Questions

Entering creative writing contests can become a lucrative yet addictive pastime for many writers who are spurred on by the challenge of pitting their wits against those of other dedicated writers. Cash prizes, publication and recognition for their endeavours entice many writers to submit their stories in the hopes of securing one of the top prizes. There are numerous creative writing contests available and a scan through any writing magazine will highlight some but for a more detailed search, simply type creative writing contests into a search engine such as Google or yahoo and a vast array of results will appear.

Finding a contest that inspires is the key to doing well. There is no point entering if the topic fails to stimulate as the resulting entry would lack enthusiasm and passion, something that a judge would clearly see. Writing with passion is important but writing with a controlled and sustained passion is even better, a good writer will be able to impart all the information needed a little at a time, unveiling unique aspects about the characters and the plots at just the right speed to tantalise the reader. When submitting fiction for creative writing contests, the writing must be tight and yet highly compelling.

For greater results in any creative writing contests, adhere to the following points:

Find a contest that appeals and sparks off that all important imagination trail Read the rules several times. Most writers fail simply because they do not pay attention to detail. Don’t just start writing, think. The thinking process is an integral part of being a good writer; they work hand in hand so allow time to mull over potential ideas and then eventually, when happy, make your choice and start writing. Plan the story. Decide where to start within the plot itself and create a compelling introduction by starting off at an exciting point, then draw the reader in with carefully crafted words. Know those characters. If your characters are under-developed and uninteresting, the judge’s interest will wane, so invest some time to create strong, exciting and 3 dimensional characters that appear larger than life. It helps to really get inside the skin of the characters and make them believable. Try to live through the story as you write it, feel every emotion and witness every event that unfolds. This gives your writing an extra and most important winning element. Edit ruthlessly and ensure that the specified word count has been adhered to. Editing is vital to ensure that any unnecessary words are eliminated. Never pad out a story unnecessarily, every word should be important. Develop your own style and a confidence in your work. Don’t leave it until the last minute to write your story. Whilst determination and a ticking clock can kick-start that all important creative process, having time to re-read and edit is paramount. Don’t waste a great storyline and a well-written piece of fiction through starting your story too late and submitting with spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Check out previous winning entries if available, then you are able to judge the standard and the types of stories that won and consider why. Think from a judge’s perspective, could your submission be improved and achieve greater winning potential?

 Creating a winning story in creative writing contests is easy, but it takes great determination and forward planning to write original and well-thought out storylines that stand out from the crowd.


- annette young

If you are a parent who is looking to help your child develop creatively and emotionally as well as physically, you will find that you need to look into how creative writing is something that might affect their life. For instance, if your child is one who was always drawn to stories and to the ideas that can be conveyed through the written word, you might have a little writer on your hands! Children are naturally fascinated with stories, but while some children love the idea of being told stories, other children love the idea of telling stories themselves. Take a moment to think about how you can emphasize this aspect of your child and how you can help it grow.

In the first place, remember that a child who is a writer is likely going to be a child who is reader. If your child is someone who loves stories, make sure that they have plenty of access to them. For instance, this might mean taking your child to the library on a regular basis and it might mean that you should look into other ways that you can move forward with how your child reads. A reading child should by all means be encouraged and the library is a good place to start. If you are ready to help your child make the leap to writing, the first step is getting them to read.

Remember that children really benefit from it when they have a lot of contact with their parents with regard to the things that they do. When you are thinking about how to share this hobby with your child, consider what they are reading and read it along with them. When they are young, you can read to them, and as they get older, you can read with them. Talk about the things that you have read and make sure that you are expressing your opinion in a clear and constructed fashion. This will help them look at stories and give them an appreciation of the way that they can move forward with the written word.

Be encouraging of what they write and make sure that you are in a place where they feel comfortable with you reading it. The stories that they write can be a lot of fun and you should always be happy to read them. What kind of writing do they like to do? Some children will naturally gravitate towards writing fiction, while other children gravitate towards writing nonfiction or things that feel more personal or confessional. Remember that your child’s writing will change and develop as they do, and this can encompass a lot of different writing. Be patient and realize that they have a lot of material that they might want to cover.

Nurturing your child’s urge to write is very important, so see what you can do to help them develop; writing is a useful skill no matter what they want to do, and using their imagination is essential!


- Kenny Doucette

I used to think that I am destined to become a scientist. As I enjoyed discovering scientific pursuits, I am completely living by the fact that everything in this world can be explained by science. I am in the bliss of realization that not everyone else can understand what I can, unless I will discover  it for the sake of humanity.

Voila! But look where I am now? I am here facing the computer, making articles for the Internet, posting in a blog, and fortunately expressing my self through a keyboard and a computer monitor (a pen and a paper seemed to be obsolete here). Writing for my own sake, and for the humanity’s maybe, is a tedious but fulfilling job. And I can still say that I am fortunate because I have gone through all of these.

What’s with the writing?

Writers often than not settle for a kind of self-expression that is fulfilling to them. In the first place this what writing is all about—freedom of expression. As for me, I am more comfortable in the method of writing that is more personal, interesting, and creative enough to pull the attention of my readers.

But honestly, let me tell you that am not well-rounded enough of all these stuff and of my style in writing, rather put it; do I have a my own distinct style in writing? You judge by having a comment on this post.

What I meant by the phrase “not well-rounded enough” is that, I am a bit hesitant to try new things because I am usually carried away by disappointments from people. You say enough of this immaturity blah blahs. I agree. By now, old lessons should have been learned. And one final thing though: Creative Writing gets me in to the craft.

Let’s get to the point.

As defined by wikipedia, Creative Writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems.

Why choose this kind of medium?

With all the political, social, and economic fuss unfolding the whole earth everyday, would you not want to divert your attention into the distinct point of  view of J.K.Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, or Stephenie Meyer? I know a lot of us has gone mad if not crazy to make this world a peaceful and a happy place to live. You count me in, and I assure you I’d rather float with the air than catch below all the dust that it carries.

To divert our attention means, we are opening new frontiers of our being human and eventually refreshing our minds so that the next time we face the problem we can confront it with a new knowledge and understanding; that we are only humans, hesitant and afraid of our own world but brave enough to overcome it. As Edgar Allan Poe, the most regarded writer in American literature said  “all that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”

So the next time you are awfully confronted by the world, I recommend you to write your thoughts and ideas, as creatively as you can—you wouldn’t know, you might be penning the next classic story ever told. And this will eventually help you overcome your self and teach you lessons that can only be found as you go along with your chosen medium of expression.

Where to write your Creative Writing piece?

The Internet is a good medium to flaunt what a good writer you are. But as you delve into it, you will find a vast source of knowledge and I tell you it will hit you in the face big time. This is otherwise known as information overload. But what if all this information is capsulized and sprinkled with creative contexts and eventually packaged for the readers to feast on? This is interesting.

Now it is really your chance to try the mainstream Internet. There are numerous sites in cyber space that will lead you in posting your articles, write-ups and creative blobs. And by the way, you can earn extra bucks if you’re dedicated enough to maintain what you have started.

Perhaps, you can grab the technology and set aside that you are destined to become a scientist, like what I did.

Postscript:

In my future posts, you will find some real "stuff" about creative writing. Best regards!:-)


- the_croc

I used to think that I am destined to become a scientist. As I enjoyed discovering scientific pursuits, I am completely living by the fact that everything in this world can be explained by science. I am in the bliss of realization that not everyone else can understand what I can, unless I will discover  it for the sake of humanity.

Voila! But look where I am now? I am here facing the computer, making articles for the Internet, posting in a blog, and fortunately expressing my self through a keyboard and a computer monitor (a pen and a paper seemed to be obsolete here). Writing for my own sake, and for the humanity’s maybe, is a tedious but fulfilling job. And I can still say that I am fortunate because I have gone through all of these.

What’s with the writing?

Writers often than not settle for a kind of self-expression that is fulfilling to them. In the first place this what writing is all about—freedom of expression. As for me, I am more comfortable in the method of writing that is more personal, interesting, and creative enough to pull the attention of my readers.

But honestly, let me tell you that am not well-rounded enough of all these stuff and of my style in writing, rather put it; do I have a my own distinct style in writing? You judge by having a comment on this post.

What I meant by the phrase “not well-rounded enough” is that, I am a bit hesitant to try new things because I am usually carried away by disappointments from people. You say enough of this immaturity blah blahs. I agree. By now, old lessons should have been learned. And one final thing though: Creative Writing gets me in to the craft.

Let’s get to the point.

As defined by wikipedia, Creative Writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems.

Why choose this kind of medium?

With all the political, social, and economic fuss unfolding the whole earth everyday, would you not want to divert your attention into the distinct point of  view of J.K.Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, or Stephenie Meyer? I know a lot of us has gone mad if not crazy to make this world a peaceful and a happy place to live. You count me in, and I assure you I’d rather float with the air than catch below all the dust that it carries.

To divert our attention means, we are opening new frontiers of our being human and eventually refreshing our minds so that the next time we face the problem we can confront it with a new knowledge and understanding; that we are only humans, hesitant and afraid of our own world but brave enough to overcome it. As Edgar Allan Poe, the most regarded writer in American literature said  “all that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”

So the next time you are awfully confronted by the world, I recommend you to write your thoughts and ideas, as creatively as you can—you wouldn’t know, you might be penning the next classic story ever told. And this will eventually help you overcome your self and teach you lessons that can only be found as you go along with your chosen medium of expression.

Where to write your Creative Writing piece?

The Internet is a good medium to flaunt what a good writer you are. But as you delve into it, you will find a vast source of knowledge and I tell you it will hit you in the face big time. This is otherwise known as information overload. But what if all this information is capsulized and sprinkled with creative contexts and eventually packaged for the readers to feast on? This is interesting.

Now it is really your chance to try the mainstream Internet. There are numerous sites in cyber space that will lead you in posting your articles, write-ups and creative blobs. And by the way, you can earn extra bucks if you’re dedicated enough to maintain what you have started.

Perhaps, you can grab the technology and set aside that you are destined to become a scientist, like what I did.

Postscript:

In my future posts, you will find some real "stuff" about creative writing. Best regards!:-)


- the_croc

To write this, I am using ‘Microsoft Word’. If I want to chose a font colour I have a choice of ten shades of grey in the ’standard colours’ and twelve further options if I select ‘more colours’ making twenty two shades. That’s merely the standard menu and doesn’t account for the infinite selection on the ‘custom menu’. And that’s just for grey. The human eye can distinguish all these nuances of colour and light. Although names may not exist for all these shades, we see them and often have the need or the opportunity to describe them.

Not only can we distinguish all these shades but we are blessed with a language that having evolved from so many others offers us a limitless array of choices to describe them.

Had Jacob’s Mum made him a coat of red and blue and green and yellow we may never have heard about it but according to the lyrics of ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ‘, it was,

When a small child first paints a landscape the sea is just blue and blue is the only word they have to describe it; an artist’s depiction of the sea is multi-tonal.

The sea is not blue it is indigo, cornflower, ultramarine, curacao, periwinkle, cobalt, forget me not, steel blue, topaz, peacock, powder blue, gentian blue, aquamarine, azure, cerulean blue, electric blue, midnight blue, navy, robin’s egg, royal blue, sapphire, sky blue, steel blue, aqua, cyan, cornflower, denim, turquoise, Persian blue, powder blue, Prussian blue…

An author is a word artist so when writing, remember to think carefully about expressing your ideas in a similar way, make each and every word count.

“red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, black, ochre, peach, ruby, olive, violet, fawn, lilac, gold, chocolate, mauve, cream, crimson, silver, rose, azure, lemon, russet, grey, purple, white, pink, orange, red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, black, ochre, peach, ruby , olive, violet, fawn, lilac, gold, chocolate, mauve, cream, crimson, silver, rose, azure, lemon, russet, grey, purple, white, pink, orange and blue.” And that’s why generations schoolchildren will now remember the story about Jacob’s coat.


- Samantha Pearce

If you are a parent who is looking to help your child develop creatively and emotionally as well as physically, you will find that you need to look into how creative writing is something that might affect their life. For instance, if your child is one who was always drawn to stories and to the ideas that can be conveyed through the written word, you might have a little writer on your hands! Children are naturally fascinated with stories, but while some children love the idea of being told stories, other children love the idea of telling stories themselves. Take a moment to think about how you can emphasize this aspect of your child and how you can help it grow.

In the first place, remember that a child who is a writer is likely going to be a child who is reader. If your child is someone who loves stories, make sure that they have plenty of access to them. For instance, this might mean taking your child to the library on a regular basis and it might mean that you should look into other ways that you can move forward with how your child reads. A reading child should by all means be encouraged and the library is a good place to start. If you are ready to help your child make the leap to writing, the first step is getting them to read.

Remember that children really benefit from it when they have a lot of contact with their parents with regard to the things that they do. When you are thinking about how to share this hobby with your child, consider what they are reading and read it along with them. When they are young, you can read to them, and as they get older, you can read with them. Talk about the things that you have read and make sure that you are expressing your opinion in a clear and constructed fashion. This will help them look at stories and give them an appreciation of the way that they can move forward with the written word.

Be encouraging of what they write and make sure that you are in a place where they feel comfortable with you reading it. The stories that they write can be a lot of fun and you should always be happy to read them. What kind of writing do they like to do? Some children will naturally gravitate towards writing fiction, while other children gravitate towards writing nonfiction or things that feel more personal or confessional. Remember that your child’s writing will change and develop as they do, and this can encompass a lot of different writing. Be patient and realize that they have a lot of material that they might want to cover.

Nurturing your child’s urge to write is very important, so see what you can do to help them develop; writing is a useful skill no matter what they want to do, and using their imagination is essential!


- Kenny Doucette

Whether your child is one who loves writing stories or they simply seem to have a knack for capturing interesting images in words, you will find that working with them on their writing can be something that is very rewarding for your child in general. The truth of the matter is that being a good writer can take them very far no matter what their chosen career is, and if you are ready to help them learn and grow, you will find that helping them move forward in this way is something that you need to look into. How can you help your child learn and grow? What do you need to be able to help them with?

When you want to make sure that your child is getting the best background that they can get when it comes to creative writing, make sure that they understand the basics. Things like grammar, punctuation, and spelling sound like they are going to be dull, but they are the foundation of any good writing career. Your child needs to know how to put their sentences together before they are going to get the ability to tell a good story. Remind them that grammar and punctuation will make their stories a great deal clearer and much more accessible in the long run.

Also, make sure that you introduce them to the different types of writing out there. Depending on whom you listen to, there are roughly three types of writing and making sure that they can identify them is something that can be very helpful. Expository writing is writing that is meant to explain a concept or to answer a question. Persuasive writing is meant to convince the reader of a certain point of view or of something that they should do. Finally, narrative writing is something that tells a story. These three types of writing will cover most of the writing that your child is inclined to do, and you will find that you are looking at something that will help them.

Take some time and encourage your child to write. If they are interested in creative writing, it should be something that brings them joy, and it should definitely be something that you enjoy with them. Are you someone who loves to read? You need to take a moment and look into whether they are willing to share their writing with you. The more time that you spend working with your child, the more they will learn and grow.

Finally, if you want to help them with their creative writing, remember to let them know that they need fuel for it. Take them to the library and help them figure out what kind of reading they need to do. What kind of reading do they need to enjoy and what media are they attracted to? Helping them get acquainted with the different kinds of reading material out there is essential when you want to make sure that they can write well.

If your child loves the idea creative writing, now is the time to encourage them, so see what you can do!


- Kenny Doucette

Whether your child is one who loves writing stories or they simply seem to have a knack for capturing interesting images in words, you will find that working with them on their writing can be something that is very rewarding for your child in general. The truth of the matter is that being a good writer can take them very far no matter what their chosen career is, and if you are ready to help them learn and grow, you will find that helping them move forward in this way is something that you need to look into. How can you help your child learn and grow? What do you need to be able to help them with?

When you want to make sure that your child is getting the best background that they can get when it comes to creative writing, make sure that they understand the basics. Things like grammar, punctuation, and spelling sound like they are going to be dull, but they are the foundation of any good writing career. Your child needs to know how to put their sentences together before they are going to get the ability to tell a good story. Remind them that grammar and punctuation will make their stories a great deal clearer and much more accessible in the long run.

Also, make sure that you introduce them to the different types of writing out there. Depending on whom you listen to, there are roughly three types of writing and making sure that they can identify them is something that can be very helpful. Expository writing is writing that is meant to explain a concept or to answer a question. Persuasive writing is meant to convince the reader of a certain point of view or of something that they should do. Finally, narrative writing is something that tells a story. These three types of writing will cover most of the writing that your child is inclined to do, and you will find that you are looking at something that will help them.

Take some time and encourage your child to write. If they are interested in creative writing, it should be something that brings them joy, and it should definitely be something that you enjoy with them. Are you someone who loves to read? You need to take a moment and look into whether they are willing to share their writing with you. The more time that you spend working with your child, the more they will learn and grow.

Finally, if you want to help them with their creative writing, remember to let them know that they need fuel for it. Take them to the library and help them figure out what kind of reading they need to do. What kind of reading do they need to enjoy and what media are they attracted to? Helping them get acquainted with the different kinds of reading material out there is essential when you want to make sure that they can write well.

If your child loves the idea creative writing, now is the time to encourage them, so see what you can do!


- Kenny Doucette

To some of you out there, a creative writing job might be the answer to your prayers. The good news is that landing a peach of an assignment could be easier today than ever before. A job that’s interesting and pays well also? Yes, I’m here to tell you they do exist. Are you even aware of the possibilities?

Let’s take a quick look at some of the opportunities on a recent browse through the writing jobs that need to be filled on eLance. The first one to catch my eye is from a plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida who’s looking for a ghost writer to create a book aimed at the mass-market audience. He’ll pay $5,000 to $10,000 for the project.

Bet you could get creative with that topic.

Here’s another. This one is within the same budget but is looking for someone to ghost/assist in writing a novel about an ancient Egyptian boy who grows up in poverty on his father’s farm but ends up as a pharaoh. Once again, this one is begging for a strong dose of creativity.

Blogging is a word we hear a lot these days. I can personally vouch for the creativity associated with this line of work. My first online writing job consisted of writing three daily blogs related to current events in Philadelphia. I live in Missouri and was reviewing restaurants I’ve never even seen! Talk about needing to be creative.

The gist of the point here is that creative writing jobs might be easier to find these days than ever before. Unless your last name was Hemingway or King, writing creatively for a living was a secret club that almost no one was allowed to join. With the internet, things are different. I’d suggest you give it whirl. Investigate a couple of writing job websites tonight. You might find something that changes your life.


- Derek Dowell

Entering creative writing contests can become a lucrative yet addictive pastime for many writers who are spurred on by the challenge of pitting their wits against those of other dedicated writers. Cash prizes, publication and recognition for their endeavours entice many writers to submit their stories in the hopes of securing one of the top prizes. There are numerous creative writing contests available and a scan through any writing magazine will highlight some but for a more detailed search, simply type creative writing contests into a search engine such as Google or yahoo and a vast array of results will appear.

Finding a contest that inspires is the key to doing well. There is no point entering if the topic fails to stimulate as the resulting entry would lack enthusiasm and passion, something that a judge would clearly see. Writing with passion is important but writing with a controlled and sustained passion is even better, a good writer will be able to impart all the information needed a little at a time, unveiling unique aspects about the characters and the plots at just the right speed to tantalise the reader. When submitting fiction for creative writing contests, the writing must be tight and yet highly compelling.

For greater results in any creative writing contests, adhere to the following points:

Find a contest that appeals and sparks off that all important imagination trail Read the rules several times. Most writers fail simply because they do not pay attention to detail. Don’t just start writing, think. The thinking process is an integral part of being a good writer; they work hand in hand so allow time to mull over potential ideas and then eventually, when happy, make your choice and start writing. Plan the story. Decide where to start within the plot itself and create a compelling introduction by starting off at an exciting point, then draw the reader in with carefully crafted words. Know those characters. If your characters are under-developed and uninteresting, the judge’s interest will wane, so invest some time to create strong, exciting and 3 dimensional characters that appear larger than life. It helps to really get inside the skin of the characters and make them believable. Try to live through the story as you write it, feel every emotion and witness every event that unfolds. This gives your writing an extra and most important winning element. Edit ruthlessly and ensure that the specified word count has been adhered to. Editing is vital to ensure that any unnecessary words are eliminated. Never pad out a story unnecessarily, every word should be important. Develop your own style and a confidence in your work. Don’t leave it until the last minute to write your story. Whilst determination and a ticking clock can kick-start that all important creative process, having time to re-read and edit is paramount. Don’t waste a great storyline and a well-written piece of fiction through starting your story too late and submitting with spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Check out previous winning entries if available, then you are able to judge the standard and the types of stories that won and consider why. Think from a judge’s perspective, could your submission be improved and achieve greater winning potential?

 Creating a winning story in creative writing contests is easy, but it takes great determination and forward planning to write original and well-thought out storylines that stand out from the crowd.


- annette young