Creative writing can be a rewarding pastime. Many people turn to the pen to unwind after a stressful day. Some creative bits can also be sold, turning a pastime into a source of extra income. But many pieces that may never see the publisher’s writing desk. Why? For although creative writing is a hobby for many people, they need to produce professional level work if they want to get published.
If you want to improve your creative writing, whether for profit or to help get a work published, consider these tips.
Being a well read Author
Being well-read writer does not mean that your work is read frequently. Rather, you must always read the works of professional writers that you want to emulate. Choose your reading material carefully for creative writing credentials. The classics are always rewarding to read, and books that had that title been there for a reason. These writers know how to take words and craft a story that is easy to understand, makes you think, captures attention, and leaves a lasting impression. Be aware of not only how the author crafts the story, but also how he uses language.
Of course you want to enjoy these works, not just read them for scientific reasons. Even if you do not take a single note while reading, perusing the great work to help you hone your writing. The more well-written work you read, the better your writing will become.
Avoid Ambiguous Words
Some words have been used so often in the English language that they no longer have meaning. Words like “nice”, “great” and “great” is overused and imprecise. Be as specific as you possibly can when writing, and using variants of these overused, vague words. Reading “the girl walked through the park,” is much more interesting to read than “the girl walked through the park.” Both sentences mean the same thing, but the word “wandering” allows the reader to better picture the scene. World “walk” can mean too many different types of motion.
To improve in this area, buy a good dictionary. When you are tempted to use a common, everyday words that do not have a precise meaning, look it up in the thesaurus. Find a synonym that means what you think, and use that instead. Of course, avoid using words that are too flowery or difficult to understand. Strive for simplicity that seeking precision. And use a dictionary to double check the nuances of words you find in the thesaurus.
Keep It Concise
New writers often add additional, unnecessary words into their texts as adverbs and passive verbs. You can do your creative writing a lot stronger by eliminating these unnecessary words. Many adverbs (words ending in-ly), for example, can be removed to leave without changing the meaning. If you use a lot of adverbs, when you need a stronger verb.
Another way to make your work neater is to avoid writing in passive tense. Passive tense verbs use part of the “is.” For example, instead of, “the man was fired by his boss,” you might say, “Man’s chief fired him.” This uses fewer words, sounds stronger, and presents a more active image of the reader.
When you are finished with your work, read through it, and eliminate as many unnecessary words as possible. The more concise your writing is, the stronger the sound to the reader.
Your Creative Writing Success
These tips will help you turn acceptable to write in the writing that shines. Remember, when writing, less is more, the precision is important, and the more you read, the better your finished written product will be!
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