Creative Writing BBA 1st Semester

Unit 1

Purpose of CW 

The purpose of creative writing is to entertain, inform, and persuade. It can also be used to explore one’s own thoughts and emotions, or to share a story with others. Creative writing can take many forms, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and screenplays. 

Here are some of the benefits of creative writing: 

  • It can help you to express yourself more clearly. 
  • It can help you to explore your own thoughts and emotions. 
  • It can help you to develop your imagination. 
  • It can help you to learn about different cultures and perspectives. 
  • It can help you to connect with others. 
  • It can help you to relieve stress and anxiety. 

Creative writing is a great way to express yourself, to learn new things, and to connect with others. If you have a story to tell, or if you just want to try something new, give creative writing a try. 

Types of CW

There are many different types of creative writing, each with its own unique style and purpose. Some of the most common types include: 

  • Fiction: 
    Fiction is a type of creative writing that tells a story that is not true. It can be in the form of a novel, novella, short story, or even a poem. Fiction can be used to entertain, educate, or inform the reader. 
  • Nonfiction: 
    Nonfiction is a type of creative writing that tells a story that is true. It can be in the form of a biography, autobiography, essay, or even a memoir. Nonfiction can be used to educate, inform, or persuade the reader. 
  • Poetry: 
    Poetry is a type of creative writing that uses language in a beautiful and expressive way. It can be in the form of a free verse, sonnet, haiku, or even a limerick. Poetry can be used to express emotions, tell stories, or simply to explore the beauty of language. 
  • Drama: 
    Drama is a type of creative writing that is meant to be performed. It can be in the form of a play, musical, or even a screenplay. Drama can be used to entertain, educate, or inform the audience. 
  • Screenwriting: 
    Screenwriting is a type of creative writing that is meant to be turned into a film or television show. Screenplays are typically written in a specific format that includes scenes, dialogue, and stage directions. 

Steps of creative writing

  1. Prewriting: 
    This is the stage where you brainstorm ideas, research your topic, and develop your characters and setting. You can do this by freewriting, making lists, or mind mapping. 
  2. Drafting: 
    This is where you start putting your ideas into words. Don’t worry about making it perfect at this stage, just get your thoughts down on paper. 
  3. Revising: 
    This is where you shape your draft and make sure it’s the best it can be. This might involve adding more details, changing the order of events, or cutting out unnecessary information. 
  4. Editing: 
    This is where you proofread your work and fix any grammar or spelling mistakes. You might also want to ask someone else to read your work and give you feedback. 

These steps don’t always happen in a linear order. You may need to go back to a previous step if you realize you need to add more information or change something. But following these steps can help you write a creative and well-crafted piece of work. 

Here are some additional tips for creative writing: 

  • Read a lot. The more you read, the more you’ll be exposed to different styles and techniques. 
  • Practice writing regularly. The more you write, the better you’ll become at it. 
  • Get feedback from others. Ask friends, family, or other writers to read your work and give you their honest opinions. 
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try new things and see what works for you. 
  • Most importantly, have fun! Creative writing should be an enjoyable experience. 

Ways to improve Cw

  1. Read often. 
    The more you read, the more you will be exposed to different writing styles and techniques. You will also learn about different genres and what makes a good story. 
  2. Write often. 
    The more you write, the better you will become at it. Make time to write every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. 
  3. Get feedback. 
    Ask friends, family, or other writers to read your work and give you feedback. This can help you identify areas where your writing can be improved. 
  4. Take writing classes or workshops. 
    There are many resources available to help you improve your writing skills. Taking classes or workshops can help you learn new techniques and get feedback from experienced writers. 
  5. Don’t be afraid to experiment. 
    Try different writing styles and genres. Don’t be afraid to break the rules and try new things. The more you experiment, the more you will learn about your own writing style. 

Here are some additional tips that may help you improve your creative writing: 

  • Pay attention to your surroundings. 
    Take note of the people, places, and things around you. These can inspire your writing. 
  • Keep a journal. 
    Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This can help you generate ideas for stories. 
  • Free write. 
    This is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Just set a timer for 10 minutes and write whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling. 
  • Use sensory details. 
    Use your senses to describe things to your readers. This will help them visualize your writing. 
  • Show, don’t tell. 
    Don’t just tell your readers what’s happening; show them. Use vivid language and dialogue to bring your story to life. 
  • Revise and edit your work. 
    Once you have a finished draft, take some time to revise and edit it. This will help you catch any errors and improve your writing. 

Remember, writing is a skill that takes time and practice to improve. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Just keep writing and keep learning. 

Theme of CW 

The theme of a creative writing is the central idea or message that the writer wants to convey to the reader. It can be a point of view, an opinion, or a lesson. Themes can be universal, such as love, loss, or the meaning of life, or they can be more specific, such as the importance of family or the dangers of prejudice. 

Themes can be found in all types of creative writing, including novels, short stories, poems, plays, and screenplays. They are an important element of any story because they help to give it meaning and depth. 

Elements in CW 

  1. **Character:**   – Characters are the people, animals, or creatures in a story. They have personalities, feelings, and roles in the plot. 
  2. **Dialogues:**   – Dialogues are the conversations between characters. They reveal thoughts, emotions, and move the story forward. 
  3. **Narration:**   – Narration is the way a story is told. It can be first-person (using “I”), second-person (using “you”), or third-person (using “he,” “she,” or “they”). 
  4. Setting:**   – The setting is where and when the story takes place. It includes details about the environment, time, and atmosphere. 
  5. Structure:**   – Structure is the organization of the story. It includes the beginning, middle, and end, as well as how events are arranged. 
  6. Conflict:**   – Conflict is the problem or challenge in a story that characters must overcome. It creates tension and drives the plot. 
  7. Plot:**   – The plot is the sequence of events in a story. It includes the main problem, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. 
  8. Point of View:**   – Point of view is who is telling the story. It can be from the perspective of a character (first person) or an outside observer (third person). 
  9. Theme:**   – Theme is the main idea or message of the story. It’s the underlying concept that ties the elements together and gives the story meaning. 

Unit 2

Featured article 

A feature article is a non-fiction piece of writing that provides more depth to a story than a regular article. Feature articles are written by experts or journalists and can be found in newspapers, online blogs, and magazines.  

Feature articles are different from news reports because they are more subjective and emotive. They provide background information on a newsworthy topic and the writer’s personal experience. Feature articles are also different from hard news stories because they offer an in-depth look at a particular subject, current event, or location.  

Here are some tips for writing a feature article: 

Include a headline, introduction, the main body, and a concluding paragraph. 

Highlight the main idea of the article. 

Include keywords (for online articles). 

Provoke the reader’s interest by making an unusual statement. 

Use direct quotes, imagery and description, facts and research, anecdotes, and relevant jargon.  

How to write a featured article 

Certainly, let’s delve into each step: 

1. **Research or Planning:**   – Before you start writing, conduct thorough research or outline your key ideas. Understand your topic, gather relevant information, and plan the structure of your article. This step ensures a solid foundation and a well-informed narrative. 

2. **Header or Title:**   – Craft a compelling and attention-grabbing title. Your header should pique readers’ curiosity while accurately reflecting the essence of your article. A strong title encourages potential readers to delve into the content. 

3. **Introduction:**   – Begin with a captivating introduction that sets the tone for your article. Use an engaging hook to grab readers’ attention and introduce the main theme or question. A well-crafted introduction entices readers to continue exploring your creative piece. 

4. **Body:**   – Develop the body of your article with organized and cohesive paragraphs. Each paragraph should contribute to the overall narrative, supporting your main points. Incorporate creative elements such as descriptive language, dialogue, and storytelling to enhance the reader’s experience. 

5. **Conclusion:**   – Conclude your article with a strong and memorable ending. Summarize key points, reinforce your main message, or leave readers with something to ponder. A well-crafted conclusion provides a sense of closure and leaves a lasting impression on your audience. 

Poetry 

Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses rhythmic and expressive language to evoke emotions, paint vivid imagery, and convey complex ideas. It often relies on literary devices such as metaphor, simile, rhyme, and rhythm to create a distinctive and artistic expression. Poetry encompasses various styles and structures, from traditional forms like sonnets and haikus to more contemporary free verse. It offers a unique avenue for writers to explore themes, emotions, and experiences in a condensed and imaginative manner, allowing for a rich interplay of language and emotion. 

Travelogues 

A travelogue is like a storytelling diary of someone’s adventures. It’s creative writing that describes their experiences, the places they visit, and how it feels to be there. Unlike a plain itinerary, a travelogue adds personal feelings, cultural insights, and detailed descriptions. Whether it’s in an essay, article, or book, a travelogue lets readers step into the writer’s shoes, sharing the journey’s essence and the impact these travels have on their understanding of different cultures and the world. 

How to write 

Here are some tips for writing a travelogue: 
 

Research: Research the place and provide some cultural background. 
 

Write descriptively: Use vivid descriptions to describe the outer world and reveal your inner world. 
 

Tell a story: Tell a specific story and provide informed commentary. 
 

Include details: Highlight various attractions, mention some out-of-the-way tourist attractions, and name a few good hotels. 
 

Include your thoughts: Include your thoughts before the trip, then during the trip, and then conclude with a reflection on what you have learned. 
 

Include interactions: Talk to locals and describe your interactions with them. 
 

Include disadvantages: Mention some dos and don’ts of the place. 
 

Include visual materials: Add photos, video, and audio materials.  
 

Travelogues are often used to share the traveler’s personal insights, encounters, and impressions of the places visited. Their main objectives are to inform readers about the composition and culture of a place, convince readers to visit a place, and amuse readers about the stories that occurred in the trip.  
 

Travelogues are mostly written in the form of essays which follow the format of an introduction, body, and conclusion.  

Blogs 

A blog is a website that provides regular updates about a topic. The word “blog” is short for “weblog”. Blogs are written in a conversational style and present information in reverse chronological order.  

A blog is a combination of the words “web” and “log”. At first, blogs were online diaries where people could record their daily lives.  

Here are some characteristics of blogs: 

  • They are often informal 
  • They can contain images and links to other websites 
  • They can be personal or business blogs 
  • They can provide information on current events, personal opinions, and news 
  • They can have an average word count of 1000–2500  
     

Radio script & TV script 

Scriptwriting is the process of creating a story for a movie, television show, or theater play.  

 It’s a form of drama writing, which is different from prose writing because it’s meant to be performed.  

 Scripts often include dialogue, descriptions of sets and costumes, and sound effects. They’re usually broken into acts, with each act containing a scene or set of events.  

Here are some steps for writing a script: 

  1. Create a story concept 
  2. Brainstorm ideas 
  3. Research the background 
  4. Develop characters 
  5. Create an outline 
  6. Write a first draft 
  7. Revise the draft 
  8. Follow technical guidelines  
     

Some elements of a great screenplay include: 

  • Character 
  • Want and need 
  • Plot 
  • Structure 
  • Conflict and resolution  
     

The final script, called the continuity script, includes all the changes from production and post. It’s used for copyright purposes, international language release, and closed captioning.  

Radio script  

A radio script is a framework for a story that helps the audience understand the significance of the points made by the people interviewed. Radio scripts can help improve audience engagement, avoid stumbling over what to say, and minimize dead air time.  
 

Radio scripts should be informal, direct, and polite. When writing a script, imagine that you are talking to one individual listener. Radio scripts should be written in simple, short sentences.  
 

Some tips for writing a radio script include: 
Make each sentence a paragraph 
Make the script short and simple 
Use simple words, clear short sentences, and a logical structure 
Imagine that you are talking to one individual listener 

Here are five principles of writing a radio script: 

  1. 1. Write for the ear, not for the eye. 
    Spoken language and written language can differ greatly, so it’s important to keep this in mind when writing a radio script. For example, you would avoid using long, complex sentences that would be difficult to read aloud. Instead, you would use shorter, simpler sentences that are easy to follow. 
  2. 2. Use imagery. 
    Radio is a very auditory medium, so it’s important to use imagery to help your listeners visualize what you’re saying. For example, instead of saying “The man was tall,” you could say “The man was a giant, towering over the other people in the room.” 
  3. 3. Use relevant facts. 
    Facts can help to add credibility to your script and make it more informative. However, it’s important to use facts sparingly, as too many facts can make your script sound dry and boring. 
  4. 4. Speak your words as you write them. 
    This will help you to ensure that your script sounds natural when it’s read aloud. It’s also a good idea to practice reading your script aloud before you record it. 
  5. 5. Get straight to the point. 
    Radio is a fast-paced medium, so it’s important to get to the point quickly. Avoid using long introductions or unnecessary details. 

Here are five principles of writing a television script: 

  1. Know your audience: The writing style should be conversational. 
  2. Develop your characters: Character development is one of the most important components of a successful television show. 
  3. Write compelling dialogue: Dialogue is a crucial element in any TV script. 
  4. Balance your own vision with the expectations: You need to balance your own vision with the expectations and conventions of the genre, format, and audience. 
  5. Read your story out loud: Even if you read it softly, read as if you were saying the story on air. 

Song 

A song is a musical composition that has a melody and lyrics. The lyrics are the words of a song, and they can include verses and refrains.  

Here are some other definitions of a song: 

  • A short metrical composition intended for singing 
  • A piece of music composed for the voice, especially one intended for performance by a soloist  
     

The basic structure of a song includes an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge. Many times, this is all tied together in an outro.  

There are many genres of popular songs, including:  

Torch songs, Ballads, Novelty songs, Anthems, Rock, Blues, Soul songs, Indie music.  

Folk songs include:  

Ballads, Lullabies, Love songs, Mourning songs, Dance songs, Work songs, Ritual songs.  

Here are some techniques for writing a song: 
 
Song structure 
A song’s structure is its arrangement, and it’s usually made up of repeating forms. Some common forms include bar form, 32-bar form, verse–chorus form, ternary form, strophic form, and the 12-bar blues. 
Chord progressions 
Chord progressions are a key part of songwriting and composition. It’s important to be able to piece together chords in coherent progressions to create a piece of music. 
 
Song hooks 
A song hook is a short lyrical line or melodic phrase that’s used to catch the listener’s ear and make a song engaging. 
 
Composing the chorus 
When writing the chorus, try to keep it centered on one single emotional point of focus. 
 
Write lyrics 
Lyrics are one of the three parts of writing a song. For some, lyrics are the starting point, and it’s where they gather their thoughts and try to visualize a scenario in their head and put it down in words. 
 
Compose a melody 
Melody, harmony, and lyrics are the essential components of writing any song. 
Experiment with chord progressions 
A broad knowledge of things like chords, melodies, harmony, and rhythm will be a big help in writing a song.  
 

Here are some other techniques for writing a song: 
Compose a catchy melody 
Use all types of chords 
Create a memorable rhythm 
Build your song around a riff 
Write a song you can play live 
Step away from your instrument to write  

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