so and so does this and then Alice says that and then they eat dinner and this is the conversation that happens and then they open presents and then the unicorn comes flying up to steal the present...yadda yadda yadda." I'd rather go - "They go to Christmas at their grandmas, and the unicorn steals present." Then start writing. It just works better for me. Sorry that HAD to be confusing. 

Anyway, I've said waaaay too much here. But what I would suggest is, don't stress and try to have fun. That is the most important thing about writing!

Good luck! I hope some of this helps! <3

My teacher always says you have to "show up to the page." Don't let that blank page get you down. Sometimes it helps to start where you are. Just write about where you are, what you're doing, and what you're feeling, and then gradually move into your story idea. You can delete the journal-ish beginning. Remember, when you're writing, you have your writer's hat on, and you don't take it off and replace it with your editor and critiquer's hat until you are done writing. Your ideas don't have to flow. You just have to keep showing up to the page. I know it's kind of difficult, but the more you write, the more you figure out that it's less about feeling and inspiration, and more about putting a lot of work into it. If you just sit and wait for something to come, it will come about the same time Merlin actually does all his chores without complaining, or Gwain actually shuts up for an entire episode. BUT, if you show up and keep writing and writing and writing, then you'll have something. And that something is probably of a lot more value then you're giving it credit for. 

You guys, thank you. So much. It means a lot to me that you guys all took the time to sit down and write out all of that. And it's really helpful! Actually, I'm starting to see that getting past writer's block isn't necessarily about inspirations. It's about hitting your head against it until it breaks

Anyways, thank you so much! I feel much more inspired to go hit my head against said writer's block now.  XD

Luna says "ztiw". Are you sneezing? Playing tiny zelda? I honestly have no clue how to interpret that, my friend. 

*Then don't* 

Ok fine. 

Hi @Autumn Leaves,

I just read your post, and I'll tell you, I often have the same problem. I love to write, but writing on my own is so hard, especially structured writing assignments about something boring (which I can't ever focus on). I'd suggest thinking up a bunch of cool topics (or asking a friend or two for ideas on topics), then pick one, and start writing! (If the contest already has a topic, all the better!). You could even make a solo write on the CB if that helps you. Also, try drawing three simple pictures, each with something in common, then write a story based on those three pictures. Hopefully that helps! I'm not super great at giving advice.

Happy Writing!

In this really good writing book I have called Spilling Ink, they say to just write about anything, every day. Like, don't even look at what you're writing, just wrote. Like this:

Cats. I like cats. They're fuzzy and cute sandbox wait what? Autocorrect? I dislike autocorrect but then sometimes it's really useful like when I make a typo which happens a lot cause I'm on a device with a touch screen and not an actual keyboard.

Etc. 

Oh, gosh, Automn leaves, that's pretty tough. I also have problems with writing on my own. Here are some ideas:

1. You could try posting your story as a roleplay or Ski-liodge and let other people suggest ideas.

2. You can post your story on Cricket and get encouragement and more ideas from people responding.

3. There are some good books on writing, but frankly I have never read any good ones, but going to the library to get some writing tips (If you are looking for tips) might be worhtwhile,  and some good advice is out there. 

My only real pice of advice is.... I guess.... write the book you want to read. A good book. 

Read a lot. Read the book you want to write, then write the book you want to read.

Write the book you want to read. Think about a book that you would love to write, with good plot twists, the characters ACTUALLY MAKING NOT-STUPID DECISIONS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE STORY,  (we've all had that moment where it's like, DUDE DON'T DO THAT OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO KILL YOU NO, NO GLOWING STUFF IS BAAAD ARgH HOW STUPID ARE YOU MAIN CHARACTER!!! That kind of thing) and.... just try to enjoy yourself?

I really don't have a lot of advice except for that, but I hope it helped. 

Peace, Love, and Pie

-Chinchilla 

I've had that problem, I think. I was working on an old project and just hating everything, and then I started a new one because I was doodling on some Post-it's and got inspired. The first is starting to gather dust, but the second I'm just playing. And it comes. Usually. I have a rough frame, and keeping it in there might be hard, but it's low-stakes.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is relax? Don't force an idea, just write it down somewhere else and save it for later. Or if it starts going somewhere, stop writing before you run out of ideas for what happens next. It might not be the most efficient way to write, but it could help. And start with an emotion. A tone, a feeling, a distant message that you can't quite make out the words of. Just find it, remember it, and let the world spring up around it.

It might not work, but that's okay. It's only a thought, and you don't have to go anywhere with it. Set up half an hour to try it so you don't have to feel like you're wasting time if nothing happens. And let us know how it goes. Maybe post your story here? I'd be interested in reading it, personally.

Hope this helps!