Discover what it means to write creatively and the best methods for actually doing it.
By Julie Tyler Ruiz
Writing creatively is the act of turning your original ideas into a written piece, a unique reading experience that will inspire your audience.
Unlike professional or academic writing, writing in a creative way means you use a special set of techniques and styles to infuse your work with emotional texture, innovative use of language, surprising forms, and aesthetic qualities.
Let's look at a comparison example:
To explore a more thorough definition of creative writing, read my article, "What is Creative Writing? Definition, Types, and How to Get Started."
Now that you know what writing creatively entails, let's go over how to do it. In this guide, I offer seven concrete strategies for unleashing your creativity, expressing your heart and soul, and ultimately inspiring readers. No prior experience or education required!
Take on these strategies in the order I've listed them to lay a strong creative writing foundation that you can build upon over time.
A creative mindset refers to our ability to explore new ideas and possibilities, innovate new solutions, and remain curious and open-minded. This mindset supports your creative writing efforts, in that your ideas will flow continuously, giving you fresh material to write about and the inspiration to spend time at your desk.
You can cultivate a creative mindset, regardless of your professional background or other passions. This means that even if you work as an investment banker or software engineer, roles that require quantitative and technology skills, you can still apply your ingenuity and curiosity to creative writing.
Learn more in my step-by-step video tutorial, Reclaim Your Creativity!
To write creatively and express your ideas artfully on paper, you'll need to develop several skills and abilities. The most important skills to build when you're just starting your creative writing journey include:
Clarity, to ensure that your readers comprehend the meaning and message of your work.
Emotional depth, to convey a range of emotions throughout a written piece and evoke an emotional response from your audience.
Research skills, to educate yourself on the topic of your work and provide a fresh perspective.
Revising skills, to spot opportunities to improve your writing and refine the quality of a given piece.
As you continue writing, your skill set will grow and diversify, giving you more options for creative expression.
Creative writing genres include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and drama. As a creative writer, you'll likely focus your writing on one or two genres you like best. Study your chosen genre to understand how it works and master the craft:
Here's what to study:
To study effectively, take courses, read extensively, and connect with other experienced writers to discuss your work.
TIP: Be sure to practice using the techniques of your genre on a regular basis. For example, if you're studying fiction, practicing the techniques means you'll think up new characters and storylines. You don't have to turn any of your practice rounds into finish products. Their purpose is for you to learn, gain confidence, and discover what you most enjoy writing.
A creative vision for writers, very simply, is a clear and detailed description of what you want to write. Even if you're already working on a writing project, articulating your creative vision is a crucial step for turning your writing dreams into a realistic plan of action.
Open a fresh document and write down the following:
Here's an example of how a creative vision could start: My vision is to launch a career as a successful novelist, adapting some of own life experiences into works of fiction readers love. My first novel will explore what it's like to immigrate to a new country. I'll base the main character's journey on my own process of leaving home to become a US citizen.
TIP: Keep your creative vision document handy so that you can refer to it throughout the writing process. Remain open to modifying the details of your vision as your skills improve and your ideas mature.
Part of writing creatively is to approach your topic from a unique angle, making your writing stand out from other content on the same topic. For example, let's say you're writing a love story, but you want to avoid overused tropes and predictable plots. So, you brainstorm a few options to try out:
Taking fresh approaches not only sets your work apart, but also inspires readers who are looking for novelty and surprise.
Once you've mastered clarity, experiment with your writing style. The goals are to:
Methods for livening up your style include:
Writing creatively often involves altering conventional structures and forms to write works that are original, groundbreaking, or in some cases, subversive. You can think of this approach as "breaking the rules." It's important to understand the "rules" of your genre first before breaking them. That way, you can make informed writing decisions and generate skillful work that intrigues, rather than confuses, your readers.
Here are a few examples of structures and forms that buck convention:
Writing creatively can be a rewarding journey that reveals your talents, your potential, and your very soul. To embark on this journey, you don't need any education or experience. You just need to connect to your writing desires, cultivate the right mindset, practice different techniques, and be consistent with your efforts. Follow the steps I've outlined in this article to experience the most rewards.
Check out The SoulTruth Journal, a physical creative writing workbook with over 30 in-depth writing prompts (and examples of answers from real writers), to find inspiration and confidence within.
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