~ 5-minute read
Knowing the steps of the creating writing process will help aspiring storytellers feel more comfortable in their craft. The more comfortable and confident you are when you approach your writing, the more likely you are to write consistently, and the more likely you will be to enter creative writing flows more frequently.
What does Flow mean in Creative Writing?
A writing flow refers to a condition where the writer loses all track of time as sentences and paragraphs flow from their fingertips with little resistance.
How do I Get into a Writing Flow?
Learning to control and enter a writing flow is a talent that writers cultivate over time. This comes from the continued act of writing, voracious reading, and understanding your creative mind.
Step 1: Getting feedback on your writing is one of the best ways to start understanding your creative writing strengths and weaknesses.
Guess what? We all have them. Every successful writer I know made mistakes, took criticism, and grew because of it. Creative writing is just as much a personal journey as it is an art.
It’s critical to remember your strengths as well. Not only will this help you build unshakable confidence, but knowing what you are best at will be useful later on in the publishing journey when you are sending queries to publishers or literary agents.
Step 2: Brush up on the fundamentals of writing.
Storytelling is not just about allowing your mind to be free and imaginative. Although these are important to help you conceptualize and develop your story, you’ll need to understand basic writing constructs so you can effectively share your narrative.
Step 3: Understand and have a deep connection to the language you are writing in.
Every language has its rules, structure, and intricacies that make them unique. Crafting a story extends beyond the logic of sentence structure and grammar. Experimenting with syntax (the arrangement of words and phrases) can allow a sentence/paragraph to take on a deeper meaning.
For example
“The sun rises and brightens the sky,” can be rewritten to “The sun peaks over the horizon, casting soft pink rays across the brightening sky.”
The revision takes a simple, true statement and makes it vivid.
Step 4: Become comfortable with the creative writing process.
What are the steps of the Creative Writing Process?
1.) Preparation
Before you panic, because you don’t like to write outlines, that’s not what this section is about. Preparation for a creative writer can take many forms, such as active reading, research, imitation, play, and reflection. Have fun with this step!
2.) Planning
This step is where you want to brainstorm and premeditate about the themes and motifs you want to highlight in your story. When the story idea came to you, what resonated with you? What sparked your intention to write and share the idea?
3.) Incubation
This step overlaps with the planning and preparation stages but differs in execution. This step is where you will want to employ disciplined inactivity. Let your mind wander with the characters and the setting. See where else the story can go outside of your immediate intentions.
4.) Beginning
Now it’s time to start writing your new story! This is where you can start outlining, developing character sheets, and maybe even character sketches.
5.) Getting in the Flow
6.)The Silence Reservoir
There are going to be points while you are writing your story where nothing seems to fit together right. Your well of creative flow may seem dry and you might worry that your story will never come into being. It is important to keep writing when these feelings start to come about. Your creative flow will come back with practiced consistency. Trust the process! Eventually, you will have breakthroughs and will start reaching the goals you set at the start of your journey.
I will mention this again and again until I am blue in the face: creative writing is a journey. Like any journey of growth, sometimes you will feel like your efforts are wasted, you will question if you made the right choices, you may even consider giving up. And that’s okay, so long as you push through. The world needs to hear your story, from your perspective.
Keep on keeping on,
Because every word counts
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