Creative Writing

I found a website that seems pretty handy!

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/creative-writing-101/

This is what I gleaned from it today:

What is Creative Writing? - Creative writing is anything where the purpose is to express thoughts, feelings and emotions rather than to simply convey information.

I know we talk about fiction writing a lot here on Scribble Chicks because, well, besides B.J., we all write fiction. (though B.J. writes fantastic non fiction and I can't WAIT for her book to release in April!!)

But this definition is really encouraging for those who maybe find more joy or productivity right now in writing short stories or essays or devotionals or poetry or articles or non fiction or fan fiction or whatever else floats your writing boat. Sort of like permission, huh? :)

Goes back to the whole "Just Write" thing we preach here a lot! There's really something to it.
This also felt worth sharing from the website I linked above. Hopefully it will help you :)

Tips and tricks for beginners


•Do some short exercises to stretch your writing muscles – if you’re short of ideas, read the Daily Writing Tips article on “Writing Bursts”. Many new creative writers find that doing the washing up or weeding the garden suddenly looks appealing, compared to the effort of sitting down and putting words onto the page. Force yourself to get through these early doubts, and it really will get easier. Try to get into the habit of writing every day, even if it’s just for ten minutes.

•If you’re stuck for ideas, carry a notebook everywhere and write down your observations. You’ll get some great lines of dialogue by keeping your ears open on the bus or in cafes, and an unusual phrase may be prompted by something you see or smell.

•Work out the time of day when you’re at your most creative. For many writers, this is first thing in the morning – before all the demands of the day jostle for attention. Others write well late at night, after the rest of the family have gone to bed. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

•Don’t agonize over getting it right. All writers have to revise and edit their work – it’s rare that a story, scene or even a sentence comes out perfectly the first time. Once you’ve completed the initial draft, leave the piece for a few days – then come back to it fresh, with a red pen in hand. If you know there are problems with your story but can’t pinpoint them, ask a fellow writer to read through it and give feedback.

•HAVE FUN! Sometimes, we writers can end up feeling that our writing is a chore, something that “must” be done, or something to procrastinate over for as long as possible. If your plot seems wildly far-fetched, your characters bore you to tears and you’re convinced that a five-year old with a crayon could write better prose … take a break. Start a completely new project, something which is purely for fun. Write a poem or a 60-word “mini saga”. Just completing a small finished piece can help if you’re bogged down in a longer story.