Simple Ways To Improve Your Creative Writing

Creative writing can be a rewarding pastime. Many people turn to the pen to unwind after a stressful day. Some creative pieces can even be sold, turning a pastime into a source of additional income. However, many pieces that get written never see the publisher’s desk. Why? Because 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 your own benefit or to help get a work published, consider these tips.
Be a Well-Read Author
Being a well-read author does not imply that your works are read frequently. Rather, you need to constantly read the works of professional authors you wish to emulate. Choose your reading material carefully for its creative writing merit. The classics are always rewarding to read, and books that have been given this title received it for a reason. These authors know how to take words and craft a story that is easy to understand, causes one to think, captures the attention, and leaves a lasting impression. Pay attention to not only the way the author crafts the story, but also to the way he uses language.
Of course, you want to enjoy these works, not just read them for scholarly reasons. Even if you do not take a single note while you read, perusing great works will help you hone your writing style. The more well-written works you read, the better your own writing will be.
Avoid Imprecise Words
Some words have been used so often in the English language that they no longer have meaning. Words like “nice,” “great,” and “big” are overused and imprecise. Be as specific as you possibly can when you write, and use variations of these overused, vague words. Reading “the girl strolled through the park,” is far more interesting to read than “the girl walked through the park.” Both sentences mean the same thing, but the word “strolled” allows the reader to better picture the scene. The world “walk” can mean too many different types of movement.
To improve in this area, purchase a good thesaurus. When you are tempted to use a common, everyday word that does not have a precise meaning, look it up in the thesaurus. Find a synonym that means what you intend, and use that instead. Of course, avoid using words that are too flowery or hard to understand. Strive for simplicity as you strive for precision. And use a dictionary to double-check the nuances of words you find in the thesaurus.
Keep It Concise
New writers often add extra, unnecessary words to their writing, such as adverbs and passive verbs. You can make your creative writing much stronger by eliminating these unneeded words. Many adverbs (words that end in -ly), for instance, can be weeded out of writing without changing the meaning. If you use a lot of adverbs, then you need stronger verbs.
Another way to make your work more concise is to avoid writing in the passive tense. Passive tense verbs use some for of “is.” For instance, instead of, “The man was fired by his boss,” you could say, “The man’s boss fired him.” This uses fewer words, sounds stronger, and presents a more active image to 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 it will sound to the reader.
Your Creative Writing Success
These tips will help you turn acceptable writing into writing that glows. Remember, when you are writing, less is more, precision is important, and the more you read, the better your finished written product will be!