Students will often encounter situations where they are required to do some creative writing. For example, it can be as part of their classwork in literature, or they can even do it because they enjoy it. Some students see a future in writing and, thus, might need some guidance to improve their output.
Students who are genuinely interested in writing can pursue their masters’ degrees in creative writing and then pursue publishing their work. Creative writing has its ups and downs. As a student, you will likely face some of the challenges for example:
- Writer’s block
- Problems with starting
- Sub-par skills in writing
However, there are always ways you can forge a better path. So, we’ve compiled some essential dos and don’ts that might help you improve on your craft.
Table of Contents
Embrace Reading
As a writer, you should love reading novels, articles, poems, and other forms of literature. For example, if you want to excel at writing poems, improve by reading other poems from great authors. Reading should be a hobby for you.
Furthermore, it would help if you explored different genres of writing. Expose yourself to different types of literature. By reading, you learn writing patterns and what needs to be done, which you will apply to your work. As a student, read during your free time. Furthermore, in college, there are free resources such as the library that you can make use of.
Do Your Research
Exposure to a different type of writing from other authors gives you a better understanding of different kinds of literature. Some authors are famous for individual styles in their writing.
It is your responsibility as a student to identify some of these traits and even apply them when you write. Proper research provides young writers with fresh ideas that they can incorporate to improve their work.
Create Your Voice
Currently, there’s a lot of literature from past authors that’s good but can also be limited to a student unknowingly. It’s because when a student reads Shakespeare, they might decide to try and emulate them. That’s not wrong. However, it can limit the student to only thinking that their voice should be a certain way. When you think about it, some of these authors produced great works because, at the time, they were unencumbered by rules. They just followed their rules, had their values and tastes.
So, as a writer, find your authentic style and the type of writing that best expresses you.
Seek and Accept Feedback
Feedback is essential, and essay writing service reviews are an excellent example of it. As students, having your work criticized can be somewhat uncomfortable. For standard coursework or academic papers, getting feedback from lecturers or tutors can be discouraging. With creative writing, it is slightly worse. That’s because creative writing involves writers expressing themselves. So, it’s easy to take it personally.
You can choose to keep all your writing to yourself to avoid such discouragement. However, don’t because it will keep your audience from your content. Gain the courage to let your audience see the world from your perspective. Before then, try getting used to feedback. Have your peers and even a teacher go through your writing. Ask them for feedback on your work. It is easy to be biased if you choose to review your work, and you are likely to overlook your flaws.
Then, don’t take the feedback and criticism personally. Instead, work towards improving by incorporating the criticism.
Discipline
Writing, like any other craft, requires a student to dedicate themselves and recognize that they are in it for the long haul. For example, you need to have a routine for writing. For creative writing, it’s easy to think that you can write when you are in a certain mood or when you get inspiration. With such a mentality, you are not likely to get far. So, develop a routine for writing.
Even when you don’t feel like it, write something. It is essential because it gives you the regular practice you need and keeps your skills sharp. When you create a routine, stick to it. Routines can take some time to build until one figure out what works for them. However, after some time, students gain momentum and realize it gets easier.
Understand Your Target Audience
Every writer has a niche of individuals that they are trying to reach through their writing. It is essential to know your target audience. You start by asking yourself, who am I targeting? Who best relates to what I am writing. When you identify that early enough, you will be able to shape your work according to the target.
Know what your audience gains from your writing. You will be able to provide more of that content as a result. If you are still new and haven’t established an audience yet, do so. It does not have to be a large audience to begin with. Start a blog, get a few viewers, and start from there.
Practice
Your writing will only get better if you practice. You cannot write once a month and expect to be great at it on years’ end. It would be best if you had frequent practice, and it needs to be focused and planned. Do your practice while also incorporating new things from research and the feedback you have been receiving. You will get better and more comfortable with the craft as a result.
Hold Off on Self-Publishing
Self-publishing has been on the rise in the current times, with a lot of sites encouraging it. As a young writer, don’t do it if you are interested in taking to writing as a profession. When you publish, you make a permanent mark, and that book will always be associated with you.
Being published by a magazine, journals, and other accredited sites is challenging and might take time, but it is worth it. Having your work published means that the publisher has reviewed the content and is ready to associate themselves with it. It results in more people accessing your writing.
Final Thoughts
Finally, writers have different ways of finding inspiration. However, your source of creativity should not be intoxication. Several writers have gone down that path, and while there are some flashes of genius in their careers, their lives suffer the adverse effects on the long term, such as addiction. Believe in yourself as a writer and work hard towards it.