5 Creative Writing Tips To Boost Your Skills
We all like the idea of using creative writing as a means towards the end of becoming a famous author that everyone will love. Well, there is a 99.99% chance that something like that won’t happen for the most of us. Sure, fantasizing about it is nice, but we need to get down to Earth at one point or another and start being realistic about what we can do with our writing. For one thing, we can certainly have fun with it, although that’s not what I had in mind here.
The above might have gotten you a bit discouraged. You have been dreaming of becoming a famous author, and I have sort of shattered the dream. That certainly wasn’t my intention and I am not saying that there isn’t a possibility for you specifically to become a famous author. It’s just that, chances of us all reaching that stage in our careers are certainly slim, if not non-existent.
Yet, I understand if all of this has made you feel a bit overwhelmed and uninspired. If you’re thinking of changing careers completely and devoting yourself to something other than writing, then I would advise you not to do that. Okay, you might not get extremely famous, but you can undeniably use your creative writing skills in order to make a great living for yourself. That is, if you simply point those skills into the right direction.
To Use Creative Writing Skills - You First Need To Have Them
What if, however, you are not entirely sure that you have the necessary skills yet? We all doubt ourselves sometimes. And, even though it is mostly just our anxiety speaking, there are times when our anxiety is telling us the right thing. In this case, it might be telling you that you need to do something in order to improve and boost your creative writing skills. Learning how to write creatively, as explained here, won’t be that easy, but you’ll certainly manage to boost those skills if you have the right foundation.
Given that you are here, though, I think it is safe to say that you do have creative writing skills already. After all, you wouldn’t be wasting your time trying to boost those skills if you knew you didn’t possess them. That is, of course, unless you are one of those people who believe they are great in absolutely everything, which I respect to a certain extent. You can put your mind to something and start doing it successfully. Still, when it comes to writing, there’s also a little talent involved, although we all know that talent is nothing without hard work.
So, you think you have the talent and you are now ready to add hard work to the mix? Well, good for you! I suppose you will need a bit of help in the process, which is perfectly normal. We all need help when we are trying to grow, regardless of the type of growing that we are doing.
Creative Writing Tips
If you are really ready to grow and boost those skills that you have, then here is what we are going to do. I am going to list some creative writing tips that will lead you towards becoming a better writer. Of course, you will have to put a lot of effort into it, because simply reading through the tips and being done with it won’t cut it. You’ll have to put those tips to good use. So, let’s check those out.
If you’re confident in your skills already and want to find some content writing jobs, here is an article that might help you: https://4scribblers.com/content-marketing-jobs-to-make-a-living/
1. Adopt A Reader’s Mindset
Sometimes when we write, we are all about pouring out thoughts and emotions out on the paper, without really adding any structure to it. And, that’s perfectly fine for a first draft. When you start rereading what you have written, though, it would do you good to adopt a reader’s mindset and look at your writing from the perspective of your audience.
I know that most writers would like to think that they don’t really care about what their audience thinks of them and that not caring makes them special. That, however, is a big fat lie. We all care. And we all should care. It is nice to be understood, so do your best to walk a mile in your readers’ shoes.
2. Make Outlines
Another thing that we are also used to thinking and assuming is this. Writers write from the heart and they put on paper whatever comes to mind. And then, all of a sudden, they read through it and find out that a masterpiece was born. Well, guess what. Stuff like that doesn’t quite happen.
There is nothing wrong in making outlines, and you need to understand that as soon as possible. Outlines help you organize and structure your story and, well, eventually turn it into a masterpiece. I am not saying that nobody can write without outlines, because that’s not the case. Yet, outlining will definitely make the entire process much easier. It will make your story more understandable and more coherent.
3. Do Enough Research
If you’re one of those people who believe that research is unnecessary, especially if you are writing fiction and making stuff up, then hear me out here. You are wrong. The best made-up stuff is based on at least a little bit of truth. Even if you are writing about monsters that never existed, some plausibility is required, which is why research is your friend.
4. Character Development Is Important
You’ve probably heard a lot about character development already, as that’s something that writers talk about a lot. In order to do great character development, one of the main things to do is think about what motivates those characters, and what their goals are. Then, give your characters the proper voice and don’t forget to add a backstory, so that your readers can really connect to him or her, and feel the emotions that they are feeling. There are a lot more creative writing tips that can help you do character development the right way, but it helps to always wonder why your characters are doing what they are doing, as that will help you write them more naturally and sincerely.
5. Don’t Skip Editing
Do you believe that all of your first drafts are amazing and that editing isn’t even required? If yes, then congratulations! You’ve fallen into another trap that most writers fall into while trying to avoid getting their egos hurt. So, the “congratulations” was ironic, and I’m guessing that’s clear. Editing is and should always be a part of the process.
Even your second draft won’t be amazing. You should take as much time as you need to edit the story over and over again. And, of course, once you are sure that you can no longer make any improvements, you should proceed towards hiring professional editors to prove you wrong. Believe me, they will prove you wrong. That’s a good thing, though, since it is how you perfect your story.