My teen is bored with the kinds of writing she is asked to do in school and is starting to hate writing altogether. How can I get her to stay interested?

Ultimately, creativity is as much about regular work habits as it is about inspiration, so helping your daughter understand that there is value in getting her school writing done, whether it interests her or not, is my first recommendation. Many students don't work hard enough or well enough at their writing and school, even when it is boring, is a place to get in the habit of getting work done.

Next, I would offer her a lofty goal or dream, one that even a teen is ready for: I would suggest that if her school writing bores her and if she can make the time for it (after her schoolwork gets done), then she might think about working on a short story, an article, or even a novel or a nonfiction book. But before making this suggestion, I would make sure that she is bored because her school tasks are uninteresting and not because she is worried about or embarrassed by her writing skills. I would ask the question directly: "Honey, is it that the tasks are too boring or are you worried about your writing skills?" Depending on her answer, she might need a little positive reinforcement or even tutoring before she embarks on her first creative writing project.