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Creative Writing Tips

Creative writing has no real rules; there are guidelines, but ultimately you must write to the beat of your own heart.

LISTEN TO BASHO

The famous Japanese haiku poet Matsuo Bashu gave some wonderful advice on the art of writing: 'Learn the rules; and then forget them.' This doesn't mean go out and whack your head against a wall until you forget everything you've read. It does mean never rely on the guidelines alone to produce a good piece of writing. The ideas are here to help you look into yourself, to help you see the world differently, and to help you learn techniques for giving your work focus and structure. But in order for this advice to translate into powerful fiction, poetry or drama you need to forget about following any set prescriptions and walk your own path. Don't lose sight of what you've learned, but don't get bogged down in it: use it as a way of channelling your energy and creativity on to the page.

DON'T LET THE BASTARDS GET YOU DOWN

The industry wants you to play by its rules of writing, it wants you to echo its own concept of what the written word should be. But if you really want to make an impact, you have to produce work that means something to you, that resonates with your personality, your beliefs. If you learn to follow Basho's advice, if you learn to use this book to free your creativity, not restrain it, then you will be successful. Indeed, if your writing excites and surprises you, then you're already a success.

PARTING WORDS

The thing to remember, above all, is that even if you're aiming to publish for money, you have to write purely and simply because you love writing. As Wordsworth said, 'fill your paper with the breathings of your heart'. If you focus on getting into print, then what you're writing won't come from the heart, it won't be truly yours. Creative writing must be the most personal of subjects, it must come from your very soul. Write for yourself, write for love, write because you need to discover the truth, because you need to get your heart and soul on paper, because you want to create a world that's all your own, because you don't know what to make of life, because you're afraid, in love, angry; write because you must. Only when you can do this will publishers pay attention. Only when you can do this will your work truly make its mark. Only when you can do this will your work be powerful, and will people love you for it.


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