Creative writing has become an integral part of many university courses around the world. Picking a topic for your creative writing unit can be a daunting task, especially when you are struggling for ideas. Whether you are a teacher or a student, this article will help you choose the right materials to teach the class, and inspire you to come up with new ideas for your next creative writing unit.
The Basics Of Creative Writing
First off, it’s important to stress that creative writing is a very broad topic. Basically, any written piece that doesn’t adhere to the rules of genre is classified as creative writing. This includes, story writing, magazine articles, and even blog posts. It can be difficult to teach the art of writing, since every topic is unique and has its own terminology and structures. However, there are certain ground rules that often apply to all forms of creative writing. For example, many stories start with a character who wants something, and the character’s journey to get what they want is the backbone of the story. These characters are known as protagonists, and the role they play is crucial. Another key element of creative writing is the use of language. To create a mood, the writer can select particular words and change their meanings. For example, the words “horrible” and “fearful” might be replaced with “beautiful” and “exciting” to evoke a particular feeling. This is a powerful tool that can bring an otherwise mundane topic to life. Creative writing is a form of literature that is both varied and expansive, which can make it quite the teaching challenge. Thankfully, there are some key concepts and rules that often apply to all forms of creative writing. For example, characters in stories usually have a goal or desire that they are trying to achieve. This desire can be anything—to save a relationship, win an argument, or become rich and famous. This aspect of a story makes it more interesting and relatable to your audience. Protegés, or protagonists, are the central characters in all stories. These characters can have any role, but are generally a hero or heroine whose quest leads them to triumph over obstacles and adversaries. It is often the case that the protagonist will change (or be changed by) the course of events that unfold throughout the story. This is the defining characteristic of a narrative, or narrative-based stories. In a more traditional narrative, the events that take place are usually presented sequentially, in chronological order. Many narratives use time travel as a plot device, as these events can often occur over the course of several hours, days, or even weeks. It is often the job of the author to give the reader a clear idea of what is going on, and what is at stake. For example, in the film, Good Will Hunting, one of the central characters, Will, is a homeless genius who has extensive knowledge in many fields, despite having no formal education. In the course of the story, we see Will demonstrate this genius through his deep understanding of various topics, such as literature, history, and astronomy. This comes as a result of his extraordinary memory, which he calls upon frequently, and the fact that he reads extensively. All of this makes him a very interesting character to follow, and an educator might see this as a teaching moment:
“Will you teach us how to be remarkable and make our professors look at us in a new way?”
The Different Types Of Creative Writing
If you’re teaching a class on creative writing, you might be wondering what sort of material you should cover. While there isn’t any single universal answer to this question, there are certain types of stories that often appear in magazines and on television, and these are the ones that you can use as a jumping off point for your creative writing unit. For example, you could start by looking at short stories, as these are quick and easy to write, and usually have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Another option would be to examine scripts for sitcoms and films: these tend to be very formulaic, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and can be quite hilarious, if done well. If you’re looking for a character-driven story, then you should examine movies and shows that focus on the individual journeys of protagonists, rather than the ensemble cast, as these tend to have more in common with traditional narratives. Here are some examples of character-driven stories that could form the basis of a creative writing unit: