Creative Writing
Updated on May 7, 2025.
Table of Contents
To write or not to write, that is the question. "Creative writing" refers to the writing of literature, specifically narrative literature and poetry. Here, the writing of a text is understood as a creative process. Writing is therefore a craft or an art that anyone can learn. In German, the word is only vaguely defined. You will also encounter this term in your studies. Courses are often offered to train you in creative writing.
How to write creatively? Tips and tricks.
If you enjoy reading creative texts or poems, but always find yourself short on ideas and creativity when writing, there are some tips, tricks, and approaches you can use to practice this. Writing stories, poems, or similar works definitely requires creativity, and it's something you should practice. There are some tips and tricks designed to make creative writing easier, and we'll introduce you to them now.
Tip 1: You should find a perfect writing place
The perfect writing location. Many people might now be wondering where this should be. Of course, the perfect writing location is different for everyone, and depending on whether or not you still need inspiration for your story or poem, the locations can vary greatly. If you still need inspiration, a park or a café might be a good idea.
However, if you already know exactly what content you want to include in your text, a quiet place like your desk at home or a quiet library is more suitable. However, this also varies from person to person. Some people feel more at home among people and may be more able to express their creativity in a café.
Of course, it's important that you can concentrate well and focus on yourself. The perfect writing location can vary from day to day. Everyone is different, and everyone should experiment for themselves to find where ideas spark best and where their fingers glide more easily over the keyboard. Which brings us to the next topic: Do you prefer writing by hand or on a computer? These things should also be carefully considered, and the writing location should be adjusted accordingly.
Tip 2: Be aware of your environment and use it in your text
As already mentioned, many authors find their ideas in their immediate surroundings. Joanne K. Rowling, for example, was inspired by the castle-like building in Edinburgh when writing about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Sofatour magazine, 2021). You too can take advantage of this technique by not writing in your apartment, but going outside and gathering inspiration and ideas. In a café, in the park, or in places you wouldn't immediately think of. This, of course, depends on the kind of story or poem you want to write. Even an old industrial site, etc., can provide inspiration.
A quick tip: Always have a notepad with you so you can use every inspiration. At first, you think you'll be able to remember the situation or thought, but that's often not the case, and then you'll be happy about every thought you've jotted down. If you're more of a "smart" type, you can of course also use the note function on your smartphone. Another idea would be to use voice memos on your smartphone. This way, you don't have to laboriously type things out; instead, you can quickly speak into your smartphone which idea or inspiration you want to record and then listen to it again later at your leisure. Often, you overhear particularly nice-sounding names or places in a café or park that you can use in your text. It's important to write everything down in one place, because then you have everything at a glance and don't have to search for it. This way, you have all your inspiration at a glance and can easily incorporate and use it in your text.
Tip 3: Before you try your text, practice with the help of writing exercises
Sometimes it's like a curse: you try so hard to come up with a few good ideas and phrases that in the end, nothing works. Especially when you're still at the beginning, for example, writing your first text, you often find it difficult. That's why it's a good idea to start with small writing exercises to get you into creative writing. It's important that they have nothing to do with your current topic.
An example is if you take a book, perhaps your favorite, open it to a random page, and tap on a passage with your eyes closed. You can now build on this writing exercise by trying to continue the story, possibly continuing in a completely different direction than the original text. You can incorporate the following questions and suggestions, for example:
- Which new characters are added to the story? What are their personality traits?
- What does each character do next?
- What challenges does the main character face or overcome?
- Is there a change of location?
Of course, when doing this writing exercise, you shouldn't spend ages finishing the story, but rather just ten to fifteen minutes writing down all the ideas that come to mind.
You will find further writing exercises at the end of the text to help you practice your creative writing.
Tip 4: You should organize your ideas in a mind map
You should organize the ideas, inspirations, and thoughts you write down, because so many thoughts quickly pile up and become increasingly confusing. So, it's best to create a kind of mind map to structure your thoughts. How you do this—whether you want to organize them by name, place, event, etc., or otherwise—is up to you. The main thing is that you find a structure that works for you, because that will save you a lot of time and stress.
Tip 5: Creativity comes from writing
Up to this point you have done the preparatory work and now the actual writing begins. Many people don't know how to begin or where to start. But the important thing is to just start writing. Ideas and structure usually come naturally while you are writing. It is important to lay the foundation and get started. The finer details will come later and you can refine, add or improve things here and there while you are writing. You should also take your time while writing because the best ideas and formulations come when you have peace and quiet and can let your creativity run free. If it doesn't work out one day, it's not a big deal! The worst thing that can happen to you is the pressure of having to put something on paper right now. But that is absolute nonsense. Because that doesn't lead to a good text. Overall you will notice, though: creativity comes from writing.
Tip 6: Take your time when it comes to fine-tuning
Towards the end, the framework of your story or poem is in place, and the finishing touches are next. It's important that you take plenty of time here. You shouldn't rush into finishing your work. Many people get hectic at the finish line and want to finish as quickly as possible, but that's the wrong approach, because if you slack off here, your entire work could turn out only half as good as it could be. Finishing touches are the most important part of your creative writing./p>
You should read through your text again carefully. Many people imagine reading it for the first time. As you read through, you should pay close attention and ask yourself whether places and characters are described the way you, as the author, imagined them and whether the readers will receive them that way, whether there are any ambiguities, and whether the story is written in a captivating way.
It usually helps if friends, acquaintances, or family members read through the text again. They're usually unfamiliar with the text and are more likely to spot mistakes than you are. Be open to criticism, even if you don't particularly like it, especially if you've put a lot of heart and soul into it.
Writing Exercises
Exercise 1: Borrow the beginning
The beginning is always the hardest part of creative writing. So, why not take the beginning of someone else's text and try to create your own text from it? Once the text is finished, change the beginning, and your own text is complete.
Exercise 2: Say what others omit or paraphrase in their texts
The desire to appear serious often makes authors sound very uptight because they want to package things more politely. Therefore: Be brave and honest, and say what others try to embellish behind convoluted words.
Exercise 3: Write just one sentence and bring everything together
Often we want to write something, but we don't really know how, or we have a thousand other thoughts running through our heads. To avoid rambling, you should practice summing up everything in one sentence. You should include only the most important things, but also not forget anything.
Writing Prompts to get you Started
Feel free to paraphrase/use as given!
- A desolate seaside town in October. Overcast skies, a shingle beach, rows of clapboard houses with curtained windows gaping open. There is a sense of unease in the air. What happens next?
- A walk in the park turns into an adventure.
- Spring has arrived, in all its glory. Write about how it makes you feel. What you see, hear, smell, and hope for.
- A dinner party with six close friends. An unexpected visitor arrives. What next?
- A lazy afternoon in the peak of summer. Everything is still - so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. And then, your life changes.
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