What is creative writing? Creative writing is writing that uses the imagination. It is non-technical writing. Technical writing includes things like medical journals, report writing and research. Creative writing includes mediums such as poetry, fiction and non-fiction novels, screenplays, journalism, short stories and plays.

What factors affect students' learning of creative writing? Writing is generally the most neglected skill in the English teaching world. The teaching of writing involves teaching a productive skill, like speaking, rather than a receptive skill like reading and listening. Writing requires a great deal of accuracy. When we speak, even native speakers make mistakes, stop in the middle of sentences, and mix up words. Students tend to dread writing partly due to the need for accuracy in their work.

In order to get students to write, teachers must create a desire or need to communicate via writing. At the primary level, the following three factors have been found to have the greatest effect on student creative writing; time to write, inspiration, and an opportunity to share their work.

It is important to think of these three factors when designing a creative writing assignment. If students do not have enough time they will feel frustrated and rushed. They need time both to think and to write. Students also need to be inspired. If they are not inspired to write they will sit and stare at a blank paper for the entire exercise. Topics chosen for writing assignments should be fun and age appropriate. However nationalistic you'd like students to be, they will not be as excited to write a biography of their president or national leader than they will be to write about a family member who they look up to. They will likely not be as excited to write about the latest factory in your city as they will to write about their latest favorite gift or video game.

What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction? Fiction work includes stories that are not true stories. They may be based on true stories, but the characters, dates and plot line are not historical facts. Non-fiction work is work that is written about actual, historical people and events. Examples of non-fiction work can include biographical writing, journalism, and memoirs.

Students sometimes think that creative writing work must be completely imaginary. They think that fiction must include new planets, space aliens, and completely imaginary characters. Does fiction have to be about space aliens and imaginary beings? It can be, but it doesn't have to be. Novels written as historical fiction or realistic fiction are just as creative as science fiction or fantasy. Non-fiction works can be creative as well. Many times students find it easier to write about a real-life experience than a made up one.

When teaching creative writing, think about what types of essays you want your students to write and what skills you want them to learn.

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