Creative Writing Help

Writing as Therapy

Authors write for a variety of reasons whether there is a story to tell, something they are burning to say or for catharsis. Writing can be a very effective tool for healing because of the impact on the writer themselves.

Getting it out

Negative emotions, thoughts or memories can be crippling but the naked page becomes e a safe place where they may be processed and experienced without additional harm, danger or stress. In private writings no one’s feelings are hurt, there is no confrontation and the writer can “say” anything without being judged or misunderstood.

Processing

Difficult situations can leave a person grappling with strong emotions which sometimes cloud judgement and thought processes. Expressing emotions by writing them down provides a mind clearing release. Someone who at one moment did not know how to handle circumstances suddenly has several ideas about how to proceed. Anger subsides and the writer can see things from different perspectives and those who had been fearful may come to self awareness.

The invisible listening ear

Many writers feel lonely and use the act as a way of connecting. The one who reads becomes a confidant and even a friend for the moment. The writer can share the most intimate thoughts and feelings and for a moment, is no longer alone. Many great authors worked through their personal troubles through the pages of fiction or told the story of their lives in the attempt to understand and be understood. The reader is allowed to come along for the journey and gain healing as well, when they recognize their own troubles in the pages of their favorite book.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Emotion, Thought, Writer

Hone Your Writing Skills

No matter what you chosen profession is, you may be interested in taking your writing skills to the next level. Everyone can benefit from communicating more clearly, and so many times the medium used is the written word. Because of this, things like grammar, spelling, and even presenting a clear voice can be beneficial. The next challenge is discovering the best way to hone these skills.

Programs like Earn My Degree offer individuals a chance to improve their writing skills with online classes. For most people, this is a more convenient alternative to attending community college or university classes within their own town. Students have set deadlines but have the opportunity to work at their own pace and at a time that fits into their schedule. You may not be able to attend a writing class in person every Thursday night at seven, but you can register online and earn credit in a few short weeks on your own schedule.

Any type of practice will be beneficial to improving your skills, but structured exercises and activities will help you grow in specific areas. You can take courses on business writing, creative writing, and even technical writing if you want to learn how to request a grant or write a business letter to an associate. Start with a simple class that goes over the basics of writing and continue through until you feel confident in the skills that you possess. At every opportunity, try out what you have learned and look for any changes in the responses that you get. This will make all of your hard work well worth it.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Creative writing, E-learning, Technical writing

If you write it, will they Read it?

Image via Wikipedia

Once writers come up with an idea for an article, before actually getting down to the business of writing it, they will most likely ask themselves who will read it. The answer to the question will help them decide how to write it. It will also give writers ideas for future articles using the same information in a new way.

Here are several ways to tweak ideas into several articles:

Relevance

Is the article of significant value?

Writers can fashion an article in several ways, either to help people find a solution to a problem, to satisfy their curiosity, or to enlighten them on a particular subject.

Writers can get three articles out of the same idea by changing how they use the information in their writing.

Audience

Does the article target people in general or a specific group?

If the article is medical in nature, can the writer do the article from several points of view, from the medical profession to the patient’s, to get two articles out of one idea? If it is about parenting, can the information change to target single, divorced, and widowed parents, or for parents of children of all ages?

The Spin

Is the article about something new and different, or it is a new spin on an old subject?

If it is an historical piece, does the article contain information not previously known about a popular historical subject, for example Presidents of the United States, such as their habits, hobbies, or their likes and dislikes? Is it about their political views and accomplishments?

The writer can use the information to make comparisons to different presidents for another article.

Locality

Will the article interest people nationwide, internationally, or locally? Is it a subject pertaining to a specific area in the world, country, or city, regarding poverty, crime rates, or customs.

Writers can think of dozens of ideas for new articles.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Writer, Writers Resources

A Journal of Writing Ideas

Image via Wikipedia

The advantage of freelance writers is the freedom to choose the subject of the articles they are writing. Where do freelance writers get all of their ideas for their articles, when they must cover a wide array of topics? The answer is from everywhere around them. Freelance writers should always keep a journal handy, so that when ideas pop into their heads, they remember them by writing them down.

Newspapers

Local and national newspapers contain much more than the latest news items. Certain headlines attract the attention of readers, not just writers, such as stories about people who accomplished something great against insurmountable odds. The background story of a small business might catch your attention. There may be similar stories to tell within the writer’s local community.

People

Striking up conversations with people while going about their daily routines is an opportunity to find article ideas. Everyone meets interesting people on a daily basis, whether it is on their way to and from work, out walking their dog, or while shopping at the mall or supermarket.

Feelings and Emotions

In the course of a day, think about the times when something or someone made you angry or upset, or truly amazed or even pleasantly surprised you, including family members and the family’s pets.

Television and Radio

People, places, and story lines of your favorite television program are great sources for generating ideas. Some ads from the sponsors can even be a source for an idea about products or the people who buy them.

Billboards and Signs

Take note of unusual business names or curious ads, and pay attention to colors and lettering used on billboards. Writers can expand these into finding out what influences consumers to frequent certain businesses more often than they do others.

Article ideas are everywhere, but the trick is to find them, write them down, and turn them into articles later.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Freelancer, Writers Resources

Did Walter Cronkite Really Start Out This Way?

Image by John McNab via Flickr

Because of the speed with which people share information on the Internet today, most writers turn to writing news stories as opposed to human interest or personal experience pieces. They do this for several reasons. One is they worry that there are not enough people interested in their own experiences. The other reason is they fear a story that is interesting today may not be tomorrow.

The main reason news stories are so appealing to writers is that the subjects of news stories change daily, and sometimes change several times in one day. For those interested in writing news stories, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Find News Stories on Popular Topics

For the majority of people, the most important thing in their lives is the health and well-being of their families. News stories on the latest in child-rearing or birthing techniques are popular among young women, pregnant women, and new moms. News about the prices of gas, of food, and of other essentials, is important to families of all sizes. Unemployment, rising taxes, and the state of the economy concerns everyone. New surveys and breaking news in the medical field are of interest to everyone in regards to their health.

Add the Right Stuff

Almost as important as the news contained in the article, is the way the writer/reporter writes it. Always remember: Who, what, when, where, why, and how, when writing a news story. Grab the reader’s attention with the first paragraph by stating the most important details first. In subsequent paragraphs, explain the details of the information beginning with the most important facts first.

Go out in Style

Many news stories combine the facts of the story with a personal touch. This is where the writer’s flair for writing human-interest stories combines with the news story, so that readers find a connection to the article.

Three points to remember when writing a news story:

Choose a popular topic
Provide all the details
Make it personal

Walter Cronkite did this effortlessly, which is why he is the most trusted and admired journalist of all time.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: MSNBC, Walter Cronkite

Is There Such a Thing as too much Research in Writing?

Image via Wikipedia

There are topics that writers are experts in, topics they have limited amount of knowledge about, and then there are topics that writers have no knowledge of whatsoever.

For writers, the latter case is the time when they must research the topic. They want to be able to understand what they are writing about, and reflect that in the pieces they write. Sometimes writers will do tons of research, reading everything they can get their hands on about the topic. When they finish the article, they often discover they did not need half of the material they collected. To some people, this might seem like a gigantic waste of time. To writers, it means that they have that research material to use later on, for future submissions.

Anytime writers conduct research on animals, there are facts they run across that are specific to all species. Then there are the characteristics that only pertain to one species, or one type of animal. A writer can turn this information into articles in the future about the sleeping, eating, or mating patterns of one animal or a whole species of animals. Other information gained can turn into an interview with a zookeeper, or multiple Top Ten Lists regarding animals and their similarities and differences.

Even though the article has to do with a specific topic, writers occasionally stumble upon information about other subjects within the topic. If writers utilize their research properly, they can write numerous articles on the general topic of animals, such as their life cycles, mating habits or the foods they eat. They will also be able to write many more articles on specific types of animals, or even about why certain animals are indigenous to different regions because of the food supply or the climate.

Learning about animals can lead to learning about regions of the world and about the people living in those regions. Therefore, no amount of research material writers gather for a particular topic is ever too much. Writers can use the material for a wide range of topics, in unique ways.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Arts, Writer

Writing from Personal Experience

Image via Wikipedia

In recent years, more people turned to the Internet for their news and information instead of the local newsstand. The reason is that because of the fast-paced world we now live in, people want the same information as they always have, except now they want it faster.

This is good news for freelance writers because most people who use the Internet are searching for information on a variety of subjects. They are also looking for differing opinions on any given topic. This is why social networks are enormously popular, because people want to hear the experiences of others, and they want to meet people with common interests. The possibilities for freelance writers to write about their personal experiences on a wide range of topics are endless.

For example, if a parent is searching for information on how to solve problems they are having with their child at school, they may want to find out what teachers or school officials can do to help them at the school level. They will also seek advice from other parents with similar problems, and from parents who already found solutions to those problems.

Freelance writers who are also parents of school-aged children can write about similar experiences. Those with any type of professional teaching experience can write about their take on the topic from the school’s point of view. Still others can write about what they or their children did, that either helped the situation or made it worse. The same goes for work-related problems. People want to read about others who have had the same problems at work as them, and they want to know what others did to solve the problems.

Before computers, people would read books or magazines to find help or advice on any subject matter. Oftentimes, the material was technical and did not give readers the personal touch they were looking for to help them. For every life-related topic, there is a wide range of perspectives that freelance writers can choose to write from, and they will never be at a loss for what to write about, or how to write it.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Freelancer, Writers Resources

Tips for Becoming Successful in the Writing Field

Image via Wikipedia

Successful writers that draw a steady income from writing possess the following skills:

Good quality writing

Knowledge of the publishing business

Perseverance

As any successful writer will tell you, the most difficult skill to acquire is perseverance. While successful writers should have a solid command of the English language and be proficient in the ability to use proper grammar, how you write depends on who your readers are.

The easiest way for writers just starting out, is to write nonfiction articles in the form of a how-to-guide, or a list of tips, or a personal essay of your experiences that will benefit others. Once your articles are finished, you look for publications that have clientele looking for solutions to problems or advice on any given subject that you are able to supply. You can do this by simply browsing magazine racks and newspaper stands. The Internet provides additional advantages for beginning writers, because online businesses look for writers to submit material and product reviews for their blogs or websites.

Neglecting to find a publisher willing to accept your work is where the perseverance part really comes in, but it can be bittersweet. You can use rejection letters to improve your writing skills or to gain knowledge of what publishers are looking for at any given moment.

Most rejection letters will tell you why they declined your submission, whether it was because it was not something they normal publish, or because they already print a large quantity of similar articles.

Others may state exactly why they rejected your submission. Either you used too many clichés or you did not format your submission properly for their publication. Use all of this information to your advantage, and if they tell you to edit and resubmit it, do so.

Most important, hone your writing skills, learn about what sells and what does not, and keep writing and submitting. At some point, branch out into subject material you are unfamiliar with that requires you to do some research. All of this will benefit you as you strive to reach the goal of becoming a successful writer.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: publish, Writer

Iconic Images of Beauty

When it comes to iconic images of beauty, one thinks of Vogue or Vanity Fair magazines. Now these fashion icons have published works in hardback books for your viewing pleasure.

“Vanity Fair: The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images” is a must have in the iconic images category. It comes in hardback so that it will last through many viewings. The authors are David Friend and Graydon Carter with an introduction done by Christopher Hitchens. Vanity Fair magazine is known for showcasing portraits of the most beautiful and famous iconic people, though they have tons of talent behind the lens, too. Well known celebrities like Herb Ritts, David LaChapelle, Edward Steichen and Annie Leibovitz contribute their works of politics and culture to the volume.

“In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine” is an honest masterpiece for those seeking iconic images of beauty. Showcasing profiles of Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and Annie Leibowitz, among other powerful faces that have graced the magazine’s cover over the years. Gorgeously designed with 440 pages of exquisitely illustrated images of the past century in fashion and iconic figures, this is a one of a kind book. Everything from Vogue’s illustrated covers in 1892 all the way to the postmodern world of today is in this collection. With Grace Coddington, Anna Wintour and Steven Klein as contributors and authors Alberto Oliva and Norberto Angeletti; the history has never been more beautifully told than within the engrossing volume of photography.

Metropolitan Museum of Art published an excellent exploration of the supermodel phenomenon and the changing faces and evolution of feminine beauty. It is called “Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” and features Sunny Harnett and Dovima of the 50’s, Twiggy from the 60’s, Lauren Hutton of the 70’s and the 80’s supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. In the 90’s, the edgy Kate Moss entered the scene.

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Anna Wintour, Linda Evangelista

Turn your Love of Literature into a Career

What if you were able to pursue your hobby while having a career? Some people are doing just that by pursuing a college degree in English, literature or even library management. These college degrees allow bookworms to pursue their hobby while getting a college education.

Working around books for a book lover is a dream come true and now, through achieving specific college degrees, it can allow that dream to become a reality. For example, people that pursue a degree in literature are able to teach college courses on the literature of their choice, become expert book bloggers and even teach college courses on how to write the type of literature they studied. Library management degrees allow the degree holder to become a librarian, pick other books for people to enjoy and inspire people to love reading and English degrees allow people to actually write a novel or short story and hopefully find their book next to all the books they love to read.

While it might sound amazing, many people are reluctant to go back to school to pursue a degree in a field of study that interests them. These people are afraid of the time commitment that college requires as well as having time to travel to and from classes. However, that has all changed. Through the use of sites like elearners.com, people are able to find the right college for them. These sites list a number of physical brick and mortar schools, as well online only schools that those looking to go back to college can browse through. With the wealth of knowledge available, any person who is looking to pursue a college degree is able to find the right college for them and get the best college education possible.

So why not turn that book loving hobby into a career and get a college degree that allows you to pursue a future in the world of literature?

Filed Under: Creative Writing Help Tagged With: Academic degree, Distance Learning, Education, English language, Higher education, New York Times, Student, United States

Categories