Introduction to

Creative
Writing
I walked across an empty land

I knew the pathway like the back of my hand

I felt the earth beneath my feet

Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on

So, tell me when you're gonna let me in

I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin.

SEEKING FOR PEACE

If you feel like you don’t know

What to do next, move slow.
Out the door, down the apartment,
Go to the corner of your street.

Open air.
Go to the moon.
Or something that holds your view –
long enough for you to look up unto life reviews.
.
Stare.
And the speak.
Lift your words in their peak.
Think of all the nights before this one.
How far you have come?
Hold your chest.
Feel your heart.

Breathe.
Look up.
See the arena of constellations
Dimmed by the neon streetlights.
Surrender
Without wonder.
Let the clouds pass in their array
and tomorrow, you’ll be okay

By: CRIS PAULO SABILLO

WRITIN
G
 WRITING
Nunan (2003)
Writing is both a physical and mental act.

It is about discovering ideas, thinking about how to

communicate and develop them into statements
and paragraphs that will be comprehensible to a
reader.
 WRITING
Nunan (2003)
Writing has a dual purpose – to impress or to
express

iters must select the most advantageous medium fo

eir writing. Each type has a different level of difficult
which is determined by its objective.
 WRITING
Nunan (2003)
Writing is a process and also a product.

he writer creates plans, writes various drafts, revises

dits and publishes. The audience reads the product.
“The only limit to your impact is
your
imagination and commitment.”
- Tony Robbins
Academic Writing and
Creative Writing
Academic Examples

Writing Essay
Research
Summary- Reaction Papers
It is more complex
Journal
than technical writing. Position paper
Book review
It is tied to a specific Synthesis
discipline or field. Review of the Literature
Evaluation / Critique Paper
Thesis / Dissertation Researches
It can be jargon-laden.
Creative
Examples
Writing Poetry
Plays
The process of inventing or Movie and television
rather presenting thoughts in scripts
an appealing way. Fiction
Songs
Attention is paid to the choice Speeches
Memoirs
of vocabulary, figurative use Personal essays
of language and style.
 Creative Writing
Defining creative writing into In this way, creative writing can
a singular sentence or actually be any type of writing
definition is quite difficult. As that goes beyond the traditional
the name suggests, creative realms of normal, professional,
writing is all about using academic or technical forms of
your own creativity - your writing. It’s constrained by no
own imaginative, out-of-the- standard conventions and uses
box, embellished way of a whole range of elements in its
thinking to create a piece of craft to keep it new, fresh and
text. contemporary.
 Creative Writing Genres
POETRY- Poetry is said to be the FICTION is a form of prose that
oldest kind of literature, as it depicts imaginary events and
predates even the written word. In its people. Novels, novellas, and short
earliest form, poems were recited stories fall under this category,
and passed on from one person to
although recent trends have also
the next. The concentration of poetry
lies on the line and its rhythmic
introduced us to other formats, such
qualities, and traditionally, a strict as hyperlink fiction and six-word
form or dependence on meter. Today, stories. It pays close attention to
however, with the invention of free central elements plot, character,
verse, there are numerous ways that setting, and conflict.
a poem can delineate from
convention.
 Creative Writing Genres
DRAMA - Drama is fiction CREATIVE NONFICTION uses
written to be performed. literary techniques to write about
Although it was traditionally facts, actual events, and people. It
written in verse, contemporary distinguishes itself from technical or
modes of drama now use news writing by using literary
prose, and some are also set to devices, such as imagery and
music or dance. This genre dialogue. A separate worktext is
places an emphasis on available for this topic.
dialogue and stage direction.
 Different types of Creative Writing
• Biographies
• Fiction: novels, novellas, short stories,
etc.
• Speeches
• Poetry and spoken word
• Playwriting/scriptwriting
• Personal essays
• Speeches
General Principles in
Creative Writing
 Know your Audience
All great stories begin with a target audience in mind -
because it’s exactly what you need to know in order to really
tailor your writing and connect with them. Therefore, any
creative writer should begin their writing by plotting out
exactly who they want to read their work. Once you have this
in mind, your writing will naturally begin to take direction and
flow in a way that seems appropriate to your audience.
 Write what you know
Quite often, the best stories are those which we can
connect to and relate in one or another way to our own lives.
Or, they’re stories which seem to authentic that you could
imagine it to be about the writer’s own life.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you quite literally have to
write about your life, but drawing on knowledge you have
about different elements of our lives to give your story some
authenticity and more believability.
 Creativity is Key
Creativity is one of the most important elements of
creative writing. It’s what sets you apart from other pieces of
writing in your genre. Of course, this doesn't demand that you
write a tale about a totally fantastical and mythical world with
unique creatures - but simply use your creativity to think a
little outside the box and put a unique twist on things; using
literary devices like metaphors, alliteration, and varied
sentence structure to make your work unique and interesting.
 Push your Imagination
One of the great things about creative writing is that
there is no definition or rules on ‘how’ to write. It’s a much
more subjective genre and one which relies heavily on your
own interpretations.
Therefore, you should push your imagination to the
limits to see what the end result could be. Some of the most
interesting pieces of literature are thought-provoking or make
us question the writing or world around us - where could your
story take us?
 Plot a loose story arc
Despite the loose bounds of creative writing, it is still
advisable to plot a loose story arc for any piece of literature
you create.
Story arcs are critical at giving your writing direction
and purpose, helping you to write the whole piece at a good
pace, without writing any superfluous content or ‘waffle.’
Follow your story arc, and your writing will have a strong
structure, pace and direction - keeping your readers more
engaged.
Techniques used in
Creative Writing
 Character Development
The process of creating a well-rounded, realistic
character with depth, personality, and clear goals or
motivations.
Plot development
The story of your piece of writing - how it develops,
unfolds, and moves along in time.
 Point of view
The perspective from which a narrative is told. It
indicates who is telling the story and how the information is
conveyed to the reader. Quite often writers will play with the
point of view of the central character or protagonist to trick the
reader and twist their perspective.
 Dialogue
Refers to the speech and conversations characters use
to speak to one another. Dialogue and the language choices a
character makes can be pivotal in helping define their
personality.
Literary Devices
Such as metaphors, similes and alliteration to make
creative writing more imaginative and descriptive. These are
used in a myriad of ways by writers to make their writing more
vivid, interesting and engaging.
Writing as a Language
Macro Skill
Writing as an Idea:
Writing begins with an idea. It is the conceptual stage
where thoughts, inspirations, or intentions form the basis of
written communication. This could include brainstorming, free
writing, or mapping out concepts. At this stage, the focus is on
creativity and generating content without constraints.
Writing as a Skill:
Writing is a learned skill that involves mastering
language, grammar, syntax, and structure. It requires practice
and refinement, much like any other skill. The more one
writes, the better they become at expressing ideas clearly and
effectively. Key skills include sentence structure, vocabulary
usage, coherence, and cohesiveness in writing.
Writing as an Output/Discourse:
As an output, writing serves as a means of
communication, expression, and record-keeping. It results in
various forms, such as essays, reports, stories, or poems.
In academic settings, writing is an essential tool for
demonstrating knowledge and understanding of subjects. In
professional contexts, it becomes a crucial mode for
proposals, reports, and correspondence.
 EXAMPLES
Idea
A student brainstorming for a creative story
Skill
Practicing essay writing techniques, like structuring an
argument.
Output/Discourse
Producing a well-researched term paper or a
compelling short story.
K to 12 English Writing Competencies
Including SHS Creative Writing
Subject
 The Philippine education system, particularly the K to 12
curriculum, emphasizes the development of writing skills from
elementary through senior high school. Students are taught various
forms of writing, including essays, creative writing, research papers,
and technical writing. The integration of English as a medium of
instruction significantly impacts students' proficiency, as English is one
of the country's official languages.
The K to 12 curriculum includes specific competencies for
writing across grade levels. In senior high school, the Creative Writing
subject further refines students' skills in different genres, such as
poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting. The curriculum also covers practical
writing skills, like writing for specific purposes (e.g., business and
professional writing).
 The K to 12 curriculum in the Philippines emphasizes
the development of communication skills, including writing,
across various grade levels.

Competencies include understanding and using

different types of texts, writing for various purposes and
audiences, and employing the writing process.
Key Competencies in K to 12 English:
Elementary Level: Focuses on the basics of sentence structure,
vocabulary building, and writing simple texts like paragraphs
and short stories.
Junior High School: Expands to more complex writing tasks
such as essays, research reports, and creative writing.
Emphasis is on coherence, grammar, and critical thinking.
Senior High School (SHS): Advanced competencies, including
argumentative writing, technical writing, and creative writing, are
covered. Students explore various genres, develop writing
portfolios, and refine their editing and revising skills.
SHS Creative Writing Subject:

This subject specifically focuses on enhancing students' creative

skills in writing fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction. It includes
the study of literary elements, creative processes, and the development of
a unique writing style.

Examples of SHS Creative Writing Tasks:

• Writing a short story with a focus on character development.

• Creating a portfolio of poems that explore different poetic forms.
• Developing a one-act play with a clear plot and dialogue.
Writing Process
– An Overview
1. Prewriting
This stage involves brainstorming, outlining, and
organizing ideas. It is the preparation phase where the writer
gathers thoughts and plans the structure of the writing.

Example: A student creating a mind map of ideas for an essay

on environmental conservation.
 2. Drafting
The writer begins to translate ideas into sentences and
paragraphs. The focus is on getting ideas down without
worrying too much about correctness or perfection.

Example: Writing the first version of a short story, focusing on

the flow of the narrative.
3. Revising
Revising involves reviewing the draft to improve
content and organization. Writers look at the "big picture"
elements, like structure, clarity, and coherence.

Example: Reordering paragraphs in an essay to enhance

logical flow or rewriting a scene in a story to make it more
engaging.
 4. Editing
This stage focuses on correcting grammar,
punctuation, spelling, and style issues. It is more detail-
oriented than revising.

Example: Correcting run-on sentences, fixing comma splices,

or refining word choice.
 5. Publishing/Sharing
The final stage is sharing the finished piece with an
audience. This could involve submitting a paper, presenting a
report, or publishing a creative work.

Example: Submitting an article to a school newspaper or

sharing a poem in a class anthology.
References:
Department of Education (DepEd) Philippines. (2016). K to 12
Curriculum Guide for English and Creative Writing.

Murray, D. M. (1982). Writing as Process: How Writing Finds

Its Own Meaning. National Council of Teachers of English.