What's Creative Writing? Tips for New Writers

Creative writing starts with passion. Therefore, if you want to be a creative writer, the first thing to do is identify your passion. Then write out of your passion. But how? - is what you have to say best suited to poetry, short story, non-fiction article or novel? Your next step is to ask yourself what you love to read. Whatever it is - that's what you could start to write.

Let's say you want to start writing a novel. Think of a phrase that's the perfect title for a book. That could be your starting point. And so now you are on a new threshold.

We can learn a lot from our ancestors. For instance, if you visit the Museum of London's prehistoric galleries, you'll find that Bronze Age people would build their roundhouses with the entrance facing the midwinter solstice. They would then consult their ancestors before making an offering to the new threshold. Now, perhaps modern builders have a comparable ritual - I don't know. But if they don't - perhaps they should. And so should those embarking on a long-term building project like a novel. I love the idea of "making an offering to a new threshold." And what I have to say here is like an offering to the new threshold.

First, where do your ideas come from? From life itself, all around you, wherever you are. Ideas fly past, and you catch them. Listen to conversations in every situation. Observe people. Eavesdrop whilst sitting on the top deck of a bus. Have notebooks with you at all times - and keep notes. And if you have a notebook system, you have to build in time to review your notebooks and retrieve your ideas.

Then you have to apply the first secret of writing:

1. Avoid Not Writing - take your craft seriously; believe that what you're doing is of sufficient value that you are going to carve out time for it. Book time for it if necessary - put it in your diary. Get in there and do it. Don't be afraid of the blank screen or blank page.

2. Pay attention to structure - break down the book in your head into an Outline. You could do it on a piece of software like Scrivener, or you could do it through a wall of Post It Notes, or you could plot it on a storyboard; or you could write your novel as a short story first. But realise that you are unique and may have your own special way of working that is right for you. With a novel, sometimes writers find they can't plot too far ahead (though be aware you may have to go back and impose structure later). If that is the case for you -

3. Go on the journey and see what happens. If a character develops a life of his or her own it's a good sign. Some say the characters create the plot. Keep asking why, what, where, how, when.

4. Set yourself a goal of a thousand words per working day, if you respond well to deadlines and schedules. If not write anyway.

5. Don't talk your novel out of existence. Write that first draft. I believe it's not a good idea to discuss the details of your novel with anyone until you've written it. Then you can seek feedback, and redraft, and revise and revise and revise.

Finally, when your book is finished to the very best of your ability and beyond, send it off to literary agents. And be prepared for rejection. Remember - you write because you are compelled to, because you cannot "not write". Take note of these wise words from popular author Adrian Plass: "If things fall apart, pick up the pieces and carry on. Don't despair. There are strange things going on behind the scenes."

S.C. Skillman is the author of exciting new psychological thriller novel "Mystical Circles". The word "mystical" in the title is used ironically to mean "mysterious behaviour, events that keep you guessing, and people playing at cross purposes". Reviewers have enjoyed Skillman's "exploration of a community of complex characters who inhabit an eerie and atmospheric retreat" and have found it "a very entertaining read with plenty of action and sparky dialogue." If you are interested in people and their foibles you will enjoy this book. You can buy the novel on Amazon and through the Kindle Bookstore or visit the author's website to find out more. Click the secure payment gateway to buy a signed copy at http://www.scskillman.co.uk/.

That Creative Time of Day

My house is usually at it quietest between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. More than likely, my daughter has fallen asleep by default after talking for countless hours on the phone or spending time on some social network, and my wife, despite her tendency of being a light sleeper, has entered into a deep sleep pattern.

As for me, it's my most productive time of day. It's been that way for decades. I'll go as far as to say that it's probably a productive time of day for you if you're a writer or creative arts is your passion.

Think about it. Unless you're working a job that requires your productivity at that time of night, what person in his or her right mind will be up with a pen or notepad, or pecking away on a computer keyboard? But there is something universally magical about that time of day. All of a sudden, thoughts and ideas begin to make better sense. The words seem to flow better. That creative concept all of a sudden seems clearer.

For years, I merely made light of one of my most notable achievements in my former profession as a newspaper reporter coming from a burst of creative energy that I experienced about 2:30 a.m. The story that I turned in later that day was a rough draft. It went over so well that there were virtually no revisions. That same rough draft actually earned me top national honors for best news story in my newspaper circulation category.

The first time I really shared this experience among other book authors was while I hosted my former talk show, in 2009. My featured guest that night was singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, whose work has been covered by other artists: "Get Here" by Oleta Adams, "Please Pardon Me (You're A Friend of Mine)" by Rufus featuring Chaka Kahn, and "If Only for One Night" by Luther Vandross are just a few that went on to become mega hits.

Ms. Russell understood exactly where I was coming from once I mentioned the inexplicable magic that seems to occur during that timeframe.

A good time to write, she said. Often, it's the first thing that we write is a strong idea.

Since then, I've come in contact with other authors who seem to thrive during those early morning hours. They also attribute it to being a time of the day when they're best able to concentrate on their craft and summon much of their creative energy.

I suppose only time will allow me to conclude if any of the work I've now done as an editor, author, or publisher might result in some major critical acclaim or a noted best-seller. Meanwhile, I continue to peck away on my keyboard in the relative solitude in my house: it's also the only time that my wife and daughter aren't interrupting me.

S.B. Redd is the publisher and creative coordinator at MavLit Publishing. He is also an editor, published author, and an award-winning former print journalist. Visit his websites at http://www.mavlitpublishing.blogspot.com/ or http://www.maverick-books.com/

Vampire Roleplay As the Perfect Basis for Your Creative Writing

Most of the best creative writers "write what they know," but how, then, does creative writing about fantastic subject matter and imaginary character types come about? The most up-to-date answer may be roleplaying, and specifically, vampire roleplay. Often, writers are very in tune with the contents of what Carl Jung termed the collective unconscious. Dreaming, reading, and watching movies can be good means of receiving inspiration for fantastic topics. But perhaps even more exciting is the possibility of taking advantage of virtual opportunities for inspiration. The world wide web is like a very tangible manifestation of the contents of our collective unconscious. The proliferation of vampire roleplay games is proof of people's growing willingness to entertain and participate in this genre.

Some creative writers have the benefit of a workshop setting, but if you do not, consider an rpg as a source of inspiration and feedback. Just going through the process of creating a new character can provide you with loads of material for establishing the traits of vampires in your writing. Playing the vampire roleplay game will then help you see how certain strengths, limitations, and obstacles to be overcome work together to create a cohesive narrative. And the manner in which fellow rpg'ers respond to your character(s) can help you think about dialogue and plot.

Depending on where you are in your creative writing process, you will get different things out of vampire roleplay. Perhaps you are just beginning to figure out what your characters are like. Or, perhaps you know the characters so well that they are like family members or close friends, because they've been rolling around inside your head for years. Either way, experimenting with what they do and/or say through vampire roleplay can be extremely fruitful. What if you are somewhat new to the genre, but your intuition is telling you that you should write a vampire story? A vampire roleplay game can give you a lot of material. It will help you see what the common elements are in a vampire-inhabited world. Not only that, but you'll be enjoying yourself and interacting with potential readers of your creative writing while learning.

Exposing yourself to things like character traits, common elements of the genre, and story lines that are both interesting and effective through vampire roleplay can help you overcome writer's block. It can help you take your mind out of an overly self-critical mode, which is definitely necessary for any successful creative writer. If you "send your mind on an errand" and then trust that it will come back, having fetched the information, idea, word, or story element that you need, you will find that it can really work wonders. Let it come to you, by letting yourself get (somewhat) lost in the roleplay. Recognize that inspiration is often found when you stop looking for it, but that you may need to open yourself to the possibility of receiving it by at least being in the same neighborhood, i.e., immersed in vampire roleplay.

But, then, don't forget to take the time to write! It may help to keep a notebook, or your word document, open and ready as you play.

Sammael "Sam" Asael is a writer and an aspiring author of the paranormal genre. Sam is also an avid fan of various mythologies, particularly vampires and werewolves, and actively participates in the discussion and creative writing of such mythologies. Learn more about Sam's work and join The Darkest Region today.

Be More Creative in Your Creative Writing

Whether you write short stories, full length novels, or anything in between, every writer can benefit from greater creativity. Stories that jump off the page and pull readers into a new world make both the reader, and the author, much happier. Great creativity is the backbone of every kind of creative writing, and a skill that all writers spend a lifetime developing and perfecting.

There are many ways you can increase your creative aptitude. One of the greatest ways is over time. The more you flex your creative muscle, the stronger it will become. That's obvious though, and not of much help to someone looking for something they can do in the here and now. Do not fear though, there are many other ways available.

One of those ways is to write lots of different stories. These stories may be incredibly short, and have no real purpose other than practice. Remember, not everything you write has to be published or shown off. There is great value in writing simply for the sake of writing. These short, personal writings could be used for anything from practicing character creation and development, to scenery description, or anything else that you may need to generate creativity for. They may not even form a cohesive story. It could be just a long series of random sentences that would make no sense to someone reading them, but make perfect sense to you as a form of practice. Every word that you put down, even if it doesn't form a cohesive story, is still another word you've written, and another grain of experience in the desert of your writing life.

Another way to strengthen your creativity is to immerse yourself in the works of others. Obviously outright plagiarism of their ideas is frowned upon, but seeing works by others is a great way to stimulate your own creativity. Many people who write, or create other forms of art, do so because they were inspired by something someone else created. Immersing yourself in the creativity of others is a fantastic way to build your own creativity, and also learn more about the creativity of others, which in and of itself also helps build your own creativity.

From a personal stand point, one thing I like to do is create stories in my head whenever I have moments to spare. Allowing my mind to wander leads me to ideas, and I can create inside my head from anywhere. Without the bounds of pen, paper or computer, you are free to create anywhere. If I come across something I like, I jot it down in my notes on my phone. Even if it's only for a few minutes, those thoughts add up eventually. The skills doing this has helped me attain are far greater than if I only tried to create when I'm actually writing.

No matter how you do it, if you're already thinking about strengthening your creativity, you've already made the first step. Being conscious of the need to strengthen your creativity, no matter how great a writer you already are, will help lead you to the creativity you seek. Create, create again, and keep creating, and you'll find your creativity knows no bounds.

I'm Benjamin C. Andrews, an author sharing my writing knowledge with others. Visit http://magicjarpublishing.blogspot.com/ for more writing tips and tricks, and other quality information.

Refine Your Creative Writing Ideas

As writers, we are always reminded that we should think out of the box. It is what original writing is all about. However, most of the time, writers don't know from where to start. There is hardly any subject that has not been discussed and dissected whether it is in food, literature, fashion or simple things like daily shopping.

The best way to refine your creative writing ideas is not to think too much over it. The more you ponder, the harder it is to write or even define the treatment you would give to a subject.

Tips to refine your creative writing ideas:

1) Firstly, clear your mind. To do that it is best that you indulge in some form of physical activity- a walk or a swim. Breaking your routine abruptly will refresh your mind.

2) When you are outside in the open, breathe in deeply, feel the fresh air and satiate your creative senses with the sounds and smell around you. Here, you could find a scene for your novel that you had been meaning to write.

2) You can talk to a friend. Talking and discussing your life can have a cathartic effect and even help you see things in a different light.

3) Listening to your favorite music or the soundtrack of your most cherished movie. This relaxes the mind, and the images of the movie can inspire you to re-think about the plot that you have been planning to write.

4) Read a magazine or book which is different from what you normally do. If you are not interested in fashion, then it is time you look into the trends in clothing and hairstyle. Find out where it is going to head and maybe the heroine of the story needs a makeover. This can radically change the character of your leading lady and add some drama.

5) Change the location of your writing. If you are always at your writing desk, it can limit your visual sense. You can get a window seat of a café and start writing or even at the library. Find a setting that you would usually bother trying. The new stimulation will revive your creativity.

6) If you always write using your laptop or desk computer. Try going the old-fashioned way and use the pen and paper instead. Take loose sheets and an ink pen and scribble down those bubbling ideas. Nostalgia has a way of opening new creative doors.

There are infinite ways to refine your thinking process. The best way to succeed is to focus on your positive traits. The creation of original writing will never cease. It always lies in the imaginative minds of the creative one whose skillful fingers rapidly know how to perform word play at its best.

Nayanna Chakrbarty, an original writer provides content for every writing need. Her creative nuances have explored numerous writing styles and appreciated worldwide. She has a way of capturing the hearts and minds of her readers with sublime imagination, a trademark synonymous with her writing talent. Get to know her better on LinkedIn