Christian Metzger ’20
Staff Writer
While everyone is under quarantine, all the time indoors may seem dull, but it allows for the opportunity to try out new hobbies that you might not otherwise have time for. If you are uncertain about how to spend your time, one easy activity to try is creative writing.
For those who aren’t familiar with creative writing, or writing in general outside of what is required for classes, the medium might be daunting and can become discouraging, especially if you aren’t familiar with how to approach things. One of the simplest exercises you can try is to set aside an hour of your time during the day and write a 1,000-word short story. The story can be about anything, but if you have trouble coming up with a topic, there are many websites that can help generate topics, including https://www.plot-generator.org.uk/.
Once you have a vague idea of the topic and content of your story, the key is to just write. Don’t get bogged down in spelling mistakes or grammatical edits. The key is simply to put yourself into a state where your writing flows.
After you reach the 1,000-word mark, you should wrap up your story and then look back on what you wrote. You can share your story with a friend and make minor edits, but the key isn’t to get caught up in the negatives. Creative writing, like any skill, is something that improves with time and practice, and for a beginner, it can prove to be a good way to express your feelings on a subject from a new perspective.
Try to make writing a routine. Each week, make an attempt to again set aside an hour to write and work with a different prompt for each new story. Writing often allows you to test out different narration styles and dialogue so you can figure out what you’re comfortable with. Once you have a general grasp of the fundamentals of creative writing, you can try expanding into more long-form projects and short stories.
Another tip: show, don’t tell. Rather than directly telling a reader how a character is feeling or about the backstory of the world you created, you can instead describe the character’s emotional reaction through their body language, or vaguely touch on details in dialogue that would sound natural in a conversation.
Additionally, you should read other short stories and novels. Reading the work of others can serve both as an inspiration and will allow you to see how other authors use literary mechanics and language.
During quarantine, creative writing is an easy hobby to take on, as it does not require a large investment of time and is suitable for any age and skill level. If you are trying to find something to occupy your time while inside, creative writing may be a great way to flex your creative muscle.
