Fig 2. Travel writing is an example of creative non-fiction.
Poetry
There are many great and well-known American poets whose poetry illustrates the conventions of creative writing. Here's an example from Langston Hughes' poem Harlem, written in 1951:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode? 3
-L. Hughes, Harlem, 1951
All poetry is a form of creative writing. In this example, we see some common conventions of poetry, such as the poem's structure, and its rhyme scheme (although not all kinds of poetry follow a rhyme scheme).
Hughes uses figurative language consistently throughout the poem, and we can see five examples of similes, which is quite a lot for such a short poem. In some ways, the whole poem is an example of figurative language as it is all describing a 'dream deferred'. This creative use of language also evokes many striking images in the reader's mind.
'Dream deferred' refers to the collective hopes and aspirations e of black people in America during the 40s and up to the time the poem was published. The similes Hughes uses in the poem (e.g., 'like a raisin in the sun', 'like a heavy load') illustrate the uncertainty and tension felt by black people at the time.
There are also multiple examples of enjambment, which creates an almost melodic effect when you read the poem.
Enjambment is when a line of a poem runs over onto the next line. If a line starts with a new sentence and ends with a period, it is not an example of enjambment.
Scriptwriting
Scriptwriting can take several forms, such as film scripts or scripts for television, but for this example, we'll look at scriptwriting for the stage. This is an excerpt from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, written in 1959:
LINDA (hearing Willy outside the bedroom, calls with some trepidation): Willy!
WILLY: It's all right. I came back.
LINDA: Why? What happened? (Slight pause.) Did something happen, Willy?
WILLY: No, nothing happened.
LINDA: You didn't smash the car, did you?
WILLY (with casual irritation): I said nothing happened. Didn't you hear me? 4
-A. Miller, Death of a Salesman, 1959
The script for Death of a Salesman is an example of fiction as it is not based on a real story or person. We immediately get a glimpse into the characters' lives, and there is no narrator like there would be in a novel or short story. Instead, we see some stage directions in the excerpt, which give us more information about the manner and tone of voice used by the characters.
The stage directions also give us a sense of setting as we are told that Linda hears Willy 'outside the bedroom'. This suggests that this portion of the play will happen in their bedroom.
This is only the play's opening, but Miller has already created a sense of plot by building tension in Willy and Linda's interaction.
Creative Writing Prompts
Now that you've learned a bit more about creative writing and have seen examples of each type of creative writing, here are some prompts to consider for your writing.
Fig 3. Thinking about different scenarios, no matter how far-fetched they might seem to us, is a great way to spark inspiration for creative writing.
Creative Writing Topics
If you want to practice your creative writing but don't feel like following a prompt, you might want to try writing about a whole topic rather than a specific idea. Here are some more general topics to get you started on your creative writing journey:
A deserted beach
A childhood memory
100 years in the future
The animal kingdom
The mysteries of space
Cooking something new
A Halloween party
Creative Writing - Key Takeaways
- There are four key types of creative writing: fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and scriptwriting.
- Each type of creative writing has its own conventions and features.
- Most creative writing revolves around some sort of characters, setting, plot, or theme.
- Figurative language and descriptive language are commonly used in creative writing.
- Examples of writing such as emails, letters, speeches, and advertisements are also creative writing.
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