CREATIVE WRITING

Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, or non-fiction that goes outside the
bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and fictional forms of literature. Works
which fall into this category include most novels and epics, as well as many short stories and
poems. Writing for the screen and stage, screen writing and play writing respectively.

In addition, creative writing is anything where the purpose is to express thoughts, feelings and
emotions rather than to simply convey information. It involves the skillful and imaginative
production of something original (e.g. a work of art) (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of
Current English, 1995, The Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 2007). Writing
is like a journey that you cannot just set out on aimlessly. You cannot just write without having a
good reason why you would like to do so. Below are some of the reasons why you may want to
write.

REASONS FOR CREATIVE WRITING

To communicate

One of the reasons why we write is to be able to transmit our own thoughts or ideas to other
peoples across cultures, time and age. That you live and write in Nigeria does not mean that you
write for the Nigerian peoples alone. Your writing will go places, it could even outlive you the
same way the works of William Shakespeare, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Christopher Okigbo, Ola
Rotimi, outlived them.

To keep Diaries

You may decide to keep a record of some of the important events or things that have happened
to you in writing. When you do this, you are keeping a record through writing. Sometime in life,
and as you go into the world of work, you may want to keep the date and time of some
experiences, where you meet some peoples who are important to you. This type of writing,
depending on the writer does not require a very elaborate composition like the novel. You must
not forget that there are some functional diaries that involve an elaborate or serious writing.

To Develop Talent
You may have the natural gift to create and communicate ideas. If you do not have it, you may
also acquire the skills of writing through training and practice. The type of practice we are
gradually putting you through could make you a good creative writer. That is why it is important
for you to know whom you are. You must also know your creative ability. You should know that
your creative ability can open doors of success for you. In the end, you will feel fulfilled if you
are able to create what is good. All you should do when you discover the creative gift in you is to
do all you can to develop it. You may develop it by reading more creative works or by asking the
right questions from experienced creative writers. And, if you do not have it, start now to seek, to
learn, and in no time, you will acquire the technique. This may be the reason why Covey (1990)
insists that “what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared with what lies
within us”.

Qualities of a Good Creative Writer

1. Planning

Planning is the ‘corner stone’ of most research or writing. Before one embarks on the
imagination to boost one’s creative intention, one is expected to have decided on the general
subject area one intends to explore in one’s writing. One can then think of a suitable topic, how
you will organise your paragraphs, what your introduction will be and what your conclusion is
likely to be. 3.1.1 Economy of Words It is your responsibility to keep your creative work clear
and meaningful. You must not forget that the reason why you write is to enable other people or
your audience to understand you. You should speak to be heard through your writings. You may
go into your University library or departmental library and read through the samples of good
creative works. Check the writers’ choice of words. You may also ask for examples of creative
works, books, and well written magazines from your lecturers. These materials will help you in
your choice of words when you write. You must not be caught writing long and meaningless
expressions. When you do this, your examiner or audience whom you have written for will not
be able to understand what you have written.

This is why your sentences should not contain unnecessary words. As a writer, you do not need
to bother make, your writing unnecessarily difficult. Your writing should not be different from a
machine which all parts combine to make a whole and work well. If a part of a machine is
missing, it will either work and very badly or not work at all. When you write accurately and
with precision, your writing will make a good reading.

2. Simplicity

Simplicity Another quality that you must arm yourself with when you write is simplicity. This
does not mean that you should reduce the grammatical beauty of your work to the bare bone.
You must say exactly what you mean in the best manner you are familiar with and in the style
others will understand. You should be yourself when you write. Whether you sit at the computer
set or you use pen and paper, you must be direct and clear to the point. This is the essence of the
contemporary style of creative writing. In the table below are some examples of the simple and
clear use of language by some popular writers. You will find the passages from their works
accessible, knowledgeable and interesting. I have also provided a simple, score card chart to
assess the works. You can also use the same to assess your own writing.

3. Clarity of Expression

You can make yourself clear or difficult through your writing. You have a choice, but the better
choice is to avoid being unnecessarily difficult. You should convey your ideas in clear, readable
prose. There may be the technical needs for one to be a bit complex in one’s writing, but one can
still maintain coherence and give readers access to one’s work. You may be wondering if it is
possible for one to be clear. But you will agree with me that since writing is like speaking, it
should not add to or increase the difficulty of your readers. Whether the form you have chosen to
write on is an essay, letter, poetry, drama or prose, you must see your reader as your next good
neighbour who must not be hurt. You should not forget that the ability to communicate
(language) is the essential quality that distinguishes man from other animals. Your ability to use
language to be understood by other people makes you a human being.

Structuring Creative Writing

This has to do with the arrangement of the content of the story. The following are to be
considered when structuring your creative writing:

1. Developing the story line

Summary of Lecture

1. You must practice writing very often

2. You must write in a simple and meaningful language

3. Your writing must be well arranged and coherent

4. Your writing must be expressive and balanced

5. You should study the creative works of other good writers to improve on your own

6. You should assess your writing through a simple score card.