Creative writing remains a powerful form of self-expression, even as digital communication dominates much of what we do. However, a concerning shift has emerged: only 28.7% of young people aged 8 to 18 reported enjoying writing in their free time in 2024, a noticeable drop compared to previous years. This highlights the growing need to reignite interest in writing.
Beyond creativity, writing enhances critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication. Regular writing strengthens memory, sharpens cognitive abilities, and contributes to mental well-being.
For those looking to get better at writing or rediscover its joys, understanding the key elements of the craft is essential. In this article, we’ll break down seven practical steps to help you develop your creative writing skills and find your authentic voice.
What is Creative Writing?
Creative writing is a form of writing that goes beyond the conventional structure of professional, journalistic, or academic writing. It is an expressive, imaginative form of writing that allows the writer to explore their thoughts, emotions, and ideas through storytelling and other forms of narrative expression. Unlike factual or informational writing, creative writing emphasizes originality, artistic expression, and creativity.
Key Elements of Creative Writing:
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Imagination and Originality: Creative writing is driven by the writer's imagination. It allows them to invent characters, settings, and scenarios that do not necessarily have to be rooted in reality. The freedom to explore "what if" scenarios is a central characteristic of creative writing.
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Narrative: Most creative writing involves storytelling, whether through short stories, novels, poetry, or scripts. These narratives often have plots, characters, and themes that are explored in creative and often unpredictable ways.
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Emotional Expression: Creative writing is a powerful tool for expressing emotions and personal experiences. Writers often use this form to communicate feelings, moods, and perspectives that might be difficult to express through other mediums.
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Artistic Language: Language in creative writing is used artistically and purposefully. Writers experiment with sentence structures, metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to create a unique voice and rhythm. Language isn't just functional; it's a creative tool to enhance the reader's experience.
Read: Online Creative Writing Courses for Beginners
Tips and Techniques for Successful Creative Writing
Australian author and teacher Jen McVeity introduced the Seven Steps to Writing Success method in 2005. Her approach has proven to quickly improve students' writing skills and get them interested in writing. Numerous schools in Australia and internationally have adopted the program, reflecting its success in enhancing students' writing skills.
McVeity emphasized the importance of talking, brainstorming, and planning before writing, and the program encourages group and paired activities. Let's look at how to use this strategy to teach writing to young students.
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Plan for Success
How often do you ask your children to plan for things and they ignore your advice? Or if you ask them to think before writing, and they just don’t listen? Well, that’s because young learners usually don’t understand the importance of thinking. It is important to instill the habit of thinking and brainstorming in them from a young age.
You can explain to them that thinking is key to generating fresh and original ideas. Start by setting aside dedicated time for brainstorming and reflection before diving into the writing task.
If you are doing the writing exercise at school, divide students into groups and assign different topics to think about before they start writing. If you are a parent who’s doing the brainstorming exercise with their child, try to come up with different ideas with them and make it a combined activity.
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Sizzling Starts
Once the groundwork is laid and the children are sure what they want to write about, introduce them to different ways they can start the story. One important part of doing the same is telling them the story should begin right at the time of action. Not at the beginning of the day, or the week, but when the actual thing is happening.
You might come across many stories written by your little ones that start with “once upon a time…”, “I think that”, or “I woke up and got ready for school…”. When reading those stories afterward, tell the kids that this part is unnecessary and they should think about movies where the characters directly reach the location of the action. They don’t travel or get ready and do regular things. It will help them identify the unnecessary details and remove them.
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Tightening Tension
Any story comes to life when there is a larger-than-life conflict that seems unsolvable to everyone. To keep readers engaged, develop suspense and tension throughout the plot. This can be accomplished by adding conflict and challenges to the characters.
The readers should be convinced that the hero is bound to fail this conflict. Whether it be the villain being too evil or the situation being too difficult. Eventually, when the lead character comes out of the conflict with their resilience, that’s when the readers will stay hooked to the narrative.
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Dynamic Dialogue
Dialogue is an effective tool for advancing the plot and revealing people’s personalities. Teaching kids to write realistic and compelling interactions can help their stories come to life. It's also a good idea to encourage students to express their thoughts before writing them down, as this can lead to more natural and dynamic dialogue.
Another way of adding weightage to this dialogue is quoting real people, such as experts, celebrities, or ordinary individuals, to add vibrancy to your writing. These things add depth to the characters and reveal more about them.
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Show, Don’t Tell
Think about any story and try to identify why you remember that particular story. Is there a probability that a visual story is more memorable to you compared to something plain that you read randomly? Engaging the senses is an important part of writing.
When you are writing a story, make sure to show what’s happening instead of just telling the story. What makes it more memorable is if your readers can imagine what is happening to the characters and if they can feel anything because of the same. Teach your kids to use sensory details and vivid descriptions to engage readers.
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Ban the Boring
As discussed in the first point, nobody wants to read about mundane activities. Identifying and deleting dull sections of the story is critical for keeping readers interested. Urge your students to keep their stories interesting and well-paced throughout.
Giving students advice on how to retain interest and reduce superfluous details will help them write more appealing stories. It can be helpful to proofread the stories later and include students in doing so. It will not only help them understand the importance of removing unnecessary parts but also build a habit of proofreading.
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Exciting Endings
A great story is only truly powerful if its ending matches the strength of its journey. It's the conclusion that lingers in the reader's mind, turning a good story into a memorable one. A well-crafted ending leaves an indelible mark, ensuring the story endures. By teaching kids the art of diverse endings and inspiring creativity in how they wrap up their tales, we can help them create stories that resonate long after the last word.
Encourage them to find the most impactful way to end their stories so they leave an impression on the readers.
Read: How To Nurture Your Child's Creative Writing Skills
Consistency and Repetition in Learning
One thing to remember is that consistency in learning and skill development is essential. Consistency in learning, clear goals, and regular practice opportunities can help improve writing skills. Repetition is crucial in mastering these skills and becoming a competent writer. You can also tailor your lessons as per your child’s grasping power and knowledge of these skills.
We recognize that it can be challenging to incorporate all these activities at home. To make it easier for you and more engaging for your kids, FunFox offers a myriad of activities to develop your child’s writing skills. If you want to help your child improve their writing skills, join our Writers Club.
Conclusion
Creative writing is more than just an art form, it’s a powerful way to express your inner world and connect with others. By embracing the seven steps outlined in this article, you’ll lay the foundation for developing your writing skills and discovering your true potential as a storyteller. Writing may not always come easily, but with persistence, practice, and a willingness to explore, you’ll see how each step brings you closer to mastering the craft.
So, whether you’re looking to write your first novel, craft a short story, or simply enhance your creativity, the journey begins with putting your thoughts on paper. Trust the process, stay committed, and most importantly, enjoy the adventure of writing. The more you write, the more you'll find your unique voice, and the world will be ready to hear your stories.
