how to be successful creative writing

Tip 7: Practice Overcoming Writer’s Block

At some point in their writing journey, every writer has reached a point where writing doesn’t feel fun anymore.

There are lots of different causes for writer’s block. You might be unsure what to write, afraid of failing, or simply burned out from writing too much.

It’s important to find ways to overcome creative blocks, so you don’t end up putting down your pen for good.

One useful technique is to change your environment. If you normally write at home, try writing in a coffee shop or in your local library.

Another technique is to try a different activity for a while. Go for a walk, take a shower, do your dishes, or try another hobby. Before long, you’ll find yourself wanting to write again.

Perhaps the most underrated method is to simply take a break from writing. Give yourself permission to stop for a while—it’s always okay to take a step back.

Tip 8: Study Writing Craft

Many new writers falsely believe that writing can’t be taught; you’re either good at it or you’re not.

But the truth is that creative writing is a craft, just like woodworking, oil painting, or ballet. You wouldn’t expect anyone to be naturally good at ballet without years of training, so why is writing any different?

One way to learn new creative writing techniques is by reading craft books . Some great books to start with include On Writing by Stephen King, Story Genius by Lisa Cron, and The Creative Writer’s Handbook by Philip K. Jason.

These books can help you learn the basics of how to write well. For example, you can learn how to construct high-quality sentences, how to avoid passive voice, and how to use poetic devices.

The more you learn, the more powerful your writing will become.

Tip 9: Invent Your Own Process

When you’re just starting out as a writer, it can be tempting to copy someone else’s writing process.

Maybe you heard an interview with a bestselling author who said you have to outline a story before you draft it. Or maybe you found out your favorite author writes 1,000 words every day, and now you think you have to write 1,000 words every day too.

But it’s important to remember that no two writers have the exact same writing process. What works best for someone else might not work for you.

There’s no right or wrong way to be a creative writer. Your job is to find a writing process that makes you feel fulfilled, productive, and inspired—and if your favorite writers don’t write the same way, that’s perfectly okay.

Tip 10: Don’t Aim for Perfection

There’s a good chance your writing is never going to be perfect. Mine definitely isn’t!

Remember that writing is about the process, not the product. Even if the final product is never perfect, the process has helped you grow as a writer—and hopefully, it’s also been a lot of fun.

You should decide what your main goal for writing is. Maybe it’s writing stories you might be able to publish someday. Maybe it’s telling stories about characters you rarely see in existing stories. Maybe it’s simply a fun new hobby.

Whatever your goal is, remember that you’re already on your way to achieving it. You don’t need to aim for perfection in order to succeed.

There’s no secret to getting better at creative writing. The process is very simple—it just takes a lot of hard work.

All you have to do is follow this two-step process:

• Step 1: Write consistently
• Step 2: Ask for feedback on your writing

The first step is fairly self-explanatory. Whenever you’re learning a new skill, it’s important to practice it. The more you write, the more you’ll learn about how to be a successful creative writer.

The second step is the one that receives more pushback from writers because it requires a lot of courage and vulnerability, but it’s just as important as the first step.

If you don’t get feedback, you could write every day and still never improve. That’s because most people can’t spot the weaknesses in their own stories.

You can ask for feedback from your friends, family, or writing groups. They can help you see your work from a different perspective and identify areas for improvement.

As long as you write consistently and listen to the feedback on the work you’re producing, you’ll be able to create a positive cycle where you create better and better stories over time.

If you want to improve your creative writing skills, there are numerous resources you can use to find help.

One great method is to join a writing community where you can share your work and get feedback from other writers.

You can look for free critique groups online, on websites such as Scribophile and Critique Circle. Or you can start your own group with your friends.

You can also consider joining a local writing class or retreat. Many schools and community centers offer classes and workshops you can join.

Another option is to use creative writing tools. ProWritingAid can give you AI-powered suggestions about how to improve your prose and make your writing shine.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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10 Effective Ways to Improve Your Creative Writing

Writing a story is a craft that requires constant tweaks, edits and trial and error by the writer. Here are ten tips to improve your creative writing and save you hours of painful re-writing in the future.

(1) Don’t underestimate your reader

You have a fantastic plot, your characters are realistic, the setting is ideal and you want to make sure that the reader gets every little detail that you have in mind. Great!

The only problem is that you may be tempted to bombard your reader with many intimate details so that they see it exactly as you do. In-depth descriptions can be useful and effective, but don’t overdo it. Keep your writing neat and tight; don’t waste space on long, rambling descriptions about things that aren’t necessary to your story.

Wouldn’t it be ideal if editors received submissions and decided to look past the typos and incorrect formatting because they think it might be a little gem of a story? The fact is that if your manuscript is full of errors or doesn’t follow the required guidelines then it’s going in the trash.

Don’t rely on your computer’s spell checker. If you make a typo, the computer will not warn you if you’ve still spelt a valid word. Your gorgeous heroine meets the bog (boy) of her dreams? The wealthy doctor places his golf ball on his tea (tee)?

(3) Give Your Characters Life

Characters are vital to your story so treat them with care and give them that breath of life that you, the writer, have the power to give. Give them unique characteristics; make them believable by making them have a purpose, motivation and conflicts to resolve.

(4) Use Strong Words

You want your writing to sound decisive, so use words that get the point across. Did Bob’s really big headache cause him a lot of pain or did Bob’s migraine cause excruciating pain? But remember not to overdo it: don’t use words that the reader won’t understand, you want to use strong words, not confusing or extravagant ones.

(5) Show Don’t Tell.

Who hasn’t heard that one before? But it’s a valid point and a useful rule for all writers. Fiction is for entertainment, so entertain your reader! Give them an excuse to escape into the reality that you have created. Let them see, hear, feel, smell, laugh, cry, love and hate. Show your reader the world that you’ve created, don’t just tell them about it.

(6) Check your Commas

While commas can be effective many inexperienced writers tend to sprinkle their sentences with them. When placed incorrectly, commas can chop up your sentences and sometimes even alter the meaning. Brush up on your high-school grammar; your work will improve with that alone.

(7) Grab their Attention from the Start

Opening lines are often referred to as ‘the hook’ because that’s exactly what you want them to be. You get the reader’s attention and reel them in for the rest of the story. Try something powerful to kick-start your story. For example: ‘Mark’s back broke with an audible crack’ or ‘Eliza didn’t realize that she was going blind’ or ‘The bullet that pierced Henry’s back and left him paralyzed was meant for a homeless man’. Each of these lines makes the reader ask ‘why?’ and once they ask that question, the reader will keep on reading until they find the answer.

(8) Give Your Reader a Satisfactory Ending

You can leave the reader speculating or wondering why at the end of your story, but try to resolve as much as you can. If your reader finishes the last sentence and is still asking questions about what happened to who and why, then you still need to tie up the loose ends.

(9) Sober up

Think of writing as going out to a bar: you go out, the lighting is dim, it’s noisy, maybe you drink too much but you meet a person who’s attractive, witty, shares the same interests as you and you’re smitten by them. A few days later you meet for coffee: are they as good looking or charming as you remember?

This can happen with writing. You become intoxicated with the feeling of success and think that you have written an award-winning piece. The question is, once you’ve sobered up, is it as good as you thought it was? Put your manuscript away and try not to think about it for a couple days. Then take it out and read it with a clear, open mind. Read it through once from beginning to end, then break it up into sections, then read it sentence by sentence. Is it as good as you remembered? If so, then well done! But the odds are that if you were too excited about finally wrapping it up, then you’ll find some points to revise.

(10) Challenge Yourself

Are you trying too hard to write in a specific genre or style? Do you only write short stories or novels or poems or movie scripts? Give that creative muscle a workout and try something different. It will be a refreshing exercise for your mind and you might be surprised by the result. If you don’t succeed then you have still learnt a valuable lesson.

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26+ Creative Writing Tips for Young Writers

So you want to be a writer? And not just any writer, you want to be a creative writer. The road to being a legendary storyteller won’t be easy, but with our creative writing tips for kids, you’ll be on the right track! Creative writing isn’t just about writing stories. You could write poems, graphic novels, song lyrics and even movie scripts. But there is one thing you’ll need and that is good creative writing skills. 

Here are over 26 tips to improve your creative writing skills :

Read a wide range of books

When it comes to creative writing, reading is essential. Reading allows you to explore the styles of other writers and gain inspiration to improve your own writing. But don’t just limit yourself to reading only popular books or your favourites. Read all sorts of books, everything from fairytales to scary stories. Take a look at comics, short stories, novels and poetry. Just fill your heads with the knowledge and wisdom of other writers and soon you’ll be just like them!

Write about real-life events

The hardest thing about creative writing is connecting emotionally with your audience. By focusing your writing on real-life events, you know that in some way or another your readers will be able to relate. And with creative writing you don’t need to use real names or details – There are certain things you can keep private while writing about the rare details. Using real-life events is also a good way to find inspiration for your stories. 

Be imaginative

Be as crazy and wild as you like with your imagination. Create your world, your own monsters , or even your own language! The more imaginative your story, the more exciting it will be to read. Remember that there are no rules on what makes a good idea in creative writing. So don’t be afraid to make stuff up!

Find your writing style

Thes best writers have a particular style about them. When you think of Roald Dahl , you know his books are going to have a sense of humour. While with Dr Seuss , you’re prepared to read some funny new words . Alternatively, when you look at R.L.Stine, you know that he is all about the horror. Think about your own writing style. Do you want to be a horror writer? Maybe someone who always writes in the first person? Will always focus your books on your culture or a particular character?

Stick to a routine

Routine is extremely important to writers. If you just write some stuff here and there, it’s likely that you’ll soon give up on writing altogether! A strict routine means that every day at a certain time you will make time to write about something, anything. Even if you’re bored or can’t think of anything, you’ll still pick up that pencil and write. Soon enough you’ll get into the habit of writing good stuff daily and this is definitely important for anyone who wants to be a professional creative writer!

Know your audience

Writing isn’t just about thinking about your own interests, it’s also about thinking about the interests of your audience. If you want to excite fellow classmates, know what they like. Do they like football , monsters or a particular video game? With that knowledge, you can create the most popular book for your target audience. A book that they can’t stop reading and will recommend to others! 

Daily Exercises

To keep your creative writing skills up to scratch it is important to keep practising every day. Even if you have no inspiration. At times when your mind is blank, you should try to use tools like writing prompts , video prompts or other ways of coming up with ideas . You could even take a look at these daily writing exercises as an example. We even created a whole list of over 100 creative writing exercises to try out when you need some inspiration or ideas. 

Work together with others

Everyone needs a little help now and then. We recommend joining a writing club or finding other classmates who are also interested in writing to improve your own creative writing skills. Together you can share ideas, tips and even write a story together! A good storytelling game to play in a group is the “ finish the story” game . 

Get feedback

Without feedback, you’ll never be able to improve your writing. Feedback, whether good or bad is important to all writers. Good feedback gives you the motivation to carry on. While bad feedback just gives you areas to improve and adapt your writing, so you can be the best! After every piece of writing always try to get feedback from it, whether it is from friends, family, teachers or an online writing community .

Enter writing competitions

The best way to improve your creative writing is by entering all sorts of writing competitions . Whether it’s a poetry competition or short story competition, competitions let you compete against other writers and even help you get useful feedback on your writing. Most competitions even have rules to structure your writing, these rules can help you prepare for the real world of writing and getting your work published. And not only that you might even win some cool prizes!

Keep a notebook

Every writer’s best friend is their notebook. Wherever you go make sure you have a notebook handy to jot down any ideas you get on the go. Inspiration can come from anywhere , so the next time you get an idea instead of forgetting about it, write it down. You never know, this idea could become a best-selling novel in the future. 

Research your ideas

So, you got a couple of ideas for short stories. The next step is to research these ideas deeper. 

Researching your ideas could involve reading books similar to your ideas or going online to learn more about a particular topic. For example, if you wanted to write a book on dragons, you would want to know everything about them in history to come up with a good, relatable storyline for your book.

Create Writing Goals

How do you know if your writing is improving over time? Simple – Just create writing goals for yourself. Examples of writing goals might include, to write 100 words every day or to write 600 words by the end of next week. Whatever your goals make sure you can measure them easily. That way you’ll know if you met them or not. You might want to take a look at these bullet journal layouts for writers to help you track the progress of your writing.

Follow your passions

Writing can be tedious and many people even give up after writing a few words. The only way you can keep that fire burning is by writing about your true passions. Whatever it is you enjoy doing or love, you could just write about those things. These are the types of things you’ll enjoy researching and already know so much about, making writing a whole lot more fun!

Don’t Settle for the first draft

You finally wrote your first story. But the writing process isn’t complete yet! Now it’s time to read your story and make the all-important edits. Editing your story is more than just fixing spelling or grammar mistakes. It’s also about criticising your own work and looking for areas of improvement. For example, is the conflict strong enough? Is your opening line exciting? How can you improve your ending?

Plan before writing

Never just jump into writing your story. Always plan first! Whether this means listing down the key scenes in your story or using a storyboard template to map out these scenes. You should have an outline of your story somewhere, which you can refer to when actually writing your story. This way you won’t make basic mistakes like not having a climax in your story which builds up to your main conflict or missing crucial characters out.

It’s strange the difference it makes to read your writing out aloud compared to reading it in your head. When reading aloud you tend to notice more mistakes in your sentences or discover paragraphs which make no sense at all. You might even want to read your story aloud to your family or a group of friends to get feedback on how your story sounds. 

Pace your story

Pacing is important. You don’t want to just start and then quickly jump into the main conflict because this will take all the excitement away from your conflict. And at the same time, you don’t want to give the solution away too early and this will make your conflict too easy for your characters to solve. The key is to gradually build up to your conflict by describing your characters and the many events that lead up to the main conflict. Then you might want to make the conflict more difficult for your characters by including more than one issue in your story to solve. 

Think about themes

Every story has a theme or moral. Some stories are about friendship, others are about the dangers of trusting strangers. And a story can even have more than one theme. The point of a theme is to give something valuable to your readers once they have finished reading your book. In other words, to give them a life lesson, they’ll never forget!

Use dialogue carefully

Dialogue is a tricky thing to get right. Your whole story should not be made up of dialogue unless you’re writing a script. Alternatively, it can be strange to include no dialogue at all in your story. The purpose of dialogue should be to move your story forward. It should also help your readers learn more about a particular character’s personality and their relationship with other characters in your book. 

One thing to avoid with dialogue is… small talk! There’s no point in writing dialogue, such as “How’s the weather?”, if your story has nothing to do with the weather. This is because it doesn’t move your story along.  For more information check out this guide on how to write dialogue in a story .

Write now, edit later

Writing is a magical process. Don’t lose that magic by focusing on editing your sentences while you’re still writing your story up. Not only could this make your story sound fragmented, but you might also forget some key ideas to include in your story or take away the imagination from your writing. When it comes to creative writing, just write and come back to editing your story later.

Ask yourself questions

Always question your writing. Once done, think about any holes in your story. Is there something the reader won’t understand or needs further describing? What if your character finds another solution to solving the conflict? How about adding a new character or removing a character from your story? There are so many questions to ask and keep asking them until you feel confident about your final piece.

Create a dedicated writing space

Some kids like writing on their beds, others at the kitchen table. While this is good for beginners, going pro with your writing might require having a dedicated writing space. Some of the basics you’ll need is a desk and comfy chair, along with writing materials like pens, pencils and notebooks. But to really create an inspiring place, you could also stick some beautiful pictures, some inspiring quotes from writers and anything else that will keep you motivated and prepared. 

Beware of flowery words

Vocabulary is good. It’s always exciting when you learn a new word that you have never heard before. But don’t go around plotting in complicated words into your story, unless it’s necessary to show a character’s personality. Most long words are not natural sounding, meaning your audience will have a hard time relating to your story if it’s full of complicated words from the dictionary like Xenophobia or Xylograph .

Create believable characters

Nobody’s perfect. And why should your story characters be any different? To create believable characters, you’ll need to give them some common flaws as well as some really cool strengths. Your character’s flaws can be used as a setback to why they can’t achieve their goals, while their strengths are the things that will help win over adversity. Just think about your own strengths and weaknesses and use them as inspirations for your storybook characters. You can use the Imagine Forest character creator to plan out your story characters. 

Show, don’t tell

You can say that someone is nice or you can show them how that person is nice. Take the following as an example, “Katie was a nice girl.” Now compare that sentence to this, “Katie spent her weekends at the retirement home, singing to the seniors and making them laugh.”. The difference between the two sentences is huge. The first one sounds boring and you don’t really know why Katie is nice. While in the second sentence, you get the sense that Katie is nice from her actions without even using the word nice in the sentence!

Make the conflict impossible

Imagine the following scenario, you are a championship boxer who has won many medals over the year and the conflict is…Well, you got a boxing match coming up. Now that doesn’t sound so exciting! In fact, most readers won’t even care about the boxer winning the match or not! 

Now imagine this scenario: You’re a poor kid from New Jersey, you barely have enough money to pay the bills. You never did any professional boxing, but you want to enter a boxing competition, so you can win and use the money to pay your bills. 

The second scenario has a bigger mountain to climb. In other words, a much harder challenge to face compared to the character in the first scenario. Giving your characters an almost impossible task or conflict is essential in good story-telling.

Write powerful scenes

Scenes help build a picture in your reader’s mind without even including any actual pictures in your story. Creating powerful scenes involves more than describing the appearance of a setting, it’s also about thinking about the smell, the sounds and what your characters are feeling while they are in a particular setting. By being descriptive with your scenes, your audience can imagine themselves being right there with characters through the hard times and good times!

There’s nothing worse than an ending which leaves the reader feeling underwhelmed. You read all the way through and then it just ends in the most typical, obvious way ever! Strong endings don’t always end on a happy ending. They can end with a sad ending or a cliff-hanger.  In fact, most stories actually leave the reader with more questions in their head, as they wonder what happens next. This then gives you the opportunity to create even more books to continue the story and keep your readers hooked for life (or at least for a very long time)! 

Over 25 creative writing tips later and you should now be ready to master the art of creative writing! The most important tip for all you creative writers out there is to be imaginative! Without a good imagination, you’ll struggle to wow your audience with your writing skills. Do you have any more creative writing tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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The 22 Best Writing Tips Ever

by Melissa Donovan | Aug 29, 2023 | Writing Tips | 115 comments

The best writing tips.

Today, I’m sharing one of the oldest and most popular posts on Writing Forward. This one dates back to 2007, but it’s still one of the most-visited posts on the blog and one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy these writing tips and find them useful! Brian Clark over at Copyblogger issued a challenge to bloggers in the post “ The Cosmo Headline Technique for Blogging Inspiration .” The idea is to use headlines from magazines like Cosmopolitan for inspiration, and to write your headlines before composing your article. I’ve taken Brian up on his challenge and as a result, I bring you the “22 best writing tips ever.”

Best Writing Tips

These writing tips cover the basics and the most important aspects of writing.

• Do it. Write.
• Read as much and as often as you can. Remember, every writer is a reader first.
• Keep a journal or notebook handy at all times so you can jot down all of your brilliant ideas. If you’ve got a smartphone, make sure it’s loaded with a note-taking app. A voice-recording app also comes in handy for recording notes and ideas.
• Make sure you have a dictionary and thesaurus available whenever you are writing.
• Be observant. The people and activities that surround you will provide you with great inspiration for characters, plots, and themes.
• Invest in a few useful resources starting with The Chicago Manual of Style and The Elements of Style  (aff links).
• Grammar: learn the rules and then learn how to break them effectively.
• Stop procrastinating. Turn off the TV, disconnect from the internet, tune out the rest of the world, sit down, and write.
• Read works by successful authors to learn what earns a loyal readership.
• Read works by the canonical authors so you understand what constitutes a respectable literary achievement.
• Join a writers’ group so you can gain support from the writing community and enjoy camaraderie in your craft.
• Start a blog. Use it to talk about your own writing process , share your ideas and experiences, or publish your work to a reading audience.
• Create a space in your home especially for writing.
• Proofread everything at least three times before submitting your work for publication.
• Write every single day.
• Subscribe to blogs about writing . Read them, participate, learn, share, and enjoy!
• Make it your business to understand grammar and language. Do you know a noun from a verb, a predicate from a preposition? Do you understand tense and verb agreement? You should.
• Use writing exercises to improve your skills, strengthen your talent, and explore different genres, styles, and techniques.
• Let go of your inner editor. When you sit down to write a draft, refrain from proofreading until that draft is complete.
• Allow yourself to write poorly, to write a weak, uninteresting story or a boring, grammatically incorrect poem. You’ll never succeed if you don’t allow yourself a few failures along the way. Do not refrain from writing because you’re worried it won’t be perfect!
• You are a writer so own it and say it out loud: “I am a writer.” Whether it’s a hobby or your profession, if you write, then you have the right to this title.
• Write, write, write, and then write some more. Forget everything else and just write.

115 Comments

This is a wonderful list of 22. I love how you’ve covered so many important elements but broken them down to simple rules to live by. 🙂

Be sure to re-read anything you wrote while “inspired”: it usually sucks. Your best writing is done with a cool head.

Great tips!

On #7, I’d add some emphasis: “Learn the rules and then break them. But LEARN THEM FIRST.”

But….there are no grammar “rules”, only grammar “guidelines”. History shows us different grammar “rules” have gone in an out of style over centuries…and ongoing!

Hi Kay. Actually, there are grammar rules, although they change throughout time. Grammar is fluid and constantly evolving. The way we construct a sentence today is quite different from a hundred years ago, and in another hundred years, sentences will undoubtedly look different than they do now.

Grammar doesn’t cover every aspect of writing, which is why professional writers use style guides that contain guidelines (as opposed to rules). For example, every sentence must contain a subject and a verb — that’s a rule. There are also exceptions to many of the rules. A sentence comprised solely of an interjection is valid, although it contains neither a subject nor a verb.

And we are all free to flout the rules as much as we want, but they do exist. One might argue that since there is no official body checking to make sure everyone is following the rules, they can’t be construed as rules at all, and I understand that argument, but there is a difference between what we would consider a rule and a guideline in the realm of writing.

Good one! The tips are great; I’ve bookmarked the post already.

Very nice set of tips here. I’ve been in this business for over two decades and I can attest to the fact that she didn’t miss a thing. Good job.

This a shoddy list. I cant think of any way this process and encouragement could actually better someone. It is treating writing like a job that anyone can be trained to do, involving only education and refinement of skill, when really writing is an expression of thought that does not require perfect grammar. If it understandable it can be proofread by someone who treats writing like employment. The author needs the ability to materialize plot and characters, even poetically. Just create great characters. Kurt Vonnegut has much better advice than this.

Writing is a job that most people can be trained to do. The lucky writers also possess some talent, but hard work trumps talent any day. Oh, and this list was not compiled specifically for fiction writers. I tried to put together a list that would be useful for a wide range of writers, whether they are copywriters, poets, or authors (fiction or nonfiction).

Thanks for stopping by. Melissa

Wow. Unlike a lot of advice I’ve seen about writing on the web, these tips are actually useful. ^_^ I’m so jazzed!

I’m working on a novel so I will be sure to remember these.

These are some awesome ideas and I am going to try and use them all , they are all very useful tips that everyone needs.

I stumbled upon this page and I’m glad I did. I’m going to take heed to your list 🙂

Great tips! I think that learning the rules and then breaking them applies to more than just grammar – it applies to structure, to headline writing, and beyond. Especially in blogging. Freedom, flexibility and creativity in writing are so critical, as is variety. It’s so easy when you write often to come up with formulas that work – and then stop looking beyond that for what could be better, or even just more interesting. That’s why I loved this challenge from Brian so much. Glad you participated!

The best book ever about writing is called ‘Writing Down the Bones’ by Natalie Goldberg. My sister gave me that Stephen King book, and it pretty much was an uninspiring mishmash compared to Goldberg’s tome. I’ve tried reading practical books about writing books and have come to the conclusion that the only way to make money as a writer is by writing a book telling other writers how to write.

Of course, if you’re more interested in getting a paycheck than in actually writing, then the “practical advice” including that in King’s book will work. But some of us long for the lost art of not writing either gory or tawdry bestselling fiction.

One bit of advice you do miss, and one that I find more than useful, is to complete your higher education. You don’t have to get a Master’s Degree to be a writer, but it sure helps to get your book published if you have a few letters attached to the end of your name. Either that, or be a celebrity.

Regarding point #11, it really does help to have other writers read your work. There are many writers-only community websites that don’t cost anything to join–Gather.com being one of them. I have learned more about writing from being in that community than by reading any book on the subject, no matter how good or recommended that book may be.

the list is really keepable in (at least) mind…!!!

thnx….

I don’t want to offend an above commenter, but I completely disagree with having to have a higher education to write, as one of the above commenters said. If someone loves to write, then WRITE – don’t worry about your status in life. Not all published authors possess college degrees just as Bill Gates and many others also don’t have collegiate degrees. Just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you can write. Anyone can write. A rare few possess that extraordinary quality that puts them on the top tier of literary genius and those people were not taught that by any level of degree. However, a degree does help for technical and non-fiction writing or to get a job at a newspaper. I hate seeing people say they can’t write because they don’t have a college degree. I’ve read writing by people with college degrees that was terrible and writing by those without degrees that was some of the best writing I’ve ever read. When you have a pen in hand or sit down at your computer, throw away your social status, your background, etc. and breathe life into your story. Your actual writing will say FAR more about you than a title behind your name will.

I would never aspire to BE a writer, buying every book on the subject…you just DO it. Look for interesting stories to tell (they are all around you). Open up a local newspaper, watch people, become intrigued with people in the real world. A writer’s best tool is a natural sense of curiousity about the world and the desire to tell the story behind it. If you can drive down a suburban street and wonder about the lives of those behind closed doors, you have the curiousity it takes to write good fiction.

One great writer I’ve read said that if you want to write lyrical and beautiful content, read poetry before you write. For some reason, it works. It’s like it shifts the gears and takes your writing to a whole new level.

I get the feeling that you think if someone wants to be a writer that they should… write a lot?

Really fruitful tips……..Thank You

I agree.Good tips for writting.

God knows I had a hard enough time constructing this response to your tips without utter abuse, and perhaps I will never be a great writer, but I believe that your 9th suggestion is an outrage.

In fact, I couldn’t read past it.

Imitation is suicide. I don’t understand how you or anyone as an individual with a unique voice could possibly identify with the mantra that you seem to espouse in your 9th tip.

I’m certain, since you’ve read the “great authors”, that you’ve read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance”, but it may be worthwhile for you to revisit such an important expression in defense of the individual’s voice in order for to become a better advisor to young writers.

Matthew Ramsey

I agree with Matthew Ramsey on his main point. Imitation only serves to perpetuate the myth that the only writing worth doing is in service of the publishers and their egos as well as their bad taste in writing. Authentic authorship is not as cost-effective for publishers to promote as is “fast food” writing.

The sad reality is that people are averse to taking chances. So-called “revolutionary” writing is hailed when the only radical approach these writers take is to twist the same plot that everyone else uses so that it really isn’t all that different in a substantial way. The music industry is just as bad, asking original-sounding artists “can you sing more like Mariah Carey” or “can you play this song more like U2? (You can use whomever else fits nicely in their stead.)

Of course, we’re just hitting our heads against this new wave of intellectual fry cooks who would rather make money than create significant original writing. After all, there’s really no money to be made in being true to our voices when the same old crap sells. There is no end to those more than happy to write to the tastes of the lowest common denominator. The same is true of non-fiction as well.

This may damn me for an everlasting place in the pantheon of the shunned, but I couldn’t care less about that. Life is too short to write horrid fiction anyway, and the best authors are those who are better known a century after they are dead–another sad commentary, showing that dead authors who won’t rock the boat are preferable to living ones who do.

Cynthia and Matthew,

I appreciate your strong feelings about imitation. However, since nowhere in this list did I encourage writers to imitate, I’m quite unclear as to how you’ve both become so engrossed in the issue.

If one’s intent is to become a writer, then it stands to reason that one would make study of the trade, and in doing so, would read a variety of literature, eventually gaining understanding of what gets published, what sells, what readers enjoy, and what earns recognition and acknowledgment.

For those who want to make a career out of writing, it must, on some level, be treated as a business. Anyone with an ounce of business sense will tell you to do your market research.

This doesn’t mean you should sell out or lose your voice, let alone use another’s voice. It just means know what’s out there , if for no other reason than to make sure you don’t, unwittingly, imitate.

Cynthia & Matthew Ever read Stephen King “On Writing” he suggests reading as much as possible, in fact he says when your not writing, you should be reading. Earnest Hemingway & William Faulkner, ever heard of these men? they say he same thing, in fact Faulkner says “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.” -William Faulkner

So, who is correct, Cynthia & Mathew or Stephen King, Earnest Hemingway, & William Faulkner. I chose the latter three. By the way, Cynthia & Mathew what have you written lately???? We would love to see it!!!

P.S. I know I am late to this post, I just discovered it, as I only recently began to study the art of writing

I’ve been feeling so dry lately when it comes to my writing. I’m twenty years old and I feel so inexperienced with life. But these tips are helping me revive my writing past.

At the age of 74, and with no college experience ,I am sure I will never be a ‘great’ writer. you have,however, renewed my desire to write. My passion is people and life, and writing my outlet. I want to touch hearts and make the world a better place,at least for some, or someone. I will write from my heart,though I know without the head there would be no writing. Whatever may be, I pray the world will be a better place because I tried. Thank you for the inspiration to try again.

Great tips! Cosmo will be jealous…

I like what you said about Rule #7. Learn the grammar rules, and then break them.

The trick is to know how to adapt to your audience.

As Mr. Project Engineer, I spend the entire day writing dry technical documents that obsessive-compulsive managers love to micro-edit to half to death. This is when strict adherence to proper grammar and spelling is mandatory.

But, when I write as the Friar, I kinda relax the rules (like I am right now). It’s more fun to write this way even though it’s not grammatically perfect. It also makes my stories more readable.

If I wrote my Blog as Mr. Project Engineer, I’d have zero readers.

@Friar: I used to work as a technical writer and for years I did mostly business writing. Switching back to a creative mode takes a bit of effort (for me, anyway).

I agree….until recently, the only writing I ever did was technical. It’s painful, nit-picky writing.

This “creative” writing is completely new to me. I need to unlearn some of my old habits.

Kind of like trying to teach a draftsman who’s only used AutoCad how to paint a landscape.

@Friar: I hear you! It’s a difficult adjustment but I’m sure we can do it!

A fantastic site, and brilliant effort. A great piece of work.,

I disagree about the Stephen King book. He does not advise anyone to write the way he does, and his instruction and encouragement are not geared at teaching writers how to do so. King gives a lot of solid advice in his book. His recommendation to avoid deliberately trying to increase your vocabulary is among the best advice I’ve heard or read anywhere– no one can be a good writer using words he doesn’t know how to use properly.

You may not like King’s work, but he writes for himself and has luckily found an audience who likes to read him. You might consider his writing awful tripe, but it’s written for a little more than profit. If you have any doubt, compare King’s novels to Dean Koontz’s.

I also think it’s more than a bit hypocritical to recommend reading practical advice only if you’re more interested in getting a paycheck than writing well, then, in the next paragraph, to recommend having “letters” attached to the end of your name in order to get a paycheck for your crappy writing. Higher education is certainly valuable (I have both a baccalaureate and a professional degree), but getting your crappy writing published because you have a degree does not make your writing better than writing published because it is “gory” or “tawdry.”

Anything that helps a writer identify the flaws in his writing and work to diminish them is the kind of instruction that writer needs.

this blog contains great articles.

Why thank you.

You can never underestimate the power of writing poorly. I have friends who get so frustrated that their writing isn’t coming out well so they just call it quits. It’s important to remember that it might turn out bad sometimes, but you need to find what you like in the poor stuff and expand on it.

I think most artists and creative people go through phases where they struggle and everything just seems to come out all wrong. That’s why sticking with it is so important. Never give up!

Great tips. I really like the one about creating a writing space in your own home. When I had my own place, I had an extra room that I could use as a writing study, and it did wonders for my concentration.

Now that I’ve moved back in with my parents, it’s harder to find the space. Of course, writing isn’t about where you do it, so it’s not a big deal, but I’m looking forward to the day when I can have a writing study again.

Creating a writing space is probably one of the most difficult of all these tips because a lot of people just don’t have room in their homes. However, all you really need to write is a notebook and a pen, so your writing place could always be a comfy chair or a seat by a window with an inspiring view.

What a wonderful site so much information and simple tips. Thank you

Thanks, Maria!

I wanted to offer a tip of my own, for consideration. When I’ve written numerous pages at a time and I feel as if the ‘moment’ is passing, I like to have a cd burned with instrumentals of different songs to kind of carry the emotion over page by page, word by word. The classics, such as Beethoven and Mozart are helpful keeping me mellow and yet still inspired and of course if the story calls for drama, or excitement- I must have some Biggie Smalls instrumentals playing in the background. ; ) Hope that would help someone if they tried it.

When you can’t write anything, it means you need to read something.

Definitely!

I especially like rules 6 and 10. Strunk & White is indeed great! More extensive guides I really like are Sheridan Baker’s THE PRACTICAL STYLIST and Diana Hacker’s A WRITER’S REFERENCE.

Though not a Vonnegut fan, I can’t help enjoying an odd-sounding rule attributed to him:

Write like somebody else.

(This will have zero appeal to most writers of free-verse poetry, who think that the whole point and sole point is to express YOURSELF.)

I haven’t read much Vonnegut (maybe none), but I am interested in reading some of his work. I’ve eyed Hocus Pocus a few times and it’s definitely on my wish list! Wonder if I’ll like it…I do like “write like somebody else.” That’s a great tip for fiction writers!

Really very useful tips. Thanks a lot !

You’re very welcome! thanks for reading and commenting!

Some writing tips: Writers always need to be true to themselves. Write down everything. Know your proofreading marks. Take a college level or English Compsition course.

Yes! Thanks for adding these tips!

FOCUS on one subject or topic.

I almost included something like that, but then I realized that single-subject writing doesn’t work well for many writers. But if you work best when sticking to one topic, then you definitely should. This is why one of the secrets of great artistry is trying different methods and techniques to see what works best for you. Thanks!

Amen to #21 “I am a writer” 🙂

Amen and hallelujah!

It amazes me how many times people have to hear point 1 before they get it. The only way anyone succeeds at anything is by practising. If you’re not writing more than the next man, you’ll never learn to write in a more interesting way than the next man.

Even though we writers are supposed to avoid clichés, “practice makes perfect” comes to mind. There’s a reason it became cliché (because it was true enough to be repeated often!).

True inspiration!!!

Thanks so much!

Great tips. My biggest problem is to stop thinking about it and just do it. Another tip, is to build a website about something you’re passionate about. To be successful you need a lot of content, so by having a website you have a goal and many pages to write.

I started my creative writing website a little over a year ago and have over 99 pages of content built, it’s a great goal to work towards!

Passion is crucial when you’re developing a website. I’ve learned that firsthand after several projects that I started never got off the ground. You know what they say: do what you love and the money will follow. I would add to that: if you do what you love, joy will always be present.

Great advise. It’s true do what you love and it doesn’t feel like work!

“8. Stop procrastinating. Turn off the TV, tune out the rest of the world, sit down, and write.”

Translation: Get off of Facebook and write!

This is my biggest problem. Too often do I find myself wasting time on Facebook when my creative juices are flowing out of my ears… I have found that my best writing happens when I’ve turned off my Internet and given full concentration to my writing. …with inspirational music playing as well, of course. 🙂

Absolutely. Facebook and Twitter are fun and they can be useful as marketing tools, but mostly they are just time-sucks. I haven’t been using either very much for the past few months. I kind of miss them and I’ll go back eventually, but for now, I’m just too busy and I’d rather write and play music when I’m not working. Stay away from those evil Facebook games! They can be a writer’s greatest adversity!

Great tips. Having a blog has been the best way for me to improve my writing. I often need to go for a walk to clear my head before sitting down to write

Julia M Lindsey Our Little Books

Walks, yoga, and playing music are the best ways to clear one’s head!

These are truly great tips. Number 3, about carrying a notebook is one of the most valuable. You never know what is going to pop into your head at any point in time that you might want to jot down. If you have a memory like mine, it’s the only way to capture things. I had a great idea yesterday but I can’t remember what it was… I just remember it was great. D’oh! Also, as I get older, I’m people-watching much more than I did in my 20s and 30s. That’s where huge amounts of my inspiration comes from.

I agree 100%. I always have a small notebook nearby and keep them stashed in my purse, car, nightstand drawer, etc. Also, now that I have a smart phone, I can always use that to make notes or do a quick recording so I don’t lose my ideas. I used to call myself and leave voice mails if for some reason I didn’t have a notebook with me.

how can i improve my vocaaabulary and also how can i minimize my writing errors.give me some short cut ideas if u can.thanks.

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. It takes a long time to develop solid writing skills and a well-rounded vocabulary. However, one of the best things you can do is read. Read as much as possible and read work that is well written. Look for work that is published by credible and reputable publishers – the literary classics, for example.

I believe the gist of what you have written here is the cataclysm of Matthew and Cynth’s above comments – “imitating” the literary classics. Of course, I could be wrong. I tend not to give much literary weight to the so-called classics simply because they tend to lack gender and cultural diversity. Are we saying white men garner the most (if not all) classical literary genius? (I have the same gripe with classical music).

Kay, I’m not sure what you mean by “cataclysm of Matthew and Cynth’s above comments.” I did not suggest people imitate literary classics in the post. I suggested people study the classics in order to understand what kind of works are studied for generations to come. Having said that, imitation is a sound method of study for beginners in all the arts. Musicians play other people’s songs before composing their own. Artists copy other people’s paintings when they are new to the craft. In writing, imitation would be a good way to learn about voice and style. And to be clear, I’m not suggesting writers imitate established authors in the publishing arena but instead in the field of practice and study. I personally never did that, and I don’t think it’s essential, but it can work as a useful learning exercise.

Also, I agree with you 100% about the lack of diversity in the classics that are studied and hailed as the great works. They do lack gender and cultural diversity, and it’s a huge problem. I was fortunate to study literature at a school where I had the opportunity to take courses in ethnic and women’s literature. It’s a shame these works are presented in separate classes, and frankly, I found many of them to be much better than the works we studied in the more conventional literary courses. This is actually a big peeve of mine as inequality rankles me. It’s something we need to work together as a society to fix.

I think all 22 of these tips are great, my favorite one is number 2!

Thanks, Becca! That’s my favorite, too.

Great inputs there again Melissa. I like numbers 17 and down. All the rest are experienced and precondition for the making of a writer.

I just ordered several copies of Melissa’s book, 101 Creative Writing Exercises for my grandchildren. I started writing a memoir over a year ago; Melissa has inspired me to stick with it. Melissa’s tips are helpful and inspiring. Writing Forward is a brilliant concept.

Thank you so much! A memoir is a lovely legacy. Best of luck in your writing adventures!

Hi Melissa,

As newbies should we try to write like the novelists who churn out bestsellers one after another or tell a tale which our heart longs to convey in our unique style?Our styles may not always be interesting and I don’t think one should sacrifice the uniqueness of his craft ever.That’s what defines us but then,how to make our work more sellable?

Peter, I think you should write what you want. If you want to be a commercial best-selling author, then by all means, study that part of the industry and go for it. Personally, I prefer writing from the heart and stories that are more unique (and some of these do make the best-seller list). It’s worthwhile to take some time and set goals or decide what kind of writer you want to be. Style comes with years of practice and experience and is a matter of taste. If you’re just writing your first novel, I would recommend that you focus on getting it written and worry about selling it later. Lots of writers end up tucking their first novels into a bottom drawer and chalking it up to experience (myself included).

Amen to “Write”! I started years ago and allowed a couple of rather nasty experiences to stop and it takes three times as much energy to start (again) as it does to keep goint

That’s true. If you can form a good habit to write every day, it’s easier to keep going. I like to write (fiction) late at night and it’s getting to where I can’t sleep if I don’t put down at least 500 words (usually I get over 1000). Even if it’s messy, senseless, and I know it’s going to get cut, I have to do it. That’s a habit I don’t intend to break!

Am willing to be a best writer but due to social status am slow in achieving my dream.

One of the wonderful things about writing is that it’s accessible to people of all social statuses. Ray Bradbury educated himself at a local library and became one of the most celebrated writers in the world. Read a lot, write as much as you can, and you’ll do fine.

I respectfully disagree with you, Melissa:

One of the frequent and grave errors we (humans) tend to do is assume that if a few select of us are “successful” at (x) that “anyone” doing (x) has the wherewithal to be just as successful. This line of reasoning is especially prevalent when speaking of those who “beat the odds” of failure. Only in scientific reasoning is this flawed line of reason fully recognized: if you change one variable – no matter how significant or insignificant on the resultant – a different result will always obtain. In other words, no two persons share identical experiences (personal or external), so why is it expected that doing (x) will result in success for every individual (despite her unique life experiences)?

Hi Kay. I’m not sure what you disagree with. My article does not imply that “anyone doing X has the wherewithal to be just as successful…” These tips are to help people maximize their potential and increase their odds of becoming successful in writing. Studying strategies that have led to success can certainly help with that, but nowhere did I offer any guarantees, because there are no guarantees in life. But if you study, practice, and do the work, you definitely improve your chances.

One of the most important challenges before an author is figuring out how to enrich and add value to the audience and in so doing to stand out from the pack in a meaningful way.

I just love this article! I love it!

I generally will subscribe to the assertion in your tips especially the nos 17 which ponders on writing irrespective of whether there are grammatically correct or wrong,valid or invalid but the bulk still rest on the individual personality involved cos it takes a determine mind to still continue on that streak knowing fully well that his writeup are poor and uninteresting.However, like the aphorism entails ‘winners never quit and quitters never win’

I find it’s the best way to capture lots of ideas that are flowing quickly through my mind. Love the quote “winners never quit and quitters never win.”

thankyou! that was really helpful, im only young but i think writting and reading is for me as i enjoy it so much, you never know maybe i could be a writter some day, thanks again helped me soo much!

Just stick with it and see what happens!

Carry a voice recorder or a mini note pad with you so when an idea pops in your head you can instantly record it, or write it in your note pad.

I always have my iPhone on me and both the notepad and voice recorder apps have come in handy when I need to save some idea for later!

I am a writer. I love the sound of that and I love saying it to myself, but I always feel like if I say it to a stranger they are going to say yeah right! Lol

For a lot of writers, it takes time to get used to saying, “I am a writer.” But as long as you’re writing, you’re a writer, and you might as well declare it to the world.

Great list, Melissa! Although, the way I see it, one should be very careful with tips#9 and #10. Reading the works of great writers is helpful if only one doesn’t attempt to resemble another person’s style and doesn’t lose herself/himself trying to follow the beaten track. It is also a good idea to be observant. Outer world is a great source of inspiration and themes to write about.

Some young writers may actually be encouraged to mimic great authors (this is something painters do as well). It would be done as an exercise in studying the voices of important authors, and by studying their voices, aspiring authors can shape their own voices. If they’re reading widely, accidental mimicry shouldn’t be a problem. But writers do need to be self-aware, because if we read too much of a single author, their voice can get into our heads and then creep into our writing.

Dear Melissa,

I almost never respond to blogs, but this particular thread has inspired me to write to you. I appreciate the original list of rules/ideas, and by extension, the pile of reaction/ responses. I enjoy having lists to read to inspire me when I’m feeling flat, so, accordingly I have lots of them floating around which I will use to kick me back into gear when I’m uninspired. Or if I forget what I’m writing about. Writing is my– let’s see, third or fourth career (this life), and I deeply appreciate any help I can get in trying to make it go; your list of tips is really excellent. Thank you. I’m going to recommend it to everyone who asks me what I use for my inspiration. Though I must say: having lived a life worth living is also really a big help.

Hi Jason. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about writing, lists, inspiration, and living–which is definitely a big help for writers, because it gives us plenty of material to draw from.

Definitely you should read as much as possible, but not just in your chosen genre. If you want to write fantasy, read history. If you want to write about spaceships, read stories about war in submarines, workers on oil rigs, ice road and outback truckers. There is plenty of real life experience out there that can be taken and adapted to your setting and characters

I agree, Jonathan.

Good article. One could even take the initiative to make their own blog to post their works and to gain a following; if one desires to pursue a career in writing even if it’s just freelancing.

Thanks, Ashley. Yes, a blog is a great way to start publishing and finding readers.

I think an excellent way to “learn” creative writing is to identify an interesting approach in someone else’s work – then write something on your own to reapply that approach in your own words. Repeat every day!

That is certainly one of many ways to learn new writing techniques, and a good one.

That’s great article. Really liked it. Point no 8 is very important …..Thanks.

Thanks, Anupam. Glad you liked it.

You had me at number 1 – Do it, write!

It’s the only way!

A great set of tips. Thank you.

You’re welcome!

Excellent share. Will be trying some of your tips next time.

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

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How To Become A Creative Writer? 20 Easy Tips

As a creative writer, you know the joy that comes from pouring your thoughts and ideas onto the page. You also know the frustration that can come with the writing process – the endless revisions, the search for the perfect words, the feeling of never quite getting it right. But despite the challenges, you persist because you love writing and you believe in the power of your words.

You're not alone in this journey. Many aspiring writers have gone before you and faced the same struggles, and many have come out the other side as successful, published authors. With the right tools and strategies, you too can turn your passion for writing into a successful career.

That's where we come in. Our comprehensive list of creative writing resources will give you the guidance you need to become the creative writer you've always dreamed of being. From reading widely to finding your writing voice, we've got you covered. So don't give up, keep writing, and let us help you on your journey to success.

20 Tips To Become A Creative Writer

Let’s go through some tips that will help you become a creative writer. This is the most extensive list put together so far, so make sure to take it all in! 

Read widely and diversely: Reading means learning different writing styles, genres, and forms, which can help inspire and influence your own writing.

Practice writing regularly: It’s true, practicing writing leads to you becoming a better writer. Put time in your schedule to write, whether it's a short story, poem, or journal entry.

Experiment with different forms and styles: Don't be afraid to try new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone. This will help you discover which styles and forms you resonate with. 

Take writing courses or workshops: Enrolling in a writing course or workshop improves your skills and you receive feedback on your work. This helps boost your confidence!

Seek feedback from others: It can be helpful to get feedback from friends, family, or writing groups to see what works and what doesn't in your writing.

Edit and revise your work: Good writing often requires multiple drafts and revisions. Always find time to edit and revise your work to ensure that it's the best it can be.

Find a writing community or group: Connecting with other writers can be a great way to get feedback, support, and inspiration. You can join a writing group or workshop, participate in online writing communities, or attend writing conferences or events.

Stay up to date on the latest writing trends and techniques: Keep learning and growing in your writing journey by staying informed about the latest trends and techniques in the industry. You can do this by reading writing blogs, attending writing conferences, or taking writing courses or workshops.

Find your writing voice and style: Developing your own unique writing voice and style is an important part of being a creative writer. Experiment with different writing styles and techniques, and keep writing and revising until you find the voice that feels most authentic and natural for you.

Understand your subject: Once you know which type of writing appeals to you, read books by many different authors to become familiar with your chosen styles. Make note of how an author approaches dialogue, how they solve a problem or resolve a conflict. Consider combining genres to tell a well-rounded story that also opens up the opportunity to publish in more than one genre.

Know your audience: The next step to successful creative writing is to know who your audience is. Creative writers usually intend stories for either children, teens or adults. Writing style, language, descriptions and outcomes depend on knowing who the reader is and what they might expect. Situations and conflicts change across generations and should fit the chosen genre.

Use local resources: For writing advice and feedback, check with your local community colleges for writing workshops or seminars with guest authors. Consider signing up for a creative writing class or course. Local libraries may feature guest authors or host writing clubs. Check your local branches for how to join or to sign up for the next writing-related workshop.

Take an online course or use prompts: Search for online creative writing courses that provide guidance and feedback throughout the course. You can also search online for writing prompts, which are small inspirations that get the writer planning and creating.

Set a schedule: One of the most effective ways to ensure you set aside time to write is by creating a schedule. Some writers might set goals to reach a certain word count or aim to write for an allotted time period. Choose an environment conducive to writing and commit to a scheduled writing session.

Edit and rewrite: As a creative writer, editing and rewriting are necessary to improve your craft. The draft is the first round of writing, and many writers complete this step without regard for grammar, spelling or details since they go back and refine during the editing stage. 

Keep practicing: You can practice writing even when you're not working on a creative piece. Some suggestions include keeping a journal, making note of interesting conversations, observing people and situations, and writing letters or emails to friends and family.

Research: A creative writer may need to do research to ensure that their work is accurate and well-informed. This could involve looking up information on a particular topic, location, or time period.

Editing skills: A creative writer should have strong editing skills to be able to revise and improve their work. This includes being able to identify and fix grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as restructuring and reorganizing their writing as needed.

Marketing skills: Depending on their goals, a creative writer may need to be able to market and promote their work. This could involve creating a website or social media presence, networking with industry professionals, or creating promotional materials.

Writing software: A creative writer may find it helpful to use writing software to help with organization, formatting, and editing. Examples include Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Grammarly, Copyscape or Scrivener.

Remember, becoming a creative writer takes time, effort, and practice. Keep writing, seeking feedback, and staying open to learning new things, and you will continue to improve and grow as a writer. It can be a challenging and often frustrating process, but with persistence, dedication, and a love for writing, you can achieve your goal of becoming a successful creative writer.

What soft and hard skills do you need to become a creative writer?

There are both soft skills and hard skills that can be beneficial for a creative writer to have. Here are some examples:

Soft skills:

Creativity: This is perhaps the most important skill for a creative writer to have. It involves coming up with new and original ideas, and being able to think outside of the box.

Communication: A creative writer must be able to effectively communicate their ideas and stories through writing. This includes having strong grammar and vocabulary skills, as well as being able to express themselves clearly and concisely.

Empathy: The ability to understand and relate to others is important for a creative writer, as it allows them to create characters and storylines that are relatable and believable.

Persistence: Writing can be a challenging and often frustrating process, and it's important for a creative writer to be able to persevere and keep working even when things don't go as planned.

Hard skills:

Editing: A creative writer should have strong editing skills to be able to revise and improve their work. This includes being able to identify and fix grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as restructuring and reorganizing their writing as needed.

Marketing: Depending on their goals, a creative writer may need to be able to market and promote their work. This could involve creating a website or social media presence, networking with industry professionals, or creating promotional materials.

Writing software: A creative writer may find it helpful to use writing software to help with organization, formatting, and editing. Examples include Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Scrivener.

Act Now And Take These Creative Writing Tips To Become A Creative Writer

Becoming a successful creative writer requires a combination of natural talent, hard work, and dedication. By following the steps and strategies outlined in this list, you can improve your writing skills, find your voice and style, and achieve your goals as a writer.

Remember, writing is a journey and it takes time and practice to develop your skills. Don't be discouraged if you don't see improvement right away – keep writing, seeking feedback, and staying open to learning new things, and you will continue to grow and improve as a writer.

With persistence, dedication, and a love for writing, you can turn your passion into a successful career. So don't give up, keep writing, and let your words shine.

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Home › Study Tips › Creative Writing Resources For Secondary School Students

11 Creative Writing Tips To Help Unlock Your Creativity

• Published October 31, 2022

Creative writing is hard. It’s hard enough to come up with an idea, but it’s even harder to execute in a way that engages and entertains the reader.

Many people think they don’t have what it takes to be a creative writer. They believe that only certain people are born with the talent to write well.

We’re here to tell you that’s not true. Anyone can be a great creative writer if they learn how to tap into their creativity and use practical writing tips.

Our creative writing summer schools give students access to 1:1 personalised tutorials with expert creative writing tutors. To help them unlock their inner potential.  

This guide will discover practical Creative Writing tips to help you write better and more easily.

1. Hook Readers With Your Character’s  “Why” At The Very Beginning

Great stories are not wild creations. Instead, they follow a specific formula that works. For instance, did you notice how record-breaking stories often show their main characters’ motivations and dilemmas within the first few scenes? 

• Simba is declared the future King of Pride Rock. But there is one who refuses to bow to this acknowledgement. Will Simba succeed in taking his rightful place in the Circle of Life?
• The arrival of Mr Bingley, a single young man with good fortune, is announced in the relatively poor Bennet household. Will any of the Bennet sisters succeed in alluring him to marriage, inadvertently saving them from destitution?
• Humanity is under threat due to a powerful stone called the “Tesseract.” Are there heroes powerful enough to save them from extinction? 
• Elsa accidentally hits Anna with her frozen power. Must she hide forever for fear of hurting those she loves most?
• Planet Earth is dying due to dwindling resources and overpopulation. Jake Sully is called to replace his brother on a mission to take a promising energy source from another planet. But, will Jake allow the genocide of an innocent, native race to save his world?

If you keep your readers confused and wondering, “Why am I reading this book in the first place?” They’ll most likely lose interest. Or if they stay hooked due to curiosity, they won’t have an emotional connection with your main character. 

Because they have no idea why they should care about your main character in the first place!

So let your readers relate to your character’s motivations. And they’ll be eager to walk with your characters through the ups and downs of the story.

2. Get Into The Habit Of Reading (If You Haven’t Already)

It’s not enough to keep writing. You also need to keep reading different types of creative writing to improve your skills. Reading can help you:

• Understand how different writers tell their stories.
• Learn new words and how to use them in sentences.
• Become familiar with sentence structures, grammar rules, and punctuation.
• Get different ideas on how to start and end your story.
• Understand what works and what doesn’t work in a story.

Creative writers are also great readers! If you want to dig deeper and love reading then make sure to flick through our creative writing examples so you can pick up more knowledge and skills.

3. Dissect Good Stories To Imitate Good Practices!

You read a story. After finishing it, you couldn’t get it out of your head. And you ruminate over it days, and even weeks, after. 

What’s the secret sauce? 

The only way to find out is if you dissect it. So answer these follow-up questions to help you create your inspiration board.

• Who is your favourite character? List down the essential points of their character development.
• What are your Top 10 favourite sentences/lines? Why did it strike you? Why is it unique?
• List down your Top 3 scenes. How did it contribute to the story? Why are they your favourite?
• What similes and metaphors added the most flavour to the scene/dialogue? 
• Who is the side character you relate to the most? What characteristics do they have that show their humanity? How did they reveal it?
• What are your favourite chapters? How were they structured? 
• Do you notice a similar formula at the beginning and end of each chapter? How do they flow smoothly from one to the other?
• What’s the first and last sentence of the entire story? Did it help in hooking the reader and in delivering a lasting effect? If yes, how so? 

The more you answer these questions, the better you can detect subtle patterns and formulas that work together in bringing the characters and their stories to life. If you’re looking to further your university knowledge, browse the best UK universities for creative writing .

4. How Would You Rewrite Badly Written Stories? 

You let a book down. You’re frustrated because the character wasn’t as developed as you wish they were! Or that the ending was way too illogical to make sense of. 

Do you feel you’ve just wasted N number of hours reading a sub-par story? Your reading efforts don’t have to go to waste! Why? Because you can learn from other people’s mistakes.

In fact, it’s a better, less-damaging way of learning than having to learn the hard way from your own mistakes! These guide questions can help you in this task:

• How would you go about it if you could rewrite a scene, character, or story?
• What are the missing details that you would’ve added?
• Do you feel there were too many unnecessary subplots or characters in the story? How would you have trimmed it down to focus on the essential plot points?
• Did the author try to stuff in too much information all at once without pacing it out well? What would you have done differently to make the story flow better?
• Do you feel that the story was too predictable or even unbelievable? If so, how would you have made it more interesting and believable?

5. Make Your Characters Relatable

We read stories because we can sympathise with the characters. They allow us to see ourselves in their situations and how they handle their woes and joys. 

So write your characters in a way that makes them relatable. Make your reader root for them. 

It doesn’t matter if your characters are animals, inanimate objects, or aliens. What matters is the humanity at heart. These are some of the attributes that make a character relatable:

• They have believable flaws and strengths (e.g., they can’t be superhumanly perfect or mind-numbingly stupid all the time).
• Your characters need to grow and change as the story progresses (e.g., they overcome their weaknesses or learn from their mistakes).
• Do they exhibit human emotions (e.g happiness, sadness, anger, love, fear) in response to the events that happen to them?
• Give your character realistic motivations and goals. If they’re willing to risk their lives, there must be a convincing motive.
• Make realistic and consistent interactions between the character and the world around them. Don’t make them walk long distances without signalling their exhaustion, thirst, etc. Unless they have abilities to bypass such weaknesses.
• Each of your characters needs to have a backstory, even if you don’t share it with your audience. This way, your characters come alive independent of you!

If you want to enhance your writing skills, navigate to our 308 creative writing prompts , which should come in handy!

6. Don’t Try To Get It Perfect When Writing The Draft

Not even the greatest creative writer in the world publishes their first draft. But wait, isn’t this common sense? So why is it important to reiterate?

To eliminate the fear of the blank page.  

Although everyone knows the first draft is never the final product for publishing, we act as if it is . We want to get it perfect, and this is what paralyses us from writing altogether.

The goal of the first draft is to get your story down on paper (or computer). Then, you can fix all the errors later. Just let the words flow without much worry about spelling or grammar.

You can always get back to it later during the editing phase. For now, keep writing and let your story unravel itself from within your imagination.

7. Incomplete Idea? Write It Down Anyway!

A great story can come from a simple news article you read this morning. Or from a creative writing prompt that stimulated your imagination. So always keep a writing pad or app around. 

Whenever something pops up in your mind, jot it down. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a good or bad idea. The present moment is hardly the best judge to make the distinction. Write it down anyway! You can always revise it. Or add to it later.

You never know when inspiration might hit and help you complete that story!

8. Identify Your Purpose 

What message are you trying to express? At the end of the day, readers will want to learn something after reading your story. So if you wish to raise awareness about a social issue or promote a cause, your story should have a purpose.

Your message doesn’t need to be in-your-face obvious. It could be subtle and woven into the fabric of the story. 

A story without a message will feel empty. And you may feel flat writing it because there’s no personal conviction behind it. So self-reflection is paramount when writing creatively. 

9. Determine Your Audience

As you write your story, taking a step back and thinking about your audience is essential. This will help you determine the following:

• The tone of your story
• The level of detail to include
• The type of language to use
• What information to share (and what to leave out)

Who is your audience? If you’re writing a children’s story, you’ll want to use simple language and avoid violence or other mature themes. 

On the other hand, if you’re writing for a more general audience, you have more freedom to explore different topics and use a variety of language styles.

Keep your audience in mind as you write to better engage them with your story. Remember, if you try to write for everybody, you’ll end up writing for nobody!

10. Learn From Expert Tutors

One of the best ways to improve your creative writing skills is to get feedback from an expert. Creative writing tutors can help you with the following:

• get inspiration from other writers 
• develop your ideas further
• structure your story
• create your characters
• find the right words to express your thoughts
• create tension and turning points in your plot
• publish your work (if you’re planning to)

If you’re serious about improving your creative writing skills, consider getting professional help. You may want to check out our Creative Writing Summer School . 

Here you’ll experience 1:1 tutorials in prestigious universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Creative writing tutors can provide massive acceleration in your creative writing journey!

11. Get Feedback From Others

Aside from professional feedback, feedback from friends, family members, and other writers is beneficial. Here are some things to keep in mind when getting feedback:

• Be open to constructive criticism. Don’t take it personally if someone points out flaws in your work. Instead, use their feedback to help you improve your story.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for specific feedback. If you’re unsure what areas need improvement, ask your reader to focus on a particular aspect of your story (e.g., the plot, characters, dialogue, etc.).
• Be aware of bias. Someone you’re close to may be more likely to praise your work than give constructive feedback. So take their input with a grain of salt.
• Don’t take too long to revise. After you’ve received feedback, it’s essential to act on it quickly. If you wait too long, you may forget what was said or lose motivation to make changes.
• Be selective with who you take feedback from. Not everyone will have helpful things to say. So it’s important to choose wisely when seeking feedback for your story.

After getting feedback, you’ll better understand how your audience might react to your story. Therefore allowing you to revise as needed.

What Makes an Excellent Creative Writer?

Here are 3 easy and practical tips on what makes an excellent creative writer:

• An excellent creative writer practices regularly. Writing is a skill, and like any other skill, it takes time and practice to master. The more you write, the better you’ll become at it. So make use of creative writing exercises!
• Creative writers need to love experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try new things and explore different styles. The only way to find your voice as a writer is to keep writing.
• And finally, an excellent creative writer is always learning. Whether it’s attending workshops, reading books on writing, or taking online courses, there are many ways to improve your craft.

So if you want to be a good writer, start by committing to lifelong learning. Creative writing is a journey, not a destination. There’s always room for improvement!

What Are The 6 Characteristics of Quality Creative Writing?

1. focus for clarity.

The first characteristic of creative writing is focus . An excellent writer knows how to focus on their story. Excluding anything that doesn’t contribute to the plot.

In other words, they know how to edit out the “fluff” and get straight to the point. This can be difficult, especially if you’re attached to your story. But if you want to improve your writing, it’s important to learn how to focus on the essentials.

Creative writers also have a good sense of what their readers find important. As a result, they know how to prioritise information so that their story is clear and concise. This is especially important when writing for a specific audience or market.

2. Emotionally Captivating

The second characteristic of quality creative writing is emotion. A good creative writer knows how to stir emotions in their readers. They create characters and situations that the reader can relate to.

They also use descriptive language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. This allows the reader to feel like they are part of the story. As if the reader is right there in the character’s shoes.

It makes the story memorable and enjoyable.

3. Development For Engrossing Read

The third characteristic of creative writing is development. A good writer knows how to develop their characters and story so that reading is engrossing and satisfying.

They do this by creating believable and well-rounded characters. They also craft a plot that is both compelling and credible. And they use dialogue and description effectively to bring their story to life.

4. Coherence For Smooth Flow

The fourth characteristic of creative writing is flow. A good writer knows how to create a cohesive story that flows smoothly from beginning to end.

This means using transitional phrases and sentence structures effectively. It also means choosing the right words to express your thoughts and ideas. So that the readers feel the story sticks together as one logical whole.

5. Language

The fifth characteristic of creative writing is language use. A good writer knows how to use language effectively to create the desired effect.

They know which words to use and when to use them. They also know how to put together sentences excitingly and creatively. This allows the writer to communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly and engage the reader on a deeper level.

6. Error-Free

The sixth and final characteristic of creative writing is accuracy. A good writer strives for perfection and pays attention to detail. They proofread their work carefully to ensure no grammar or spelling errors.

This attention to detail shows in the quality of the finished product. Hence, it’s essential to take the time to revise and edit your work before you publish it.

Creative writing is a skill that can be learned, honed, and mastered with practice. You don’t need to have a natural gift for storytelling – you need patience and the willingness to learn from your mistakes. And if creative writing is something you’re looking to take further, then check out the a-level requirements for creative writing at top UK universities.

By following our creative writing tips and practising regularly, you, too, can write stories that engage and entertain your readers. So what are you waiting for? Start writing!

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Writers' Treasure

Effective writing advice for aspiring writers

Creative Writing 101

Creative writing is any form of writing which is written with the creativity of mind: fiction writing, poetry writing, creative nonfiction writing and more. The purpose is to express something, whether it be feelings, thoughts, or emotions.

Rather than only giving information or inciting the reader to make an action beneficial to the writer, creative writing is written to entertain or educate someone, to spread awareness about something or someone, or to express one’s thoughts.

There are two kinds of creative writing: good and bad, effective and ineffective. Bad, ineffective creative writing cannot make any impression on the reader. It won’t achieve its purpose.

So whether you’re a novelist, a poet, a short-story writer, an essayist, a biographer or an aspiring beginner, you want to improve your craft. The question is: how?

When you write great fiction, poetry, or nonfiction, amazing things can happen. Readers can’t put it down. The work you wrote becomes a bestseller. It becomes famous. But you have to reach to that level… first .

The best way to increase your proficiency in creative writing is to write, write compulsively, but it doesn’t mean write whatever you want. There are certain things you should know first… it helps to start with the right foot.

To do exactly that, here we have a beginners’ guide from Writers’ Treasure on the subject:

• An Introduction to Creative Writing
• How to Get Started in Creative Writing in Just Three Steps
• Creative Writing vs. Technical Writing
• Fiction Writing 101: The Elements of Stories
• Poetry Writing: Forms and Terms Galore
• Creative Non-Fiction: What is it?
• Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Creative Writing
• Common Mistakes Made by Creative Writers

For novelists: do you want to write compelling opening chapters?

Are you an aspiring novelist? Will your novel see the light of day? For that, you will need to make the first chapter of your story as compelling as possible. Otherwise, readers won’t even pick up your novel. That chapter can be the make-or-break point that decides whether your novel is published or not. It’s because good editors know how you write from the first three pages… or sometimes even from the opening lines.

To solve this problem, I created a five-part tutorial on Writing Compelling Opening Chapters . It outlines why you need to write a compelling opening chapter, my personal favourite way of beginning it, what should be told and shown in it, general dos and don’ts, and what you need to do after having written it. Check it out for more.

Need more writing tips?

Sometimes you reach that stage when you outgrow the beginner stage of writing but feel that you’re not yet an expert. If I just described you, no worries– Writers’ Treasure’s writing tips are here. Whether you want to make your writing more readable, more irresistible, more professional, we’ve got you covered. So check out our writing tips , and be on your way to fast track your success.

I offer writing, editing and proofreading , as well as website creation services. I’ve been in this field for seven years, and I know the tools of the trade. I’ve seen the directions where the writing industry is going, the changes, the new platforms. Get your work done through me, and get fast and efficient service. Get a quote .

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A (Very) Simple Way to Improve Your Writing

• Mark Rennella

It’s called the “one-idea rule” — and any level of writer can use it.

The “one idea” rule is a simple concept that can help you sharpen your writing, persuade others by presenting your argument in a clear, concise, and engaging way. What exactly does the rule say?

• Every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea.
• In persuasive writing, your “one idea” is often the argument or belief you are presenting to the reader. Once you identify what that argument is, the “one-idea rule” can help you develop, revise, and connect the various components of your writing.
• For instance, let’s say you’re writing an essay. There are three components you will be working with throughout your piece: the title, the paragraphs, and the sentences.
• Each of these parts should be dedicated to just one idea. The ideas are not identical, of course, but they’re all related. If done correctly, the smaller ideas (in sentences) all build (in paragraphs) to support the main point (suggested in the title).

Most advice about writing looks like a long laundry list of “do’s and don’ts.” These lists can be helpful from time to time, but they’re hard to remember … and, therefore, hard to depend on when you’re having trouble putting your thoughts to paper. During my time in academia, teaching composition at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I saw many people struggle with this.

• MR Mark Rennella is Associate Editor at HBP and has published two books, Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders and The Boston Cosmopolitans .  

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I Talked to 150 Writers and Here’s the Best Advice They Had

Joe fassler on seven of the most common writing tips.

I once heard John Irving give a lecture on his process at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, an in-depth account of the way his novels come to be. He kicked it off by writing a single sentence on the chalkboard—the last line of Last Night in Twisted River . All his books begin with the ending, Irving explained, a capstone he works and reworks until it’s ready. From there, he’ll generate a detailed summary that ultimately builds towards the finale, like SparkNotes for a book that does not yet exist. Only when he has the synopsis and last sentence in hand will he actually start writing.

I remember being fascinated by this. The approach had clearly been successful, and made sense in theory, and yet was so unlike any creative strategy that had ever worked for me. Which is an important thing to keep in mind when trafficking in the familiar genre of writing advice: Just because John Irving does it that way doesn’t mean you should. Not only is every writer different, but each poem, each story and essay, each novel, has its own formal requirements. Advice might be a comfort in the moment, but the hard truth is that literary wisdom can be hard to systematize. There’s just no doing it the same way twice.

And yet. In the five years I’ve spent interviewing authors for The Atlantic ’s “By Heart” series—the basis for a new collection, Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process —it’s been impossible to ignore the way certain ideas tend to come up again and again. Between the column and the book I’ve engaged a diverse group of more than 150 writers, a large sample size, that nonetheless has some defining traits. Here are the recurring ideas, distilled from dozens of conversations, that I think will most help you—no matter how unorthodox your process, how singular your vision.

1. Neglect everything else.

It starts with a simple fact: If you’re not making the time to write, no other advice can help you. Which is probably why so many of the writers I talk to seem preoccupied with time-management. “You probably have time to be a halfway decent parent and one other thing,” David Mitchell , the author of Cloud Atlas , told me. That can mean mustering the grit to let other responsibilities languish. As he put it in short: “Neglect everything else.”

Many authors need to put blinders on, finding ways to simplify their experience and reduce the number of potential distractions. That might mean consistently keeping a single two-hour window sacred, as Victor Lavalle does, morning time he safeguards against the demands of parenting and full-time teaching. For others, it means finding ways to ward off digital derailment. Mitchell does this by setting his homepage as the most boring thing he can think of: the Apple website.

Ultimately, the literary exercise is about finding ways to defend something fragile—the quiet mood in which the imagination flourishes. As Jonathan Franzen put it: “I need to make sure I still have a private self. Because the private self is where my writing comes from.”

2. Beginnings matter.

Everyone knows that the opening line is a crucial invitation, something that can make or break a reader’s interest in a book. But far less attention has been paid to the role first lines play for writers , leading them through the work’s dark, uncertain stages like a beacon.

“The first line must convince me that it somehow embodies the entire unwritten text,” William Gibson told me, a radical, koan-like conviction that nonetheless seems to be commonplace. Stephen King described spending “weeks and months and even years” working on first sentences, each one an incantation with the power to unlock the finished book. And Michael Chabon said that, once he stumbled on the first sentence of Wonder Boys , the rest of the novel was almost like taking dictation. “The seed of the novel—who would tell the story and what it would be about—was in that first sentence, and it just arrived,” he said.

3. Follow the headlights.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the kind of writer who plans meticulously: Give yourself some leeway in the early drafts. Throw out all your plans and assumptions, and make room to surprise yourself.

Andre Dubus calls this following the headlights: it’s like driving a car down a dark, unfamiliar road, simply describing as things become visible under the beam. “What’s on the side of the road?” he asked. “What’s the weather? What are the sounds? If I capture the experience all along the way, the structure starts to reveal itself. My guiding force and principle for shaping the story is just to follow the headlights—that’s how the architecture is revealed.”

Dozens of writers have told me some version of the same story. “The writing I tend to think of as ‘good’ is good because it’s mysterious,” Aimee Bender said. “It tends to happen when I get out of the way—when I let go a little bit, I surprise myself.”

4. Sound it out.

Of course, all this is easier said than done. In the absence of a concrete plan, how to know when you’re headed in the right direction? For many writers I’ve spoken with, the answer seems to lie in the sound of the words .

“Plot can be overrated. What I strive for more is rhythm,” the late Jim Harrison said. “It’s like taking dictation, when you’re really attuned to the rhythm of that voice.” George Saunders described a similar process, explaining that sound shows him where the energy is, revealing which aspects of the story are important, which lines to follow. It can help with revision, too. Many drafts in, when he can no longer see the work with fresh eyes, Jesse Ball told me that he turns to his ears. “Sound gives us clues about what is necessary and real,” he said. “When you read [your work] aloud, there are parts you might skip over—you find yourself not wanting to speak them. Those are the weak parts. It’s hard to find them otherwise, just reading along.”

5. It’s supposed to be difficult.

One of the things that’s surprised me most is how much the process—even for best-selling and critically acclaimed writers—never seems to get any easier. Khaled Hosseini ’s piece in Light the Dark is one especially poignant testament to this: material success doesn’t blunt the pain an author feels when the words just come up short.

But writers seem to be masters of deflecting existential despair, the malaise that takes hold in the middle of a taxing enterprise. I’ve covered this in more detail in an essay for The Atlantic , so one example in particular will suffice here: Elizabeth Gilbert ’s concept of “stubborn gladness,” a term she borrows from the poet Jack Gilbert. It’s a promise to take things in stride, to remain cheerfully engaged no matter how difficult things get. “My path as a writer became much more smooth,” she said, “when I learned, when things aren’t going well, to regard my struggles as curious, not tragic.”

6. Keep a totem.

Charles Dickens famously wrote with a series of porcelain figurines arranged across his desk, characters that kept him company as he toiled under punishing deadlines. It’s not as strange as it sounds: Many of the writers I talk to keep a totem—an object of special significance, whether it’s a small trinket or printed slogan—nearby as they work, something that serves as a source of inspiration or a barrier against despair.

Jane Smiley described pasting the phrase “Nobody asked you to write that novel” above her desk, an empowering reminder that creative hardships are voluntarily chosen. Mohsin Hamid keeps a Murakami passage taped to his printer—lines that link creativity and physical exercise, ones that encouraged him to build six-mile walks into his daily writing regimen. And Russell Banks keeps part of an old gravestone in his office, inscribed with the epitaph “Remember Death.” There’s nothing more inspiring than the awareness that time is short, and that the ultimate deadline is soon approaching.

7. Find the joy .

Ultimately, the writers I speak to seem committed to finding the joy within their work, even if that means looking in the most unexpected places. “One of the things that aids me, and which he helped teach me, is this: fundamentally, I do not believe in despair as a real aspect of the human condition,” says Ayana Mathis . “There is great confusion, there is great pain, there is suffering, all of those things, yes. But despair? I don’t believe in despair, and I don’t write from despair. I write from difficulty, absolutely. I write about people who are in great pain, who are desperate and sometimes even miserable. But despair, to me, means an absolute absence of hope. It is a nothing. There is always hope for betterment.”

But it’s not just leaving room for hope and levity on the page. It’s about retaining one’s own capacity to find joy within the process, making sure the work’s difficulty never fully squeezes out delight.

“The joy of being an author is the joy of feeling I can do anything,” says Neil Gaiman in Light the Dark . “There are no rules. Only: can you do this with confidence? Can you do it with aplomb? Can you do it with style? Can you do it with joy?”.

Find the joy, and when you do, there are no rules.

__________________________________

Joe Fassler’s Light in the Dark is available now from Penguin Books.

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• Self-Improvement

6 of the Best Pieces of Advice from Successful Writers

I’ve been reading some advice from successful writers lately and exploring what their routines are like to see what I can learn about

Here are six of the most common pieces of advice I came across that have helped me a lot improving my writing here at Buffer .

It also features actionable tips for you on how to implement them in your own writing .

1. The best ways to get over the “blank page hurdle”

I write because it comes out — and then to get paid for it afterwards? I told somebody, at some time, that writing is like going to bed with a beautiful woman and afterwards she gets up, goes to her purse and gives me a handful of money. I’ll take it. — Charles Bukowski

Unlike Charles Bukowski, writing well doesn’t come so easily for a lot of us (including me). It takes a lot of mental energy, strains your working memory and often makes you feel vulnerable if you try to be open and honest in your work.

The pure effort of writing is hard enough, but coupled with the pain of putting your work out into the world and letting others judge it , this can be enough to stop you from getting started at all.

The trick to overcoming this isn’t easy, but it’s surprisingly effective: give yourself permission to write badly, and just start .

Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird wrote an excellent essay on why writers must start with horrible drafts:

I know some very great writers, writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts. All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much.

Anne’s essay makes me feel much better about the hard work of writing great content, as she makes it clear that all great writers struggle with their first drafts:

We all often feel like we are pulling teeth, even those writers whose prose ends up being the most natural and fluid.

So to get over the biggest hurdle—the blank page—just get writing . Don’t be afraid that your draft might be bad (it probably will be, but that’s okay.)

Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something – anything – down on paper.

(Great infographic from Copyblogger )

2. Discard clichés: How to stop writing like “you’re meant to write”

Down with the cliché! If only it were that easy. Clichés surround us, and it’s surprisingly hard to avoid using them.

Put simply, in writing, clichés are bland and overused phrases that fail to excite, motivate, and impress your readers or prospective buyers. ( 6 )

Clichés dominate our language both in speaking and writing. This is because we hear them all the time, so they become the first phrases that come to mind when we want to express ourselves . Which is exactly why they’re a problem:

Given that clichés are the phrases that have struck our eardrums uncountable times, we either don’t associate them with particular ideas and products, or we associate many products and ideas with a particular cliché. The fact that clichés are so generic you can attach them to any idea makes them ineffective . ( 6 )

This actually has a lot to do with how we take in words and phrases when we read. The more familiar a term or phrase becomes, the more often we start skipping over it as we read, rendering it ineffective .

The best way to avoid this problem is to use different language to explain familiar concepts. It’s a careful balancing act between being so different that your readers are turned off by the effort of understanding your content and being so familiar that your work becomes trite .

In other words, your audience has to feel your content is new, but also credible. ( 7 )

3. Don’t make it sound like writing, instead “Write like you speak”

It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style. — P.D. James

Novelist and screenwriter Elmore Leonard knew how important the reader was. More important than his English Composition teachers, that’s for sure. He never let “proper” writing get in the way of telling a great story and making it engaging for the reader .

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. — Elmore Leonard

Writing like you speak is harder than it might sound. For some reason, it’s easy to “put on” a tone when you start writing, without even realising it. This is something I’m still working on, and it takes a lot of practice.

In Kurt Vonnegut’s list of rules for writing with style , he explains how much better his writing is when it sounds the way he talks:

I myself find that I trust my own writing most, and others seem to trust it most, too, when I sound most like a person from Indianapolis, which is what I am.

One thing that’s really helped me to improve in this area is a trick that Leo taught me: imagine someone sitting in front of you as you type, and write as if you’re talking to them .

4. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.

When I write like I talk, I tend to write long sentences. I can write a sentence that fills an entire paragraph sometimes. Although this might be how the words flow out of my mouth, one of the benefits of writing is that you have a chance to edit your work before the reader gets hold of it.

Advertising legend David Ogilvy was a fan of getting to the point without wasting words:

Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs. Never write more than two pages on any subject.

This tip is less about editing (which we’ll get to next) and more about keeping things simple. As much as you can, get to your point quickly and use the most simple language you can .

As for your use of language: Remember that two great masters of language, William Shakespeare and James Joyce, wrote sentences which were almost childlike when their subjects were most profound. ‘To be or not to be?’ asks Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The longest word is three letters long. — Kurt Vonnegut

5. Over time, try to write less, not more

And now we come to editing. Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned about writing, ever, is how core editing is to the process of great writing.

The bottom line is this: Write less, not more. — Jeff Goins

Once you get more comfortable with just getting started and writing a rubbish first draft, you will find that at least as much of the writing process is in the editing , if not more:

It actually takes more work to write a short post. You may find you spend twice as much time editing as you do writing. ( 11 )

Having someone else to look over your work can help immensely in this stage, as can reading your work aloud and letting it sit in-between edits.

Most importantly, you’ll need to learn to step back from the process of writing and put on your editor’s hat. View your draft as objectively as you can, while asking whether it makes a clear point and whether you’ve used the shortest, most simple words and sentences you can .

Kurt Vonnegut has an excellent rule we can all use when editing:

Your rule might be this: If a sentence, no matter how excellent, does not illuminate your subject in some new and useful way, scratch it out.

6. Keep writing, even when it already hurts

Lastly, the most important tip there is. I know Leo would agree with me here that the more we’ve both written , the more we’ve improved. We’ve also come to understand more about the process of writing and sharing content over time.

When we recently launched Buffer for Business , I remember discussing how the launch post might look like. And at moments like this, even when you’re almost out of ideas, to simply keep writing and see what comes is often one of the best ways to come up with a great story, at least, that’s how it turned out here .

As Jeff Goins says, the secret to prolific writing is practice :

Don’t write a lot. Just write often.

If you want to get better at anything , you have to practice. You have to be disciplined enough to show up when you don’t want to , and to keep at it when you’ve had enough .

I think this image says it all:

(Another great infographic from Copyblogger )

What other tips do you have for bloggers, copywriters and content marketers? What have you learned from your own writing experience? Let us know in the comments.

P.S. If you liked this post, you might also like What listening to a story does to our brains and 16 Top Tips from Blogging Experts for Beginners

Image credits : Copyblogger 1 and 2 , gregwake

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7 Skills You Need to Practice to Become a Successful Writer in the Digital Age

It takes more than just writing something great to become successful..

When people see what I've built for myself as a writer, they think it's the result of my degree in creative writing.

I tell everyone that my college education was great for two reasons: it taught me how (and what) to read, and it taught me how to read my work aloud--a skill that reveals more about your writing than any amount of silent reading ever will.

But my college education did not teach me about the underlying business model of the writing world. It didn't explain to me how blogs and major websites make money through digital advertising--and how writers can earn money by driving page views. I didn't take a class called Personal Branding 101, and I definitely didn't learn about email marketing funnels and lead magnets and landing pages in my class on Russian literature. Nobody walked me through the formal publishing process, explained what a typical royalty contract looked like, and certainly didn't compare that old-world approach with the possibilities of self-publishing through Amazon. And most of all, there was no class for the fast-paced writing styles that drive, quite literally, every single viral piece of writing on the internet. 

These were all parts of the "digital writer" path I had to teach myself--and all ended up being more valuable than the hours I spent notating Crime and Punishment .

Becoming a successful writer in the digital age is not just about writing. That's the foundation, of course, but in today's world--just as musicians have had to become their own marketing managers and creative directors, and even play the role of entrepreneur--writers have to do more than just write. 

Here are the 7 skills you need to practice if you want to become a successful writer in the digital age:

1. The habit of writing.

If you want to be a writer, you have to write. There is no simpler way to say it. 

If you want to be a painter, you have to paint. If you want to be a cook, you have to cook. If you want to be X, you have to practice X--far more than you "think" about how badly you want to be X.

All through college, I watched the majority of my peers wait to write. They were waiting to feel inspired, waiting to see what the teacher thought of their last piece, waiting for some outside nod of approval instead of just getting on with it and putting pencil to paper (or fingers to keys). 

I'm here to tell you that unless you can establish the simple practice of writing into your daily schedule, you will never succeed. Period. Stop reading here, because nothing else I tell you will matter--unless you can first firmly establish this habit into your everyday life.

If you want to become a writer, you have to write. Every single day.

2. The art of personal branding.

People don't buy writing. They buy you.

In the digital age, the single most valuable thing you can create for yourself is a brand around who you are and whatever it is you write about.

You could be the most incredible wordsmith the world has ever seen, but unless you have an audience, nobody will read it--and even if you want to go the conventional publishing route, a publisher will see you and your work as a gamble. You don't have a following on the internet. You don't have an e-mail list of people ready to read your next piece of work. 

Nobody knows who you are, and that's a problem.

I attribute a lot of my success as a writer to my working knowledge of branding, positioning, marketing, and social storytelling. And as much as we writers would love to hide away and not have to "put ourselves out there," we don't have that luxury anymore. We are now competing against YouTubers, Instagram stars, and viral cat videos. People are either reading our work, or they're watching two cats swing from a ceiling lamp. 

To attract (and keep) people's attention, you have to give them something to feel loyal to--and that's you.

3. The patience to play the long game.

There are two types of writing: the kind you share, and the kind you sell.

Ninety-nine percent of artists--whether you're a writer, a musician, a filmmaker, a painter--want to come out of the gate and have someone (they're not quite sure who, but someone ) pay them to create whatever it is they want to create. 

As an independent writer, I've learned that consumers buy only two things: things they like, and things they need. Everything else, we ignore--no matter how "brilliant" someone else says it is. Which means, as creators, it's our job to adopt a similar mentality: here are the things I create for myself (that someone else might like), and here are the things I create to solve a consumer need (and turn a nice profit, which allows me to spend more time creating things I enjoy).

The poetry I keep in my journal? There's probably a very small market for that.

A book that teaches aspiring writers how to become successful in the digital age? Much larger market.

Now, this doesn't mean I should never write poetry. But this also doesn't mean I should only write poetry and expect to make a fortune. 

4. The confidence to practice in public.

Nothing has done my writing more good than regularly sharing my work on the internet.

When you publish something out in the open, when you "practice in public" (as I like to call it), you receive immediate feedback. You feel vulnerable. You fear judgment. You see your work and read your sentences with a heightened awareness ("I can't believe I didn't catch that before ..."). And most of all, you practice the most important underlying habit of all: the confidence to admit, "This is what I wrote today--in all its imperfection."

I mentor a lot of aspiring writers. Some of the most frequent emails I receive come from those who want to turn writing into their career--but are afraid to share anything they've written: "I just feel like I'm not there yet. I want to make my debut when I'm ready."

Can I give you a brutal truth?

Nobody is waiting for you. And you will never be ready.

All artists have this fear that what they made today isn't good enough--and if they share it, what will happen five, 10 years later when they look back? Won't everyone laugh at how bad it is? Won't it be a disgrace?

That's certainly one way to look at it. But in all honesty, I don't see it that way at all.

In fact, there's nothing I enjoy more than looking back at something I wrote years ago and seeing where my writing style was at, at that time. It's like witnessing a younger version of myself--and I can, with infinite more clarity, see how I've improved since then.

5. The humility to cut what wastes the reader's time.

I had someone reach out to me recently who described my writing style as "minimalistic."

I'd never thought about it that way--but that's an accurate word for it. 

Some writers love description. They want you to see every blade of grass, every leaf on the tree, every long and winding grain in the tree trunk turned kitchen table. Other writers love dialogue. They want you to hear their characters talk, and talk, as if their voices were lined with gold and a pleasure to listen to indefinitely. Some writers live by the facts, and color their paragraphs with statistics and footnotes and miscellaneous information intended to add further depth to the topic at hand. And some writers just want to float on their stream of consciousness, letting their words guide the way without ever intervening and making a conscious decision to stop and move on to the next point or moment in time.

To each their own, but from my experience (and I've written close to 2,000 pieces online), readers in the digital world have only so much patience.

They just want you to get to the point--Netflix shows do this addictingly well.

Part of writing in the digital age means understanding your audience--and today's readers barely have the patience to sit through a two-sentence tweet or a seven-second Snapchat video. 

Paragraphs and paragraphs of static description is a lot to ask of today's readers, and a good many writers fail because they refuse to adjust.

6. The mastery of multiple voices.

As an independent writer, the ability to write with a range of voices will be your most valuable (and easiest to monetize) skill.

There are dozens of different voices a writer should hone throughout his or her career--including all the writing voices that need to be deployed to effectively market yourself as a writer.

There is an art to writing sales copy, an art to writing e-mail sequences, an art to writing social media posts that can leave an impact on a reader in three or four sentences. There is an art to writing articles that subtly promote your work, an art to writing e-books that readers will want to download. And the reason why it's so important to nurture these business-focused voices is because either you're going to learn how to do it for yourself, or you're going to have to hire someone (like me) to do it for you. 

Part of being a successful writer in the digital age means being more than just a writer.

You have to be the creative director, the marketer, and the social media strategist too.

7. The willingness to be both an artist and an entrepreneur.

I really do believe that every artist today has to also become an entrepreneur--if he or she wants to be successful independently.

This dual-specialization is probably the hardest skill for an artist to acquire. They are two opposing forces, both striving toward very different goals. As an artist, you want to express yourself and write what feels most truthful. As an entrepreneur, you are always searching for what's going to perform well, resonate with readers, and ultimately sell. 

As someone who spent years facilitating imaginary conversations between both sides of myself--the artist and the entrepreneur--in search of balance, it took me a long time to fully understand that you can't have one without the other.

You cannot become a successful writer (or artist period) in the digital age without some sense of awareness of how the business world works.

The entrepreneur in you is the part you want showing up to meetings. The entrepreneur is the one you want negotiating deals, contracts, opportunities, and more. The entrepreneur is the one you want to empower to protect your inner artist, and to have the working knowledge of the business world so you don't find yourself giving up 80 percent ownership over your work--or worse, writing for minimum wage.

I am a writer, through and through. It's who I am in my heart. I couldn't imagine going a single day without finding a quiet place to write something, anything, that I feel. 

But had I not honed my skills as an entrepreneur, I might still be scouring Craigslist for the next opportunity to write articles for $25 a pop. 

It's not about being one or the other--an artist or an entrepreneur. 

Becoming successful, period, is about understanding the rules of the game so that you can do what it is you love, on your own terms, for the rest of your life.

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Top 12 Creative Writer Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, standing out as a creative writer involves showcasing a unique blend of skills on your resume that highlight your storytelling abilities and adaptability across various writing styles. This article delves into the top 12 skills you need to feature on your resume to capture the attention of potential employers and demonstrate your prowess in the art of creative writing.

Creative Writer Skills

• Storytelling
• Character Development
• Worldbuilding
• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Adobe InDesign

1. Storytelling

Storytelling, in the context of a creative writer, is the art of conveying a narrative through the imaginative construction of events, characters, and settings, aimed at engaging the audience's emotions, intellect, and imagination.

Why It's Important

Storytelling is crucial for a Creative Writer as it enables the effective conveyance of ideas, emotions, and experiences, engaging the audience's imagination and fostering a deep connection between the writer and the reader.

How to Improve Storytelling Skills

Improving storytelling, especially for a creative writer, involves honing various skills and techniques. Here are concise tips with relevant resources for deep dives:

Read Widely : Exposure to different styles, genres, and authors can inspire and teach you new methods. Goodreads offers extensive book lists and recommendations.

Practice Writing Regularly : Like any skill, storytelling improves with practice. Websites like 750 Words encourage daily writing habits.

Learn Story Structure : Understanding classic story structures can help in crafting compelling narratives. This guide on The Write Practice offers insights into structuring stories effectively.

Develop Characters : Characters are the heart of any story. Learn to create multidimensional characters with this resource from Writers Digest.

Show, Don't Tell : This principle helps readers experience the story through actions, senses, and feelings rather than through the author's exposition. This article from AutoCrit explains it further.

Seek Feedback : Getting critiques from other writers or readers can highlight areas for improvement. Consider joining a community like Scribophile for feedback.

Edit Ruthlessly : Great stories often emerge in the editing phase. Learn editing tips from The Creative Penn .

Study Storytelling Techniques : Dive into storytelling techniques and how to apply them with courses from platforms like MasterClass or Coursera .

By incorporating these tips and utilizing the linked resources, you can significantly improve your storytelling skills as a creative writer.

How to Display Storytelling Skills on Your Resume

Editing, for a creative writer, involves revising and refining a manuscript to enhance clarity, coherence, structure, and style, while correcting errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling to improve overall quality and readability.

Editing is crucial for a creative writer as it refines and polishes their work, ensuring clarity, coherence, and engagement, while also enhancing the narrative's impact and reader's experience.

How to Improve Editing Skills

To enhance your editing skills as a creative writer:

Read Widely : Exposure to various writing styles and genres can inspire and refine your editing skills. Goodreads offers a wide selection of books to explore.

Practice Self-Editing : Start by taking breaks between writing and editing to gain a fresh perspective. Tools like Grammarly can help catch basic errors before deeper edits.

Join Writing Groups : Feedback from peers can offer new insights. Websites like Scribophile facilitate critique-sharing with fellow writers.

Study Editing Guides : Books such as "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White provide invaluable editing advice. Visit Project Gutenberg for free access to classic literature and references.

Attend Workshops and Courses : Platforms like Coursera and MasterClass offer courses taught by professionals to hone your editing skills.

Use Editing Software : Advanced software like ProWritingAid offers in-depth analysis that can improve your writing and editing over time.

Practice, Practice, Practice : Regular writing and editing are key to improvement. Set aside dedicated time for both activities each day.

By incorporating these strategies, you'll enhance your editing skills, contributing to your growth as a creative writer.

How to Display Editing Skills on Your Resume

3. Scrivener

Scrivener is a versatile writing software designed for creative writers, offering tools for drafting, organizing, revising, and compiling long texts like novels, scripts, and research projects.

Scrivener is important for creative writers because it provides an all-in-one platform for organizing research, structuring ideas, and composing long texts in a flexible and user-friendly environment, thereby enhancing productivity and creativity.

How to Improve Scrivener Skills

To enhance Scrivener for Creative Writers, consider these concise tips:

• Master the Basics : Start with Scrivener's interactive tutorial to grasp the fundamentals tailored to writing projects.
• Customize Your Workspace : Tailor the interface to suit your writing style. Focus on Composition Mode for distraction-free writing and adjust the Editor to your liking. Learn more through this customization guide .
• Utilize the Corkboard and Outliner : Plan and structure your narrative effectively using the Corkboard and Outliner tools for an overview of your project.
• Leverage Project Targets : Set word counts and deadlines using Project Targets to keep on track. This guide on setting targets can help.
• Compile Like a Pro : Master the Compile function for exporting your manuscript into various formats. This compilation guide offers insights.
• Sync with External Editors : Use Scrivener in conjunction with external editors like ProWritingAid for advanced editing. Explore syncing options here .
• Explore Scrivener’s Research Capabilities : Organize your research within the project for easy access. Tips on harnessing these features are found in this research management guide.

By following these steps and exploring the provided resources, Creative Writers can maximize their Scrivener experience, making the writing process more efficient and enjoyable.

How to Display Scrivener Skills on Your Resume

4. Grammarly

Grammarly is a digital writing assistant that provides grammar checking, spell checking, and plagiarism detection services, helping creative writers enhance the clarity, coherence, and correctness of their work.

Grammarly is important for a creative writer as it enhances clarity, corrects grammar and spelling errors, and refines the overall readability of their work, ensuring their ideas are communicated effectively and professionally.

How to Improve Grammarly Skills

To improve Grammarly for a Creative Writer:

Customize Style Goals : Use Grammarly's goal-setting feature to tailor feedback to your genre or writing style, enhancing creativity and coherence (Grammarly Support).

Expand Vocabulary : Leverage the vocabulary enhancement feature to diversify language and avoid repetition, enriching narratives (Grammarly Blog).

Integrate with Writing Tools : Utilize Grammarly's integration with popular writing platforms like Google Docs and Scrivener for seamless editing and feedback (Grammarly Apps).

Learn from Insights : Analyze performance statistics provided by Grammarly to identify common errors and areas for improvement, refining your craft over time (Grammarly Insights).

Engage with the Grammarly Community : Share tips and seek advice from other writers in the Grammarly community, fostering creativity and learning new writing strategies (Grammarly Community).

How to Display Grammarly Skills on Your Resume

5. Plotting

Plotting in creative writing refers to the process of planning and structuring the sequence of events that make up a story, including the setup, conflict, and resolution, to create a coherent and engaging narrative.

Plotting is crucial for a creative writer as it provides a roadmap for the story, ensuring coherent structure, pacing, and character development, which engages readers and delivers a satisfying narrative experience.

How to Improve Plotting Skills

Improving plotting as a creative writer involves developing a structured yet flexible approach to crafting your story's roadmap. Focus on these key strategies:

Outline Your Story : Start with a basic outline to organize your thoughts and plot structure. This can range from a simple bullet-point list of events to a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Well-Storied offers a comprehensive guide on different outlining techniques.

Understand Story Structure : Familiarize yourself with classic story structures like the Three-Act Structure, the Hero's Journey, or the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet. These frameworks provide a blueprint for pacing your narrative effectively. Reedsy breaks down these and other structures.

Develop Your Characters : Characters drive the plot. Ensure your characters have clear motivations, obstacles, and arcs. This depth makes the plot more engaging and believable. Writers Digest offers tips on character development.

Incorporate Conflict and Tension : Conflict is the heart of any plot. It can be internal (character vs. self), external (character vs. character, society, nature), or both. Tension keeps readers engaged. Now Novel discusses how to effectively write conflict and tension.

Use Subplots Wisely : Subplots can enrich your main plot, offering depth and complexity. Ensure they tie into the main storyline and contribute to character development or theme. MasterClass provides insights into creating effective subplots.

Revise and Refine : Plotting doesn’t end with the first draft. Revising allows you to spot plot holes, pacing issues, and areas where the conflict or tension may sag. Be open to restructuring your plot during this phase. The Creative Penn has tips on revising your plot.

Remember, plotting is a skill that improves with practice and study. Don't be afraid to experiment with different plotting techniques to find what works best for your storytelling style.

How to Display Plotting Skills on Your Resume

6. Character Development

Character development is the process by which a writer creates and evolves characters' personalities, backgrounds, and motivations throughout a story, making them more complex and relatable to the audience.

Character development is crucial for creative writers because it deepens the audience's emotional connection, drives the plot through characters' decisions and growth, and creates a more immersive and believable story world, enhancing overall engagement and investment in the narrative.

How to Improve Character Development Skills

Improving character development involves deepening your understanding of your characters' backgrounds, motivations, and changes throughout your story. Here's a concise guide to enhance your character development skills:

Create Detailed Backstories : Understand each character's history. What events shaped their beliefs and behaviors? This depth adds realism and relatability.

Define Clear Motivations : Know what drives your characters. Their goals and fears should influence their actions throughout the story.

Show Growth and Change : Allow your characters to evolve. Their experiences should impact their decisions and viewpoints, reflecting real human growth.

Use Dialogue Wisely : Dialogue can reveal a lot about a character. How they speak, what they say, and what they don't say can all add layers to their personality.

Explore Relationships : Characters don't exist in a vacuum. Their interactions with others can highlight different facets of their personality and trigger change.

For further reading and more detailed guides, consider the following resources:

Creating Characters on Writer's Digest offers tips on making memorable characters.

Character Development: How to Write Great Characters from Reedsy Blog provides a comprehensive overview of character development techniques.

The Art of Character Development on MasterClass features professional advice from established authors on crafting compelling characters.

These resources will give you a deeper insight into the nuances of character development, helping you to create more engaging and believable characters in your writing.

How to Display Character Development Skills on Your Resume

7. Worldbuilding

Worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary universe with coherent qualities such as history, geography, ecology, and culture, providing the setting and context for stories within that universe.

Worldbuilding is crucial for a creative writer because it establishes a coherent and immersive universe, enriching storytelling by providing a believable and engaging backdrop for characters and plots, enhancing reader experience and emotional investment.

How to Improve Worldbuilding Skills

Improving worldbuilding, especially for a creative writer, involves enriching the details and consistency of the universe your story inhabits. Here's a concise guide:

Start Broad, Then Narrow Down : Begin with the large-scale aspects of your world (geography, history, politics) before focusing on the smaller, everyday details that affect your characters' lives. This approach ensures coherence and depth. World Anvil offers tools for organizing these aspects.

Culture and Society : Dive into the cultures, religions, social norms, and languages of your world. These elements should influence your characters' behaviors and the plot. The Seventh Sanctum provides generators for inspiration.

Economy and Technology : Determine the level of technology and the state of the economy. How do these factors impact the daily lives of your characters and the plot? Springhole has resources for generating ideas.

Consistency is Key : Ensure the rules of your world (magic system, technology, culture) are consistent. Inconsistencies can break immersion. Evernote is a great tool for keeping track of all these details.

Engage the Senses : Make your world feel real by describing not just what is seen, but also what is smelled, heard, tasted, and touched.

Feedback Loop : Share your world with others and be open to feedback. Insights from readers can highlight areas that need more depth or clarity. Online forums like Reddit’s r/worldbuilding are great for this.

Remember, worldbuilding is a marathon, not a sprint. Taking time to layer in details will make your universe more immersive and believable.

How to Display Worldbuilding Skills on Your Resume

8. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a word processing software used for creating, editing, and formatting written documents, offering tools and features tailored to enhance creative writing and storytelling.

For a creative writer, Microsoft Word is crucial as it offers versatile tools for editing, formatting, and organizing text, enabling efficient drafting, revising, and finalizing of creative works.

How to Improve Microsoft Word Skills

To enhance Microsoft Word for a Creative Writer, consider the following concise recommendations:

Utilize Add-ins : Leverage ProWritingAid or Grammarly for advanced grammar, style, and vocabulary suggestions directly within Word.

Explore Templates : Explore and customize Word's range of creative writing templates for different genres to streamline your writing process.

Master Shortcuts and Features : Familiarize yourself with Word's keyboard shortcuts and utilize features like "Focus Mode" to enhance productivity and minimize distractions.

Use the Navigation Pane for Structure : Utilize the Navigation Pane to easily organize and navigate through your document, making it easier to structure your story.

Integrate Cloud Services : Save and access your documents from anywhere by integrating with OneDrive or Dropbox . This facilitates easy backups and sharing with editors or beta readers.

By employing these strategies, you can significantly enhance your creative writing process within Microsoft Word.

How to Display Microsoft Word Skills on Your Resume

9. Google Docs

Google Docs is a cloud-based word processing application that enables creative writers to create, edit, and share documents online in real-time, facilitating collaboration and accessibility from anywhere.

Google Docs is important for a Creative Writer because it offers real-time collaboration, easy access from any device, and automatic saving, enhancing efficiency and flexibility in the writing process.

How to Improve Google Docs Skills

Improving Google Docs for a creative writer involves enhancing its functionality for drafting, revising, and sharing written work. Here are concise tips with relevant resources:

Use Add-ons : Enhance your writing with tools for mind mapping, grammar checking, and more. Explore add-ons like ProWritingAid for in-depth editing assistance.

Voice Typing : Boost productivity by dictating your story. Activate this feature under Tools > Voice typing. Learn more about voice typing.

Version History : Track changes and revert to previous versions easily. Access this via File > Version history. Understand version history.

Use Outline Tool : Organize your document with headings for easy navigation. Find this under View > Show document outline. Outline tool details.

Research Tool : Quickly look up references without leaving Docs. Access through Tools > Explore. Explore feature.

Collaborate in Real-Time : Share your document with editors or co-authors for live feedback. Click Share on the top right. Sharing and collaboration guide.

Keyboard Shortcuts : Speed up your writing and editing process. View shortcuts.

Customize Styles : Tailor heading and text styles for consistent formatting. Learn about custom styles.

By incorporating these features, creative writers can streamline their process, from research to writing to revision, directly within Google Docs.

How to Display Google Docs Skills on Your Resume

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of optimizing web content to increase visibility and ranking in search engine results, helping a creative writer's work reach a wider audience online.

SEO is crucial for a Creative Writer as it enhances visibility online, attracting more readers to their work, and increasing opportunities for engagement and monetization.

How to Improve SEO Skills

To improve SEO for a Creative Writer, focus on these key strategies:

• Keyword Research : Identify relevant, high-search-volume keywords related to your content ( Google Keyword Planner ).
• Quality Content : Write engaging, original content that provides value to your readers, incorporating your keywords naturally.
• On-Page SEO : Optimize your content's title, meta descriptions, and headers with target keywords ( Moz On-Page SEO ).
• User Experience (UX) : Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and easy to navigate ( Google PageSpeed Insights ).
• Backlinks : Gain backlinks from reputable sites within your niche to enhance your site's authority ( Ahrefs Guide ).
• Social Media : Share your content on social media platforms to drive traffic and engagement (Buffer Social Media Guide).
• Analytics : Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor traffic, refine your SEO strategies, and understand your audience better.

By consistently applying these strategies, you can improve your website's SEO, attract more readers, and increase your visibility online as a Creative Writer.

How to Display SEO Skills on Your Resume

11. WordPress

WordPress is a versatile content management system (CMS) that enables creative writers to easily publish, manage, and organize a wide variety of content on a website, without needing advanced technical knowledge.

WordPress is important for a Creative Writer because it offers an easy-to-use platform to publish, manage, and share their work globally, facilitating a direct connection with their audience and enabling them to establish their personal brand online.

How to Improve WordPress Skills

To enhance WordPress for a Creative Writer, focus on these key areas:

Choose a Responsive Theme : Select a theme that adapts to different devices and screen sizes, ensuring your content looks great everywhere. WordPress Themes Directory is a good place to start.

Install Essential Plugins :

• Yoast SEO : Improves your site's SEO, helping your content reach a wider audience. Yoast SEO .
• Akismet : Protects your blog from spam. Akismet .
• Jetpack : Offers design, marketing, and security features in one. Jetpack .

Optimize for Speed : Use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache and optimize images with Smush to improve site loading times.

Regularly Update Content : Keep your site fresh and engaging by regularly updating your blog with new, relevant content.

Use External Links : Enhance the credibility of your content by linking to reputable sources. Ensure all external links open in a new tab to keep readers on your site.

Engage with Your Readers : Encourage comments and feedback. Use plugins like Disqus to manage comments more effectively.

Backup Regularly : Protect your content with regular backups using a plugin like UpdraftPlus.

Secure Your Website : Implement security measures with plugins like Wordfence to protect against threats.

By focusing on these areas, Creative Writers can significantly improve their WordPress site, making it more user-friendly, secure, and optimized for search engines and readers.

How to Display WordPress Skills on Your Resume

12. Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software used primarily for creating and designing layouts for print and digital media. For a Creative Writer, it's a powerful tool to design and format books, magazines, brochures, and eBooks, allowing for precise control over typography, image placement, and page layout.

Adobe InDesign is important for a Creative Writer because it provides advanced tools for creating professional layouts for books, magazines, and digital publications, enabling effective storytelling through visually engaging content.

How to Improve Adobe InDesign Skills

To enhance Adobe InDesign for a Creative Writer, consider the following concise steps:

Learn the Basics : Start with Adobe's official tutorials to understand the core functionality and tools available in InDesign.

Use Templates : Leverage InDesign templates to save time on formatting and focus more on content.

Master Text Formatting : Dive deep into text formatting options to improve readability and visual appeal. Adobe’s guide on formatting text is crucial.

Incorporate Graphics : Learn to import and adjust graphics within your documents for more engaging content.

Utilize GREP for Advanced Search : Use GREP expressions to find and replace text patterns efficiently. This GREP resource is invaluable.

Explore Scripts : Automate repetitive tasks with scripts. The InDesignSecrets’ scripting resources can be a great starting point.

Stay Updated : Keep your software updated and explore new features with each release, as outlined in Adobe’s What’s New page.

By focusing on these areas, a Creative Writer can significantly improve their efficiency and creativity within Adobe InDesign.

How to Display Adobe InDesign Skills on Your Resume

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English: Assistant Professor in Creative Writing

Job information.

Position: The English Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire seeks to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor of English with expertise in screenwriting for the 2025-2026 academic year with a start date of August 18, 2025. Final authorization of the position is subject to availability of funding.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral candidates who are ABD will be considered, but all requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed by August 18, 2025.
• Evidence of successful teaching at the college level (or equivalent experience)
• Evidence of professional experience in writing for film, video and/or television, in short and/or feature-length formats and/or narrative series
• Earned M.F.A. or doctorate in screenwriting, creative writing, film or closely related field.  Doctoral candidates who are ABD will be considered, but all requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed by August 18, 2025.

Preferred Assets:

• Secondary area of specialization in the literature of film or film studies
• Experience with filmmaking, and/or film production
• Demonstrated commitment to support and enhance the diversity and cultural and global awareness of students, faculty, and staff.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will teach courses as assigned in the English Department: All department members teach in the Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing, our first-year writing program ( https://www.uwec.edu/academics/blugold-seminar/), every semester. The typical semester load is 3 courses, equivalent to 11-12 credits. The successful candidate will teach introductory creative writing courses, advanced screenwriting courses, literature-of-film courses or other pertinent literature courses.  In addition, all department members participate in research and scholarly activities; provide academic advising to students as assigned; and engage in service to the department, university, and profession.

Department:

The English department is a thriving, diverse academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning and committed to sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment for those it serves. The department offers rigorous emphases in critical studies in literature, culture and film; creative writing; scientific and technical writing; linguistics; and education.

University and Eau Claire Community:

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire promotes diversity and inclusiveness, stewardship and sustainability, leadership and innovation. With approximately 10,000 students, UW-Eau Claire is consistently rated as one of the top comprehensive, liberal-arts universities in the Midwest and is widely known as a leader in faculty-undergraduate research and study abroad.

A community of 70,000, Eau Claire is the largest city in western Wisconsin with thriving arts and music scenes, as featured in the Star Tribune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Thrillist

( https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/things-to-do-in-eau-claire-wi) , and other media sources. Eau Claire and the surrounding areas offer scenic rivers, parks, bike trails, farmers¿ markets, outdoor concerts, a modern performing arts center ( https://www.pablocenter.org/ ), writing retreats, poetry readings, and more. Eau Claire is 90 miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul, which additionally offers world-class theater, symphony and chamber orchestras, opera, and major-league sports.

Application Procedure:

Applications are submitted electronically at the following UW-Eau Claire website: https://www.uwec.edu/employment-opportunities . You must create an account and login before you can apply. If you have not yet registered, click on the "Click here to Register" link to begin the registration process. If you are already a registered user, input your "User Name" and "Password" and select "Login." Click on the link to the English: Assistant or Associate Professor in Creative Writing-Screenwriting position ( Job ID: 21220 ) and then click the "Apply Now" button. Your application will not be considered complete unless all required documents (in Microsoft Word or PDF format) are submitted:

• letter of application, in which you explicitly address how you meet the qualifications listed in the position description
• curriculum vita
• writing sample (15-25 pages)
• unofficial graduate school transcript

In addition, three confidential letters of recommendation will need to be emailed to Candis Sessions, [email protected] . Please have your letter writer or portfolio service put "Screenwriting" and your name in the subject line.

Direct any questions to Dr. José Alvergue, Chair of the English Department,  [email protected] .

To ensure priority consideration, completed applications must be received no later than 11:59 pm on October 14, 2024 . However, screening may continue until position is filled. The university reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process. Employment will require a background check. Employment will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding past conduct related to sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).

The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and working. Although crime at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is limited, the University Police want students, faculty and staff to be aware of crime on campus and the area surrounding the campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime .  Visit Campus Security and Fire Report  ( https://www.uwec.edu/files/8/annual-security-report.pdf ) .  Also visit our Campus Security Authority policy ( https://www.uwec.edu/files/787/CleryCompliancePolicy.pdf ).

UW-Eau Claire is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disability employer.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

105 Garfield Avenue  P.O. Box 4004  Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004 

715-836-4636

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Bronx Summit returns for another year of connecting local creatives later this month

Created by Jason Acosta and Kevin Brooks, who host the podcast Live From The Bronx, the summit aims to elevate the creative voices in the Bronx while providing them with resources to be successful in their industries.

“We’re going into year three with the goal of connecting the Bronx community to the creative economy. The reason for that is because oftentimes, marginalized groups don’t always have access to the creative scene,” said Acosta. “Kevin and I found that less than 15% of the creative economy are identified as those of color. We saw a real need to be the connector and bring all people in the art, creative and entrepreneur group together so that we can learn and build from each other.”

Like in previous years, this year’s Bronx Summit will feature panels covering a myriad of topics, networking opportunities, and community building. The day will be rounded out with performances from Bronx-based artists, as well as a business pitch competition for those looking to get their ideas off the ground.

Rose Fathers, Director of Business Services at Building Skills NY

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“We’re really trying to give Bronx entrepreneurs, in every sense, a chance to be part of this experience,” said Brooks.

For Acosta and Brooks, it is important for Bronx Summit to cover several different fields, including health care, tech, music, arts, and food. One aspect that the duo finds is part of the secret to success is being involved in the community around you.

“In the restaurant industry, one of the things Kevin and I have seen to be really successful is that some of these restaurants that I do love are a staple in the community. They host events for the community, they’re really involved, people know the owners and they’re always busy,” said Acosta. “We want folks to know that a lot of people in the restaurant industry fail, but what can help you succeed? We want folks to walk away knowing, ‘if I’m gonna start this restaurant, I know I need to be active in the community and really engage with them to find some level of success.’”

Like in years past, Brooks and Acosta hope that those who take part in this year’s Bronx Summit can not only walk away with the tools for success, but make lasting connections in their industries and communities.

“You’re gonna get to hear from about 30 speakers who are from literally the same community you’re from. These folks are from the Bronx, people of color, but they’ve been able to find success in their various endeavors and I want it to be inspiring,” said Brooks. “I want you to leave this not feeling like these are superheroes, but that these are people who  you could have lived next to and are doing amazing stuff and you can do the same.”

The third annual Bronx Summit will take place on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at DREAM Charter High School, located at 20 Bruckner Blvd. Tickets start at $35 and are available on Eventbrite.com .

About the Author

Emily Davenport

Emily Davenport is the Digital Editor of amNewYork Metro. She covers entertainment, business and things to do stories around New York City, both in writing and through video. Outside of work, you can find her exploring the city or hanging out at home with her cranky bird.

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Year 4. Creative Writing Pack. The Mysterious Superpowers

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

4 September 2024

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Year 4 Creative Writing Pack.

The pack is revolved around a picture that is used as a writing stimulus.

This pack includes:

• Creative Writing Success Criteria.
• Creative Writing WAGOLL.
• Comprehension Questions.
• ‘Fix the Punctuation’ activity.
• Sentence Challenge.
• Magpie Map.

This resource is perfect for Year 4 writing interventions with either encouraging children to achieve Expected or Greater Depth. This resource would have to be adapted accordingly for Expected as the Success Criteria is for Greater Depth.

This could also be used as part of a writing assessment, or as part of a weeks’ worth of morning activities/meaningful time fillers. It could also be used as a stimulus for writing newspaper reports, letter, setting description etc which could then go towards the pupil’s writing moderation folders.

If you found this resource useful and would like more, please leave a review. All feedback is greatly received. [email protected] All my English resources roughly contain the same format.

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Announcing the 2024 HarperCollins/UBC Best New Fiction Prize Shortlist

September 13, 2024

HarperCollins PublishersLtd, the UBC School of Creative Writing and CookeMcDermid Literary Management are pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2024 HarperCollins PublishersLtd /UBC Prize for Best New Fiction , co-sponsored by CookeMcDermid Literary Management:  

• Emily Cann for her adult novel BRANCHES
• A.W. Hopkins for his short story collection A SPLENDID INDIAN
• Nilofar Shidmehr for her adult novel FORTY DAWNS OF THE PERSIAN SPRING

The winner, chosen by CookeMcDermid and the editorial team of HarperCollins, will be offered representation by CookeMcDermid and a standard contract to publish from HarperCollins, with a negotiated advance. The shortlisted authors will each have the opportunity to engage in an editorial discussion about their work with a HarperCollins editor.  

Now in its twelfth year, the contest continues to attract submissions from UBC Creative Writing students and graduates. Paige Sisley is a literary agent at CookeMcDermid who has served on the HarperCollins PublishersLtd /UBC Prize for Best New Fiction jury since its inception. She says: “Since the beginning, this prize has been a wonderful way for us to connect with new and exciting literary voices. It was a delight for us to read this year’s submissions, and we are so impressed by the manuscripts selected for the 2024 shortlist. We believe that Cann’s, Hopkins’s and Shidmehr’s works are a strong representation of the kinds of stories readers are hungry for right now: engaged with the world around us, interrogating its horrors and the challenges we face, but also filled with human connection, heart and hope.”  

“We look forward to reading and considering the submissions each year this prize is held,” says Janice Zawerbny, Executive Editor at HarperCollins Canada. “It’s always exciting for us to read such a variety of voices, genres, stories and styles. Thank you to all the writers who submitted their work this year. We would also like to extend our congratulations to this year’s three finalists.”  

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with HarperCollins and CookeMcDermid, and thrilled that our wonderful students and alumni continue to have this opportunity to advance their writing careers,” says Annabel Lyon, Director of the UBC School of Creative Writing.  

The winner will be announced September 27, 2024. The HarperCollins PublishersLtd /UBC Prize for Best New Fiction is awarded bi-annually. The next opportunity will be in 2026.  

JURY CITATIONS & AUTHOR BIOS FOLLOW  

BRANCHES by Emily Cann  

In the year 2098, North America is recovering from a devastating series of climate disasters and a war between the countries formerly known as Canada and the United States. New scientific and social developments—including the invention of hyper-carbon-fixing plants, the return of colonized lands to land stewards and Indigenous nations, and the mandating of e-vehicles—have enabled a world where climate optimism is finally possible. Still, the scars of these traumas have not faded, and many continue to live in fear of another environmental disaster.  

Having lost his family and home to forest fires, Charlie moved to the utopian City with hope of a new life and possibly even a family, and now works as an Environmental Compliance Officer. He meets Pinta, a botanical artist, who still struggles with her father’s mysterious disappearance years ago. What starts out as a first date for Charlie and Pinta turns into a dangerous adventure when they encounter a new specimen of fast-growing trees that attack upon the slightest provocation. Charlie enlists help from his colleague Linda, a former war-medic, and her husband, a retired chemist. Together, the foursome begins to uncover the trees’ origins, and their possible link to Pinta’s father. Are they an experiment gone wrong, an act of eco-terrorism, or something else?  

Daring, inventive, and fast paced, the novel transports us to a possible future world, where a series of surprising twists propels the story in unexpected directions, grounded by the novel’s cast of complex, fully realized characters. With its winning combination of science fiction, romance and humanity, Branches will appeal to readers of An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim and Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling.  

A SPLENDID INDIAN by A.W. Hopkins  

A SPLENDID INDIAN is a collection of ten humorous, occasionally magical, compulsively readable linked stories, spanning nearly one hundred years from the 1930s to the present day, within and around Broke Hat, a fictional reserve.  

Each story in this remarkable collection works to build a growing cast of unique characters in a fully inhabited world: a boy and his best friend, a talking, poetry-reciting Rez dog, who keep an eye out for “Indian Killers” (“No One Dies in Broke Hat Creek”); a boy desperate for a girlfriend but lacking charm, and a cursed fish with all of the answers (“A Splendid Indian”); a man who routinely finds a pile of mysterious bones on his back steps (“Tuesday’s Bones”); a rooster who attempts to rally his chicken coop and the crows in a revolt against “the thick legged things” and their beheadings (“Blue Native”); a lesbian couple who pick up a rodeo cowboy on their way to an Elvis impersonation competition (“Indian Cowboy”); and many more.  

Full of comical dialogue and thought-provoking set ups, the collection forms a universe of liminality, touching on themes of loneliness, death, and otherness against the backdrop of absurdity and community, perfect for readers of Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson, Bliss Montage by Ling Ma, and Mouth by Puloma Ghosh.  

FORTY DAWNS OF THE PERSIAN SPRING by Nilofar Shidmehr

For fans of Reading Lolita in Tehran and Marjane Satrapi, FORTY DAWNS OF THE PERSIAN SPRING centers around Raahela Ghaaderi’s forty-day journey to Iran amidst the tumultuous events of the Green Revolution, also known as the Persian Spring. The forty days represent the requisite time for healing, transformation, and spiritual growth in Islamic cultures.  

It is 2009 and Raahela, an Iranian expat and former political prisoner at Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, makes the sudden and daring decision to forego her impending wedding and fly from Canada to Iran to immerse herself in the fervor of the revolutionary movement. She believes that this risky undertaking may absolve her guilt for abandoning a teenage inmate who tragically ended her life in Evin Prison two decades earlier. To evade detection, Raahela seeks refuge first with her ex-husband, then friend and later mother, navigating both a treacherous landscape and complicated past relationships as she faces a series of turbulent political events that mirror her inner turmoil. Finally, she visits with a young revolutionary who has suffered arrest, torture, and release. In a gesture of solidarity and hope, she shares her own story of loss and resilience, offering solace and planting the seeds of a new rebellion—what will eventually become Iran’s 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.  

This brave, relevant and empowering novel transports readers into the heart of a totalitarian, sexist, and brutal regime and the volatile streets of Tehran, where clashes between revolutionaries and the police threaten to ignite the country. The story showcases a divided society where trust is scarce but crucial for survival, and speaks to the importance of personal relationships—of love, care and empathy—to sustain the human spirit. By fighting for freedom and democracy, Raahela tends to her own unhealed wounds. In striving for her country’s salvation, she is able to achieve her own.  

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