7 techniques for creative writing
“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.”
Dorothy Parker
This is an article I wrote in 2019 and I decided to republish it now with some adjustments.
Every time I get a chance to go to a training session or a course, I am in. Since I have a 24 hours day like everyone else and I am attracted to events like a child to shinny objects I need to make sure that what I choose to attend gives me useful information. Create a space in my planner for it and make it happen.
In 2012 I attended a training session with Jo Ilie - narrative and investigation journalist from DOR Magazine. I LOVED IT. I even tried some online courses on this topic, but nothing extraordinary. I started reading about copywriting and storytelling and check for more information. In 2014 I discovered Cătălin Ionașcu’s blog and from time to time I was visiting there. I liked his minimalistic style of writing and the fact that he offered free information about what it meant to be a copywriter. So when the Universe worked in my favor and Cătălin Ionașcu had an intensive copywriting AND content writing workshop (2 in 1) on a weekend when I could join - I made that a priority to be present.
It was extremely active and with a lot of experience exchange. 90% of the course was practical, respectively we worked on our chosen cases. We drafted our strategy, used basic formulas in copywriting, and worked on an editorial plan - which we divided into categories according to our timeline. Basically what I was doing when I was taking blogging seriously and made a commitment to write as often as possible.
If in your job you need to write often and a lot, I hope you save this article. Some of the methods you may already be using or maybe you are looking for inspiration to change your style. Regardless of your reason, I hope you will find something to help you here.
Storytelling
In writing, as in public speaking, the story is important. The most successful articles on my blog are of two types - the technical ones where I talk about methods (like this one) or the stories. It’s important for the readers to have access to a problem solving idea, to trigger their imagination or to give them an emotional connection with your article.
Use facts and statistics
If you can add some figures or facts to make your story even stronger - you have the recipe for success. These will help you establish credibility, but will also help the reader to understand his needs better.
Organize the content
I am here because I decided to make a special category with articles in English. Then I decided to start a new website completely in English. For more than a week I've been working on moving the articles to the new blog, developing content there. I also have redone the bilingual articles into two separate types in order to have them moved into the English section. All this in order to keep the Romanian blog clear.
If I would make a parallel from the decision to slip my blog into two to an article, this would translate: short sentences, points, or numbering where needed, occasionally highlight certain information to make it easier for the reader. So my hard work had to start from there since now I had a clearer structure in my head.
Use copywriting formulas
From AIDA to 1-2-3-4 these will help you to have a structure on which to build your story. Whether you use it alone or use as many as possible to have a vast repertoire of formulas - important is for you to write good texts.
Sell profits
A powerful text is not about you / your product but about the reader. So it always shows what someone has to gain when it comes to reading your article, taking your product or working with you (here is a category where I still have work to do - my portfolio)
Leave the dictionary at home
In my first week as a senior consultant of a PR agency, my texts were written like I was reading the dictionary for breakfast, launch, and dinner. It seemed to me that it sounded more exclusivist, more "smart". Until my boss calls me and told me to write articles in the manner I speak. If I don't use those words with my acquaintances and friends, then their place is not under my pen or on my keyboard.
Writing in bursts
Give yourself time (5, 7, 10 minutes) in which without stopping, write whatever comes to your mind on the subject. Do not delete or edit or return to the text until the time has passed. After it’s over, read and keep only what is good or on what you can build on.
We need good texts, we need positivity and realistic with focus on the good things of life, self-development and career. We need inspiration and people who believe - so write good and from your soul!
After this course, I remembered why I loved editing and why some of my articles stay in the draft for a while. Because I need clear head to read the text without the emotional energy I pour into writing. So I changed, and my writing becomes more fluid.
What is your challenge when it comes to creative writing?
