EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING

WEEK 7: INTRODUCTION TO FICTION - Plot is like blueprints. Your plot, its

connections, and its structure determine the way
Fiction-is the creation of a story from the author's
you shape your story. It includes the order in which
imagination, although it may reference real events
your characters face things. It’s the organized
or people. Fiction stories are not true stories, though
structure, the thing that will end up in an outline on
many have elements of truth in them. If you want to
Wikipedia (with spoiler alerts, of course).
create your own work of fiction, all it takes is a little
time and creativity. Generally, “plot” as a concept is split into five
parts:
Elements of Fiction:
1. Exposition or introduction, which establishes
1. Characters
characters and setting.
- characters are the foundation for the entire
2. Rising action, which reveals the conflict. Now
work.
that your characters are established (along with
- the people through whom reader experiences some sense of what their “normal” looks like), you
the tale, and the trick is to make those fictional throw in the wrench and raise the stakes.
characters feel completely real.
3. Now comes the climax, also known as the
• You’ll need to know their backstory. This turning point. This should be the greatest moment of
doesn’t mean your reader needs to know it, but your tension in your story; everything is critical, with
understanding of your character’s history is crucial emotion and interest peaked. This is make-or-break,
for how and why your character responds to things. the moment when things matter the most.

• You’ll need at least a rudimentary grasp of 4. After that comes falling action, when things
psychology. You and I have both read books which start to wind down. All that tension is actively being
annoyed us because the characters just didn’t feel resolved. Your reader has a deep need for that
“real.” Often, this is because basic psychology was resolution in this section, so make sure that when
ignored, and the characters behaved in a way that you “fix” the problems, you address the issues
made no sense for human beings. you’ve been carefully setting up.

• You’ll need to understand the power of the 5. Finally, we have resolution. Don’t let the word
character arc. Your character should not be the same fool you: this ending isn’t necessarily happy or sad.
at the end of the story as in the beginning. They It means everything has been solved, and your
change, and their growth is a key aspect of your conclusion arrives at the place where all the events
story’s momentum. of the plot have strongly led. It feels final, or at
least, final enough that the reader can put the book
If your characters are flat, your readers will have down without flipping back through the pages to see
trouble empathizing. But if your characters feel real if they missed something. Again, this doesn’t
and relatable, then your readers will eat your story require a happy ending. It does require a satisfying
up. Understanding what your characters do and say one, even if you mean to continue in a sequel. If
(and how other characters respond to them) helps to you’ve left any knots still tied, you’d better have a
paint the fullest possible picture of your fictional good reason why—and better make sure your reader
creation. has a clue that the answers are coming soon.
Setting
Plot

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
- This includes the physical location (real or There’s present tense (I see/she sees), past tense, (I
invented) and the social environment of the story saw/she saw), and even that cockamamie future
(including chronology, culture, institutions, etc.). tense nobody uses (I will see/she will see).
- setting in many ways, it’s like a character. It’s the combination of these things that create an
effective POV. So how do you choose?
- setting doesn’t have feelings, but your
characters are forced to interact with it everywhere It all depends on (1) the particular feel you’re going
they go and in everything they do. Your setting for and (2) how much your reader needs to see.
actually develops who your characters are.
• What feel are you going for? There’s a
It determines, among other things: reason different genres often to use different POVs.
• The skills they’ve developed to survive • Urban fantasy, for example, is almost always
first-person past-tense, because they’re going for the
• The tools they’ll have (weapons, money,
feel of a person telling you an exciting thing that
clothing, transportation)
happened. There’s an intimate, immediate feel that
• The cultural norms for communication goes with this close-up-and-personal viewpoint, like
(speech, body language, and relative rules for seeing the fist come right for your face.
communication between genders, classes, and more)
• On the other hand, literary fiction usually uses
• The presuppositions your character brings into third-person. The reason is simple: literary fiction
the story (religion, psychology, philosophy, usually has a much broader scope than urban
educational assumptions, all of which have a lot to fantasy and so needs to be able to take the reader to
do with the way your characters respond to stimuli) a bird’s-eye view, usually seeing through multiple
characters. The pace is often a little slower, but the
When designing your setting, it’s a good idea to impact can be deeply powerful, and tends to explore
have some idea how it all works. What’s the consequences.
weather like? How does the economy function? Do
they use money? Where does pancake batter come • How much does your reader need to see?
fruom?
• Is it essential that the reader sees things
Are you copying a historical culture? (And if you happening outside your protagonist’s point of view?
are, I highly advise looking for something Do they need to see things your protagonist does not
that isn’t European. Mix it up! The world is a see, or hear things your protagonist does not hear?
glorious patchwork of variety.) Then you need third-person POV.

Your characters have to swim through this world, so • Do you actually need the reader to discover
have fun with this. Creating your setting (also things at the same pace as your protagonist? Do you
known as world-building) can be one of the most want your reader to waffle and rage with your
exciting parts of writing. protagonist, seeking for answers? Then first-person
might be better.
Point-of-View
• Want third-person present tense? (She turns
This is a fun and tricky tool to work with. POV and sees him, and wonders if unexpected encounters
determines things like tense and how much the can stop one’s heart.)
reader gets to see. There’s first-person (I, my),
second-person (you, your), and
third-person/narrator (she, hers).
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
• Want first-person past tense? (I turned and saw underlying humor or drama of your piece. Your
him, and found myself wondering if unexpected style is your unique flavor, and developing it will
encounters could stop my heart.) not only take your entire writing career, but is also
one of the most rewarding activities as a writer.
• Want second-person future tense? (You will
turn and see him, and you will wonder if the Categories of Fiction
unexpected encounter will stop your heart.)
Genre fiction - also known as popular fiction, is
Theme plot-driven fictional works written with the intent of
fitting into a specific literary genre, in order to
Theme is a hidden element, but incredibly
appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that
important: in essence, theme is what your story is
genre.
REALLY about.
Genre - is the subject matter or category that writers
The plot is the outward details, e.g., “A son stands
use. For instance, science
to inherit his father’s vast business empire, but only
fiction, fantasy and mystery fiction are genres.
if he can prove himself to be a responsible adult by
the age of 25.” Theme would be what it’s really
about, e.g., “Growing up requires choices.” Or,
Fiction Genres:
“‘Family’ means more than wealth.” If you’re really
good, you can even use a one-word theme, Mystery- is a popular genre, boasting a huge
like love, truth, adulthood, etc. established audience. All mysteries focus on a
crime, usually murder. The action tends to center on
Yes, all fictional books have themes, even if it
the attempts of a wily detective-type to solve the
wasn’t intentional. Even authors who aren’t aware
crime. And the climax usually occurs near the end,
of theme use it—personal beliefs on how the world
in a leisurely setting where all the elements of the
works (or should work) always flavor the story.
mystery are neatly assembled for the reader’s
The tricky thing about theme is it should rarely be convenience. The solution, complete with surprises,
bluntly stated in your work; the moment you do, is then delivered to the characters and the reader
your work slides into the “preachy” category. Of alike.
course, sometimes, you want folks to know what the
Romance- is a huge category aimed at diverting and
purpose is up front, but if you can manage to make
entertaining women. In romance novels, you have
it subtle—to get that point across without ever
elements of fantasy, love, naïveté, extravagance,
frankly stating it— your readers will actually take it
adventure, and always the heroic lover overcoming
to heart a lot more deeply.
impossible odds to be with his true love. Many
Style romances, especially the gothic romance, have an
easy-tofollow formula — a young, inexperienced
Style is awesome. Style is needed. Style is the thing
girl living a somewhat remote existence is courted
that makes your work stand out from everybody
or threatened by an evil man and then rescued by a
else’s, because in essence, it’s your “voice.”
valiant one.
You develop style by working on technique. Your
Other subgenres include historical, contemporary,
syntax, word choices, and tone all contribute to this.
fantasy romance, and romantic suspense. If
Your style can demonstrate not only your voice as a
historical detail and settings interest you, try writing
writer, but is crucial to indicating details about your
a regency or historical romance. If you enjoy a dash
story and characters. Style shows accent and dialect,
of mystery or intrigue, then romantic suspense
character intelligence and observation; it shows the
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
novels are for you. However, if you’re interested in swift action, and continuous suspense. In this genre,
more modern stories with sexual candor, then a writer’s objective is to deliver a story with
consider writing a contemporary romance. sustained tension, surprise, and a constant sense of
impending doom that propels the reader forward.
First-class romance writers include Jude Deveraux,
Unlike mysteries, thrillers are dominated by action
Victoria Holt, Judith McNaught, Daphne Du
in which physical threat is a constant companion,
Maurier, Jennifer Greene, and Nora Roberts.
and a hero (James Bond, for example) is pitted
Women’s fiction against a nefarious villain.

It’s common knowledge in the publishing industry Western

that women constitute the biggest book-buying
Known simply as westerns, these novels about life
segment. So, it’s certainly no accident that most
on America’s post Civil War western frontier
mainstream as well as genre fiction is popular
usually involve conflicts between cowboys and
among women. For that reason, publishers and
outlaws, cowboys and Native Americans, or
booksellers have identified a category within the
Easterners and Westerners. While this category still
mainstream that they classify as Women’s Fiction.
has a mass-market audience and a thriving regional
And its no surprise that virtually all the selections of
market, it’s not the popular genre it was 25 years
Oprah’s Book Club are in this genre.
ago.
From a writer’s perspective, some key
Horror
characteristics of these books include a focus on
relationships, one or more strong female Filled with gut-wrenching fear, this popular genre
protagonists, women triumphing over unbearable keeps readers turning the blood-filled pages. From a
circumstances, and the experiences of women writer’s perspective, the defining characteristic is
unified in some way. The field includes such diverse the intention to frighten readers by exploiting their
writers as Barbara Taylor Bradford, Anne Rivers fears, both conscious and subconscious: fears of
Siddons, Alice McDermott, Judith Krantz, Anne supernatural forces, alien visitations, madness,
Tyler, Rebecca Wells, and Alice Hoffman. death, dismemberment, and other terrifying notions.
Science fiction/fantasy Tracing its roots back to the classic tales of Edgar
Allan Poe, the horror genre today is dominated by
Science fiction/fantasy novels depict distant worlds
Stephen King, whose vast output of bestsellers
and futuristic technologies that whirl readers far
under his name as well as his alter-ego Richard
away from the here and now and yet provoke
Bachman has dominated the bestseller lists for
contemplation of contemporary issues. Imaginative,
nearly 25 years. Other major horror writers include
thoughtful, and other-worldly, this robust category
Mary Shelley, Roald Dahl, Clive Barker, Peter
is made even more popular by the Star
Straub, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice.
Wars and Star Trek series. Leading science fiction
and fantasy writers include Ray Bradbury, Arthur Young adult
Clarke, Isaac Asimov, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R.
This genre includes any type of novel with a
Tolkien, as well as the current, multi-best-selling,
protagonist in the 12 to 16 age range that speaks to
young adult author J.K. Rowling.
the concerns of teenagers. Currently, J.K. Rowling
Suspense/thriller and her amazing Harry Potter (Scholastic Press)
books are dominating the field. Rowling’s
Suspense novels and thrillers are tense, exciting,
accomplishment — a truly universal story,
often sensational works with ingenious plotting,
brimming with magic and fantasy as well as likable
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
characters that readers identify with — is an mystery are neatly assembled for the reader’s
amazing feat. Watch out for all the Harry Potter convenience. The solution, complete with surprises,
wannabes in the coming year. is then delivered to the characters and the reader
alike.
WEEK 8: INTRODUCTION TO FICTION
Romance- is a huge category aimed at diverting
MODULE 6: Introduction to Fiction Writing
and entertaining women. In romance novels, you
Fiction Writing Techniques
have elements of fantasy, love, naïveté,
extravagance, adventure, and always the heroic
lover overcoming impossible odds to be with his
Learning Objectives: true love. Many romances, especially the gothic
At the end of this module you are expected to: romance, have an easy-tofollow formula — a
young, inexperienced girl living a somewhat remote
a. identify the categories and types of fiction; existence is courted or threatened by an evil man
b. familiarize character writing tips in fiction; and and then rescued by a valiant one.

c. distinguish the 5W’s of fiction writing. Other subgenres include historical, contemporary,
fantasy romance, and romantic suspense. If
historical detail and settings interest you, try writing
A. Fiction-is the creation of a story from the a regency or historical romance. If you enjoy a dash
author's imagination, although it may reference real of mystery or intrigue, then romantic suspense
events or people. Fiction stories are not true stories, novels are for you. However, if you’re interested in
though many have elements of truth in them. If you more modern stories with sexual candor, then
want to create your own work of fiction, all it takes consider writing a contemporary romance.
is a little time and creativity. Categories of First-class romance writers include Jude Deveraux,
Fiction: Victoria Holt, Judith McNaught, Daphne Du
Genre fiction - also known as popular fiction, is Maurier, Jennifer Greene, and Nora Roberts.
plot-driven fictional works written with the intent of Women’s fiction
fitting into a specific literary genre, in order to
appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that It’s common knowledge in the publishing industry
genre. that women constitute the biggest book-buying
segment. So, it’s certainly no accident that most
mainstream as well as genre fiction is popular
Genre - is the subject matter or category that writers among women. For that reason, publishers and
use. For instance, science fiction, fantasy and booksellers have identified a category within the
mystery fiction are genres. mainstream that they classify as Women’s Fiction.
And its no surprise that virtually all the selections of
Oprah’s Book Club are in this genre.
Mystery- is a popular genre, boasting a huge From a writer’s perspective, some key
established audience. All mysteries focus on a characteristics of these books include a focus on
crime, usually murder. The action tends to center on relationships, one or more strong female
the attempts of a wily detective-type to solve the protagonists, women triumphing over unbearable
crime. And the climax usually occurs near the end, circumstances, and the experiences of women
in a leisurely setting where all the elements of the unified in some way. The field includes such diverse

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
writers as Barbara Taylor Bradford, Anne Rivers fears, both conscious and subconscious: fears of
Siddons, Alice McDermott, Judith Krantz, Anne supernatural forces, alien visitations, madness,
Tyler, Rebecca Wells, and Alice Hoffman. death, dismemberment, and other terrifying notions.
Science fiction/fantasy Tracing its roots back to the classic tales of Edgar
Allan Poe, the horror genre today is dominated by
Science fiction/fantasy novels depict distant worlds
Stephen King, whose vast output of bestsellers
and futuristic technologies that whirl readers far
under his name as well as his alter-ego Richard
away from the here and now and yet provoke
Bachman has dominated the bestseller lists for
contemplation of contemporary issues. Imaginative,
nearly 25 years. Other major horror writers include
thoughtful, and otherworldly, this robust category is
Mary Shelley, Roald Dahl, Clive Barker, Peter
made even more popular by the Star Wars and Star
Straub, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice.
Trek series. Leading science fiction and fantasy
writers include Ray Bradbury, Arthur Clarke, Isaac Young adult
Asimov, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as
This genre includes any type of novel with a
the current, multi-best-selling, young adult author
protagonist in the 12 to 16 age range that speaks to
J.K. Rowling.
the concerns of teenagers. Currently, J.K. Rowling
Suspense/thriller and her amazing Harry Potter (Scholastic Press)
books are dominating the field.
Suspense novels and thrillers are tense, exciting,
often sensational works with ingenious plotting, Rowling’s accomplishment — a truly universal
swift action, and continuous suspense. In this genre, story, brimming with magic and fantasy as well as
a writer’s objective is to deliver a story with likable characters that readers identify with — is an
sustained tension, surprise, and a constant sense of amazing feat. Watch out for all the Harry Potter
impending doom that propels the reader forward. wannabes in the coming year.
Unlike mysteries, thrillers are dominated by action
Success stories in this genre share many of the
in which physical threat is a constant companion,
qualities evident in the Harry Potter books: a
and a hero (James Bond, for example) is pitted
memorable voice (J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the
against a nefarious villain.
Rye, Little Brown, 1951), believable characters
Western (Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Perigee, 1959), and a
willingness to write about the disturbing subjects
Known simply as westerns, these novels about life
that preoccupy teens and preteens (Are You There
on America’s post Civil War western frontier
God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume, Dell
usually involve conflicts between cowboys and
Yearling, 1972, or Holes by Louis Sachar, FSG,
outlaws, cowboys and Native Americans, or
1998).
Easterners and Westerners. While this category still
has a mass-market audience and a thriving regional Types of Fiction
market, it’s not the popular genre it was 25 years
ago.
Two main types of fiction
Horror
a. Commercial fiction- attracts a broad audience
Filled with gut-wrenching fear, this popular genre
and may also fall into any subgenre, like mystery,
keeps readers turning the blood-filled pages. From a
romanc, legal thriller, western, science fiction and
writer’s perspective, the defining characteristic is
so on.
the intention to frighten readers by exploiting their
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
Example: The Bridges of Madison County by 6. Study cliffhanger endings
Robert James Waller (Warner, 1992) was a hugely
7. Give readers cookies
successful commercial novel because the book
described the fulfillment of a romantic fantasy that 8. When in doubt think ahead
is dear to the heart of millions of readers. Written in
a short, easy-to-read style, the book was as 9. Experiment a lot
mesmerizing to 15-year-olds as it was to 100-year- 10. Divorce yourself from your work
olds. Other blockbuster commercial fiction authors
include John Grisham, Sidney Sheldon, Danielle 11. Have fun.
Steele, and Jackie Collins. Character Writings tips for Fiction Writers:
b. Literary fiction- tends to appeal to a smaller, - Characters are the heart and soul of every story
more intellectually adventurous audience. A work of
literary fiction can fall into any of the subgenres - The best characters come with all the flaws,
described in the following sections. quirks, and baggage that real people possess. They
are not just names on a page. They have pasts and
- A recent work of literary fiction that enjoyed wide personalities, and they are unique.
popularity was Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
(Atlantic Monthly Press, 1997). Other popular
authors of literary fiction include Toni Morrision, Character writing tips to help you develop
Barbara Kingsolver, John LeCarre, and Saul characters that like real people:
Bellow. The storytelling driven by plot, as opposed
to literary fiction, which focuses more on theme and Goals can be small (the character wants a specific
character. Genre fiction, or popular fiction. job) or big (the character is trying to save the
world). Come up with a mix of small and large
goals for each character.
Fiction writing- is the composition of non-factual most positive and negative behaviors and
prose texts. Fictional writing often is produced as a personality traits?
story meant to entertain or convey an author's point
of view. The result of this may be a short story, 1. Backstory: We are born a certain way, but our
novel, novella, screenplay, or drama, which are all life experiences
types (though not the only types) of fictional writing 2. Dialogue: The way we talk depends on the
styles. Different types of authors practice fictional language we speak and starts? What new friends
writing, including novelists, playwrights, short will they meet once the story begins?
story writers, radio dramatists and screenwriters.
3. Physical Description: Our primary method of
identifying each other
Tips in Writing a Fiction 4. Name: Esmerelda doesn’t sound like a soccer
1. Forget everything you know mom, and Joe doesn’t of a tight spot or prevent
them from being able to get out of a tight sound like
2. Make your writing as a magic an evil sorcerer. Make sure the names you choose
3. Write with the five senses for your spot. Skills can be useless or they can come
in handy. Does your characters match their
4. Smart word choice personalities and the roles they play in the character
5. Maintain consistency
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have an education or special training? What can Creating Fictional Characters
they do? story.
Basing characters on real People:
5. Goals: Some say that a character’s goals drive
When interviewing authors plugging their latest
the entire story. He while watching movies. Another
book, one of the most frequent questions asked by
runs his hand through his hair when wants to slay
the presenter is ‘Are your characters based on real
the dragon; she wants to overthrow the evil empire.
people?’ The answer invariably given is ‘Not
6. Strengths and Weaknesses: Villains sometimes exactly’.
do nice things and heroes occasionally take the low
In order to be convincing, fictional characters must
road. What are your character’s, he’s trying to figure
ring true. The reader should be able to relate to them
something out. Give your characters identifiable
and identify with them, but the description needs
quirks and behaviors, like real people.
only to be sufficient to project a recognizable
7. Friends and Family: These are the people in image.
our inner circles, and continually mold and shape
Mixing and matching. The best way of avoiding
us. Each character has a life before the story begins.
this is to come up with a composite impression of
What is it? they have played important roles in Aunty which will satisfy interested relatives that she
shaping our personalities and our lives. Who are was the inspiration for your character, but is far
your characters’ friends and family before the story. enough removed to keep you out of the law courts.
8. Nemesis: A nemesis is someone with As with an autobiographical account, mixing and
whom we are at odds. This person’s style of matching enhances your characters and surprisingly,
speaking. We repeat certain words and phrases, often helps to make them more believable.
character doesn’t have to be a villain, but the goals
Stereotyping and clichés. Stereotypes can be very
of the nemesis inflect certain syllables, and make
useful in fiction. Used with caution, they offer an
certain gestures while we speak. definitely interfere
instantly recognizable framework on which to base
with your main character’s goals.
your character. However, writers who attempt to
9. Position in the World: What do your portray their own racist, sexist or socially
characters do for a living? What is the way we look; stereotypical images invariably cause offence and
hair and eye color, height and weight, scars and are these views do nothing to improve their
their daily lives like? Where do they live? What is a characterization.
character’s tattoos, and the style of clothing we
Portraying a multicultural society. The importance
wear are all part of our physical role or position
of writing about what you know, with the provision
among his or her friends, family, or coworkers,
that you should not limit yourself purely to your
descriptions.
own personal experience. Research plays a vital role
10. Skills and Abilities: A character’s skills in providing background information but research
and abilities can get them out alone is unlikely to adequately equip you with the
insight required to create characters from social,
11. Gestures, Mannerisms, and Quirks: One
sexual, religious or ethnic groups of whom you have
character chews her nails
only a fleeting knowledge. When you consider that,
12. Fears: An old fiction writing trick is to figure for some authors, simply attempting to write from
out what your character is most afraid of, and then the viewpoint of a member of the opposite sex can
make the character face it. We all have fears; be extremely daunting, straying into unfamiliar
characters should, too. cultures and societies can be a recipe for disaster.
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This is a highly sensitive aspect of writing, which - The answer to the who question determines, in
should be treated with a great deal of respect. large part, how you answer the next question: What
happen in the story? Another interpretation of this
Writing as an insider. Conversely, inside
question is: What is your story about? Do you have
knowledge is one of the greatest writing strengths
some larger theme you want to get across, or are
you possess. The more you can draw on a
you just telling a good tale? Even if it’s latter, you
background and culture you know inside out for
still have to think about another version of the what
your settings and characters, the more vividly
question: What effect do you want the story to have
realistic your stories will become. We will be
on the reader?
looking at political correctness in the chapter on
children’s writing but always bear in mind that - The where question seems relatively simple at
without depth of personality, your characters will be first glance: Where is the story set? But this leads to
cliche´s and cardboard. It is essential, therefore, a more complex one: How important is the setting
when building characters that you can empathize of the story itself? In answering the where question ,
with them through your own in-depth knowledge of you decide whether your story is tied to a specific
their way of life. geographical and historical context and whether it
is, in part, about that place and time or whether it is
Giving them a past. Just like real people, fictional
more archetypal and timeless.
characters don’t simply appear fully-grown. They
have parents, backgrounds, siblings and experiences - The question of when the story takes place is
that shape their personalities and influence their also more complex than it seems at first. It can
current behaviour. As soon as a suitable character identify the historical time of the story of the time it
comes into your head, be sure that you know what takes place in the lives of characters. It also
sort of person they are. asks: When is the story being told in relation to
when it happened? Is it being narrated in the
Testing for realism. Whilst stereotyping can be a
present tense or in the past tense by a present-day
useful method of characterization, be aware that
narrator? If you tell a story in the past tense, you
different people have different perceptions.
gain the benefit of hindsight you may gain in
immediacy and suspense.

The 5 W’s of Fiction Writing: o Other aspects of the when question include: At
what point in the story does the plot begin , and how
- Another way to approach starting a work do you order the events of the plot? Do you tell the
fiction is by using the old- fashioned five Ws of story chronologically, backward, or moving
journalism: who, what, where, when and backward and forward in time?
why. Assuming you have a rough idea of what you
want to write about , try to give a brief answer to o Answering this question is at the art of learning
each of these questions pertaining to the story you how to construct a plot, because you come to realize
want to tell. that the same ways. By deciding what to reveal and
when, you’re choosing the most important moments
- The first question to address is: Who are your in the plot.
character, and how are they related to each
other? The who question also encompasses the - Finally, the why question asks: Why do the
choice of point of view, that is: Who is your characters do what they do? What do the characters
protagonist, and who is your narrator? want, and why are they in the situation of the story?
It is a situation of their own making, or is it a
situation that has been thrust upon them? Of course,
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asking why the characters do what they do is both Start keeping a writing journal. As a writer, it’s a
the hardest and the most essential question you must good idea to write down ideas as they come to you.
answer. Jotting down your ideas can help you remember and
build on them. Journals are amazing helpers when it
Preparing to Write your Fiction:
comes to getting good ideas. Keep your journal with
Decide what format you want to write your fiction you all the time, since you never know when
in. This may depend on what type of story you want inspiration will strike!
to tell. For example, if you want to write an epic
Ask “what if” questions about your story and
fantasy that spans multiple generations, a novel (or
characters. Say you have come up with a character:
even a series of novels) may work better than a
a young woman in her early 20s who lives in
short story. If you're interested in exploring the
smalltown Georgia. Ask yourself what would
psyche of a single character, a short story may be
happen if this character was put into different
ideal.
situations. What would happen if she decided to
Get an idea of some sort. All books start from a take a job in Sydney, Australia, even though she’s
small idea, dream or inspiration that is slowly never left the country? What would happen if she
transformed into a larger and more detailed version had to suddenly take over her family’s business,
of that same idea. The idea should be something even if she’s always wanted to move away?
you're interested in, something that’s really
• Putting your characters in a variety of
important to you; if you're not passionate about it,
situations will help you decide what conflicts they
that will come through in your writing. If you're
may face and how they could handle them.
having issues coming up with good ideas, try these:
• This exercise can also help you determine
Start with what you know. If you’re from a small
what’s most important to your character(s) and
town in rural area you may want to start off by
whom they might (and might not) connect with.
thinking about stories you could tell about similar
settings. Brainstorm your topic by researching. If you want
to write about a particular type of setting or event,
Make lists of random things: “the curtain,” “the
such as the medieval Wars of the Roses, do a little
cat,” “the investigator,” etc. Take each word and add
research. Find out who the major historical figures
a few things. Where is it? What is it? When is it?
were, what actions they took, why they did what
Make up a paragraph about it. Why is it where it is?
they did. George R.R. Martin’s famous Game of
When did it get there? How? What does it look
Thrones books were inspired by his fascination with
like?
the English medieval era, but he took his research
Make up some characters. What is their age? When and made his own world and characters out of it.
were they born, and where? Do they live in this
Use other sources for inspiration. Engaging with
world? What is the name of the city they are in
other types of creative work can provide you with a
now? What is their name, age, gender, height,
springboard for your own. Watch several movies or
weight, hair color, eye color, ethnic background?
read several books in the same genre as your story
Try making a map. Draw a blob and make it an to get an idea of how stories like those tend to
island, or draw lines indicating rivers. Who lives in progress. Make a soundtrack of music that sounds
this place? What would they need to do to survive like something characters in your story would listen
in it? to, or how you imagine the soundtrack to the movie
adaptation of your story would sound.

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
References: - Holiday and special events travel articles ask
writers to write about a destination before the event
Adele, R. (2007) Creative Writing 7th Edition, How
takes place. The biggest global events are magnets
to Unlock your Imagination, develop your writing
for this type of travel writing, such as the World
skills and get published, ISBN:
Cup, the Olympics, the World Expo, fashion weeks,
9781848032224 and film festivals. Depending on the publication,
regional events work just as well.
WEEK 9: TRAVEL WRITING
4. Round-ups
Learning Objectives:
- You’ll recognize a round-up article when you see
At the end of this module you are expected to: one, as it’ll go, “40 best beaches in West Europe,”
a. define travel writing and its types; or, perhaps, “20 of the greatest walks in the world!”
It’s a classic tool in any magazine or newspaper
b. familiarize the qualities of a good travel writer; writer’s toolbox, taking a bunch of destinations and
and grouping them all under one common thread.
c. apply personal experiences of travel as well as 5. Personal essays
readings in fiction and nonfiction.
- Publishers are experiencing something of a
personal essay fatigue, so the market for more might
Travel writing- a genre of writing in which the be scarce these days. However, quality trumps all,
author describes places they have visited and their and a good personal travel essay is just plain good
experiences in travelling. writing in disguise: something that possesses a
strong voice while showing insight, growth, and
backstory.
Types of Travel Writing: 6. Op-eds
1. Destination articles - Have a burning opinion to share? Sometimes
- tell readers about a place to which they might publications end up giving op-eds to staff, but there
want to travel one day. One of the most standard are always open calls for opinion pieces.Travel op-
type of travel stories, these pieces act as the eds are much rarer than political opinion pieces, but
armchair reader’s bird-eye view of a place. Useful there’s a pattern to the ones that make the cut: good
or interesting facts pepper the writing. History, persuasive writing. If you can come at a topic from
points of interest, natural scenery, trendy spots: a a unique angle (and argue your case clearly) then
destination article can touch upon them all within you may be able to publish your opinion.
the framework of a broad narrative. 7. Travel Blogging
2. Special Interest Articles - How-To
- Special-interest articles are offshoots of -How-To articles are already fairly popular in
destination articles. Instead of taking the reader on a magazines, but they’re positively omnipresent in the
tour of an entire country or city, these pieces cover travel blogging world. Blogs provide a direct
one particular aspect of the destination. communication platform, allowing trust to build up
3. Holiday and special events quicker with the readers. As a result, for the search
query, “How to travel Europe on a budget,” six out

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
of the top ten results are posts from trusted 13. Travel memoirs
independent blogs.
- Nowadays, travel memoirs are practically
- It is the most standard form of advice column a synonymous with Elizabeth Gilbert’s wildly
travel blogger can produce. It’s intrinsically useful, popular Eat, Pray, Love and Cheryl Strayed’s
promising that it’ll teach something by article’s end. bestselling Wild, which were both recently adapted
A blogger’s challenge is delivering fully on that into Hollywood blockbusters.
promise.
14. Guidebooks
9. Itineraries
-As Oscar Wilde said, “I never travel without my
-Itineraries reveal the schedule that the writer took diary. One should always keep something
at a given destination, city-by-city or sight-by-sight. sensational to read in the train.” But these days,
They’re meant for the traveler who’s embarking on people are replacing diaries with travel guides —
a similar trip and needs a template. Typically, you’ll the ubiquitous Lonely Planet becoming one of the
find that an itinerary post is an easy place for you to more common sights on transit.
slip in recommendations, anything from the
Travel writing in guidebooks is straightforward,
accommodation you used or the restaurants you
informative, and fact-filled. In addition, there’s a
tried.
certain amount of responsibility that comes with the
10. Longform posts job.
-Longform travel blogging tells a travel story Lonely Planet alone is read by millions of travelers
through extended narrative content, as it takes a worldwide.
week’s worth of adventure and shapes it into a story.
Longform blog posts about travel often end up
being creative nonfiction: a way to present Qualities of a good travel writer:
nonfiction — factually accurate prose about real
people and events — in a compelling, vivid, • A good travel writer must have a good
dramatic manner. vocabulary and must have clarity of thoughts.

11. Books • A good travel writer must know the right words
to use to take readers on a transcendental journey
-When it comes to writing a book, you can take all with him through his pieces of work.
the challenges about travel writing from above and
magnify it times 2,000. If you’re asking readers to • A travel writer must know that exaggeration
commit to you for more than 100 pages, you’d best doesn’t work in travel writing.
make sure that your book is worth their while. • Keep your writing simple, convey what you
12. Travelogues intend to, and leave the experience to readers.

-In travelogues, authors record their adventures in a • Travel writer must not be biased when
way that illustrates or sheds insight upon the place reviewing hotels, restaurants, and his experiences in
itself. Travelogues possess a storied past, from Lady the place. Transparency helps and it can actually
Mary Wortley Montagu’s Turkish Embassy help a lot of people to have an idea of what to
Letters in 1763 to Mark Twain’s 1867 The expect in terms of food and accommodation.
Innocents Abroad, which paved the way for the sort  Write an honest experiences.
of comic travelogues that Bill Bryson’s perfected
today. How to be a good travel writer:
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
a. Read. Novellas, structured them by percepts and rules and
to be written in a realistic mode.
b. Redefine the genre of travel writing.
The Development of Novella:
c. Start a blog.
v In the late 19th and 20th centuries, a great
d. Develop your online presence.
number of novellas were written by Russian
e. Build a network, online and off. authors. The most famous of them was Leo
Tolstoy’s the Death of Evan Illyich (1896) and
f. Travel. But not just to “exotic” places. Fyodar Dostoevsky’s Note from the Underground
g. Look for stories everywhere. (1864). In late 1800, Henry James authored a
number of Novella including In the Cage and The
h. Avoid cliches. Turn of the Screw.
i. Learn when to break the writing rules you’ve How to Write a Novella:
been taught.
1. Pay attention to structure
j. Commit to the craft.
2. Use characters wisely
3. Have single theme and conflict
WEEK 10: THE ART OF NOVELLA
4. Simplicity is the key
MODULE 10: The Art of Novella
Create a compelling central character.
Learning Objectives:
- Novellas generally focus on one main
At the end of this module you are expected to: character. It’s important to spend a fair amount of
a. identify novella and its origin; time in your pre-writing process fleshing out your
protagonist. Make sure you know this person inside
b. familiarize the steps on how to write a Novella; and out and that you find them compelling enough
and to follow through an entire story. If you’re planning
c. differentiate novella in novel. on writing your novella in first person, you should
understand the way this person talks and
Novella- it is a type of prose fiction which is shorter communicates since you will be writing entirely
than full length novels and longer than short stories. from their point of view.
A novella is a short structured short narrative often
satiric or realistic inn tone. It usually describes one Focus on one or two central relationships.
incident or issue with one or two main characters - Once you’ve defined your protagonist, decide
and it also takes place in single location. on one or two central relationships that you will
Origin and growth of Novella: include in your story. You don’t have the time or
space to write a sprawling story covering many
v Novela Originated in Italy during the middle relationships, so focus on the one or two that feel
ages. The individual tales of Novella gradually most compelling to you.
gathered into a collection along with legends and
romantic tales. Not until late 18th and 19th century Decide on the main plot. - The plot of your novella
the Novella was developed into a literary genre. should be mapped out before you start writing. You
The Germans who were the most active writers of should have a sense for the beats of your story and

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
be able to clearly chart the dramatic arc of your
narrative.
Structure your story. - Decide on what sort of
dramatic structure you’re using to tell your story. Author Title
Your story might be too short to use a traditional
three act structure, so keep this in mind as you map Giovanni Boccaccio The Decameron
out your narrative to ensure that you have enough to Novella Novel
Joseph Conrad
Novellas has fewer Heart
More of Darkness
than 200 pages
justify writing a novella versus a short story.
Franzsubplots
Kafka’s Metamorphosis
Write. - Once you’ve adequately prepared and feel It is not lengthy Longest genre of
that you know your story and characters, it’s time to George Orwell Animal Farm
narrative prose fiction in
start writing. The writing process can be daunting, modern literature.
Ernest Hemingway The Old Man and the
but if you’ve done your homework, you can take Mostly concerned with Can have a complex
personal development of Sea plot.
comfort in the fact that you already have a roadmap
for your story that you now just have to execute. a character
Herman Melville Billy Bud
Contain fewer Contains lot of
Edit. - Once you have a first draft, it’s time to start Henry James
characters, themes and The Turn ofthemes
characters, the and
the editing process. Novellas involve fewer words conflicts Screwsub-themes
than a long story, which makes the editing process Generally has a less Divided in to chapters
all the more important. Revise and cut superfluous Thomas
complexMannplot. Death
and in Venice
sometimes volumes.
sections and make sure your novella is as concise Saul Bellow
Contains less characters Seize of the Day
A novel can be read in a
and compelling as possible. and themes few days.
Generally divided into
Publish. - Once you have a finished manuscript, chapters.
it’s time to start sending it out to any contacts you Can be read at one
have in the publishing world. Getting a literary sitting.
agent can help connect you with book publishers
who might be interested in your work. Depending
on how long your novella is, short story collections
or literary magazines might be interested in
publishing selections from your novella or possibly
serializing it. Self-publishing is always an option,
and short works like novellas can often do quite
well when sold as digital ebooks accessible on WEEK 11: WRITING WORKSHOP –
handheld devices like the Kindle. EDITING AND PRODUCTION
Skills Every Great Content Writer Needs:

Some Examples of Novella:

Difference between Novella and Novel: 1. Adaptability
This might seem obvious, but I see a lot of content
that falls flat because the tone and style don’t fit the
purpose of the piece or the culture of the brand. For
example, a landing page should probably contain
copy that is short and designed to persuade the

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
reader to take action. In contrast, a white paper will distractions and focus on one task at a time.
likely work best with more details to explain a more Sometimes to get the ball rolling, you can start with
complex issue. a few smaller, easy-to-complete tasks
before launching into your larger projects.
Regarding tone, blog posts for a scientific
equipment company targeting medical researchers 6. The Ability to Meet Deadlines
will likely be much different from posts for an
Your clients have deadlines they have to meet.
organic food shop targeting a wider range of health-
Delivering high-quality content promptly will show
conscious consumers. The more styles you can learn
that you are not only professional but also reliable.
and the more quickly you can adapt, the more
This means good time management is essential to
valuable you’ll be as a content writer.
help you realistically determine how many jobs you
2. Strong Research Skills can accept and reject and deliver it on time. If you
find yourself struggling with time management,
Good research is key for good content writing – it
check out these 14 writing and productivity hacks.
adds credibility and, most importantly, value.
Therefore, it’s vital to find trustworthy and 7. Communicate
interesting information from reliable sources online.
If you have a question about an assignment, let the
Experts are especially great resources if you can
customer know. Writing is an area of
effectively get the right information with good
communication, so there are no excuses for not
interviewing skills.
getting in touch with your client if there is a
3. A Solid Understanding of SEO problem. When you write to your client, treat it as
an official communication: proofread your message.
Great content writers stay on top of SEO trends –
Your customer will remember your courtesy.
after all, even the best content won’t be effective if
readers can’t find it. It’s important to know how to 8. Editing, Editing, and More Editing
craft SEO-friendly titles and descriptions, use
First drafts are rarely perfect. Editing skills require
keywords effectively and keep up with Google’s
patience, discipline and a good eye for detail. In
latest algorithm changes.
addition to grammar, spelling, and punctuation, look
4. Organizational Skills out for redundant points and overused words. And
don’t be surprised if you spend more time editing
Organizing isn’t just about having a clean
than writing.
workspace; it’s about keeping on top of the writing
jobs you’ve taken on. 9. Deliver Quality
Keep a calendar and know your deadlines. Most Do your best to create quality unique content –
smartphones even have programs that will help you make your articles engaging and grammatically
organize your time. Turning an assignment in late correct. Ideally, when customers need articles, you
sends a bad message to your customers and often want them to think of you as a superb writer that
won’t give the editors as much time to proof your gets the job completed on time. If you want more
article. Prioritize your jobs, so you get them all done clients and higher-paying work, consistently
promptly. delivering good writing will eventually get you
there.
5. The Ability to Get Focused
10. Staying in Demand
Writing requires focus which can sometimes be
hard to find. When it’s time to work, get rid of
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
You may be an excellent writer, but if you · writing original material
don’t stay up-to-date with the latest trends, your job
· determining whether permissions are
opportunities will be limited. Join writing and
necessary for third-party material
freelance communities, improve your online
profiles, be comfortable with cold emailing, · recasting material that would be better
leverage different social platforms and market presented in another form, or revising material for a
examples of your work. different medium (such as revising print copy for
web copy)
Maintaining an active presence on a few social
platforms will not only make you more likely to get · clarifying plot, characterization, or thematic
certain writing jobs, but you’ll also make valuable elements
contacts. Clients are always looking to boost their
reach so if you can offer to share content with your · Also known as substantive editing,
network; they will have an added incentive to hire manuscript editing, content editing, or
you. developmental editing.
Stylistic Editing
Editing to clarify meaning, ensure coherence and
flow, and refine the language. It includes:
Editorial Skills:
· eliminating jargon, clichés, and euphemisms
- Editing involves carefully reviewing material
before it is published and suggesting or making · establishing or maintaining the language level
changes to correct or improve it. The editor must appropriate for the intended audience, medium, and
communicate clearly and tactfully with all team purpose
members, and clearly mark and convey changes, · adjusting the length and structure of
suggestions, and directions. In all cases, the editor sentences and paragraphs
should strive to make all changes without altering
intended meaning or introducing errors. · establishing or maintaining tone, mood, style,
and authorial voice or level of formality
· Also known as line editing (which may also
- The editor should also be aware of the legal include copy editing).
and ethical dimensions of the publishing process,
including issues involving copyright, plagiarism,
libel, privacy protection, and confidentiality, and the Copy Editing
need to address biased, non-inclusive, and offensive
material. Editing to ensure correctness, accuracy, consistency,
and completeness. It includes:
Core Skills:
· editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation,
Assessing and shaping draft material to improve its and usage
organization and content. Changes may be
suggested to or drafted for the writer. · checking for consistency and continuity of
mechanics and facts, including anachronisms,
Structural editing may include: character names, and relationships
· revising, reordering, cutting, or expanding · editing tables, figures, and lists
material
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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
· notifying designers of any unusual production · distinguishing between printer's, designer's,
requirements or programmer's errors and writer's or editor's
alterations
· developing a style sheet or following one that
is provided · copy fitting
· correcting or querying general information · flagging or checking locations of art
that should be checked for accuracy
· inserting page numbers or checking them
against content and page references.
It may also include:
· marking levels of headings and the Types of Writing and Editing Skills:
approximate placement of art
· converting measurements
Strong Grammar Skills
· providing or changing the system of citations
- Even if you are writing with the assistance of
· editing indexes an editor, you must make your points clear. As such,
you cannot write well if you do not have a good
· obtaining or listing permissions needed
grasp of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation,
· checking front matter, back matter, and cover and all that good grammar entails. Automatic spell-
copy checkers and similar software aids are useful, but
they aren’t fully reliable.
· checking web links

Research
Proofreading
- As a professional writer, you could be called
Examining material after layout or in its final upon to write on topics you don't know much about.
format to correct errors in textual and visual This requires research, sometimes online. If you are
elements. The material may be read in isolation or good at finding and assimilating large amounts of
against a previous version. It includes checking for: information quickly, say so – and provide examples
· adherence to design from your history to prove it.

· minor mechanical errors (such as spelling Word Processing Software

mistakes or deviations from style sheet) - Some clients require the use of certain word
· consistency and accuracy of elements in the processing programs, file sharing services,
material (such as cross-references, running heads, collaboration apps, blogging platforms, or website
captions, web page heading tags, hyperlinks, and templates. Projects may also require other types of
metadata) software, such as spreadsheets or video editing. The
more of these you already know how to use, the
better.
It may also include: Collaboration and Communication

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 EMELECT 1: CREATIVE WRITING
- Writing is often collaborative, while editing
is always collaborative. The reality is that many
people hire writers and editors because their
own communication skills are poor. To succeed, you
must be able to work effectively with others, even
when they are difficult to get along with or
understand. Active listening and assessment skills
will go a long way toward building a positive
rapport with your clients, no matter what their
personality or background.
Technical Writer Skills
- A technical writer prepares instructional and
supporting documents to communicate complex
technical information in a user-friendly manner.
- They develop and gather feedback from
customers, designers, and manufacturers to help
identify areas of confusion, and present solutions to
the design and development teams. A technical
writer is responsible for creating FAQs, charts,
images, and training documents that can be easily
understood by people in a wide range of
backgrounds.
- A technical writer must have strong
communication skills, along with exceptional
writing and grammar skills. A bachelor’s degree in
Journalism, English, or Communications is often
required. However, some companies require a
degree and/or knowledge in a specialized field, like
computer science, engineering, or finance.

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