Picture it, you got a long piece of paper in front of you and a pen in your hand. You’re supposed to write something creative, something that will make people think, something that will make them laugh or cry. Perhaps you’re writing a poem, short story, or a novel. If you’re writing an article for a newspaper or magazine, you might even want to consider writing a humorous piece. With all these options at your fingertips, you might start to feel a little overwhelmed. After all, not all of us are natural born writers. Some of us have to learn how to write like pros.
The question is, how do I become a better writer? How do I improve my creative writing skills? Luckily, we’re here to help with a detailed guide on the differences between creative writing and fiction writing. Let’s get started.
Creative Vs. Fictional
The terms “creative” and “fiction” can be a bit confusing. After all, aren’t all stories “creative” and all poems, dramas, and movies are “fictional”? The answer is yes, but it depends on what you mean by the terms “creative” and “fiction”.
What is the difference between the two? Put simply, creative writing is the process of writing other people’s stories. It is usually considered to be writing that is not for commercial purposes. It is usually done for pleasure or to entertain. The goal is not to make money, but rather to use the gift of words to express yourself.
On the other hand, fiction writing is the writing of fiction. It is considered to be any piece of writing that is created with the intent to be published. It is usually done for money or for some kind of practical purpose. The stories, whether they are novels, plays, or short stories, are written with the sole purpose of being read by an audience and being considered as good as new.
In essence, although all stories are creative, not all creative writing is fiction. It is important to understand the distinction because it can help you determine what level you should be practicing at and what kind of feedback you will need. If you want to become a better writer, you need to start by familiarizing yourself with the basics of creative writing. This includes getting a feel for the English Language and how to put together a story in a way that will make the reader interested in your work. Once you’ve mastered those basics, then you can start looking at the differences between creative and fictional writing.
The Importance of Structure
Structure is one of the most important things when you are writing. Whether you are writing a short story, a novel, or anything in between, you need to know how to construct a well-written piece. When writing a story, you need to consider how you are going to begin, what kind of plot you are going to use, and how you are going to end it. This is called the “structure” of the story. Knowing how to structure a story well is essential for any writer, but it is especially important for those who are just learning.
The way a story is structured determines how the writer can communicate with the reader. For example, if you are writing an informal narrative, you might want to consider how you are going to introduce new characters and how you are going to develop the relationships between existing characters. These are all important elements that can affect the outcome of your story. They can make or break the narrative flow. This is why knowing how to structure a story is so important even if you are a professional—it will help you identify what needs to be fixed before you can publish your work.
The Differences Between Poetry, Short Stories, and Novels
Let’s get to the good stuff now… Once you mastered the basics of creative writing, you can start to look into the differences between poetry, short stories, and novels. First, you should become familiar with the basics of each form. Let’s take a look at poetry first.
Prose is, simply put, regular English. If you’re writing something that is not in English, you’ll have to translate it into English. This is typically done by either hiring a professional translator or taking a graduate class in English Grammar. Once you’ve mastered that, you can start moving around with your prose. It can be broken down into phrases, paragraphs, and sentences. When writing poetry, you don’t have to follow any rules. It’s all about the feel and the flow.
Next, let’s look at short stories. A short story is a story that is usually between 1,500 and 6,000 words in length. It was first defined by Hemingway in 1926 as: “a narrative in prose or verse that ends before you know it and will surprise you with its startling conclusion.” These are popular because they can be easily understood by the average person. There are no complex ideas or words that the average person needs to have in order to follow along. This is why they are so simple to understand. On the other hand, longer stories can get rather complicated and require some form of expertise to follow. This is why longer stories are considered to be more ‘sophisticated’.
Novels are, in essence, longer stories. The only difference is that a novel usually has several parts and is structured in such a way that the reader can follow along the entire plot line. This is why some people call a novel a ‘multi-volume story’. A novel is a story that is usually between 40,000 and 80,000 words in length. It is considered to be the pinnacle of creative writing for those who want to become professionals. The more you read, the better you’ll get at it. There are some simple tips for those who want to become novel writers—you just need to keep practicing.
Manuscripts
Once you’ve written your story, whether it is perfect or not, you need to send it off to somewhere to have it edited. This is called “manuscripting” and it is an important step in getting your work published. During this time, you need to watch for any errors that might have crept in during the final draft. Once this is finished, your manuscript will need to be ‘tried’ before it can be published. This is usually done by an editor or a professional reader. You might also have to go through several drafts before your work is finished. This is because editors usually have several changes they want to make before they can publish your work.
The point of all of this is that writing is a never-ending process. Whether you are a professional or an independent writer, you are always going to have new pieces that you want to write and old pieces that you want to rewrite and edit. This is why it is important to keep practicing and developing your skills. With all the information above, now you can start to see the differences between creative writing and fiction writing. Perhaps the most important thing to take away from this is that even though all stories are creative, not all creative writing is fiction—and vice versa.