CREATIVE WRITING COURSE #5 SOME DO’S AND DON’T FOR CREATIVE WRITING

There is only one thing which differentiates great content. It is the clarity, clarity of thoughts and clarity of expressions. Your content should not be dense or boring, but should shine like a mirror.

Precision is also one great quality. Precision both in respect of your thoughts and the words you use to express them. You should write each word seriously. Do not waste them. When you write, make your of its precise meaning. To use and understand correct meaning of words and their usages take help from dictionary, thesaurus etc.

Do not write sentences or words repeatedly. It is possible to achieve miracles even with simple sentence. No wonder, even the Bible is considered a model of good writing.

Avoid being pompous. Do not be very flippant. Pick the words or expressions that suit your content.

Avoid archaisms i.e. words no longer in vague, slang, cliché and jargon. Write, as it comes to you effortlessly.

How much to write is also a great factor. This will be determined by the scope of your content.

If you are clear in your mind about what you want to say, the end will come where it should.

Do not explain too much. Leave something to the reader’s imagination also.

Leave your writing to be sprightly. A touch of humour, if it is not against the basic mood of your work, is always welcome.

Learn to be your own critic. After finishing your work, read it aloud test it in your ears. You will observe so many false notes, both in your statement and expressions. You will be surprised when you find few things which were exciting when you first write theme on paper now seem banal, discard them mercilessly. You should learn to be your own critic.

If you write your first draft, put it aside till such time as it is out of your mind. This time can be a week, a fortnight, or a month, or even more. After this time, read it again. You will see it a new content. At some places, it may even make you wonder how you could have been so silly as to write certain things.

Seek others opinion. You as a writer should build up a close circle of creative writers and discriminating readers who are on the same wavelength and who can read through his/her manuscript patiently and give an honest, unbiased opinion about it. It is necessary to shed one’s shyness to be able to show one’s content to others and also curb one’s ego to consider their criticism, however drastic it might be.