Creative Writing

Innovative Techniques in Writing Poetry

Found Poetry

This type of poetry comes from the words that are borrowed from nonpoetic sources, such as newspapers, magazines, and other literary texts.

Blackout poetry is created by using a thick black marker to redact words from the source text while leaving chosen words unshaded.

Erasure poetry is created by using an erasing tool to redact words from the source text.

Micropoetry

This is a new type of poetry characterized by its shortness. The poem you created earlier was a micropoem.

Slam Poetry and Spoken Word Poetry

Slam poetry is a new type of performance-based poetry that involves competition. Without the presence of competition, it is known as spoken word poetry.

After writing the poem, the poet has the opportunity to read it in front of an audience in an event called poetry slam, or simply slam.

Prose Poetry

This is a new type of poetry that combines the ways to create prose and poetry. It is poetry because it contains the lyrical and metric elements of a poem while borrowing some of the characteristics of a prose, such as the absence of line breaks.

Other Innovative Forms of Poet

Fib

a six-line poem that is derived from the mathematical concept known as the Fibonacci sequence

Bop

a three-stanza poem that presents and expands a problem, then provides a solution to it

Blitz

a 50-line poem that contains short but concrete phrases

The content of each line is determined by the words that appeared on the previous lines.

Lune

known as the American haiku

a three-line poem that has a 3-5-3 syllable count

Hay(na)ku

a poem of six syllables, in three lines of one, two, and three

Triversen

a six-stanza poem

Each stanza is a sentence that is divided into three lines. Each line should have two to four sets of poetic feet.

Monotetra

a poem written in quatrains

Each stanza is a monorhyme, and each line is written in tetrameter.

Sevenling

a poem with three stanzas

Each of the first two stanzas contain three lines. The third stanza is a single line that acts as a summary of the poem.

Elements in Fiction

Narrative Modes in Fiction

A narrative mode is a procedure used by fiction writers to tell a story. The point of view, tense, and voice of a story are determined by the way a writer executes these modes.

Exposition

This informs readers about the story’s characters, setting, and mood.

Action

This allows the characters to move or act in the story.

Description

This illustrates the story’s characters, setting, and objects.

Monologue

This is the narrative mode that uses self-talk.

Dialogue

This is the narrative mode of talking to other characters in the story.

Elements in Fiction

Character

This can be a person, an animal, or a personified object or idea that gives life to the story.

Types of Characters

Protagonist is the main character of the story.

Antagonist is the character who opposes or contradicts the main character.

Deuteragonist is the second most important character in the story.

Confidante is the character who is a close friend to the main character.

Foil is the character who has the traits or characteristics that contrast the main character’s but is not the villain in the story.

Love Interest is the character who the main character has romantic feelings for.

Tertiary or Background are the characters who are not directly connected to the main storyline.

Dynamic is a character who changes his or her personality as the story progresses.

Static is a character whose personality remains unchanged as the story continues.

Round is a character who has varied and contrasting traits.

Flat is a character who has one personality.

A character sketch (or a character profile) is a detailed description in prose of a character you imagined. The sketch should contain the character's backstory, traits, and appearance. It should also include other important details that will make the character unique, like his or her hopes, dreams, or aspirations.

Setting

This is the time, place, and conditions in which the story takes place.

Types of Setting

Geographical location. This includes the topography, scenery, and physical arrangements, such as the location of the windows and doors in a room.

Occupations. This includes the work and the daily manner of living of the characters.

Time or period. This sets when the action takes place.

General environment. This includes religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions of the characters.

A vignette is a short and descriptive writing that uses imagery to describe a subject, such as a place, in greater detail. You may create one before creating an actual setting for your story.

Point of View

This refers to the angle of narration or the narrator.

Types of Point of View

First person. This is the main character (or one of the characters) who narrates the story.

There are instances where multiple characters act as first-person narrators; thus, the concept of multiple-person point of view emerges.

Second person. The reader is the focal point of the narrator’s story.

Third person. The narrator is an outside observer, not a character, in the story he or she presents.

Types of Third-Person Point of View

Limited. The narrator tells the actions and the speech of the characters.

Omniscient. The narrator shares everything about the characters in the story, including their thoughts and feelings.

Plot

This is the arrangement of incidents and actions in a story. A plot does not always have to be chronological.

Types of Plot

Linear. This shows the chronological order of events that happen in the story.

Non-Linear. no chronological order.

Episodic. This is a set of connected incidents that form a bigger plot.

Parallel. This is a combination of two or more linear plots that happen simultaneously.

Circular. This starts and ends in a similar fashion.

In Medias Res. This starts at the middle of the story.

In Extrema Res. This starts at the end of the story.

Exposition. This is the initial part of a plot that introduces the story’s characters, setting, and mood.

Rising Action. This is the incident or the set of incidents that leads to the complication.

Climax. This is the highest point of tension in the story where the conflict is shown or settled.

Falling Action. This is the section where the story’s tension decreases and the other unsettled issues are solved.

Resolution. This is the denouement or the part of the story where the main problem is resolved and the end of a plot is told.

Conflict

This is the struggle that exists in the story.

Types of Conflict

Self versus self is the struggle between the protagonist and his or her self.

Self versus man is the struggle between the protagonist and another character.

Self versus nature is the struggle between the protagonist and natural forces.

Self versus the supernatural is the struggle between the protagonist and someone who has an ability beyond human nature.

Self versus technology is the struggle between the protagonist and technology or product of technology.

Self versus society is the struggle between the protagonist and a group of people who belongs to a social institution.

Theme

This describes or represents the unifying idea or statement of a literary work.

Techniques and Literary Devices in Fiction

Literary Techniques and Devices in Fiction

Allusion

a literary device that utilizes mythological, literary, historical, biblical, scientific, or political figures, events, places, or objects to represent someone or something.

Diction

a literary device that is concerned with the meticulous selection of words and phrases to convey a message

Alliteration

a literary device in which the writer repeats the initial sound or letter in a string of words in a statement or phrase

Allegory

a literary device in which a story, or an element of a story, is created to deliver a message about the issues and occurrences of the real world; also known as extended metaphor

Euphemism

a literary device in which a writer uses a word or a phrase that acts as an alternative to another word or phrase that is considered harsh, blunt, or taboo

Flashback

a literary device in which the writer interrupts the chronological events of a story by narrating some events that happened prior to it

Foreshadowing

a literary device in which a hint about something that will happen in the future is provided at an earlier point in the narrative

Imagery

a literary device that enables the writer to paint a picture using words; involves using a catalyst to affect the readers’ senses, emotions and feelings

Personification

a literary device that “endows animals, ideas, abstractions, and inanimate objects with human form” (Harmon and Holman 1996, 385)

Juxtaposition

a literary device in which the writer creates two elements that have obvious differences and puts them side-by-side in a story

Simile and Metaphor

The former is a figure of comparison that directly expresses the similarity between two objects, while the latter is a figure of comparison that declares that two objects are identical.

Onomatopoeia

a literary device in which the writer makes use of words that are formed from the sounds they represent in a text

Symbolism

a literary device in which the writer uses someone or something to suggest an emblematic or abstract meaning.

Symbols are universal. It means that their meanings are common to people no matter where they live. A writer may use his or her knowledge of symbols to transmit an abstraction to the readers.

Tone

a literary device inherent in a story; creates the emotional climate that readers might feel as they indulge themselves in the text

Writing a Journal Entry and an Outline for Fiction

Revisiting the Creative Writing Process

The first thing that you should do is to recall the creative writing process.

Generate an Idea

Create a draft

Revise the text

Proofread and edit the text

Publish the text

The Genres of Fiction

A literary genre refers to a category or type of literature.

Fantastic Fiction (Fantasy)

the story takes place either in an unreal, nonexistent world or an alternate, magical version of our own world

features nonexistent characters, such as mythical creatures and people with supernatural powers

robust world building

Horror Fiction

aims to frighten the readers

focuses on themes that are related to demons, evil creatures, death, and the afterlife

horror and fantasy coincide in stories featuring mythical creatures, such as vampires, witches, and werewolves

Science Fiction

focuses on highly scientific, technological, and futuristic concepts

similar to fantasy, except that all concepts must have even a tenuous basis in real-life science

Realistic Fiction

narrates events that might actually happen in real life

does not contain any supernatural or fantastic elements, nor does it promote something that never existed before

Prewriting Strategies

Journal

a written record of your thoughts, feelings, or observations about the world

Character Sketch

a detailed portrait of a character you have created for a work of fiction

Vignette

a short passage that uses imagery to describe a subject in greater detail

Map or Diagram

similar to the other written forms of prewriting, but instead of merely using words, they also use symbols and shapes that help the writer connect different elements of the story

Outline

a written plan of the story you will create

acts as a road map that guides you as you generate ideas about the plot of the story

Drafting

World Building

basis of your fictional world

the culture, languages, religions, political situations, geographical locations, and weather and climate in a story

make clear and consistent rules and take note of all of these aspects to avoid loopholes and inconsistencies in your story

Narrative Hook

a literary device that encourages the readers to keep on reading the story you created

a statement found at the opening paragraph of the story makes an element of the story intriguing, enabling the readers to become interested in it until the end

Compelling Characters

a set of characters that are interesting and relatable

does not necessarily mean that all of your characters should be upright and good-natured

convincing enough to affect the readers’ emotions

Monologue, Dialogue, and Narration

allows the plot to move forward

must be compelling and engaging, lest we lose the interest of our readers

Moving the Plot Forward

It is done by allowing the characters to move, or act, in the story.

Evaluating, Editing, and Finalizing

Evaluating is the act of identifying the importance, condition, or worth of the text.

Editing is the act of enhancing the overall quality of the text, making it clearer and free from inconsistencies.

Finalizing is the act of creating a definitive version of the text.

Techniques and Literary Devices in Drama

Allusion

A reference to an event, character, setting, or object.

Types of allusion:

Biblical allusion is a reference to figures, events, objects, or settings reflected in the bible.

Historical allusion is a reference to figures, events, objects, or settings that are evident in important past events.

Literary allusion is a reference to figures, events, objects, or settings in other literary works.

Mythological allusion is a reference to figures, events, objects, or settings in famous myths and legends.

Antagonist

a character who is in opposition to or, in other cases, in competition with the protagonist

the villain in the drama

Some dramas do not have antagonists, most especially dramas that are about characters who face hardships in life. Since circumstances, whether positive or negative, are not considered characters, such dramas do not have antagonists.

Aside

a short speech made by a character in a drama

not heard by the other characters

used to make comments, judgments, and even reveal secrets (to the audience but not to the characters)

Deus Ex Machina

Greek term

god from the machine

A problem that is seemingly unending and unsolvable is suddenly resolved by an unexpected event.

Dramatic Irony

a type of irony

something is made known to the readers that the characters are oblivious to

Flashback

a plot device

past events are shown to make revelations or to fill in the gaps that readers do not know yet about the story

Foreshadowing

a plot device

hints are given to the readers to give them an idea of what is going to happen.

Indirect foreshadowing. Hinting at an outcome or event by openly (directly) suggesting what could happen.

Direct foreshadowing. Hinting at an outcome or event by leaving subtle (indirect) clues to the plotline.

In Medias Res

a Latin term

in the middle of things

a technique used by writers, wherein, the plot starts in the middle of the story or at at crucial point and past events will be revealed through flashbacks

Monologue

a speech delivered by a character

heard by other characters and they can respond to it

reveals events, actions, and even the perspectives of the speaking character towards other characters or events

Motif

a recurring character, image, or object that is important in the development of the theme of a drama

Protagonist

leading or main character in a drama

hero or heroine of the drama

the character that the antagonist opposes or contradicts in the text

Soliloquy

a long speech delivered by a character

not heard by other characters

to reveal the inner thoughts and/or motivations of the character

Stereotypes

characters in the drama with a predetermined set of characteristics that are based on how a group of people or society identify the type of character presented

Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of a concrete object to represent an abstract idea.

If the symbol is repeatedly used throughout the drama, it becomes a motif.

Unity

derived from Aristotle’s Poetics

for Aristotle, drama should have a:

unity of action

unity of place

unity of time

Elements in Drama

Drama

written in script format

has a story revolving around characters

observes brevity

Elements of Drama

Plot

Arrangement of events in drama

Plot is not story.

Story refers to what happens in the drama.

Plot refers to the order and importance of events.

Five parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.

Characters

People whose actions, ideas, and dispositions are meant to be portrayed.

Characteristics are revealed through speech and actions.

They are listed at the start of the script

.

Setting

Revealed before the actions are performed in the drama. Composed of:

when (time)

where (place)

Dialogue is the conversation between and among the characters.

Monologue are the lines spoken by a character in front of the audience while alone on stage.

Stage Directions are instructions about the actions, emotions, tones of voice, facial expressions, noverbal actions, set designs, and costumes.

Theme is a universal idea the selection evokes.