Giving Words - Opening - Creative Writing

Giving Words

Words and Verse

Creative Writing?
Authored by Cynthia Jones

The distinction rather a piece of writing is indeed creative or not can be argued and is a controversial issue in literary circles. Often times, leaving the proclamation up to the reader if a piece is to be considered creative or not.

The above is a good example of how someone can without deliberation hinder a writer from continuing on and perhaps growing more creatively. Too much emphasis is then put on the quality and not enough is directed toward the effort, and in a nut shell can be a determining factor of literacy and literary maturity.

In my opinion, when one writes they are certain to use a form of creativity. Creative writing does cover a large spectrum of forms. When writing fiction, drama, poetry, prose, screenwriting, autobiographies, one is using creative writing.

The list does go on. It can be the two paragraph caption that you add to your photo in your gallery. Perhaps you have written a one page story about all that has gone into the restoration of your 1968 Mustang. You might even have a complete website detailing the 'how to' and 'how not to' win awards. It is the creativity in the technique that will give audience or not, and bestow a voice upon the words. Finding the right word to say what you want takes imagination, thought and flare. In essence, your artistry is involved in creating a piece of writing. Now you are writing creatively.

There are other forms of writing that are considered separate from creative writing. While I tend to believe there is always room for the creative side, once explained I think you will agree to the need of creative absence when using one of the following examples to write.

Take for instance technical writing, a form of writing that is used when writing instructions or assembly directions, hardware and software documentation, online help, technical definitions and technical product descriptions on Web sites. Most often with little time and preparation, the needed writing is completed and therefore referred to as technical. There is little room to deviate from the subject. The author does not have time to develop a persona or voice to his words, nor should he as it is crucial the work he/she is creating must be void of manipulation but clearly understood by the mass.

As with professional writing, used for reports, position papers, policy statements and academic or scientific journals. One can easily understand why professionalism is an absolute necessity in these types of documentation. Should the author approach personal opinion the document may not serve its purpose.

Journalistic writing is clearly based on facts. It is the presentation that has been described as an artistic expression. We are also reminded of the wordage 'Just the facts Mam'. Although journalism does deal with facts and stays true to the subject, how that subject is presented to the public is what makes creativity. That is the art of the personality that is actually doing the reporting or reading of the piece that is written.

The argument here may begin when someone is blogging a fact. If it was written with facts only, it may not be that interesting and would lack a certain appeal to be read. That is why the author will most likely decide to add their opinion or take on the matter with some extra flare.

It may be creative with their thoughts involved and we might really enjoy reading what is written, however it is clearly marked then as creative writing and can not be considered true journalism. Most are already familiar with the rule, when writing the news, only write the news and not how you feel about it. Describing how you feel about it is using your thoughts, your imagination and flare, making it creative.

I found the following definition on line and I love it!
Creative writing is a term used to distinguish certain types of writing from writing in general. The lack of specificity of the term is partly intentional, designed to make the process of writing accessible to everyone and to ensure that non-traditional, or traditionally low-status writing (for example, writing by marginalized social groups, experimental writing, genre fiction) is not excluded from academic consideration or dismissed as trivial.

Labels: article, creative, writing