what is creative writing

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

are you ready to write

From Ready, Set, Write: Getting Ready to Write

Today, I’m excited to share an excerpt from my book, Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing. This is from the book’s introduction. Enjoy! A Writer’s Journey Begins When I was a little girl, my mom used to sit, curled up on the couch, with a thick paperback novel in her hands and a…Read More

curiosity and creativity for writers

Curiosity and Creativity for Writers

Today’s post is an excerpt from my book, Ready, Set, Write: A Guide to Creative Writing, which takes you on a tour through the world of creative writing while offering writing ideas and inspiration. This is from chapter thirty-one, “Curiosity and Creativity.” Let’s find out how fostering curiosity can increase your creativity as a writer. Enjoy!…Read More

share your writing

Share Your Writing

Putting yourself out there isn’t easy. When you share your writing, you open it up to criticism. What if people don’t like it? What if it gets negative reviews? What if nobody reads it? I share my writing all the time, thanks to this blog. In the early days, shortly after I launched Writing Forward,…Read More

why we write

Why We Write, a Sneak Peek at Ready, Set, Write!

Today I’m sharing an excerpt from Ready, Set, Write! But first let me tell you about the book: Ready, Set, Write is an introduction to creative writing that is ideal for young and new writers but also works as a refresher for seasoned writers. It takes you on a tour through various forms of creative…Read More

creative writing

10 Essential Lessons You’ll Learn in a Creative Writing Workshop

When I look back over all my years of formal education, from preschool through college, only a few classes stand out as truly educational in a life-changing way. In sixth grade, we did a section on space, which fascinated me. I retained a lot of what I learned. Later, I took astronomy and learned even…Read More

Ten Myths About Creativity

Today I’d like to share an excerpt from my book 10 Core Practices for Better Writing. This excerpt is from “Chapter Nine: Creativity,” which offers insights and tips to help you stay inspired and creative as a writer. The excerpt I’ve chosen presents ten myths about creativity. These are notions about creativity that people assume,…Read More

creative writing class

Five Things I Learned in Creative Writing Class

People often ask me whether I think a formal education is necessary to a successful writing career. A degree certainly helps, but no, it’s not necessary. There are master writers who did not finish high school and plenty never went to college. I want to be clear: I fully support higher education. If you pull me…Read More

creative nonfiction ideas

Ideas for Writing Creative Nonfiction

In fiction writing, we’re often inspired by what-if questions: What if an innocent person is convicted of murder? What if humanity finds itself facing total extinction? What if that rabbit hole leads to a fantastical wonderland? Fiction is driven by imagination. Ideas for writing creative nonfiction often arise from experience and interest rather than imagination….Read More

creative writing degree

Do You Need a Creative Writing Degree to Succeed as a Writer?

Young and new writers often ask whether they need a creative writing degree in order to become an author or professional writer. I’ve seen skilled and talented writers turn down opportunities or refuse to pursue their dreams because they feel their lack of a creative writing degree means they don’t have the credibility necessary to…Read More

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