how to start of a creative writing piece

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Writing Techniques

How to Plan a Creative Writing Piece

Last Updated: March 6, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lucy V. Hay . Lucy V. Hay is a Professional Writer based in London, England. With over 20 years of industry experience, Lucy is an author, script editor, and award-winning blogger who helps other writers through writing workshops, courses, and her blog Bang2Write. Lucy is the producer of two British thrillers, and Bang2Write has appeared in the Top 100 round-ups for Writer’s Digest & The Write Life and is a UK Blog Awards Finalist and Feedspot’s #1 Screenwriting blog in the UK. She received a B.A. in Scriptwriting for Film & Television from Bournemouth University. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 134,943 times.

Whether you are writing for fun or to satisfy a school assignment, planning a creative writing piece can be a challenge. If you don't already have an idea in mind, you will need to do a little brainstorming to come up with something that interests you. Once you have a general idea of what you want to write about, the best way to get started is to break your project into smaller, more manageable parts. When you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your piece, the writing itself will come more easily.

Getting Started

You can find character sheet templates online, such as here: https://www.freelancewriting.com/copywriting/using-character-sheets-in-fiction-writing/ .

Writing Your Piece

Kurt Vonnegut grabs the reader's attention at the start of Slaughterhouse-Five quite simply, by saying, “All this happened, more or less.”
Tolstoy summed up the main theme of his novel Anna Karenina in its very first sentence: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

If you are writing a work of fiction, each of your main characters has something they want, which motivates them to make the choices that drive the plot forward.
If you are writing a non-fiction work about an actual person or event, include specific details about the key players to make them more interesting to your reader.

Step 3 Select a time and setting that appeal to you.

Think of a familiar place you encounter every day, but set the story 100 years in the future – or 1,000.
Set your story in the modern day world, but change one very key element – imagine that dinosaurs never went extinct, electricity was never invented, or aliens have taken over the planet.
Whatever time period you choose, make sure the reader has a firm understanding of it early in your story so that they can properly follow the story. The reader needs to know the time period in order to imagine that characters and scenes.

If you are writing something for the young adult market, focus on the things that matter most to teens and don't worry about whether older adults will like it.
If you want to write a particular type of fiction, like westerns or sci-fi, read the most popular works in that genre to understand what its readers expect.
Not everyone will appreciate your sense of humor, and that's okay – be yourself, and let your work speak to those who do.

Staying Motivated

Developing Your Concept

Novels. The novel is one of the most popular forms of creative writing, and also one of the most challenging. A novel is a large project, with most novels containing at least 50,000 words. Any topic can be the subject of a novel. Certain types of novels are so popular that they belong to their own category, or genre. Examples of genre fiction are romance, mystery, science fiction, and fantasy.
Short stories. A work of fiction under 7,500 words is usually considered a short story. A short story usually has all of the elements of a novel, including a structured plot. However, experimental forms of short stories like flash fiction do away with ordinary narrative conventions and can take almost any form the author chooses.
Personal essay or memoir. A personal essay or memoir is a work of non-fiction based on your life. Drawing on your own life experiences can provide you with a wide array of story topics. Not only that, it can be an interesting way to better understand yourself and share your experiences with the world.
Blogs. The word blog is a shortened form of the term web log, which can refer to any type of writing that is published regularly on the internet. Blogs can be stories, factual pieces, or diaries.
Poetry. Poetry can take any number of forms, from traditional rhyming couplets to modern free-form verse. Poets typically develop their own unique writing style and write about any topic imaginable, from situations and emotions to current events or social commentary.
Screenplays or stage plays. These are detailed scripts written for a film or a play. This form of writing has very specific rules about structure and formatting, but the subject matter can be anything you like. [10] X Research source

Keep your eyes open for compelling stories in the news that could provide a starting point.
Observe what is happening around you and turn it into a story.
Adapt your thoughts into a story.
Draw on an interesting or unusual event that happened in your own life.
Search the web for “writing prompts” and you'll find lots of ideas to get you going, suggested by other writers. You could even use a random prompt generator website to get a unique suggestion just for you!

The popular 1990s teen movie Clueless is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Emma .
The classic Greek myth The Odyssey has been re-imagined in countless ways, including James Joyce's Ulysses and the Coen Brothers' O Brother Where Art Thou? Many authors have adapted its basic story structure of a hero's quest.
Stories about vampires are all loosely adapted from Bram Stoker's Dracula, but many different writers have put their own unique spin on the concept.

Salinger's Catcher in the Rye contains themes of alienation and coming of age.
Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series addresses themes of courage, and the triumph of good over evil.
Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy plays with themes about the absurdity of life, the interconnectedness of all things, and how seemingly minor incidents can have huge consequences.

Expert Q&A

Try to provide something of value to the reader, who is investing their time in reading your work. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
The best writing is always simple, clear, and concise. Overly complicated sentences can be difficult to follow, and you may lose your reader's interest. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to start of a creative writing piece

↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html
↑ https://www.scad.edu/sites/default/files/PDF/Animation-design-challenge-character-sheets.pdf
↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/5-ways-to-start-writing-your-novel-today
↑ https://www.georgebrown.ca/sites/default/files/uploadedfiles/tlc/_documents/hooks_and_attention_grabbers.pdf
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/creative_writing/characters_and_fiction_writing/writing_compelling_characters.html
↑ https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/writing-resources/prewriting/writing-for-an-audience
↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/goalsetting/how
↑ https://researchwriting.unl.edu/developing-effective-writing-habits
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/resources/writing_instructors/grades_7_12_instructors_and_students/what_to_do_when_you_are_stuck.html
↑ http://www.acs.edu.au/info/writing/creative-writing/creative-writers.aspx
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/research_papers/choosing_a_topic.html

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What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer’s Toolbox

Not all writing is the same and there’s a type of writing that has the ability to transport, teach, and inspire others like no other.

Creative writing stands out due to its unique approach and focus on imagination. Here’s how to get started and grow as you explore the broad and beautiful world of creative writing!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that extends beyond the bounds of regular professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature. It is characterized by its emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or poetic techniques to express ideas in an original and imaginative way.

Creative writing can take on various forms such as:

short stories
screenplays

It’s a way for writers to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a creative, often symbolic, way . It’s about using the power of words to transport readers into a world created by the writer.

5 Key Characteristics of Creative Writing

Creative writing is marked by several defining characteristics, each working to create a distinct form of expression:

1. Imagination and Creativity: Creative writing is all about harnessing your creativity and imagination to create an engaging and compelling piece of work. It allows writers to explore different scenarios, characters, and worlds that may not exist in reality.

2. Emotional Engagement: Creative writing often evokes strong emotions in the reader. It aims to make the reader feel something — whether it’s happiness, sorrow, excitement, or fear.

3. Originality: Creative writing values originality. It’s about presenting familiar things in new ways or exploring ideas that are less conventional.

4. Use of Literary Devices: Creative writing frequently employs literary devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, and others to enrich the text and convey meanings in a more subtle, layered manner.

5. Focus on Aesthetics: The beauty of language and the way words flow together is important in creative writing. The aim is to create a piece that’s not just interesting to read, but also beautiful to hear when read aloud.

Remember, creative writing is not just about producing a work of art. It’s also a means of self-expression and a way to share your perspective with the world. Whether you’re considering it as a hobby or contemplating a career in it, understanding the nature and characteristics of creative writing can help you hone your skills and create more engaging pieces .

For more insights into creative writing, check out our articles on creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree and is a degree in creative writing worth it .

Styles of Creative Writing

To fully understand creative writing , you must be aware of the various styles involved. Creative writing explores a multitude of genres, each with its own unique characteristics and techniques.

Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses expressive language to evoke emotions and ideas. Poets often employ rhythm, rhyme, and other poetic devices to create pieces that are deeply personal and impactful. Poems can vary greatly in length, style, and subject matter, making this a versatile and dynamic form of creative writing.

Short Stories

Short stories are another common style of creative writing. These are brief narratives that typically revolve around a single event or idea. Despite their length, short stories can provide a powerful punch, using precise language and tight narrative structures to convey a complete story in a limited space.

Novels represent a longer form of narrative creative writing. They usually involve complex plots, multiple characters, and various themes. Writing a novel requires a significant investment of time and effort; however, the result can be a rich and immersive reading experience.

Screenplays

Screenplays are written works intended for the screen, be it television, film, or online platforms. They require a specific format, incorporating dialogue and visual descriptions to guide the production process. Screenwriters must also consider the practical aspects of filmmaking, making this an intricate and specialized form of creative writing.

If you’re interested in this style, understanding creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree can provide useful insights.

Writing for the theater is another specialized form of creative writing. Plays, like screenplays, combine dialogue and action, but they also require an understanding of the unique dynamics of the theatrical stage. Playwrights must think about the live audience and the physical space of the theater when crafting their works.

Each of these styles offers unique opportunities for creativity and expression. Whether you’re drawn to the concise power of poetry, the detailed storytelling of novels, or the visual language of screenplays and plays, there’s a form of creative writing that will suit your artistic voice. The key is to explore, experiment, and find the style that resonates with you.

For those looking to spark their creativity, our article on creative writing prompts offers a wealth of ideas to get you started.

Importance of Creative Writing

Understanding what is creative writing involves recognizing its value and significance. Engaging in creative writing can provide numerous benefits – let’s take a closer look.

Developing Creativity and Imagination

Creative writing serves as a fertile ground for nurturing creativity and imagination. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore different perspectives, and create unique and original content. This leads to improved problem-solving skills and a broader worldview , both of which can be beneficial in various aspects of life.

Through creative writing, one can build entire worlds, create characters, and weave complex narratives, all of which are products of a creative mind and vivid imagination. This can be especially beneficial for those seeking creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Enhancing Communication Skills

Creative writing can also play a crucial role in honing communication skills. It demands clarity, precision, and a strong command of language. This helps to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, making it easier to express thoughts and ideas effectively .

Moreover, creative writing encourages empathy as you often need to portray a variety of characters from different backgrounds and perspectives. This leads to a better understanding of people and improved interpersonal communication skills.

Exploring Emotions and Ideas

One of the most profound aspects of creative writing is its ability to provide a safe space for exploring emotions and ideas. It serves as an outlet for thoughts and feelings , allowing you to express yourself in ways that might not be possible in everyday conversation.

Writing can be therapeutic, helping you process complex emotions, navigate difficult life events, and gain insight into your own experiences and perceptions. It can also be a means of self-discovery , helping you to understand yourself and the world around you better.

So, whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, the benefits of creative writing are vast and varied. For those interested in developing their creative writing skills, check out our articles on creative writing prompts and how to teach creative writing . If you’re considering a career in this field, you might find our article on is a degree in creative writing worth it helpful.

4 Steps to Start Creative Writing

Creative writing can seem daunting to beginners, but with the right approach, anyone can start their journey into this creative field. Here are some steps to help you start creative writing .

1. Finding Inspiration

The first step in creative writing is finding inspiration . Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. Observe the world around you, listen to conversations, explore different cultures, and delve into various topics of interest.

Reading widely can also be a significant source of inspiration. Read different types of books, articles, and blogs. Discover what resonates with you and sparks your imagination.

For structured creative prompts, visit our list of creative writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

Editor’s Note : When something excites or interests you, stop and take note – it could be the inspiration for your next creative writing piece.

2. Planning Your Piece

Once you have an idea, the next step is to plan your piece . Start by outlining:

the main points

Remember, this can serve as a roadmap to guide your writing process. A plan doesn’t have to be rigid. It’s a flexible guideline that can be adjusted as you delve deeper into your writing. The primary purpose is to provide direction and prevent writer’s block.

3. Writing Your First Draft

After planning your piece, you can start writing your first draft . This is where you give life to your ideas and breathe life into your characters.

Don’t worry about making it perfect in the first go. The first draft is about getting your ideas down on paper . You can always refine and polish your work later. And if you don’t have a great place to write that first draft, consider a journal for writing .

4. Editing and Revising Your Work

The final step in the creative writing process is editing and revising your work . This is where you fine-tune your piece, correct grammatical errors, and improve sentence structure and flow.

Editing is also an opportunity to enhance your storytelling . You can add more descriptive details, develop your characters further, and make sure your plot is engaging and coherent.

Remember, writing is a craft that improves with practice . Don’t be discouraged if your first few pieces don’t meet your expectations. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the creative process.

For more insights on creative writing, check out our articles on how to teach creative writing or creative writing activities for kids.

Tips to Improve Creative Writing Skills

Understanding what is creative writing is the first step. But how can one improve their creative writing skills? Here are some tips that can help.

Read Widely

Reading is a vital part of becoming a better writer. By immersing oneself in a variety of genres, styles, and authors, one can gain a richer understanding of language and storytelling techniques . Different authors have unique voices and methods of telling stories, which can serve as inspiration for your own work. So, read widely and frequently!

Practice Regularly

Like any skill, creative writing improves with practice. Consistently writing — whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly — helps develop your writing style and voice . Using creative writing prompts can be a fun way to stimulate your imagination and get the words flowing.

Attend Writing Workshops and Courses

Formal education such as workshops and courses can offer structured learning and expert guidance. These can provide invaluable insights into the world of creative writing, from understanding plot development to character creation. If you’re wondering is a degree in creative writing worth it, these classes can also give you a taste of what studying creative writing at a higher level might look like .

Joining Writing Groups and Communities

Being part of a writing community can provide motivation, constructive feedback, and a sense of camaraderie. These groups often hold regular meetings where members share their work and give each other feedback. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with others who share your passion for writing.

Seeking Feedback on Your Work

Feedback is a crucial part of improving as a writer. It offers a fresh perspective on your work, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Whether it’s from a writing group, a mentor, or even friends and family, constructive criticism can help refine your writing .

Start Creative Writing Today!

Remember, becoming a proficient writer takes time and patience. So, don’t be discouraged by initial challenges. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. Who knows, your passion for creative writing might even lead to creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Happy writing!

Brooks Manley

Creative Primer is a resource on all things journaling, creativity, and productivity. We’ll help you produce better ideas, get more done, and live a more effective life.

My name is Brooks. I do a ton of journaling, like to think I’m a creative (jury’s out), and spend a lot of time thinking about productivity. I hope these resources and product recommendations serve you well. Reach out if you ever want to chat or let me know about a journal I need to check out!

Here’s my favorite journal for 2024:

Gratitude Journal Prompts Mindfulness Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Anxiety Reflective Journal Prompts Healing Journal Prompts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Journal Prompts Mental Health Journal Prompts ASMR Journal Prompts Manifestation Journal Prompts Self-Care Journal Prompts Morning Journal Prompts Evening Journal Prompts Self-Improvement Journal Prompts Creative Writing Journal Prompts Dream Journal Prompts Relationship Journal Prompts "What If" Journal Prompts New Year Journal Prompts Shadow Work Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear Journal Prompts for Dealing with Loss Journal Prompts for Discerning and Decision Making Travel Journal Prompts Fun Journal Prompts

Inspiring Ink: Expert Tips on How to Teach Creative Writing

You may also like, asmr journaling: how to do it + asmr prompts.

What Is Creativity?

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Writers' Treasure

Effective writing advice for aspiring writers

Creative Writing 101

Creative writing is any form of writing which is written with the creativity of mind: fiction writing, poetry writing, creative nonfiction writing and more. The purpose is to express something, whether it be feelings, thoughts, or emotions.

Rather than only giving information or inciting the reader to make an action beneficial to the writer, creative writing is written to entertain or educate someone, to spread awareness about something or someone, or to express one’s thoughts.

There are two kinds of creative writing: good and bad, effective and ineffective. Bad, ineffective creative writing cannot make any impression on the reader. It won’t achieve its purpose.

So whether you’re a novelist, a poet, a short-story writer, an essayist, a biographer or an aspiring beginner, you want to improve your craft. The question is: how?

When you write great fiction, poetry, or nonfiction, amazing things can happen. Readers can’t put it down. The work you wrote becomes a bestseller. It becomes famous. But you have to reach to that level… first .

The best way to increase your proficiency in creative writing is to write, write compulsively, but it doesn’t mean write whatever you want. There are certain things you should know first… it helps to start with the right foot.

To do exactly that, here we have a beginners’ guide from Writers’ Treasure on the subject:

An Introduction to Creative Writing
How to Get Started in Creative Writing in Just Three Steps
Creative Writing vs. Technical Writing
Fiction Writing 101: The Elements of Stories
Poetry Writing: Forms and Terms Galore
Creative Non-Fiction: What is it?
Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Creative Writing
Common Mistakes Made by Creative Writers

For novelists: do you want to write compelling opening chapters?

Are you an aspiring novelist? Will your novel see the light of day? For that, you will need to make the first chapter of your story as compelling as possible. Otherwise, readers won’t even pick up your novel. That chapter can be the make-or-break point that decides whether your novel is published or not. It’s because good editors know how you write from the first three pages… or sometimes even from the opening lines.

To solve this problem, I created a five-part tutorial on Writing Compelling Opening Chapters . It outlines why you need to write a compelling opening chapter, my personal favourite way of beginning it, what should be told and shown in it, general dos and don’ts, and what you need to do after having written it. Check it out for more.

Need more writing tips?

Sometimes you reach that stage when you outgrow the beginner stage of writing but feel that you’re not yet an expert. If I just described you, no worries– Writers’ Treasure’s writing tips are here. Whether you want to make your writing more readable, more irresistible, more professional, we’ve got you covered. So check out our writing tips , and be on your way to fast track your success.

I offer writing, editing and proofreading , as well as website creation services. I’ve been in this field for seven years, and I know the tools of the trade. I’ve seen the directions where the writing industry is going, the changes, the new platforms. Get your work done through me, and get fast and efficient service. Get a quote .

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Creative writing is an exciting and rewarding activity that allows you to express your thoughts, emotions, and stories in an imaginative way. However, even the most experienced writer can feel overwhelmed when it comes to starting a new project. To help ease this process, we’ve outlined a step-by-step guide on how to plan a creative writing piece.

1. Choose your theme or topic

Begin by deciding on the theme for your piece. This could be anything from love and friendship to adventure and mystery. By selecting a theme that resonates with you, the writing process becomes more enjoyable and personal.

2. Develop your characters

Create the main characters for your story by considering their physical appearance, personality traits, background, and relationships with other characters. Make them multidimensional and relatable in order to create an engaging and stimulating story.

3. Write a premise or plot outline

Develop the general idea behind your story by writing down the main events and structure of the plot. This can be as simple as a sentence or two outlining the basic conflict of the story or as detailed as a full scene-by-scene description.

4. Craft compelling settings

Paint vivid images of where your story takes place by describing the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of each location. Incorporate these details into your writing to fully immerse readers in your fictional world.

5. Explore various narrative perspectives

Choose whether you want to tell your story in first person (through the eyes of one character), third person omniscient (the narrator knows all), or third person limited (narrator knows only what one character experiences). Each perspective offers unique advantages and challenges when crafting a creative writing piece.

6. Create tension and conflict

Great stories thrive on tension and conflict. Introduce struggles within your plot that force your characters to grow, learn, or overcome obstacles. This will help propel the narrative forward and maintain reader interest.

7. Plan a satisfying ending

Consider how you want your story to conclude by planning out resolutions for the various conflicts and narrative threads within your piece. A well-crafted ending affords readers a sense of closure and leaves them contemplating your story long after they’ve finished reading.

8. Write, revise, and edit

Finally, dive into the actual writing process. Don’t worry about making everything perfect on the first try; revisions and edits are essential aspects of crafting a polished, engaging piece of creative writing.

By following these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to plan and create a captivating creative writing piece that showcases your unique voice and storytelling abilities. Happy writing!

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Whether you’ve been struck with a moment of inspiration or you’ve carried a story inside you for years, you’re here because you want to start writing fiction. From developing flesh-and-bone characters to worlds as real as our own, good fiction is hard to write, and getting the first words onto the blank page can be daunting.

Daunting, but not impossible. Although writing good fiction takes time, with a few fiction writing tips and your first sentences written, you’ll find that it’s much easier to get your words on the page.

Let’s break down fiction to its essential elements. We’ll investigate the individual components of fiction writing—and how, when they sit down to write, writers turn words into worlds. Then, we’ll turn to instructor Jack Smith and his thoughts on combining these elements into great works of fiction. But first, what are the elements of fiction writing?

Introduction to Fiction Writing: The Six Elements of Fiction

Before we delve into any writing tips, let’s review the essentials of creative writing in fiction. Whether you’re writing flash fiction , short stories, or epic trilogies, most fiction stories require these six components:

Plot: the “what happens” of your story.
Characters: whose lives are we watching?
Setting: the world that the story is set in.
Point of View: from whose eyes do we see the story unfold?
Theme: the “deeper meaning” of the story, or what the story represents.
Style: how you use words to tell the story.

It’s important to recognize that all of these elements are intertwined. You can’t build the setting without writing it through a certain point of view; you can’t develop important themes with arbitrary characters, etc. We’ll get into the relationship between these elements later, but for now, let’s explore how to use each element to write fiction.

1. Fiction Writing Tip: Developing Fictional Plots

Plot is the series of causes and effects that produce the story as a whole. Because A, then B, then C—ultimately leading to the story’s climax , the result of all the story’s events and character’s decisions.

If you don’t know where to start your story, but you have a few story ideas, then start with the conflict . Some novels take their time to introduce characters or explain the world of the piece, but if the conflict that drives the story doesn’t show up within the first 15 pages, then the story loses direction quickly.

That’s not to say you have to be explicit about the conflict. In Harry Potter, Voldemort isn’t introduced as the main antagonist until later in the first book; the series’ conflict begins with the Dursley family hiding Harry from his magical talents. Let the conflict unfold naturally in the story, but start with the story’s impetus, then go from there.

2. Fiction Writing Tip: Creating Characters

Think far back to 9th grade English, and you might remember the basic types of story conflicts: man vs. nature, man vs. man, and man vs. self. The conflicts that occur within stories happen to its characters—there can be no story without its people. Sometimes, your story needs to start there: in the middle of a conversation, a disrupted routine, or simply with what makes your characters special.

There are many ways to craft characters with depth and complexity. These include writing backstory, giving characters goals and fatal flaws, and making your characters contend with complicated themes and ideas. This guide on character development will help you sort out the traits your characters need, and how to interweave those traits into the story.

3. Fiction Writing Tip: Give Life to Living Worlds

Whether your story is set on Earth or a land far, far away, your setting lives in the same way your characters do. In the same way that we read to get inside the heads of other people, we also read to escape to a world outside of our own. Consider starting the story with what makes your world live: a pulsing city, the whispered susurrus of orchards, hills that roil with unsolved mysteries, etc. Tell us where the conflict is happening, and the story will follow.

4. Fiction Writing Tip: Play With Narrative Point of View

Point of view refers to the “cameraman” of the story—the vantage point we are viewing the story through. Maybe you’re stuck starting your story because you’re trying to write it in the wrong person. There are four POVs that authors work with:

First person—the story is told from the “I” perspective, and that “I” is the protagonist.
First person peripheral—the story is told from the “I” perspective, but the “I” is not the protagonist, but someone adjacent to the protagonist. (Think: Nick Carraway, narrator of The Great Gatsby. )
Second person—the story is told from the “you” perspective. This point of view is rare, but when done effectively, it can create a sense of eeriness or a personalized piece.
Third person limited—the story is told from the “he/she/they” perspective. The narrator is not directly involved in the lives of the characters; additionally, the narrator usually writes from the perspective of one or two characters.
Third person omniscient—the story is told from the “he/she/they” perspective. The narrator is not directly involved in the lives of the characters; additionally, the narrator knows what is happening in each character’s heads and in the world at large.

If you can’t find the right words to begin your piece, consider switching up the pronouns you use and the perspective you write from. You might find that the story flows onto the page from a different point of view.

5. Fiction Writing Tip: Use the Story to Investigate Themes

Generally, the themes of the story aren’t explored until after the aforementioned elements are established, and writers don’t always know the themes of their own work until after the work is written. Still, it might help to consider the broader implications of the story you want to write. How does the conflict or story extend into a bigger picture?

Let’s revisit Harry Potter’s opening scenes. When we revisit the Dursleys preventing Harry from knowing about his true nature, several themes are established: the meaning of family, the importance of identity, and the idea of fate can all be explored here. Themes often develop organically, but it doesn’t hurt to consider the message of your story from the start.

6. Fiction Writing Tip: Experiment With Words

Style is the last of the six fiction elements, but certainly as important as the others. The words you use to tell your story, the way you structure your sentences, how you alternate between characters, and the sounds of the words you use all contribute to the mood of the work itself.

If you’re struggling to get past the first sentence, try rewriting it. Write it in 10 words or write it in 200 words; write a single word sentence; experiment with metaphors, alliteration, or onomatopoeia . Then, once you’ve found the right words, build from there, and let your first sentence guide the style and mood of the narrative.

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the craft of fiction writing. The above elements are great starting points, but to learn how to start writing fiction, we need to examine the craft of combining these elements.

Primer on the Elements of Fiction Writing

First, before we get into the craft of fiction writing, it’s important to understand the elements of fiction. You don’t need to understand everything about the craft of fiction before you start keying in ideas or planning your novel. But this primer will be something you can consult if you need clarification on any term (e.g., point of view) as you learn how to start writing fiction.

The Elements of Fiction Writing

A standard novel runs between 80,000 to 100,000 words. A short novel, going by the National Novel Writing Month , is at least 50,000. To begin with, don’t think about length—think about development. Length will come. It is true that some works lend themselves more to novellas, but if that’s the case, you don’t want to pad them to make a longer work. If you write a plot summary—that’s one option on getting started writing fiction—you will be able to get a fairly good idea about your project as to whether it lends itself to a full-blown novel.

For now, let’s think about the various elements of fiction—the building blocks.

Writing Fiction: Your Protagonist

Readers want an interesting protagonist , or main character. One that seems real, that deals with the various things in life we all deal with. If the writer makes life too simple, and doesn’t reflect the kinds of problems we all face, most readers are going to lose interest.

Don’t cheat it. Make the work honest. Do as much as you can to develop a character who is fully developed, fully real—many-sided. Complex. In Aspects of the Novel , E.M Forster called this character a “round” characte r. This character is capable of surprising us. Don’t be afraid to make your protagonist, or any of your characters, a bit contradictory. Most of us are somewhat contradictory at one time or another. The deeper you see into your protagonist, the more complex, the more believable they will be.

If a character has no depth, is merely “flat,” as Forster terms it, then we can sum this character up in a sentence: “George hates his ex-wife.” This is much too limited. Find out why. What is it that causes George to hate his ex-wife? Is it because of something she did or didn’t do? Is it because of a basic personality clash? Is it because George can’t stand a certain type of person, and he didn’t realize, until too late, that his ex-wife was really that kind of person? Imagine some moments of illumination, and you will have a much richer character than one who just hates his ex-wife.

And so… to sum up: think about fleshing out your protagonist as much as you can. Consider personality, character (or moral makeup), inclinations, proclivities, likes, dislikes, etc. What makes this character happy? What makes this character sad or frustrated? What motivates your character? Readers don’t want to know only what —they want to know why .

Usually, readers want a sympathetic character, one they can root for. Or if not that, one that is interesting in different ways. You might not find the protagonist of The Girl on the Train totally sympathetic, but she’s interesting! She’s compelling.

Here’s an article I wrote on what makes a good protagonist.

Also on clichéd characters.

Now, we’re ready for a key question: what is your protagonist’s main goal in this story? And secondly, who or what will stand in the way of your character achieving this goal?

There are two kinds of conflicts: internal and external. In some cases, characters may not be opposing an external antagonist, but be self-conflicted. Once you decide on your character’s goal, you can more easily determine the nature of the obstacles that your protagonist must overcome. There must be conflict, of course, and stories must involve movement. Things go from Phase A to Phase B to Phase C, and so on. Overall, the protagonist begins here and ends there. She isn’t the same at the end of the story as she was in the beginning. There is a character arc.

I spoke of character arc. Now let’s move on to plot, the mechanism governing the overall logic of the story. What causes the protagonist to change? What key events lead up to the final resolution?

But before we go there, let’s stop a moment and think about point of view, the lens through which the story is told.

Writing Fiction: Point of View as Lens

Is this the right protagonist for this story? Is this character the one who has the most at stake? Does this character have real potential for change? Remember, you must have change or movement—in terms of character growth—in your story. Your character should not be quite the same at the end as in the beginning. Otherwise, it’s more of a sketch.

Such a story used to be called “slice of life.” For example, what if a man thinks his job can’t get any worse—and it doesn’t? He started with a great dislike for the job, for the people he works with, just for the pay. His hate factor is 9 on a scale of 10. He doesn’t learn anything about himself either. He just realizes he’s got to get out of there. The reader knew that from page 1.

Choose a character who has a chance of undergoing change of some kind. The more complex the change, the better. Characters that change are dynamic characters , according to E. M. Forster. Characters that remain the same are static characters. Be sure your protagonist is dynamic.

Okay, an exception: Let’s say your character resists change—that can involve some sort of movement—the resisting of change.

Here’s another thing to look at on protagonists—a blog I wrote: https://elizabethspanncraig.com/writing-tips-2/creating-strong-characters-typical-challenges/

Writing Fiction: Point of View and Person

Usually when we think of point of view, we have in mind the choice of person: first, second, and third. First person provides intimacy. As readers we’re allowed into the I-narrator’s mind and heart. A story told from the first person can sometimes be highly confessional, frank, bold. Think of some of the great first-person narrators like Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield. With first person we can also create narrators that are not completely reliable, leading to dramatic irony : we as readers believe one thing while the narrator believes another. This creates some interesting tension, but be careful to make your protagonist likable, sympathetic. Or at least empathetic, someone we can relate to.

What if a novel is told in first person from the point of view of a mob hit man? As author of such a tale, you probably wouldn’t want your reader to root for this character, but you could at least make the character human and believable. With first person, your reader would be constantly in the mind of this character, so you’d need to find a way to deal with this sympathy question. First person is a good choice for many works of fiction, as long as one doesn’t confuse the I-narrator with themselves. It may be a temptation, especially in the case of fiction based on one’s own life—not that it wouldn’t be in third person narrations. But perhaps even more with a first person story: that character is me . But it’s not—it’s a fictional character.

Check out my article on writing autobiographical fiction, which appeared in The Writer magazine. https://www.writermag.com/2018/07/31/filtering-fact-through-fiction/

Third person provides more distance. With third person, you have a choice between three forms: omniscient, limited omniscient, and objective or dramatic. If you get outside of your protagonist’s mind and enter other characters’ minds, you are being omniscient or godlike. If you limit your access to your protagonist’s mind only, this is limited omniscience. Let’s consider these two forms of third-person narrators before moving on to the objective or dramatic POV.

The omniscient form is rather risky, but it is certainly used, and it can certainly serve a worthwhile function. With this form, the author knows everything that has occurred, is occurring, or will occur in a given place, or in given places, for all the characters in the story. The author can provide historical background, look into the future, and even speculate on characters and make judgments. This point of view, writers tend to feel today, is more the method of nineteenth-century fiction, and not for today. It seems like too heavy an authorial footprint. Not handled well—and it is difficult to handle well—the characters seem to be pawns of an all-knowing author.

Today’s omniscience tends to take the form of multiple points of view, sometimes alternating, sometimes in sections. An author is behind it all, but the author is effaced, not making an appearance. BUT there are notable examples of well-handled authorial omniscience–read Nobel-prize winning Jose Saramago’s Blindness as a good example.

For more help, here’s an article I wrote on the omniscient point of view for The Writer : https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/fiction/omniscient-pov/

The limited omniscient form is typical of much of today’s fiction. You stick to your protagonist’s mind. You see others from the outside. Even so, you do have to be careful that you don’t get out of this point of view from time to time, and bring in things the character can’t see or observe—unless you want to stand outside this character, and therein lies the omniscience, however limited it is.

But anyway, note the difference between: “George’s smiles were very welcoming” and “George felt like his smiles were very welcoming”—see the difference? In the case of the first, we’re seeing George from the outside; in the case of the second, from the inside. It’s safer to stay within your protagonist’s perspective as much as possible and not describe them from the outside. Doing so comes off like a point-of-view shift. Yet it’s true that in some stories, the narrator will describe what the character is wearing, tell us what his hopes and dreams are, mention things he doesn’t know right now but will later—and perhaps, in rather quirky stories, the narrator will even say something like “Our hero…” This can work, and has, if you create an interesting narrative voice. But it’s certainly a risk.

The dramatic or objective point of view is one you’ll probably use from time to time, but not throughout your whole novel. Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” is handled with this point of view. Mostly, with maybe one exception, all we know is what the characters say and do, as in a play. Using this point of view from time to time in a longer work can certainly create interest. You can intensify a scene sometimes with this point of view. An interesting back and forth can be accomplished, especially if the dialogue is clipped.

I’ve saved the second-person point of view for the last. I would advise you not to use this point of view for an entire work. In his short novel Bright Lights, Big City , Jay McInerney famously uses this point of view, and with some force, but it’s hard to pull off. In lesser hands, it can get old. You also cause the reader to become the character. Does the reader want to become this character? One problem with this point of view is it may seem overly arty, an attempt at sophistication. I think it’s best to choose either first or third.

Here’s an article I wrote on use of second person for The Writer magazine. Check it out if you’re interested. https://www.writermag.com/2016/11/02/second-person-pov/

Writing Fiction: Protagonist and Plot and Structure

We come now to plot, keeping in mind character. You might consider the traditional five-stage structure : exposition, rising action, crisis and climax, falling action, and resolution. Not every plot works this way, but it’s a tried-and-true structure. Certainly a number of pieces of literature you read will begin in media re s—that is, in the middle of things. Instead of beginning with standard exposition, or explanation of the condition of the protagonist’s life at the story’s starting point, the author will begin with a scene. But even so, as in Jerzy Kosiński’s famous novella Being There , which begins with a scene, we’ll still pick up the present state of the character’s life before we see something that complicates it or changes the existing equilibrium. This so-called complication can be something apparently good—like winning the lottery—or something decidedly bad—like losing a huge amount of money at the gaming tables. One thing is true in both cases: whatever has happened will cause the character to change. And so now you have to fill in the events that bring this about.

How do you do that? One way is to write a chapter outline to prevent false starts. But some writers don’t like plotting in this fashion, but want to discover as they write. If you do plot your novel in advance, do realize that as you write, you will discover a lot of things about your character that you didn’t have in mind when you first set pen to paper. Or fingers to keyboard. And so, while it’s a good idea to do some planning, do keep your options open.

Let’s think some more about plot. To have a workable plot, you need a sequence of actions or events that give the story an overall movement. This includes two elements which we’ll take up later: foreshadowing and echoing (things that prepare us for something in the future and things that remind us of what has already happened). These two elements knit a story together.

Think carefully about character motivations. Some things may happen to your character; some things your character may decide to do, however wisely or unwisely. In the revision stage, if not earlier, ask yourself: What motivates my character to act in one way or another? And ask yourself: What is the overall logic of this story? What caused my character to change? What were the various forces, whether inner or outer, that caused this change? Can I describe my character’s overall arc, from A to Z? Try to do that. Write a short paragraph. Then try to write down your summary in one sentence, called a log line in film script writing, but also a useful technique in fiction writing as well. If you write by the discovery method, you probably won’t want to do this in the midst of the drafting, but at least in the revision stage, you should consider doing so.

With a novel you may have a subplot or two. Assuming you will, you’ll need to decide how the plot and the subplot relate. Are they related enough to make one story? If you think the subplot is crucial for the telling of your tale, try to say why—in a paragraph, then in a sentence.

Here’s an article I wrote on structure for The Writer : https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/revision-grammar/find-novels-structure/

Writing Fiction: Setting

Let’s move on to setting . Your novel has to take place somewhere. Where is it? Is it someplace that is particularly striking and calls for a lot of solid description? If it’s a wilderness area where your character is lost, give your reader a strong sense for the place. If it’s a factory job, and much of the story takes place at the worksite, again readers will want to feel they’re there with your character, putting in the hours. If it’s an apartment and the apartment itself isn’t related to the problems your character is having, then there’s no need to provide that much detail. Exception: If your protagonist concentrates on certain things in the apartment and begins to associate certain things about the apartment with their misery, now there’s reason to get concrete. Take a look, when you have a chance, at the short story “The Yellow Wall-Paper.” It’s not an apartment—it’s a house—but clearly the setting itself becomes important when it becomes important to the character. She reads the wallpaper as a statement about her own condition.

Here’s the URL for ”The Yellow Wall-Paper”: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf

Sometimes setting is pretty important; sometimes it’s much less important. When it doesn’t serve a purpose to describe it, don’t, other than to give the reader a sense for where the story takes place. If you provide very many details, even in a longer work like a novel, the reader will think that these details have some significance in terms of character, plot, or theme—or all three. And if they don’t, why are they there? If setting details are important, be selective. Provide a dominant impression. More on description below.

If you’re interested, here’s a blog on setting I wrote for Writers.com: https://writers.com/what-is-the-setting-of-a-story

Writing Fiction: Theme and Idea

Most literary works have a theme or idea. It’s possible to decide on this theme before you write, as you plan out your novel. But be careful here. If the theme seems imposed on the work, the novel will lose a lot of force. It will seem—and it may well be—engineered by the author much like a nonfiction piece, and lose the felt experience of the characters.

Theme must emerge from the work naturally, or at least appear to do so. Once you have a draft, you can certainly build ideas that are apparent in the work, and you can even do this while you’re generating your first draft. But watch out for overdoing it. Let the characters (what they do, what they say) and the plot (the whole storyline with its logical connections) contribute on their own to the theme. Also you can depend on metaphors, similes, and analogies to point to the theme—as long as these are not heavy-handed. Avoid authorial intrusion, authorial impositions of any kind. If you do end up creating a simile, metaphor, or analogy through rational thinking, make sure it sounds natural. That’s not easy, of course.

Writing Fiction: Handling Scenes

Keep a few things in mind about writing scenes. Not every event deserves a whole scene, maybe only a half-scene, a short interaction between characters. Scenes need to do two things: reveal character and advance plot. If a scene seems to stall out and lack interest, in the revision mode you might try using narrative summary instead (see below).

Good fiction is strongly dramatic, calling for scenes, many of them scenes with dialogue and action. Scenes need to involve conflict of some kind. If everyone is happy, that’s probably going to be a dull scene. Some scenes will be narrative, without dialogue. You need some interesting action to make these work.

Let’s consider scenes with dialogue.

The best dialogue is speech that sounds natural, and yet isn’t. Everything about fiction is an artifice, including speech. But try to make it sound real. The best way to do this is to “hear” the voices in your head and transcribe them. Take dictation. If you can do this, whole conversations will seem very real, believable. If you force what each character has to say, and plan it out too much, it will certainly sound planned out, and not real at all. Not that in the revision mode you can’t doctor up the speech here and there, but still, make sure it comes off as natural sounding.

Some things to think about when writing dialogue: people usually speak in fragments, interrupt each other, engage in pauses, follow up a question with a comment that takes the conversation off course (non sequiturs). Note these aspects of dialogue in the fiction you read.

Also, note how writers intersperse action with dialogue, setting details, and character thoughts. As far as the latter goes, though, if you’ll recall, I spoke of the dramatic point of view, which doesn’t get into a character’s mind but depends instead on what characters do and say, as in a play. You may try this point of view out in some scenes to make them really move.

One technique is to use indirect dialogue, or summary of what a character said, not in the character’s own words. For instance: Bill made it clear that he wasn’t going to the city after all. If anybody thought that, they were wrong .

Now and then you’ll come upon dialogue that doesn’t use the standard double quotes, but perhaps a single quote (this is British), or dashes, or no punctuation at all. The latter two methods create some distance from the speech. If you want to give your work a surreal quality, this certainly adds to it. It also makes it seem more interior.

One way to kill good dialogue is to make characters too obviously expository devices—that is, functioning to provide background or explanations of certain important story facts. Certainly characters can serve as expository devices, but don’t be too heavy-handed about this. Don’t force it like the following:

“We always used to go to the beach, you recall? You recall how first we would have breakfast, then take a long walk on the beach, and then we would change into our swimsuits, and spend an hour in the water. And you recall how we usually followed that with a picnic lunch, maybe an hour later.”

This sounds like the character is saying all this to fill the reader in on backstory. You’d need a motive for the utterance of all of these details—maybe sharing a memory?

But the above sounds stilted, doesn’t it?

One final word about dialogue. Watch out for dialogue tags that tell but don’t show . Here’s an example:

“Do you think that’s the case,” said Ted, hoping to hear some good news. “Not necessarily,” responded Laura, in a barky voice. “I just wish life wasn’t so difficult,” replied Ted.

If you’re going to use a tag at all—and many times you don’t need to—use “said.” Dialogue tags like the above examples can really kill the dialogue.

Writing Fiction: Writing Solid Prose

Narrative summary : As I’ve stated above, not everything will be a scene. You’ll need to write narrative summary now and then. Narrative summary telescopes time, covering a day, a week, a month, a year, or even longer. Often it will be followed up by a scene, whether a narrative scene or one with dialogue. Narrative summary can also relate how things generally went over a given period. You can write strong narrative summary if you make it specific and concrete—and dramatic. Also, if we hear the voice of the writer, it can be interesting—if the voice is compelling enough.

Exposition : It’s the first stage of the 5-stage plot structure, where things are set up prior to some sort of complication, but more generally, it’s a prose form which tells or informs. You use exposition when you get inside your character, dealing with his or her thoughts and emotions, memories, plans, dreams. This can be difficult to do well because it can come off too much like authorial “telling” instead of “showing,” and readers want to feel like they’re experiencing the world of the protagonist, not being told about this world. Still, it’s important to get inside characters, and exposition is often the right tool, along with narrative summary, if the character is remembering a sequence of events from the past.

Description : Description is a word picture, providing specific and concrete details to allow the reader to see, not just be told. Concreteness is putting the reader in the world of the five senses, what we call imagery . Some writers provide a lot of details, some only a few—just enough that the reader can imagine the rest. Consider choosing details that create a dominant impression—whether it’s a character or a place. Similes, metaphors, and analogies help readers see people and places and can make thoughts and ideas (the reflections of your character or characters) more interesting. Not that you should always make your reader see. To do so might cause an overload of images.

Check out these two articles: https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/fiction/the-definitive-guide-to-show-dont-tell/ https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/fiction/figurative-language-in-fiction/

Writing Fiction: Research

Some novels require research. Obviously historical novels do, but others do, too, like Sci Fi novels. Almost any novel can call for a little research. Here’s a short article I wrote for The Writer magazine on handling research materials. It’s in no way an in-depth commentary on research–but it will serve as an introduction. https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/fiction/research-in-fiction/

For a blog on novel writing, check this link at Writers.com: https://writers.com/novel-writing-tips

For more articles I’ve published in The Writer , go here: https://www.writermag.com/author/jack-smith/

How to Start Writing Fiction: Take a Writing Class!

To write a story or even write a book, fiction writers need these tools first and foremost. Although there’s no comprehensive guide on how to write fiction for beginners, working with these elements of fiction will help your story bloom.

All six elements synergize to make a work of fiction, and like most works of art, the sum of these elements is greater than the individual parts. Still, you might find that you struggle with one of these elements, like maybe you’re great at writing characters but not very good with exploring setting. If this is the case, then use your strengths: use characters to explore the setting, or use style to explore themes, etc.

Getting the first draft written is the hardest part, but it deserves to be written. Once you’ve got a working draft of a story or novel and you need an extra set of eyes, the Writers.com community is here to give feedback: take a look at our upcoming courses on fiction writing, and check out our talented writing community .

Good luck, and happy writing!

I have had a story in my mind for over 15 years. I just haven’t had an idea how to start , putting it down on print just seems too confusing. After reading this article I’m even more confused but also more determined to give it a try. It has given me answers to some of my questions. Thank you !

You’ve got this, Earl!

Just reading this as I have decided to attempt a fiction work. I am terrible at writing outside of research papers and such. I have about 50 single spaced pages “written” and an entire outline. These tips are great because where I struggle it seems is drawing the reader in. My private proof reader tells me it is to much like an explanation and not enough of a story, but working on it.

first class

Creative Writing for Beginners: 10 Top Tips

These creative writing for beginners tips can help with a short story, poem or novel .

Writing is a great pursuit, but many first-time writers find that it’s not as easy as they think. If you are dabbling in creative writing activities or fiction writing for the first time, you will likely discover that writing courses and writing exercises fall short in helping you truly develop characters and overcome writer’s block.

Thankfully, you can take some steps to embrace your inner author and write your first short story or novel. Whether you have an end product in mind or are simply looking to start your writing journey, these writing tips will help you get started.

1. Dig Deep to Choose Your Topic

2. spend time reading, 3. write daily, 4. tackle writing exercises, 5. consider a writing course, 6. keep it unique, 7. practice, practice, practice, 8. try a different medium, 9. embrace your critics, 10. write first, perfect later, the final word on creative writing for beginners.

Living Writer contains time-saving templates for authors and novelists. iOS and Android apps available

First, determine what you will write about. Your starting point will guide character development and your overall plot. If you’re having trouble finding a topic, consider using these starting points:

Start with a story — If you have a compelling storyline or main character in mind, start there.
Use personal experiences — Something that happened in your life can help you start a story. Taking our own stories and transforming them into fiction writing can create true masterpieces because the feeling in the writing is personal.
Consider a hot topic — Is there a political or social issue that is important to you? Weave that into compelling prose to start your story.

Starting with these ideas, you should be able to settle on a basic idea for your story.

Creative writers are usually readers. Reading helps you learn about the nuances of written language, storytelling and character development.

Read a wide range of genres too. While novels are always helpful, non-fiction writing and short stories will teach you as well.

Set aside time every day to write . Make it part of your daily routine, and protect that time as much as you can. By having it scheduled into your day, you can overcome the frustration and delays of writer’s block.

During your writing time, limit distractions. Let your housemates or family members know you aren’t available during that time. Write, even if you don’t think what you’re writing is high quality, just to keep the words flowing.

By having daily writing time, you will start to improve your writing skills . Soon you will see a quality piece of writing coming together as you work your way towards your next bestseller.

If you find that getting started with creative writing is hard for you, consider some basic writing exercises. Creative writing prompts to get your ideas flowing can be the start of compelling writing as you create your own writing style. Writing exercises can help you learn the importance of the first sentence of your story or the development of your characters.

Sometimes writing exercises do not lead to a final product that you would publish, and that’s fine. The goal isn’t always to create something to share. Sometimes the goal is simply to gain writing experience and hone your craft.

Writing courses can be a great jumping-off point for creative writers. Writing courses teach structure, character development and overall writing techniques.

In a writing course, you will have writing exercises to perform each week and accountability for those assignments. This combination can help many first time writers start writing. Over time the writing skills build up and the writing becomes more natural.

When it comes to creative writing, uniqueness is a key component. To capture readers, you need something that hasn’t been done before, or you need to approach a story from a new perspective.

To give you a source for creative ideas, take time to brainstorm . Keep a journal where you can jot down ideas as they come or explore storylines. Soon you will find a unique twist to take your characters on.

Writing is a creative process , but that does not mean that practice is futile. Practicing daily gets your creativity flowing. You will polish your writing skills and learn more about how brainstorming works for you.

Today’s writers rarely put pen to paper, but rather finger to keyboard. Sometimes, a different medium may make the creativity flow.

Ernest Hemingway knew this. He wrote all of his manuscripts on paper with pencil, only typing them for the final drafts. This gave him the chance to edit during the final typing, and he felt that writing longhand spurred his creativity.

If you’re struggling with writer’s block , channel your inner Ernest Hemingway and try writing with pencil and paper instead. It just might get you over that hump.

A good writer can make an interesting story out of nothing. A great writer can do the same thing, then learn from critics to make the writing even better. Whether in a writing class, on social media or in the proofreading stages, have people read and critique your writing.

Accept criticism and use it to grow. Sometimes, you will gain new insight into how you can make your writing better. Sometimes, you will ignore the critics and allow your writing to stand.

Either way, critics will help you polish your art and learn how to craft a story that you are proud to call your own.

When writing a book or short story, don’t focus on perfection at the start. Get your ideas down and polish your storylines and character development, not necessarily the writing and grammar. This comes later when you proofread your work.

Your first draft is the place to get the story going. After you complete that draft, go back and edit it. Make it more powerful, fix your shortcomings and try to perfect it, but only after the main ideas are complete.

Remember, striving for perfection with the first draft is sure to create writer’s block . Move past it by understanding you can perfect later.

Creative writing for beginners can feel daunting. You know you have good ideas, but getting those ideas on paper feels like an overwhelming task. By scheduling time to write every day, brainstorming your ideas and not striving for perfection at first, all while taking advantage of writing exercises and writing classes, you can succeed in becoming a creative writer.

Want more? Check out out list of writing tips .

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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Creative Writing Ultimate Guide

POSTED ON Dec 28, 2022

Written by Gloria Russell

I don’t know about you, but when I start learning a new skill, I want to know everything about it right away. How do I get started? What do I need to get started? How could this new skill transform my life?

Being an incessant researcher of new pastimes, I love a good master post. So, I’ve made one today for one of my favorite things in the world: creative writing .

I wrote this for people who are just getting into creative writing, but even if you’ve been writing for a while, stay tuned—some of the tricks and resources in this post will be helpful for you, too.

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What is creative writing?

Creative writing examples, how to start creative writing, creative writing prompts, creative writing jobs, creative writing degrees, online creative writing courses.

Creative writing is imaginative writing. It’s meant to entertain its readers and get some emotional response from them. You’ll note that I said imaginative , but I didn’t say fictional writing, because while fiction is a subcategory of creative writing, it doesn’t define creative writing. All fiction is creative writing, but not all creative writing is fiction.

While technical, legal, or academic writing might be focused on conveying information in the most efficient and clear manner possible, the goal of creative writing is slightly different. You still want to communicate effectively and clearly, but you also want to put some pep in there. Creative writing uses tools like metaphor and imagery to evoke an image, emotion, or both from the reader.

Another way to look at it: if you were to say what makes creative writing distinct as a form, you could say it’s the artsy one.

Creative writing covers more than just fiction, or even just novels . Here’s a quick rundown of some types of creative writing you might encounter.

Novels (which fall under the ‘fiction’ umbrella) are a type of creative writing where the reader follows a character or characters through a plot. A novel might be a standalone, or it might be part of a series.

Example: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

2. Short Stories

Short stories (which also fall under the ‘fiction’ umbrella) follow a character through a plot, like you’d see in a novel, but short stories are, well, shorter. Generally, short stories run between 1,000 and 10,000 words, with works under 1,000 words falling under the subcategory ‘flash fiction.’

Example: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Poetry is a form of writing which focuses heavily on imagery, metaphor, symbolism, and other figurative tools. It also involves a lot of technical work with form; meter and rhythm are commonly used to enhance meaning. You can generally tell what poems are by looking at them, since they’re usually divided into groups of lines (stanzas) instead of paragraphs, like you might see in other forms of creative writing.

Example: Little Beast by Richard Siken

Related: Where to Publish Poetry

Plays are written for the stage. They include stage direction, brief scene descriptions, and character dialogue, but there’s often not a lot of prose. Plays are intended to be watched by an audience instead of read, so whatever prose exists, it is intended for the people participating in the play.

Example: Hamlet by Shakespeare

Songs are similar to poetry in terms of their structure and use of figurative language, but songs are meant to be performed. People don’t generally read song lyrics without listening to it, and the instrumentation and production often enhance the meaning of a song. Songwriters also use music theory to play with meaning—at a basic level, for example, minor chords generally convey sadness, while major chords generally convey happiness.

Example: Let it Be by the Beatles

6. Memoirs & Personal Essays

Memoirs and personal essays are a form of creative writing where an author draws on their real lived experience to create a narrative. Memoir specifically sometimes plays with chronological order and specific technical fact in favor of symbolic resonance—the author is getting at an emotional truth rather than a literal or objective truth.

Example: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

7. Journaling

Not everyone uses journaling as a creative writing exercise—some people want to log their daily activities and be done with it—but if you’ve ever poured your heart out about a breakup to the nonjudgmental pages of a notebook, you’ve probably already done some creative writing!

Want to find more examples? I wrote on this topic for another site, and it includes even more examples of creative writing for you to try.

Now that you know what creative writing looks like, let’s talk about how to get started, even if you’ve never practiced creative writing before.

1. Try stuff on until something fits

Take a look at the list above (or do a Google search for ‘types of creative writing’ and see if there’s anything else you might be interested in—I won’t be offended) and pick one that seems fun. If you want to try, for example, a screenplay, but you’re not sure how to write one, read a bunch. Get a feel for how they work.

Maybe you do that and decide you don't want to write screenplays after all. Okay! Try short stories. Try poetry. Try songwriting. Practicing different forms will make you a more well-rounded writer in the long run, and you might be surprised at what resonates with you.

2. Practice, practice, practice

Once you’ve found a form or a few forms that suit you, your job as a newbie is simple: practice. Write whatever you want as often as you can and, if possible, for your eyes only. Create a relationship between yourself and your craft.

Some say you should start with short stories before jumping into novels so you can practice completing narrative arcs. That might work great! But if you hate writing short stories, just practice with writing novels.

If you have an idea that feels a little too advanced for you, that’s probably what you should be working on, since it’ll teach you a lot about the craft along the way. Don’t be intimidated, and don’t worry about anyone else’s opinions (this includes any fretting about publishing). Your singular goal here is to create, and your secondary goal is to challenge yourself.

3. Join some kind of writerly group

But hold on, you might be thinking. How do I know I’m not getting worse the more I practice? How do I know I’m not just churning out garbage?

At some point, especially if your goal is to publish , you’ll want feedback on your work. And while it’s important to have the support of your loved ones, it’s also important to get feedback from other writers.

I do not recommend sending your very first manuscript to an editor or well-established writer for feedback—their feedback, generally aimed at moderate to advanced writers, is probably going to devastate you at the fledgling stage. I do recommend finding other writers at approximately your skill level to bounce ideas off of and exchange critiques. These other writers can be found online or at local writing circles—check your local public library for creative writing workshops.

Have you picked out a form of creative writing to try, but you just can’t come up with any ideas? Try using a creative writing prompt to get those creative gears turning. These are totally for you to use however is most helpful: use the prompt as-is, tweak it a little, whatever works.

Prompts are a great way to explore different types of tones in writing and hone your own personal style as an author!

Use this FREE tool: Writing Prompts Generator

Looking to make some money with your creative writing endeavors? Here’s a few options to kickstart your job search:

Ghostwriting

As a ghostwriter, your job is to write the story your client assigns you . This might be a fictional novel, or it might be a memoir. The client often has specific requests for content, length, and so on. The catch? Your name is not on the book. You’re not allowed to say that you wrote it—the client’s name or pen name usually goes on the author line. You can find ghostwriting gigs on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.

Marketing does involve some technical elements like copywriting, but creative writers have a place in marketing, too. Brands need catchy slogans, funny commercials, and even social media gurus to run entertaining Twitter accounts. For more ideas on how to market your upcoming book , check out our post on the topic.

Columnist/Blog Writer

You can also look for work as an op-ed columnist or blog writer. This might be something you do for an existing website, or it might be a blog you start from scratch on Wix, SquareSpace, or Tumblr.

You might have heard of people getting creative writing degrees, or at least you might have heard some of the discourse surrounding these degrees. Off the bat, I want to say that you don’t need a creative writing degree to be a writer. It doesn’t make you a ‘real’ writer, and it doesn’t indicate your seriousness toward the craft.

If you do want to get a creative writing degree, though, you’re looking (broadly) at two options:

Undergraduate writing programs

This is your BFA in creative writing. Not all colleges offer them—many (like my alma mater) offer a creative writing concentration or focus as part of an English degree. So you might graduate, hypothetically, for example, with a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing. Some colleges don’t offer a major, but they do offer minors.

Check to see what sorts of courses your college or prospective college offers. Do you have to be an English major to take their creative writing course? Does their creative writing course offer guidance in the type of creative writing you want to pursue? For example, my alma mater offered a creative writing concentration with two tracks, one for fiction and one for poetry. There was also a separate film studies concentration for aspiring screenplay writers and film students.

Graduate writing programs (a.k.a., the MFA)

MFA programs can be extremely competitive and prohibitively expensive, not to mention that you’re obviously not guaranteed to come out of them a better writer. They can be a great tool, but they’re not a necessary one. Look at it this way: are you willing to get this MFA if it means you might come out of it without a successfully published novel? If so, proceed.

If you want to pursue an MFA, do your research. Don’t go straight for the Iowa Writers Workshop application page and hope for the best—investigate the universities that look appealing to you, see if your interests align with theirs, and make that application fee count.

Going to college isn’t the only way to take classes on creative writing! If you’re looking for more cost-friendly options, the Internet is your friend. I’ve linked to a few places loaded with creative writing courses to get you started.

1. Intelligent.com: The Best 10 Online Creative Writing Courses

2. Coursera: Best Creative Writing Courses and Certifications

3. Self-Publishing School: Best Self-Publishing Courses

4. Our Programs: Fiction Write Your Book Program

Are you ready to try an online creative writing course? Are you ready to start some creative writing prompts? Or, are you think you're ready to go for a full creative writing project of your own? Here is a resource to help you get started:

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Essential Creative Writing Tips and Techniques

Creative writing has no written formula and no immutable laws, you just need a good imagination and good writing skills.

And you’re good to go!

Creative writing presents us with fewer tethers than other forms of writing. This means that we have more liberty when we want to express our imagination artistically.

With all this freedom, defining and serving creative writing techniques is a bit hard, and some tips are frowned upon as they seem to infringe upon the liberties of some creative writers.

Still, some writers need guidance.

So, I have taken it upon myself to be this guide and dish out much-needed tips and discuss some creative writing techniques.

If you’ve been looking for guidance and insight, here’s a no-frills article full of practical tips on creative writing for you.

What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is writing that uses imagination , creativity, and mastery of the art of writing to evoke emotion in a reader.

It could be a fictional story, a nonfiction piece, or movie script, a play, a poem, et cetera. Creative writing oftentimes springs up from experimentation and good, imaginative use of knowledge and ideas.

One of the things that make creative writing different from other forms of writing is the underlying message or theme. Unlike other forms of writing, creative writing sometimes hides a message under the entertaining, saddening, or horrifying part of the written content.

Other archetypal elements of creative writing include creating an emotional connection with the reader (and sometimes evoking a response), having a deliberate point of view, using a narrative structure, and use of imaginative and descriptive language.

What Isn’t Creative Writing?

Whatever lacks the elements I just listed isn’t creative writing. Written pieces such as company reports, statements, and other professional communications aren’t regarded as creative writing.

Similarly, personal documents and communications such as emails, social media content, and personal communications all fit in the non-creative writing category.

In addition to that, research papers and pieces that are in the “Academic Writing” category do not qualify as creative writing.

Most often the type of content that I have listed is devoid of deliberate themes. Often, these types of pieces have goals similar to those prevalent in creative writing, but they’re presented differently.

But—as a reminder to myself or you, the reader—I would like to say that they’re blurred boundaries in some forms of content. For example, we can’t outrightly classify content such as blog posts as creative writing non-creative. Blog content belongs to a broader category that is as flexible as creative writing itself.

Therefore, you would have to analyze the elements of each blog post to see if they fit a particular category.

Forms of Creative Writing

Given the freedom that creative writing gets, it is just right that it takes many forms.

Here are some of the forms of creative writing:

This is one of the most popular forms of creative writing. Novels are also the first thing people think about when it comes to books (apart from academicians who are religiously into textbooks).

Novels are extended fictional works in prose that usually (or always?) come in the form of a story.

Most of them are in the range of 50,000 to 150,000 words, but some are told in less than 50,000 and others extend beyond 150,000.

Pieces that are too short to qualify as novels and too long to qualify as short stories automatically qualify as novellas and novelettes.

Novellas often fall in the range of 10,000-40,000 words, while novelettes generally have a word count of 7,500-19,000 words.

Word count boundaries are usually varied—and they are oftentimes at the discretion of the publisher or competition organizers.

Short Fiction

Short stories as the name suggests are on the other end (the shorter word count end) of the fiction word count spectrum.

Short stories generally fall between 2,500 and 7,500 words but sometimes extend to 10,000 words.

Unlike novels, short stories tell stories with fewer characters, details, and backstories, among other deficiencies.

Then there are other forms of short fiction told in 1,000 words, and they’re called flash fiction and micro-fiction.

The unrestricted and spontaneous nature of poetry embodies the artistic multifariousness of creative writing.

Poetry is as emotional as it is rebellious—and word counts and rhyming rarely matter for poems, i.e., those in the free verse category.

There are different types of poems such as sonnets, haikus, sestinas, limericks, and free verses.

The spontaneous nature of poetry does connote lawlessness. The thing is, the different types of poetry originated from different cultures around the world and many come with rules.

However, for most of these types of poetry, the rules are adaptable. A few types such as haikus have specific rules on the number of lines or structure.

Plus, just because there aren’t many rules governing the structure, content, and length of poetry it doesn’t mean that you can brush aside the use of perfect grammar, the importance of POV, the need for a theme, and the need to evoke the reader’s emotions.

TV scripts, stage play scripts, and screenplays

This category comprises stage plays and scripts for films, television programs, and other types of video content.

A majority of content in this category has a lot in common with novels and short stories. Although different scripts have different formatting requirements, they carry a message or central theme and try to appeal to their audience’s emotions.

In a way, these scripts depart from the highly descriptive nature of novels and short stories. There’s much more dialogue in scripts with a bit of stage or scene directions in stage plays screenplays.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative writing doesn’t always have to be works of fiction, some nonfiction also qualifies as creative writing.

Here are some of the works that can be called creative nonfiction:

Lyric essays
Autobiographies
Humor Writing
Literary Journalism

Tips and Techniques for Creative Writing

1. read widely and learn from other writers.

You can improve by focusing on looking at your writing only. If you want to be a good creative writer, you have to read.

When you read other people’s work, you discover other writing styles and get inspired in the process.

There are lots of reading resources on creative writing out there. You can find books, essays, blog articles, and video content covering different aspects of creative writing.

Some works will comprise fiction and nonfiction pieces (novels, short stories, poetry, lyrical essays. Et cetera) while others seek to cover interviews and personal essays that talk about the authors’ creative processes.

2. Benefit from Your Imagination

A wild imagination represents superiority for creative writers, especially fiction writers.

This is the only time you’re allowed to play god!

By using a crazy imagination you can conceive an exciting story, build a unique world, and come up with convincing, never-imagined-before characters.

Heck! You can even create your own language!

Be as imaginative as you can be, even going into a trance, and create a creative piece using your own rules!

3. Focus on Understanding and Improving Yourself as a Writer

You cannot improve something you don’t fully understand; therefore, you have to understand your strengths and weaknesses as a writer to become a better writer.

I wrote an article on this, explaining some general strengths and weaknesses that writers have. As a creative writer, you have to identify problem areas such as bad sense of rhythm, dodgy flow, lack of creativity, et cetera.

As a creative writer, there are things you must have in your armory, such as a rich and relevant vocabulary, organized writing, and a unique writing style (which also happens to be the next tip on the list).

4. Develop or Discover a Unique Writing Style

Creative writers are better off seeking inspiration from other creative writers while trying to follow their path.

In short: study other writers, but develop your writing style. Take a look at all the best, and you’ll discover that most of them developed a unique style.

So, have your writing style. And, it should fit the niche you want to specialize in—if it’s horror, a befitting style. You could also focus on developing vibrant writing full of eccentric characters.

Likewise, you could become a writer who always writes in a specific POV.

5. Create Space for Creative Writing and Stick to a routine

Writing routinely and total focus are tremendously important for creative writers. If you’re a spontaneous writer who scarcely writes and only writes whenever they feel like it, you’re bound to fail as a writer!

You need to have a schedule and some working space. The ideas might come spontaneously and anywhere, but it’s hard to write without proper planning and a distraction-free setting.

It’s unproductive trying to squeeze writing into your day.

When you start writing routinely, in a ‘comfortable’ place, creative writing becomes natural. Even when you’re out of ideas experiencing writer’s block, you have to practice the habit of writing stuff daily—just write some fluff if you’re bored.

6. Know your audience

“Why do you write?”

The most popular answer to the question is, “because I love it!”

But if the question was rephrased and we asked “why do you publish your works?” the previous answer would be ‘half true.’

You write because it’s the love of your life and you publish for your audience. So, creative writing isn’t always about you, but your fans too.

You have to know what your readers are like. Even when you haven’t published a single piece, it’s easy to research readers’ interests using web-based analytics resources.

Armed with this knowledge, you can craft a piece that strikes a chord with your target audience, with a high potential of becoming a bestseller.

7. Always Start and End Strong

Our English teacher constantly reminded us that when she was going through our essays, she started with the introduction and summary before moving to the body.

“They’re the most important parts of your essay.” She’d always say.

Later, I found out that this applied to almost every form of writing.

Your readers want your piece to either start with a bang or catch their attention. Once the reader feels underwhelmed, they won’t read all the way through.

Strong endings are just as important, but it doesn’t mean that you always have to end on a happy note. You can close on a sad note or give them a cliffhanger.

As long as you effectively use your imagination and the end doesn’t turn out to be a clichéd one.

The Best Books on Creative Writing

1. Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell
2. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
3. The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
4. On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

Final Words

Writing—whatever form it takes—isn’t a simple chore, but as hard as it is, it is also fun!

The goal is always to become a better writer and learn different techniques that will make our content impactful.

Every writer should fear stagnation and continue learning. Utilize today’s easy access to resources, read, ask for help, and let your wild imagination run loose.

While there’s no fixed formula in creative writing, tips from experienced writers will help you improve in some areas.

So, always be inquisitive and reach out to other writers.

Crafting an original work of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction takes time, practice, and persistence.

How to Start Creative Writing

Below, you'll find an introduction to creative writing and a guide to getting started. For more advanced topics, please use the menu at the top of the website.

How to Start Creative Writing - Topics

What is creative writing.

woman with book, representing creative writing

Creative writing is an art form using written language. It can be a means of self-discovery, as well as a chance to make something beautiful and touch readers' emotions. It gives you the power to create whole worlds from your imagination. If you love books, creative writing is a way to join the authors you admire in a literary tradition.

Types of creative writing

Here are some common types of creative writing.

1. Short stories

Writing short stories is a great way to learn the craft of fiction. The brevity of the form allows you to experiment with lots of different types of stories and storytelling approaches. A short story can achieve a kind of magic trick, creating the illusion of a complete, detailed world in a very small space.

Writing a novel offers the pleasures of a large, absorbing project. You get to spend months or even years inside your story, which can become like a parallel life that you're living.

Writing poetry lets you work with language on many levels. Beyond the surface meaning of the words, you can use their sound, rhythm, and even the way they look on the page to create emotional effects in readers. Poetry includes traditional forms like the sonnet , along with free verse and prose poems.

4. Creative nonfiction

This includes memoirs and personal essays, where you write about your own experiences. Creative nonfiction is a way to preserve and explore your memories and share your unique perspective on the world.

Dramatic writing includes playwriting and screenwriting. It's not just about Broadway and Hollywood -- imagine the thrill of seeing your work performed in community theaters, schools, or other amateur productions.

Elements of creative writing

Important elements of creative writing include:

You can make your writing vivid by including details that speak to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

A scene is a sequence of events depicted 'in real time,' featuring play-by-play action and/or dialogue, and often including descriptive details.

A setting is the specific place and historical time where a scene happens; for example, present-day Brooklyn, or 17th century Versailles.

4. Characters

Stories, novels, and plays are normally about made-up characters that readers can come to care about. Many memoirs are written like true stories where the author is the main character.

5. Point of view

Many stories are written from the perspective of a particular character. Readers feel as if they're inside that character's head, watching the story's action through the character's eyes.

6. Dialogue

Dialogue is where you represent conversations by directly quoting characters' words. Playwriting and screenwriting rely heavily on dialogue.

The voice that tells a story is called the "narrator," while the voice in a poem is the "speaker." You can write using your own voice or adopt the voice of a fictional character.

This is the sequence of events that happen in a story, novel, or dramatic work. The central thread of most plots is the character's struggle to overcome a problem or reach a goal.

The theme is a central idea that underlies a piece of writing. A theme isn't something you have to consciously "put into" a story. It's often better to focus on your character and their struggle, and let the story's theme evolve naturally.

Pacing refers to the speed at which the story seems to unfold. You can use pacing to shape the reader's experience; for example, slowing the story at key moments to create suspense.

The rhythm and flow of language affects a reader's experience and is particularly important in poetry. Some poetry uses meter , rhythmic patterns based on stressed and unstressed syllables.

Poems often make use of repeated sounds, including rhyme. Many traditional poetic forms use rhyme schemes , while free verse might use sporadic rhymes to create emotional effects.

How to start creative writing

The best way to get started is to just dive right in! Go ahead and write something!

If you've never written a story or poem before, that's okay. The only way to learn how to do it is by actually doing it.

Don't worry about doing it wrong. You won't break anything! If you don't like what you write, you can always improve it later. Or you can put it away and try something else.

The more you write, the better you'll get!

How to start writing a story

Want to start writing a story? Here's one approach to try.

1) Imagine a character and a problem that the character has to deal with. The problem will give your character something to do in your story.

2) Imagine a step the character might take to try to solve their problem. What would happen next? Daydream the scene from your character's perspective as vividly as possible.

3) Capture your daydream on the page. During the first draft, don't worry about choosing the right words or writing nice sentences. You can fix everything later, during the revision.

How to start writing a memoir

A lot of people want to write about their memories but feel overwhelmed by the problem of how to organize everything. An easy solution is to choose one vivid or important memory and just write about that. Try to recreate the memory on the page as vividly as you can.

If you write a lot of short pieces about separate memories, you might start to see patterns and get ideas for piecing them together into a book-length memoir. Or, you might decide to publish the short pieces as essays.

How to start writing a poem

There's no right or wrong way to write a poem, but you can try this approach.

1) Choose a subject for your poem. It can help to get really specific about this. For example, instead of writing a poem about "anger" or "love", you might focus on a particular moment when you were angry, or a specific gesture of love.

2) Concentrate on your subject. Explore it from different angles, searching for aspects of it that might not obvious at first glance. For example, if you're writing about a tree, closely examine that tree. What makes it different from other trees? What parts of it are hidden under the ground? What does it smell like? What does it remind you of?

3) Quickly write down the ideas that occur to you.

4) Once you have a rough draft of your poem, you can start playing with the language, experimenting with sound and rhythm and the way the words are arranged on the page.

15 creative writing ideas

Here are some exciting creative writing exercises to try.

1) Write a modern version of a fairy tale or myth. Give it a new twist.

2) Write a haiku, a short unrhymed poem with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second line, and five in the third line. You can learn more about haiku poetry and read examples here .

3) Challenge yourself to write a complete story in exactly 100 words. You can find tips on ultra-short stories here.

4) The sense of smell is closely tied to memory. Choose a smell to use as inspiration for a memoir or a poem. What memories does that smell bring back?

5) Use a painting or another piece of art to inspire a poem or a story.

6) Listen to a piece of music that you find moving. What images does it bring to mind? Write a poem that tries to capture the mood and feeling of the music. Or, if the song has lyrics, imagine the story behind those lyrics, and write that story.

7) Think of a time when you were afraid. Use that memory to inspire a poem or a story. Feel free to change details of the situation to make it more frightening or surprising than it actually was.

8) Imagine you found a secret door somewhere in your house. What might be behind that door? Use this as the starting point of a story or a poem.

9) Browse the website of an online bookstore like Amazon, searching for a book cover that really intrigues you (for this exercise, choose the cover of a book that you HAVEN'T read). Imagine what might be inside that book. Then try to write it!

10) Write a story or poem from a non-human perspective -- for example, from the point of view of a house, an animal, or a color.

11) Write a story or poem based on something you dreamed at night.

12) Write a story or poem that is completely dialogue.

13) Write about an argument you had -- but write about it from the other person's perspective. Try to imagine your way into that person's mind.

14) Write a story or poem in the form of letters, emails, text messages, or diary entries.

15) Find an old photograph of yourself. Remember or imagine the moment when it was taken, and use that as the starting point of a poem or memoir.

Creative writing prompts

1) Write a story or poem that includes all three of these elements: an eavesdropper, a secret kiss, and a fire in the kitchen.

2) Write a story or poem that includes this line: "Don't move," he whispered.

3) Every night, your character has been dreaming about the same house, a house they can't remember ever having seen before...

4) Write a story or poem that includes all three of these elements: a sinister Uber driver, a fake engagement ring, and a legend.

5) Write a story or poem that includes this line: The first time was the hardest.

6) What is one of your greatest strengths? Write a story or poem about someone who ends up in trouble because they don't have this quality.

7) Write a story or poem that includes this line: She was a wonderful liar...

8) Write a story or poem that includes all three of these elements: a dating app, a foreign language, and a nosy neighbor.

9) Think of someone very different from yourself in ways you're curious about. Write a story or a poem from this person's perspective.

10) Your character discovers a hidden door in their basement. Opening it reveals something surprising...

11) Write a story or poem that includes this phrase: Unfortunately, the tombstone...

12) Write a story that takes place entirely in the dark.

You can find hundreds more story starters and poetry prompts on our website.

Tips for better creative writing

1. Be specific.

Specific language and examples help readers form clearer mental images. For example, instead of using the word "bird", you can use a more specific word like "sparrow" or "crow". Or, instead of saying that your grandmother was a wonderful cook, you can describe some mouthwatering examples of her cooking.

2. Pay attention to all of the senses.

Beginning writers sometimes describe what things look like and forget the other senses: sound, smell, taste, and touch... Including details from multiple senses will make your writing more vivid and help to create an immersive experience for readers.

3. Show instead of only telling.

Showing something (with actions, dialogue, and imagery) tends to have a more powerful emotional impact than just informing the reader of it. For example, instead of telling readers that your character loves his son, you can show that character speaking tenderly to the son or making a sacrifice for the son's happiness.

4. Start with questions instead of answers.

Instead of setting out to teach readers a lesson you already know, you can use writing to explore issues and ideas that you struggle with. This approach is more likely to lead to interesting results because it takes you beyond the obvious.

5. Write a messy rough draft.

During your first draft, try not to worry about choosing the right words. Instead, focus your mind on the scene or subject you're writing about. This tends to make your writing more vivid and can actually help the language flow better. Save the editing for later.

6. Rewrite.

Once you complete a rough draft, go back and read what you've written -- first from the perspective of an ordinary reader, and then as an editor -- and look for anything you can improve

Becoming a creative writer

Here's some advice to help you succeed.

1. Become an observer.

The world is full of writing material if you pay attention. Be on the lookout for details you can use in your stories and poems, people you can convert into characters, interesting snippets of dialogue. Some writers find it helpful to keep a journal to record this raw material. Keeping a journal can also help you become more observant.

2. Establish a writing habit.

Consider committing to a regular writing schedule, even if it's only ten minutes a day. Many writers like to work first thing in the morning before other commitments get in the way. Keeping a writing schedule makes you less dependent on inspiration -- you learn how to write without it.

3. Read a lot.

Read the kind of thing you want to write -- for example, if you want to be a poet, it's important to read a lot of poetry . Pay attention to the techniques used by other authors, and try applying those techniques in your own writing.

4. Feed your imagination.

Reading feeds your imagination, and so can listening to music, looking at art, walking in nature, or exploring other subjects that excite you -- science, mathematics: whatever gets your brain firing. Instead of waiting for inspiration to find you, go hunt it down.

5. Have fun.

The more fun you have writing something, the more fun people are likely to have reading it!

6. Find a writing community.

Other writers can provide support and inspiration, as well as feedback on your work. Consider joining or forming a local writer's group. Or sign up for one of our online classes.

How to Start Creative Writing - Next Steps

Be sure to join our writer's email group for more tips on how to start creative writing. Also, check out these pages.

How to start creative writing: short stories
How to start creative writing: novels
How to start creative writing: poetry
How to start creative writing: memoirs

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Aug 16, 2023

How to Start a Story: 10 Top Tips From Literary Editors

This post has been written with contributions from editors and authors including Tom Bromley , Fran Lebowitz , and Rebecca Heyman .

The opening lines of a story carry a lot of responsibility. They act as an invitation for someone who’s glanced at the first page of your book to either put it back down or keep reading.

To help us understand how bestselling authors open up their stories, we've asked for tips from ten of Reedsy's top professionals.

How to start a story:

1. Craft an unexpected story opening

2. start with a compelling image, 3. create interest with immediate action, 4. begin the book with a short sentence , 5. pose a question for the reader, 6. engage a sense of curiosity, 7. build a convincing world and setting, 8. do something new with your writing, 9. create tension that has room to grow, 10. capture your readers’ attention.

Some of the most memorable opening lines are ones that hook readers with something out of the ordinary. Literary editor Gareth Watkins often encourages writers to explore this in their own books.

"Think of the opening to Nineteen Eighty-Four , or Iain Banks’s, The Crow Road (It was the day my grandmother exploded ). Of course, your opening doesn’t have to be as outrageous as these but always aim for the unusual.

"In other words: think of how people will expect the book to start, then take the plot in another direction."

Example: Nineteen Eighty-Four , George Orwell

Orwell immediately alerts the reader to the fact that we're not in a normal world by deploying a single strange fact at the end of Nineteen Eighty-Four's opening sentence

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

However, not all books need to start with a twist. Sometimes, all you need is a single strong image.

Tweet "We asked our editors: "how would you start a story?" They came up with 10 insightful ways #amwriting"]

Many editors will tell you to avoid exposition — the dreaded info dump — at the start of your manuscript. Editor Harrison Demchick suggests one of the best ways to avoid this is to begin with an image.

"By focusing on sensory detail right at the start — sight, sound, taste, touch, smell — and by conveying a particular, defined setting, you can immediately absorb readers within your novel's tangible world.

"Context and background will come later, but a compelling image can be a fantastic hook."

Example: Fahrenheit 451 , Ray Bradbury

The image of fire is central to Bradbury's dystopian classic. Appropriately enough, he opens his novel with a maelstrom of images comparing the fire to a snake and a symphony.

It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history.

Starting with an image requires a deft hand from the writer. This image must be compelling enough to make the reader continue turning the pages. A simpler alternative may be to throw readers into the middle of the story.

Novels that open in medias res (Latin for "in the midst of action" ) are often really effective at immediately grabbing the reader and establishing stakes and tension.

However, editor Jeanette Shaw warns that readers can become untethered without context and a central character. "If you go this route, you must be sure your opening action is compelling enough that the reader is prepared to wait for character setup later."

Example: Lord of the Flies, William Golding

This classic novel starts with a scene of young boys living on a deserted island with no adults in sight. Only later do we learn how they got there in the first place.

The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead.

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As Polonius tells young Hamlet, brevity is the soul of wit. But for editor and literary agent Fran Lebowitz (who has represented the Bridgerton novels amongst other bestsellers), being frugal with your opening sentence can also intrigue a reader and force them to lean in: "Start with something sparse that flicks on our curiosity, above all."

Example: The Hobbit , J.R.R. Tolkien

For a man who's known for writing lengthy tomes, Tolkien opens up his novel, The Hobbit, with a simple and matter-of-fact sentence that introduces something readers had never encountered before: a hobbit.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”

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But sometimes, a simple question can be just as powerful as a statement.

"The reader should be looking for an answer," says Nathan Connolly , an editor and the directing publisher of Dead Ink Books.

"The opening to your novel should be a question that can only be answered by reading on. This doesn't need to be literal, or overt, it can even be poetic, or abstract, but there must be a wound that can only be healed by reading on."

Example: The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

While the first line of Plath's only novel doesn't end with a question mark, it certainly poses a few mysteries.

It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.

What was queer and sultry about this summer? How does the narrator's story relate to the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg? And does she actually not know why she's in the Big Apple? The only way to find out is to read on...

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And speaking of unanswered questions, the next tip digs deeper into this idea of intriguing openings.

For in the experience of editor Britanie Wilson , the most successful beginnings have the magnetic effect of appealing to an emotion that all readers possess: curiosity.

"Make them immediately ask of your characters: What is this place? Why are they here? What are they doing? Who is involved? Where is this going?

"If you can pique your readers' curiosity from the very first sentence, you can will them to keep reading before they even know they like your book."

Example: "Royal Beatings", Alice Munro

The first story in Munro's 1978 short story collection, Who Do You Think You Are? gives its readers an unusual phrase that instantly piques their curiosity.

Royal Beating. That was Flo's promise. You are going to get one Royal Beating.

As with the Orwell opening, the reader is presented with an unusual turn of phrase repeated several times — including in the title. By the time we're just 15-words deep into the story, we have a burning question: what is a Royal Beating?

While creating curiosity and mystery is powerful, it's important that the start of your book isn't entirely cryptic . Your opening must sustain your readers' interest in some way if you are to keep them reading through to chapter two, and reveal more and more information in the plot points to come .

Pro tip: Starting your writing with dialogue is considered a no-no by some, but can actually be a great way of achieving this effect.

"To give readers the confidence to continue reading a story they've just started, it's important to give them enough detail to know where and when a story takes place," says author and ghostwriter Tom Bromley .

"Sometimes when stories begin, there's a danger that the scenes are a little bit 'floating' — where the reader isn't given enough information to visualize what's going on. Details of location and time, when provided with enough specificity, will ground the reader and make them feel secure."

Example: The Corrections , Jonathan Franzen

This novel, set in the American Midwest, opens by instantly grounding the reader in visuals related to the when and where of the story.

The madness of an autumn prairie cold front coming through. You could feel it: something terrible was going to happen. The sun low in the sky, a minor light, a cooling star. Gust after gust of disorder. Trees restless, temperatures falling, the whole northern religion of things coming to an end. No children in the yards here. Shadows lengthened on yellowing zoysia. Red oaks and pin oaks and swamp white oaks rained acorns on houses with no mortgage. Storm windows shuddered in the empty bedrooms. And the drone and hiccup of a clothes dryer, the nasal contention of a leaf blower, the ripening of local apples in a paper bag, the smell of the gasoline with which Alfred Lambert had cleaned the paintbrush from his morning painting of the wicker love seat.

If you were to think of this opening scene in a cinematic sense, it reads like a slow montage that cuts between different images that set up the tone and atmosphere of the piece. Note how the first sentence describes the wind — a classic piece of literary imagery that almost always signifies the same thing: that change is a'coming.

Avoiding clichés is something that should always be avoided. And in the experience of Thalia Suzuma , and editor who has worked with authors ranging from David Baldacci to Ken Follett, clichés can be avoided with some simple, unusual choices:

"Consider these two lines:

1) I'm sitting writing this at my desk.

2) I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.

"Which line makes you want to read on? I'd hazard a guess that it's probably the sentence about being perched at a sink — the opening line to one of my favorite novels, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

"Say something in your first few sentences that hasn't often been said before! A brief line laden with foreboding and heavy with what has not been said often works well, too."

Example: Jane Eyre , Charlotte Brontë

Opening a book by talking about the weather is just about as clichéd as things come. ( It was a dark and stormy night... ) But in the opening paragraph of Jane Eyre, we are presented with an image of cold weather — but filtered through the eyes of its title character.

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

More importantly than discovering the weather in chapter one, we learn something about the narrator: that she is a woman of absolutes.

Again, the weather is used to create a sense of foreboding — a perfect segue into our next tip.

Openings should be intense, but for editor Rebecca Heyman , that doesn’t necessarily mean loud or explosive .

"So many authors are keen to start with a literal bang — something going up in flames, or a car accident, or some other catastrophe. But recall that even a smoldering fire can burn your hand; draw us in like moths to the flame, but don’t let the bonfire rage so fierce we can’t get close."

Example: All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

Remember what we said about winds signifying change? In the opening chapter of Anthony Doerr's novel set around the Second World War, we open with a description of the wind, bringing with it a literal message of change:

At dusk they pour from the sky. They blow across the ramparts, turn cartwheels over rooftops, flutter into the ravines between houses. Entire streets swirl with them, flashing white against the cobbles. Urgent message to the inhabitants of this town, they say. Depart immediately to open country.

This image we're presented with is almost playful (turning cartwheels, fluttering into ravines), making the message the pamphlets bear even more insidious.

For the final tip of this post, we give you what is perhaps the cardinal rule of starting a story...

You want your reader to be swept up in the story— for its entirety, but especially at the beginning, says editor Anne McPeak:

"This is your chance to intoxicate your reader and convince them that they can’t not read on. This doesn’t mean your story needs drama, or fireworks, or shocking material; what your story really needs is close attention to language, tone, and pacing.

"Dazzle your reader from the start, and they will willingly take your hand for the ride."

Example: Fortress of Solitude , Jonathan Lethem

Centering on the lives of two friends in Brooklyn and spanning decades, Lethem's novel opens with an everyday image — of girls rollerskating on the sidewalk — and filters it through the eyes of a narrator, who interprets the scene in quite an arresting fashion that's bound to capture the reader's attention:

Like a match struck in a darkened room:

Two white girls in flannel nightgowns and red vinyl roller skates with white laces, tracing tentative circles on a cracked blue slate sidewalk at seven o'clock on an evening in July.

The girls murmured rhymes, were murmured rhymes, their gauzy, sky-pink hair streaming like it had never once been cut.

Establishing best practices for starting a story can be tricky because, as Nathan Connolly says, “Fiction should, by nature, seek to defy, redefine or expand beyond rules." It should not be an author’s goal to emulate the words or tastes of another person while writing a novel.

However, many well-loved novels share a thread of commonality when it comes to their first few lines — such as a question, a brief to-the-point line, or in the middle of action. While there’s no hard rule for what works, these are guidelines you can follow when determining how to hook readers down your story’s path.

26 responses

Paynes says:

04/01/2017 – 21:13

"Years ago, down in the Amazon, Santiago set me up. He said, 'Lives are stories told over and over. The good ones keep getting better. Think about that, Daniel. And while you're at it, think about thinking. We learn best by thinking, just as fish breathe by drinking.' He said this very matter-of-factly. Then he asked me, 'Don't they?' He asked me this when he was about to die." "Santiago and the Drinking Party" by Clay Morgan That's one of my favorite beginnings.

↪️ Reedsy replied:

09/01/2017 – 16:48

This is really great because I actually did sit and think for a few moments about the line "lives are stories told over and over." So mission accomplished! Thanks for the contribution, Paynes!

Nathan Van Coops says:

06/01/2017 – 14:26

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." --C.S. Lewis- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

06/01/2017 – 14:36

Haha, that's a good one, Nathan!

Tripehound says:

07/01/2017 – 12:33

The Dodie Smith sentence - she's not sitting at the sink. She's sitting in the sink.

07/01/2017 – 16:56

Ah, good catch, thanks! We've edited accordingly.

RanaShubair says:

07/01/2017 – 16:16

The ideas are great. I find number 1 and number 9 most appealing to me. And thanks for the book examples you included- this helped me look them up and put them on my reading list.

07/01/2017 – 16:57

Glad you like it, Rana!

Carol Pearson says:

08/01/2017 – 20:01

"There are gods in Alabama: Jack Daniel's, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus. I left one back there myself, back in Possett. I kicked it under the kudzu and left it to the roaches." Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson. Stunning.

09/01/2017 – 16:45

That is definitely unique — it's not "once upon a time", that's for sure :) Thanks for the comment Carol!

↪️ Carol Pearson replied:

09/01/2017 – 17:14

ha! no indeed. And the book delivered, too. Compelling from start to finish. Great read!

Rock Higgins says:

17/01/2017 – 17:08

"I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany." John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany It is the whole 600+ page novel in a sentence, that takes 600+ pages to unpack.

17/01/2017 – 17:18

Wow, great one, Rock! You know an author really knows their story when they're able to condense 600 pages of it into a single sentence. Thanks for the quote :)

polfilmblog says:

24/02/2017 – 22:08

Venomous python? Really? "with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world," The only thing I get from this opening is that the author royally fucked it up. Pythons are constrictors of course. Most everyone knows that.

↪️ Elizabeth replied:

19/11/2019 – 08:01

Well, shoot! And Mr. Bradbury seemed to have such promise. I'm sure if he was still among the living you could teach him a thing or two. About snakes, anyway.

Dennis Fleming says:

24/07/2017 – 21:52

"Not wanting to arouse Vishnu in case he hadn't died yet, Mrs. Asrani tiptoed down to the third step above the landing on which he lived, teakettle in hand." The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri

Astoria Eincaster says:

17/10/2017 – 19:57

I don't see anything strange and unexpected with 1984's opening sentence. Thirteen o'clock is basically 1 pm. In Europe the clock goes from 0 to 23. So 1:15 pm for example will be 13:15, 3:45 pm will be 15:45, while 4 am would be simply 4 o'clock. I don't know about other continents, but I'm sure about Europe, as I live there. And where does 1984 take part? In London, you ignorant Americans! Just stop citing 1984 as an example of an unexpected opening. Seriously, this is not the first post about types of book openings where I see 1984 mentioned. Its first sentence is not and it wasn't supposed to be strange, although some ignorant hacks still think it is.

17/10/2017 – 20:06

Analog clocks do not generally include the number "13." So while it is not strange for it to be thirteen o'clock, it remains a strange image for the hand of a clock to "strike thirteen," and I don't believe anyone aside from George Orwell ever said or wrote "the clock strikes thirteen." In 1984, the clock "strikes thirteen", as we can later surmise, because this is a military state and they use military time. So this opening is not only unexpected, it sets the mood for the rest of the book. Ah, and most of Reedsy's team is based in Europe, by the way, so the "ignorant American" argument doesn't really stand with us — sorry!

↪️ 4kidsandacat replied:

24/07/2018 – 11:09

Keep in mind, Orwell wrote this story in 1948, long before digital clocks were in common use. Thirteen o'clock doesn't sound strange today, but it may well have at the time.

↪️ Doug McNett replied:

19/04/2020 – 13:32

I completely agree with you. I am American, but when I first read those lines I thought nothing of it as to me they were referring to military time,

Diane Callahan says:

30/01/2018 – 16:11

Loved this article! I found it through your Novel Revision course. I'm pleased to see that your editors picked many of the same first lines I discussed in my YouTube video on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm9trk8xRpg&t=2s Patrick Ness’s "The Knife of Never Letting Go" hooked me right away by opening with a strong narrative voice and humor: “The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say.”

Evelyn Sinclair says:

11/03/2018 – 16:42

"Master was a little crazy: he had spent too many years reding books overseas, talked to himself in his office,did not always return greetings and had too much hair." Opening sentence from 'Half a Yellow Sun' definitely hooked me in to this story.

Candace says:

03/08/2019 – 01:56

Yeah. I know. You guys are going to read about how I died in agony, and you're going to be like, "Wow! That sounds cool, Magnus! Can I die in agony too?" - Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan One of my favorite opening lines of all time.

↪️ Yvonne replied:

08/08/2019 – 02:01

That is indeed an awesome line! Thanks so much for the quote (and the book rec).

Alice says:

19/09/2019 – 19:20

My favorite line is from Charles Dickens "a Tale of two Cities" It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Elizabeth says:

19/11/2019 – 08:18

“We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S Thompson. Okay, technically it's a classic HST hybrid - part semi-autobiography and part novel. But still one of the greatest beginnings I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

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How to start a piece of writing

by Margot Lester | May 19, 2021 | Writing/How to Write

Updated July 2023

Even people who make their bones writing every single day can get stymied when it comes to beginning a piece. I think some of that is because we all know the start of any story is the make-or-break point for engagement. If we don't hook you at the top it's really unlikely to get to the end.

3 ways to start a piece of writing

Here are the three tactics I use myself and with my writing coaching clients to start any piece of content:

1. High-speed, low-drag approach: Don’t worry about the beginning, just start writing -- anywhere you feel the mojo. That could be section 2 or subheads to guide the reader. Or just tell yourself, "This is not my perfect beginning". (I like to sing that to the tune of Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime ). A beginning may come to you or you can simply summarize the piece and use that as the lede.

2. Journalistic approach: I learned this process years ago in a session with veteran journalist and writing coach Chip Scanlon. I still use it because it's just that good.

Slug: Jot down 3 6-word distillations of the story (could become your headline/title).
Story: Write 1 sentence that conveys the most important thing you want the reader to know.
News: Craft another sentence or two explaining what’s new, different or surprising.
So?: Construct a sentence or two answering the question “why should I (the reader?) care" and explaining why the content is relevant and valuable to them.
Lede: Bring your sentences together into paragraph form, et voilà, you have your beginning.

Sometimes I do one set (slug, story, news, so, lede), but if I'm really stymied or I have time, I create multiple sets and choose the best one. For a more in-depth look at this process, check out my slide deck on starting a piece of writing . It was created for high school journalists but applies to anyone who writes anything.

3. Analytical approach: Take a look at 3 or 4 exemplary pieces of writing similar to what you're producing (i.e., sales reports, how-to articles, webinar recaps, etc.). Notice the traits they have in common and if there's a style you like. Then apply these insights to your own beginning. When I have the time, I write several openings based on this research to find the one that works best. Read more about how to use models to level up your writing .

The really cool thing is, you can use any of these approaches anytime -- whether you're struggling or not -- to create a stronger and more effective opening to anything you're working on. Good luck!

How to Start Writing: Overcoming Writer’s Block

by Andrea Feccomandi
April 3, 2024

Have you ever found yourself face-to-face with the dreaded writer’s block ? If so, you’re not alone.

This frustrating phenomenon affects writers of all levels , leaving us stranded in a sea of blank pages and unformed ideas. It’s that infuriating pause in creativity where inspiration feels tantalizingly close yet stubbornly out of reach .

So, if you’ve ever experienced this, you know the struggle firsthand. But fear not, for there are ways to overcome it!

Let’s explore together how to break through the barriers of writer’s block and reignite our creative flames .

Identifying the root causes of writer’s block

Understanding why writer’s block happens is key to figuring out how to beat it. The following points highlight the primary reasons writers find themselves stuck and unable to progress in their creative endeavors.

Emotional and Psychological Barriers

Self-Doubt and Fear . Many writers grapple with feelings of inadequacy, fearing their work is not good enough or apprehensive about negative judgments and failure. This fear can manifest in various forms, including the dread of humiliation or the concern that their chosen topic has been exhaustively covered.
Perfectionism . Aiming for perfection can lead to excessive self-criticism and procrastination, as writers may hesitate to start or finish a piece out of fear it won’t meet their own high standards.
Stress and Burnout . High-stress levels, whether from juggling another job alongside writing or from the writing process itself, can significantly hamper creativity and motivation.

Practical Challenges

Distractions and Time Management . The lure of social media, TV shows, movies, and video games can easily divert attention away from writing. Additionally, not having enough time dedicated to the craft can leave writers feeling rushed and uninspired.
Lack of Discipline and Commitment. Without a strong commitment to writing goals and the discipline to pursue them, it’s difficult to maintain a consistent writing routine.
Inadequate Preparation. Insufficient research or a lack of writing skills can make it challenging to write authentically and creatively, leading to a block.

Creative Process Issues

Plot Block and Life Block . Writers can experience blockages related to their story’s plot or personal life circumstances. Learning to fill the well by seeking new experiences and inspiration is a skill for overcoming lifeblocks.
Overthinking and Overconsumption. Overanalyzing one’s work or consuming too much information can lead to mental clutter, stress, and a lack of focus, further contributing to writer’s block.

By identifying the specific cause of your writer’s block, you can address it directly, employing targeted strategies to navigate and ultimately overcome these hurdles.

Writer’s block is almost like the equivalent of impotence. It’s performance pressure you put on yourself that keeps you from doing something you naturally should be able to do…The reason you don’t get writer’s block as a writer is because you have a deadline. It has to be in. You have no choice. But, if you sit there, and you think, “This piece has to be the ultimate article, the ultimate book ever written; my entire selfish being is wrapped up in this; and, this is me.” – The bigger of a story you make up about what you are doing, the bigger the block will get. It has nothing to do with the talent of writing or the skill of writing. It’s completely performance anxiety. Neil Strauss

Overcoming writer’s block: creating a productive writing environment

Creating a productive writing environment is the first step to escaping writer’s block. You have to combine physical comfort with psychological readiness . Here are some strategies to optimize your space for writing success.

Physical Setup and Comfort

Dedicated Writing Space . Dedicate a specific area in your home just for writing. This will help you mentally prepare yourself for writing as soon as you enter the space.
Choose Your Chair Wisely . A good quality chair with built-in lumbar support is essential for long writing sessions to prevent back pain. Consider an adjustable tilt tension chair that suits your movements and weight.
Desk and Equipment . Ensure your desk, chair, and keyboard are at comfortable heights for a natural sitting position. Keep all room lights on and consider a light-colored panel behind the screen to reduce glare.
Minimize Eyestrain . Use blue light filters or glasses to reduce eyestrain from computer screens. Taking regular breaks can also help avoid eyestrain and physical discomfort.

Environment Optimization

Distraction-Free Zone . Organize your space to minimize distractions. This might mean turning off electronics, clearing your desk before starting, and setting boundaries with family members.
Inspirational Elements. Surround yourself with items that inspire you, such as plants, photos, or books related to your niche. Listening to music or sounds that help you focus can also enhance your writing atmosphere.
Lighting and Tidiness. A well-lit room with a tidy writing area can significantly improve focus and motivation. Make necessary adjustments to your environment to ensure it’s both comfortable and conducive to writing.

By methodically addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of your writing environment, you can create a space that not only minimizes distractions but also maximizes comfort and inspiration.

Experiment with different environments to find what uniquely works for you, whether it’s a change of scenery or re-upholstering a favorite chair for extended comfort.

Breaking through writer’s block: establishing a writing routine

To build a strong writing habit, it’s helpful to mix structure with flexibility. Here are some important strategies to develop a routine that not only helps overcome writer’s block but also improves your writing skills.

Writing time

Writing Schedule . Set aside time in your weekly schedule dedicated to writing. Knowing how your body works, schedule writing blocks when you’re most productive. This could be early mornings or late evenings, depending on when you feel most creative.
Goal Setting . Set constructive short-term and long-term goals for each writing session. Use a clock or timer to stay on track and accomplish content goals.
The Pomodoro Technique . Utilize this method by breaking your work into 25-minute focused intervals, followed by a 5-minute break. This can significantly enhance concentration and productivity.
Dive into the Middle. Initiating your writing session in the midst of a well-developed section can diminish the intimidation of crafting the perfect beginning, thus alleviating some pressure.

Warmups , Rituals and Rewards

Incorporate a Pre-Writing Ritual . Whether it’s brewing a cup of coffee or a short meditation, establish a ritual that signals to your brain it’s time to focus on writing.
Minimize Digital Distractions . Ensure a clutter-free digital workspace by closing all programs and apps not related to your writing task.
Engage in Writing Warmups . Start each writing session with activities like freewriting, responding to a prompt, or journaling. This can help ease into more focused writing tasks.
Reward Yourself . Celebrating small victories is crucial. Treat yourself after completing a writing session to create positive reinforcement around your writing habit.

By establishing a consistent and scheduled routine that remains flexible and adaptable, you create a sustainable framework for your writing endeavors. The goal is to find a balance that works uniquely for you , allowing your creativity to flourish within a disciplined framework.

Don’t stop because you’ve hit a block. Finish the page, even if you write nothing but your own name. The block will break if you don’t give in to it. Remember, writing is a physical habit as well as whatever you want to think it is—calling, avocation, talent, genius, art. Isabelle Holland

Defeating writer’s block: techniques and exercises to stimulate creativity

To invigorate your creative muscles and navigate through writer’s block, consider integrating a mix of traditional and innovative exercises into your routine. These techniques are designed to stimulate creativity and can be a turning point in overcoming writer’s block.

Traditional Techniques

Freewriting . Set a timer for 5-20 minutes and write continuously without concern for grammar, punctuation, or coherence. This exercise helps bypass the inner critic, allowing thoughts to flow freely and potentially sparking new ideas.
Brainstorming . Employ brainstorming methods like listing or mind mapping to organize thoughts, assess arguments, and explore counterarguments. This can clarify your thoughts and strengthen your writing.
Writing Prompts . Utilize writing prompts in various forms—sentences, questions, images—to jumpstart your creativity. Whether it’s starting new stories or developing your writing craft, prompts can provide a fresh perspective.

Innovative Exercises

Character Interviews . Engage with your characters by interviewing them. This technique can deepen character development and unlock new plot directions.
Inspiration Board . Curate a board filled with images, quotes, and anything that inspires you. This visual collection can serve as a constant source of inspiration and motivation.
Study a Stranger . Observe someone you don’t know and craft a detailed description of their physical appearance, internal profile, and a hypothetical scene involving them. This exercise can enhance descriptive skills and character creation.

Defeating writer's block: bibisco's character interview.

Incorporating these techniques into your writing routine can help you break free from writer’s block by stimulating creativity and encouraging a flow of ideas. Experiment with different exercises to discover what best reignites your creative spark.

Seeking Support and Inspiration

Seeking support and inspiration can significantly aid you in overcoming writer’s block. Here are some strategies, categorized for ease of understanding and implementation:

Personal Strategies

Reflect on Past Successes . Remind yourself of your previous accomplishments and revisit your past work to reignite confidence and creativity.
Emotional Mastery . Work on conquering feelings of fear, guilt, and shame, as these emotions can block your creative flow. Focusing on your inner game rather than external pressures can be liberating.
Voice Sourcing . Learn to draw inspiration from other writers, creatives, and teachers. This can help you find and refine your unique voice.
Imposter Syndrome . Employ techniques to overcome feelings of inadequacy and embrace the identity of a Writer with confidence.

Community and Environment

Engage with Other Writers . Surround yourself with a community of writers through social media platforms, local writing groups, or literary events. This can provide you with a strong support system and a wealth of shared experiences.
Participate in Writing Groups . Joining online or in-person writing groups can offer energy, motivation, and insights into better writing practices. Sharing work and receiving feedback can be incredibly inspiring.

Inspiration Sources

Diverse Reading . Read a wide range of materials, including books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. Reading is crucial for exposure to various writing styles and for sparking new ideas.
Explore Different Media . Inspiration can come from movies, music, art, and even overheard conversations. These sources can provide unique angles, dialogues, and perspectives to enrich your writing.
Nature and Exercise . Sometimes, a change of environment or physical activity can stimulate creativity. Whether it’s a walk in nature or a session of exercise, these activities can lead to breakthrough ideas.
Dreams and Journals . Keeping a dream journal or a writing journal can be a treasure trove of ideas. Write down thoughts, inspirations, quotes, and snippets of good writing for future reference.

By integrating these strategies into your routine, you can enhance your creative process and find the support and inspiration needed to overcome writer’s block.

Remember, every writer’s journey is unique , and embracing your individual path is key to unlocking creativity.

How bibisco writing software can help you overcome writer’s block

In the journey of overcoming writer’s block, bibisco novel writing software stands as a valuable ally for writers.

With its features designed for writers , such as character interviews, mind maps, and writing goals, bibisco provides a suite of tools developed to streamline the writing process, enhance creativity, and keep motivation aflame.

Overcoming the writer's block: bibisco mind map

Through character interviews , writers can delve deep into their characters’ motivations, sparking new ideas and directions for their stories.

Moreover, mind maps allow writers to organize their thoughts visually and explore different narrative paths, facilitating a fresh approach to storytelling.

Complementing these features, the writing goals tools assist in setting and tracking progress, ensuring deadlines are achieved and motivation stays robust.

With bibisco, writers have the resources they need to navigate writer’s block and reignite their creativity.

Overcoming writer’s block is not an instantaneous achievement but a continuous journey of self-discovery and adaptation .

The strategies and insights provided offer a foundation upon which you can build your unique approach to nurturing creativity and productivity.

Refining the writing environment, adopting a disciplined routine, utilizing creativity-stimulating exercises, or relying on the supportive features of bibisco, the path to liberating from writer’s block lies in the persistence to evolve and the willingness to embrace change .

Every writer’s journey is unique, and exploring these strategies can help you rediscover the joy and fulfillment of writing .

Writer’s Block FAQs

How can i overcome writer’s block.

To break free from writer’s block, consider implementing these seven strategies.

Improve your workspace to make it more conducive to writing.
Utilize the Pomodoro Technique to manage your time effectively.
Schedule your writing time and make it a regular habit.
Use writing prompts to spark creativity.
Accept that imperfection is part of the writing process.
Engage with books or articles to inspire your own writing.
Avoid labeling your creative slowdown as writer’s block .

What steps can I take to get unstuck from writer’s block?

If you find yourself stuck due to writer’s block, try these five steps to regain momentum.

Avoid procrastination by starting your writing task; the beginning is often the hardest part.
Practice freewriting to let your thoughts flow without worrying about perfection.
Establish a consistent writing routine.
Read works by other authors to find inspiration.
Treat yourself with kindness and avoid being overly critical.

What are some effective strategies for overcoming writer’s block?

To effectively overcome writer’s block, consider these strategies.

Make writing a daily habit.
Discuss your ideas with a friend for a new perspective.
Identify your most creative times and schedule writing sessions accordingly.
Eliminate distractions to focus better on your writing.
If you’re stuck on one section, move to another part of your work.

How can I bypass writer’s block?

For those looking to bypass writer’s block, unconventional yet effective methods include:

Talking to yourself or an imaginary friend to work through ideas.
Turning off your internal filter to allow free flow of thoughts.
Changing your writing tool, such as switching from digital to paper.
Writing in short, concentrated bursts to maintain focus.
Embracing chaos and allowing your ideas to flow without order.
Writing in a different time or place to refresh your perspective.
Taking a shower, as the change of environment and routine can spur creativity.

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Thank you, these suggestions look worthwhile.

Thank you for reading!

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Writing Prompts

150+ Story Starters: Creative Sentences To Start A Story

The most important thing about writing is finding a good idea . You have to have a great idea to write a story. You have to be able to see the whole picture before you can start to write it. Sometimes, you might need help with that. Story starters are a great way to get the story rolling. You can use them to kick off a story, start a character in a story or even start a scene in a story.

When you start writing a story, you need to have a hook. A hook can be a character or a plot device. It can also be a setting, something like “A young man came into a bar with a horse.” or a setting like “It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.” The first sentence of a story is often the hook. It can also be a premise or a situation, such as, “A strange old man in a black cloak was sitting on the train platform.”

Story starters are a way to quickly get the story going. They give the reader a place to start reading your story. Some story starters are obvious, and some are not. The best story starters are the ones that give the reader a glimpse into the story. They can be a part of a story or a part of a scene. They can be a way to show the reader the mood of a story. If you want to start a story, you can use a simple sentence. You can also use a question or an inspirational quote. In this post, we have listed over 150 story starters to get your story started with a bang! A great way to use these story starters is at the start of the Finish The Story game .

If you want more story starters, check out this video on some creative story starter sentences to use in your stories:

150+ Creative Story Starters

Here is a list of good sentences to start a story with:

I’ve read about a million stories about princesses but never thought I could ever be one.
There was once a man who was very old, but he was wise. He lived for a very long time, and he was very happy.
What is the difference between a man and a cat? A cat has nine lives.
In the middle of the night, a boy is running through the woods.
It is the end of the world.
He knew he was not allowed to look into the eyes of the princess, but he couldn’t help himself.
The year is 1893. A young boy was running away from home.
What if the Forest was actually a magical portal to another dimension, the Forest was a portal to the Otherworld?
In the Forest, you will find a vast number of magical beings of all sorts.
It was the middle of the night, and the forest was quiet. No bugs or animals disturbed the silence. There were no birds, no chirping.
If you wish to stay in the Forest, you will need to follow these rules: No one shall leave the Forest. No one shall enter. No one shall take anything from the Forest.
“It was a terrible day,” said the old man in a raspy voice.
A cat is flying through the air, higher and higher, when it happens, and the cat doesn’t know how it got there, how it got to be in the sky.
I was lying in the woods, and I was daydreaming.
The Earth is a world of wonders.
The fairy is the most amazing creature I have ever met.
A young girl was sitting on a tree stump at the edge of a river when she noticed a magical tree growing in the water.
My dancing rat is dressed in a jacket, a tie and glasses, which make him look like a person.
In the darkness of the night, I am alone, but I know that I am not.
Owls are the oldest, and most intelligent, of all birds.
My name is Reyna, and I am a fox.
The woman was drowning.
One day, he was walking in the forest.
It was a dark and stormy night…
There was a young girl who could not sleep…
A boy in a black cape rode on a white horse…
A crazy old man in a black cloak was sitting in the middle of the street…
The sun was setting on a beautiful summer day…
The dog was restless…”
There was a young boy in a brown coat…
I met a young man in the woods…
In the middle of a dark forest…
The young girl was at home with her family…
There was a young man who was sitting on a …
A young man came into a bar with a horse…
I have had a lot of bad dreams…
He was a man who wanted to be king…
It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.
I know what you’re thinking. But no, I don’t want to be a vegetarian. The worst part is I don’t like the taste.
She looked at the boy and decided to ask him why he wasn’t eating. She didn’t want to look mean, but she was going to ask him anyway.
The song played on the radio, as Samual wiped away his tears.
This was the part when everything was about to go downhill. But it didn’t…
“Why make life harder for yourself?” asked Claire, as she bit into her apple.
She made a promise to herself that she would never do it.
I was able to escape.
I was reading a book when the accident happened.
“I can’t stand up for people who lie and cheat.” I cried.
You look at me and I feel beautiful.
I know what I want to be when I grow up.
We didn’t have much money. But we knew how to throw a good party.
The wind blew on the silent streets of London.
What do you get when you cross an angry bee and my sister?
The flight was slow and bumpy. I was half asleep when the captain announced we were going down.
At the far end of the city was a river that was overgrown with weeds.
It was a quiet night in the middle of a busy week.
One afternoon, I was eating a sandwich in the park when I spotted a stranger.
In the late afternoon, a few students sat on the lawn reading.
The fireflies were dancing in the twilight as the sunset.
In the early evening, the children played in the park.
The sun was setting and the moon was rising.
A crowd gathered in the square as the band played.
The top of the water tower shone in the moonlight.
The light in the living room was on, but the light in the kitchen was off.
When I was a little boy, I used to make up stories about the adventures of these amazing animals, creatures, and so on.
All of the sudden, I realized I was standing in the middle of an open field surrounded by nothing but wildflowers, and the only thing I remembered about it was that I’d never seen a tree before.
It’s the kind of thing that’s only happened to me once before in my life, but it’s so cool to see it.
They gave him a little wave as they drove away.
The car had left the parking lot, and a few hours later we arrived home.
They were going to play a game of bingo.
He’d made up his mind to do it. He’d have to tell her soon, though. He was waiting for a moment when they were alone and he could say it without feeling like an idiot. But when that moment came, he couldn’t think of anything to say.
Jamie always wanted to own a plane, but his parents were a little tight on the budget. So he’d been saving up to buy one of his own.
The night was getting colder, and the wind was blowing in from the west.
The doctor stared down at the small, withered corpse.
She’d never been in the woods before, but she wasn’t afraid.
The kids were having a great time in the playground.
The police caught the thieves red-handed.
The world needs a hero more than ever.
Mother always said, “Be good and nice things will happen…”
There is a difference between what you see and what you think you see.
The sun was low in the sky and the air was warm.
“It’s time to go home,” she said, “I’m getting a headache.”
It was a cold winter’s day, and the snow had come early.
I found a wounded bird in my garden.
“You should have seen the look on my face.”
He opened the door and stepped back.
My father used to say, “All good things come to an end.”
The problem with fast cars is that they break so easily.
“What do you think of this one?” asked Mindy.
“If I asked you to do something, would you do it?” asked Jacob.
I was surprised to see her on the bus.
I was never the most popular one in my class.
We had a bad fight that day.
The coffee machine had stopped working, so I went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.
It was a muggy night, and the air-conditioning unit was so loud it hurt my ears.
I had a sleepless night because I couldn’t get my head to turn off.
I woke up at dawn and heard a horrible noise.
I was so tired I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep that night.
I put on the light and looked at myself in the mirror.
I decided to go in, but the door was locked.
A man in a red sweater stood staring at a little kitten as if it was on fire.
“It’s so beautiful,” he said, “I’m going to take a picture.”
“I think we’re lost,” he said, “It’s all your fault.”
It’s hard to imagine what a better life might be like
He was a tall, lanky man, with a long face, a nose like a pin, and a thin, sandy moustache.
He had a face like a lion’s and an eye like a hawk’s.
The man was so broad and strong that it was as if a mountain had been folded up and carried in his belly.
I opened the door. I didn’t see her, but I knew she was there.
I walked down the street. I couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.
I arrived at my parents’ home at 8:00 AM.
The nurse had been very helpful.
On the table was an array of desserts.
I had just finished putting the last of my books in the trunk.
A car horn honked, startling me.
The kitchen was full of pots and pans.
There are too many things to remember.
The world was my oyster. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
“My grandfather was a World War II veteran. He was a decorated hero who’d earned himself a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart.
Beneath the menacing, skeletal shadow of the mountain, a hermit sat on his ledge. His gnarled hands folded on his gnarled knees. His eyes stared blankly into the fog.
I heard a story about a dragon, who was said to be the size of a house, that lived on the top of the tallest mountain in the world.
I was told a story about a man who found a golden treasure, which was buried in this very park.
He stood alone in the middle of a dark and silent room, his head cocked to one side, the brown locks of his hair, which were parted in the middle, falling down over his eyes.
Growing up, I was the black sheep of the family. I had my father’s eyes, but my mother’s smile.
Once upon a time, there was a woman named Miss Muffett, and she lived in a big house with many rooms.
When I was a child, my mother told me that the water looked so bright because the sun was shining on it. I did not understand what she meant at the time.
The man in the boat took the water bottle and drank from it as he paddled away.
The man looked at the child with a mixture of pity and contempt.
An old man and his grandson sat in their garden. The old man told his grandson to dig a hole.
An old woman was taking a walk on the beach. The tide was high and she had to wade through the water to get to the other side.
She looked up at the clock and saw that it was five minutes past seven.
The man looked up from the map he was studying. “How’s it going, mate?”
I was in my room on the third floor, staring out of the window.
A dark silhouette of a woman stood in the doorway.
The church bells began to ring.
The moon rose above the horizon.
A bright light shone over the road.
The night sky began to glow.
I could hear my mother cooking in the kitchen.
The fog began to roll in.
He came in late to the class and sat at the back.
A young boy picked up a penny and put it in his pocket.
He went to the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror.
It was the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness. We once had everything and now we have nothing.
A young man died yesterday, and no one knows why.
The boy was a little boy. He was not yet a man. He lived in a house in a big city.
They had just returned from the theatre when the phone rang.
I walked up to the front of the store and noticed the neon sign was out.
I always wondered what happened to Mary.
I stopped to say hello and then walked on.
The boy’s mother didn’t want him to play outside…
The lights suddenly went out…
After 10 years in prison, he was finally out.
The raindrops pelted the window, which was set high up on the wall, and I could see it was a clear day outside.
My friend and I had just finished a large pizza, and we were about to open our second.
I love the smell of the ocean, but it never smells as good as it does when the waves are crashing.
They just stood there, staring at each other.
A party was in full swing until the music stopped.

For more ideas on how to start your story, check out these first-line writing prompts . Did you find this list of creative story starters useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

10 Football writing prompts by Imagine Forest

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Academic subjects

10 Nov 2021

Introduction to Creative Writing

New to the world of creative writing? Read our introductory guide to the subject and learn all the techniques you need to master the craft.

by Katie Broadbent · 13 min read

At school and college, much of the writing we’re used to doing is for formal, academic writing. Very rarely do we have the opportunity to learn about and try our hand at ‘ creative writing .’

In its most simplest form, creative writing is a way of writing that encompasses a range of different genres and styles outside the more formal scope of academic writing. And here at Melio , it’s one of the most popular subjects our students choose to study with us online .

With an opportunity to express oneself, defy the rules of writing that you’re constrained to in school, and immerse yourself in a world that’s totally fascinating to you - is it any surprise that it’s such an intriguing subject for so many?

For those of you who are new to the craft, we’ve put together an introduction to creative writing to teach you all about the subject and help you hone your writing skills for creative success.

What is creative writing?

Defining creative writing into a singular sentence or definition is quite difficult. As the name suggests, creative writing is all about using your own creativity - your own imaginative, out-of-the-box, embellished way of thinking to create a piece of text.

In this way, creative writing can actually be any type of writing that goes beyond the traditional realms of normal, professional, academic or technical forms of writing. It’s constrained by no standard conventions and uses a whole range of elements in its craft to keep it new, fresh and contemporary.

As a mode of writing, it can combine a number of different genres and styles across a whole range of fields of both fictional and non-fiction writing; storytelling, playwriting, poetry, prose, journalistic, and more.

Although the definition can be quite vague, creative writing can, for the most part, be defined as any type of writing that is original and able to express yourself, your feelings, or an environment (whether physical or imaginative).

When most people think of the term ‘creative writing,’ they think of poetry and prose. And they’re not wrong. Creative writing places an emphasis on narrative craft, focusing on elements such as character development, narrative and plot, while permeating with your own imagination, invention and story.

If you were to study the subject at university, or during an online course, your learning will probably cover the different elements of creative writing, which usually includes poetry and prose, among others.

What are the different types of creative writing?

As we’ve already established, there are lots of different types of creative writing, which can be categorised either as fiction or nonfiction. You may have already heard about some of the most popular, which include:

Biographies and other non-fiction

Fiction: novels, novellas, short stories, etc.

Poetry and spoken word

Playwriting/scriptwriting

Personal essays

What makes a good piece of creative writing?

How can I make my work the best it can be? It’s something we all want to know. In fact, it’s innate in all of us; to want to produce the very best work that we can to impress our peers, readers and tutors.

And when it comes to creative writing, where we are often expressing ourselves or sharing our vulnerabilities, it’s completely understandable to want to portray the things that are so personal to us in the very best light possible.

But, when it comes to creative writing, it’s important to note that there are no defined rules about what it means to create a ‘good’ piece of creative writing. As the very name suggests, creative writing is an imaginative process, created by the individual with all their quirks and personalities. In fact, what constitutes whether your work is ‘good’ is whether it's authentic and true to the idea you had and the message you wanted to portray.

Creative writing doesn’t fit one set genre and therefore there will never be an umbrella definition to describe the ‘perfect’ piece. Just think about a Gothic short story and then compare it to the features of a great Romantic poem – the two are so very different – it wouldn’t be fair to judge them together.

However, with that being said, there are a few general principles that you can follow to make your creative writing as strong as it can be - that is, making it authentic to you and therefore believable to your reader.

Know your audience

All the very best stories are created with their target reader in mind throughout the whole process. Why? Because it’s exactly what you need to know in order to really tailor your writing and connect with that ideal person.

Any creative writer should begin their writing by plotting out exactly who they want to read their work - a target persona. How old are they? What are their interests? What creative writing techniques feature in similar works they enjoy? Why would they read your work?

Once you have this in mind, and you continually refer to your persona during the writing process, your work will naturally begin to take direction and flow in a way that seems appropriate to your target reader.

Write what you know

Quite often, the best stories are those which we can connect to and relate in one or another way to our own lives. Or, they’re stories which seem so authentic that you could imagine it to be about the writer’s own life.

Why? Because they’re real to the writer and their authenticity shines through. And if you really want to connect and make your reader feel your work, it needs to seem real to them.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you quite literally have to write about your life, but drawing on knowledge you have about different elements of our lives to give your story some authenticity and more believability.

Even if you’re touching on topics you’re new to, immersing yourself in that world as much as possible - either by reading, watching, listening, or even meeting the very people that are in it - will ensure that authenticity shines through, and your writing is as authentic as it can be.

Creativity is key

Rather un-ironically, creativity is one of the most important elements of creative writing. Having your own ideas, themes, messages, narratives, worlds and characters is what sets you apart from other pieces of writing in your genre. It’s what distinguishes you as a writer.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that if you’re creating a biographical piece that you need to write a tale about a totally fantastical and mythical world with unique creatures that live within it. After all, that would totally eliminate your entire genre.

But simply use your creativity to think a little outside the box and put a unique twist on things; using literary devices like metaphors, alliteration, and varied sentence structure to make your work unique and interesting.

Challenge your imagination

One of the great things about creative writing is that there is no definition or rules on ‘how’ to write. It’s an open, expressive platform. One that’s totally unique to you and relies on your own interpretations.

You should take this as an opportunity to challenge your imagination and see where it could take you. Some of the most interesting pieces of literature are thought-provoking or make us question the writing or world around us. Where could your next story take you?

Plot a loose arc

Now, although we have just established how loose the bounds of creative writing can be, it’s still important that you still implement some rules within your writing. And one of those is that you plot a loose story arc for any piece of literature you create.

Story arcs are critical at giving your writing direction and purpose, helping you to write the whole piece at a good pace, without writing any superfluous content or ‘waffle.’ No matter what genre you’re writing in, you should have a general idea of where your story is going, ensuring you hit all the messages you want it to.

Follow your story arc, and your writing will have a strong structure, pace and direction – keeping the motions flowing and your readers more engaged.

What are some techniques used in creative writing?

Looking for ways to make your writing stand out more? Or shine a new perspective?

All creative writers implement techniques and tools to keep their writing more entertaining, giving the readers depth and feeling to maintain their interest.

There are hundreds of creative writing techniques that you can use within your writing (and we certainly aren’t going to make you read through an exhaustive list now). But, to get you thinking about what creative elements you can start to infuse into your writing, take a look at some of the most popularly-used techniques below.

Character development – The process of creating a well-rounded, realistic character with depth, personality, and clear goals or motivations.

Plot development – The story of your piece of writing – how it develops, unfolds, and moves along in time.

Point of view – The perspective from which a narrative is told. It indicates who is telling the story and how the information is conveyed to the reader. Quite often writers will play with the point of view of the central character or protagonist to trick the reader and twist their perspective.

Dialogue – Refers to the speech and conversations characters use to speak to one another. Dialogue and the language choices a character makes can be pivotal in helping define their personality.

Literary devices – Such as metaphors, similes and alliteration to make creative writing more imaginative and descriptive. These are used in a myriad of ways by writers to make their writing more vivid, interesting and engaging

How to start creative writing

Now you’ve learned more about creative writing, we’re sure you’re eager to learn more about how you can start creative writing.

Luckily, it’s much easier to launch into it than you may have first thought, with the rules of how to write creatively and what to include designed entirely around you. In fact, the most difficult part is actually starting writing!

With that being said, here’s our 3 top tips on where to source inspiration and unleash your creative ideas.

Read at every opportunity

For creative writers, inspiration is all around you. quite literally. .

In the 21st Century, it’s never been easier to access work from some work from some of the most acclaimed writers out there. Whether it’s accessing short articles online that they’ve collaborated on, visiting your local library to check out their latest book, browsing the local charity shop, scrolling through their Twitter feed, or listening to their audiobook on your way to school or university, there are so many different ways to access and seek new ideas and inspiration.

Now, it’s important to remember that although you may have a favourite reader, you shouldn’t limit yourself to reading only their works. Yes, they can really help to immerse you in that particular genre or style of writing, but you need to read publications from other writers to keep fresh ideas and inspiration coming in.

In fact, be sure to check out works from a whole range of different authors, genres, and styles to diversify your reading, and ensure your work is as well-informed as possible. You never know, you may just pick up a niche character trope from a genre or author you may never have considered before!

2. Start journaling

Struggling to get those first few sentences on the page? Or need help to unlock the narrative of a story you’ve been plotting for some time? Starting a journal can really help to unlock your creativity and help your thoughts and writing flow easily.

Getting into the habit of writing each day is something so small you can do, but one which can have a profound impact on your work. Try it yourself: set a timer for 5 minutes, open your notebook, and tell yourself that you’re going to continually write about literally anything that’s preoccupied you that day.

The more you let your stream of consciousness flow, the easier you’ll find it to build on your ideas, thoughts, and narrative, and become a better long-form writer. You never know, you could even find your next great idea from something you’ve journaled about!

3. Write, write, write!

Want to know what’s the one biggest thing you can do to start creative writing? Well, actually start. Pick up your pen or laptop, and put your ideas onto paper.

Whether you have a single conversation starter for a character, or a complete narrative arc, you will only begin your creative writing journey when you physically do it. And I promise that once you begin to write something, ideas will flow to you more easily, and you’ll find the process much easier.

Even if you have no idea on what to write – look for writing prompt inspiration from all around you and start drafting literally anything that comes to your head. It may not be your next bestseller, but the more you practice unleashing your creativity, the easier you will find it to write over longer periods of time and express your ideas.

Creative writing is an expressive form of contemporary literature; one which allows you to draw on your own self-expression, imagination and ideas to portray a particular message, emotion, or narrative. It defies the traditional bounds of other forms of formal writing and instead follows no generalised set of guidelines, rhythms or routines.

For those looking to get started with creative writing, it’s important to really immerse yourself in the world of literature, reading and writing as much as you can – and even workshopping your work where possible. Creative writing courses and workshops are a great way to meet other like-minded students, share knowledge and feedback, and really upskill yourself.

Study Creative Writing Online

Ready to put pen to paper? Learn tried and tested writing techniques from some of Oxford and Cambridge’s greatest published tutors with our online Creative Writing course.

Whether you’re new to the subject or looking to advance your writing skill, our online Creative Writing course will help develop your own writing voice and style, while learning crucial elements of structure to help your workflow. You’ll learn amongst a small group of passionate writers of similar age and ability as you - where you can share ideas, workshop your writing, and seek inspiration.

Alternatively, if you prefer to work one-on-one with an experienced writer, you can opt for our Creative Writing Tutorials . Here, you’ll have one-on-one coaching with one of your expert tutors who will teach you more about the fundamentals of the subject, introduce you to new writers and techniques, and have the chance to workshop your writing with a professional.

It’s the most influential learning environment, with the most inspiring tutor – guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing!

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How to start a creative essay. How to Write a Creative Essay: Tips
How to Plan a Creative Writing Piece (with Pictures)
😍 How to start a creative writing piece. Short Story Tips: 10 Ways to
🎉 Piece of creative writing. GCSE English Language:How to create the
Creative of piece of writing
Creative Writing Piece

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How to Write A PERFECT Creating Writing Piece in just 2 MINUTES!

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How to Plan a Creative Writing Piece (with Pictures)
2. Make writing a habit. Try to find a specific day or time of day when you are usually free to write, and promise yourself you will sit down and write on a regular schedule. You might plan to write for two hours every day, or to complete a minimum number of words by Saturday afternoon.
8 Tips for Getting Started With Creative Writing
8 Tips for Creative Writers. Follow these tips if you want to boost your creativity and improve the way you write: 1. Always be writing. Don't ignore the random ideas that pop into your head. Even bad ideas can inspire good ones, and you never know what will trigger inspiration for a better idea later.
Creative Writing: 8 Fun Ways to Get Started
2. Start journaling your days. Another easy way to get started with creative writing is to keep a journal. We're not talking about an hour-by-hour account of your day, but journaling as a way to express yourself without filters and find your 'voice in writing'. If you're unsure what to journal about, think of any daily experiences that ...
What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer's Toolbox
5 Key Characteristics of Creative Writing. Creative writing is marked by several defining characteristics, each working to create a distinct form of expression: 1. Imagination and Creativity:Creative writing is all about harnessing your creativity and imagination to create an engaging and compelling piece of work.
Creative Writing 101: A Beginner's Guide to Creative Writing
Creative Writing 101. Creative writing is any form of writing which is written with the creativity of mind: fiction writing, poetry writing, creative nonfiction writing and more. The purpose is to express something, whether it be feelings, thoughts, or emotions. Rather than only giving information or inciting the reader to make an action ...
How to Plan a Creative Writing Piece
1. Choose your theme or topic. Begin by deciding on the theme for your piece. This could be anything from love and friendship to adventure and mystery. By selecting a theme that resonates with you, the writing process becomes more enjoyable and personal. 2.
How to Start Writing Fiction: The 6 Core Elements
Let the conflict unfold naturally in the story, but start with the story's impetus, then go from there. 2. Fiction Writing Tip: Creating Characters. Think far back to 9th grade English, and you might remember the basic types of story conflicts: man vs. nature, man vs. man, and man vs. self.
The Ultimate Guide to Creative Writing
4 Forms of Creative Writing. While there are really no bounds to what creative writing can be, there are four main buckets it falls into. 1. Fiction. Fiction is work that describes imaginary events, places, or people. This can include novels, short stories, or even flash fiction. 2. Creative Nonfiction. Creative nonfiction is about telling true ...
Creative Writing For Beginners: 10 Top Tips
By having daily writing time, you will start to improve your writing skills. Soon you will see a quality piece of writing coming together as you work your way towards your next bestseller. 4. Tackle Writing Exercises. If you find that getting started with creative writing is hard for you, consider some basic writing exercises. Creative writing ...
Creative Writing Ultimate Guide
Here's a quick rundown of some types of creative writing you might encounter. 1. Novels. Novels (which fall under the 'fiction' umbrella) are a type of creative writing where the reader follows a character or characters through a plot. A novel might be a standalone, or it might be part of a series. 2.
10 Types of Creative Writing (with Examples You'll Love)
A lot falls under the term 'creative writing': poetry, short fiction, plays, novels, personal essays, and songs, to name just a few. By virtue of the creativity that characterizes it, creative writing is an extremely versatile art. So instead of defining what creative writing is, it may be easier to understand what it does by looking at ...
Creative Writing 101
Start a completely new project, something which is purely for fun. Write a poem or a 60-word "mini saga". Just completing a small finished piece can help if you're bogged down in a longer story. ... For me creative writing is an "art piece" of your mind wherein you can freely express your ideas, emotions and ability to attract or ...
Essential Creative Writing Tips and Techniques
Creative writing is writing that uses imagination, creativity, and mastery of the art of writing to evoke emotion in a reader. It could be a fictional story, a nonfiction piece, or movie script, a play, a poem, et cetera. Creative writing oftentimes springs up from experimentation and good, imaginative use of knowledge and ideas.
Creative Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Listen to conversations on the bus, in a coffee shop, or at the supermarket. Jot down a particular exchange and carry it on, seeing where the characters lead you. Pick up a book you really like and open it at a random page. Pick a sentence you like and write it down, and then carry on writing your own story from here, using your own characters ...
Creative Writing: Start Your Creative Writing Journey
Creative writing is one of those skills you can eternally get better at, but often suck at when you start… I've been there. I've so been there. Now, we're not saying your creative writing is bad necessarily, but just that if you want to continue to push yourself in this industry, you'll need some work since literature is more competitive now than it ever has been.
26+ Creative Writing Tips for Beginners ️
Simple - Just create writing goals for yourself. Examples of writing goals might include, to write 100 words every day or to write 600 words by the end of next week. Whatever your goals make sure you can measure them easily. That way you'll know if you met them or not.
How to Start Creative Writing
15 creative writing ideas. Here are some exciting creative writing exercises to try. 1) Write a modern version of a fairy tale or myth. Give it a new twist. 2) Write a haiku, a short unrhymed poem with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second line, and five in the third line.
How to Start a Story: 10 Top Tips From Literary Editors
8. Do something new with your writing. 9. Create tension that has room to grow. 10. Capture your readers' attention. 1. Craft an unexpected story opening. Some of the most memorable opening lines are ones that hook readers with something out of the ordinary.
How to start a piece of writing
3 ways to start a piece of writing. Here are the three tactics I use myself and with my writing coaching clients to start any piece of content: 1. High-speed, low-drag approach: Don't worry about the beginning, just start writing -- anywhere you feel the mojo. That could be section 2 or subheads to guide the reader.
How to Get Started With Creative Writing
Complement lots of reading with lots of writing. You'll make progress much quicker. Write a short story every two weeks, for instance. Force yourself to sit down and find an idea worth less than ...
How to Start Writing: Overcoming Writer's Block
To break free from writer's block, consider implementing these seven strategies. Improve your workspace to make it more conducive to writing. Utilize the Pomodoro Technique to manage your time effectively. Schedule your writing time and make it a regular habit. Use writing prompts to spark creativity.
A Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction
Creative nonfiction writers often listen to their emotions and allow their feelings to affect the shape and tone of their writing. 4. Incorporate literary techniques. One of the things that separates creative nonfiction and literary journalism from other forms of nonfiction is the use of techniques more often seen in the world of fiction.
150+ Story Starters: Creative Sentences To Start A Story
They can be a way to show the reader the mood of a story. If you want to start a story, you can use a simple sentence. You can also use a question or an inspirational quote. In this post, we have listed over 150 story starters to get your story started with a bang! A great way to use these story starters is at the start of the Finish The Story ...
Creative Writing Examples (20 Types for You to Try)
Authors will often use creative storytelling or creative writing skills to tell engaging, interesting stories, or to convey information in an interesting manner. The Creative Pen by Joanna Penn. The Artist's Road by Patrick Ross. terribleminds by Chuck Wendig.
Introduction to Creative Writing
As the name suggests, creative writing is all about using your own creativity - your own imaginative, out-of-the-box, embellished way of thinking to create a piece of text. In this way, creative writing can actually be any type of writing that goes beyond the traditional realms of normal, professional, academic or technical forms of writing.
100 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers
Pick your favorite, and use these misheard lyrics as the title of a new creative writing piece. Write a story, scene, or poem based on this title. ... scene, or poem that uses the abecedarian format. Start with the letter A or get creative and start anywhere in the alphabet you wish. 20. Apocalypse Now. Write a story or scene set during an ...