CREATIVE WRITING

Creative writing, a form of artistic expression, draws on the imagination to convey meaning
through the use of imagery, narrative, and drama. This is in contrast to analytic or pragmatic forms of
writing. This genre includes poetry, fiction (novels, short stories), scripts, screenplays, and creative
non-fiction.

Creative writing courses expose students to a variety of types of writing and provide them with
opportunities to create their own works.

The aim of the present study was to explore brain activities associated with creativity and

expertise in literary writing. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we applied a real-
life neuroscientific setting that consisted of different writing phases (brainstorming
and creative writing; reading and copying as control conditions) to well-selected expert writers and to
an inexperienced control group. During creative writing, experts showed cerebral activation in a
predominantly left-hemispheric fronto-parieto-temporal network. When compared to inexperienced
writers, experts showed increased left caudate nucleus and left dorsolateral and superior medial
prefrontal cortex activation. In contrast, less experienced participants recruited increasingly bilateral
visual areas. During creative writing activation in the right cuneus showed positive association with
the creativity index in expert writers. High experience in creative writing seems to be associated with
a network of prefrontal (mPFC and DLPFC) and basal ganglia (caudate) activation. In addition, our
findings suggest that high verbal creativity specific to literary writing increases activation in the right
cuneus associated with increased resources obtained for reading processes.

Writing can be intimidating for many people, but creative writing doesn’t have to be. Creative
writing is a form of self-expression that allows writers to create stories, characters, and unique
settings. But what exactly is creative writing? And why is it important in today’s society? Let’s explore
this further.

The Importance of Creative Writing

Creative writing is important because:

 It helps us express ourselves in ways we may not be able to do with other forms of
communication.

 It allows us to explore our creativity and think outside the box.

 It can help us better understand our emotions by exploring them through storytelling or poetry.

 Writing creatively can also provide much-needed escapism from everyday life, allowing us to
escape into a world of our creation.

 Creative writing helps us connect with others by sharing our experiences through stories or
poems they can relate to. This way, we can gain insight into other people’s lives while giving
them insight into ours.

Creative writing is writing that expresses the writer’s thoughts and feelings in an imaginative,
often unique, and poetic way. Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity
we see all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but
mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals. Writing of any sort is hard, but rewarding work –
you’ll gain a huge amount of satisfaction from a finished piece. Being creative can also be difficult and
challenging at times, but immensely fun. There is a common belief that because most of us are
literate and fluent, there is no need to serve an apprenticeship if we want to become a successful
wordsmith. … That’s what I thought until I tried to write my first novel. I soon learnt that a novel, like a
piece of furniture, has its own set of requirements, laws of construction that have to be learnt. Just
because I had read plenty of novels didn’t mean I could write one, any more than I could make a chair
because I had sat on enough of them.
(Nigel Watts, Teach Yourself Writing a Novel).

The purpose of creative writing is to both entertain and share human experience, like love or
loss. Writers attempt to get at a truth about humanity through poetics and storytelling. Creative
writing, by definition, involves being 'creative': making things up, letting your imagination run wild.
Essays are about being factual and objective, communicating ideas and arguments in the clearest
way possible and attempting to enhance the reader's knowledge, rather than their imagination. But
while the literary devices and colourful tales we associate with creative writing are indeed out of place
in an essay, these two very different kinds of writing actually have a few similarities. Above all, they’re
both meant to be read by other people, and that means that they need to sustain the reader’s interest.
So, are there any writing techniques you can borrow from creative writing to help make your essays
more interesting and original? Yes there are, and in this article, we’re going to show you how.

Spoken word, poetry, prose, and creative writing are all ways to express yourself and what
you're experiencing. Writing down and performing your thoughts can serve to transform the
intangibility of your emotions and experiences into something more. They serve as a way for you to
make your feelings tangible and real.

Many studies indicate that creative writing alleviates stress levels for increased mental,
emotional, and physical health. Lower stress levels can also ward off severe illnesses.

When I look back over all my years of formal education, from preschool through college, only a few
classes stand out as truly educational in a life-changing way.
In sixth grade, we did a section on space, which fascinated me. I retained a lot of what I learned.
Later, I took astronomy and learned even more about the universe. A class on women writers
exposed me to a whole world of literature I didn’t know existed. And two writing workshops (poetry
and creative writing) put me on the path to becoming a professional writer.
The main difference between a regular class and a workshop is that a workshop is interactive. You
work together with your fellow students, critiquing each other’s work, asking questions, and
exchanging insights. Whatever you can learn from a single instructor is multiplied by all the
knowledge and wisdom you gain by sharing ideas with a roomful of your peers.

What You Can Learn from a Creative Writing Workshop

I only took one creative writing workshop, and I’m sure they are not all equal. At an accredited school,
you can usually sit in on the first couple of sessions to see if a class or workshop is right for you
before you commit. If you find a good workshop, you’ll reap the benefits:
1. Discover yourself and your path. One day, while sitting in creative writing workshop, I was
overcome by the strangest sensation. The best way I can describe it is that I felt like I was exactly
where I was supposed to be. It was the moment I knew without a doubt that I would be a writer.

2. Find out what your writing strengths are. The best part about receiving critiques from your
peers is that they tell you what you’re doing right, which is reassuring. When you know that your
writing skills have a solid foundation, it’s easier to accept that you still have work to do.

3. Accept the weaknesses in your writing. No matter how good your writing is now, there are
things you can do to improve it. When ten of your classmates agree that certain elements in your
prose need touching up or that you need to hit the grammar books, all you can do is accept it and dig
your heels in.

4. Learn to handle critiques of your work. The first few critiques might be a bit rough, but once you
see how all the suggestions make your writing better, you’ll start looking forward to them. You’ll learn
how to separate yourself from your work, and you’ll be able to not only handle but actually embrace
(and look forward to) critiques. This will also prepare you for real-world critics and their reviews.

5. Help others improve their work. When other writers put your suggestions into action or express
appreciation for your recommendations and then tell you that your feedback helped them improve
their writing, it feels good, especially when the arrangement is reciprocal.

6. Meet people who share your passion. There’s nothing like sitting in a room surrounded by
people who are just as excited about writing as you are. It’s not only inspiring, it’s comforting. Plus, it’s
a great opportunity to meet like-minded people, some of whom may become lifelong friends, writing
partners, or your future writing group.

7. Improve your writing. This, of course, is the main reason most people take a creative writing
workshop. The ultimate goal is to become a better writer, and a workshop will definitely do the trick.
You’ll also put a lot more effort into everything you write because you know it will be scrutinized, and
this builds excellent writing habits.

8. Adopt new writing techniques. Between the instructor and your peers, you’ll discover all kinds of
interesting new writing tools and techniques, often simply through the course of discussion as well as
through observing everyone’s work.
9. Get access to a mentor. The person running the workshop should be knowledgeable and
experienced in the world of writing. Maybe the instructor is a published author, or maybe it’s someone
who’s worked as an agent, editor, or publisher. This access to a mentor is priceless. Take advantage
of it!

10. Gain experience and get a lot of creative writing practice. This is one of the most valuable
benefits of a creative writing workshop. When writers work on their own, they tend to procrastinate,
get distracted, and generally don’t finish most of the projects they start. But in a workshop, you’re
forced to get it done. This gives you lots of great experience and practice, and it also builds good
writing habits.
 Creative Writing: A Path to Mental and Emotional Wellness
Writing is more than just a way to express your thoughts on paper. It’s a powerful tool that can be
used as a form of therapy. Creative writing has been shown to improve emotional and mental well-
being.

Through creative writing, we can gain insight into our emotions, develop self-expression and
communication skills, cultivate empathy and understanding of others, and boost our imagination and
creativity.

Stress Relief and Emotional Catharsis

Writing has the power to reduce stress levels significantly. Writing about our experiences or about
things that are causing us anxiety or distress helps us to release those complicated feelings
constructively. By expressing ourselves through creative writing, we can work through the emotions
associated with stressful situations without having to confront them directly.

This is especially helpful for people who struggle to share their emotions verbally or in person.

Improved Communication and Self-Expression

Creative writing is also beneficial for improving communication skills. Through creative writing, we can
explore our thoughts and feelings more intensely than by speaking them aloud. This allows us to think
more clearly about what we want to say before actually saying it out loud or in written form, which
leads to improved self-expression overall.

Additionally, writing out our thoughts before speaking aloud allows us to articulate ourselves
better when communicating with others—which is essential for healthy personal and professional
relationships.

Increased Empathy and Understanding of Others

Through creative writing, we can also increase our empathy towards others by exploring different
perspectives on various topics that may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable for us—such as racism,
homophobia, sexism, etc.—and allowing ourselves the opportunity to see the situation from someone
else’s point of view without judgment or bias. This helps us become better communicators and more
understanding individuals overall.

The Professional Benefits of Creative Writing

Creative writing is a powerful tool that can help you communicate better and more effectively in the
professional world. It can also help you develop various skills that prove invaluable in many
industries. Whether you’re looking to build your résumé or improve your communication, creative
writing can effectively achieve both.

Let’s take a closer look at how creative writing can benefit your career.

Preparing Students for Careers in Writing, Editing, and Publishing

Creative writing is the perfect foundation for anyone interested in pursuing a career in writing, editing,
or publishing. It teaches students the basics of grammar and composition while allowing them to
express their ideas in imaginative ways.
 PERSONAL VISION AND GOALS FOR THE FUTURE

Ten years from now, I see myself with some good qualifications as an educator, Teaching
new generation youth, satisfied with my work, yet eager to keep improving and reinventing myself as
a teacher. That's where I see myself in ten years from now, and I must tell you I love this vision, and
will do whatever I can to attain it. To improve professional development as a teachers, there must
be clear focus on the groups attending and what their needs are. Furthermore, there must be a
platform for feedback and reflection. In order to monitor and adjust teaching strategies and deliver, I
will often ask for feedback from my students.

Nothing is more stressful than that “so, where do you see yourself in ten years” conversation,
especially if you aren’t quite sure what path you want to pursue. Thinking about the future can be
intimidating, but don’t limit yourself to what seems most practical or conventional. You have so much
potential and the possibilities for you are endless. Think outside of the box and dream big! Your future
is yours to create. Yes, it’s important to dream big. But turning those dreams into reality is much
harder if you don’t have a clear picture of what you want. Charting your goals on a vision board gives
your wild imagination a little more structure. Vision boards help motivate and inspire you to achieve
your goals. Though vision boards can act as a sort of guide for your future, the best part about them
is that they aren’t set in stone -- you can change it as many times as you need to without lessening its
positive effect.