Creative Writing
Quarter 3 – Module 2
Creative Writing Versus
Significant
Human
Academic/Technical
Writing
Experiences as a
Source of Creative
Ideas
Aldous A. Angcay
Subject Teacher
1|P age
Creative Writing
Quarter 1 – Module 2
Significant Human Experiences as a
Source of Creative Ideas
EXPECTATIONS
This is your self-instructional module in Creative Writing for Grade 12. All the
activities provided in this lesson will help you learn and understand: Significant Human
Experiences as a Source of Creative Ideas.
PRETEST
Directions: TRUE OR FALSE: Write T if the statement is TRUE and F if the statement is
false.
1. The topics and ideas in creative writing are all about significant human
experiences.
2. In selecting ideas from human experiences, the writers have to go through
series of reflection and explore different worlds to gather inspirations for
their subjects.
3. Not all human experiences can be used as a subject in creative writing.
4. All human experiences are divine.
5. In the world of creative writing, “LOVE” is the most common topic to be
used.
RECAP
We have learned that creative writing is the artistic expression through written
words and it is different from academic or technical writing in terms of forms, objectives,
content, target audience, diction and structure. Today, we are going to study how writers
get their ideas and inspirations for their subjects. Where do these ideas and inspirations
come from?
2|P age
LESSON
In the world of creative writing, writers undergo series of reflection and explore
different worlds to select ideas and gather inspirations for their subjects.
These ideas come from experiences or to be specific – significant human
experiences (SHE) and it is also about “understanding of the self, of society, and of
the world. The inspiration coming from experiences is all about the self – its search for
meaning, its discoveries about itself and the world, its possibilities for greatness.
From the most common idea/theme like “LOVE” to the most delicate topic like the
“nature of our existence”, selecting ideas as an inspiration can be anything and everything
under the sun.
While examining the techniques and themes of different literary works, you as a
student, are also exploring a world similar to your own and interacting with characters
whose lives, inner conflicts, and aspirations may resonate with yours.
The ideas in creative writing are all about the inevitability of conflict, about the
tyranny of desire, about the reality of class differences, about gender inequality, about
poverty, about colonialism and neo-colonialism. It is about the nature of existence.
Here are some of the of ideas from significant human experiences that can be used
as topics and inspirations.
• love conquers all • greed as downfall
• faith can move mountains • illusion of power
• true love lasts a lifetime • loneliness as destructive force
• yourself is your own worst enemy • loss of innocence
• overcoming the odds and life’s • lost love
challenges • inner vs. outer strength
• the beauty of simplicity • lost honor
• capitalism – its effect on the • love and sacrifice
individuals • nature as beauty
• coming of age • optimism – power or folly
• destruction of beauty • power and corruption
• dangers of ignorance • role of religion – virtue or
• death is inevitable hypocrisy
• desire to escape • power of silence
• darkness and light • vulnerability of the meek
• emptiness of attaining false dreams • war – glory, necessity, pain or
• circle of life tragedy
• evils of racism • fading beauty
3|P age
And here are some of the most famous and contemporary works and the ideas and
inspirations behind them.
1. LOVE
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – a tragic tale of forbidden love with
terrible consequences.
2. DEATH
John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” – features teenage characters coming to
terms with their mortality in the face of terminal illness.
3. GOOD VS. EVIL
J.R.R Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” – pits good quite clearly against evil in its
tale of hobbits, elves and men teaming up to defeat the power-hungry Sauron and
his armies of dark creatures.
4. POWER AND CORRUPTION
Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games series” – features a dystopian society with a
totalitarian government that uses its power to mistreat, manipulate and even
murder its citizens.
5. PREJUDICE
Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” – one of the most famous explorations of
prejudice and racism: white lawyer Atticus Finch is appointed to defend Tom
Robinson, a black man falsely accused of the crime of rape.
Guided Practice
Let’s try a few items as a practice exercise. Identify what could be the idea/s or
inspiration behind the following literary works.
1. “Noli Me Tangere” by Dr. Jose P. Rizal
- It is about the love for country – nationalism, revolution or corruption
2. “Ibong Adarna”
- Ibong Adarna is about the love for family, brotherhood and about war.
3. “El Filibusterismo” by Dr. Jose P. Rizal
- Like Noli me Tangere, El Filibusterismo is all about love for country-
nationalism, revolution, power and corruption.
4|P age
ACTIVITIES
Directions: Match the literary works with the right ideas or inspirations or theme. Write
the letter of your answer on the space provided.
COLUMN A COLUMN IB
_____1. The Hunger Game Series A. death
_____2. Romeo and Juliet B. prejudice
_____3. To Kill a Mockingbird C. good vs. evil
_____4. The Lord of the Rings D. love
_____5. The Fault in our Stars E. power and corruption
WRAP-UP
To wrap-up everything that we discussed in this lesson, do the 3-2-1 Important Things
activity:
The three important things I learned for today’s lesson are …
1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________
The two things I realized in today’s lesson are …
1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
The one important thing I pledge to share to others is …
1. _______________________________________________________________
5|P age
VALUING
Our minds and hearts play an essential part in generating ideas and inspirations. These
are the vessels of endless possibilities and greatness. Taking care of our heart, mind and
our own well-being is very important for us to achieve our endless possibilities and
spiritual adventure.
POSTTEST
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. In creative writing, writers use _____ as their topics or inspirations for their
subjects.
A. tragic events
B. happy memories
C. significant human experiences
2. If the writer wants to use the idea of loving one self, which of the following can be
used as a title?
A. self-respect: the highest form of self-love
B. love conquers all
C. faith can move mountains
3. Which of the following ideas shows the down side of too much selflove?
A. lost love
B. greed as downfall
C. power and corruption
4. Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Game Series” talks about
A. destruction of beauty
B. nature as beauty
C. power and corruption
5. Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo tell us about
A. circle of life
B. love for country – nationalism, revolution, power and corruption
C. fading beauty
6|P age
KEY TO CORRECTION
References
7|P age
Buhisan Arnold Jarn Ford, Sayseng Ayesha. Creative Writing (2016): 3-4
8|P age
