You’ve spent this year learning how to write fiction short stories — building characters, shaping plots, finding your voice. But here’s the thing: You only live once. Now that you’ve created so many ideas and stories, don’t let your investment in time fade away. Keep writing so that your creativity continues for the rest of your life. In a world where only 2% of people at 25 years of age are still creative geniuses, you can stand out for being a creative genius yourself.

Writers get to live a thousand lives. You can step into the shoes of a detective, a dragon rider, a lonely kid on a road trip, or even a villain with a soft spot for kittens. So why stop just because summer’s here?

Let’s talk about how you can keep writing over the summer — and actually enjoy it.

First, make it fun, not a chore. This isn’t summer homework. This is your chance to write whatever you want. Want to write a mystery about a group of teens who break into the old lighthouse and find a coded message in the walls? Do it. Want to dive into fantasy and tell the story of a girl who discovers a portal in her backyard garden shed? Go for it. Maybe you’re drawn to a funny home-life story about two siblings trying to keep their hamster escape a secret from their parents. Or maybe you feel the pull of adventure, like a kid who sneaks onto a fishing boat and ends up halfway to another country. The point is: write what excites you. Not every piece has to be polished or perfect — just keep your imagination moving.

Big goals can feel overwhelming, so make your writing goals small and personal. Maybe you write just five or ten minutes a day. Maybe you set yourself a summer challenge, like finishing one short story before school starts again. Even keeping a small notebook where you jot down random ideas, cool names, or overheard conversation can help. Tiny bits of writing keep your brain warmed up, and they add up over time.

Summer is packed with inspiration if you pay attention. There’s the crackle of fireworks on the Fourth of July, the shock of jumping into a cold lake, the tension of a falling out with friends, or the sleepy hum of cicadas on a hot night. Writers are observers of life. Pay attention to those details, write them down, and later turn them into something bigger. Your summer experiences are your secret stash of story fuel.

Don’t feel like you have to do it alone, either. Maybe you set up a story swap with a friend or keep in touch with a friend from Legacy, trading one story a month. Sharing your writing, even just casually, keeps the fun alive and helps you stay motivated.

Most importantly, give yourself permission to play. Summer is the perfect time to experiment. Try writing in a genre you’ve never tackled before. Write a story with a wild twist or an unexpected ending. Break some rules just to see what happens. You might write a story where the villain wins or where the hero realizes they were wrong all along. Write something messy and strange — this is your playground, and no one is grading you.

Here’s what I want you to remember as you head into summer: **You only live once — so why not live as a writer this summer?** Write not because you have to. Write because you *get* to. You have stories inside you that no one else can tell. And if you ever feel stuck, just remind yourself of the possibilities all around you: a mystery about the neighbor sneaking out at night, a fantasy with a lost key that unlocks memories, a family road trip that goes hilariously wrong, or a scavenger hunt that leads somewhere no one expected.

You’ve got this. Have an amazing summer — and keep living those thousand lives.