Creative Writing Tips

Everyone has heard the generic creative writing tips. Often blogs will tell you to show not tell and using words like “feel” is a crime. However, I will be offering some tips for strengthening your writing as well as exercises to help fine-tune your skills.

1) Write out what I call a “Brick Paragraph”

Write out a few sentences, it can be anything from a description of how you feel to creating a setting. After writing out the paragraph take note of what words you reuse or what tone your paragraph is written in. Then, rewrite the paragraph three different ways. When doing this change the tone of each paragraph, change the analogies or metaphors you use. Be mindful of words or sentence structures you gravitate towards. By recreating the same paragraphs three different ways, you explore the diversity of writing and honing in on your exact goal of the paragraph. Additionally, I find this trick especially helpful when creating characters for short stories or longer pieces because you can investigate what you want your character to sound and feel like to the reader by trying out the same scenes three different ways.

2) Write from the perspective of every character in the scene

Write the same scene from every perspective of the characters included in that moment. By doing this you not only build a portfolio of your characters, but explore the moment from different angles. Reading a whole novel or longer pieces of writing can decline the intensity and expense that you’re trying to create. This is a useful practice for working on longer pieces because multiple perspectives will build on the reader's image of the world. Furthermore, sometimes a scene has great potential, but the moment is better convened due to what it means to a specific character; this drill will help you practice designing characters, moments, and strengthen your creative writing in general.

3) Free Write

The main goal of writing is to cultivate creativity. Words will always just be words, what makes them interesting is the new and exciting ideas that people convey through them. A writer’s creativity is easily stifled by self inflicted pressure to write perfectly articulated and pretty paragraphs. So, my biggest advice is to write whatever comes to mind first thing in the morning without any prompts or guidance. Let all of your creativity flow without judgment or analysis; let whatever wants to come out, fall on to the page. This is where the magic in writing happens. When you do this you stretch out your creativity and writing chops. After, you can revise and look for your strengths and weaknesses, as well as, decide what you want to further investigate and which ideas you want to let go.

4) Make a Routine

Creating a writing routine will build your comfortability and confidence. Writing will become second nature to you and when you regularity stretch your writing muscle, like with any practice, they will become stronger. However, do not get stuck in writing in one place or area. This way you can make your routine fun! You can write at the park or in a coffee shop without the noise or bustle defer your attention because your mind will be attuned to writing in complete focus.

5) Share your work with others

While sharing your work with others can be intimidating, sometimes the best advice and editing can come from others. I have always found it to be beneficial to get second opinions when writing, and after sharing your work with trusted friends or family you’ll see it’s not so scary! Many times a second reader can offer perspectives which you may not have thought of yourself. Remember that this will help you with your writing, but it‘ll also help you grow a thick skin-something you’ll need if you want to become a writer.

I hope you find these tips helpful and I wish good luck with all your writing endeavours!