Creative Writing Blog | Writing Tips and Ideas

What is Form Poetry?

We can classify most poetry into two groups: form poetry and free verse. Free verse is a style of poetry that doesn’t adhere to any structure; the poet is free to write lines and stanzas of varying lengths and meter, with or without rhymes. Form poetry, on the other hand, adheres to a specific structure,…Read More

Grammar Rules: i.e. and e.g.

Occasionally, we come across the abbreviations i.e. and e.g., but what do they mean, and what is the difference between them? How do grammar rules apply? These two terms originate in the Latin language and are just two of the many Latin phrases that have survived into modern language. Both i.e. and e.g. are abbreviations…Read More

A Big, Bold List of Creative Writing Activities

Are you looking for writing motivation, inspiration, or ideas that will give your latest project an extra boost? Below you’ll find a massive list of creative writing activities. Some of these activities will keep you writing when you’re in need of ideas and inspiration. Others will improve your writing skills and techniques through practice. Some…Read More

How to Become a Writer

Today’s post is an excerpt from 10 Core Practices for Better Writing. This is from “Chapter Two: Writing,” and it’s for people who are wondering how to become a writer. First, Give Yourself Permission to Write “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach I admire people who are fearless. When they…Read More

Writing Tips: Writing is Rewriting

Those of us who spend a lot of time studying the craft of writing inevitably come across bits of writing advice that we hear over and over again: show don’t tell, write what you know, and kill your darlings. These writing tips can be a bit cryptic, but the one about revisions is crystal clear:…Read More

Family-Inspired Poetry Prompts

Writers are always looking for new ideas. Sometimes we look so far and wide for inspiration that we’re oblivious to what’s right in front of us. They say, “You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family.” In life, we are presented with many choices, but family is not one of them. It’s…Read More

Storytelling Exercise: Character Analysis

Today’s storytelling exercise is an excerpt from my book, Story Drills: Fiction Writing Exercises, which helps beginning to intermediate storytellers develop skills in the craft of fiction writing. This exercise explores one of the most important elements of any story: the characters. It’s called “Character Analysis.” Enjoy! Character Analysis Characterization may be the single most…Read More

Five Things Your Characters Need

Many writers and readers will agree that the most important element of any story is its characters. There are certainly exceptions: some plot-driven stories are quite compelling and successful. However, readers form their deepest connections to stories through the characters by developing relationships with them and caring about what happens to them. Naturally, we want…Read More

What is Prose Poetry?

Poetry is a vast landscape, populated with many different types of poems from free verse to sonnets to haiku. Prose poetry is unusual because its form deviates from the nature of poetry, which is writing in verse. Before we examine prose poetry, we first must understand the difference between prose and poetry. Prose Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary…Read More

What is Creative Writing?

Today’s post is an excerpt from the book Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing. This is the entirety of the first chapter, “What is Creative Writing?” Enjoy! What is Creative Writing? Creative writing can be difficult to define. Certainly, fiction and poetry are forms of creative writing, but what about journal writing, articles and…Read More