As a parent, you know your teen has stories to tell. You’ve seen the sparks—the vivid imagination, the love of reading, the way they light up when they talk about an idea. So why do they get stuck the moment they face a blank page?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. One of the most common frustrations I hear from parents is: “They love writing… so why won’t they start?”

In this blog post, adapted from my podcast episode of the same name, I’ll explain what’s really going on behind the scenes—and what you can gently do to help.

Why the Blank Page Feels So Intimidating

There’s a myth that teens who are “good at writing” should find it easy to begin. But writing isn’t just mechanical—it’s emotional. A 2017 study in Educational Psychology Review found that students’ emotional states significantly affect their writing fluency and idea generation, especially in open-ended tasks.

Why? Because writing requires vulnerability. It’s a form of self-expression, and self-expression—especially for teens in a phase of intense identity development—can feel risky. Add to that perfectionism, fear of judgment, or not knowing what’s “good enough,” and the blank page quickly turns from opportunity to pressure cooker.

And here’s something I’ve seen again and again in my years as a teacher and coach: the more self-aware your teen is, the harder it can be to start. These teens know what great writing looks like, and that knowledge becomes a double-edged sword. The higher their standards, the more likely they are to avoid starting at all.

What Parents Often Do (That Doesn’t Work)

You might be saying:

• “Just write something—anything!”

• “It doesn’t have to be perfect!”

• “You used to love writing!”

All well-intentioned. But here’s the problem: when we rush past the fear or try to logic it away, we unintentionally send the message that their discomfort isn’t valid. And for a teen already wrestling with self-doubt, this can make them shut down even more.

Another common misstep? Over-structuring too early. Teens need room to explore their ideas before they lock into a five-paragraph framework. Structure is important—but timing matters even more.

What Actually Helps Teens Get Unstuck

Here are five research-backed, classroom-tested strategies I use with my own students—and they work.

1. Start with low-stakes, expressive writing.
Think: writing a note to their future self, fictional text threads, or journaling a dream. These activities lower the pressure and build writing confidence.

2. Help them visualize before they write.
Ask, “What do you see happening in the scene?” Sketching or mood-boarding can unlock ideas when words are slow to come.

3. Use warm-ups—not worksheets.
Fun prompts like “Describe an object without naming it” or “Write a one-sentence story” ease them in. I created a whole pack of these inside my Summer Writing Starter Pack for exactly this reason.

4. Reframe it as creative time.
“Writing” can trigger performance anxiety. Try calling it “creative time” instead—where they can write, doodle, brainstorm, or build characters. It removes the pressure to produce.

5. Validate the block—and offer one small step.
Instead of pushing, try: “That makes sense. Want to just write for five minutes and see where it goes?” That permission shift changes everything.

Final Thoughts: Writing Is Brave Work

Every sentence your teen writes—whether it’s brilliant, awkward, or unfinished—is an act of courage. What they need most is a safe space to explore without fear of getting it wrong.

If you’d like to support your teen with a simple, creative system to spark their imagination, start with my free download: 7 Creative Prompts to Spark Powerful Teen Writing This Summer. These prompts are playful, low-pressure, and perfect for building confidence—even if your teen hasn’t written in a while.

Until then, keep creating space. Keep believing in their voice. And keep showing up—even if the page is blank. That’s where all the best stories begin.

Francesca Hudson
@TheClassicHighSchoolTeacher