By Annette Young
If you are considering a new fictional project, stop for a moment and scan through these creative writing tips first as they just might help you to increase your connection to the reader before you’ve even written one word. It pays to really consider what you are trying to achieve before you start out, spontaneous bursts of creative writing might feel wonderful but if you want the outcome to have a more professional edge, then a little contemplation can make all the difference.
These creative writing tips may seem commonsensical but put them together and consider them throughout and your fiction will be creatively stronger as a result.
1. Creating a dramatic opening is essential if you want to hook the reader but it doesn’t always have to be an action scene, instead why not consider starting with tension? The opening could be a life-threatening revelation and the reader is instantly aware that the clock is ticking and the character may or may not make it. Tension is interwoven in our lives, we all fight against it but when we use it in reality, (like using a deadline for increased inspiration) it can serve to give the story a sense of realism.
2. If you are going to start with a sense of drama, it’s good to end each chapter with a hook. This will keep the reader turning the pages as they will be desperate to see what happens next. If you are writing a short work of fiction, you can still build tension towards the climax and make it a memorable ending.
3. Don’t reveal everything to the reader. When you settle down to read a book, you don’t want to know everything at the start. You want the opening pages to be attention-grabbing and to pull you into the story, but if the writer gives it all away or makes it so predictable, why read more? Tease the reader with some carefully chosen snippets of information that will have them mulling over this news and they will become absorbed, anticipating the outcomes. Keep it fresh but believable.
4. When you craft your characters, do you know what they really want or need to achieve? If you don’t, you will just have them treading fictional water. There’s a huge difference between characters that have an aim, and those who just mill around. Think about the people you know in real life. Those who have a cause and who are determined to achieve will stand out, they may not always be likeable in some aspects but they are memorable. Your characters need to incite interest in some way or another. Don’t make it too easy for your characters to achieve either, throw in a few obstacles to make it interesting.
5. No characters are the same throughout. We all have layers that make up our personalities. Some people sulk when they don’t get their own way, others work harder to achieve, some people attract the wrong personality types, others create incredible friendships. Past actions and learned behaviours can make your characters act in very different ways than might be expected. People are not always logical or in control of their emotions, but their actions are usually as a result of something.How well do you know your characters?
Find a good starting point and let the words flow with a flourish. If you have conviction in your writing and your story, your technique will improve dramatically and so will the end result. These creative writing tips are useful but only valuable if you use them each and every time. Eventually, these tips will become instinctive and you will develop an intuitive approach to storytelling.
