Are you looking to learn more about creative writing? Do you want to know what creative writing is and if it’s right for you? If so, then this blog post is for you.
What Is Creative Writing?
Creative writing is the practice of creating fictional stories or plays based on real-life situations. These works are usually classified as imaginative fiction, and the creators can be either amateur or professional.
The practice of creative writing can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was used mainly for children and teenagers. In the 21st century, it has become an important part of the education of many students, particularly in English-speaking countries. As a result, many universities and professional associations have recognized the value of creative writing in advancing creative thinking and problem solving skills, and allowing the writer to develop their own voice.
Why Study Creative Writing?
As with any other form of creative writing, the benefits of studying creative writing are many. One of the major advantages of studying creative writing is that it can be used to develop many different skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills. All of these are highly valued in today’s workplace, and can help the writer in their job search. In addition, people who study creative writing are more likely to become freelance writers and journalists, helping them to earn more money and develop their skills even further.
Which Careers Can I Follow?
While it’s great that you want to become a writer, it’s important to think about what sort of work you’ll be doing. If you want to write for publication, then you’ll have to look for freelance writing jobs or job opportunities with publishing companies. If you don’t want to do that, then you can get a job as a copywriter in a corporate setting, pitching marketing campaigns or product descriptions for various companies.
If you’re looking for an entry-level position, you can try getting a job as a secretary or administrative assistant to an English teacher, magazine editor, or publishing company. You’ll be interacting with authors and editors, helping them with their work, and learning a lot in the process.
Should I Study Creative Writing In School?
Depending on your major, you might not need to study creative writing in school. If you’ve got your heart set on writing, then don’t let anyone tell you different. In fact, if you’ve got a good enough writing sample, you might be able to get your school to pay for your tuition and living expenses as you learn to become a professional.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a degree to prepare you for a specific job, then you might have to put your school career on hold, while you get a job and then study for your degree. In that case, you’ll have to look into government financial aid, as well as any creative writing scholarships that might be available.
Top Tips For Studying Creative Writing
If you’re looking to study creative writing, then keep in mind a number of tips that can help you make the most of your time and resources, and get the best possible result from your studies.
First of all, take a deep breath. It can be difficult to study creative writing, and the last thing you need is to rush into it, without proper preparation. Take a look at the following suggestions, and then set a date to begin your studies.
Join A Society
There are many writing societies that you can join, no matter where you live. Usually, these societies will get together once a month, and you’ll be expected to attend at least some of their meetings. Joining a society will give you something to look forward to, and provide you with an opportunity to meet other aspiring writers. In some cases, you might even be allowed to submit your own work for critique, and give you a chance to improve your skills.
Follow The Rules
When you’re writing a story, it’s important to know which rules to follow. There are no set rules for writing fiction, other than trying to make the story interesting and enjoyable for the reader. However, every story has a specific format, and following these guidelines can make your writing much easier to understand, and help you to get your story across effectively.
Some examples of formats are the following:
- The narrative style, where you describe what happens in the story;
- The exposition style, where you describe the setting of the story;
- The dramatic style, where you show the reader what happens through dialogue and actions; and
- The interview style, where you ask the reader questions, and then let them respond.
Try to stick to these formats, and you’ll make your writing much easier to understand. It’s also important to remember that no matter which style you choose, the most important thing is that you enjoy the process, and keep telling the story from the character’s point of view. This will make your readers want to keep reading, and hopefully, encourage them to share their opinions on your work. If you do decide to do so, then be sure to include citations, so that your readers know where you got the ideas from.
Start Small
If you’re looking to study creative writing, then start small. The best way to learn is by doing, so rather than studying the Theory of Creative Writing, which can be quite difficult, find a class or a tutor who can teach you how to write creatively. Once you’ve got your feet wet, you can move on to more complex tasks, such as developing characters, and creating intriguing plot twists. When you start small, you can eventually work your way up to more complicated assignments, and challenge yourself.
Study Traditional Literature
If you’re looking to study creative writing, then you should really consider the work of classic authors. It might be hard to believe, but those who study creative writing often cite Thomas Hardy, Thomas M. Disch, and Agatha Christie as some of the best examples of well-written stories, due to their skill in using precise and interesting language, and creating complex plots. If you’re looking for inspiration, then you could do worse than to take a look at these masters of literature.
Get Proper Sleep
If you want to be at your best when you study, then you need to get enough sleep. Try to go to bed at a regular time, get up at the same time, and avoid napping during the day. Napping during the day can seriously hamper your ability to concentrate, and make it difficult to learn. Plus, if you nap during the day, then you’ll probably end up sleeping through the night, and not have any energy left for studying. Going to bed at a regular time and getting up at the same time can help you maintain a consistent schedule, which is important, if you want to be able to get the most out of your studies.
Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. The human body needs sufficient hydration to perform at its best. If you’re not drinking enough fluids, then your body may start to conserve water. This could result in dehydration, which might in turn lead to health problems. Try to drink at least 16 ounces for every hour that you spend studying. This can help you maintain an appropriate body weight, and it will also keep you hydrated, so that your mental capacity is not compromised. If you follow these simple tips, then you’ll have no trouble achieving your goals, and can look forward to a bright future as a creative writer.