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Creative Writing – Getting Started

Creative Writingby Annette Young

Annette YoungIn my mind, the whole process of creative writing is wonderful, yes, even the good, the bad and the frustrating. I admit I am a little biased but, I am not sure that any creative pursuit or hobby can provide as much variety as creative writing. There are so many genres in which to study and so many techniques to learn. Still, if it was easy, it wouldn’t be fun. Right?

As you progress, you absorb a vast array of techniques and you gradually start to utilise these techniques to improve your writing skills. Eventually, you start to develop your own style and begin to write with greater confidence. But, it can take time for this development to happen and when you first start out, understandably, you make a lot of mistakes.

I truly believe that you never stop learning. There are always easier ways to produce compelling material and, more imaginative ways of generating ideas and applying them. But the learning curve can be as difficult or as streamlined as you want  it to be. You can learn quickly if you apply yourself or, you can take your time and learn through trial and error.  Your journey will be personal and unique.

In the last week or so, I’ve been talking to a few of the Creative Competitor News subscribers and, our Write, Learn and Publish members and many have said to me that they struggle to get started. They have ideas but are not sure what to do about it. Do they just write and get the words out or do they have a sense of purpose and plan? Do they write each day and if so, what do they write and how do they even develop winning ideas?  I was reminded that when starting out, the learning curve can seem vast. Yes, it’s absolutely important to cover the basics and as a writer, to know what you can and must achieve and, how you do so.

Then yesterday, I was talking to a friend about the creative process and he  admitted that he wouldn’t have a clue as to how to start writing a novel or even short story. It’s not surprising, there are numerous ways of doing so and the real trick is to understand how to make the relevant techniques work for you so that you can see real results.

Creative writing is a wonderful pastime, more, it’s addictive, especially when you start to develop your skills and see real improvements, which can come surprisingly quickly. But sometimes, you just need a helping hand to streamline the process or, to lay out an effective route forward. However you learn, make it fun and never give up. Try various creative options, flash fiction, twist in the tale stories, horror, comedy and so on. Find out what works for you.  I honestly believe that anyone can take the leap from beginner to professional if they really want to.

Need some help? We have coaching and numerous writing courses to inspire. Check out our latest writing course Creative Writing Toolkit (It’s on offer).

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