For us creative types, productivity can be a fleeting thing. We experience highs (a whole month packed with inspiration) and lows (three more months fraught with the ever-annoying writer’s block).

It can be frustrating. But creative writing doesn’t have to be a fair-weather hobby. Many successful authors have harnessed creativity, reigned it in, and turned it into a full-time profession. So, we know it can be done.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Succeeding in the arts takes a tremendous amount of drive, ambition, and dedication. It’s not the kind of job you have to show up for every day or risk being fired. Nobody cares if you get your work done except you. And maybe your characters, if you’re a fiction writer.

Creative Writing Tips for More Output

Here are seven creative writing tips to help you be more creative more often. Try them all and see which ones work for you.

1. Show up for work Set a time every day, show up, and get your creative writing work done. It could be an hour a day (two hours on weekends!) or fifteen minutes. It can be first thing in the morning or right after dinner. The point is, make a schedule and stick with it. This will not only lead to more output, it will also lead to better writing.

2. Give yourself a quota Can you produce twenty pages a week? Ten? Five? Some of us work better when we count words rather than minutes. If that sounds like you, then forget about time allotments. Show up for work every day, but focus on your output rather than on your time card.

3. Reward yourself If you manage to show up every day or fulfill your quota, then by all means, give yourself a pat on the back. Whether it’s a trip to the masseuse or a weekend movie, reward your own positive behavior with special treats that keep you motivated week after week. Bonus reward tip: buy a book, and read it!

4. Punish yourself I’m not a big fan of negative reinforcement. It might curb bad behavior, but it does so for all the wrong reasons. Keep punishments light. Didn’t meet your goals? I don’t think you should cancel your vacation, but maybe you can skip dessert. Or, choose a punishment that promotes your goals. Read a textbook about creative writing or peruse a few articles on good grammar.

5. Hold yourself accountable If you’re having a hard time meeting your creative writing goals, then set up an accountability system. Take a creative writing class or workshop, join a writing group, hire a writing coach, or partner up with a fellow writer and establish weekly check-ins. For some reason, when someone else is holding us accountable, we perform better.

6. Use productivity tools There are unlimited tools at your disposal to help you stay productive and all of these can be used with your creative writing project. Put deadlines on your calendar. Hang a whiteboard and track your progress. Keep a journal of your writing sessions. Recording your goals and accomplishments can be extremely motivating.

7. Stay passionate Do things that keep your creative writing passions burning. Listen to music that inspires you to write. Watch movies and read books with stories that motivate you to write your own story. Dance, sing, and make sure you’ve always got your notebook or journal with you because you never know when your next great (or unusual) writing ideas will strike.

It’s All on You

Creative writing doesn’t just happen. You make it happen. Born without drive? Foster determination. Uninspired? Learn some new creativity techniques. Can’t think of anything interesting to write about? Write about your life, your friends and family, your problems, your best moments and your worst. Get a book of writing exercises and get busy. And remember, only you can prevent your dreams from coming true.

Keep on writing!

Do you have any special techniques you use to keep your creative writing projects alive? Add your tips by leaving a comment.

Creative Writing Jobs -- They're out there!

If creative writing is your passion, then you’d probably enjoy a career in which you could spend all day (or at least most of the day) pursuing that passion.

But creative writing is an artistic pursuit, and we all know that a career in the arts isn’t easy to come by. It takes hard work, drive, dedication, a whole lot of spirit, and often, a willingness to take big financial risks — as in not having much money while you’re waiting for your big break.

When we think of people who make a living through writing, novelists and journalists come to mind immediately. But what other jobs are out there for folks who want to make creative writing the work that puts food on the table?

The Creative Writing Career List

Here’s a list of 20 creative writing jobs that you can consider for your career path. I’m not making any promises. You have to go out and find them yourself, but these are jobs that exist. You just have to look for them and then land them.

1. Greeting Card Author
2. Comic Book Writer
3. Novelist
4. Creativity Coach
5. Writing Coach
6. Advertising (Creative)
7. Screenwriter
8. Songwriter (Lyricist)
9. Freelance Short Fiction Writer
10. Creative Writing Instructor (give your own workshops)
11. Legacy Writer (write people’s bios and family histories)
12. Ghostwriter
13. Travel Writer (if you travel)
14. Article Writer (write, submit, repeat)
15. Columnist
16. Video Game Writer (includes storytelling/fiction!)
17. Personal Poet (write personalized poems for weddings, funerals, childbirths, etc.)
18. Playwright
19. Blogger (don’t tell me you don’t have a blog yet!)
20. Creative Writing Consultant

Now, I’m not saying you’re going to make a whole lot to live on with some of these creative writing jobs but if you do what you love, the money (i.e. the success) just might follow. You’ll never know unless you try, right?

Do you have any creative writing careers to add to this list? Share your ideas by leaving a comment.

People have been trying to answer that question for centuries, but we still don’t have a definitive answer. We know art is borne of creativity. It’s meant to impact whoever is experiencing it. And it comes from a place within the artist that we don’t truly understand.

Art remains a mystery, both in its definition and its origin. Why is art a cornerstone of every single culture on Earth? Why do some people flock to artistry while others prefer to sit in the audience? Who do people need art, whether it’s music, literature, films, paintings, sculptures, or dance?

Does Art Matter?

We all know what commercialism is. It’s the intent to make money. Preferably, lots of it. Traditionally, art was safe from commercialism. Big business just wasn’t interested, and artists could freely create. The market was free and it decided who succeeded and who didn’t. Fine art rose to the top.

But once the money makers filled up all the shelves in the grocery markets and lined all the racks in the department stores, they turned to art. And they commercialized it. Screenplays were streamlined into formulas. Big publishing houses figured out which books would turn the fastest and easiest profits. Clear Channel bought up all the radio stations and started using bottom lines and internal agendas to decide which songs the public would listen to. And artists took jobs at advertising agencies. Filmmakers created 30-second mini-movies called commercials. Songwriters penned jingles. Writers crafted slogans. And illustrators developed logos.

In a world driven by commerce, art became a commodity. Some artists cried out in protest, claiming that commercialized art was dumbing down the masses. The purpose of commercial art is not to get people to think or feel. It doesn’t care if it changes the world or makes a profound statement about humanity or nature. All it wants to do is get people to buy.

Fine Art vs. Commercial Art

Everything we humans create has some basic purpose. Commercial art exists to make money. Its motivation is revenue. Fine art exists because people need to articulate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Its motivation is expression.

While the definitions of commercial and fine art are pretty clear, the lines between them are actually so blurry, it can be difficult to tell the difference. If you and I worked our way through the Times bestseller list in an attempt to classify each book as either commercial or artistic, I bet we’d disagree a few times.

So, can we define that gray area that connects yet separates fine and commercial art?

Art, Commerce, and Creative Writing

Sometimes I talk to writers who have wild ideas about the stories they want to tell. Their imaginations are bustling with characters, scenes, and themes that are inspired, unique, and original. But they’ll say, “Nah, it’ll never sell.” And about once a week, I get an email from some college kid who tells me, “I think my story idea will be a bestseller.”

Is One Better Than The Other?

You have to answer that question for yourself. Personally, I love all types of art. I think sometimes the big money makers were genuinely inspired by something other than money. And occasionally, the art that was supposed to make a mint barely turns a dime. The world keeps on spinning.

When Michael Jackson was making Thriller, his goal was to create the biggest selling album of all time. I don’t think anybody’s questioning the artistic integrity of Thriller or Michael Jackson, and he completely surpassed his own ambitions with that record.

On the other hand, J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone when she was at rock bottom. She had nothing left to lose, so she decided to do what she wanted to do and be happy with her art. Nobody could have guessed that Harry Potter would have found success beyond the sub-genre, children’s fantasy. But it became a worldwide phenomenon.

What Motivates You?

Artists like Michael Jackson and J.K. Rowling are highly visible. We all know their stories, their motivations, and how they found success. But there are millions more artists just like them who haven’t gained international fame. Some are vying for commercial success. They want to be stars. Others want to express their visions. They want to share some piece of themselves with the world. All over the planet, they are making their art.

I wonder how many artists have contemplated their motivations. I wonder if you have. Do you give much thought to whether your work will make you rich someday? Do you continue to create because you simply have to? Or are you somewhere in the middle, hoping to be able to find a way for your creative writing to pay the bills while sticking to your vision?

I don’t particularly care whether a piece of art was motivated by love or money. If Michael Jackson’s playing, you’ll find me on the dance floor. And I’ve read every single Harry Potter book. My music, book, and film collections are a healthy mix of big hits and underground or counterculture favorites. When I’m in the audience, it’s not about what motivated the artist. It’s about how the art affects me.

But when I’m sitting at my desk writing a poem or drafting a short story, I care very much about the artist’s motivation.

So, what’s yours?

Eat, Pray, Love

But this post is not about Eat, Pray, Love.

This post is about creativity, and the pressure that creative professionals are under to constantly and consistently produce brilliant work.

Creative Writing and Stress

There’s a misconception that those with a career in the arts are living on easy street. All you do is write all day? Wow, that must be luxurious! And on top of that, there’s an endless pressure for artists to consistently outdo themselves. You’re only as good as the last thing you did.

There are tons of creativity techniques that you can use to keep a flow of creative writing ideas streaming into your creative writing. But there is never any guarantee that your next project will be a masterpiece. There’s no certainty that each work you produce will be better than your last, no matter how inspired you might be.

In music, an artist’s sophomore album can be a big flop after a hit debut. Actors start falling into stereotypes and cannot land interesting roles. And writers — well, writers can keep on writing but we all know that usually the seventh book in a series is nowhere near as good as the first one.

She Knows All About It

Elizabeth Gilbert has already experienced massive success with her memoir, and now she talks about the pressure to outperform herself. Can she do it? What if she doesn’t? Is all this pressure really necessary? And most importantly, where does creativity come from?

I encourage you to watch the video below in which Elizabeth Gilbert gives a talk on creativity and the unique pressures that creative workers are under. She offers some pretty original solutions.

After the video, share your thoughts about creative writing and let’s talk about how creative people are viewed and treated both in creative circles and in the larger culture.

Enjoy!

A New Way to Think About Creative Writing

Editor’s Note: I’ve already watched this video several times and I’m also planning to go see Elizabeth Gilbert in person this fall, since she happens to be visiting my area. She’s an engaging speaker with some interesting words of wisdom and here at Writing Forward, we like to learn from people who are smart and successful. Elizabeth Gilbert possesses both of those wonderful traits and a whole lot more.

Creative writing is hard work. You have to master the technical side of writing (know your grammar), deliver work that resonates with readers, and possess massive amounts of drive, ambition, and sheer determination.

It can take months, even years, to write a book. Then you have to sell it – first to an agent, then to a publisher. Finally, you have to sell it to the world.

Many writers believe that once their labor of love is safely in the hands of a publisher, their work is done and they can to move on and start writing their next masterpiece.

Those writers would be wrong.

When the Creative Writing is Completed…

Once your book is slated for publication, the most challenging phase of your project begins. You have to suddenly become a marketer. You have to take your creative writing skills and somehow turn them into creative marketing skills. And sell those books!

Wendy Burt-Thomas is all too familiar with  juggling writing and marketing. She is a full-time freelance writer, editor, and copywriter with more than 1000 published pieces. Her third book, The Writers Digest Guide To Query Letters hit stores in January 2009. Wendy was kind enough to share her wisdom with us.

You’ve been a mentor, coach or editor for many writers. What do you think is the most common reason that good writers don’t get published?

Wendy: Poor marketing skills. I see so many writers that are either too afraid, too uniformed, or frankly, too lazy, to market their work. They think their job is done when they write “the end” but writing is only half of the process. I make a living as a writer because I spend as much time marketing as I do writing.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions that writers have about getting a book deal?

Wendy: That they’ll be rich overnight, that they don’t need to promote their book once it’s published, that publishing houses will send them on world book tours, that people will recognize them at the airport. Still, you can make great money as an author if you’re prepared to put in the effort. If it wasn’t possible, there wouldn’t be so many full-time writers.

How much book promotion does a writer have to do? Don’t the publishers take care of most of the marketing?

Wendy: Depending on your publisher, you can expect to do 95 to 100 percent of your marketing. Even some of the larger houses now expect you to do most of your own book promotion. They have less money, smaller staffs, and staff members that are doing the jobs of several people due to downsizing. Don’t be surprised if the biggest help you get is an offer to send out books to reviewers; reviewers YOU provide. And they may put a cap on that at 20 or 25 books!

Would you say that the first step in marketing is writing a query letter and sending it to an agent?

Wendy: Actually, I’d say the first step comes out before a query letter. Christina Katz talks about this in her book, Get Known BEFORE The Book Deal. You might be marketing yourself by blogging, posting on Twitter, developing and promoting your website, or creating a newsletter (eg. future fan base!).

Why are query letters so important?

Wendy: Breaking into the publishing world is hard enough right now. Unless you have a serious “in” of some kind, you really need a great query letter to impress an agent or acquisitions editor. Essentially, your query letter is your first impression. If they like your idea (and voice and writing style and background), they’ll either request a proposal, sample chapters, or the entire manuscript. If they don’t like your query letter, you’ve got to pitch it to another agency/publisher. Unlike a manuscript, which can be edited or reworked if an editor thinks it has promise, you only get one shot with your query. Make it count!

I see a lot of authors who spend months (or years) finishing their book, only to rush through the process of crafting a good, solid query letter. What a waste! If agents/editors turn you down based on a bad query letter, you’ve blown your chance of getting them to read your manuscript. It could be the next bestseller, but they’ll never see it. My advice is to put as much effort into your query as you did your book. If it’s not fabulous, don’t send it until it is.

You wrote an entire book about query letters. Can you tell us about it?

Wendy: The book was a great fit for me because I’d been teaching “Breaking Into Freelance Writing” for about eight years. In the workshop, I covered a lot of what is in this book: writing query letters to get articles in magazines, to land an agent, or to get a book deal with a publisher. Since I’m a full-time freelance magazine writer and editor with two previous books, this was incredibly fun to write because it didn’t require tons of research. I was lucky enough to receive lots of great sample query letters from writers and authors that I use as “good” examples in the book. I wrote all the “bad” examples myself because I didn’t dare ask for contributions that I knew I’d be ripping apart!

In addition to the ins and outs of what makes a good query, the book covers things like why (or why not) to get an agent, where to find one and how to choose one; writing a synopsis or proposal; selling different rights to your work; other forms of correspondence; and what editors and agents look for in new writers.

It was really important to me that the book not be a dry, boring reference book, but rather an entertaining read (while still being chock full of information). I was thrilled that Writer’s Digest let me keep all the humor.

There’s an entire chapter in the book about agents. Do you think all new writers should get agents?

Wendy: Probably 99% of new writers should get an agent. There are lots of reasons, but my top three are: 1) Many of the larger publishing houses won’t even look at unagented submissions now; 2) Agents can negotiate better rights and more money on your behalf; 3) Agents know the industry trends, changes, and staff better than you ever could.

What advice do you give writers who hope to be published one day?

Wendy: Take every opportunity that comes your way – especially when you first start. If someone asks you to write a brochure for their company or content for their Web site, do it! I never lied to a client about my experience, but I did always say, “Sure, I’ll give it a try.” My “big break” came when the publisher of a business newspaper for which I had been writing (freelance) articles asked me to come on board as the editor. I had ZERO experience as an editor but she put things in perspective by saying, “Wendy, your articles come in so clean, we never need to edit them. Anyone who doesn’t need an editor could probably be one.” So I quit my job, became the editor and learned enough in two years to become a full-time freelance editor and writer.

My favorite quote is “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” I am a very lucky person because I am always prepared to seize writing opportunities.

To learn more about Wendy or her three books, visit GuideToQueryLetters.com. If you have a writing-related question, you can also post it on AskWendy.wordpress.com.

How do you feel about switching hats from creative writing to marketing? Are you prepared to market your work? Discuss in the comments!

How do you do it? Where do you find the right publication? What materials should you send? Should you use email or snail mail? How long do you wait before following up? And what if your piece is rejected?

For many writers, the submission process is a big drag, because it doesn’t involve writing, and let’s face it, most of us are in it for the creative writing.

But there’s more to being a writer than just writing, especially if you want your work to be read or if you want to make a living as a writer.

Creative Writing and Publication

First you have to wrap up your project. Make sure it’s polished and proofread. Next, you find suitable publications, and then you start sending out your work.

After that, you wait. You might wait a week or you might wait six months. You may have moved on to other projects, but somewhere in the back of your mind you are constantly wondering if they received your submission. You wonder whether they liked it, whether they will accept it, or whether you will have to go back to square one.

If you approach the submission project strategically and professionally, you’ll increase your chances of getting an acceptance and therefore getting published.

Tips for Submitting

1. Take some time to get familiar with the various publications in your genre. Send your creative writing to the ones that are a good fit for your work.
2. Use the library or visit a local, independent bookstore to get copies of print publications. You can also try college bookstores. Peruse them in the aisles if you wish, but keep in mind that buying copies of these publications helps support them – and other writers.
3. You’ll find submission guidelines on most publications’ websites. Otherwise, they’ll be in the publication itself. Review the guidelines carefully as they contain instructions on how to submit your work.
4. Follow the guidelines to the letter. Publications that are overwhelmed with submissions will toss out any that stray from the guidelines they’ve set forth.
5. In some cases, the guidelines may refer to a style guide. If this is the case, you might need to revise your work so it will be in accordance with the publication’s guidelines.
6. Keep your query or submission cover letter succinct and professional. Same goes for a synopsis (if applicable). Don’t try any fancy antics to get the editors’ attention. They see gimmicks all the time.
7. Once you’ve issued your submission, sit back and wait. Do not harass or annoy the editors by bombarding them with follow-ups.
8. Many submission guidelines include information about how long it should take for you to receive a response. Once that allotment of time has passed, go ahead and send a single follow-up. Ask if they received your submission. Be professional.
9. If there is no indication of how long it should take for you to hear back from the publication about your submission, wait about three months before following up.
10. If you receive an acceptance, great! If you receive a rejection, accept it graciously and get back to work. Don’t give up! If your rejection includes a critique or any helpful feedback, be grateful (most editors don’t take time to provide feedback unless the see hope in your work) and apply it to your future creative writing projects.

Ready, Set, Submit

Submitting your work is fun and a little bit scary. You hope you’ll get lucky, but luck comes most frequently to those who have prepared for it with hard work.

And creative writing is hard work. We writers have to wear many different hats. We must be artists, grammarians, communicators. We require empathy and an understanding of the human psyche. We have to be publicists and marketing experts. And we have to become pros at submitting our work.

Otherwise it may never land in a reader’s hands.

Do you have any tips to add? Have you submitted any of your creative writing to publications? Were they online or print publications? What was the experience like? Did you get an acceptance? Were you disappointed? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

But if you really want the inside scoop on what it takes to be a successful writer, wouldn’t it be best to get it straight from a published author? Or an agent? A publisher? The poet laureate?

Writing is not the most straightforward pursuit. There is much mystery that surrounds the act of writing as well as the publication process. Obviously, we all need to be reading and writing and submitting, but we also know that there are plenty of techniques that writers can use to get through a project. We also know that agents and editors are looking for material to publish. And we know that the publishers keep putting books on the shelves in bookstores everywhere.

So, how can we get our books on those shelves? This is the question writers all over the world want answered.

Interviews with Writers and Publishing Professionals

Over the last few years, I’ve discovered some of the best creative writing tips and publishing advice by watching or listening to interviews.

Have you ever wondered what happens after you sell your book to a publishing house? Are you searching for an agent to represent your work? Do you want to know what publishers do (and don’t do) to promote your work once its been published? Want to find out how other authors have managed to finish a book, secure an agent, sell their work, and hit the best seller list?

As it turns out, the writing process and the path to publication are different for every author. Sure, there are some standard protocols – revisions, query letters, rejections, and book tours. But there are also exceptions. When you listen to writing and publishing professionals give their accounts of how a book gets made, you pick up the finer details, the nuances, and these you can use to your advantage.

Listen and Learn About Creative Writing

A good interviewer knows how to ask the right questions, questions that get people talking. When the subject of an interview is at ease, answers start to flow and embedded in those answers are the details of personal experience – nuggets of golden advice.

For example, many well known, published authors say things like “writing is revising.” Yes, they have to edit, proofread, and revise, just like the rest of us. Others talk about half-written novels, failed attempts that never made it to publication but sit tucked away in bottom drawers.

When you hear firsthand accounts of experiences that successful writers have had, it gives you new ideas. These conversations give you insight and inspiration. More importantly, they give you hope.

Writers on Writing

If you want to get the inside story on professional writing, I encourage you to listen to Writers on Writing, a weekly radio show hosted by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett. The show is broadcast via KUCI 88.9 FM, curtesy of The University of California, Irivine. It’s also available through streaming audio online and you can subscribe and listen to it via iTunes.

Here’s a little bit about the show’s host:

From Barbara’s website:

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett has published fiction, poetry, articles and essays in such journals as the Los Angeles Times, The Writer, Poets & Writers, Sunset, Westways, Orange Coast Magazine and the San Jose Mercury News. Her work has been anthologized in two books: The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing (St. Martin’s Press, 2003) and Conversations with Clarence Major (University Press of Mississippi, 2002). She teaches creative writing at the University of California, Irvine Extension and through Gotham Writers Workshop in NYC.

Her first book is Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within (Harcourt/Harvest, October 2004), which was honored in New York City in April with the 2005 ASJA Outstanding Book Award, Self-help/Service.

I have found Writers on Writing to be a priceless resource, both for the creative writing process and for learning about the publishing industry and the steps that writers go through in order to submit and publish work.

The interviews on this show will liven your spirits, fuel your imagination, and will indeed set your pen on fire. Be sure to check it out in any format you can.

Do you ever listen to interviews with writers? What are your favorite sources for creative writing tips? Share your thoughts in the comments.

People pursue artistic endeavors for  different reasons. For some, it’s a hobby. For others, a livelihood. For most, it’s a hobby they dream of turning into a livelihood.

It’s a worthwhile dream, and a lofty one too. But what does it take to get there? How much fun are you allowed to have, and just how much work must you do to turn your passion into a full-time job?

And if you do manage to make a career out of creative writing, will it still be as fun as it was when it was just a hobby?

Creative Writing is Fun

Young and new writers often come to creative writing because they find it enjoyable. Many are avid readers, and are so inspired by their love of literature that they want to create it. Others feel a compulsion to put words on the page or to have their voices heard by an audience of readers.

Most of us have experienced raw or divine inspiration. You’re sitting there and a poem comes to you fully formed. It’s finished within minutes and it just might be brilliant. It feels more like the poem came through you from some source outside of yourself. It’s pure magic. Excitement. Fun.

When we are being creative, and especially when we’re tapped into that magical kind of creativity, it’s an extremely pleasurable experience. From the instant we start writing until our work is completed, we’re on a wild ride, exciting, but dangerous too. Because if we rely too heavily on the fun side of creativity, we may come down with a terrible disease, a horrible addiction.

Young Writers’ Syndrome

It’s not uncommon for novice writers who have experienced that divine inspiration to wait for it to strike again. It’s likely that it will strike again, eventually. But waiting for this type of inspiration to hit you is a bad habit. You’re simply fostering an addiction to the adrenaline-like rush that the magical muse evokes.

It’s just one of many symptoms of what I like to call Young Writers’ Syndrome (YWS), which is a collection of thoughts, misconceptions, and attitudes about the nature of creative writing and what it takes to succeed, to truly turn that hobby into a career.

People with Young Writers’ Syndrome don’t read much because they’re afraid other writers’ styles will leak into their own work. They want to be original. They don’t pay credence to good grammar because they want their writing to be raw and edgy. They are creative, not technical writers. They don’t work at their writing so much as they sit around waiting for it to happen. They often believe that artistic success is borne of pure talent and that hard work or honing their creative writing skills are contrary to such a talent.

They’re dead wrong on all counts.

Creative Writing and Hard Work

Like anything, if you want to succeed, you’ve got to work at it. I’ve tried many creative endeavors over the years, and writing is one of the most challenging pursuits you can choose. It requires a vast skill set, intense determination, and a willingness to work. It also requires a good measure of creativity, and you need business skills too. Talent is just the icing on the cake, something you’re born with if you’re lucky.

People have all kinds of funny ideas about hard work and creativity, many of which are nothing more than idle fears. A common one is avoiding a career path in creative writing because then it will become a job, and that would take all the fun out of it. Another is that if you have to work hard at creative writing, then you must be talentless.

Misconceptions about the arts are rampant. It’s no wonder artistic people are so misunderstood by the rest of the world. We truly are an odd bunch, and many of these misconceptions come from artists themselves.

The truth is that hard work and fun are not necessarily separate from one another. Hard work can be fun and good fun can also be hard work. Going to Disneyland might sound like fun, but even that takes hard work – the work you have to do to pay for your trip, getting there, standing in line. People do all that for a few minutes of thrills on some theme park rides.

Yet there are those who think the trip to Disneyland is a big waste, not at all worth the effort it takes to get there. They wouldn’t bother getting on a roller coaster unless it was conveniently sitting right in their backyard. And that’s just lazy. These are the same people to whom creative writing is a fleeting pastime – something you do when it’s convenient, when a brilliant idea magically appears out of nowhere. The rest of the time is best spent not working hard at the craft, but waiting for that magic, that talent, to manifest.

If you work hard at your creative writing, that magic will happen. In fact, the harder you work, the more frequently the magical inspiration will appear. There’s no real benefit in waiting for the muse to honor you with her presence. So stop waiting. Stop looking for an easy way to compose a poem, draft a short story, or pen a novel. Sit down and get to work. And have fun while you’re doing it.

Most importantly, just keep on writing — especially keep working at creative writing.

There has always been much debate about whether artistically inclined trades are a matter of learned skill or inherent talent.

On the one hand, there is the belief that some are born with an active and imaginative right brain and are therefore better able to manifest creativity. On the other hand, some argue that creative pursuits can be learned.

When it comes to creative writing, skills and talent work together. In particular, there are several factors that determine the level of skill vs. talent required to achieve a decent ability in the craft. In fact, I would argue that almost every writer whose work is worth reading has some combination of both acquired writing skills and natural talent.

Creative Writing: Skills and Development

We are taught basic grammar and comprehensive writing in school, and each of us learns how to form a coherent sentence or paragraph by applying these teachings. We must learn our letters, and there is no artistic talent required to memorize a set of symbols that represent sounds. Throughout our formative years, we are educated in language, including reading, writing, and comprehension.

Some of us loved those classes. We were drawn to the written word, to novels and short stories, poetry and thought-provoking articles and essays. We trudged over to the school library during recess and experienced glee when the Scholastic newsletters arrived. Books! Stories! We absorbed them and they etched into our psyche until we too yearned to spin tales and started dreaming of the day when our own name would appear under a feature story headline, or on the spine of a best selling — or dare I say — Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

Yet there were those who balked at the thought of opening, let alone reading, an entire book. They preferred math or science, or perhaps art, or maybe they’d rather park in front of a TV or video game console. Their reports and essays came back with low marks and someone said they lacked talent, something we aspiring writers had in droves. But what is talent if not love of one’s craft?

Developing Talent

When I graduated high school and was faced with the dilemma of what to study in college, I shunned the idea of majoring in English, because I was already a voracious reader and several teachers had called me a gifted writer as well. Why study something I already had a knack for?

But a few years later, when no other major felt quite right, I finally checked off the box for English with a concentration in creative writing. Skill and talent combined to drive this choice. I finally realized that the very reason I should study writing was because I was already good at it. By majoring in English, maybe I could become great.

It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In the semesters that followed, I studied the classics and learned writing nuances from both my instructors and my peers, subtleties that never would have come to my attention otherwise. I learned the value of editing and revising, and I learned the merits of voice and style. Thankfully, I was given opportunities to explore areas of writing I never would have touched on my own: proposals, screenplays, and chapbooks. I even learned how to master the creative writing process.

Creative Writing: Skills Plus Talent Equals Passion

I suppose artists, musicians, and other creative persons follow a similar path — a passion honed through years of learning and practice. When people suggest that writing cannot be learned, that grammar is unimportant, and storytelling or character development is the end-all-be-all of great writing, or that a writer’s creativity is magically manifested at birth, I am given great pause. For it is pride in one’s craft and true dedication that will result in truly wonderful writing: a seamless integration of love and passion, talent, and yes, all those mechanical writing skills that must be learned.

So what’s more important in creative writing – skills or talent? I say we need a healthy balance of both. What do you think?

Conversely, have you ever noticed that after watching an intoxicating film or listening to a mesmerizing piece of music, you feel that creative impulse start to throb, luring you to your keyboard or notebook?

Don’t Tell Me It’s Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is nothing more than a myth. In some cases, it’s an excuse. Creative writing is not supposed to be easy. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be so rewarding. Creative writing requires skill, focus, and motivation. When we’re tired, emotional, hungry, or distracted, we’re not suffering from writer’s block. We’re just stressed out like everybody else.

Call it a Creative Writing Cure

If you want to keep your creativity flowing, start by taking care of yourself. Make sure you eat right, get plenty of rest and exercise, and keep your emotions in check by finding ways to be happy.

You have to take special care of your creativity too. Feed your imagination and keep a journal so you can store inspiration for later use. Try some creative writing exercises to get yourself going in new directions. And absorb art.

When you take some time to experience a little art or entertainment, you’ll find that your creative juices really start to flow. Not only will you enjoy yourself, you’ll also massage your creative muscles and come away with fresh inspiration for your creative writing.

Art Begets Art

Haven’t you heard? Creativity is contagious. The more you expose yourself to it, the more creative you’ll become. Here are five tips to keep the breeding grounds for creative writing fertile:

1. Watch a movie, preferably a really good one. It doesn’t matter what genre, or whether it’s an award-winning film. The key is to pick a movie that will speak to you, the kind that leaves you feeling reawakened.
2. Read a book, or even just a chapter. This is sure to get you back in touch with your muse, but make sure that whatever you read when you’re looking for inspiration is something that fully engages you.
3. Peruse art and photography. You can go to a museum, or just check out the many art sites on the web. Sometimes when I need a break from writing, I type something into Google, click on the images button, and spend a few minutes enjoying the beauty of art and imagery. It’s a good refreshment for the mind.
4. Listen to music. One of the best things about listening to music is that you can do it while you’re also doing other things — like exercising, driving, or cleaning. Then again, you can just lie back, relax, and let yourself get swept away by the sounds. Or, you can…
5. Dance. Not only will this get your blood pumping, it will increase your energy level. You’ll be listening to music all the while, so this one’s a double hitter with the added benefit of exercise! Plus, you can listen to music (and maybe even dance) while working on your creative writing projects!

So next time you find yourself floating around inside your own headspace when you should be forging your masterpiece, take a break to take care of your body and mind, and then go take in a movie or an album or some incredible artwork, and let someone else’s art beget your own. That’s how you get creative writing to come naturally and effortlessly!

Do you have any tips for creative writing inspiration? Share your thoughts in the comments or send in a guest post!

And then we wait some more.

Writer’s block is the state of being uninspired, but it’s just a state of mind, and that can be changed at will, which is a good thing, because when it comes to creative writing, state of mind is pretty important.

Years ago, when I used to draw and paint, I often listened to a particular mix of music. It made for great artistic background audio. As a result, every time I hear the music from my art mix, I get an urge to pull out my watercolor pencils and sketchbook, because I have built a psychological association between a certain kind of music and a creative activity.

Can you see where I’m going with this? Just imagine how this concept can be applied to creative writing.

Creative Writing with a Talisman

Talisman: anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions. (Dictionary.com)

In a sense, a talisman can be used to program your muse to come out and get to work — on cue. Imagine having the ability to command your own creativity, to sit down and engage in your writerly work and automatically trigger inspiration.

Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your creative writing talisman - It could be a hat or a piece of jewelry. It might be something that sits on your desk, like a picture or a statuette. It can even be a CD or playlist (classical and jazz are great for writing). Choose a talisman that you won’t use in any other capacity except for your creative writing, and make sure it’s not something that will distract you from the task at hand. Also, pick something you can store easily, but which is also accessible. Things that fit in your desk drawer or pocket are ideal. Also, try to find something that already makes you feel inspired.
2. Charge your talisman - Don’t start using your talisman until your muse is in high gear. You should have it ready for when creativity strikes and when it does, pull out your talisman and focus on it for a few minutes as ideas bounce around in your head. Leave it out as you work on your creative writing during those times when you’re feeling extremely inspired.
3. Believe in your talisman – If you believe in magic, you might say that you’re infusing the talisman with your creative writing energy. Or, a more scientific explanation would be that you’re training your mind to associate the object with creativity, so that whenever you engage the talisman, that creative energy is triggered.
4. Use your talisman - Once your talisman starts putting out an inspirational vibe, make it a point to use it whenever you’re stuck with your creative writing. You’ll know it’s ready because you’ll get the urge to write every time you look at your talisman.
5. Keep your talisman charged - Even if months down the road, you’re feeling giddy with creativity, and you don’t feel like you need it, take out the talisman. This will help keep it charged and maintain the psychological association between the talisman and your creative writing.

Do you have a creative writing talisman or some other ritual that you perform before, during, or after your writing sessions?

Keep on writing!

Certainly fiction and poetry qualify as creative writing, but what about journal writing, articles and essays, memoirs and biographies? What about textbooks and copywriting? Technical writing?

Where exactly is the line drawn between creative writing and other types of writing?

In some cases, what qualifies as creative is obvious. You read something and you know that it belongs in the creative category. Other times, a piece of writing, while skillful, might not strike you as creative in nature. And then, there’s everything in between – stuff that’s sort of creative or not quite creative enough.

Creative Writing and Art

People have been struggling to clearly define art for centuries. Some feel that a Monet is definitely art and a child’s drawing is definitely not. Others would say that both are art, and a few would even argue that a child’s work is a more true form of art because it’s not developed or learned.

Creative writing presents us with the same dilemma. Does a piece of writing qualify as creative by merely existing? Would we ever refer to a legal document or instruction manual as a piece of creative writing? Does a straightforward essay or something like an encyclopedia article qualify as creative? What about letters or emails? Is creative writing determined by the level of skill versus talent?

For the most part, defining creative writing is a subjective pursuit. You can determine what creative writing is for yourself, but others may see things differently. Yet there are some types of writing that most of us would never refer to as creative writing, and a few types that we’d probably all agree on.

Obviously Creative Writing

As mentioned, when you think about creative writing, fiction and poetry spring to mind, possibly because the creative nature of both fiction and poetry is so obvious.

Fiction is made-up stuff, borne from the imagination and therefore creative. Poetry too, takes many liberties with language and imagery, and many poems are rooted almost entirely in creativity. Song lyrics also fit well with fiction and poetry, as does screenwriting, since all of these types of writing certainly require a significant level of creative thinking.

But many other types of writing are creative as well. When you read a memoir with beautiful turns of phrase or an essay that fires up your imagination, you know that you’re experiencing the writer’s creativity. Conversely, when you read a bit of dry, factual material, you’re positive that it’s not creative writing at all.

Obviously Not Creative Writing

Have you ever read the terms and conditions or privacy policy on a website? Ever browsed through the instruction manual that came with your DVD player? Surely, you’ve suffered through a boring textbook.

While these types of writing may require some level of creativity, they are not considered members of the creative writing family. That might sound exclusive, but one of the things that defines creative writing is how enjoyable it is to read.

It’s easy to glance at a poem and know that it’s a piece of creative writing, and it’s easy to flip through a legal document and know that it’s not. The problem with defining creative writing is all the stuff in the middle – writing that may or may not be considered creative, and that makes it completely subjective.

Simply Subjective

If a historical textbook is not creative writing, then wouldn’t that exclude other nonfiction works like memoirs and biographies from the creative writing category?

Not necessarily.

The line that separates creative writing from other types of writing is not drawn between fiction and nonfiction. Creative nonfiction is a wide genre, and includes memoirs and biographies, personal essays, travel and food writing, and literary journalism. While nonfiction indicates that the writing is rooted in fact, it can be quite creative (unlike technical or medical writing) because it is written with much emphasis on language and the craft of writing.

Creative Writing and You

Ultimately, we each get to decide what is art and what is creative writing. Most of us will know creative writing when we experience it, either as a writer or as a reader, even though we rarely take the time to examine why we consider one type of writing creative over another.

A few questions to consider:

• Do you differentiate between creative writing and other types of writing? Do you even think about it?
• Have you ever thought about the difference between literary writing and other types of creative writing?
• Do you feel that copywriting (ads, commercials, etc.) can be classified as creative writing or art? What about blogs? Are they creative? Some? All?

In the big scheme of things, it may not be that important to go around labeling what is creative writing, but it’s certainly worthy of a few brief moments of consideration.

In any case, keep on writing (and stay creative)!

Do you have any ideas to add or questions to ask about creative writing? Leave a comment!