Having written so many creative writing pieces on YAA, I only feel it is appropriate that this month’s blog highlights a few of my personal favourite tips. Now, you may be wondering why I am such a creative writing advocate…
Well, it’s because I feel that creative writing allows writers to explore uncomfortable places in their minds and express their emotions in a unique way. It can forge a connection between reader and writer that is unachievable elsewhere. Unfortunately, creative writing is one of the most under-appreciated forms of writing, as it is often neglected by the school curriculum. I could go on and on about the benefits of creative writing and why we aren’t doing it justice in today’s society, so please take my word that creative writing is both fun and educational!
1) “The 8 Essential Elements Of Creative Writing”
This first tip can and should be applied to not only creative writing, but also all other types. The 8 elements are: Plot, Character, Setting, Conflict, Theme, Tone, Point-Of-View, and Style. Anytime I write, whether for a blog, for school, or for my own personal enjoyment, these 8 criteria always linger at the back of my head. In fact, since I always become distracted when I write, I try to make a conscious effort to focus on these elements. If you are too, then I would highly recommend this approach! An extension to this advice would be planning, as these are the elements one should always plan for before writing. Planning will undoubtedly make the writing process smoother, faster, and ultimately more enjoyable.
2) Write about a real event
Writing about a real event helps with idea generation (real events are, of course, real, so the author does not have to make up anything), writing flow (a real event will have events in a chronological order that makes sense, which again helps the author), and believability (real events are inherently more believable, and believability is extremely important in creative writing, as it is what keeps the reader engaged).
3) Start during the conflict
Starting during the conflict increases the pace (it will not feel slow like many of the books you may read in ELA class), eliminates any need for tricky plot development (starting during the conflict means you do not have to meticulously create your setting and characters, as they will be developed automatically during any conflict), and serves as an excellent hook (let’s just say this—would you rather read a beginning that describes a flowery meadow or one that starts off with a high-stake, suspenseful fight between 2 characters?).
4) Keep your targeted audience in mind
Always focusing on your targeted audience will help you choose an appropriate writing style (your style would change dramatically if you were writing for your teacher or if you were writing for friends), engage your reader (a younger audience would likely be more interested in video games), and enhance the text’s believability (talking about Tiktok dramas may not even make sense to your grandparents).
5) Use literary devices
Literary devices add uniqueness and flamboyance to creative writing. Similes, metaphors, alliterations, allusions, metonymies, personifications, rhymes, symbols, foreshadowing, and allegories are all on the table!
6) Do not be afraid to edit and rewrite
Though this may seem trivial, creative writing, just like any other genre, requires an at-times frustrating amount of time to edit, polish, and perfect. It is always ideal to come up with an idea that works on the first try, but we all know this is far from reality. Thus, to get the optimal piece of creative writing, dedication is needed. Trust me, in no time, editing will feel like second nature to you.
7) READ, WRITE, and READ MORE
It will be incredibly challenging to begin creative writing without a source from which you can reference—that is where reading will lend a massive helping hand. And writing lots should be pretty self-explanatory—the more you write, the better you will become, of course!
Though creative writing may seem like a painstaking obstacle rather than an enjoyable hobby at times, I would encourage you all to step out of your comfort zones and start today!
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