The fiveRs ofcreativewriting are an essential guide to anyone wanting to become more confident in their writing abilities. Identifying the steps to follow in order to produce a well-written piece, the guide covers grammar, spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and stylistic choices. Although the guide provides clear and concise answers to the questions it poses, the advice it gives on finding one’s own voice and developing a unique writing style is both insightful and applicable to anyone who wants to write creatively.
Relax
Since writing is a challenging undertaking and can be quite stressful, a crucial aspect of any creative writing program is to teach the students how to relax. Without proper relaxation, the students will find it difficult to produce quality work and could even lose motivation. The guide suggests a number of relaxation strategies, including taking a break from writing, playing piano or guitar, reading a book, going for a walk, or spending time with family and friends. Finding time for relaxation is, in fact, one of the biggest obstacles to overcome if one wants to become a confident and successful writer. In order to overcome this obstacle, the students have to be made aware of the importance of relaxation in achieving their goals, which, in turn, will help them to become more efficient and effective writers.
Research
When writing an article or a novel, a lot can go wrong without adequate research. Mistakes made during the editing process are usually a result of factual errors and inadequate information gathering. In order to avoid these problems, it is important to do adequate research before starting to write. For an article, this may mean gathering as much information as possible or, in the case of a novel, it may mean actually going out and doing some interviews. Regardless of the chosen method, the point is to make sure that the necessary information is gathered before starting to write. Only then can the writer proceed to the next step confidently knowing that they have the necessary data to back up their claims.
Revise
Once the writer has finished writing, they need to go back and revise. In most cases, this will mean going through the piece and fixing all grammatical and other errors made while writing. Depending on the chosen style of the article or novel, the writer may also need to go back and add additional content or cut certain parts. In either case, the aim is to make the piece as good as possible before submitting it for publication. The process of revising and editing is usually very time consuming and involves a lot of work, so it is important to do it as completely as possible before starting on the next stage of the creative writing process.
Resource
After the piece has been revised and edited, the writer has to start looking for a literary agent or publisher. Having an agent is preferable as it saves the writer from the burden of finding a publisher, but, in most cases, a good literary agent will also take on the editing and submission process, thus cutting down the workload. In the case of a self-published novel, the process is usually less formal, but it is still a good idea to look for editing and proofreading services if you want your work to reach a wider audience. The important thing is to look for someone who is good at what they do and who can take on the responsibility of making your work as good as possible before submitting it for publication.
R&D
Depending on the scope and size of the project, the writer may also need to do some research and development (R&D). This could mean finding an expert in the field to help with specific topics such as medicine, science, or chemistry, or it could mean searching for an existing solution and adapting it for the purpose at hand. The important thing is to make sure that the R&D is done in a professional manner and adheres to all ethical standards. Doing R&D can also be a good way to learn more about a topic, develop new ideas, and/or explore solutions to problems that you may encounter while writing. The challenge, as always, is to find the time to do all of this – something that requires discipline and a clear mind. Ultimately, the guide states, “Good writing is an organized form of play. It is about giving shape to your thoughts and feelings about a specific topic and using language to describe complex ideas clearly and simply. It is not about following a formula or using a certain style because others have done it before you.”
With proper guidance and training, the creative writing process is both achievable and highly beneficial to anyone who decides to pursue it. By breaking down the steps into small manageable pieces and learning to focus on one task at a time, the writer will find themselves progressively overcoming the many hurdles that stand in the way of becoming a confident and successful writer.