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Jun
29

The most important writing rule

There are hundred’s of rules in writing.

  1. Don’t start a sentence with ‘and’.
  2. Write in complete sentences.
  3. Stories must have a beginning, middle and an end.
  4. Use the active voice unless you absolutely need to use the passive.
  5. Omit unnecessary words.
  6. Don’t end a sentence In a proposition.

But what happened to “be creative”? Shouldn’t that be the #1 writing rule?

I know what you’re thinking: “Not everything can be creative, Kirsten. There are some topics that are just too droll to be creative.”

Bulls*it. If it’s not creative, it’s not worth writing.

EVERYTHING can be creative, we just often forget what that means.

By definition:
Creative –adjective
1. having the quality or power of creating.
2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing.
3. originative; productive (usually fol. by of).

Now tell me something that can’t be creative. I’m waiting…

Exactly.

Regardless of the topic, everything you write can be (and should be!) creative.
Thoughts?

Related posts:

  1. What makes writing so important?
  2. How do I manage my writing?
  3. 9 ways to improve your writing

Category: Business & Marketing Strategy, Content Development
Topics: , , ,
  • http://www.desautelhege.blogspot.com Nick Lawhead

    I think that you make a great point that any topic, mundane or otherwise, can be written about creatively. But, I don’t think that writing that lacks creativity is bad writing. Sometimes, the simplest, more direct writing (which can be creative, but for the sake of argument, I’ll say it isn’t) can be the most effective in some circumstances. But the lion’s share of the time, I agree – creativity is key!

    @nlawhead
    .-= Nick Lawhead´s last blog ..Hey MacGyver Fans! =-.

  • http://www.mikebilleter.com Mike Billeter

    I find it interesting that, as a writer, some of my most successful writing efforts have come by abandoning some of those rules you list first. I think it’s just become a matter of my personal style, but breaking those rules seems to be where some of my creativity thrives (except rule #6…I try not to ever violate that one). We’re all different people with different thoughts and ideas, so pretty much writing anything makes you “creative” in some form or fashion. And, really, that’s obvious in your definition of creative (“Resulting from originality of thought…”). So I pretty much just repeated what you said. Guess that’s not terribly creative on my part, but oh well. At least I was able to write a response where I started a sentence with “And.”
    .-= Mike Billeter´s last blog ..The Shaq Effect: Just how influential is the Big Cactus? =-.

  • http://www.onemann.blogspot.com Kneale Mann

    Another excellent post, Kirsten!

    Like songwriting, you need a story line, verses and chorus. You need to write for the reader with patterns that make them want to read more.

    It’s best to first write the ending followed by the beginning then deteremine what you need to remove from the middle.
    .-= Kneale Mann´s last blog ..Get Inspired Again =-.

  • http://www.suzannebroughton.com Suzanne Broughton

    I agree with you, Kirsten! I also agree with Mike up there.
    .-= Suzanne Broughton´s last blog ..Little moments of wonder =-.

  • Tiger Woods

    as a writer, tell me the correct usage for a colon (:) and semi-colon (;)…..why would you use a semi-colon for example?…and not only to send smiley faces to Tiffany and Jen….

  • http://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/ Jack

    There are very few rules that cannot be broken, especially when it comes to writing.
    Sometimes you need to slip out of the shackles and just let go.
    .-= Jack´s last blog ..Waiting for The Man =-.

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