To be a good creative writer, you need to be able to come up with ideas easily. It might seem obvious, but a lot of great authors and bloggers will tell you that thinking up ideas is one of the hardest parts of the process. There are so many cliches and stereotypes that you might be used to associating with writers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Being a creative writer isn’t about being weak-willed or lacking in initiative; it’s about being smart and strategic. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your creative writing, consider these five suggestions.
1. Meet With Successful Authors
There are many reasons why you might want to consider meeting with successful authors. One of the best things that you can do for your creative writing is to get an outside perspective. It might feel good to read what others have written about your chosen topic, but it’s also invaluable to be able to meet with successful authors and discuss your work. You might discover that there is more than one way to write about your subject matter and that aspects of your work that you consider flaws could actually be seen as strengths by others. The more you know, the more you can write!
2. Create Scenarios
To create a scenario, you will need to sit down with a notepad and some colored pencils and make a list of all of the possible conflicts, contradictions, and dramatic moments that you can think of. It’s important to make these lists in order of how you think they would play out. If you think of a scenario where X happens then you should write down the events that lead up to it and then the aftermath. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and figure out the most effective way to sequence the events in your head.
3. Dictate
Dictation is a fantastic way to make sure that your creative ideas don’t come from your own head. You could take a short while to dictate your thoughts to a professional writer or editor. If you feel that this could be an effective way of getting your thoughts down on paper, you could try it out. It might seem like a lot of work to take someone else’s words instead of your own, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off. At the very least, it will eliminate a lot of unnecessary ideas and clichés that you might otherwise give in to.
4. Use Technology
You can get so much mileage out of technology if you know how to use it effectively. It might be tempting to reach for your laptop or mobile device to get some quick inspiration, but those devices were probably not made to be used as a creative tool. Instead, consider using an app on your phone or a piece of software on your laptop. Apps such as Scrivener and WiteWriter are perfect for creative writing. If you’re looking for an app that lets you write and organize your content simultaneously, try out OneApp. It’s important to note that these apps aren’t meant to replace actual writing – that comes later – but instead can be used to get your thoughts down on paper in a way that feels natural to you.
5. Brainstorm
The final tip that we want to share with you is to brainstorm. We all love coming up with unique ideas and seeing how they fit together. Sometimes it’s easier for us to connect the dots than it is for other people, so we brainstorming with a partner or group can help you discover connections that you might not have noticed before.
Getting ideas for creative writing is not as hard as you might think it is. You just need to take the time to do it. Make a list of all of the possible ideas that you can think of and then prioritize them. You might also want to consider reading other people’s work and getting an outside perspective as well. Good luck out there.