WHAT IS CREATIVE WRITING?
Creative writing is a form of writing where creativity is at the forefront of its purpose through using imagination,
creativity, and innovation in order to tell a story through strong written visuals with an emotional impact, like in poetry
writing, short story writing, novel writing, and more.
Creative writing uses senses and emotions in order to create a strong visual in the reader’s mind whereas other forms
of writing typically only leave the reader with facts and information instead of emotional intrigue. (Source: (Pope,
SelfPublishing School, 2019))
VARIATIONS ON LANGUAGE
Words have both denotative and connotative meanings. The denotative meaning of a word is that which is found in the
dictionary. It is also known as the literal meaning of a word. On the other hand, the connotative meaning of a word is
that which is assigned by the writer to a word as it is used in the context of his text. It is also known as the figurative
meaning of a word.
Variation is a characteristic of language that allows a writer to express more than one way of saying the same thing.
This could be achieved in writing through diction, imagery and sensory experience, and figures of speech.
Diction
Diction is the careful selection of words to communicate a message or establish a particular voice or writing style. For
example, flowy, figurative language creates colorful prose, while a more formal vocabulary with concise and direct
language can help drive home a point. Writers choose specific words and phrases depending on the outcome they’re
trying to achieve. (Source: (MasterClass, 2020))
•
Formal Diction is writing that establishes a professional tone, such as business writing or formal essays. It
involves choosing descriptive, precise words that are polite and proper. Sentences in formal diction are often
longer.
•
Informal Diction is a conversational or friendly writing style. It often assumes that the reader already knows
what you’re talking about and generally uses shorter words. Sentences may be incomplete or ignore some finer
points in grammar and usage.
>Sample 1:
Formal: Would you care to explain the reasoning behibd your decision to leave the gathering early? Informal:
Why’d you leave the party so soon?
>Sample 2:
Formal: hello, young man. It is a true pleasure to make acquaintance. How are you feeling today? Informal:
hey kid. Nice to mee you. What’s up?
Source: Jennifer Gunner, Diction Examples, 2020
Imagery and Sensory Experience
Imagery is the creation of a picture or images in the mind of the reader by the use of words that appeal to the
senses. To create imageries, a writer makes use of his sensory experiences. He/she recalls what he perceives through
his eyes, ears, nose, tongue, hands, skin, and other sensory organs.
•
Visual Imagery ---The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of sight.
•
Auditory Imagery ---The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of hearing.
•
Olfactory Imagery ---The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of smell.
•
Gustatory Imagery ----The imagery produced by the use of words that appeal to the sense of taste.
•
Tactile Imagery ----The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of touch.
Sample:
Visual Imagery: The moonlight shone over the lake and reflected in her big, dark eyes.
Auditory Imagery: She awoke to the chirping of birds and the soft whisper of a breeze as it passed through her window.
Olfactory Imagery: The sweet aroma of the freshly baked cookies wafted from the kitchen to the living room. Gustatory
Imagery: As he bit into the juicy burger, a variety of spices danced upon his tongue.
Tactile Imagery: the tree bark was rough against her skin.
-Source: ( (Barron, 2020))
Figures of Speech
Figures of speech are connotative presentations of words to produce a literary effect. These are classified into figures
of comparison, contrast, representation or reference, order, omission, addition, substitution, repetition, and order.
Kind
Definition
Example
Figures of Comparison
Simile
A figurative comparison with the use of as or like Life is like a game.
Metaphor
A figurative comparison without the use of as or Life is a game.
like
Figures of Contrast
Oxymoron
Placing side by side of two contrasting words
Blinding darkness
Paradox
A seemingly self-contradictory statement which
can be proven to be true
The more you hate, the more you love.
Irony
A statement of one idea, the opposite of which is
meant
You’re so lovely today; you look like a
Christmas tree.
Figures of Representation/Reference
Metonymy
A figurative representation of one thing for
another
The subjects pay taxes to the Crown (for
King or Queen).
Synecdoche
A figurative representation of a part for a whole
or of a whole for a part
I feed seven mouths (for persons).
Personification
A figurative attribution of personal or human The flowers are dancing under the smiling
qualities to things that are not human
sun.
Apostrophe
A direct address to an inanimate object, a dead
person (as if living), an absent person, or an idea
Car, please get me to work today!
Figures of Order
Climax
Arrangement of words or ideas in an ascending I came. I saw. I conquered.
order of importance
Anticlimax
Arrangement of words or ideas in a descending In
elementary,
she
graduated
order of importance
valedictorian; in high school, salutatorian;
and in college, cum laude.
Figures of Sound
Alliteration
Repetition of the initial letter or sound in a Pedro Parerno picked a pack of pad paper.
succession of words
Onomatopoeia
Use
of
a
indicate a sound
word
to
In the field, birds chirp, cows moo, dogs
bark, cat’s meow, snakes hiss.
Assonance
Repetition of the vowel sound (not necessarily the Haste makes waste.
initial sound) in a succession of words
Consonance
Repetition of the consonant sound (not
necessarily the initial sound) in a succession of
words
Ninety-nine
nannies
their contracts.
An exaggeration or overstatement for literary
effect
The orphaned child cried an ocean of tears.
renewed
Other Figures
Hyperbole
Direction: Play this Creative Writing Tic Tac Toe. Perform the activities where you
belong based on the rules below.
TIC
1. Write a two-line poem
using Simile or Metaphor
in describing your best
friend
TAC
TOE
2. Write a one sentence
informal text
message to your
neighbor.
3. Use your sense of
taste to write a one
sentence
description of your
favorite food.
4. Using hyperbole,
write a one-sentence
description of how you
are feeling now.
5. Using
personification, write a
one-sentence
description of your
favorite thing/object.
7. Look for a one-line lyric
6. Write a two- sentence
from a song incorporating
formal text message to
alliteration in the
your teacher.
lyrics
8. Use your sense of
sight to write a one
sentence description
about your favorite
place
Rules:
1. If your first name starts with letter A, B, C, D, E, F or G, perform activity numbers
1 and 8.
2. If your first name starts with letter H, I, J, K, L, M or N, perform activity numbers
2 and 7.
3. If your first name starts with letter O, P, Q, R, S or T, perform activity numbers
3 and 6.
4. If your first name starts with letter U, V, W, X, Y, or Z, perform activity number
4 and 5=]
For example, if your name is Maria (it starts with letter M), you are going to
perform activity number 2 (Write a one-sentence informal text message to your
neighbor) and number 7 (Write a two-line song incorporating alliteration in the
lyrics)