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Principles of Creative Writing: An Ultimate Guide

Explore the art of storytelling with our blog on the Principles of Creative Writing. Uncover the key techniques that transform words into captivating narratives. From character development to plot intricacies, we'll guide you through the fundamental principles that breathe life into your writing, helping you craft compelling and imaginative stories.

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Table of Contents  

1)  Understanding Creative Writing Principles 

2)  Principles of Creative Writing 

    a)  Imagination knows no bounds   

    b)  Crafting compelling characters   

    c)  Plot twists and turns 

    d) Setting the stage 

    e)  Point of View (POV) and voice    

    f)  Dialogue - The voice of your characters 

    g)  Conflict and tension 

    h)  Show, don't tell 

    i)  Editing and revising with precision   

    j)  The power of theme and symbolism 

    k)  Pacing and rhythm 

    l)   Emotionally resonant writing 

    m)  Atmosphere and mood 

3)  Conclusion  

Understanding Creative Writing Principles  

Before we move on to the Principles for Creative Writers, let’s first understand the concept of Creative Writing. Creative Writing is an exploration of human expression, a channel through which Writers communicate their unique perspectives, experiences, and stories.   

This form of writing encompasses various genres, such as fiction, poetry, drama, and more. Unlike Technical or Academic Writing, Creative Writing is driven by the desire to evoke emotions, engage readers, and transport them to alternate worlds.  

Take your academic writing to the next level – join our Academic Writing Masterclass and unlock the art of effective writing and communication!    

Principles of Creative Writing  

Now that you know the meaning of Creative Writing, let’s explore its principles.  

Principle 1: Imagination k nows n o b ounds   

Your imagination is a treasure trove of ideas waiting to be explored. To cultivate your creative imagination:  

a)  Allow yourself to think without limitations. 

b)  Let thoughts collide and see where they lead. 

c)  Keep a journal to jot down fleeting ideas and use them as springboards for your writing.  

Break free from conventional thought patterns—experiment with "what if" scenarios – twist familiar elements into something new. Blend genres, combine unrelated concepts, or put your characters in unexpected situations .       

Principle 2: Crafting c ompelling c haracters   

Characters are the heart of your story. Develop characters with distinct personalities, motivations, strengths, and flaws. Delve into their backgrounds, understanding their past experiences and how they shape their choices. Consider their beliefs, fears, desires, and relationships with others in the story .   

Readers connect with characters they can relate to. Make your characters multifaceted by giving them relatable qualities. Flaws make characters human, so don't hesitate to bestow imperfections upon them. Your readers will find themselves emotionally invested in their journeys as they face challenges and grow.    

Principle 3: Plot t wists and t urns   

A well-crafted story thrives on plot twists and turns. These unexpected shifts keep readers engaged, encouraging them to explore the unknown alongside your characters. The art of plot twists lies in weaving surprises that challenge characters' assumptions and drive the story in unexpected directions.   

Develop logical and unforeseen twists, leaving your audience eager to discover what happens next. Experiment with various narrative structures. Choose the structure that best serves your story's theme and tone.  

Principle 4: Setting the s tage  

Transport readers into your story's world by vividly describing its physical elements – sights, sounds, smells, and textures. The setting isn't merely a backdrop; it's a living, breathing entity that influences the mood and atmosphere of your narrative. Create an immersive experience that makes readers feel like they're living the story alongside your characters. Make the setting integral to your storytelling, whether a bustling urban landscape or serene countryside. 

Principle 5: Point of View (POV) and v oice     

Point of View (POV) and voice are essential tools that shape how your story is perceived. POV determines the perspective through which readers experience the narrative – whether through a character's eyes (first person), an external observer (third person limited), or an all-knowing narrator (third person omniscient). Each POV offers a distinct vantage point, influencing what readers know and how they connect with the characters.   

On the other hand, voice is the unique style and tone of your writing that reflects the narrator's personality and worldview. Skilful manipulation of POV and voice deepens readers' immersion and connection with the story .       

Principle 6: Dialogue - The v oice of y our c haracters   

Dialogue is a powerful tool for revealing character relationships and advancing the plot. It's the medium through which characters reveal their personalities, motivations, and conflicts. Make your dialogue sound natural by paying attention to speech patterns, interruptions, and nuances.   

Each character should possess a distinctive voice, reflecting their background, emotions, and quirks. Effective dialogue moves the plot forward, adds depth to relationships, and provides insight into characters' inner worlds.    

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Principle 7: Conflict and t ension     

Conflict drives your story forward. Whether internal (within a character's mind) or external (between characters or forces), conflicts create stakes and keep readers invested. Make conflicts meaningful by connecting them to your characters' goals and desires. Tension, on the other hand, keeps readers engaged by evoking curiosity and emotional investment.  

Principle 8: Show, d on't t ell   

"Show, don't tell" is a principle that encourages subtlety and reader engagement. Instead of directly stating emotions or information, show them through actions, behaviours, and sensory details. Allow readers to draw their own conclusions, fostering a deeper connection to the narrative.   

For example, instead of stating, "She was sad," show her wiping away a tear and gazing out the rain-soaked window. This approach not only immerses readers in the story but also invites them to interpret and empathise with the characters' experiences.  

Principle 9: Editing and r evising with p recision   

Your first draft is just the beginning. Editing and revising refine your work into its best version. Editing is not just about correcting grammar; it's about refining your prose to convey your message with clarity and impact. Read your work critically, checking for consistency in tone, pacing, and character development. Trim unnecessary elements and tighten sentences to eliminate any ambiguity. Embrace the art of revision to sculpt your rough draft into a polished masterpiece.  

Principle 10: The p ower of t heme and s ymbolism   

Themes and symbolism add meaning to your writing, inviting readers to explore more profound insights. A theme is your story's central idea or message, while symbolism uses objects, actions, or concepts to represent abstract ideas. By infusing your narrative with meaningful themes and symbolism, you create a tapestry of thought-provoking connections that engage readers on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Principle 11: Pacing and r hythm   

The rhythm of your writing affects how readers engage with your story. Experiment with sentence lengths and structures to create a natural flow that guides readers seamlessly through the narrative. Vary pacing to match the intensity of the scenes; fast-paced action should have short, punchy sentences, while contemplative moments can benefit from longer, more introspective prose. Mastering rhythm and flow keep readers entranced from start to finish.   

Principle 12: Emotionally r esonant w riting  

The goal of Creative Writing is to evoke emotions in your readers. Develop empathy for your characters and encourage readers to feel alongside them. Tap into your own experiences and emotions to connect with readers on a human level. Emotionally charged writing doesn't just entertain; it leaves a mark on readers' hearts, reminding them of shared experiences and universal truths.  

Principle 13: Atmosphere and m ood   

The atmosphere and mood of a story set the tone for readers' experiences. Through careful selection of words, sentence structures, and descriptive details, you can shape the emotional ambience of your narrative. Whether you're writing an exciting thriller, a magical fantasy, or a serious drama, infuse your writing with an atmosphere that wraps readers in the emotions you want them to feel. 

Conclusion   

The Principles of Creative Writing provide a roadmap for crafting stories that captivate and inspire. These principles allow you to transform your writing from ordinary to extraordinary easily. As you work on becoming a Creative Writer, remember that practice is key. Each principle mentioned here is like a tool in your Writer's toolbox, waiting to be improved and used effectively. 

Elevate your writing skills with our Creative Writing Training . Join today to unleash your creativity!   

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What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

Creative writing begins with a blank page and the courage to fill it with the stories only you can tell.

I face this intimidating blank page daily–and I have for the better part of 20+ years.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of creative writing with tons of examples.

What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)?

Creative Writing is the art of using words to express ideas and emotions in imaginative ways. It encompasses various forms including novels, poetry, and plays, focusing on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes.

Table of Contents

Let’s expand on that definition a bit.

Creative writing is an art form that transcends traditional literature boundaries.

It includes professional, journalistic, academic, and technical writing. This type of writing emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and literary tropes. It also explores poetry and poetics traditions.

In essence, creative writing lets you express ideas and emotions uniquely and imaginatively.

It’s about the freedom to invent worlds, characters, and stories. These creations evoke a spectrum of emotions in readers.

Creative writing covers fiction, poetry, and everything in between.

It allows writers to express inner thoughts and feelings. Often, it reflects human experiences through a fabricated lens.

Types of Creative Writing

There are many types of creative writing that we need to explain.

Some of the most common types:

• Short stories
• Screenplays
• Flash fiction
• Creative Nonfiction

Short Stories (The Brief Escape)

Short stories are like narrative treasures.

They are compact but impactful, telling a full story within a limited word count. These tales often focus on a single character or a crucial moment.

Short stories are known for their brevity.

They deliver emotion and insight in a concise yet powerful package. This format is ideal for exploring diverse genres, themes, and characters. It leaves a lasting impression on readers.

Example: Emma discovers an old photo of her smiling grandmother. It’s a rarity. Through flashbacks, Emma learns about her grandmother’s wartime love story. She comes to understand her grandmother’s resilience and the value of joy.

Novels (The Long Journey)

Novels are extensive explorations of character, plot, and setting.

They span thousands of words, giving writers the space to create entire worlds. Novels can weave complex stories across various themes and timelines.

The length of a novel allows for deep narrative and character development.

Readers get an immersive experience.

Example: Across the Divide tells of two siblings separated in childhood. They grow up in different cultures. Their reunion highlights the strength of family bonds, despite distance and differences.

Poetry (The Soul’s Language)

Poetry expresses ideas and emotions through rhythm, sound, and word beauty.

It distills emotions and thoughts into verses. Poetry often uses metaphors, similes, and figurative language to reach the reader’s heart and mind.

Poetry ranges from structured forms, like sonnets, to free verse.

The latter breaks away from traditional formats for more expressive thought.

Example: Whispers of Dawn is a poem collection capturing morning’s quiet moments. “First Light” personifies dawn as a painter. It brings colors of hope and renewal to the world.

Plays (The Dramatic Dialogue)

Plays are meant for performance. They bring characters and conflicts to life through dialogue and action.

This format uniquely explores human relationships and societal issues.

Playwrights face the challenge of conveying setting, emotion, and plot through dialogue and directions.

Example: Echoes of Tomorrow is set in a dystopian future. Memories can be bought and sold. It follows siblings on a quest to retrieve their stolen memories. They learn the cost of living in a world where the past has a price.

Screenplays (Cinema’s Blueprint)

Screenplays outline narratives for films and TV shows.

They require an understanding of visual storytelling, pacing, and dialogue. Screenplays must fit film production constraints.

Example: The Last Light is a screenplay for a sci-fi film. Humanity’s survivors on a dying Earth seek a new planet. The story focuses on spacecraft Argo’s crew as they face mission challenges and internal dynamics.

Memoirs (The Personal Journey)

Memoirs provide insight into an author’s life, focusing on personal experiences and emotional journeys.

They differ from autobiographies by concentrating on specific themes or events.

Memoirs invite readers into the author’s world.

They share lessons learned and hardships overcome.

Example: Under the Mango Tree is a memoir by Maria Gomez. It shares her childhood memories in rural Colombia. The mango tree in their yard symbolizes home, growth, and nostalgia. Maria reflects on her journey to a new life in America.

Flash Fiction (The Quick Twist)

Flash fiction tells stories in under 1,000 words.

It’s about crafting compelling narratives concisely. Each word in flash fiction must count, often leading to a twist.

This format captures life’s vivid moments, delivering quick, impactful insights.

Example: The Last Message features an astronaut’s final Earth message as her spacecraft drifts away. In 500 words, it explores isolation, hope, and the desire to connect against all odds.

Creative Nonfiction (The Factual Tale)

Creative nonfiction combines factual accuracy with creative storytelling.

This genre covers real events, people, and places with a twist. It uses descriptive language and narrative arcs to make true stories engaging.

Creative nonfiction includes biographies, essays, and travelogues.

Example: Echoes of Everest follows the author’s Mount Everest climb. It mixes factual details with personal reflections and the history of past climbers. The narrative captures the climb’s beauty and challenges, offering an immersive experience.

Fantasy (The World Beyond)

Fantasy transports readers to magical and mythical worlds.

It explores themes like good vs. evil and heroism in unreal settings. Fantasy requires careful world-building to create believable yet fantastic realms.

Example: The Crystal of Azmar tells of a young girl destined to save her world from darkness. She learns she’s the last sorceress in a forgotten lineage. Her journey involves mastering powers, forming alliances, and uncovering ancient kingdom myths.

Science Fiction (The Future Imagined)

Science fiction delves into futuristic and scientific themes.

It questions the impact of advancements on society and individuals.

Science fiction ranges from speculative to hard sci-fi, focusing on plausible futures.

Example: When the Stars Whisper is set in a future where humanity communicates with distant galaxies. It centers on a scientist who finds an alien message. This discovery prompts a deep look at humanity’s universe role and interstellar communication.

Watch this great video that explores the question, “What is creative writing?” and “How to get started?”:

What Are the 5 Cs of Creative Writing?

The 5 Cs of creative writing are fundamental pillars.

They guide writers to produce compelling and impactful work. These principles—Clarity, Coherence, Conciseness, Creativity, and Consistency—help craft stories that engage and entertain.

They also resonate deeply with readers. Let’s explore each of these critical components.

Clarity makes your writing understandable and accessible.

It involves choosing the right words and constructing clear sentences. Your narrative should be easy to follow.

In creative writing, clarity means conveying complex ideas in a digestible and enjoyable way.

Coherence ensures your writing flows logically.

It’s crucial for maintaining the reader’s interest. Characters should develop believably, and plots should progress logically. This makes the narrative feel cohesive.

Conciseness

Conciseness is about expressing ideas succinctly.

It’s being economical with words and avoiding redundancy. This principle helps maintain pace and tension, engaging readers throughout the story.

Creativity is the heart of creative writing.

It allows writers to invent new worlds and create memorable characters. Creativity involves originality and imagination. It’s seeing the world in unique ways and sharing that vision.

Consistency

Consistency maintains a uniform tone, style, and voice.

It means being faithful to the world you’ve created. Characters should act true to their development. This builds trust with readers, making your story immersive and believable.

Is Creative Writing Easy?

Creative writing is both rewarding and challenging.

Crafting stories from your imagination involves more than just words on a page. It requires discipline and a deep understanding of language and narrative structure.

Exploring complex characters and themes is also key.

Refining and revising your work is crucial for developing your voice.

The ease of creative writing varies. Some find the freedom of expression liberating.

Others struggle with writer’s block or plot development challenges. However, practice and feedback make creative writing more fulfilling.

What Does a Creative Writer Do?

A creative writer weaves narratives that entertain, enlighten, and inspire.

Writers explore both the world they create and the emotions they wish to evoke. Their tasks are diverse, involving more than just writing.

Creative writers develop ideas, research, and plan their stories.

They create characters and outline plots with attention to detail. Drafting and revising their work is a significant part of their process. They strive for the 5 Cs of compelling writing.

Writers engage with the literary community, seeking feedback and participating in workshops.

They may navigate the publishing world with agents and editors.

Creative writers are storytellers, craftsmen, and artists. They bring narratives to life, enriching our lives and expanding our imaginations.

How to Get Started With Creative Writing?

Embarking on a creative writing journey can feel like standing at the edge of a vast and mysterious forest.

The path is not always clear, but the adventure is calling.

Here’s how to take your first steps into the world of creative writing:

• Find a time of day when your mind is most alert and creative.
• Create a comfortable writing space free from distractions.
• Use prompts to spark your imagination. They can be as simple as a word, a phrase, or an image.
• Try writing for 15-20 minutes on a prompt without editing yourself. Let the ideas flow freely.
• Reading is fuel for your writing. Explore various genres and styles.
• Pay attention to how your favorite authors construct their sentences, develop characters, and build their worlds.
• Don’t pressure yourself to write a novel right away. Begin with short stories or poems.
• Small projects can help you hone your skills and boost your confidence.
• Look for writing groups in your area or online. These communities offer support, feedback, and motivation.
• Participating in workshops or classes can also provide valuable insights into your writing.
• Understand that your first draft is just the beginning. Revising your work is where the real magic happens.
• Be open to feedback and willing to rework your pieces.
• Carry a notebook or digital recorder to jot down ideas, observations, and snippets of conversations.
• These notes can be gold mines for future writing projects.

Final Thoughts: What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is an invitation to explore the unknown, to give voice to the silenced, and to celebrate the human spirit in all its forms.

Check out these creative writing tools (that I highly recommend):

Read This Next:

• What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)
• What Is A Personal Account In Writing? (47 Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Short Story (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Romance Novel [21 Tips + Examples)

10 Principles Of Effective Writing

How do you write clearly and effectively? If you want to write well, this list includes 10 principles of effective writing.

It is bad manners to waste [the reader’s] time. Therefore brevity first, then,  clarity .

It is bad manners to give [readers] needless trouble. Therefore clarity… . And how is clarity to be achieved? Mainly by taking trouble and by writing to serve people rather than to impress them.

3. Communication

The social purpose of language is communication —to inform, misinform, or otherwise influence our fellows… . Communication [is] more difficult than we may think. We are all serving life sentences of solitary confinement within our bodies; like prisoners, we have, as it were, to tap in awkward code to our fellow men in their neighbouring cells… .

In some modern literature there has appeared a tendency to replace communication by a private maundering to oneself which shall inspire one’s audience to maunder privately to themselves—rather as if the author handed round a box of drugged cigarettes.

[Read 30 Famous Authors On Writing In Plain Language ]

4. Emphasis

Just as the art of war largely consists of deploying the strongest forces at the most important points, so the art of writing depends a good deal on putting the strongest words in the most important places… .

One of the most important things, to my mind, in English  style  is word-order. For us, the most emphatic place in a  clause  or sentence is the end. This is the  climax ; and, during the momentary pause that follows, that last word continues, as it were, to reverberate in the reader’s mind. It has, in fact, the last word.

As the police put it, anything you say may be used as evidence against you. If handwriting reveals character, writing reveals it still more. You cannot fool all your judges all the time… .

Most style is not honest enough. Easy to say, but hard to practice. A writer may take to long words, as young men to beards—to impress. But long words, like long beards, are often the badge of charlatans. Or a writer may cultivate the obscure, to seem profound. But even carefully muddied puddles are soon fathomed. Or he may cultivate eccentricity, to seem original.

But really original people do not have to think about being original—they can no more help it than they can help breathing. They do not need to dye their hair green.

6. Passion and Control

This, indeed, is one of the eternal  paradoxes  of both life and literature—that without passion little gets done; yet, without control of that passion, its effects are largely ill or null.

One learns to write by reading good books, as one learns to talk by hearing good talkers. [Read Why You Need To Read More Books ]

8. Revision

Every author’s fairy godmother should provide him not only with a pen but also with a blue pencil.

[You may enjoy these useful posts:

• An Editing Checklist For Writers
• 12-Steps to Self-Editing  – your stress-free guide to preparing a manuscript
• What 20 Famous Authors Had to Say About Rewriting
• How to rewrite and revise your manuscript  – I’ve learnt to stop
• Rewriting Checklist For Authors ]

9. Sophistication and Simplicity

My point is merely that the sophisticated (ready though they may be to suppose so) do not necessarily express themselves better than the simple—in fact, may often have much to learn from them. [Read Why You Need To Write In Plain Language ]

10. Sound and Rhythm

Apart from a few simple principles, the sound and rhythm of English prose seem to me matters where both writers and readers should trust not so much to rules as to their ears.

This advice was taken from Ten Principles of Effective Writing

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:

• 350 Character Traits – A Fabulous Resource For Writers
• 106 Ways To Describe Sounds
• The 7 Critical Elements Of A Great Book
• 7 Choices That Affect A Writer’s Style
• Cheat Sheets for Writing Body Language
• Punctuation For Beginners
• 9 Literary Terms You Need To Know

Top Tip : Find out more about our  workbooks  and  online courses  in our  shop .

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• What Is Creative Writing? The ULTIMATE Guide!

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a range of summer school programmes that have become extremely popular amongst students of all ages. The subject of creative writing continues to intrigue many academics as it can help to develop a range of skills that will benefit you throughout your career and life.

Nevertheless, that initial question is one that continues to linger and be asked time and time again: what is creative writing? More specifically, what does it mean or encompass? How does creative writing differ from other styles of writing?

During our Oxford Summer School programme , we will provide you with in-depth an immersive educational experience on campus in the colleges of the best university in the world. However, in this guide, we want to provide a detailed analysis of everything to do with creative writing, helping you understand more about what it is and why it could benefit you to become a creative writer.

The best place to start is with a definition.

What is creative writing?

The dictionary definition of creative writing is that it is original writing that expresses ideas and thoughts in an imaginative way. [1] Some academics will also define it as the art of making things up, but both of these definitions are too simplistic in the grand scheme of things.

It’s challenging to settle on a concrete definition as creative writing can relate to so many different things and formats. Naturally, as the name suggests, it is all built around the idea of being creative or imaginative. It’s to do with using your brain and your own thoughts to create writing that goes outside the realms of what’s expected. This type of writing tends to be more unique as it comes from a personal place. Each individual has their own level of creativity, combined with their own thoughts and views on different things. Therefore, you can conjure up your own text and stories that could be completely different from others.

Understanding creative writing can be challenging when viewed on its own. Consequently, the best way to truly understand this medium is by exploring the other main forms of writing. From here, we can compare and contrast them with the art of creative writing, making it easier to find a definition or separate this form of writing from others.

What are the main forms of writing?

In modern society, we can identify five main types of writing styles [1] that will be used throughout daily life and a plethora of careers:

• Narrative Writing
• Descriptive Writing
• Persuasive Writing
• Expository Writing
• Creative Writing

Narrative writing refers to storytelling in its most basic form. Traditionally, this involves telling a story about a character and walking the readers through the journey they go on. It can be a long novel or a short story that’s only a few hundred words long. There are no rules on length, and it can be completely true or a work of fiction.

A fundamental aspect of narrative writing that makes it different from other forms is that it should includes the key elements of storytelling. As per UX Planet, there are seven core elements of a good story or narrative [2] : the plot, characters, theme, dialogue, melody, decor and spectacle. Narrative writing will include all of these elements to take the ready on a journey that starts at the beginning, has a middle point, but always comes to a conclusion. This style of writing is typically used when writing stories, presenting anecdotes about your life, creating presentations or speeches and for some academic essays.

Descriptive writing, on the other hand, is more focused on the details. When this type of writing is used, it’s focused on capturing the reader’s attention and making them feel like they are part of the story. You want them to live and feel every element of a scene, so they can close their eyes and be whisked away to whatever place or setting you describe.

In many ways, descriptive writing is writing as an art form. Good writers can be given a blank canvas, using their words to paint a picture for the audience. There’s a firm focus on the five senses all humans have; sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. Descriptive writing touches on all of these senses to tell the reader everything they need to know and imagine about a particular scene.

This is also a style of writing that makes good use of both similes and metaphors. A simile is used to describe something as something else, while a metaphor is used to show that something is something else. There’s a subtle difference between the two, but they both aid descriptive writing immensely. According to many writing experts, similes and metaphors allow an author to emphasise, exaggerate, and add interest to a story to create a more vivid picture for the reader [3] .

Looking at persuasive writing and we have a form of writing that’s all about making yourself heard. You have an opinion that you want to get across to the reader, convincing them of it. The key is to persuade others to think differently, often helping them broaden their mind or see things from another point of view. This is often confused with something called opinionative writing, which is all about providing your opinions. While the two seem similar, the key difference is that persuasive writing is built around the idea of submitting evidence and backing your thoughts up. It’s not as simple as stating your opinion for other to read; no, you want to persuade them that your thoughts are worth listening to and perhaps worth acting on.

This style of writing is commonly used journalistically in news articles and other pieces designed to shine a light on certain issues or opinions. It is also typically backed up with statistical evidence to give more weight to your opinions and can be a very technical form of writing that’s not overly emotional.

Expository writing is more focused on teaching readers new things. If we look at its name, we can take the word exposure from it. According to Merriam-Webster [4] , one of the many definitions of exposure is to reveal something to others or present them with something they otherwise didn’t know. In terms of writing, it can refer to the act of revealing new information to others or exposing them to new ideas.

Effectively, expository writing focuses on the goal of leaving the reader with new knowledge of a certain topic or subject. Again, it is predominately seen in journalistic formats, such as explainer articles or ‘how-to’ blogs. Furthermore, you also come across it in academic textbooks or business writing.

This brings us back to the centre of attention for this guide: what is creative writing?

Interestingly, creative writing is often seen as the style of writing that combines many of these forms together in one go. Narrative writing can be seen as creative writing as you are coming up with a story to keep readers engaged, telling a tale for them to enjoy or learn from. Descriptive writing is very much a key part of creative writing as you are using your imagination and creative skills to come up with detailed descriptions that transport the reader out of their home and into a different place.

Creative writing can even use persuasive writing styles in some formats. Many writers will combine persuasive writing with a narrative structure to come up with a creative way of telling a story to educate readers and provide new opinions for them to view or be convinced of. Expository writing can also be involved here, using creativity and your imagination to answer questions or provide advice to the reader.

Essentially, creative writing can combine other writing types to create a unique and new way of telling a story or producing content. At the same time, it can include absolutely none of the other forms at all. The whole purpose of creative writing is to think outside the box and stray from traditional structures and norms. Fundamentally, we can say there are no real rules when it comes to creative writing, which is what makes it different from the other writing styles discussed above.

What is the purpose of creative writing?

Another way to understand and explore the idea of creative writing is to look at its purpose. What is the aim of most creative works of writing? What do they hope to provide the reader with?

We can look at the words of Bryanna Licciardi, an experienced creative writing tutor, to understand the purpose of creative writing. She writes that the primary purpose is to entertain and share human experiences, like love or loss. Writers attempt to reveal the truth with regard to humanity through poetics and storytelling. [5] She also goes on to add that the first step of creative writing is to use one’s imagination.

When students sign up to our creative writing courses, we will teach them how to write with this purpose. Your goal is to create stories or writing for readers that entertain them while also providing information that can have an impact on their lives. It’s about influencing readers through creative storytelling that calls upon your imagination and uses the thoughts inside your head. The deeper you dive into the art of creative writing, the more complex it can be. This is largely because it can be expressed in so many different formats. When you think of creative writing, your instinct takes you to stories and novels. Indeed, these are both key forms of creative writing that we see all the time. However, there are many other forms of creative writing that are expressed throughout the world.

What are the different forms of creative writing?

Looking back at the original and simple definition of creative writing, it relates to original writing in a creative and imaginative way. Consequently, this can span across so many genres and types of writing that differ greatly from one another. This section will explore and analyse the different types of creative writing, displaying just how diverse this writing style can be – while also showcasing just what you’re capable of when you learn how to be a creative writer.

The majority of students will first come across creative writing in the form of essays . The point of an essay is to present a coherent argument in response to a stimulus or question. [6] In essence, you are persuading the reader that your answer to the question is correct. Thus, creative writing is required to get your point across as coherently as possible, while also using great descriptive writing skills to paint the right message for the reader.

Moreover, essays can include personal essays – such as writing a cover letter for work or a university application. Here, great creativity is needed to almost write a story about yourself that captivates the reader and takes them on a journey with you. Excellent imagination and persuasive writing skills can help you tell your story and persuade those reading that you are the right person for the job or university place.

Arguably, this is the most common way in which creative writing is expressed. Fictional work includes novels, novellas, short stories – and anything else that is made up. The very definition of fiction by the Cambridge Dictionary states that it is the type of book or story that is written about imaginary characters and events not based on real people and facts. [7] As such, it means that your imagination is called upon to create something out of nothing. It is a quintessential test of your creative writing skills, meaning you need to come up with characters, settings, plots, descriptions and so much more.

Fictional creative writing in itself takes on many different forms and can be completely different depending on the writer. That is the real beauty of creative writing; you can have entirely different stories and characters from two different writers. Just look at the vast collection of fictional work around you today; it’s the perfect way to see just how versatile creative writing can be depending on the writer.

Similarly, scripts can be a type of creative writing that appeals to many. Technically, a script can be considered a work of fiction. Nevertheless, it depends on the script in question. Scripts for fictional television shows, plays or movies are obviously works of fiction. You, the writer, has come up with the characters and story of the show/play/movie, bringing it all to life through the script. But, scripts can also be non-fictional. Creating a play or movie that adapts real-life events will mean you need to write a script based on something that genuinely happened.

Here, it’s a perfect test of creative writing skills as you take a real event and use your creative talents to make it more interesting. The plot and narrative may already be there for you, so it’s a case of using your descriptive writing skills to really sell it to others and keep readers – or viewers – on the edge of their seats.

A speech is definitely a work of creative writing. The aim of a speech can vary depending on what type of speech it is. A politician delivering a speech in the House of Commons will want to get a point across to persuade others in the room. They’ll need to use creative writing to captivate their audience and have them hanging on their every word. A recent example of a great speech was the one by Sir David Attenborough at the recent COP26 global climate summit. [8] Listening to the speech is a brilliant way of understanding how creative writing can help get points across. His speech went viral around the world because of how electrifying and enthralling it is. The use of many descriptive and persuasive words had people hanging onto everything he said. He really created a picture and an image for people to see, convincing them that the time is now to work on stopping and reversing climate change.

From this speech to a completely different one, you can see creative writing at play for speeches at weddings and other jovial events. Here, the purpose is more to entertain guests and make them laugh. At the same time, someone giving a wedding speech will hope to create a lovely story for the guests to enjoy, displaying the true love that the married couple share for one another. Regardless of what type of speech an individual is giving, creative writing skills are required for it to be good and captivating.

Poetry & Songs

The final example of creative writing is twofold; poetry and songs. Both of these formats are similar to one another, relying on creativity to deliver a combination of things. Poetry can take so many forms and styles, but it aims to inspire readers and get them thinking. Poems often have hidden meanings behind them, and it takes a great deal of imagination and creativity to come up with these meanings while also creating a powerful poem. Some argue that poetry is the most creative of all creative writing forms.

Songwriting is similar in that you use creativity to come up with lyrics that can have powerful meanings while also conjuring up a story for people. The best songwriters will use lyrics that stay in people’s minds and get them thinking about the meaning behind the song. If you lack imagination and creativity, you will never be a good songwriter.

In truth, there are so many other types and examples of creative writing that you can explore. The ones listed above are the most common and powerful, and they all do a great job of demonstrating how diverse creative writing can be. If you can hone your skills in creative writing, it opens up many opportunities for you in life. Primarily, creative writing focuses on fictional pieces of work, but as you can see, non-fiction also requires a good deal of creativity.

What’s needed to make a piece of creative writing?

Our in-depth analysis of creative writing has led to a point where you’re aware of this style of writing and its purpose, along with some examples of it in the real world. The next question to delve into is what do you need to do to make a piece of creative writing. To phrase this another way; how do you write something that comes under the creative heading rather than another form of writing?

There is an element of difficulty in answering this question as creative writing has so many different types and genres. Consequently, there isn’t a set recipe for the perfect piece of creative writing, and that’s what makes this format so enjoyable and unique. Nevertheless, we can discover some crucial elements or principles that will help make a piece of writing as creative and imaginative as possible:

A target audience

All creative works will begin by defining a target audience. There are many ways to define a target audience, with some writers suggesting that you think about who is most likely to read your work. However, this can still be challenging as you’re unsure of the correct demographic to target. Writer’s Digest makes a good point of defining your target audience by considering your main motivation for writing in the first place. [9] It’s a case of considering what made you want to start writing – whether it’s a blog post, novel, song, poem, speech, etc. Figuring out your motivation behind it will help you zero in on your target audience.

Defining your audience is vital for creative writing as it helps you know exactly what to write and how to write it. All of your work should appeal to this audience and be written in a way that they can engage with. As a simple example, authors that write children’s stories will adapt their writing to appeal to the younger audience. Their stories include lots of descriptions and words that children understand, rather than being full of long words and overly academic writing.

Establishing the audience lets the writer know which direction to take things in. As a result, this can aid with things like character choices, plot, storylines, settings, and much more.

A story of sorts

Furthermore, great works of creative writing will always include a story of sorts. This is obvious for works such as novels, short stories, scripts, etc. However, even for things like poems, songs or speeches, a story helps make it creative. It gives the audience something to follow, helping them make sense of the work. Even if you’re giving a speech, setting a story can help you create a scene in people’s minds that makes them connect to what you’re saying. It’s a very effective way of persuading others and presenting different views for people to consider.

Moreover, consider the definition of a story/narrative arc. One definition describes it as a term that describes a story’s full progression. It visually evokes the idea that every story has a relatively calm beginning, a middle where tension, character conflict and narrative momentum builds to a peak and an end where the conflict is resolved. [10]

Simplifying this, we can say that all works of creative writing need a general beginning, middle and end. It’s a way of bringing some sort of structure to your writing so you know where you are going, rather than filling it with fluff or waffle.

A good imagination

Imagination is a buzzword that we’ve used plenty of times throughout this deep dive into creative writing. Every creative writing course you go on will spend a lot of time focusing on the idea of using your imagination. The human brain is a marvellously powerful thing that holds the key to creative freedom and expressing yourself in new and unique ways. If you want to make something creative, you need to tap into your imagination.

People use their imagination in different ways; some will be able to conjure up ideas for stories or worlds that exist beyond our own. Others will use theirs to think of ways of describing things in a more creative and imaginative way. Ultimately, a good imagination is what sets your work apart from others within your genre. This doesn’t mean you need to come up with the most fantastical novel of all time to have something classified as creative writing. No, using your imagination and creativity can extend to something as simple as your writing style.

Ultimately, it’s more about using your imagination to find your own personal flair and creative style. You will then be able to write unique pieces that stand out from the others and keep audiences engaged.

How can creative writing skills benefit you?

When most individuals or students consider creative writing, they imagine a world where they are writing stories for a living. There’s a common misconception that creative writing skills are only beneficial for people pursuing careers in scriptwriting, storytelling, etc. Realistically, enhancing ones creative writing skills can open up many windows of opportunity throughout your education and career.

• Improve essay writing – Naturally, creative writing forms a core part of essays and other written assignments in school and university. Improving your skills in this department can help a student get better at writing powerful essays and achieving top marks. In turn, this can impact your career by helping you get better grades to access better jobs in the future.
• Become a journalist – Journalists depend on creative writing to make stories that capture audiences and have people hanging on their every word. You need high levels of creativity to turn a news story into something people are keen to read or watch.
• Start a blog – In modern times, blogging is a useful tool that can help people find profitable and successful careers. The whole purpose of a blog is to provide your opinions to the masses while also entertaining, informing and educating. Again, having a firm grasp of creative writing skills will aid you in building your blog audience.
• Write marketing content – From advert scripts to content on websites, marketing is fuelled by creative writing. The best marketers will have creative writing skills to draw an audience in and convince them to buy products. If you can learn to get people hanging on your every word, you can make it in this industry.

These points all demonstrate the different ways in which creative writing can impact your life and alter your career. In terms of general career skills, this is one that you simply cannot go without.

How to improve your creative writing

One final part of this analysis of creative writing is to look at how students can improve. It begins by reading as much as you can and taking in lots of different content. Read books, poems, scripts, articles, blogs – anything you can find. Listen to music and pay attention to the words people use and the structure of their writing. It can help you pick up on things like metaphors, similes, and how to use your imagination. Of course, writing is the key to improving; the more you write, the more creative you can get as you will start unlocking the powers of your brain.

Conclusion: What is creative writing

In conclusion, creative writing uses a mixture of different types of writing to create stories that stray from traditional structures and norms. It revolves around the idea of using your imagination to find a writing style that suits you and gets your points across to an audience, keeping them engaged in everything you say. From novels to speeches, there are many forms of creative writing that can help you in numerous career paths throughout your life.

[1] SkillShare: The 5 Types of Writing Styles with Examples

[2] Elements of Good Story Telling – UX Planet

[3] Simile vs Metaphor: What’s the Difference? – ProWritingAid

[4] Definition of Exposure by Merriam-Webster

[5] The Higher Purpose of Creative Writing | by Terveen Gill

[6] Essay purpose – Western Sydney University

[7] FICTION | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary

[8] ‘Not fear, but hope’ – Attenborough speech in full – BBC News

[9] Writer’s Digest: Who Is Your Target Reader?

[10] What is a Narrative Arc? • A Guide to Storytelling Structure

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Samuel Snoek-Brown

Fourteen Principles for Creative Writers

Adapted by samuel snoek-brown from the fourteen mindfulness trainings first enumerated by thich nhat hanh in 1966, as they appeared in the september 2007 issue of shambhala sun magazine, pages 64-65..

• Write what you want to write. Do not write or let yourself be forced to write anything you do not enjoy writing. Try to write things that will make you — and then others — happier or wiser.
• Write with passion; revise with compassion. Do not censor yourself in drafting; be courageous enough to write outrageous material. But in revision, try to avoid writing with the sole purpose of harming, dividing, or angering others; controversial writing should ultimately be constructive, educational, or unifying. If you are unsure whether your inflammatory writing will also be helpful, seek the advice of other writers .
• Keep improving your writing. Do not think your current skills in writing are the best writing you will — or can — accomplish, or that you are the best writer. Be open to experimentation, return to writing exercises, renew your beginner’s mind.
• Keep writing, period. Do not disparage your own writing to the point you never begin a project; do not lose yourself in a project so much that you never complete it. Practice disciplined writing: when all else fails, write nonsense. Set reasonable goals. Remember to revise but also remember to stop revising and let a piece be finished.
• Listen to comments on your writing. Do not react to negative criticism with anger or resentment. Rather, take what advice such criticism has to offer, and use your energy to drive you into new creative projects.
• Share your writing expertise. Do not let fame or wealth increase your ego. If you enjoy success as a writer, however small, share that success with beginning writers.
• Share in the writing expertise of others. Do not close yourself off from the writing community. Engage in workshops; join or form writing groups, both as a student and as a teacher. Expose your work to the criticism of others, and be willing to review others’ works.
• Be honest about other people’s writing. In lectures, workshops, and mentoring relationships, do not force others to adopt your preferences or techniques in writing. However, comment honestly and try to help others better their craft in whatever way you can.
• Support other writers. In a writing community or workshop, do not print or say things simply to be heard, to impress others, or to belittle others. Always criticize truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to support a good writer or a good piece of writing even if that writer or piece is unpopular.
• Use your writing community. Do not abuse your writing community by name-dropping simply to impress others, or by pinning opinions or theories to writers that are not their own. However, do use your writing community to encourage, educate, and promote beginning writers.
• Protect writing and writers. Do not plagiarize. Help protect the writings of others and report plagiarism wherever you find it. However, do not be afraid to try others’ ideas, and be generous with your own ideas.
• Nurture the written word . Patronize libraries and bookstores, attend coffeehouses and readings, subscribe to journals and magazines, visit websites. When possible, donate to libraries, sponsor readings, found journals, create websites.
• Read constantly. Meditate on your place in literature. Strive to write things that will add to or improve the whole of literature.

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29 thoughts on “ fourteen principles for creative writers ”.

Thank you very much for the effective and useful guideline article.

Hi, Sam! I like this part. Sure. The principles have inspired me to write my own as well. Glad to read and explore your Beginner’s Mind blog. Happy time for writing! ^_^

Glad to hear it, Syayid! Good luck with your writing!

I love this post, all of it. Number 6 and 7 for sure. I apply this to my life so much, and this here makes me feel I am on the right/write path. Thanks so much. Saving your Blog to favorites, and I shall return, :), WS

P.S. please pay my blog/site a visit, and the School of Poetry on the blog roll.. 🙂

Thanks for the comment, WS, and thanks for stopping by! Glad to have you. 🙂

I did check out your blog and the School of Poetry — both are very interesting! I love the way you combine images with poetry in your blog, and you have found some really exciting images. Thanks for sharing that!

Thank you, 🙂 I love the way you think. I shall return again. Sam if you are interested in starting a class there, and add some posts, and fun let me know, I’d be happy to add you, and the rest of us there would love that. Have a good day, WS

These are fantastic principles to adhere to as a writer at any level. Inspiring and informative. Thanks for this post!

Thanks, Margaret! I’ve been glancing at your blog and plan to read more tomorrow — some really cool stuff over there!

A very comprehensive list. I tweeted it to my tweeps. Great blog, by the way. Very well organized and full of good content.

Thanks, David! That’s awesome! I really appreciate all of that — the compliments and the tweeting alike. And always nice to meet someone else in Texas. I have a lot of good friends and a couple of very cool cousins who live in Austin. It’s a good town.

Also: I love a lot of your short fiction on your blog. “ Zombie Clown Western “? That’s a killer story! Are any of those stories on your site in print anywhere, or just on your site? Because I know some folks who might be interested in some of your work, especially the humor and/or sci-fi stuff. Send me an email if you’re curious.

Mind blown. Buddhism AND writing. Heaven! Or, rather, Nirvana. 🙂

Ha! It’s hard to remember blissful emptiness of nirvana with all this ego-stroking I’m suddenly getting! So thanks for the reminder, Geneva. 🙂

This is a really good list of valuable advice. I definitely needed it! Thanks so much, will definitely check more of this blog.

Thanks! Let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to add to (or delete from) the site — I can’t promise I’ll get to it right away, but I’m always interested in reader feedback!

Will definitely direct my writing questions to you when I have any.

You already added some really important points here. I am happy that none of the writing “principles” you shared have anything to do with the intimidating writing “rules” some academics are obsessed with. Writing is an art and should be treated and approached as an art so I appreciate how you nurtured this aspect.

Glad you were freshly pressed!

There are lots and lots of guidelines and principles out there (one of my favorite recent lists is Bill Roorbach’s beautiful “ 30 ideas for writers “), but there are no rules. If there ever were rules, the best writers have been breaking them for millennia. I’m very much in favor of nurturing writing rather than “instructing” writing: for me, teaching is a nurturing, communicative act. No cookie cutters here!

And yeah, fire away if you ever have questions. And hit up some of the other writer blogs I link to in the sidebar (Bill and Dave’s Cocktail Hour is a GREAT place to start!). 🙂

Reading this has completely inspired me to start writing my own fiction again, for which I had completely lost steam. So for that gift, thank you. The main problem I had been facing was writing block.. and unable to find a way past it I procrastinated. What do you do when faced with that situation? That complete inability to even conjure the next sentence, let alone get anything onto paper?

Ooh, what a long, long answer I could write! In fact, did write. I hate to short-change you with a simple link to an old post, but anything I could say now, I said then, so you might find this post interesting: “ It was a dark and stormy writer’s block…. ”

Or maybe not. Nothing encourages writer’s block more than the unhelpful advice to simply keep writing! But it really is the best advice. So glad you’re diving back into fiction! Have fun with it, and keep us posted on your progress! 🙂

Not at all short changed, just thank you for answering! Will definitely take a look. Having the will and motivation to write again is great, will definitely keep you up to date on any progress! 🙂

“Nurture the written word”… great advice. I have to find more coffee houses in my area.

Congratulations on being freshly pressed 🙂

And thanks for reading! 🙂

I love that this addresses both the teacher and the student in the writing community! I found this very helpful as someone who embraces both roles!!

Thanks! In my book, “student” and “teacher” are basically the same idea. 🙂

https://snoekbrown.com/2007/10/03/labels/

• Pingback: Digital Interview with Samuel Snoek-Brown Conducted by English Faculty Member, October 2012 | University of Wisconsin Platteville English Program

This is beautiful advice, especially, “Meditate on your place in literature.” I never thought of it that way.

Thanks, Jenny! It’s funny — like most advice, this list is as much (or more) for me as it is for anyone else. I’m constantly having to remind myself of this stuff. 🙂

Wonderful principles! I have used some of them and they have worked for me, Sammy my namesake.

Hello! This is awesome! I am a teaching artist within the prison system with a visual arts background and have been put with the task of teaching a creative writing class (not my forte) I hope you don’t mind that I use these principles in my class. You will be cited.

Please feel free to use or even adapt them as you see fit! And thank you for your vitally important work helping prisoners craft and express their stories and experiences.

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Write or Left

(6 reviews)

Sybil Priebe, North Dakota State College of Science

Copyright Year: 2016

Last Update: 2022

ISBN 13: 9798783934094

Publisher: Sybil Priebe

Language: English

Formats Available

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Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Corinne Ehrfurth, CE Instructor, Rochester Community & Technical College on 2/10/23

Priebe's book evocatively pushes the definition of "creative writing" to teach beyond the typical genres and modes. read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Priebe's book evocatively pushes the definition of "creative writing" to teach beyond the typical genres and modes.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

All the content looks accurate as well as engaging and thought-provoking.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Leading with tweets could easily be replaced if this social media platform goes under after all the hullabaloo with Musk at the helm.

Clarity rating: 5

While Priebe's book plays off older texts with the ABCs, theses notes--such as the B, "inclusivity" (pg. 12), frames the textbook on a progressive scale that reaches outside notions of the pre-1980s literary canon. This textbook would not fit instructors concerned with a legacy and historical approach to creative writing.

Consistency rating: 5

The pattern of exercises, student examples, questions, tips or feedback continues throughout the entire textbook to provide modeling of habits, reasoning, and qualities of the genres of creative writing while also inviting classes of students to push the boundaries.

Modularity rating: 5

Hyper-modular with sound-bite like inclusions of tweets, call-out quotes, and other breaks in the text itself. The table of contents subdivides the last chapter into subheadings that the rest of the chapters could also be split into right away. Since the author cites herself (see a blog post on pg. 24 for example), some self-referential moments occur.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The genre-based chapters provide a familiarity to long-time instructors of creative writing while also being student-friendly for writers who want to dive right away into something particular.

Interface rating: 4

The primary font choice becomes increasingly distracting the longer one reads, as it looks as if it's from a typewriter. Students with dyslexia might have greater issues reading this text when compared with other options.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Chapter titles and subtitles are not capitalized, which personally bothers me but fits the trendy style that might draw in younger students and less mature writers.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

The more one reads this textbook, the less it makes good on its promise to include diverse voices since it features Walt Whitman and other typical canonical writers' excerpts as well as white people's or organization's tweets.

I especially enjoy how interactive this textbook would feel for writing students who want to hone and practice their craft.

Reviewed by Rachele Salvini, Emerging Writer Lecturer, Gettysburg College on 11/7/22

I decided to adopt Write or Left: an OER Book for Creative Writing Classes for my Introduction to Creative Writing classes for multiple reasons. The clarity and conciseness of the textbook makes it an excellent tool for college students who are... read more

I decided to adopt Write or Left: an OER Book for Creative Writing Classes for my Introduction to Creative Writing classes for multiple reasons. The clarity and conciseness of the textbook makes it an excellent tool for college students who are approaching writing creatively for the first time. I have used a few commercial textbooks and anthologies throughout the years, and while I found them to be extremely detailed and exhaustive, students seem to struggle with theoretical sections and they expressed difficulty understanding some of the anthologized readings. While most creative writing textbooks and anthologies might be extremely helpful for teachers, some of the selected readings might not be particularly accessible for students who are approaching reading literature as writers for the first time. However, the editors of Write or Left chose readings that seem to align with the taste and aesthetic that young writers find enjoyable or at least approachable.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Introduction to Creative Writing is a class mostly based on workshops and lively discussions, but the students also need a foundational element — they need to familiarize themselves with a vocabulary that allows them to discuss writing. Write or Left provides brief and concise definitions that help the students navigate the vocabulary surrounding the particularities of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and dramatic writing.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

While the book does not provide a wide or particularly updated range of readings for each genre, it covers the main concepts that students need to know to start talking about writing and workshopping each other’s work — which is, I think, the main purpose of the basic Introduction to Creative Writing course.

Write or Left is an excellent tool for students who are approaching creative writing for the first time and need to familiarize themselves with the most important terms to use during reading discussion and workshop. Notably, this book also covers more innovative aspects of creative writing — flash fiction and multimodal writing — to avoid a banal and cut-and-dry institutionalization of the four main genres, and show once again the fluid, regenerating, and ever-shifting nature of creative writing.

The textbook offers very clear and consistent definitions of terms that students of creative writing should get familiar with during an introductory course.

I am very excited with the briefness of the "theoretical" chapters, as students usually struggle with long chapters that break down the elements of craft in the four genres of creative writing. I would be happy to assign a whole chapter for the introductory class of each genre (each module).

I found it hard to make most commercial textbooks approachable for the students, who seem often confused by the readings or bored with the lengthy theoretical explanations of creative writing terms. This textbook might be implemented with readings chosen by the instructor, allowing the course to benefit from a personalized, unique approach to creative writing, which might feel more dynamic and adventurous than following a textbook or an anthology page by page. Write or Left might be a great tool for sections of Introduction to Creative Writing with a high student count, as instructors might struggle to find the time to workshop every student in each genre, and also cover the readings from a commercial textbook to make it worthwhile for students who spent a lot of money on it. In fact, a lot of Introduction to Creative Writing students might have to take Creative Writing as a requirement and not an elective course, so having them buy expensive textbooks that they might not really use throughout the semester and then ever again might be a waste.

Interface rating: 5

The textbook is extremely easy to access. I think the students will be very happy to access their book online for free.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I haven't found any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The readings used as example might represent a wider range of experiences and identities, but overall I'm satisfied.

Reviewed by Yelizaveta Renfro, Assistant Professor of English, Saint Mary's College on 5/5/22

This book’s ambitious attempt to cover so much ground—fiction, poetry, nonfiction, drama, experimental fiction, and specialized genres like fantasy, science fiction, horror, and romance—is ultimately its biggest weakness. There is no way a single... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

This book’s ambitious attempt to cover so much ground—fiction, poetry, nonfiction, drama, experimental fiction, and specialized genres like fantasy, science fiction, horror, and romance—is ultimately its biggest weakness. There is no way a single textbook can adequately cover all of these areas (and especially a slim volume like this one). As a result, the book is only the most cursory exploration of these multiple creative forms, barely scratching the surface of the field of creative writing. I could not imagine assigning this book in any course that I teach at the college level. Even my introduction to creative course—which covers fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction in one semester—requires a text that goes more deeply into these genres and that offers more substantial content.

I would like to see more precision and thoughtful wording, especially in defining terms. For example, the glossary definition of “fantasy” that is offered at the end of the book is, “the kind of writing that cannot take place in real life.” This is imprecise and even potentially confusing; doing the simplest internet search will yield a much a better definition. For much of the book, the information is not so much inaccurate as it is general and incomplete.

The general topics included in the book are certainly relevant, but an instructor using this text would need to supplement every step along the way. Not only are the explanations in some of the chapters too basic and brief, but the examples (when they exist at all) leave much to be desired, being limited mostly to older texts (nineteenth-century texts like an excerpt from Frankenstein or a story by Kate Chopin) or texts written by the instructor’s students (which are very typical of works produced by beginning creative writers). What students need most are high-quality, recent models for their own work. There are thousands of such works available online. While I understand that Priebe cannot reproduce these texts in her book, readers could still be pointed towards online literary journals that publish excellent creative writing.

Clarity rating: 4

The writing is generally clear, though as I noted elsewhere, definitions of terms could be more precise. The tone of the book is informal and friendly, making it easy to follow. I think that most student would find the book clear and accessible.

Consistency rating: 3

The book seems somewhat inconsistent in the depth of treatment it gives to different genres. For example, in the chapter on drama, there is an exhaustive discussion of the proper way to format a screenplay (the correct font and margins, rendering action and dialogue, and so forth), which makes up the majority of the chapter and strikes me as an unnecessary level of detail for beginning students (and the student example that is offered at the end of the chapter does not even adhere to these “proper formatting” rules). Meanwhile, other chapters are woefully lacking in necessary content. In the poetry chapter, for example, the poetic “forms” that are included seem arbitrary, and there is no real discussion of poetic meter. An introduction to poetry is incomplete without a basic overview of metrical feet.

Modularity rating: 4

In principle, it would be possible to use any of the chapters in this book as stand-alone readings for a course. Instructors could easily switch the order of the chapters around to suit their own progression through genres. The most useful chapter, in my option, is Chapter 10: Assignment and Project ideas, which offers a sizable collection of writing prompts, reading response activities, and portfolio ideas. While these are of varying usefulness and I would not offer them all as options for my students, some do stand out as excellent exercises.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

I did question the order of some of the chapters. For example, why does the chapter on flash fiction (a sub-genre of fiction) come before the general fiction chapter? And why does flash fiction have a chapter of its own, when there is barely any content? (The chapter is all of two and a half pages long.)

Interface rating: 3

The font in the pdf version that I read is not at all reader friendly and is hard on the eyes, in my opinion. I also found the screenshots of Tweets that lead off most chapters to be distracting and confusing, and the text offers no explanation or discussion of these, which adds to the impression that the book is a superficial hodgepodge, dropping in content without engaging with it.

Grammatical Errors rating: 3

While Priebe’s portion of the text is largely free of errors, the student texts that she includes do sometimes contain grammatical errors. While I understand the urge to present student writing as it is written, in a textbook I would expect writing that has been proofread.

This is a book that is at least aware of diversity/and inclusivity. In the opening chapter, Priebe lists the steps she has taken: “Most of the he/she pronouns have been flipped for they/them pronouns,” “‘White-sounding’ names have been replaced by more diverse ones,” “‘Husband’ or ‘wife’ have been replaced by ‘partner,’” and “The majority of examples in this book, by students or otherwise, are not written by white, heterosexual, cisgender men.” While I commend Priebe for her efforts, some of these moves strike me as cosmetic fixes, and the example published and student-written texts do not obviously reflect diverse perspectives (that is, they don’t explicitly tackle issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, etc.). I would imagine that as Priebe continues to gather more information for future editions of this book, the diversity of voices represented will increase.

While I would not use this book in my college courses in its present form, I do think that is has a lot of potential and that future iterations of the book are likely to have enhanced content. As Priebe collects more student writing samples and as students fill in the numerous empty “Questions/Activities” sections that occur at the end of many chapters, this book may very well grow into a rich resource for creative writing instructors. I am planning to revisit this book in future editions to see what new material it has to offer.

Reviewed by Megan Green, Assistant Teaching Professor, Bowling Green State University on 4/25/22

This book offers a useful, concise guide for beginning creative writers. While many of the topics could be expanded upon, it fulfills its promise to offer only condensed snapshots of each subject. It would make a helpful addition to readings... read more

This book offers a useful, concise guide for beginning creative writers. While many of the topics could be expanded upon, it fulfills its promise to offer only condensed snapshots of each subject. It would make a helpful addition to readings chosen by a professor and to selective texts about elements that may require more insightful approaches and in-depth discussions. Chapters that may require additional readings for most introductory classes include the chapters about flash fiction and drama.

The content offers accurate, up-to-date information about creative writing.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The chapter topics are highly relevant and up-to-date. I particularly enjoyed that the author chose to incorporate a chapter on multimodal works, which is something I have found numerous authors either glance over or fail to explore. Likewise, the choice to conclude with a section about how to get published offers relevant and significant points that students should be made aware of at an early stage.

Priebe implements small doses of humor throughout the book that are engaging (I do wish there were more, though!) and utilizes Plain Language to make the reading accessible.

Each chapter is structured identically, beginning with readings about the chapter's topics and ending with exercises.

Each chapter is short and could, in itself, be an easy reading assignment. However, chapters have smaller reading sections that can be assigned. Instructors should be aware that many exercises are written as thoughts to instructors rather than students and, thus, may require editing.

Each chapter offers concise readings over topics followed by exercises. Multiple exercises are listed so teachers can find one or two they would like to employ, and many are creative and effective at reiterating learning objectives.

The book is offered in multiple formats, including PDF, Word, and Google Doc. In the PDF version I perused, there were no interface issues.

There are a very few small mechanical and/or grammatical mistakes.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The author makes it a point to offer a variety of works in this textbook rather than canonical works that are oftentimes the labor of White male authors. Non-binary language also makes the text more inclusive.

The strongest element of this work is its suggested exercises, many of which may be used as in-class activities to further explore topics.

Reviewed by Clifford Buttram, Assistant Professor of Management, University of Saint Francis on 3/22/22

The discussion of key writing areas is organized in a smoothly flowing manner. From Poetry to Experimental and Children's Literature, the content was well organized and indexed efficiently for understanding and analysis. The book is neither too... read more

The discussion of key writing areas is organized in a smoothly flowing manner. From Poetry to Experimental and Children's Literature, the content was well organized and indexed efficiently for understanding and analysis. The book is neither too long or too short (page length) to still be quite effective.

While I'm not a Creative Writing expert, I found the book quite accurate regarding the elements of idea formation and flow from an author or writer's perspective. I've written three historical fiction books and am currently working on a ten novella set in the same category. In choosing to review this book, I found it's accuracy in how an author thinks, organizes, and creates scenarios to be very helpful. The many quotes and references helped me greatly in forming new ideas and writing strategies, even in one chapter or sub chapter of my current book. I found no bias in any chapters, however, the informative proved was both relevant and useful.

I feel this book is not only relevant, but highly useful as a handbook companion piece. Although the title refers to a textbook, I found its organization to be formatted in a more usable sense as a handbook. A reader could focus on one chapter, a few chapters, or the entire book as a strong and handy reference. Although I read the entire book, a particular focus for me were the Fiction, Drama, and Flash Fiction chapters. Each provided much needed guidance and advice for idea creation and tips to improve elemental writing.

The chapter organization was clear throughout the book. Each chapter utilized an introduction of the key topic, self-questions, reading strategies, and exercises. I also enjoyed the dispersed quotes throughout the chapters that helped to support the key points within the chapter.

As noted above, the consistency of each chapter (organization) helped ensure a stronger understanding and immersion into the specific area of writing by chapter. The author cleverly injects quotes, references, and definitions to combine an effort to improve the reader's ability to apply these concepts. Additionally, this allows for a more even flow of information, even in chapters that may not be in the reader's interest.

Each chapter is distinct, however, the coordination and organization of the entire book creates a crescendo effect for the reader. Although each chapter is specific, it can be both compartmentalized and utilized as a complete handbook. This modularity further enables a reader to use the book as a specific reference or a complete handbook/guide.

The book was well organized and logical. The reading was made easier by the flow of information and the combination of data, quotes, and references used throughout the book.

I did not note any interface issues.

I did not note any grammatical errors.

The text is neither culturally insensitive or offensive. I noted that the character/third person student examples were mostly benign which helped to decipher the author's intent. In Chapter 2, a section noted as 'Your Voice' spoke to holes in diversity when writing. I found this helpful for students to understand that not all areas of writing interest are not interesting to everyone. However, one should write to increase the value to the audience and the writer. I found this to be excellent advice and guidance.

I found the book to be an excellent resource for a creative writer. The final chapter discussed Children's Literature and how the previous chapters were applicable to this specific genre. The final chapter (Assignment and Project Ideas) was quite useful for a writer experiencing a block or one simply working a new idea. One recommendation would be to title the book as a Handbook or Reference Guide as the Table of Contents and structure is formatted to provide specific and detailed information on specific creative writing elements. At 168 pages, it has the length for a small textbook, but a better fit as a Handbook for creative writers of all genres. There are many ideas, strategies, and helpful tips throughout the book to help most writers think and write more clearly and effectively.

Reviewed by Justine Jackson Stone, Special Purpose Faculty, Radford University on 3/8/22

The book’s overall intention is to present condensed chapters on the various genres of creative writing, and while condensed, the content is too terse. Chapters one through eight are generalized approaches that provide basic information with some... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

The book’s overall intention is to present condensed chapters on the various genres of creative writing, and while condensed, the content is too terse. Chapters one through eight are generalized approaches that provide basic information with some examples few and far between. The chapter on flash fiction is brief, only lasting from pages 53-57. The textbook also appears to be incomplete, missing student writing examples in addition to other literary recommendations. In chapter nine, the large overview of different genres such as horror, young adult, etc. provides some recommended writers for students, but this is not consistent throughout the textbook. In order for students to improve their creative writing skills, they need to read. A recommended reading list would make this textbook more effective. The index is well-done and easy to read. The glossary could benefit from additional terms added, but it’s a good start for students to grasp the terminology.

The content is accurate. For a college-level course, however, some of the content is quite juvenile. For example, a writing prompt on page 100 asks the writer to “Tell the story of a dragon who owns a jelly bean factory in an experimental way.” This prompt seems far more appropriate for elementary and middle school students. If the author suggested this prompt as an activity for how to write a children’s book, I could understand its inclusion.

The content of the book is expansive but basic. Overall, the textbook will remain relevant, though a teacher using this book would need to find supplemental material to increase student understanding of the different categories of creative writing. In addition, chapter nine briefly discusses publication opportunities and includes instructions on how to publish directly through Amazon. I found this to be an odd inclusion and question if it is necessary.

Clarity rating: 3

The author uses a conversational and informal tone throughout, which students tend to appreciate. Terms are well-defined for a basic understanding, though more context or examples would deepen student learning. The author tends to share more of her own personal experiences with writing rather than those of her students, which I think misses the mark for her intended audience. In addition, her humor ranges from childish to lewd, which I found at times to be off-putting.

Consistency rating: 4

Terminology is included in each chapter, though due to the condescending nature of the textbook, instructors may consider using supplemental material. In chapter two, the author covers a few fundamentals of creative writing such as point of view, character, setting, etc. For an introduction to creative writing class, it may be necessary to expand these definitions as some students may not have prior knowledge of understanding of these terms. The framework is fairly solid though lacking in student examples. I do appreciate the ample inclusion of creative writing prompts as students tend to find these useful and fun.

Modularity rating: 3

The author effectively uses subheadings to organize information. Information was well-displayed, avoiding larger blocks of text. Each chapter was clearly laid out, and the index was easy to follow. The text is very self-referential to the author. In example 2 of chapter zero, one of the activities states the following: “When we write, we’re using the alphabet. Duh. Yet, how many times have we used these letters to organize or brainstorm? Try using the alphabet to brainstorm different things characters could say in different pieces of fiction and drama and nonfiction.” The author uses herself in this example, including statements such things as, ‘J = “Jeezus Marth and Mary… will you please hurry up?’ (p. 16). I think the exercise would have been more effective if a character bio was given and then examples were provided rather than assuming the reader knows anything about the author. In addition, phrases like ‘Duh’ and other slang can be confusing for students who do not speak English as a first language.

I do not think the chapters are effectively organized. The fiction chapter should come before the flash fiction chapter, and I would personally place nonfiction after fiction instead of drama coming next. In chapter two of the review of the elements, I would personally discuss character first before point of view. I also ponder if it would be better to know these terms first before doing creative exercises to have a basic foundation before students start writing.

Interface rating: 1

The inclusion of Twitter screen captures at the beginning of each chapter is grossly unnecessary. They do not add anything to the chapter context and do not fit well into the design. Without a caption to explain these pictures' inclusion, I do think students could find them confusing. As far as I can tell, there’s no text over the image or note that the images are decorative. The charts included in chapter zero may be useful to some, but I did not find them overly beneficial. Finally, I found the textbook fonts to be hard on the eyes while reading.

The text was mostly free of grammatical errors. The author sometimes uses internet text speech or ALL CAPS, which I find to be inappropriate for a college textbook. In one of the dialogue examples, the author writes, “’Oh.My.God. For real?’” (p. 16). In another example, the author writes, “Writer’s block can happen to ANYONE” (p. 22). There are other ways to create emphasis, and if we want students to be published, they should know how to emphasize their work without gimmicks.

The book does contain adult language which may not be appropriate for all readers. As far as inclusion goes, the author has made a point to be inclusive, stating on page 12: “'White-sounding’ names have been replaced by more diverse ones … ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ have been replaced by ‘partner’ … and ‘the majority of examples in this book, by students or otherwise, are not written by white, heterosexual, cisgender men.’” In addition, the author discusses “holes in diversity” in chapter two, which is an incredibly important topic to address.

Write or Left: an OER textbook for creative writing classes is the kitchen sink of creative writing books, and unfortunately, is too broad in scope to be effective. While the author clearly states this is an introductory textbook for creative writing classes “with condensed chapters,” the notion that a student should learn poetry, flash fiction, fiction, drama, nonfiction, and experimental writing in a single semester is haphazard. Rather than developing a solid foundation of each type of creative writing, students and teachers alike are expected to blitz through each chapter, complete some creative writing prompts, and miraculously be competent. Combine this with the notion that students shouldn’t be assigned grades for their creative writing (p. 13), and it’s no wonder academia often sneers at creative writing as a field of study. While I do applaud the author’s efforts to make this textbook more diverse and inclusive in its examples, I found the overall book greatly lacking in content to be effective in the classroom.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Intro to Creative Writing
• Chapter 2: Review of Elements
• Chapter 3: Poetry 
• Chapter 4: Flash Fiction
• Chapter 5: Fiction 
• Chapter 6: Drama 
• Chapter 7: Nonfiction   
• Chapter 8: Experimental Literature
• Chapter 9: Final Chapter
• Chapter 10: Assignment and Project Ideas

Ancillary Material

About the book.

In this book, we'll go over some of the general principles of writing practices as well as advice and tips on how to write creatively, but mainly, you’ll be introduced to as many genres and categories as possible. We won’t get bogged down in doing the writing process “perfectly” or creating “perfect literature.” The goal is to learn about as many genres as possible, practice writing in those genres, and get feedback.

About the Contributors

Sybil Priebe lives in the upper Midwest with her partner-in-crime and crabby old cat. She teaches various composition courses at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. She likes books, bicycles, and blasphemy.

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• > The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity across Domains
• > The Creativity of Literary Writing

Book contents

• The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity Across Domains
• Copyright page
• Contributors
• Acknowledgments
• Part I Creativity and Domain
• Part II Creativity in the Traditional Arts
• 5 The Creativity of Literary Writing
• 6 Creativity in the Visual Arts
• 7 The Creation and Aesthetic Appreciation of Architecture
• 8 Photography and Creativity
• 9 The Constricted Muse
• 10 Musical Creativity
• Part III Creativity in the Sciences
• Part IV Creativity in Business
• Part V Newer Domains for Creativity Research
• Part VI Creativity in Everyday Life
• Part VII Conclusion

5 - The Creativity of Literary Writing

from Part II - Creativity in the Traditional Arts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2017

Literary writing involves externalization of mind onto paper or computer screen, and a process of guided exploration over a space of possibilities. Among the arts, this kind of writing may come closest in structure and content to everyday consciousness; this has enabled writers and readers to explore the workings of minds in interactions with others. Artistic writing is a kind of indirect communication in which the creativity of the writer invites the creativity of the reader. In personality, writers are higher in openness but more often depressed than other members of the population. Characteristics on which literary creativity is based make writers vulnerable to emotional disorders. With the exception of conversation, nothing may have been as important in understanding ourselves and others as works of creative writing.

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• The Creativity of Literary Writing
• By Keith Oatley , Maja Djikic
• Edited by James C. Kaufman , University of Connecticut , Vlad P. Glăveanu , Universitetet i Bergen, Norway , John Baer , Rider University, New Jersey
• Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity across Domains
• Online publication: 15 September 2017
• Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316274385.005

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11 Effective Writing Principles To Supercharge Your Content Efforts

Effective writing is the art of conveying ideas in a clear, concise, and engaging manner that resonates with the audience. It's about crafting messages that not only inform but also inspire and compel the reader to take action.

Whether you're crafting a persuasive landing page or an informative article, the effectiveness of your writing determines whether your audience stays hooked or moves on.

In this article, we'll dive into 11 effective writing principles that can transform your content and enhance your writing skills.

From understanding your audience's needs to mastering the art of brevity and clarity, these principles will serve as your guide to creating impactful and memorable content.

Empathy can be employed to foster a deeper and more significant rapport with your audience. It will instill a sense of comfort and understanding, and inspire one's audience, which, in turn, makes them more inclined to interact with your content.

In order to write with empathy, you first need to understand your readers' point of view.

What are their emotional responses to the subject? What information are they seeking? What concerns do they most frequently express?

Conducting thorough market research is essential for creating empathetic content. This step helps identify the main topics and questions that resonate with your readers.

It will also help you choose the right tone of voice and language when addressing them. This is especially important if you are covering sensitive topics.

Let's look at an example of how Do Good Things demonstrates empathy in its copy.

From the start, they show they understand their target audience’s pain points: ad hoc digital marketing. By addressing these pain points directly, Do Good Things immediately establishes a connection with the reader.

But they don’t just say they understand; they show it by articulating the specific challenges that come with sporadic and uncoordinated marketing efforts.

This approach not only acknowledges the frustrations many businesses face but also positions the brand as a relatable and insightful ally in the digital marketing landscape.

Writing with purpose is one of the key principles of effective writing.

Purpose-driven writing is like a roadmap for your readers. It leads them to the destination you've set, whether that's gaining knowledge, making a decision, or experiencing an emotion.

When your writing has a clear purpose, your audience is more likely to follow along and arrive at the understanding or action you intend.

For example, consider this social media ad by The Ordinary, which is designed to sell a new product. The tone is enthusiastic and persuasive, using words like "explore", "exclusive", and "shop now".

Contrast this with an informative blog post aimed at educating readers about the skincare ingredients found in the same product. Here, the tone is more neutral and explanatory, with language that focuses on providing facts and information.

By identifying the purpose from the outset, you can tailor your tone, language, and structure to guide your readers precisely where you want them to go.

3. Communication

One of the key objectives of writing is to facilitate effective communication.

To achieve this, it's crucial to use language that resonates with your audience. The choice of words, the complexity of sentences, and the overall tone must be tailored to the people you aim to reach.

The tone of voice sets the mood of your writing and can influence how your message is perceived. A professional, authoritative tone instills confidence in your readers, while a conversational, friendly tone can make complex information feel more approachable.

Moreover, you need to write in a language your audience understands.

If you're peppering your writing with technical jargon for beginners, their interest will wane swiftly. Conversely, oversimplifying concepts for an expert audience will also lead to disengagement.

Look at Coinbase and how they use complex financial terms in their newsletter. The average person may not know what “cryptoverse” or “BTC” is. But the brand is well aware of its audience's expertise. They confidently use technical terms, knowing they will resonate with their readers.

The key is to gauge your audience's familiarity with the subject matter and adjust your language accordingly. Surfy , our AI writing assistant, can help you with this.

For example, if you're tailoring content for beginners, you can ask Surfy to simplify complex concepts or translate them into a more accessible language.

As you can see, Surfy has used simple language and a clear sentence structure to convey the same point.

Clear writing eliminates confusion, even when you are dealing with complex ideas. Therefore, clarity ensures that your message is not just heard but understood.

The beauty of clarity is that it transcends the barriers of expertise; it speaks to the novice and the expert alike.

Here are actionable strategies to ensure your writing is crystal clear:

• Break down intricate thoughts into bite-sized pieces.
• Avoid going into excessive detail that might detract from the main point.
• Choose words that are clear and concise.
• Use visuals to cut through the verbal noise and drive your point home.
• Illustrate your points with stories and examples.

Check out Productive.io and their copy. Their sentences are short. They stick to one point per sentence and use easy-to-understand terms that appeal to their target audience.  

You can make use of tools like the Hemingway Editor to improve the clarity of your writing. It highlights complex sentences and common errors, suggests simpler alternatives to dense phrases, and even rates the readability of your text.

Here's an example of content that uses long words and intricate sentences. You can ask Surfy to improve its clarity.

And here you go! Surfy has used plain language and got rid of all extra words while still conveying the most important points.

Brevity is another important pillar of effective writing. The basic principle of brevity is simplicity.

While elaborate and meandering sentences can be charming in literature, the digital world demands straightforwardness.

Assume your readers are reading on a small screen and are pressed for time. 

Here are the basic techniques for writing concise copy:

• Write short sentences.
• Eliminate all unnecessary words and phrases.
• Use active voice instead of passive voice.
• Avoid nominalization.
• Avoid the excessive use of adjectives and adverbs. 

Articulate Marketing does a good job of demonstrating brevity. Their sentences are very short and punchy. They get straight to the point. There is zero fluff and superfluous phrasing on the page.  

You can easily improve the brevity of your writing with Surfy.

6. Credibility

Your writing's effectiveness hinges on its ability to foster trust and showcase expertise. Without credibility, you risk losing your audience's engagement.

Enhance your content’s credibility by citing reliable, verifiable, and trusted sources.

• Provide evidence for all of your claims.
• Use statistics and numbers where you can.
• Ask experts to chime in and lend another layer of credibility to your content. 
• Quote your own case studies or customer testimonials. 

Here's what that can look like in practice.

Hootsuite supports its claims by linking directly to the source and including an expert quote.

7. Creativity

Creativity is perhaps one of the more elusive principles of effective writing. It plays a vital role in captivating and engaging readers, so it’s important for writers to get it right.

Here are a few simple principles to enhance the creativity of your writing:

• Use metaphors your audience will easily understand.
• Include elements of humor, like puns, jokes or double entendres.
• Tell stories. Make them as relatable to your audience as possible.
• Incorporate infographics and other original visual elements to make your content easier to digest. 
• Approach a topic from a previously unexplored angle.
• Don’t be afraid to share your personal experiences and opinions. 
• Use rhetorical questions and try to make your audience think.
• Consider stating controversial or unpopular opinions to hook your audience. 

For example, while most blogs would write an article on "reasons to become a freelancer", Hongkiat takes a creative approach. They've written an article on "reasons not to become a freelancer".

They approach the topic from an unexplored angle, which instantly sets them apart. 

Ethical writing helps you establish long-term trust and credibility with your audience.

Here are some guidelines to ensure your writing adheres to ethical standards:

• Always represent facts and research findings accurately. Do not manipulate data to fit your narrative or misrepresent the work of others.
• Be transparent with your audience. If there's a potential conflict of interest or if you're expressing an opinion, make it clear.
• Provide proper citations for all sources of information. Whether it's a direct quote, a paraphrase , or a reference to someone else's idea, clear attribution is essential.

Consider how The CMO openly informs their readers that they may receive a commission for purchases made through links in their blog posts. Including such a disclaimer is a crucial step in maintaining transparency and building trust with the audience.

To help verify the originality of your content, you can use Surfer's integrated Plagiarism checker. It will ensure you're not, even unknowingly, committing plagiarism.

While it may seem like a given, you shouldn't underestimate the importance of correct grammar and spelling for effective writing.

Proper grammar and punctuation make your content clearer and easier to understand.

H6: Grammar mistakes can make you seem unprofessional and discredit your credibility.

Check your work for some of the most common grammatical errors:

• They're vs. their vs. there
• Your vs. you’re vs. yours
• It’s vs. its
• Then vs. than
• Who vs. whom vs. whose vs. who's
• Incomplete comparisons
• Incorrect use of tenses
• Incorrect word order

Leverage grammar-checking tools to ensure your content is error-free.

The Spelling and grammar check on Google Docs and Word is a reliable starting point. Grammarly and Quillbot offer a more comprehensive analysis of your text.

These tools can highlight mistakes that are often overlooked and suggest corrections, which can significantly enhance the readability of your writing.

10. Formatting

Formatting can make your content much easier or much more difficult to read.

When content is well-formatted, it guides readers through the text, making the experience more enjoyable. Meanwhile, walls of text, small fonts, and lack of visuals can quickly send a reader running. 

Here are a few formatting elements that significantly enhance readability:

Bullet points : These are essential for breaking down complex information into digestible bits. They help in highlighting important points and make it easier for readers to scan through the content and retain information.

Subheadings : Clear and descriptive subheadings serve as signposts that guide readers through the sections of your text. Placed inside the table of contents, they allow readers to jump directly to the parts that interest them the most.

Whitespace : Generous use of whitespace around text and between paragraphs gives the reader's eyes a break. It prevents the overwhelming feeling that can come from a dense block of text and helps to better organize the content on the page.

Visual aids : Including images, charts, and graphs can illustrate points more vividly than words alone. They can also break up large sections of text, making the content more engaging.

Bold and italics : Use bold text to emphasize key points and italics to highlight important terms or phrases. This helps draw the reader's attention to the most important parts of your content.

Call-out boxes : Highlighting quotes or important facts in a call-out box can make them stand out and be easily remembered by the reader.

As you can see in the Surfer blog, we make use of all the different formatting elements, including call-out boxes, table of contents, bullet points, and images, and make sure there's lots of white space between paragraphs.

11. Editing

The importance of revising and editing cannot be overstated in the realm of effective writing.

Here are a few tips to help with your editing process:

• If possible, wait a few days before revisiting your text. This helps to clear your mind and reset your focus, making it easier to identify areas that need improvement.
• Start by examining the overall structure of your writing. Ensure that your ideas flow logically and that each section effectively builds upon the previous one.
• Go through your writing line by line to check for clarity, conciseness, and impact. Pay attention to sentence length and structure, and make sure that each sentence serves a purpose.
• Read your text aloud to reveal awkward phrasing and convoluted sentences that might otherwise go unnoticed.
• Have another set of eyes review your work. Others may catch mistakes you've overlooked and provide insights into how your writing is perceived from an outsider's viewpoint.
• Take advantage of grammar and style-checking tools. They can flag common errors and suggest improvements.

As we saw throughout this article, you can also leverage an AI assistant like Surfy to improve your writing. It can help you edit, refine, and rephrase your content in real time.

Key takeaways

• Effective writing depends on crafting clear, engaging, and tailored content to meet a specific audience's needs and interests, ultimately driving them to action.
• The 11 principles of effective writing are empathy, purpose, communication, clarity, brevity, credibility, creativity, ethics, grammar, formatting, and editing.
• Be empathetic in your writing and show your readers you understand and value them.
• Make sure every piece of content has a clear and specific purpose.
• Opt for succinct sentences and favor the active voice over the passive.
• Use language that resonates with and is easily understood by the intended audience.
• Try to adopt a creative, unique approach to the topic you are writing about.
• Write plagiarism-free copy to maintain integrity and credibility in your work.
• Consider how best to format an article to ensure it’s easy to read and understand. 
• Don't ignore the editing phase. Check for grammar and spelling errors both manually and with a tool.

By mastering these 11 key principles of effective writing, you can create content that resonates and prompts your audience to engage with your message.

Before publishing a piece of content, practice asking yourself the following questions: Have you infused empathy into your narrative? Is the purpose of your piece crystal clear? Did you communicate in a way that's accessible and understandable to your audience?

In the end, the goal is to create content that informs, engages, and inspires your readers to act. Keep these principles in mind, and watch as your writing transforms from good to great.

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What is Creative Writing? | An Introduction for Students

What’s included in an oxford summer course.

Our tailored summer courses for ages 9-24 include all teaching and academic content, accommodation, meals (including Friday night formal dinners), a prize-giving ceremony, all-day trips and activities, airport transfers, access to Oxford Summer Courses Foundations, travel and medical insurance, and a welcome pack. Apply now to secure your spot in one of our comprehensive summer courses.

What is creative writing?

As the name suggests, creative writing is a form of writing that goes beyond the traditional realms of normal, professional, academic or technical forms of writing.

Instead, it encompasses a number of different genres and styles across a whole range of fields of both fictional and non-fiction writing; storytelling, playwriting, poetry, prose, journalistic, and more.

Though the definition can be quite vague, creative writing can, for the most part, be considered as any type of writing that is original and expressive of oneself. Typically, it can be identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, focusing on elements such as character development, narrative and plot, infusing its structure with imagination, invention and story.

In this sense, creative writing can technically be considered any writing of contemporary, original composition - it's bound by no standard conventions and uses a whole range of elements in its craft.

In an academic setting, creative writing is typically divided into fiction, poetry, or scriptwriting classes, with a focus on writing in an original style, not defined by pre-existing structures and genres.

What are the different types of creative writing?

Creative writing comes in many forms, encompassing a number of genres and styles. There are lots of different types of creative writing, which can be categorised as fiction or non-fiction. Some of the most popular being:

• Biographies
• Fiction: novels, novellas, short stories, etc.
• Poetry and spoken word
• Playwriting/scriptwriting
• Personal essays

What makes a good piece of creative writing?

First and foremost, it’s important to note that there is no pre-defined description of what it means to create a ‘good’ piece of creative writing. As the very name suggests, creative writing is an imaginative process, created by the individual with all their quirks and personalities.

Creative writing doesn’t fit one set genre and therefore there will never be an umbrella definition to describe the ‘perfect’ piece. Just think about a Gothic short story and then compare it to the features of a great Romantic poem - the two are so very different - it wouldn’t be unfair to judge them together.

However, with that being said, there are a few general principles that you can follow to make your creative writing as strong as it can be - by making it as authentic and true to you as possible:

• Know your audience - All great stories begin with a target audience in mind - because it’s exactly what you need to know in order to really tailor your writing and connect with them. Therefore, any creative writer should begin their writing by plotting out exactly who they want to read their work. Once you have this in mind, your writing will naturally begin to take direction and flow in a way that seems appropriate to your audience.
• Write what you know - Quite often, the best stories are those which we can connect to and relate in one or another way to our own lives. Or, they’re stories which seem to authentic that you could imagine it to be about the writer’s own life. Now, this doesn’t mean that you quite literally have to write about your life, but drawing on knowledge you have about different elements of our lives to give your story some authenticity and more believability.
• Creativity is key - Creativity is one of the most important elements of creative writing. It’s what sets you apart from other pieces of writing in your genre. Of course, this doesn't demand that you write a tale about a totally fantastical and mythical world with unique creatures - but simply use your creativity to think a little outside the box and put a unique twist on things; using literary devices like metaphors, alliteration, and varied sentence structure to make your work unique and interesting.
• Push your imagination - One of the great things about creative writing is that there is no definition or rules on ‘how’ to write. It’s a much more subjective genre and one which relies heavily on your own interpretations. Therefore, you should push your imagination to the limits to see what the end result could be. Some of the most interesting pieces of literature are thought-provoking or make us question the writing or world around us - where could your story take us?
• Plot a loose story arc - Despite the loose bounds of creative writing, it is still advisable to plot a loose story arc for any piece of literature you create. Story arcs are critical at giving your writing direction and purpose, helping you to write the whole piece at a good pace, without writing any superfluous content or ‘waffle.’ Follow your story arc, and your writing will have a strong structure, pace and direction - keeping your readers more engaged.

What are some techniques used in creative writing?

To make their writing stand out, writers often employ several creative writing techniques and literary devices, including:

• Character development - The process of creating a well-rounded, realistic character with depth, personality, and clear goals or motivations.
• Plot development - The story of your piece of writing - how it develops, unfolds, and moves along in time.
• Point of view - The perspective from which a narrative is told. It indicates who is telling the story and how the information is conveyed to the reader. Quite often writers will play with the point of view of the central character or protagonist to trick the reader and twist their perspective.
• Dialogue - Refers to the speech and conversations characters use to speak to one another. Dialogue and the language choices a character makes can be pivotal in helping define their personality.
• Literary devices - Such as metaphors, similes and alliteration to make creative writing more imaginative and descriptive. These are used in a myriad of ways by writers to make their writing more vivid, interesting and engaging.

Can creative writing be taught?

Of course! Creative writing can be taught, and is a very popular subject for university students, and for those who attend our summer courses.

Those who pursue the subject of Creative Writing will typically study a variety of texts from different periods of time to learn more about the different genres of writing within the field. They’ll become familiar with some of the leading creative writers from generations past to present, as well as some lesser-known and emerging writers in the industry.

Inspired by what they’ve learnt in the classroom, it’s not uncommon for Creative Writing students to also participate in regular workshops and scratch sessions, where they bring a piece of their writing along to class and have it read by other students and the tutor. They’ll leave with constructive feedback on how to improve their writing, or recommendations of other works which they may want to read to take influence from.

How to start creative writing

If you’re interested in getting those creative juices flowing and improving your writing craft, read some of our tips below on how to start creative writing:

• Read as much as you can - For creative writers, inspiration comes from a whole range of sources, but most commonly, from other writers. There’s some excellent examples of creative writing throughout history that all writers should be inspired by. Read a variety of genres by different authors to get a real feel for what type of writing you may want to do. Need some inspiration? Check out our blog: 15 Classic Books to Read
• Start journaling - Starting a journal can really help to unleash your inner creativity. Getting into the habit of writing each day about literally anything that’s preoccupied you that day will help you practice the art of writing. The more regularly you journal, the more you’ll build your confidence. You never know, you could even find your next great idea from something you’ve journaled about!
• Attend a Creative Writing summer course - If you’re just starting out as a creative writer and looking to collaborate, share ideas with others and workshop your writing, then joining a creative writing summer school could be a great option. Our creative writing summer courses are designed to help you extend your creative writing toolkit; you’ll analyse some of the industry’s greatest writers, as well as workshop some of your own writing with your peers.
• Practice using literary devices - Literary devices, such as metaphors, similes and rhyme can really help you write more vividly and create really descriptive, imaginative scenes. Practice using them regularly and you’ll soon watch your own creative writing start to flourish. Need some ideas to help you get practising? Look around your house and pick a random object. Then, practice using 5 literary devices to describe that same object - see where your creativity can take you!
• Write, write, write! - When it comes to how to start creative writing, one of the biggest pieces of advice we can offer is to pick up your pen or laptop, and start writing. Whether you have a single conversation starter for a character, or a complete narrative arc, you will only begin your creative writing journey when you physically do it. Even if you have no idea on what to write - look for writing prompt inspiration from all around you. The more you practice unleashing your creativity, the easier it will be to write over longer periods of time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What age groups are the oxford summer courses designed for.

Our courses cater to students aged 9-24, with tailored programs to suit different age groups and academic levels.

What is included in the Oxford Summer Courses?

Our comprehensive summer courses include all teaching and academic content, accommodation, meals (including formal dinners), a prize-giving ceremony, all-day trips and activities, airport transfers, travel and medical insurance, and a welcome pack.

Can international students apply for the courses?

Yes, we welcome students from all over the world to join our summer courses in Oxford and Cambridge.

What are the benefits of taking a Creative Writing summer course?

Our Creative Writing summer courses offer students the opportunity to learn from experienced tutors, develop their writing skills, and gain inspiration from the historic surroundings of Oxford and Cambridge.

How can I apply for the Oxford Summer Courses?

You can apply for our courses online through our application portal . Once your application is submitted, we will be in touch with the next steps.

Creative writing is a remarkable voyage that invites us to unleash our imagination, share our stories, and inspire others. It offers countless personal and professional benefits, nurturing self-expression, empathy, and creativity. So, grab a pen, open your mind, and embark on this enchanting journey of creative writing with Oxford Summer Courses. Let your words paint a vivid tapestry that captivates hearts and minds under the guidance of experienced tutors from Oxford and Cambridge. Join us as we explore the magic of creative writing and discover the transformative power it holds within through the renowned Oxford Summer Courses summer school.

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After submitting your application, we'll be in touch very soon to inform you of the outcome. Apply now to begin your journey with Oxford Summer Courses!

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Sam Thomas Davies

Words Into Works #099 | The Six Principles of Effective Writing

by Sam Thomas Davies | Last updated: December 11, 2023 | Filed Under: Career Success , Communication Skills , Words Into Works

In Writing for Busy Readers , Jessica Lasky-Fink and Todd Rogers share six universal principles of effective writing.

Adaptable to any context, the authors tailor these guidelines to diverse writers and readers, acknowledging varied voices, experiences, and biases.

Let’s detail each principle and explore how to communicate effectively in today’s fast-paced world.

The Six Principles of Effective Writing

1. less is more, 2. make reading easy, 3. design for easy navigation, 4. use enough formatting but no more, 5. tell readers why they should care, 6. make responding easy.

The first principle revolves around the power and necessity of brevity in writing. The authors emphasize that while many writers believe more content equals better writing, the opposite is often true.

They point out that the average American adult reads nonfiction at about 240 words per minute, meaning longer texts consume more time and attention, leading to a higher likelihood of readers disengaging.

The authors argue for concise writing (which they admit requires more effort and skill than long-winded prose) and cite various studies demonstrating that shorter, clearer messages effectively engage readers.

For instance, a study showed emails with fewer words had significantly higher response rates. This principle extends to the number of ideas and requests in a message; fewer of each increases reader engagement and comprehension.

The chapter concludes with practical rules for concise writing: use fewer words , include fewer ideas , and make fewer requests . By adhering to these rules, writers can enhance the impact of their writing, ensuring busy readers receive and understand the most critical information.

The second principle focuses on overcoming two major barriers to effective writing: length and complexity . Using an example from Seinfeld , the authors illustrate how overly lengthy and complex documents, like rental agreements, are often ignored or misunderstood by the general public.

The authors stress that shorter, more common words and simpler sentence structures are inherently easier to read and discuss how complex writing, especially in fields like law, can alienate and confuse readers.

For example, up to 60% of patients signing informed consent forms in healthcare research do not understand the content. An issue like this raises ethical concerns and highlights the need for simplification in writing.

To create readable writing, use short and common words , straightforward sentences , and shorter sentences . Remember, readable writing is about making ideas accessible, and balancing the trade-offs between readability and precision or complexity, depending on the context.

This principle emphasizes the design aspect of writing, particularly how to structure written content for easy navigation.

Lasky-Fink and Rogers liken the reader’s approach to a message to how one would use a map, starting from a general view and zooming in on specific areas of interest.

This concept underscores the importance of designing written content to allow readers to quickly grasp the main points and structure and easily find the parts they wish to focus on.

The chapter outlines six specific rules for well-designed writing:

• Make Key Information Immediately Visible : Make the primary purpose and important message details clear to the reader.
• Separate Distinct Ideas : Separate distinct topics visually through paragraph breaks or bullet points to aid in readability and comprehension.
• Place Related Ideas Together : Group related ideas to simplify the message and help readers understand the relationships between different parts of the content.
• Order Ideas by Priority : Place the most important information first, as readers often give more attention to the start of a message.
• Include Headings : Headings act like signposts, guiding the reader through the text and highlighting key sections.
• Consider Using Visuals : Use visuals, such as graphs, infographics, or simple images, to convey information more efficiently than text alone.

The chapter concludes with examples of how these principles can be applied, including a case study of redesigning court summons notifications in New York City. Applying these rules made the redesigned summons more navigable and understandable, reducing the number of people who failed to appear in court due to confusion over the summons content.

The focus here is on the effective use of formatting in writing. The authors compare formatting to spices in cooking: necessary but best used in moderation.

Lasky-Fink and Rogers emphasize that we must consider formatting tools like underlining, bolding, italics, all caps, and bullet point functional ingredients in writing.

The chapter outlines the rules for effective formatting:

• Match Formatting to Readers’ Expectations : Align formatting with what readers typically understand from different styles (bold, italics, color changes, etc.). Understand and manage the potential ambiguity in readers’ interpretations of formatting.
• Highlight, Bold, or Underline the Most Important Ideas : These tools effectively draw attention to critical text. However, their overuse can dilute their impact and lead readers to overlook non-formatted text.
• Limit Your Formatting : Over-formatting can create visual chaos and confusion, making it difficult for readers to determine what is most important.

The chapter also discusses the historical evolution of formatting in writing, highlighting how innovations like spaces between words and the use of paragraphs have evolved to enhance readability.

In this chapter, the authors delve into the challenge writers face in understanding their readers’ perspectives and tailoring messages to be personally relevant and engaging. The chapter offers two main rules for creating personally relevant writing:

• Emphasize What Readers Value (“So what?”) : The authors emphasize the importance of making content personally relevant to readers. They note that readers are more likely to engage with and remember content they find personally significant or beneficial. The chapter discusses experiments and case studies, such as Rock the Vote’s email campaign, to illustrate how framing messages in a way that appeals to the reader’s self-interest can significantly increase engagement.
• Emphasize Which Readers Should Care (“Why me?”) : This rule emphasizes targeting specificity in messaging. The authors suggest tailoring messages to indicate who they are relevant to. By being explicit about the intended audience, writers can make their messages more effective and prevent wasting readers’ time. The chapter also provides practical examples, like product recall notices, to show how targeting the right audience with a clear and relevant message can enhance communication effectiveness.

Understanding and addressing the reader’s perspective is crucial in writing. Writers must anticipate and answer the reader’s potential questions of “So what?” and “Why me?” to ensure their messages are received and understood as intended.

The sixth principle emphasizes that it’s not enough for readers to understand the message; they must also be motivated and find it easy to take the desired action. The final chapter presents three critical rules for easy-response writing:

• Simplify the Steps Required to Act : The authors suggest making the action as effortless as possible for the reader. We can achieve this by setting up a default action that occurs without any active effort from the reader or by reducing the number of steps required to take action. Examples include automatic enrollment in programs and text message responses for sign-ups, which have significantly increased participation rates.
• Organize Key Information Needed for Action : This rule focuses on providing all necessary details in a clear and accessible manner within the message. The authors stress that scattering essential information across multiple sources can deter readers from acting. They suggest including all vital information directly in the message, using principles of clarity and design.
• Minimize the Amount of Attention Required : The authors argue that minimizing the cognitive load on the reader increases the likelihood of action. We can achieve this by limiting choices, constraining response options, and clearly outlining response processes. Providing too many options or requiring complex decision-making can overwhelm readers and discourage action.

Throughout the chapter, the authors use various studies and examples to illustrate these points, such as the effectiveness of opt-out options in increasing participation rates and the impact of clear and simplified messaging in contexts like retirement savings plans and tax credit claims.

In conclusion, Writing for Busy Readers offers practical, evidence-based strategies for effective communication. By emphasizing brevity, reader relevance, clear formatting, and action-oriented messaging, writers can capture and retain the attention of their busy audiences, ensuring their messages are read and acted upon.

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Kevin / February 1, 2016

20 Powerful Principles for Clear and Effective Writing

If you’re looking for a helpful introductory book on writing that will actually help you to write better,  The Little Red Writing Book:  20 Powerful Principles for Clear and Effective Writing is worth checking out.  This book shares what are arguably the twenty most important principles for expositional writing, along with charts and exercises to help you hone your writing skills.

Author Brandon Royal shares the importance of mastering the basics of writing in the book’s introduction, “Students and young professionals who develop outstanding writing skills do so primarily by mastering a limited number of the most important writing principles, which they use over and over again.”  We need to master the basics to further hone the writing craft.

As I read through the Kindle edition of  The Little Red Writing Book,  I highlighted the key principles and quotes and share them below.

[Tweet “20 Powerful Principles for Clear and Effective Writing”]

Summary of The Little Red Writing Book: 20 Powerful Principles for Clear and Effective Writing

Students and young professionals who develop outstanding writing skills do so primarily by mastering a limited number of the most important writing principles, which they use over and over again. Writing has four pillars structure, style, readability, and grammar and each pillar is like the single leg of a sturdy chair. Structure is about organization and deciding in which order to present your ideas. Style describes how one writes, including how to use specific examples to support what is written. Readability is about presentation and how to make a document visually pleasing and easy to read. Grammar, including diction, is about expressing language in a correct and acceptable form. This book addresses the first three pillars; the fourth pillar, grammar, is given extensive coverage in  The Little Gold Grammar Book .

Principle #1: Write your conclusion and place it first.

Expository writing [unlike creative writing] explains and often summarizes a topic or issue. Strategically, the summary or conclusion should come at the beginning of an expository piece, not at the end.

Principle #2: Break your subject into two to four major parts and use a lead sentence.

Consider using a lead sentence, which is similar to a topic sentence. Whereas a topic sentence summarizes the contents of a single paragraph within an essay or report, a lead sentence summarizes the contents of an entire essay or report.

Principle #3: Use transition words to signal the flow of your writing.

Principle #4: Use the six basic writing structures to put ideas in their proper order.

The six commonly used structures in writing include: (1) categorical, (2) comparative, (3) evaluative, (4) chronological, (5) sequential, and (6) causal.

Principle #5: Finish discussing one topic before going on to discuss other topics.

Principle #6: Use specific and concrete words to support what you say.

Examples and details are the very things people remember long after reading a piece. This is arguably the most important of all writing techniques .

Principle #7: Add personal examples to make your writing more memorable.

Principle #8: Use simple words to express your ideas.

The everyday writer should err on the side of using simpler words.

Principle #9: Make your writing clearer by dividing up long sentences.

Principle #10: Cut out redundancies, excessive qualification, and needless self-reference.

Principle #11: Favor active sentences, not passive sentences.

Principle #12: Avoid nominalizing your verbs and adjectives.

[Nominalizing] describes the process by which verbs and adjectives are turned into nouns. Nominalizations weaken writing for a variety of reasons, mainly because they make sentences longer and force the reader to work harder to extract the sentence’s meaning. So, “reduction of costs” is best written as “reduce costs,” “development of a 5- year plan” is best written as “develop a 5- year plan,” and “reliability of the data” is best written as “rely on the data.”

Principle #13: Express a series of items in consistent, parallel form.

Consider the parallelism in the famous quote by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.”

Principle #14: Vary the length and beginnings of your sentences.

The normal sentence pattern in English is subject- verb- object (S- V- O), as seen in the example “I play tennis.” Most sentences should follow this subject- verb- object sequence because it produces the most power. However, if all sentences follow this order, our writing becomes choppy and monotonous. Particularly noticeable are series of sentences all beginning the same way, especially with “I” or “we.” Here are ten ways to vary sentence beginnings. WITH A SUBJECT WITH A PHRASE WITH A CLAUSE WITH AN ARTICLE WITH A VERB WITH AN ADVERB WITH ADJECTIVES WITH A GERUND WITH AN INFINITIVE WITH CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Principle #15: Write with a positive, personal tone.

Principle #16: Avoid using the masculine generic to refer to both genders.

Principle #17: Add more space around your writing to increase readability.

Principle #18: Make key words and phrases stand out.

Such adornments might include boldface type, italics, dashes, bullets, enumerations, and shading.

Principle #19: Use headings and headlines to divide or summarize your writing.

Principle #20: Wait until your writing stands still before you call it finished.

Rare is the writer who can sit down and knock out a perfect writing draft without corrections. Most proficient writers take at least three drafts to finish short pieces of writing. Skill, luck, boldness, and naiveté are key ingredients in the writing process.

Buy The Little Red Writing Book: 20 Powerful Principles for Clear and Effective Writing on Amazon.

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The Handbook of Creative Writing

• Steven Earnshaw
• X / Twitter

Please login or register with De Gruyter to order this product.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Copyright year: 2014
• Audience: College/higher education;
• Main content: 560
• Keywords: Literary Studies
• Published: April 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9780748689774

What are creative writing principles?

You might have heard creative writing called many unique things. Traditionally described as ‘literature’, creative writing is an art – the art of ‘making stuff up’. It is writing performed in such a way that is not academic or technical but still draws an audience.

Although the explanation is somewhat loose, creative writing can, for the most part, be considered as any writing which is original and self-expressive. A news article, for instance, cannot be considered to be creative writing as its primary goal is to introduce facts and not to express the thoughts of the writer.

The different purposes of writing

While a news article could be entertaining, its primary purpose is to present the facts. The purpose of a creative writing piece is to both entertain as well as share human experiences, such as love or loss. Creative writers attempt to get at a truth about humanity through poetics and storytelling.

The creative writing principles are:

• Developing your writing style
• Creating realistic characters
• Writing convincing dialogue

Let’s explore these in more detail now.

Creating your writing style

To be great at creative writing, it’s not required to have a vivid imagination, although that assists a lot. Many terrific writers of the English Language weren’t especially creative. Instead, they honed their technique and style to create interest in their stories.

To be a great creative writer, the most vital thing is practice. There are four things that you need to keep in mind while writing a story or play. These are:

• Characterisation

These are the essential elements required to write a story, but the tackling of the concept is where many would-be writers lag.

Developing one’s writing style requires time, patience and constant practice. Trying too much, or writing too consciously may hamper your prose nad not improve it. The following lists several ways in which you can improve your writing style and also add colour to your work:

• Read – Reading can help improve your writing style. There’s nothing wrong with being inspired by an individual author’s writing technique; in fact, you can even take a style a few steps further.
• Write – Without constant writing practice, you can’t expect your creative writing skills to improve. Constantly write, even if you think your work is terrible. You don’t need to stick to one genre even; experiment and innovate. There is a good possibility you’ll latch on to your unique style soon enough.
• Be natural – Use the language and words that come naturally to you. Opening a thesaurus and using difficult words will not make your writing better; in fact, it makes it pedantic and pretentious.
• Be concise and clear – nobody knows what you would like to say better than you do. Most of the time, simple, clear sentences make more of an impact as opposed to heavy, longwinded phraseology.
• Avoid being clichéd – try to craft unique new sentences. Avoid done-to-death wordings and metaphors. Create interest in your writing by being energetic, creative, and daring in your word choice.

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Stanford Online

The creative habit: cultivate a daily writing practice.

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Stanford Continuing Studies

Creativity comes naturally to us from childhood, but “real life” often gets in the way, with critical voices and practical concerns suppressing the impulse to put our ideas on paper and make art. Even if you can barely remember the last time you wrote anything beyond an email, a text, or a grocery list, the seeds of creativity are still deep inside you and need only a little coaxing to flourish again. Writing just a little every day takes away the anxiety of the blank page and makes you more observant, more in touch with your creativity, and as a result, happier and more fulfilled. Every weekday, for five weeks, you will receive a prompt, from which you should freewrite for 30 to 60 minutes (or whatever you can spare). Weekends will be off, with optional short prompts for those wishing to sustain momentum. The daily prompts will encourage you to try creative nonfiction, fiction, and simple poetic forms. You may always approach a prompt from a different genre or angle. This course is for those who want to write without inhibition and have fun without an evaluative component. You may submit one 500-word piece each week for gentle instructor feedback, if you wish, and you may post your writing in a thread to give and receive peer feedback. We will forge a creative community and find the quality of heightened awareness that comes from using creative writing as a way of being more present in the world.

Malena Watrous Writing Certificate Lead and Creative Writing Coordinator, Stanford Continuing Studies

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More From Forbes

25 writing tips for business owners and content marketers: part 5.

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Here we go, content creators! It's time to learn a few ways to finesse and get more from your ... [+] content.

Welcome back, content creators and wordsmiths. Ready to take your writing from good to great? In this fifth and final installment of my writing tips series, I’ll discuss advanced techniques that separate the pros from the amateurs.

If you missed any of the first four parts, you can find them here:

• Part 1 —includes tips on varying sentence length, using active voice, and tapping the power of specificity.
• Part 2 —talks about simplifying complex topics, using analogies, injecting emotion, creating compelling headlines, and using the power of social proof.
• Part 3 explores the visual side of content creation, from formatting for skimmability to strategically using whitespace, fonts, and colors.
• Part 4 —covers the art of empathetic writing, showing instead of telling, and creating a shared narrative with your reader.

As you work through this final installment, consider your content a rough diamond. You've mined and shaped it, but now it's time for the finishing touches to make it truly shine. That's what these tips are all about—the polish that turns your words into brilliant content.

In this article, discover:

• Why self-editing is your secret weapon (and how to wield it like a pro).
• The surprising power of criticism (yes, you read that right).
• The tools and partnerships that can elevate your writing quality.
• How to make your content work harder through clever repurposing.
• The art of keeping your best pieces fresh and relevant, year after year.

Let's dive in.

Tip 21: Self-editing—your secret weapon

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The more you edit yourself, the better a writer you'll become.

Isn’t “self-editing” just reading a draft several times? Yes… but there’s more. Think of self-editing as a content personal trainer. It whips your words into shape, trimming the fat and building muscle where it counts. The work is not always comfortable, but the results? They're worth every moment you spend scrutinizing your work.

Here's what self-editing does for your content:

• Clarifies your message—is your main point shining through or hiding behind fluff?
• Strengthens your language—are your verbs doing heavy lifting or napping on the job?
• Improves your flow—does your content run smoothly from point to point or stumble over awkward transitions?
• Trims the fat—can you say more with less? In writing, less is often more.

My best advice is not to rush to publish the next time you finish a draft. Take a break, whether for hours or days, then return with fresh eyes and give your work the edit your brilliant ideas deserve.

Here are a few ways to self-edit:

• Read the content aloud—you’ll hear awkward transitions and areas that don’t make sense.
• Read the content backwards—this is a pro proofreader’s tip for when 100% accuracy is a must.
• Create a reverse outline—use your finished draft to create an outline to see the structure of your work and find areas that need help.

Tip 22: Embrace constructive feedback

Not all criticism is helpful. But you have to invite it and listen to it to begin to discern.

Have you ever hit 'publish,' beaming with pride, only to receive... criticism? Ouch. Your first instinct might be to defend your work or dismiss the feedback. But criticism could be your greatest ally in content creation.

Think of constructive feedback as a GPS for your writing. It helps you avoid traffic jams, discover more scenic routes, and reach your destination more pleasantly and efficiently. When you open yourself to input from others, you can tap into fresh perspectives and ideas.

Embracing feedback can help you:

• Identify blind spots—like angles you hadn't considered and areas not as clear as you thought.
• Spark new ideas—a reader's question could lead to your next great piece of content.
• Strengthen your skills—constructive criticism is a chance to improve your writing.

Here's a practical tip: The next time you receive feedback, resist the urge to respond right away. Instead, take a deep breath, sleep on it if you can, and then approach the feedback with curiosity.

Ask yourself:

• Is the feedback coming from a place of genuine helpfulness, or is it just negativity?
• Is it in line with your goals and values, or does it pull you in a different direction?
• Can you use it to improve your work, or is it just a matter of personal preference?

The goal isn't to please everyone—it's to create the best content you can. And sometimes, a fresh perspective is just what you need to take your writing from good to great.

Tip 23: Use writing tools, apps, and partners

It's hard to make excuses about typos with so many tools, apps, and partners all around.

Every writer needs tools and support. Bring your skills and ideas to the table and use the right tools and partners to help you create something remarkable.

Let's start with the tools. Writing apps like Grammarly and Hemingway help you create clear, readable content. Grammarly has free and paid versions; I use the paid version every day. It helps me catch grammar and spelling errors and suggests style improvements. It's a great first-line defense against the little mistakes that undermine your message.

Hemingway is all about improving your writing's readability. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and other readability issues, pushing you to make your writing as clear and punchy as possible.

Partners are another key ingredient for great content. Although writing is often a solitary pursuit, the best content happens through collaboration and external input. That's where editing and content coaching come in.

When you work with an editor or writing coach like me, you get a second set of eyes on your work, plus a fresh, well-trained mind that can spot opportunities for improvement, suggest new approaches, and help you develop your unique writing voice. It's like having a personal trainer for your writing skills—someone to push, guide, and celebrate your progress.

Of course, not every piece needs the full editorial treatment. But that extra level of professional polish can make all the difference for your most important work—your cornerstone content, thought leadership pieces, and the messages you really want to land.

And partnership doesn't have to mean a long-term commitment. Even a one-time edit or coaching session can make a difference. The key is finding the level of support that fits your budget and goals.

Tip 24: Repurpose your content for maximum mileage

Turn one piece of content into many in the same way that an atom splits.

Content repurposing, or content atomization, is the art of turning one piece of content into several to reach new audiences. It's about working smarter, not harder, and getting the most juice out of every piece you create.

Imagine, for example, that you've written a stellar blog post. You've researched the topic, created a compelling narrative, and packed the post with insights. That's great! But why stop there? With a little creative thinking, that one blog post could become:

• A series of social media posts, each highlighting a key takeaway.
• An infographic that visually represents your main points.
• A video script for a YouTube tutorial or explainer.
• A podcast episode or audio version for on-the-go listening.
• A chapter in an ebook or a section of a whitepaper.

Each new format allows you to reach new people, cater to different learning styles, and reinforce your message across multiple touchpoints. And because you're starting from a solid foundation, repurposing will be much quicker and easier than creating something from scratch.

The benefits of repurposing go beyond efficiency. It can also help you:

• Boost SEO—more content means more opportunities to target keywords, earn backlinks, and improve your search engine rankings.
• Reinforce your message—repetition is key to learning and retention. When you present ideas in multiple ways, you help your audience internalize and remember key points.
• Show off your versatility—repurposing helps you communicate across media and adapt to different contexts, positioning you as a multifaceted, adaptable content creator.

Of course, repurposing doesn't mean simply copying and pasting your content into a new format. You have to tailor each piece to the medium and audience, which might mean:

• Adjusting the length and pacing to suit the format.
• Modifying the language and tone to match the platform.
• Adding or removing elements to fit the context.
• Updating examples or references to keep the content fresh and relevant.

The key is to view your original content as a starting point, not an endpoint. With each repurposing, you can refine, expand, and enhance your ideas.

Tip 25: Refresh your content regularly for lasting impact

Refresh your best content regularly to get more mileage from it.

Content refreshing is the practice of periodically revisiting and updating your content to keep it accurate, engaging, and optimized for search engines and readers. It keeps your best content your best, no matter how much time passes.

Consider your cornerstone content—the pieces that define your brand, showcase your expertise, and attract the most traffic. You want to keep those pieces in prime condition. Experts recommend refreshing this type of content at least every six months. But what does that refreshing process look like?

It could mean:

• Adding a new video or multimedia element to improve the reader’s experience.
• Updating statistics, examples, or case studies to reflect the latest data and trends.
• Revising the call-to-action or download offer to match current marketing goals.
• Fixing links that don’t work, outdated references, or broken buttons.
• Optimizing the title, headers, and meta descriptions for SEO.

Regular updates signal to search engines and readers that your content is current, credible, and worthy of attention. They keep your piece in the spotlight, attracting new readers and keeping the interest of returning ones.

Regular updates can also help you:

• Improve your search rankings—search engines favor fresh, relevant content. Updating regularly increases your chances of ranking higher in search results.
• Boost engagement—new elements, updated information, and refreshed CTAs give readers new reasons to engage, whether it's their first time or fifth.
• Extend the content lifespan—refreshing helps your best pieces stay relevant and valuable for longer so you can get the most return on your content investment.
• Identify new opportunities—in updating, you might discover new angles to explore, gaps to fill, or reader needs to address. Each refresh is a chance to make your content even better.

Of course, not every piece needs a full overhaul every six months. The frequency and depth of your refreshes will depend on factors like:

• The nature of your industry (fast-moving fields might require more frequent updates).
• The type of content (news-based pieces might need more regular attention than evergreen how-tos).
• The piece's performance (high-traffic, high-converting content should be a refreshing priority).

Don't let your best pieces gather digital dust. Give them the regular refresh they need to shine.

What’s next? The journey to content mastery continues

Keep learning, keep growing, and keep on working toward content mastery!

Congratulations. You—and I—just made it through this five-part series on writing tips for business owners and content marketers! From the fundamentals of great writing to advanced techniques for optimization and repurposing, you now have a solid toolkit for creating content that informs, engages, and inspires.

But as you likely know, the journey to content mastery is ongoing. There's always more to learn, new strategies to try, and other ways to refine your craft. The most successful content creators embrace this continual learning and growth.

I invite you to follow me on Forbes to continue your journey. As a regular contributor here, I'm constantly sharing new insights, tips, and strategies for content creation and marketing. By following me, you'll get practical, actionable advice to help you keep leveling up your content.

I also invite you to sign up for my Beyond Copy newsletter for even more in-depth guidance. I share my most detailed tutorials, behind-the-scenes insights, and exclusive resources here. It's your VIP pass to ongoing content education and inspiration.

And remember, you don't have to go on this content journey alone. Whether you need a skilled writer to create compelling pieces, an eagle-eyed editor to refine your work, a strategic consultant to guide your content planning, or a coach to develop your skills, I can help .

Thank you for joining me on this journey. It's been a pleasure sharing these tips and techniques with you. Now, go forth and create content that matters, content that moves, content that makes a difference.

Your readers are waiting.

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