Description

This lesson on creative writing and how it is different from other types of writing begins with the introduction of writing in general, its four major types and three styles. It then introduces creative writing and the role of the figures of speech in bringing what is called as literariness to it. The last section of the lesson briefly introduces the elements of creative writing.  

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Understand common differences between various types and styles of writing 
2. Recognize creative writing as a distinct type of writing 
3. Identify the role of figures of speech and elements of craft in creative writing 

Contents

This module will address the following topics

• Writing
• Four major types of writing
• Three common styles of writing
• Creative writing 
• Figures of speech in creative writing
• Elements of creative writing

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books: 

• Burroway, Janet. (2007). Imaginative Writing: The elements of craft. New York: Pearson Longman
• Bishop, W. & Starkey, D. (2006). Keywords in Creative Writing. Utah: University of Utah Press.

Websites:

• Writing: https://www.britannica.com/topic/writing
• Figure of Speech: https://www.britannica.com/art/figure-of-speech 
• Image: https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/study/outreach/a-level-image-in-literature.pdf 
• Setting: https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/study/outreach/a-level-setting-literature-creative-writing.pdf 
• Voice: https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/study/outreach/a-level-voice-in-literature.pdf

YouTube

• Forms of writing: https://youtu.be/cqHPhH2bFWM
• Difference between technical and creative writing: https://youtu.be/kSrVI5X5MJI 
• What is creative writing: https://youtu.be/fr3tRt02X7k
• Creative writing characteristics: https://youtu.be/2XFb4emLxPs 
• What is creative writing: https://youtu.be/vH93neFQOWs 

Description

This lesson on principles of good writing begins with the introduction of good writing and traits of good writing. The main section of the lesson is the explanation of the following six principles with the help of examples: the clarity principle, the brevity principle, the active voice principle, the action verb principle, the principle of positive construction, the principle of parallel construction.  

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Understand the features of good writing and traits of a good writer 
2. Recognize and apply the principles of good writing 

Contents

This module includes the following topics

• Good writing
• Good writer
• Clarity
• Brevity
• Active Voice
• Action Verbs
• Positive Construction
• Parallel Construction 

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books: 

• Strunk, W. Jr. (1918). Elements of Style. Geneva, NY: Press of W. P. Humphrey.
• Lucas, F. L. (1955). Style: The art of writing well. Cassell & Co. Ltd. 

Websites:

• What makes good writing: https://web.stanford.edu/~kcobb/courses/writing/ 
• General principles of good writing: http://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/~norman/papers/good_writing/general_.principles.html 

YouTube:

The Craft of Writing Effectively: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtIzMaLkCaM

Description

This lesson introduces image as an important element of craft. It also shows the difference between image and flat writing. Examples show how showing has an echoing effect on readers. The next section introduces the do’s and don’ts of creating images. The final section explains five types of imagery.  

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Tell the significance of an image and the show-not-tell theory
2. See the difference between flat writing and the one which comes alive
3. Use different types of imagery in their writing 

Contents

This module includes the following topics

• An image and its significance 
• the origin of show-not-tell theory
• Flat writing versus image
• Do’s and don’ts of image making
• Imagery  

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books: 

• Burroway, Janet. (2007). Imaginative Writing: The elements of craft. New York: Pearson Longman
• Evory, Michelle Bonczek. (2018). Naming the Unnameable: An Approach to Poetry for New Generation. Geneseo: Open SUNY Textbooks. 
• Ramet, Adele. (2007). Creative Writing: How to unlock your imagination, develop your writing skills – and get published. Oxford: Howtobooks. 
• Geraghty, Margret. (2009). The Five-minute Writer: Exercise and inspiration in creative writing in five minutes a day. Oxford: Howtobooks. 

Websites:

• Mary Keleshian, “Writing Tips: The Importance of Imagery” https://germmagazine.com/writing-tips-the-importance-of-imagery-by-mary-keleshian/ 
• Truman Capote, "A Ride Through Spain." https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1950/09/02/a-ride-through-spain
• Rachel Scheller “Create Powerful Imagery in Your Writing” https://www.writersdigest.com/there-are-no-rules/create-powerful-imagery-in-your-writing 

YouTube:

• Diane Callahan, “How to Show, Not Tell: The Complete Writing Guide” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAKcbvioxFk

Description

This lesson is about voice and how to build it as the author's voice and character voice. It also introduces persona and the relationship of voice with point of view and diction.  

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Define voice, persona, point of view and diction 
2. Set a direction to find their voice
3. Write distinctive dialogues for characters

Contents

This module includes:

• Voice and how to find it
• Author’s Voice
• Persona 
• Character’s Voice 
• Voice and Point of View 
• Voice and Diction

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books: 

• Burroway, Janet. (2007). Imaginative Writing: The elements of craft. New York: Pearson Longman
• Derek Neale. (2009). A Creative Writing Handbook: Developing Dramatic Technique, Individual Style and Voice. Milton Keynes: A & C Black Publishers. 
• Matson, Clive. (1998). Let the Crazy Child Write!: Finding your creative writing voice. Novato: New World Library.  

Websites

• Definitions of Genres. Thomson Writing Program. Duke University. https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/creative-writing-1.original.pdf 
• What is the writer’s voice? How to find your writing voice? MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-find-your-writing-voice 
• Chris McCully and Mona Becker. Voice in Literature and Creative Writing. University of Essex. https://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents/study/outreach/a-level-voice-in-literature.pdf  

YouTube

• Finding Your Voice. https://youtu.be/3gP7v6aOuWA 
• Easy Line Editing Tips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHDNNMzMBgk

Description

This lesson defines character and its types, and discusses different strategies of developing it and ways of presenting it.  

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Identify different types of characters
2. Understand various strategies of character development
3. Know ways of presenting a character

Contents

This module includes:

1. Character and its types
2. Character Development
3. Ways of Presenting Characters
• Character as Desire
• Character as Image 
• Character as Voice
• Character as Action
• Character as Thought 

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books

• Burroway, Janet. (2007). Imaginative Writing: The elements of craft. New York: Pearson Longman.
• Pelican, Kira-Anne. (2021). The Science of Writing Characters: Using Psychology to Create Compelling Fictional Characters. New York: Bloomsbury Academic.  
• Dunne, Will. (2017). Character, Scene, and Story: New tools from the dramatic writer’s companion. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
• Wolff, Jurgen. (2007). Your Story Coach: From Concept to Character, From Pitch to Publication. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing. 

Websites:

• Fotis Jannidis, the living handbook of narratology. https://www.lhn.uni-hamburg.de/node/41.html 
• Writing Compelling Characters. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/creative_writing/characters_and_fiction_writing/writing_compelling_characters.html 
• How to Develop a Fictional Character: 6 Tips for Writing Great Characters https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-tips-for-character-development#what-is-character-development 
• Story Writing: Characters. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/ztvp2v4 
• K.M. Weiland, Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Thing Your Character Wants vs. The Thing Your Character Needs. https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/character-arcs-3/ 
• Ed Asher Briant, Character as Image and Voice. https://edasherbriant.com/character-as-image-and-voice/ 

YouTube

• Sanderson. Writing Great Characters. https://youtu.be/lmaVRqzgtM0

Description

This lesson begins with defining setting and its types, and leads to showing different ways of describing and enhancing it i.e., by layering it into action, and using sensory details interlaced with a character’s point-of-view. Towards the end of it, the lesson highlights some of the roles a setting can play in creative writing, e.g. of showing emotions, creating conflict, and revealing backstory.  

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Define setting and its different types
2. Display a knowledge of strategies of writing good settings 
3. Recognize the role setting plays in creative writing 

Contents

This module includes:

1. Understanding setting
2. Types of Setting
3. Describing Setting
4. Enhancing Setting
5. Using Setting to: 
• Show emotions
• Create conflicts
• Reveal the backstory  

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books

• Buckham, Mary. (2012). Writing Active Setting: Book 1 – Characterization and Sensory Detail. Port Townsend: Cantwell Publishing. 
• Buckham, Mary. (2013). Writing Active Setting: Book 2 – Emotion, Conflict and Back Story. Port Townsend: Cantwell Publishing.
• Buckham, Mary. (2013). Writing Active Setting: Book 3 – Anchoring, Action, as a Character and More. Port Townsend: Cantwell Publishing. 

Websites:

• “Setting: Literary Device.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/setting 
• “Describing a story setting.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zdfytrd  
• “5 Elements of Setting in Literature.” https://www.masterclass.com/articles/understanding-story-setting#5-elements-of-setting-in-literature  
• Jerry Jenkins, “How to Describe the Setting of a Story.” https://jerryjenkins.com/setting-of-a-story/  

YouTube

• R. A. Powell. “Creative Writing – Settings.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QcaJkFonls

Description

This lesson begins with the general shape of story that is most frequently referred to in literature classes: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It then introduces shapes of stories as drawn by creative writing experts in terms other than those given above i.e., Kurt Vonnegut’s five shapes of story and Janet Burroway’s three ways of presenting story. 

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Describe new shapes of story 
2. Analyze stories in the light of Vonnegut’s and Burroway’s story shapes
3. Write stories modeled on one of the shapes discussed 

Contents

This module includes:

• What is a story?
• Shapes of Stories
• Kurt Vonnegut’s Shapes
• The popular story
• The boy-meets-girl story
• The depressed person’s story
• The Kafka story
• The masterpiece 
• Janet Burroway’s Shapes
• Story as a journey 
• Story as a power struggle
• Story as a pattern of connections and disconnections  

 Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books

• Burroway, Janet. (2007). Imaginative Writing: The elements of craft. New York: Pearson Longman. 

Websites:

• The Four Most Common Story Structures, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-better-novel#what-is-story-structure
• How to Structure a Story, https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/writing/fiction/w/plot-planning/6366/how-to-structure-a-story-the-fundamentals-of-narrative---article 

YouTube

• Kurt Vonnegut. “Shape of Stories.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOGru_4z1Vc

Description

In this lesson, we will discuss different stages of writing and what a writer should keep in mind through the processes of writing and revision. The lesson also highlights the role revision plays in writing. 

Objectives

By the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Describe processes of writing and revision 
2. Use established questions and principles in their own writing 
3. Workshop works of other writers in the light of Burroway’s questions

Contents

This module includes:

• Pre-writing 
• Choosing topic
• Determining audience
• Determining tone
• Determining point of view
• Exploring topic
• Writing 
• Title 
• Writing a draft 
• Developing the draft
• Post-writing 
• Revision
• Editing 
• Workshopping 

Instructional Strategies

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Reading (lesson, slides, readings from external sources) and other sources 
• Writing activities
• Lecture Video

Books

• Burroway, Janet. (2007). Imaginative Writing: The elements of craft. New York: Pearson Longman.

Websites:

• “Rewriting is the Key to Good Writing.” https://www.fastcompany.com/719253/rewriting-key-good-writing   

YouTube

• Revising, Rewriting & Overcoming Obstacles: editing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aMy-KUenTA    
• How to Line Edit | Editing Your Writing #1! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-vTg3PtE9M