Colleges teaching creative writing are under scrutiny.
Creative writing remains one of the most in-demand majors among modern students.
While it classes teaching creative writing attract myriads of wannabe writers worldwide, the question arises: Can creative writing be considered an academic discipline?
Thus, some people believe that you must be born an author, as real writers have a natural gift to convey important messages through their writings.
On the contrary, others are sure that those who wish to become an author should be taught the nuances of writers’ work at educational institutions.
It is due to the latter opinion that today’s colleges and universities offer creative writing classes in their curricula.
Interestingly, such an educational subject can be useful for enthusiastic amateur writers and those who don’t plan to turn their hobbies into lucrative professions.
Related Reading: Do You Know the 11 Best Day Jobs for Writers?
Even though possessing a degree in this field doesn’t entail getting a profitable job immediately, learning the art of creative writing has its benefits.
In this post, we are teaching creative writing. Are you ready to read creative writing examples?
Be sure to stay until the end of the post to receive resources to improve your own writing. These resources are helpful for every writing topic.
Let’s get started.
Tips for Learning Creative Writing
Writers at SharpEssay believe that trying out various genres strengthens your problem-solving skills and makes you more flexible when communicating. Moreover, any creative activity that requires knowledge and some “inner work” represents a genuinely empowering process.
How Does One Learn Creative Writing: Useful Ideas
Of course, plenty of educational establishments all over the world provide their attendees with creative writing studies.
Yet, it is crucial to remember that you need to put a lot of effort and time into your development as an author, even when you are not visiting lectures. Despite having professionals guiding you through the jungles of creative writing craft, self-study is of utmost importance.
Approach Reading As a Writer Would
Perhaps, one of the essential tips on boosting one’s writing abilities regards reading – meaning, a lot of reading.
Most well-known authors agree that reading carefully, taking notes on how a specific writer unveils a story in their book helps significantly.
When savoring a poem or a novel, please pay attention to their structure and stylistic devices used. This way, you will be able to apply them in your own writings later.
Set Expectations and Define Consequences
Undoubtedly, writing is an act of creation. It means that, sometimes, you may put words down without a specific purpose, just practicing.
Nevertheless, professional writers often say they are working on a piece for which they have distinct thoughts. Intentions represent a smoother (than usual) process.
It is vital for every creator to have a clear idea of why they are writing. Also, they should know what they are writing and what outcomes their literary work will bring.
Edit with the Larger Picture in Mind
Like any other written work, revising and editing your literary creation should be approached with acute attention.
Indeed, the editing step in the writing process comes only after the first draft is ready when you can replace some words with their more exquisite alternatives.
Nonetheless, reviewing your rough copy and making some corrections to it should also help you have the overall picture of what you have composed.
Thus, you will be able to determine if you achieved the initially defined goal at the end of such a journey.
Resort to These Writing Prompts to Start Writing
To enhance your creativity, use the ideas given below to start working on your piece.
Reinterpret a Well-Known Story
Pick a famous fairy tale or a myth that you know very well. Discover a way to retell this story after looking at its events from a different angle.
For instance, you may change the protagonist so that the narrative will also undergo alterations.
Use the new point of view you’ve resorted to practicing to alter the character’s mindset and attitude. See in which way the details of your book change from the viewpoint of this character.
Record and Transcript Conversations
The next tip will come in handy for screenwriters and dramatists since, for the most part, their writings will be represented by dialogues. Hence, you can record yourself chatting with a friend/relative/colleague and then turn it into a script.
Such a practice will endow you with a clear idea of the natural flow of conversation in real life, simultaneously honing your dialogue-writing skills to perfection.
Capture the Readers’ Senses
Choose a vivid memory of something impressive you have once experienced. While taking down notes on it, focus on using as many sensory details as possible.
Mastery of specific descriptions of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell will allow your audience to connect more intuitively to the experiences you “talk” about.
See the Unusual in the Usual
The prevailing number of famous authors – generally poets – are fantastic visual thinkers. It is because they sharpen their ability to see extraordinary in ordinary things, such as household items.
Observe them closely, dwelling on details and similarities to other objects, creatures, or phenomena. Thus, your camera lens may vaguely resemble an eye that is always watching what is happening around you.
Play Around with Genres
Use an already-published story or one of your own memories to play around with genres a bit.
Try to rewrite a chosen novel or memory in the form of a film script. Hence, you will notice that the information in a screenplay is transmitted differently from a written story. For instance, descriptions of nature recede into the background, giving way to dialogues.
Write Short Stories about Various Characters
Come up with a short story about a particular character. Show how their usual way of life is suddenly changed due to unforeseen circumstances.
After that, you can work on the character’s development. Give them a somewhat ambiguous choice, prompting the protagonist to make a tough decision.
Importantly, to build a connection with your readers from the beginning, you may provide them with hints. Tell about what decision the protagonist will make eventually.
Such short stories containing particular moral challenges will boost your character development skills.
Draw Inspiration from a Family Tradition
It’s no secret that every family has its own traditions and peculiar ways of communicating with each other. Hence, when creating a memoir, it is critical to think outside the box.
Ask yourself, “What other people might think of me or my certain behavior?” When it comes to creative writing, it is of paramount importance that the author realizes how they are different. The author differs from their audience and other people in general.
Experts on engineering assignment help services suggest that you can select one of your family traditions. Explain it in great detail to polish your writing skills.
Use “Turning Points” Exercise
Create a short writing piece (less than a thousand words). Making sure that every paragraph opens with a shocking plot twist to capture the attention of your readers.
At the same time, each turning point should occur most naturally, arising from the earlier paragraphs’ information. Thus, if you haven’t previously mention wizards in your piece, the opening of one of the following paragraphs cannot include a sudden outbreak of war in a magical world.
As a result, such a writing practice will help you understand how exactly plot twists help the writer move the narrative forward.
Wrapping Up: Teaching Creative Writing
Authors who write college essays for money, always point out that creative writing requires both innate talent and constant work.
It’s all about writing competence and imagination development. Combine them wisely, and you will succeed in your literary aspirations!
Today’s contributing author is skilled at teaching creative writing and left us these resources.
Teaching Creative Writing Resources
Resource 1: Remember to use transitional phrases in your writing.
Teaching Creative Writing Resource 2: Use Active Voice
Readers, please share so creative writers learn these teaching creative writing lessons.
I look forward to your views in the comments section. Do you have any tips for teaching creative writing?
This post was contributed and made possible by the support of our readers.
