The ‘creative writing’ genre covers all kinds of non-fiction writing, ranging from the novel to the short story to the technical writing that might populate a computer manual. When writing non-fiction, you might want to consider how you can best describe yourself and your work. In this article, we’ll discuss how to do this writing-wise.
Make An Outstanding Title
As a creative person who is writing non-fiction, you might want to consider making an outstanding title for your work. After all, this is what will be linked to, shared, and enjoyed by others. To best practice creating an outstanding title, make a list of everything you feel makes your writing unique and special. For example, if you are passionate about climate change, you might want to consider writing a story about how your life has been changed by this overwhelming issue. Or if you are an expert in the area of mental health, you might want to write about your journey into self-help and how it has helped you to find the inner strength you need to overcome your problems.
With a unique and compelling title, you can attract potential readers, establish yourself as an authoritative voice on the topic, and encourage others to get in touch. Above all, make sure that your title is concise and easy to understand. Having a unique and memorable title is the best way to ensure your work gets read and digested by your target audience.
Understand The Niche
Niche is defined as ‘a small group of people with similar interests, hobbies, or practices’ (source). When describing your work, you should always consider the intended audience. This means you will need to understand what aspects of your work will appeal to the people within this group. You might want to think about the kinds of questions your work might help to answer or the issues it might raise. It can be helpful to think about the various topics you are an expert in, but the more you understand about your niche, the better you will be able to communicate your work to the group you are trying to reach.
For example, if you have a background in psychology, you might want to consider focusing on the mental health of children. This is a highly specific area of research, and you would need to have a good understanding of child psychology to be able to write about it. Once you have established a foundation of knowledge in this subject, you can move into writing about specific disorders or issues that come up in your clinical work.
Create A Narrative
A narrative is defined as ‘a sequence of events or anecdotes that tell a story’ (source). When writing a narrative, you are essentially creating a story about yourself or someone else. This can be done through the use of personal anecdotes, but it is not limited to this. Your narrative can use any number of literary techniques to create a coherent story.
Personal narratives are popular because they allow the reader to form a connection with the characters, and this can make the story more relatable. Consider using personal narratives to tell the story of your life or the life of someone you know well. Alternatively, you could choose to write about an incident that happened to you or someone close to you. In creating a narrative, you should not be limited by what you know or have experienced personally, but you should also aim to include as much originality as you can.
Build A Family
A family is defined as ‘releated by blood, marriage, or adoption’ (source). When writing about your family, it is important to consider how you can best communicate with the reader. You can do this by taking the time to learn about the family dynamics and idiosyncrasies that make it special. From there, you can tailor your writing to fit these dynamics. Doing this will help to strengthen your family unit, and it can also give you a greater appreciation for how much you have been blessed.
Do Research
When writing non-fiction, you must do your research. This means that you will need to obtain as much information as possible about the topic you are covering. Your research should not just involve going through books and articles, but you should also be willing to consult with experts and other scholars in your field. This is particularly important if you are writing about a topic you are not familiar with.
Through research, you will not only obtain the necessary knowledge to write about your topic with authority, but you will also be able to think of original ideas and phrases that can be used to add flair to your writing. Remember, your goal is to write a non-fiction piece that is both informative and interesting.
Present Yourself
In presenting yourself as a creative person writing, you will want to do this in a way that is both authentic and engaging. To best practice this approach, consider everything from your posture and gesture to your choice of words. Learning to edit your writing is also a skill you should develop. Through editing, you can take out unnecessary information that might be more cumbersome than helpful, as well as add flair to your writing. This is similar to the process of ‘crafting’ a narrative, where you are developing a story through the use of literary tools and techniques.
Be Unique
Writing is a form of self-expression, and you should therefore use this platform to present yourself in the way you want to be seen. In doing this, you can take the unique approach to presenting yourself as a creative person and allow others to see the world through your eyes. Unique perspectives and the ability to tell stories in an original way is what makes a good writer great! To get inspired, look to successful writers in your niche for inspiration and make note of what you can do differently to present yourself in a more compelling way.