kkbb
March 30, 2006

What IS creative writing?

Wow, thanks for all your notes.  Together with some websites that I’ve surfed, I now have quite a few ideas floating in my head.  Things I can get my students to do once I have the Creative Writing Club up and running.

But Aoi asked, "What is your definition of creative writing?"  Oh my, a very good question.  In fact, it is THE question I need to think about before anything else.

Honestly, I don’t know the answer.  What is creative writing indeed?  Perhaps it’s better to ask: What is NOT creative writing?

Is the following "poem" creative writing?

I want to write something creative
Not something repetitive
Something that is special
Something that is imaginative

If you say yes, why?  I wrote the above in less than a minute.  I did not really have anything in my mind.  I think what I wrote above is just rubbish.  Can you call something creative writing when it is concocted haphazardly with a blank mind in less than a minute?

If you say no, why not?  I did "create" something.  That doesn’t look like a poem, but at least it looks like a stanza.  It even follows a rhyming pattern!  Does a poem need to be complete and well-written before it is considered "creative"?

How about the following, is it creative writing?

I want to buy these from the supermarket:
1) washing powder
2) bar soaps
3) canned soup
4) bananas
5) self-conscious condoms that play mp3 and produce sparks when rubbed

If you say yes, why?  That was just a shopping list, stupid.

If you say no, why not?  Look at no. 5, isn’t that original?  Have you seen someone write that before?

How about this entire entry, is it creative writing?

If you say yes, why?  I’m not writing fiction or poetry or drama or script or biography or anything special.  Hell, I’m just asking a question throughout the entire entry.  I doubt if any creative writing instructor would classify this as one.

If you say no, why not?  I did not copy anything from anyone.  I did not follow any pre-established formula when writing this entry.  And I did have to THINK really hard at some points when writing this.

My conclusion is this then: I don’t really know what creative writing is.  And that also means I don’t know what I should expect from my students.

So, what REALLY is creative writing??  What SHOULD I expect from my students??

Someone please enlighten me…

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Jupiterian
March 30, 2006

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Jupiterian
March 30, 2006

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nds
March 30, 2006

When asked “what jazz is,” Louis Armstrong said that “you know it when you see it.” That, I think, applies to art in general. And pornography, as well. I’m gussing the 5th item on your shopping list took way more creative efforts than the “poem”.

Swallowtail
March 30, 2006

Good question… and a fantastic entry too. ^^ I agree with u. To objectify the notion/concept of ‘creative writing’ and to make it easier for students to grasp, a list of what IS creative writing and another of what is NOT can be made. For eg, ‘Creative Writing’ typically denotes/includes: fiction- novel/short story, poetry, plays, as well as prose, diary, screenplay, (auto)biography,

The Lady P
March 30, 2006

I reckon… if you try too hard to define a mold that is “creative writing” and then try too hard to fit into it – you’ve failed. just write. yes, haphazardly, anything that came to mind that moment. if nothing comes to mind. stop. the right moment will arrive. (i could be talking rubbish but who knows?) good luck and add oil~

Swallowtail
March 30, 2006

poster/pamphlet slogans, almost anything that can be written down on paper and of an imaginative sort. Sometimes i even think that translation can be ‘creative’ too. Here are the things that are not considered creative writing: shopping list (except your item #5 on the list), phone bills, news reporting, informative essays, history writing, computer programming, instructions of how to use the rice

Swallowtail
March 30, 2006

cooker, and medical/legal/scientific writing. Of course one can argue that u can still be creative in news reporting and medical research analysis etc, it’s all debatable… but setting a boundary can make it easier for students (who’re generally beginners) to get started. What should u expect from your students? Will u teach them a few writing conventions (rhyming, story opening/ending) or will u

Swallowtail
March 30, 2006

just let them write freely, without any restrictions? i guess it’s up to u and the availability of time and resources (and whether the Hall can be booked). ^^ i have quite a lot of confidence that your Club will be successful, cos i’m sure there are many students who like to write and create. ^^ Good luck! and remember to update us with the ‘progress’!

Debauchee
March 30, 2006

RYN: I pointed out the ignorance (or arrogance) of that teacher mainly as a reminder to myself…I think I prefer not to dwell on…it is a very personal opinion…^_^

~Elegie~
March 30, 2006

interesting entry indeed. but i’m too stuffed with “Creative Writing” at the moment to think about what is Creative Writing… since it’s 5a.m. and i’m actually working on my assignment for my Creative Writing course… @.@

Heidi.W
March 30, 2006

this is a tough question….give me some time…. =p

Happy Daisy
March 30, 2006

You have explored the meaning of creative writing very well here. Creative is like ¤Ñ°¨¦æªÅ, it can be anything, any how you like. The more freedom you have, the more free you feel, the more creative you will get. I think encouraging your students to write is more important than to set your expectation of what you want to get from them. Try to make it fun. Afterall, it is a after school club,

Happy Daisy
March 30, 2006

both you and the students should be enjoying it in a relax atmosphere. Every success in your Creative Writing Club!

Starberry
March 30, 2006

I think Creative Writing is any writing which does not belong to academic writing? So, those that are not restricted to any systematic organization/guidelines which constitute an essay. i.e. main ideas, supporting details, etc? Just a thought..:-)

littleprincess234
March 30, 2006

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acsieger
March 30, 2006

creative is out of boundary, with lots of imagination, and lots of fun. so come up with some really funny “lead-ins” and your students can write with their imagination. and yes, OD is a place for creative writing.

wow!!!! haha…don’t have any “constructive” suggestions for u at the moment…but i absolutely agree with the “random stanza” you created is a kind of creative writing… u know what, i used to be addicted to creative writing…but..too busy now 🙁 sheep

~Elegie~
March 30, 2006

re: er… o.o;;”creatively writing about creative writing”???? maybe not…?

Lonely Guitar
March 30, 2006

Hahaha… surely you don’t need a hall for creative writing but I will say you should have a site for those likes to write. Let me be the First member !!! hehehe. :o)

The lovely Trinity
March 30, 2006

Creative writing is kind of art, and art is something that expresses itself and provokes feelings, and that’s why I don’t think the second piece of your writing is creative writing.

re: ªø¤@ÂIÂI, ¨ìªÓ»H.. =)

oh, the above notes is written by CherryT

Starberry
March 31, 2006

RYN:Yeah, I happen to teach at a uni. But definitely not a prof. Good for you if coffee doesn’t effect u much 🙂 Correct, it was YOU..my new friend: kkbb…hahahaaa..

Starberry
March 31, 2006

Oh, yeah…I studied in HK and love HK, but I don’t speak/write Chinese/Cantonese (..ashamed..)Too busy studying English,I guess (..excuses..) 🙂

jenjenlai
March 31, 2006

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amber opal sunshine
March 31, 2006

Creative writing for me is to write something freely from your heart… your mind and your spirit. It is something that is a part of what the “writer” is. It’s free flowing with no particular purpose but to express his/her thoughts feeling and desires. You are going to do just fine :-).

Lonely Guitar
March 31, 2006

Yes, a website for those who post their stories, poems etc. :o)

I bet if you can use this for your 1st leeson in yr creative writing club. Write a memo for your dearest friend and make sure what you write can make them laugh immediately! Just a funny joke to make the students know the use of “words” is powerful! Words can do a magic! And then gradually encourage them to write whatever they like. by Meimei(who am i ?)

I don’t know much about this stuff. Too abstract for me!^^

¦w ÀR
April 1, 2006

RE: ¯u²Ó¤ß ^_^

Ha Ha
April 1, 2006

ryn: are you trying to tell me you look young? XDDD

Sun Sun
April 1, 2006

re:«¢«¢«¢¡A¦]¦í¤µ¦~Á¿§¹¥X¦~¤ñ¤H·M§A§r¡I¡I

RYN:ÄãÃ÷¾ÍºÃÁË..ÎÒÓXµÃ×Ô¼º˜ÓË¥…ø =p

Jinyi
April 2, 2006

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patissier
April 2, 2006

wow… after reading everyone’s notes, I am speechless. it’s something I haven’t given much thought to.. hehe.. I still think of creative writing more as in prose, I suppose.

ªF¤è¥Ã±Ñ
April 2, 2006

§Ú³£­øª¾©O…¦ý…§ÚçÜ«Y¤@d¥­±`¤HçÜ­ø¨ì¬J³¥§a…

windchimes
April 2, 2006

for me i think creative writing is just like writing about one’s mind, one’s feelings and one’s life in the least constrained manner (well there’re after all constraints for something in one way or the other) good luck with figuring all these out! take care…

Oh,nicky!
April 2, 2006

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Oh,nicky!
April 2, 2006

re: al least a month i think. wish me a nice holiday! :>

wszeman
April 2, 2006

creative writing….. ¦n¹³©À®Ñ®É¹J¹Lªºtopic ¦ý§Úªºcreative writing¦h¼Æ¦b¸£®ü ¤@¼g¥X¨Ó¤S¤£¬O¨º¦^¨Æ…¥i±¤

Munchy
April 4, 2006

re: i need to pull out the notes and review first ar… since creative writing only covered a portion of my class, and our focus was actually on something else. i vaguely remember something, but i’m not confident enough to share with you yet. so, have you came up with anything new lately? ^0^

Aoi Fox
April 8, 2006

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Aoi Fox
April 8, 2006

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Aoi Fox
April 8, 2006

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April 14, 2006

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April 14, 2006

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April 14, 2006

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April 14, 2006

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April 14, 2006

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