Creative writing is a valuable skill for students and helps them immensely during their academic journey. Whether they want to become professional writers or simply want to improve their communication skills, fostering creativity is always beneficial for students. Here are a few important pointers that can help students improve their writing and unleash their creativity:
Read eclectically : Mark Twain says, ‘The person who won’t read has no advantage over the one who can’t read.’ Reading exposes the readers to an array of writing styles, which in turn inspires better writing. Reading classics and critically acclaimed books gives readers a general sense of how writing should be executed. Students should explore all sorts of genres to expand their repository of experiences.
Write a diary: While reading widely is good for study and getting a sense of how one should write as writing regularly is good practice. Diaries are a good way of cataloging and recording new ideas that come to you. Recording your ideas and observations in a diary allows you to practice stream of consciousness writing, which is also known as free writing. Free writing can help you think out of the box These ideas can later on become beacons of inspiration during exams or assignments.
Write to express not impress : Creative writing is a powerful tool of self-expression. Beginners must remember that the aim should be to express not to impress. Impressions do matter especially when marks are at stake; however, for students new to the English language the focus should be on expressing their thoughts clearly. Students should put their energy into coming up with original ideas instead of feeling the pressure of using elaborate vocabulary or expressions in their writing.
Embrace prompts : Prompts are a great way to kick start creative writing. Writing prompts can spark a fission reaction of creativity, nudging writers to explore new topics. The chain reaction is hence set into motion, helps the students into exploring divergent ideas, plots and situations. This ‘creativity-in-constraints’ practice facilitates the students during the exams where sometimes unexpected questions throw the students off their game.
Show but not Tell: Students who want to improve their creative writing should tweak the well-known gospel of ‘show and tell’ to ‘show, but not tell’. Students should use various imagery devices to create a scene for the readers rather than telling word by word. They should use descriptive language and sensory details to set the scene and paint vivid pictures in the mind of the reader.
Revise and edit : As much as possible, students should revise and edit their creative writing assignments. Being meticulous about grammatical errors, sentence structure and clarity helps the students avoid rampant errors where they generally lose marks.
Be open to feedback : Feedback can be daunting, but it is an essential part of growth. The students must remain open to feedback. A constructive feedback will assist students in reaching their full potential. Constructive criticism can help them refine their writing and gain different perspectives on their work.
In conclusion, creative writing is a journey of self discovery and expression. Students can benefit from these tips to unlock their creativity and develop an ability that will help them in various aspects of life.
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