CRE WRI ETA

Creative Writing ETA

1. Characterization and Point of View (POV)

Characterization

Characterization refers to the techniques authors use to create and develop characters. These techniques include:

• Direct Characterization: The narrator explicitly describes a character’s traits, such as personality, background, or motivations (e.g., “She was kind and curious”).

• Indirect Characterization: Traits are revealed through characters’ actions, dialogue, appearance, thoughts, and other characters’ observations (e.g., “He clenched his fists as his face turned crimson”).

Methods of Characterization

1. Physical descriptions: Height, clothing, distinguishing features.

2. Speech: Tone, choice of words, accent.

3. Inner thoughts and motivations: Reveals personal reflections and goals.

4. Reactions to others or events: Highlights personality through interactions.

5. Descriptions by other characters: Secondary perspectives about a character.

Types of Characters

• Protagonist: The main character driving the story’s action with meaningful traits and goals.

• Antagonist: Opposes the protagonist; can be a person, idea, or force (e.g., illness or societal norms).

• Antihero: A flawed protagonist lacking traditional heroic traits like courage or morality.

• Tragic Hero: A high-status character whose fatal flaw leads to downfall, evoking pity and fear.

• Flat Character: Simple, with one or two traits (e.g., the absent-minded professor).

• Round Character: Realistic and complex, possessing multiple traits.

• Dynamic Character: Undergoes significant change or growth.

• Static Character: Remains unchanged throughout the story.

• Foil Character: Contrasts another character (often the protagonist) to highlight specific traits or qualities (e.g., Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes).

• Bit Players: Characters with small roles.

• Stock Characters: Stereotyped figures like the mad scientist or cruel stepmother.

• Sacrificial Characters: Exist solely to die for dramatic purposes.

• Psycho: A character with mental issues stemming from trauma or experience.

• Phobic: Deals with anxiety through extreme avoidance.

• The Confidant: A character the protagonist confides in or relies on.

• Unseen/Absent Character: Mentioned but never appears directly in the story.

Point of View (POV)

• First Person: Narration by a character using “I,” offering subjective insights but potentially unreliable.

• Second Person: Rare, addressing the reader as “you” to immerse them in the story.

• Third Person Omniscient: The narrator knows everything about all characters’ thoughts, actions, and motivations.

• Third Person Limited: Focuses on the thoughts and experiences of one character.

• Third Person Objective: Reports actions and dialogue without delving into inner thoughts.

• Multiple Points of View: Shifts perspectives to develop various characters and themes.

2. Sensory Details: Bringing Stories to Life

Sensory details make narratives vivid and immersive by engaging the five senses:

• Sight (Visual): Describes appearances, colors, shapes, and movements to create atmosphere.

  • Example: “The golden sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of lavender.”

• Sound (Auditory): Includes dialogue, natural sounds, or silence to evoke realism or mood.

  • Example: “The distant rumble of thunder echoed across the valley.”

• Smell (Olfactory): Links scenes to memory and place through scents.

  • Example: “The sharp tang of fresh citrus filled the air.”

• Taste (Gustatory): Adds depth by referencing flavors and food.

  • Example: “The bitter bite of black coffee lingered on her tongue.”

• Touch (Tactile): Focuses on texture and temperature for physical sensations.

  • Example: “The silk felt cool against her skin.”

• Emotion (Feeling): Conveys internal states to connect readers to characters.

  • Example: “A heavy sense of dread settled in her chest.”

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Overusing adjectives and adverbs: Use strong verbs and precise nouns (e.g., “devoured” instead of “ate quickly”).

• Clichés: Replace tired phrases with fresh, specific descriptions.

3. Dialogue: Crafting Conversations

Purpose of Dialogue

• Reveals character traits and relationships.

• Advances the plot.

• Creates tension or humor.

Rules for Dialogue Punctuation

1. Enclose spoken words in quotation marks: “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said.

2. Capitalize the first word inside quotation marks: He asked, “Can we leave now?”

3. Use commas with dialogue tags: “I don’t know,” he replied.

4. Start a new paragraph for each speaker:

   • “Why did you do that?” asked Lisa.

   • “I had no choice,” said Mark.

5. Retain punctuation for exclamations and questions: “Why would you do that?” he shouted.

Dialogue Tags

• Indicate the speaker’s identity or tone. Tags can be placed before, after, or in the middle of dialogue.

4. Writing Process and Techniques

Stages of Writing

1. Pre-writing: Brainstorming and organizing ideas.

2. Drafting: Writing the initial version of the story.

3. Revising: Improving structure, flow, and content.

4. Editing: Polishing grammar, punctuation, and style.

Effective Techniques

• Imagery: Create vivid mental pictures with metaphors, similes, and personification.

• Foreshadowing: Hint at future events to build suspense.

• Irony: Convey contrast between expectation and reality.

• Symbolism: Use objects or events to represent deeper meanings.

5. Genres of Creative Writing

Creative Nonfiction

Blends factual content with narrative techniques to tell true stories in an engaging way.

Fiction

Prose based on imagination, encompassing genres like mystery, romance, and science fiction.

Poetry

A genre focused on heightened language and expression, often using rhythm, imagery, and symbolism. See detailed discussion below.

Drama

Literature designed for performance, emphasizing dialogue and action.

6. Poetry

1. Etymology and Purpose

• Etymology: Derived from the Greek term “poesis” (“to create”).

• Purpose: According to Edward Hirsch, poetry is spiritual, “orphic,” and transformational.

2. Elements of Poetry

Diction

• Definition: The poet’s choice of words.

• Aspects:

  1. Denotation: Dictionary meanings.

  2. Connotation: Positive or negative associations.

  3. Wordplay: Playful use of words for effect.

Syntax

• Definition: Sentence structure in poetry, often inverted for rhyme or emphasis.

• Guide Questions:

  • What is the normal word order?

  • Why does the poet alter syntax?

Imagery

• Definition: Descriptive and figurative language appealing to the senses.

• Types: Visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory.

• Figurative Language: Simile, metaphor, personification, extended metaphor.

Symbolism

• Suggestive yet succinct; appeals through layered meanings.

• Example: William Blake’s The Sick Rose explores decay through symbolic imagery.

3. Structure of Poetry

Lines and Stanzas

• Poems are organized in lines and stanzas. Types of stanzas include:

  • Monostich: One line

  • Couplet: Two lines

  • Tercet: Three lines

  • Quatrain: Four lines

  • Quintet: Five lines

  • Sestet: Six lines

  • Septet: Seven lines

  • Octave: Eight lines

Rhyme Schemes

• Patterns of end rhymes include AABB, ABAB, and free verse.

• Example: Limerick (AABBA) creates a humorous tone.

4. Sound Devices

• Onomatopoeia: Words mimicking sounds (e.g., “buzz”).

• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds.

• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds.

• Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or end.

• Rhyme: Repetition of accented vowels and following sounds.

5. Additional Techniques

• Caesura: A pause within a line for emphasis.

• Enjambment: Continuation of a phrase across lines, creating flow and urgency.