Course Name Creative Writing

Course Code: LITE 3202

Level of Course:

Credit Units: 3

Brief Course Description

This is a practical course in creative writing. Focus is on training the students in writing good
imaginative drama, poetry and prose texts drawing from their real life experience.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:

Define creative writing

Describe the process in creative writing

Compose creative drama, poetry and prose texts

Detailed Course Description

The nature and scope of creative writing

Basic tools of writing

Context, author and audience

Creative writing process

Literary features of writing

Story and plot

Creating credible characters

Writing a poem

Writing a story

Writing a play

Writing a novel

Writing autobiography and biography

Editing and peer reviews

Publishing and marketing literary works

Mode of Delivery

Lectures, tutorials, group presentations, reading, follow up library and internet research tasks

Mode of Assessment

The course is assessed by assignments, tests and final examinations as directed by the lecturer.
The distribution of the marks is as follows: Creative writing project 50% and examination 50%
adding up to 100%.

Study Materials

Allen, J et al (2001). Literature. Boston: McDougal Littell.

Brown, J. et al. (2001). Writer’s Choice: Grammar and Composition. New York: McGraw Hill.
Burroway, J. (1991). Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft. Boston: Little, Brown, and
Company.

Casterton, J. (1986). Creative Writing: A Practical Guide. London: Macmillan Education.

Julia, B. & Paul, M. (2001). The Creative Writing Course Book. London: Macmillan.

Penfield, E. (2001). Literary Visions. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Roberts, E. V. (1988). Writing Themes about Literature. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Ruddel, M. P. (2005). Teaching Content Reading and Writing. New York: John Willey and
Sons.

Stanford, J. A. (2003). Responding to Literature. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Academic Staff

Peter Mugume M. Educ., BA Arts, Dip Educ

THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF CREATIVE WRITING

Creative writing can be explained as an art form and a means of expressing one’s thoughts and
imagination through the written word. Writing can be one’s hobby, a career, or even an
amalgamation of both.

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing, as the name suggests, is the ability to use or manipulate ideas, imaginations,
experiences, into written contents such as stories (novels or short stories which could be creative
fiction or creative non-fiction), poems, spoken words, memoirs, personal essays, screenplays,
songs, speech, etc. uniquely and skillfully and at the same time, expressing oneself maximally as
intended for the written content. Creative writing is also the art of creating works that are
original and a product of the writer’s feelings, emotions imaginative influences etc.

Creative writing places emphasis on using the attributes of imagination and creativity to tell a
story through words that may be deemed capable of transporting the reader through the usage of
vivid and well-placed words to make him or her feel a part of the story and also relate with the
characters in it.

Traditionally known as literature, creative writing could also be referred to as the art of making
things up and can be considered as a form of writing that is original and an indication of the
writer’s imagination at work.

Types of Creative Writing

Creative writing can take on many forms. The most commonly known forms are novels and
poems. However, there are other distinct forms as well that come under the umbrella of creative
writing. The scope of creative writing is elucidated further in this blog post.

Some of the Forms of Creative Writing Are:

 Poetry

 Speeches

 Plays
  Television and movie scripts

 Song lyrics

 Works of fiction

Elements of Creative Writing

If you are keen on creative writing as a career option, it would be imperative to pay attention to the
elements that make a good book or similar content.

The Elements Are Elaborated on Below:

The Plot Should Be Unique:

The major differentiating factor between creative and other forms of writing is that creative work has to
have a plausible plot and be unique in terms of content as well. Without a tangible plot, there would be no
semblance of a story.

Character Development:

Characters are an integral part of creative writing and their careful development bodes well for the
content being delivered for instance, how the characters grow and the changing circumstances that they
go through throughout the book. The reader should be able to connect with the characters on an emotional
level.

Underlying Theme:

Every story written and put out there always has an underlying message, even if the process was
unintentional. Creative writing, by default, needs a message to be conveyed without which it feels
incomplete. The book, “Things Fall Apart”, for example, deals with the theme of colonialism.

Descriptive Writing:

When reading a source of factual information such as a newspaper, detailed descriptions of the locations
and the people in the vicinity isn’t borne out in great detail as would be the case when one is reading a
work of fiction. In a work of fiction, the author has to vividly describe the people in the book and the
situation as well as the location the characters in the book find themselves. This is to help the reader
imagine themselves in the shoes of the character and to find themselves drawn into the book, which is the
primary reason most people pick up a novel.

Point of View:

While writing, there are different points of view that the content can be written in. The most
commonly used in creative writing are the first-person and third-person views. In the first-person
point of view, the narrator is usually the main character. This means that you will most certainly
encounter passages including, “I” and infer from this, that it is the main character narrating the
story.

In the third-person variant, the narrator refers to the character as “he/she/they”. The narrator
knows about the character’s innermost thoughts and feelings alone. It’s similar to writing in the
first person, except that instead of the character telling the story, a narrator does it.

Emotional Appeal:

Creative writing is all about having emotional appeal. It’s the very basis of creative writing.
Your job as a writer is to take the readers on a journey whole encountering strong characters and
an appealing story arc.

Tips for Creative Writing

To craft an original work of fiction, poetry, etc., takes time, development of skills, and
persistence. While there are no clearly defined rules or creative writing tips, the following
suggestions will help you get started:

Write Every Day:

All of the bestselling authors recommend writing some content every single day. This will help
you hone your writing skills and improve your abilities as a creative writer. You could write a
poem or an interesting anecdote about your day for example, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
is a book that is part memoir, and part master class by Stephen King, who is one of the best-
selling authors of all time.
It contains loads of creative writing tips that budding writers will do well to pay heed to. This
book gives an inside view of the writer’s craft and comprises the basic tools of the writing trade.

Write What You Know:

Writers who are looking to kick start their writing career is advised to write about what they
know and it is good advice. While using familiar characters, settings, background, etc., that
you’re already familiar with, it is one of the creative writing tips that would be a good first step.
This would be equivalent to research already done.

Write What You Don’t Know:

Using your imagination to create, new characters, new relationships, or even new worlds will
help you challenge yourself improve your skills and further help increase the range and scope of
creative writing that you possess. It would also help to choose to write about a different period in
history or a location that you’re not familiar with.

Read A Lot:

Writers, as a matter of fact, love reading. Making yourself familiar by reading books in the genre
you wish to write in, is one of the best creative writing tips to follow. The genres can be poetry,
literary fiction, thrillers, or fantasy. Remember, a good always writer loves to read as well!

Work on Hooking Your Readers:

This simple line is one of the most useful creative writing tips as a well-written opening line
serves to captivate the readers as soon as they read the first line of the book. By the opening
paragraph or sentence, the readers must be intrigued enough to continue reading the book
authored by you.

Work on Dialogue Delivery:

When we meet people we can learn a lot about them from what and how they choose to express
themselves via their choice of words, the pitch of their voice, and non-verbal cues. A good work
of fiction should be able to replicate the same in the reader’s mind. Writing dialogue takes a lot
of work to make it sound fresh. Editing repeatedly may be required, but it’s well worth the effort.
Polish Your Work:

Most writers as a rule work on polishing and perfecting their works via the editing process.
Editing is not the same as proofreading; it’s way more than simply correcting errors. Rather, it
involves carefully going through your work with a fine-tooth comb and carefully considering
what could be left out, any changes that could be made that would reflect in your writing and
hence making it sound sharper and better in the eyes of the reader.

Editing isn’t easy work. Ernest Hemingway went through 40 drafts before penning the final
revision to the last page of A Farewell to Arms. So even if you feel you’re getting nowhere, do
keep at it. Persistence pays. This is one creative writing tip that writers simple shouldn’t ignore.

Stick to a Routine:

Routine is vital for writers who seriously wish to pursue a career in writing. A routine involves
picking up the writing instrument at a fixed time and duration every day to write. Even if having
writer’s block for the moment, it’s a good idea to still take pen to paper and write about anything
that crosses your mind. Soon enough writing daily will become a matter of habit and it’s an
important step to churning out good content.

Elicit Feedback:

Procuring feedback is a crucial factor in improving your writing skills. Constructive feedback is
important to all writers. Good feedback will provide the necessary motivation to continue
writing, while bad feedback provides you with ways to improve and adapt your writing and make
it stellar. Try and get feedback from family and friends on your work.

Keep A Notebook:

A notebook is a writer’s best friend. Keep one with you at all times! Having a notebook handy is
always a good idea as inspiration can come from the most mundane of surroundings. When an
idea strikes, instead of having to rue about a missed opportunity you would be able to jot it down
for future reference.

Pace Your Story:

It’s important to pace your story. After all, you wouldn’t want to get into the meat of the story
early on and thereby let the readers infer the way the book is going to end. It’s always a good
idea to keep the readers at the edge of their seats and feel a biting the nails kind of suspense as
you carefully build the layers of intrigue and reveal all slowly but surely as the book progresses.

Ask Yourself Questions:

Once done with your book, do question your writing. Think about any potential plot holes in the
story that could perhaps mar the reading experience. Look at it from the reader’s point of view
and try and figure out if there is something the reader isn’t likely to understand.

Consider the option that a new character may need to be introduced in the story, or perhaps an
existing one removed or their current attributes need to be changed.

Have a Strong Ending:

Avoid endings that have the possibility of leaving the reader with an underwhelming feeling.
Clichéd endings will do the book and the author no favors. A strong ending doesn’t necessarily
mean a happy one. It can be one that can have any number of endings, such as bittersweet,
ambiguous, or even one that generates feelings of angst.

Stories can even end on a note that leaves the reader with more questions than answers, thus
paving the road for books that continue in the same vein

TYPES OF WRITERS

Good creative writers can write books in the genres of fiction, memoirs, travelogues, etc. They
can also work be involved as scriptwriters in the movie business. The scope of creative writing
permeates into the aforementioned industries along with a few others and is elaborated on below:

1. Copywriters:

Copywriters are usually found to be working in the fields of marketing and advertising. The
copywriter’s job is to mainly create content according to the client’s specifications and highlight
the features of a particular product or service as the case may be. They create brochures, product
catalogs, circulars, etc. The scope of creative writing for a copywriter is only limited by the
imagination beholden to the creator.

2. Article Writers:

The scope of creative writing for article writers is replete with opportunities but it definitely will
serve them better if they are proficient in various subjects that include but are not limited to food,
travel, sports, entertainment, politics, etc. Further, they can also decide to write for newspapers,
magazines, and websites.

3. Authors:

Authors of works of fiction usually rely on their imagination to create captivating stories. Some
books by popular authors such as Agatha Christie are even referred to as works of art. There are
various genres an author can choose to write in based on his level of interest. Works of fiction as
broadly classified into Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Thriller, Historical fiction,
Thriller among others. Thus the scope of creative writing for an author is quite large.

4. Script Writers:

Some people enjoy conjuring up scenarios that are grandiose and are very imaginative. For them,
the scope of creative writing in the world of movies and television offers considerable
opportunities to prove their mettle and work in an industry where their talents will be put to good
use and become scriptwriters.

Scriptwriters are involved in writing dialogues for movies, plays, television shows, etc. They do
thorough research and use their imagination to the hilt to create a plot that will endear itself to
the audience and will only increase their brand equity in the industry.

5. Academic Librarian:

An academic librarian may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you consider the
scope of creative writing. As an academic librarian, your profile will include managing,
organizing, and even evaluating and disseminating information among other duties which
include providing support to members of the academic community which includes students,
researchers as well as lecturers.
Your role would also involve supporting students and staff towards developing the skills that
would be needed for effective research. This includes teaching skills, either in classrooms or via
virtual learning environments.

6. Ghostwriting:

A good career option within the scope of career writing to consider would be that
of ghostwriting. Political leaders, celebrities, and executives often hire ghostwriters to draft or
edit autobiographies, speeches, memoirs, magazine articles, or other kinds of written material. In
the music industry, ghostwriters are often employed to write songs, lyrics, etc.

7. Columnist:

Writing a column regularly for a reputable magazine like Wired, T3, Vogue, etc., would
undoubtedly be a good career option, but transitory as the scope of creative writing and the
subject matter for a columnist is will only appeal to a limited geographical area and/or a certain
demographic.

Over a period of time columns proliferated into many fields as diverse as sports, politics,
lifestyle, books, movies, society, fashion, homemaking, sports, and ideas. A column is essentially
reflective of the writer’s personal opinions and tastes whether it is concerned with fashion trends,
foreign policy, or sports.

Seven best tools you can use as a creative writer:

The Mind:

The mind is one of the three components of the soul and is the number one tool you need to
express your creativity. The soul is made up of the mind, will, and emotions. Among these three
components of the soul, the mind is the faculty responsible for creativity and expression of
varieties. An assault on your mind is an assault on your creativity. A neglect of the mind is a
decision to never be creative. The mind is responsible for thinking or reasoning, coordination and
juxtaposing of thoughts, memory, perception, attention etc. The mind is that part of a person that
enables him/her to be mentally and intellectually functional—and those are the core pillars upon
which creativity is hinged on. The mind, just like any other thing, must be nurtured, trained
(exercised) and developed to get the best out of it and in this case, its power of creativity. How
do you do this? It is by practicing and engaging in the following but not limited to these
activities: meditation, play challenging games that helps you to think like chess or any other
engaging board games and card games, exercises, create an imaginary problem in your mind and
try to solve it, take proper rest, eat a balanced diet and foods that improve brain health and
functions, try to learn something new that will impact you positively, feed yourself with the word
of God etc.

Canva:

Canva is one of the best tools out there that you can use as a creative writer. As a creative writer,
with Canva, you have the liberty and several options to create graphic designs that resonate with
your ideas, imaginations, and the type of content you want to create. The tool features a user-
friendly interface which helps you to create info graphics, visual charts, posters, covers,
presentations etc. It has the allowance to allow you add creativity and newness to your designs
with awesome templates, images, themes and fonts.

Power thesaurus:

As a creative writer, ideas may not be a challenge to you but there is one thing that most if not all
creative writers face and that is lack of words to capture what they are thinking or
conceptualizing about. It can be so discouraging to have great ideas and concepts in your mind
but lack the right words to employ in its communication. One of the high moments of every
creative writer is when he or she has the right words to capture his or her thoughts. The feeling is
really rewarding. Power thesaurus gives you the access to a large number of alternative options
for a word. This also gives you the opportunity to add new words to your content and
vocabulary.

Urban dictionary:

As a creative writer, urban dictionary is a tool you should not ignore if you want to be great and
effective as a creative writer. It gives you the opportunity to find the meaning of words you have
no idea about. As a creative writer, it exposes you to lots of trending words. As a creative writer,
wouldn’t you be happy to always have trending words to support your ever fluid and developing
ideas? Of course you would and that is the beauty of creative writing. You can find the meaning
of words and their usages in sentences as well understand the root of it.

Microsoft Word:

Microsoft Word is not just popular for nothing among writers and even creative writers; its
popularity and use justifies the functions and ease it gives among writers. It comes with a simple
interface, a lot of sharing and editing tools, and the capacity to write words endlessly. Honestly
this app was designed for creative writers to pen down their best work

Google Docs:

It is safe to begin by saying that Google Docs is phenomenal. It is a digital word processor. It
possesses everything a good and efficient writer would ever need or desire. Among the several
awesome benefits it provides, it automatically saves your work as you write preventing by 100
percent, the possibility of you losing your work with power outage or system crash. Google Docs
also allows you to create, share, and edit your work on the spot online with someone else in real
time. unlike Microsoft Word which doesn’t have such feature. With Google Docs, you can set up
your work in editor’s mode to enable the person you are sharing the work or file with, edit it and
send it back to you. Aside the convenience and flexibility that Google Docs provide, it’s very
online nature means that you have access to your documents and at any time with an internet
connection. This makes it easier to work on your project or writing when you are not at home or
need to quickly share something with someone.

Google Docs also has collaboration tools which means multiple people can work on a particular
document at once

Grammarly:

Grammarly is a combination of grammar and plagiarism-checking editing tool. It helps writers to

fine-tune their drafts into masterpiece. As a writer, Grammarly will really profit you because
with this writing tool, you can be sure that your writing will be free from grammatical errors,
plagiarism and graceless phrases. Grammarly is unique because it features automated spelling
and grammar check, plagiarism detector, personalized feedback and writing style suggestion. It
also comes with an inbuilt thesaurus to avoid overused word choices.

CONTEXT, AUTHOR AND AUDIENCE IN WRITING

Understanding Context

Context can be defined as the setting within which a piece of writing is situated. It encompasses
various elements such as historical background, physical environment, cultural influences, and
situational factors. The purpose of context is to provide a deeper understanding of the writer’s
intent and direction, bridging the gap between the author and the reader. It gives meaning and
clarity to the message, allowing the audience to fully grasp the nuances and subtleties embedded
within the text, the realm of writing, context plays a crucial role in conveying meaning, foster in
understanding, and establishing a connection between the writer and the reader. It provides the
necessary backdrop, information, and circumstances that give depth and clarity to the intended
message. By understanding the different types of context and how to effectively provide it, writers
can enrich their work and create a more immersive experience for their audience. In this article,
we will explore the significance of context in writing, the four types of context, and provide
practical tips for incorporating context in your own writing.

The Four Types of Context in Writing

1. Historical Context
Historical context refers to the time period and its current events that inform the general mood,
tone, and societal norms of a piece of writing. It sets the stage for the overall atmosphere and
provides insights into how people felt and behaved during that specific era. Historical context can
encompass elements such as clothing styles, slang, or significant events that shaped the mindset of
the time. By incorporating historical context, writers can transport their readers to a specific time
and place, enhancing their understanding of the narrative.
2. Physical Context
Physical context pertains to the attributes of a place or environment in which a story unfolds. It
influences the actions and behaviors of characters and shapes the audience’s perception of them.
The physical setting can range from a football game to a movie theater, and each location will
evoke different emotions and reactions from the characters involved. By providing vivid and
detailed descriptions of the physical context, writers can immerse their readers in the story and
make it more relatable and believable.
3. Cultural Context
Cultural context encompasses beliefs, traditions, customs, and social practices that are specific to
a particular community or group. It adds depth and richness to a narrative by providing insights
into the unique aspects of a culture that may be unfamiliar to the reader. By incorporating cultural
context, writers can ensure that their audience understands the intricacies of the characters'
behaviors, motivations, and worldviews. It helps bridge the gap between different cultures and
fosters a sense of empathy and connection.

Situational Context
Situational context refers to the circumstances and events that give rise to a particular situation or
action. It helps readers understand why something is happening and how it affects the characters
involved. For example, the nervousness of a person on a first date compared to a casual outing
with a friend highlights the impact of the situation on their emotions and behaviors. By providing
situational context, writers can enhance the readers' comprehension of the characters' actions and
create a more immersive experience.

The Significance of Context in Writing

Context serves as a bridge between writers and their readers, facilitating a deeper understanding
of the text and preventing misinterpretation. It helps readers make sense of the events, themes,
and underlying messages embedded within a piece of writing.

Without context, readers may struggle to fully grasp the writer’s intent, resulting in a disconnect
between the author’s vision and the audience’s interpretation.
By providing context, writers can foster a stronger connection with their readers, ensuring that
their message is effectively communicated and understood.

Tips for Providing Context in Your Writing

To effectively incorporate context into your writing, consider the following tips:

1. Get Creative with Context

Context doesn’t have to be limited to straightforward summaries or explanations. Get creative and
find unique ways to weave context into your writing. Utilize anecdotes, memories, life
experiences or relationships to provide a deeper understanding of your characters or the
underlying themes. By using creative techniques, you can enhance the comprehension of your text
and engage your readers on a more personal level.

2. Tailor Context to Your Audience

When providing context, it is vital to consider your target audience. Tailor your contextual
references to make them relatable and relevant to your readers. Ensure that your language and
examples align with the knowledge and experiences of your intended audience. By doing so, you
can enhance the relevance of your writing and strengthen your readers' understanding and
connection with your work.

3. Avoid Overloading with Exposition

while context is crucial, it is essential to strike a balance and avoid overwhelming your readers
with excessive exposition. Too much exposition can slow down the pacing of your writing and
distract from the main story or message. Include only the necessary context that is vital for
understanding the setting, characters, and premise. Trust your readers to fill in the gaps and use
their imagination to create a more immersive experience to the expend on Writing Skills. .

Conclusion
Context is a vital component of effective writing. By providing the necessary background
information, writers can enhance the understanding, connection, and immersion of their readers.
Whether it’s historical, physical, cultural, or situational context, each type contributes to a deeper
comprehension of the writer’s message. By incorporating context creatively, tailoring it to your
audience, and avoiding excessive exposition, you can elevate your writing and create a more
impactful and engaging experience for your readers. Embrace the power of context and unlock the
full potential of your writing.

What Are Literary Devices used in writing

Ever since our forefathers first put pen to paper, mankind has amassed a handful of useful literary
devices across different languages. And the library continues to evolve and grow.Simply
put, literary devices are specific techniques or tools you can use to convey meaning, create
an impact, and enhance the overall quality of your writing. They’re essential for adding depth
and texture, allowing you to engage their readers on multiple levels. These devices can be found
in various forms of literature, including poetry, prose, drama, and even speeches.

How to use Literary Devices in your writing

Using literary devices can take your writing from ordinary to extraordinary. Be it a piece of
homework, a test, or just in your daily journaling, peppering in literary devices is a great way to
spice up your writing.

For instance, instead of saying she has a great smile, you can use metaphors or similes to create
vivid imagery, such as ‘her smile was a radiant sunbeam’. When you want to infuse life into your
descriptions, consider personification, like ‘the old oak tree whispered its secrets in the wind’.
Employing alliteration, onomatopoeia, or rhyme can give your prose a rhythmic quality, as seen
in ‘Sally's soft, soothing song’. Symbolism, like a dove representing peace, adds layers of
meaning, drawing readers deeper into the story.

However, don’t overuse these devices or you risk overwhelming your readers and disrupting the
overall reading experience.

The key is to use literary devices sparingly, saving them for the right moment for maximum
impact. You can do so by revising and editing your work. Cut out whatever makes your writing
vague, confusing, or awkward. By skillfully integrating literary devices, you can craft writing that
not only informs but also captivates and resonates with your readers.

Common Literary Devices

Literary devices range from your familiar paradoxes and euphemisms, to lesser-known ones such
as litotes. Here are 6 of the most common literary devices you need to know.

Analogy

An analogy is a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to
explain or clarify a concept by showing its similarity to something more familiar. It helps readers
or listeners understand complex ideas by relating them to simpler, known concepts. For instance,
explaining how a cell membrane works by comparing it to a gate that lets certain people in and
out is an analogy.

Example: A famous analogy from Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, he compares
the struggle for civil rights to a ‘bad check’ marked with ‘insufficient funds’ to emphasise the
unfairness African Americans faced.
Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figurative language device in which exaggeration is used for emphasis, often to
create a more dramatic or humorous effect. It involves overstating or magnifying something
beyond its actual or realistic proportion.

Example: In ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, uses
hyperbole when he says, ‘It was the worst crowd I ever was in, in my life’. Here, Holden
exaggerates the unpleasantness of the crowd to convey his strong aversion to it

Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that draws a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated
things to emphasize a shared quality or attribute, without using ‘like’ or ‘as’. Metaphors help
make abstract or complex concepts more accessible by equating them with something familiar.

Example: In Shakespeare's ‘All the world's a stage’ from the pastoral comedy ‘As You Like It’,
the metaphor describes life as a theatrical performance, emphasising the idea that we all play
different roles at various stages of our lives.

Personification

Personification is a literary device in which human attributes or qualities are given to non-human
entities, objects, or abstract concepts. It's a form of figurative language that humanizes the non-
human, making the description more vivid and relatable.

Example: For instance, when we say, ‘The wind whispered through the trees’, we're attributing
the human ability to whisper to the wind, giving it a more human-like quality. In the sentence.
Also, in William Wordsworth's famous poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’, he personifies
clouds, which don't typically experience loneliness, to convey the poet's emotions.

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech used to make a comparison between two different things or
concepts, typically using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to draw the connection. Similes serve to create a
vivid and often imaginative description by highlighting similarities between the compared
elements.

Example: For instance, when we say ‘She's as busy as a bee’, we're using a simile to convey the
idea that the person is very active and industrious, drawing a parallel between her actions and the
constant busyness of a bee.

Symbolism

Symbolism is a literary tool where elements like objects, characters, or settings are used to
represent deeper, often abstract, ideas within a story.

Example: In George Orwell's ‘Animal Farm’, the farm and its transformation symbolise the
Russian Revolution and its consequences. Similarly, in Harper Lee's ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, the
mockingbird symbolises innocence and purity.

Creating plot in creative writing

What is a plot?
A plot is the way a story is presented. While a story is the sequence of events in a narrative, a plot
is how the writer choses to present these events, either linear, as a series of episodes, or even out
of order.

What are the types of plots?

A linear plot is one told from beginning to end in order. An episodic plot is one with various
smaller stories all telling part of a larger narrative. A flashback plot is one where the main action
is told via memories or retellings. A parallel plot is one where two or more storylines occur
simultanously as part of the narrative.

What Is the Plot of a Story?

Plot is how a story is presented. Plot and story are two different elements, though many people
often use the terms interchangeably. The story is the events that occurred. The definition of the
plot of a story refers to how those events are presented to the audience. The plot introduces the
various elements of a story such as character, conflict, and resolution in a way the audience can
understand and is much more than simply stating the sequence of events. Plot can compress a
story, tell it out of order, or play with it to present the story in a specific way to create a specific
experience in the audience.

Types of Plot

Plot can occur in various ways depending on the type of story a writer wishes to tell. Plot structure
generally depends on the kind of story a writer wishes to tell.

The Elements of a Well-Crafted Story

A plot is the sequence of main events in a story. These events generally take place in a specific
order, which gives the story a specific structure. This structure can be divided into five basic
elements: Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and the resolution. Let’s take a look
at each of these.

The exposition, or beginning, of a plot sets the scene. It is the part of a story where the writer
builds the world, sets the time frame, and introduces characters to help the reader understand
when and where things are taking place.

The rising action of a plot is where the story begins to develop. Conflicts are introduced that
complicate the lives of the characters and create suspense. These tensions can be a cause of
excitement or crisis as the characters deal with the conflict put in front of them.

The climax of a plot is when the tensions or actions have reached their peak and characters have
reached a turning point in the story. From this point on, the reader is left to wonder what will
happen next and if the tensions will be resolved.
The falling action of a plot occurs once the conflict from the onset of the story begins to resolve
itself.

Finally, the resolution of a plot is the last element to take place. The resolution is the conclusion
of the story, which can be happy, tragic, or open for interpretation. Regardless, a well-written
conclusion will make it clear that the story has come to an end.

Simple vs. Complex

These are elements that storytellers have used for centuries. Back in 335 B.C., Greek philosopher
Aristotle wrote a book called Poetics, which talked about his theories about drama and
storytelling. According to Aristotle, plots played a major role in the structure of poetry and
tragedies during his time. In fact, to him, the plot, or mythos, was the most important element in a
tragedy. He claims a plot should move from beginning, to middle, then to the end in an organized
sequence where the beginning doesn’t pick up from any previous event and the end ties up all
loose threads within the story. Aristotle also believed there were two types of plots: simple and
complex. Simple plots are a unified construct of probable actions with a change in fortune. This
can be seen clearly in most cliché horror movie plots:

Friends go on a road trip > car runs out of gas > friends find old house when searching for
help > friends explore old house > someone gets attacked > friends fight for survival >
someone gets away

There is a chain of cause and effect events in this simple plot that move the story forward;
however, a complex plot will have what’s known as a reversal of fortune or a recognition in the
story. A reversal of fortune is a pivotal point of the story where the protagonist experiences a
change from being secure to being vulnerable. Recognition is a moment of insight where the
protagonist understands their place in the larger story.
An example of this can be seen in the character Macbeth from the play of the same name by
William Shakespeare. Macbeth went from a content and quiet aristocrat to an overly ambitious
and tyrannical King. This tyranny arose from the belief that, according to a prophecy, no one born
of a woman could defeat him. This was a reversal in the plot. Because he took the prophecy
literally, he felt invincible – that is, until Macduff, who Shakespeare describes as being born via
C-section, appears here. It’s here Macbeth realizes the prophecy did not make him invincible, and
he is defeated by Macduff. This is an example of recognition for both Macbeth and Macduff who
realize their places within the story as the conflict between them is resolved.

Okay, now that we’ve learned what plots are, let’s look at a quick review question to test your
memory.