Creative Writing

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C & W Skills
Ms. SANIA ATHAR
National University of Modern Languages
What Is Creative Writing?
Creative writing is a form of writing where creativity is at the forefront of its purpose

through using imagination, creativity, and innovation in order to tell a story through strong
written visuals with an emotional impact, like in poetry writing, short story writing,
novel writing, and more.
It can seem difficult to narrow down the answer to the question, “What is creative writing?”
Since creative writing encompasses many types of writing, exploring examples helps define
this art form. Use the definition of creative writing and creative writing tips to learn how to
become a creative writer.
The true definition of creative writing is:
original writing that expresses ideas and thoughts in an imaginative way
It's the "art of making things up" or putting a creative splash on history, as in creative
nonfiction. In any instance, creative writing makes you step out of reality and into a new
realm inspired by your own imagination. With creative writing you're able to express feelings
and emotions instead of cold, hard facts, as you would in academic writing.
Creative Writing Types and Categories
Because it is such a broad topic, the best way to define creative writing is to browse a list of
things that are and are not considered creative writing.
Types of Creative Writing
Your imagination starts to flow when you engage in creative writing. The majority of writing,
by far, is creative. With it, you can pretend anything you want and help a potential reader do
the same. Different types of creative writing are found in these writing categories:
 epics
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 novels
 poems
 screenplays
 short stories
 songs
 television scripts
Types of Writing That Aren’t Creative Writing
Any type of writing that is very formal, precise and reliant upon facts isn’t considered
creative writing. Forms of writing that are not considered creative writing include:
 academic writing
 journalism
 technical writing
 Textbooks
Examples of Creative Writing
At its core, creative writing is a form of entertainment. It's also a form of art found in most of
your favorite TV sitcoms, movies, books, poems, and other mediums.
Creative Poetry Example

Poems provide great examples of creative writing. In fact, they're almost exclusively
emotional and imaginative. This excerpt from Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus and the
Carpenter" is an example of creative writing because it is not based in fact and uses a lot of
imagination.
If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,
That they could get it clear?'
I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
If you'd like to try your hand at a poem, check out these tips on writing poems.
Creative Short Story Example

Short stories can be narrative, funny, mysterious, satirical, fantasy, or historical. Often stories
include a lesson for the reader. This excerpt from Margaret Barrington's "Village Without
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Men," from The Glass Shore anthology (edited by Sinéad Gleeson) is a great example of

using creativity to evoke emotion.
Weary and distraught, the women listened to the storm as it raged around the houses. The
wind screamed and howled. It drove suddenly against the doors with heavy lurchings. It tore
at the straw ropes that anchored the thatched roofs to the ground. It rattled and shook the
small windows. It sent the rain in narrow streams under the door, through the piled-up sacks,
to form large puddles on the hard, stamped, earthen floors.
Creative Novel Example
Novels are certainly creative. Readers look forward to dipping in and out of new worlds
created in novels, be they fantasy or realistic. This excerpt from Dark Witch, by famed
romance writer Nora Roberts features a real place, Ireland, with a fictional character and
story.
The cold carved bone deep, fueled by the lash of the wind, iced by the drowning rain gushing
from a bruised, bloated sky. Such was Iona Sheehan's welcome to Ireland. She loved it. How
could she not? She asked herself as she hugged her arms to her chest and drank in the wild,
soggy view from her window. She was standing in a castle. She'd sleep in a castle that night.
An honest-to-God Irish castle in the heart of the west.
Creative Writing Tips and Techniques
If you feel you have a story inside you, you probably do. Why not let it out? It may seem as
simple as sitting down, pulling up a blank document and letting it all flow, but sometimes that
blank document can be intimidating. Use some creative writing techniques and tips to help
you get creative.
Be an Avid Reader
Reading all types of writing can spark ideas in your own imagination. The more you read
fiction and creative nonfiction, the more you'll naturally adopt their natural rhythm and flow.
Keep an Idea Book
Inspiration for creative writing can strike at any moment. Be prepared with a notebook
dedicated to ideas or even a notes app on your phone. When you periodically browse your
ideas, you might find that combining a couple of seemingly unrelated ideas sparks a new
piece of writing.
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Ask What if Questions
To tap into your creativity, ask yourself questions that start with “What if?” For example, if
you know you want to write about a cat, you might ask yourself “What if the cat is best
friends with a mouse?” or “What if the cat doesn’t look like an ordinary cat?”
Write with Abandon
If you have an idea for a story, sit down and start typing, without editing as you go. Just let
the ideas flow out of your mind. After the story is out of your head and onto the screen, then
you can consider revising.
Read Your Work Out Loud
Even after you've gotten it all out, it's still not time to edit. Read your idea out loud to hear
how it sounds. See which scenes jump out at you. Remember which bits of dialogue are
particularly powerful.
Create a Scene List
You might want to outline your scenes after you've written that first draft of your story.This
helps you organize the plot line and make sure it flows.
Proofread and Edit Out Fluff
Now it's time to proofread and edit. Even though your work is meant to be creative and
original, it should still follow standard writing rules. While imagination is key to creative
writing, you still need to remove any "fluffy" parts of the story.
Story Starters for Creative Writing
Creative writing exercises can help jumpstart your imagination. If you’re still not sure where
to start, creative writing prompts give you a topic or opening sentence to get creative with.
Start your own creative writing with one of these prompts:

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 You're sitting at your desk staring blankly at the computer screen. Just then, a piece of
paper floats down and lands in front of you. It says, "Tomorrow will be your last day."
 She entered her parents home to clear out their possessions. What was she going to do
with all their belongings? When she got to their safe, she keyed in the code, opened it up, and
saw the most disturbing picture inside.
 She got off the plane with only her tattered Louis Vuitton tote and one small suitcase.
She had enough cash to start her new life in Edinburgh but absolutely no idea where to go
once she left the airport.
 When he awoke, everyone in the apartment complex was gone. The parking lot was
empty. The front gates were open. As a matter of fact, the typically busy roads were
completely abandoned and eerily silent.
 He liked his solitude. It didn't matter that others called him a recluse and a hermit.
But, when he saw her move in across the hall, he couldn't help but wander over to say hello.
When he saw her face, he was astonished. She looked just like...
 She whistled into the wind to call up her dragon. When he arrived, she hopped up on
the balcony railing, saddled her ride, and set sail for...

Creative Writing

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1

What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing where creativity is at the forefront of its purpose

The true definition of creative writing is:

original writing that expresses ideas and thoughts in an imaginative way

Creative Writing Types and Categories

Types of Creative Writing

Types of Writing That Aren’t Creative Writing

Examples of Creative Writing

Creative Poetry Example

Creative Short Story Example

Men," from The Glass Shore anthology (edited by Sinéad Gleeson) is a great example of

Creative Writing Tips and Techniques

Keep an Idea Book

Ask What if Questions

Write with Abandon

Read Your Work Out Loud

Create a Scene List

Proofread and Edit Out Fluff

Story Starters for Creative Writing

Start your own creative writing with one of these prompts:

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