Writing creatively can be a therapeutic and enjoyable process. It can also be a drag – especially if you can’t seem to get into a good flow or develop the best idea or storyline. However, it’s an important skill to develop, from allowing students in international schools such as IB schools in China to better their chances of receiving offers through university submissions to letting professionals express themselves more clearly. We’ve come up with seven tips to help you with creative writing and avoid that all too common problem of “writer’s block”.
#1 Take a break
“But I haven’t even started!” You might say. As mentioned, “writer’s block” can be a big problem, even for those that write for a living. Although there are some practical ways to get around it (keep reading), perhaps the most effective way to get the juices flowing is to take a break and come back to it later.
If you sit down at your desk and just can’t think of a good idea to write about, it may be worth getting up and taking some time to do something else, like going for a walk. Then, after having some thinking time, give it another try. The only problem with this strategy is that it’s not doable if you have a looming deadline in the morning. If you don’t want to force the writing process, you need to give yourself enough time to factor in these ‘writer’s block’ breaks.
#2 Find a good source of inspiration
The easiest way to create strong writing is by writing about real things that you can see, hear, smell, taste or feel. For example, if you’re trying to think up an interesting character for a fiction piece, go out and find him or her. A good idea is to carry a notebook and a pen with you wherever you go. Whenever you see someone or something you think would be interesting to include in your next piece of creative writing, whip out your writing tools and make some notes. This works for all kinds of creative writing from poetry to prose.
#3 Be sure to include a “hook”
If you’re writing fiction, you’ll want to include a “hook”. The hook is what gets readers…hooked – as in they can’t stop reading. You need something at the beginning of your piece of writing that leaves readers wanting more. Usually, the hook takes the form of something mysterious or intriguing that readers want to learn more about. The hook doesn’t have to have a major role in the rest of the story (although it can), but it simply serves as a way to get readers interested in your writing and let them know that there’s more great storytelling to come.
#4 Use emotive language
Think carefully about the words and phrases you use. Good creative writing gets its point across in the most effective way. For example, instead of writing, “Adam had a really bad headache and was in a lot of pain,” you could write something like, “Adam had an excruciating migraine”. Using strong words can help to convey the emotion and feeling of your writing to the reader. Just be careful not to overdo it. Only use words you’re comfortable using, and don’t make things so complicated that the reader will have trouble understanding your writing.
#5 Show don’t tell
Your teacher might have told you this one before. Reading creative writing is a way for people to escape the real world for a period. They want to feel like they’re a part of this newly created world that is your writing. To show them this world, you need to capture the feel of your settings and characters and effectively convey this to the reader. Let readers see, hear, feel, smell, and taste your writing. For instance, instead of writing “It was freezing cold outside,” you could write, “Upon closing the door, Kara immediately buttoned her jacket as high as it would go, put her gloves on, and tugged on her scarf, so it was tighter against her neck” Brrr…don’t you feel cold?
#6 Think about your “problem”
In story writing, after the hook, there’s typically a portion of writing dedicated to setting the scene and introducing key characters. Then, it’s time to drop the “problem” – something that will be the main plotline of your writing. Think long and hard about what your problem will be. A good way of getting ideas for “problems” is to read or watch the news, turning a real-life situation into fiction – just make sure you change the problem enough for it to be considered fiction and not factual.
#7 Give readers a satisfying ending
Reaching the end of a good book is often the best part, and when you just can’t put it down. The ending is when all those loose ends are being tied up, and you’re finally learning the answers to the questions you’ve had for a couple of hundred pages. Carefully consider the best and most satisfying solution to the problem you created in your writing.
