Creative Writing Tips

JerzWriting > General Creative Writing Tips [ Poetry | Fiction ]

Short Story Tips: 10 Ways to Improve Your Creative Writing
A short story begins as close to the conclusion as possible, and grabs the reader from the very first line. It conserves character and scenes, typically focuses on just one problem, and drives towards a sudden, unexpected revelation. (Kennedy and Jerz)

  It Was Naptime: Show Don't (Just) Tell 
  • Show, Don’t (Just) Tell: Persuasive Writing Tips
    Don’t just tell me your brother is talented… show me what he can do. (There. I’ve just told you something. Pretty lame, huh? Now, let me show you…)
  • Forum for Creative Writers
    Post your poem-in-progress or a narrative excerpt here, if you are interested in getting feedback from other visitors to this site.
  • Interactive Fiction
    IF is a particular form of computer-mediated narrative, resembling a very finely-grained “Choose Your Own Adventure” story.

Poetry Tips

  • Poetry Tips: 10 Steps for Writing Better Poems
    Know your goal; avoid clichés; avoid sentimentality; use images; use metaphor and simile; use concrete words; communicate theme; subvert the ordinary; rhyme with extreme caution; and revise, revise, revise. (Kara Ziehl)
  • Poetry is for the Ear: Listen with the Ears of Your Audience
    Whatever poetry you write or read, learn to listen with the ears of your audience. Poetry is meant for the ear; pay attention to the sounds the words make. Writing in “free verse” does not excuse the poet’s obligation to please the ear.
  • Short Poems: Little Exquisite Vessels of Thought
    Just as a picture is said to be worth a thousand words, a few good lines of verse can pack as much emotional content as a whole paragraph of ordinary prose.
  • Getting College Credit for your High School Poems
    Poems that you wrote in high school to celebrate a first love, work through a painful breakup, or say goodbye to friends at graduation may be of extreme personal value to you; but they won’t work terribly well as submissions for college writing classes.

13 thoughts on “Creative Writing Tips

  1. Favourite punching bag

    If you must
    turn this bed
    of matrimony
    to your mat of
    acrimony,
    if you must see
    me as the
    bent frame of
    your car,
    then you must
    answer yes to
    my voice,
    when I call you
    a panel beater.
    For the very same
    hands that had promised
    to love and
    caress now derives
    pleasure instead
    from
    brandishing blows
    that throw me
    topsy-turvy.
    Am I worth less
    than the black
    in your coffee?
    Carry on please,
    and
    throw one more
    punch Mr Floyd
    Mayweather,
    it’s been an
    honour being
    your favourite
    punching bag.
    #SayNoToViolenceAgainstWomen

  2. I am looking to write an essay using a rhetorical situation but not bias that has an objective academic argument. I need help w a topic concerning my community. Thank u, Angelita

  3. Pingback: When backwards newbie poets write | Jerz's Literacy Weblog

    • This is not a comment. I need help. I am 79 years old (Crazy eh?) What do I want with this course?. To keep my brain working. Never went to high school but got two articles published and I wrote a book. I seem to have lost it somewhere down the road. Don’t seem to make it flow well
      I would like to have a direct contact with some-one who can correct my work and let me know what to do. Tall order! I know. Hoping for it to be free.Thank you so much.
      Lena Chandool

  4. thank you soo much for telling us how to write poems i really wanna to write poems please may i know your ID where i send my poem and you will check. THANKs

    • Thanks for your comment, Mady. Although I can’t promise to give you personal feedback, you are welcome to use the link above marked “Forum for Creative Writers.”

  5. Hello

    My name is Sir Charles Davis and I teach creative writing at a community college in Morehead City, North Carolina. I have read your tips on short story writing and I believe that they will help me as well as my students. I am asking for your permission to copy your article and I am giving my students your website-excellent information-thanks-I look forward to hearing from you-Sir Charles Davis

    • I’m very glad to hear you found my pages useful. You are welcome to post excerpts and links on your own site, or to distribute a printed handout. I do update these pages from time to time, so I ask that you do not post a copy of the text elsewhere. Thanks for asking!

  6. Dear sir,
    Thank you very much for your tips how to write Poem. i have learned so many thing from this website. i am really honoured to be the part of writing.i will post some of my Poem if you have the email adress, I love to read and write poem and short story. I would like to have your email adress so that i can send you some of my Poem.
    thanks,
    with regard,
    Kezang Dawa
    kezang_dawa@yahoo.com

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