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II-Forms-of-Creative-Writing

This chapter explores various forms of creative writing, including novels, short stories, novelettes, plays, journalistic articles, and poetry, detailing their definitions, characteristics, and examples. It aims to help students identify, analyze, and create original works while critiquing peer writings. Each form is accompanied by notable examples and specific characteristics that define them.

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AGTARAP MARY JOY
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9 views

II-Forms-of-Creative-Writing

This chapter explores various forms of creative writing, including novels, short stories, novelettes, plays, journalistic articles, and poetry, detailing their definitions, characteristics, and examples. It aims to help students identify, analyze, and create original works while critiquing peer writings. Each form is accompanied by notable examples and specific characteristics that define them.

Uploaded by

AGTARAP MARY JOY
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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II.

Forms of Creative Writing


Introduction
This chapter provides an in-depth exploration of the different forms of creative writing. It includes
definitions, characteristics, and teaching strategies to help students develop their creative writing skills.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:
1. identify different forms of creative writing;
2. analyze the characteristics of each form;
3. compare and contrast various creative writing styles;
4. create original works based on the studied forms; and
5. critique peer works constructively.

A. Novel
Definition:
A novel is a long narrative work of fiction that explores characters, settings, and themes in depth
(Lodge, 2011).

Characteristics:
• Typically over 40,000 words
• Includes multiple characters and subplots
• Written in prose
• Can be realistic or fantastical

Types of Novels:

1. Literary Novel – Focuses on themes, character development, and style.


o To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960): A classic American novel that explores racial
injustice in the Deep South through the perspective of a young girl.
2. Commercial Novel – Written for entertainment and broad appeal.
o Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997): The first book in a fantasy
series about a young wizard discovering his magical heritage.
3. Historical Novel – Set in a past era with historical context.
o War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1869): An epic novel set during the Napoleonic Wars,
depicting Russian society and historical events.
4. Science Fiction & Fantasy – Deals with futuristic or supernatural elements.
o Dune by Frank Herbert (1965): A sci-fi epic set in a distant future, centered around politics,
ecology, and a valuable spice trade.
5. Mystery & Thriller – Focuses on suspense, crime, or investigation.
o The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (1892): A collection of detective
stories featuring the brilliant sleuth Sherlock Holmes.
6. Romance Novel – Revolves around romantic relationships.
o Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813): A novel exploring love, class, and social
expectations in 19th-century England.

B. Short Stories
Definition:
A short story is a brief work of fiction that typically focuses on a single incident or theme (Kennedy
& Gioia, 2016).

Characteristics:
• Usually under 10,000 words
• Limited number of characters
• Focuses on a single event or conflict
• Has a clear beginning, middle, and end
• Uses literary devices such as irony, symbolism, and foreshadowing

Examples:
• “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson (1948): A chilling short story about a seemingly normal town
engaging in a brutal annual ritual.
• “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe (1843): A psychological horror story about guilt and
paranoia following a murder.
C. Novelette
Definition:
A novelette is a piece of fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel, typically
between 7,500 and 20,000 words (Cuddon, 2014).

Characteristics:
• Focuses on one main character or theme
• More developed than a short story but less complex than a novel
• Often used in speculative fiction and romance genres

Examples:
• “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka (1915): A surreal story about a man who wakes up
transformed into a giant insect, exploring themes of alienation and identity.
• Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945): An allegorical novella critiquing totalitarianism through the
story of a farm animal rebellion.

D. Play/Drama
Definition:
A play or drama is a written work intended for performance by actors on stage Innes, 2018).

Characteristics:
• Written in dialogue and stage directions
• Divided into acts and scenes
• Includes characters, plot, conflict, and resolution

Types of Drama:
1. Tragedy – Deals with serious themes, often ending in disaster.
o Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1603): A tragedy about a Danish prince’s quest for
revenge, leading to his downfall.
2. Comedy – Lighthearted and humorous.
o A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare (1595): A whimsical play involving
mistaken identities, magic, and love.
3. Melodrama – Exaggerated drama with heightened emotions.
o A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (1879): A drama exploring gender roles and societal
expectations in marriage.
4. Musical – Combines dialogue with songs and dance.
o Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg & Alain Boublil (1980): A musical adaptation
of Victor Hugo’s novel about justice, revolution, and redemption.

E. Journalistic Articles
Definition:
Journalistic writing presents factual information in a clear and engaging manner, often for
newspapers, magazines, or online platforms (Harcup, 2020).

Characteristics:
• Factual and objective
• Answers the 5Ws and 1H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How)
• Uses an inverted pyramid structure (most important details first)
• Can be news articles, feature stories, or opinion pieces
Examples:
• News reports from The New York Times or BBC.
• Feature article: “Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds” by Elizabeth Kolbert (The New Yorker,
2017): Discusses cognitive biases and the difficulty of changing people’s beliefs.

F. Poetry
Definition:
Poetry is a form of literary expression that uses rhythmic and aesthetic qualities of language
(Pound, 1913).

Characteristics:
• Uses meter, rhyme, and figurative language
• Can be structured or free verse
• Evokes emotions and imagery
Forms of Poetry:
1. Sonnet – A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.
o “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare (1609): Famous for its opening line, “Shall I compare
thee to a summer’s day?”
2. Haiku – A three-line poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure.
o “An Old Pond” by Matsuo Bashō (1680): A classic haiku capturing a fleeting moment in
nature.
3. Limerick – A humorous five-line poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme.
o Edward Lear’s limericks (1861): Playful and witty short poems.
4. Free Verse – No strict rhyme or meter.
o “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman (1855): A poetic celebration of individuality and nature.

References:

Aristotle. (335 BCE). Poetics.

Forster, E. M. (1927). Aspects of the Novel. Harcourt.

Mencher, M. (2010). News Reporting and Writing (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Pound, E. (1913). A Retrospect.

Poe, E. A. (1846). The Philosophy of Composition.

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