| Creative Writing Challenges | | | | Stopping in the middle of a sentence is |
| Creative writing is a much more mind intensive | | | | recommended as you can come back and just go |
| activity as compared to other forms of writing. | | | | on and finish the sentence. Re-connecting is easier |
| Generally, writing by itself requires various | | | | as you do not have to think of a new sentence. |
| degrees of thinking but creative writing calls for a | | | | However, you need to be comfortable with your |
| particularly complex level of thinking. Whether, it is | | | | breaks and re-connections. |
| a work of fiction or non-fiction, you have to be | | | | In creative writing, you may have observed the |
| able to get your creative juices flowing to | | | | above and all other tips as well as guidelines |
| produce a good if not a great piece of work. The | | | | towards completing your work. However, the |
| first challenge is how to get the creative juices | | | | quality of your work would very much depend on |
| flowing off your hands. The best way is to write | | | | two critical checkpoints. They are particularly |
| and keep on writing. It does not make sense? Not | | | | critical in creative writing as your mind is so |
| even relevant? Never mind. Once the creative | | | | engrossed with the plot and sub-plot as well as all |
| juices are free flowing, the next challenge is to | | | | the other elements, that details tend to be |
| harness your thoughts, get them organized and | | | | overlooked. |
| eensure that they are expressed with as much | | | | First Critical Checkpoint - Editing |
| clarity as possible. | | | | As you write your story, it would be helpful to |
| Moving On With the Writing | | | | review it in parts. But once you have completed |
| | | | it, you need to review the written work as whole |
| 1. Commit to writing as much as you possibly can | | | | with a view to making as much improvement as |
| on a daily basis. This can be broken up into a | | | | you can make. Is the story line being locked-in |
| number of sessions. Write, write a bit more and | | | | and flowing as intended? Is the story unfolding in |
| write some more. How long should each session | | | | the manner envisioned? Is there anything impeding |
| last? One hour? Two? Let your hand and mind | | | | the flow? Can it be removed? If not, how can it |
| dictate how much and how long you should write | | | | be improved? |
| per session. | | | | Second Critical Checkpoint - Proofreading |
| 2. When you hit a block, a writer's block that is, | | | | This is where your check and re-check for any |
| you can either take a break and come back after | | | | errors either in spelling or grammar. It is best that |
| a short breather or overcome it by writing about | | | | you correct the errors as you spot them. Doing it |
| something else. It may not even be relevant to | | | | later becomes more difficult as you may overlook |
| your story but do not let that be a bother. You | | | | the errors due to being familiar with them. Though |
| do this just to get the flow unclogged. If you | | | | you can proofread your own work, it is best that |
| need to take a break, keep it short. A prolonged | | | | you get someone else to do it too. Authors know |
| break makes it so much more difficult to take-off | | | | what they want to write. They write what they |
| from where you left-off. | | | | thought they wanted to write, make a mistake |
| 3. When you take a break, you do not have to | | | | with what they actually wrote and yet may not |
| be neat and tidy about when or where to stop. | | | | be able to spot their mistake. |