creative writing
Fiction and poetry
Creative writing is writing that emphasizes imagination, style, and self-expression over straightforward communication of facts.
The term covers fiction, poetry, drama, and personal essays—work where the writer's voice and artistic choices matter.
In academic contexts, creative writing often names a course or degree program: She's majoring in creative writing.
The phrase sometimes carries a whiff of dismissiveness when applied to embellished accounts: That expense report is creative writing.
New and unusual
- short storyBrief prose fiction
- novellaShort fictional book
- flash fictionUltra-short story genre
- protagonistStory's central figure
antagonist · plot · characters · dialogue · setting · conflict · climax · resolution
Sound from throat
- toneQuality of sound
- styleDistinctive way of expression
- dictionChoice of words
- syntaxRules for arranging words
imagery · metaphor · simile · symbolism · motif · theme · point of view · characterization
Generating many ideas freely
- freewritingContinuous unedited composition
- outliningTracing outer contours
- draftingCreating technical blueprints
- revisionAltering to improve
writer's block · inspiration · journaling · prompts · ideation · muse · first draft · manuscript
Metered poetic passage
- stanzaPoem's line grouping
- rhymeMatching terminal sounds
- meterDevice that measures usage
- sonnetFourteen-line metered poem
haiku · limerick · ode · ballad · couplet · free verse · lyric · elegy
Written personal recollection
- personal essayAutobiographical prose work
- autobiographySelf-penned life narrative
- narrative nonfictionFact-based prose using fictional techniques
novel
New and unusual
- short storyBrief prose fiction
- novellaShort fictional book
- flash fictionUltra-short story genre
protagonist · antagonist · plot · characters · dialogue · setting · conflict · climax · resolution · twist
voice
Sound from throat
syntax · imagery · metaphor · simile · symbolism · motif · theme · point of view · characterization · worldbuilding
brainstorming
Generating many ideas freely
- freewritingContinuous unedited composition
- outliningTracing outer contours
- draftingCreating technical blueprints
revision · writer's block · inspiration · journaling · prompts · ideation · muse · first draft · manuscript · submission
verse
Metered poetic passage
sonnet · haiku · limerick · ode · ballad · couplet · free verse · lyric · elegy · quatrain
memoir
Written personal recollection
- personal essayAutobiographical prose work
- autobiographySelf-penned life narrative
- narrative nonfictionFact-based prose using fictional techniques
- language artsreading comprehension, grammar rules, vocabulary building, phonics, spelling bees
- arts educationart class, art education, arts curriculum, art appreciation, dance class
- college subjectsbiology, chemistry, history, mathematics, physics
- creative learningart class, music lessons, drama class, brainstorming, storytelling
- English classnoun, grammar, verb, adjective, reading
- Literary Activitiesbook clubs, reading circles, poetry clubs, literary journals, essay contests
creative writingtechnical writing
Clear explanation of complexity
technical documentation · business writing · academic writing · scientific writing · legal writing
creative writingboilerplate
Standardized reusable text
form letters · transcription · dictation · stock phrases · canned responses
writing, creative, creativity, creatively, creativeness, uncreative, procreative, noncreative