why is learning creative writing important

Why Learn Creative Writing?

Sean Glatch  |  November 1, 2022  |  5 Comments

Why learn creative writing? Truthfully, creative writing is one of the most misunderstood disciplines in the 21st century. When people think of a creative writing course, they often imagine a group of lofty, out-of-touch people who wear argyle sweater vests and have unproductive conversations about abstract concepts.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth: the best writing classes remain engaged with the real world, and the skills gained in a creative writing course apply to nearly every facet of daily life.

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth picking up a course in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, we have five reasons to learn creative writing. But first, let’s talk about what actually happens in a creative writing course.

The Basics of a Writing Workshop

Whether you’re enrolled in a poetry, fiction, or nonfiction writing class, you can expect the following writing process – at least in a quality writing course like the ones at Writers.com.

• Weekly prompts and writing exercises to sharpen the precision and necessity of each word you use.
• Constructive critiques from a community of writers who are each growing their writing skills alongside you.
• A creative space to explore new ideas, experiment with language, and arrange words in new and exciting ways.
• Focused writing instruction from a master of the craft.

The benefits of creative writing come from engaging with the course material, the writing prompts, and the other class members. These elements help you become a better writer, both in creative realms and in everyday life. How? No matter what form of writing, a creative writing class pushes you to connect ideas and create effective narratives using the best words – and that skill translates into real world success.

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Putting It All Together: Completing Your First Poetry Manuscript

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The Benefits of Creative Writing

1. why learn creative writing: improved self-expression.

Improving your writing skills leads to stronger communication. When you practice finding the right word in a story or poem, you engage the same parts of your brain that are active in everyday writing and speaking. A creative writing course subconsciously turns you into a more effective communicator.

The importance of precise language and self-advocacy translates well into both interpersonal relationships and working environments. Take it from this expert on how writing and self-advocacy results in career and leadership success.

2. Why Learn Creative Writing: Job Success

This brings us to our next point: great writing leads to job success. Of course, your boss probably isn’t expecting you to write emails in the form of a short story or a sonnet – though if they are expecting this, you have a pretty cool boss.

In reality, almost every job requires some sort of written work, whether that’s simple written communication or something more elaborate, like publishing data or marketing materials. In a creative writing class, you practice the style and grammar rules necessary for effective writing, both within the realms of literature and in career-related writing. Sharpening your writing and creativity skills might just land you your next promotion.

3. Why Learn Creative Writing: Improved Thinking Skills

Strong writing leads to strong thinking. No matter what type of writing you pursue, learning how to write is another form of learning how to think.

That might seem like a bold claim, so think about it this way. Without language, our thoughts wouldn’t have form. We might not need language to think “I’m hungry” or “I like cats,” but when it comes to more abstract concepts, language is key. How would you think about things like justice, revenge, or equality without the words to express them?

When you hone in on your ability to find choice, specific words, and when you work on the skills of effective storytelling and rhetoric , you improve your ability to think in general. Good writing yields great thinking!

4. Why Learn Creative Writing: Empathy

Reading and writing both rely on empathy, especially when it comes to being an effective workshop participant. When we read and write stories, we situate ourselves in the shoes of other people; when we read and write poetry, we let language navigate us through emotion.

The importance of creative writing relies on empathy. We practice empathy whenever we listen to another person’s life story, when someone tells us about their day, and when we sit down with a client or work partner. When we write, we practice the ability to listen as well as to speak, making us more effective communicators and more compassionate human beings.

5. Why Learn Creative Writing: It’s Fun!

In case you’re not convinced that a writing course is right for you, let’s clarify one more fact: creative writing is fun. Whether you’re in a fiction writing course, starting a memoir, crafting a poem, or writing for the silver screen, you’re creating new worlds and characters. In the sandbox of literature, you’re in control, and when you invest yourself into the craft of writing, something beautiful emerges.

The Importance of Creative Writing

Simply put, creative writing helps us preserve our humanity. What better medium to explore the human experience?

To learn creative writing, like any art form, requires compassion, contemplation, and curiosity. Writers preserve the world as they observe it in stories and poetry, and they imagine a better world by creating it in their works.

Through the decades, literature has explored society’s profound changes. Literary eons like the Naturalist movement and the Beat poets responded to the increase in Western Industrialization. Confessional poets like Virginia Woolf helped transform poetry into a medium for emotional exploration and excavation. And, genre movements like the cyberpunk writers of science fiction helped popularize the idea of an “information economy.”

Thus, the importance of creative writing lies in its ability to describe the world through an honest and unfiltered lens. Anyone who engages in creative writing, no matter the genre or style, helps us explore the human experience, share new ideas, and advocate for a better society. Whether you write your stories for yourself or share them with a wide audience, creative writing makes the world a better place.

Jobs for Creative Writers

Because creative writing isn’t a STEM discipline, many people don’t think that learning it will help their job prospects. Why learn creative writing if it doesn’t make any money?

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Creative writing skills are much sought after on resumes, since both creativity and the ability to write are soft skills in decline. Additionally, if you’re considering a career change—or ready to start one!—these are some popular jobs for creative writers.

• Average Starting Salary: $51,000
• Demand: High
• Skills needed: creativity, grammar, timeliness

Copywriters help companies put their branding into words. A copywriter might write emails, blogs, website content, or ad copy that encompasses the company’s voice and purpose. Copywriting requires you to write in a mix of styles and forms, flexing your writing muscles in new and exciting ways.

Grant Writer

• Average Starting Salary: $50,000
• Skills needed: storytelling, research, argumentation

Nonprofits and research facilities rely on local and national grants to fund their projects. Grant writers help secure that funding, writing engaging grants that tell the organization’s story in an engaging, tailored, and convincing way. Creative writers will enjoy the opportunity to tell a meaningful story and create positive community change through this career.

Communications/Public Relations Specialist

• Skills needed: creativity, communications, social media

A communications specialist helps drive a company’s image through various social channels. They may help create a positive narrative for their company through blogs, journalist outreach, social media, and other public-facing avenues. Much like copywriting, a PR specialist helps weave an effective story for a company.

• Average Starting Salary: $55,000
• Demand: Medium/High
• Skills needed: creativity, storytelling, organization, self-reliance

The dream job for many writers is to write and sell books. Being a novelist is an admirable career choice—and also requires the most work. Not only do you have to write your stories, but you also have to market yourself in the literary industry and maintain a social presence so that publishers and readers actually read your work. It’s a tough business, but also incredibly rewarding!

Reasons to Learn Creative Writing: Finding a Writing Community

Finally, creative writing communities make the writing struggle worth it. The relationships you foster with other creative writers can last a lifetime, as no other group of people has the same appreciation for the written word. Creative writing communities create transformative experiences and encourage growth in your writing; if there’s one reason to study creative writing craft, it’s the friendships you make in the process.

You don’t need a class to start writing, but it’s never a waste of time to learn the tools of the trade. Creative writing requires the skills that can help you in everyday life, and a creative writing course can help.

At Writers.com, we believe that creative writing can transform both individual lives and the world at large. See the importance of creative writing for yourself: check out what makes our creative writing courses different , then take a look at our upcoming course calendar today.

Sean Glatch

Would like to apply for a course to write a novel.

I’d be happy to help! Please email [email protected] with any questions, and we’ll find the right course for your writing.

[…] Sean. “Why Learn Creative Writing.” writers.com. June 7, 2020. https://writers.com/why-learn-creative-writing . Accessed November 7, […]

[…] And last of all it’s fun! I hope to live my life doing the things I love, with like-minded creative people who I love. I have many exciting things upcoming as I continue with the process of completing my first novel, Les Année Folles, such as publishing to my first magazine, journal, and working on the millions of short story ideas I have stored in my head. Stay tuned! References: Glatch, S. (2020, June 7). WHY LEARN CREATIVE WRITING? Retrieved from Writers.com: https://writers.com/why-learn-creative-writing […]

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Creative Writing: What It Is and Why It Matters

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: January 13, 2023  - Last updated: January 15, 2023

Categories Writing

Writing can be intimidating for many people, but creative writing doesn’t have to be. Creative writing is a form of self-expression that allows writers to create stories, characters, and unique settings. But what exactly is creative writing? And why is it important in today’s society? Let’s explore this further.

How We Define Creative Writing

Creative writing is any form where writers can express their thoughts and feelings imaginatively. This type of writing allows authors to draw on their imagination when creating stories and characters and play with language and structure. While there are no boundaries in creative writing, most pieces will contain dialogue, description, and narrative elements.

The Importance of Creative Writing

Creative writing is important because:

• It helps us express ourselves in ways we may not be able to do with other forms of communication.
• It allows us to explore our creativity and think outside the box.
• It can help us better understand our emotions by exploring them through storytelling or poetry.
• Writing creatively can also provide much-needed escapism from everyday life, allowing us to escape into a world of our creation.
• Creative writing helps us connect with others by sharing our experiences through stories or poems they can relate to. This way, we can gain insight into other people’s lives while giving them insight into ours.

Creative Writing: A Path to Mental and Emotional Wellness

Writing is more than just a way to express your thoughts on paper. It’s a powerful tool that can be used as a form of therapy. Creative writing has been shown to improve emotional and mental well-being.

Through creative writing, we can gain insight into our emotions, develop self-expression and communication skills, cultivate empathy and understanding of others, and boost our imagination and creativity.

Let’s examine how creative writing can relieve stress and emotional catharsis.

Stress Relief and Emotional Catharsis

Writing has the power to reduce stress levels significantly. Writing about our experiences or about things that are causing us anxiety or distress helps us to release those complicated feelings constructively. By expressing ourselves through creative writing, we can work through the emotions associated with stressful situations without having to confront them directly.

This is especially helpful for people who struggle to share their emotions verbally or in person.

Improved Communication and Self-Expression

Creative writing is also beneficial for improving communication skills. Through creative writing, we can explore our thoughts and feelings more intensely than by speaking them aloud. This allows us to think more clearly about what we want to say before actually saying it out loud or in written form, which leads to improved self-expression overall.

Additionally, writing out our thoughts before speaking aloud allows us to articulate ourselves better when communicating with others—which is essential for healthy personal and professional relationships.

Increased Empathy and Understanding of Others

Through creative writing, we can also increase our empathy towards others by exploring different perspectives on various topics that may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable for us—such as racism, homophobia, sexism, etc.—and allowing ourselves the opportunity to see the situation from someone else’s point of view without judgment or bias. This helps us become better communicators and more understanding individuals overall.

The Professional Benefits of Creative Writing

Creative writing is a powerful tool that can help you communicate better and more effectively in the professional world. It can also help you develop various skills that prove invaluable in many industries. Whether you’re looking to build your résumé or improve your communication, creative writing can effectively achieve both.

Let’s take a closer look at how creative writing can benefit your career.

Preparing Students for Careers in Writing, Editing, and Publishing

Creative writing is the perfect foundation for anyone interested in pursuing a career in writing, editing, or publishing. It teaches students the basics of grammar and composition while allowing them to express their ideas in imaginative ways.

Creative writing classes also allow students to learn from professionals who have experience as editors, agents, and publishers. They can use this knowledge to learn creative writing, refine their craft and gain valuable experience before entering the job market.

Improving Skills in Storytelling and Marketing for Various Careers

Creative writing teaches students to think critically about stories and craft compelling narratives that draw readers in. This skill is precious for those who wish to pursue careers outside traditional writing roles—such as marketing or advertising—where storytelling is key.

People who understand the fundamentals of creative writing will be able to create persuasive copy that resonates with readers and effectively conveys a message.

Enhancing Team Collaboration and Leadership Skills

Creative writing isn’t just about expressing yourself through words; it also provides an opportunity to practice working collaboratively with others on projects. Many creative writing classes require students to work together on group projects, which helps them develop essential teamwork skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

As they work together on these projects, they will also gain confidence in their ability to lead teams effectively—an invaluable asset no matter what industry they pursue after graduation.

Uncovering the Power of Creative Writing

Creative writing has become an increasingly powerful force in shaping our society. Creative writing has many uses, from preserving cultural heritage to promoting social change.

Preserving Cultural Heritage with Creative Writing

Creative writing has long been used to preserve and share cultural heritage stories. This is done through fictional stories or poetry that explore a particular culture or group’s history, values, and beliefs. By weaving these stories in an engaging way, writers can bring a culture’s history and traditions to life for readers worldwide. This helps bridge cultural gaps by providing insight into what makes each culture unique.

Promoting Social Change & Activism with Creative Writing

Creative writing can also be used for activism and social change. Writers can craft stories that help promote awareness about important issues such as poverty, race relations, gender equality, climate change, and more.

With the power of words, writers can inspire readers to take action on these issues and work towards creating positive change in their communities.

Through creative writing, writers can raise awareness about important topics while fostering empathy toward individuals who may be facing difficult or challenging situations.

Fostering Creativity & Innovation with Creative Writing

Finally, creative writing can foster creativity and innovation in various fields. For example, businesses can use creative copywriting techniques to create compelling content that captures the attention of customers or potential investors.

Aspiring entrepreneurs can use storytelling techniques when pitching their ideas or products to potential partners or investors to make their cases more persuasive and memorable.

By harnessing the power of words through creative writing techniques, businesses can create content that resonates with their target audience while inspiring them to take action on whatever message they’re trying to convey. It often aids the overall creative process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of creative writing.

Creative writing has many benefits, both for the writer and the reader. For the writer, it can be therapeutic, helping them to explore their emotions and better understand themselves. It can also be used as entertainment or communication, allowing them to share their ideas with the world. For the reader, creative writing can provide enjoyment, escapism, and insights into the human condition.

How can I improve my creative writing skills?

There are several ways you can improve your creative writing skills. Firstly, make sure you allow yourself time to write regularly. Use a writing prompt to inspire a short story. Secondly, read as much as you can; great writers are also great readers. Thirdly, experiment with different styles and genres to find one that suits you best. Fourthly, join a writers’ group, writing workshop, or creative writing program to get feedback from other writers. Finally, keep a journal to track your progress and reflect on your work as a creative writer.

What is the importance of imagery in creative writing?

Imagery is an important element of creative writing, as it helps to create a more vivid picture for the reader. By using sensory and descriptive language, writers can transport readers into their stories and help them relate to their characters or themes. Imagery can bring a scene alive with detail and evoke emotion by helping readers create strong visual images in their minds. Furthermore, imagery can help make stories more memorable by giving readers a deeper connection with the characters or setting.

What are the elements of creative writing?

The elements of creative writing include plot, character, dialogue, setting, theme, and point of view. The plot is the structure or main storyline, while the character is the personage involved in this story. Dialogue includes conversations between characters to give insight into their emotions and relationships. Setting refers to the place or time in which a story takes place, while theme explores deeper meanings behind a story’s narrative. Finally, point of view defines how readers experience a story through first-person or third-person omniscient narration.

What’s the difference between creative writing and other types of writing?

The main difference between creative writing and other types of writing is that it allows the writer to create their own story, characters, settings, and themes. Creative writing also encourages writers to be inventive with their style and use descriptive language to evoke emotion or bring stories alive in readers’ minds. Other academic or technical writing types typically involve more research-based information and are usually more objective in their presentation. Additionally, most forms of non-creative writing will have stricter rules regarding grammar, structure, and syntax.

What is the golden rule of creative writing?

The golden rule of creative writing is to show, not tell. It’s the core creative writing skill. When it comes to creative writing, it’s essential to use descriptive language that immerses readers in the story and allows them to experience the events through their emotions and imaginations. This can be done through metaphors, similes, sensory language, and vivid imagery.

How important is creativity in writing?

Creativity is essential in writing as it allows writers to craft a unique story and evoke emotion from the reader. Creativity can bring stories alive with fresh perspectives and exciting plot lines while creating an escape for readers and giving them more profound insights into the human condition. Writers who combine creativity with technical aspects such as grammar, structure, language usage, and flow will create pieces that capture their audience’s attention and provide an enjoyable reading experience.

Why the teaching of creative writing matters

Lecturer in Creative Writing, University of Bolton

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For the last 30 years or so the rise of creative writing programmes in universities has been met with seemingly unending howls of derision from all quarters. Hanif Kureishi, novelist, screenwriter – and professor of creative writing at Kingston University – described them as a “waste of time”. But universities around the world beg to differ, as the increasing number of courses and students testify.

The recent Sunday Times league tables for universities ranked the quality of teaching in creative writing at The University of Bolton as the best in the country. The programme there also boasts the highest ranking in terms of student experience.

Given that I am the only full-time lecturer in creative writing at Bolton – and also led the programme for two of the three years the recent figures cover – I should be able easily to explain our success, and why our students rate our teaching so highly. I say “should”, because I’m not sure of the answer.

There are easy ways to get students to rate teaching highly. We can tailor the classes to their personal needs and wants, and give them all high marks. Or we can teach them at a lower level than we should so that they feel a greater sense of achievement. But at Bolton we do none of these. So what’s the secret?

The measure of a mark

How you actually go about judging the quality of teaching – particularly with a subject like creative writing – is tricky. There are the normal ways that universities use: peer-assessment, student feedback, the evaluation of staff by professionals who specialise in methods of teaching and learning and staff development programmes. And as Bolton is a teaching intensive, research informed university we do a lot of these things, and I think we do them very well.

But I wonder whether what is being measured or evaluated in these assessments is more the style of the teacher, rather than the content. Most assessors are experts in teaching methods and practices – and it’s unreasonable to expect them to have detailed knowledge of every subject.

As non-specialists they are able to measure the levels of student engagement, of academic challenge, of whether the “learning outcomes” which plague university teaching in creative writing are being met. And if you measure it this way, then it’s quite possible that detractors such as Kureishi are right.

A place for play

Except that the teaching of creative writing, when done well, is about more than the skills and craft and technique, important as these things are. And as the writer and lecturer Liam Murray Bell describes, writers must find and use a consistency of tone, style and voice.

It’s also about encouraging students to play, to move beyond their normal styles and subjects of writing, beyond their use of traditional structural, narrative and poetic forms – and to ask them to see what happens. In this sense university is a place for play . Teacher and game designer Eric Zimmerman has defined play as:

The free space of movement within a more rigid structure. Play exists both because of and also despite the more rigid structures of a system.

If students are not actively encouraged to play then we are simply encouraging them to remain as static as they were when they entered higher education – even if they are more adept at using “writerly” skills and techniques.

The secret of success

To me it seems there is no “secret” to good teaching. You do the basics, and you do them as well as you possibly can. You limit class numbers. You give student-writers the individual attention they crave. You make sure that your teachers are good writers and that your writers are good teachers, so that expertise can be shared effectively.

And you make students read widely. They should read the classics, I suppose, but they should also read the “non-classics” – what many academics see as trash fiction. And they should read their peers and contemporaries too.

Importantly, they should read things such as advertising billboards and street signs, the shapes of buildings, the colour of the pavement, the weather, the look in people’s faces. Writers need to breathe in so that they can breathe out their own individual reactions and responses. At Bolton we spend time reading and breathing, and that helps students find voices and interactions which can blend with the craft of writing to produce work which means something to them.

Very few students will earn a living as a writer. But writing is about more than that, and the ability to communicate effectively is a rare and precious thing. Good teaching should not be measured in the texts which students produce, then, but in the knowledge gained through the actions of writing – knowledge which lasts forever.

In the end, if students enjoy their studies, and believe that they’re gaining skills which are transferable in the workplace and will last them well beyond university, then perhaps that is what they see as ‘good teaching’. And perhaps too they’re the best ones to judge.

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How creative writing can increase students’ resilience, students can find strength and community in sharing their stories through writing..

Many of my seventh-grade students do not arrive at school ready to learn. Their families often face financial hardship and live in cramped quarters, which makes it difficult to focus on homework. The responsibility for cooking and taking care of younger siblings while parents work often falls on these twelve year olds’ small shoulders. Domestic violence and abuse are also not uncommon.

To help traumatized students overcome their personal and academic challenges, one of our first jobs as teachers is to build a sense of community. We need to communicate that we care and that we welcome them into the classroom just as they are. One of the best ways I’ve found to connect with my students, while also nurturing their reading and writing skills, is through creative writing.

For the past three years, I’ve invited students in my English Language Development (ELD) classes to observe their thoughts, sit with their emotions, and offer themselves and each other compassion through writing and sharing about their struggles. Creating a safe, respectful environment in which students’ stories matter invites the disengaged, the hopeless, and the numb to open up. Students realize that nobody is perfect and nobody’s life is perfect. In this kind of classroom community, they can take the necessary risks in order to learn, and they become more resilient when they stumble.

Fostering a growth mindset

One of the ways students can boost their academic performance and develop resilience is by building a growth mindset. Carol Dweck, Stanford University professor of psychology and author of the book Mindset , explains that people with a growth mindset focus on learning from mistakes and welcoming challenges rather than thinking they’re doomed to be dumb or unskillful. A growth mindset goes hand in hand with self-compassion: recognizing that everyone struggles and treating ourselves with kindness when we trip up.

One exercise I find very useful is to have students write a story about a time when they persevered when faced with a challenge—in class, sports, or a relationship. Some of the themes students explore include finally solving math problems, learning how to defend themselves, or having difficult conversations with parents.

I primed the pump by telling my students about something I struggled with—feeling left behind in staff meetings as my colleagues clicked their way through various computer applications. I confided that PowerPoint and Google Slides—tools (one might assume) that any teacher worth a paperweight has mastered—still eluded me. By admitting my deficiency to my students, asking for their help, and choosing to see the opportunity to remedy it every day in the classroom, I aimed to level the playing field with them. They may have been reading three or four grade levels behind, but they could slap a PowerPoint presentation together in their sleep.

For students, sharing their own stories of bravery, resilience, and determination brings these qualities to the forefront of their minds and helps solidify the belief that underlies a growth mindset: I can improve and grow . We know from research in neuroplasticity that when students take baby steps to achieve a goal and take pride in their accomplishments, they change their brains, growing new neural networks and fortifying existing ones. Neurons in the brain release the feel-good chemical dopamine, which plays a major role in motivating behavior toward rewards.

After writing about a few different personal topics, students choose one they want to publish on the bulletin boards at the back of the classroom. They learn to include the juicy details of their stories (who, what, when, where, why, and how), and they get help from their peers, who ask follow-up questions to prompt them to include more information. This peer editing builds their resilience in more ways than one—they make connections with each other by learning about each other’s lives, and they feel empowered by lending a hand.

In my experience, students are motivated to do this assignment because it helps them feel that their personal stories and emotions truly matter, despite how their other academics are going. One student named Alejandro chose to reflect on basketball and the persistence and time it took him to learn:

Hoops By Alejandro Gonzalez Being good takes time. One time my sister took me to a park and I saw people playing basketball. I noticed how good they were and decided I wanted to be like them. Still I told my sister that basketball looked hard and that I thought I couldn’t do it. She said,“You could do it if you tried. You’ll get the hang of it.” My dad bought me a backboard and hoop to play with. I was really happy, but the ball wasn’t making it in. Every time I got home from school, I would go straight to the backyard to play. I did that almost every day until little by little I was getting the hang of it. I also played with my friends. Every day after lunch we would meet at the basketball court to have a game. … I learned that you need to be patient and to practice a lot to get the hang of things. With a little bit of practice, patience, and hard work, anything is possible.

Originally, Alejandro wasn’t sure why he was in school and often lacked the motivation to learn. But writing about something he was passionate about and recalling the steps that led to his success reminded him of the determination and perseverance he had demonstrated in the past, nurturing a positive view of himself. It gave him a renewed sense of investment in learning English and eventually helped him succeed in his ELD class, as well.

Maintaining a hopeful outlook

Another way to build resilience in the face of external challenges is to shore up our inner reserves of hope —and I’ve found that poetry can serve as inspiration for this.

For the writing portion of the lesson, I invite students to “get inside” poems by replicating the underlying structure and trying their hand at writing their own verses. I create poem templates, where students fill in relevant blanks with their own ideas. 

One poem I like to share is “So Much Happiness” by Naomi Shihab Nye. Its lines “Even the fact that you once lived in a peaceful tree house / and now live over a quarry of noise and dust / cannot make you unhappy” remind us that, despite the unpleasant events that occur in our lives, it’s our choice whether to allow them to interfere with our happiness. The speaker, who “love[s] even the floor which needs to be swept, the soiled linens, and scratched records,” has a persistently sunny outlook.

It’s unrealistic for students who hear gunshots at night to be bubbling over with happiness the next morning. Still, the routine of the school day and the sense of community—jokes with friends, a shared bag of hot chips for breakfast, and a creative outlet—do bolster these kids. They have an unmistakable drive to keep going, a life force that may even burn brighter because they take nothing for granted—not even the breath in their bodies, life itself. 

Itzayana was one of those students who, due to the adversity in her life, seemed too old for her years. She rarely smiled and started the school year with a defiant approach to me and school in general, cursing frequently in the classroom. Itzayana’s version of “So Much Happiness” hinted at some of the challenges I had suspected she had in her home life:

It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness. Even the fact that you once heard your family laughing and now hear them yelling at each other cannot make you unhappy. Everything has a life of its own, it too could wake up filled with possibilities of tamales and horchata and love even scrubbing the floor, washing dishes, and cleaning your room. Since there is no place large enough to contain so much happiness, help people in need, help your family, and take care of yourself.   —Itzayana C.

Her ending lines, “Since there is no place large enough to contain so much happiness, / help people in need, help your family, and take care of yourself,” showed her growing awareness of the need for self-care as she continued to support her family and others around her. This is a clear sign of her developing resilience.

Poetry is packed with emotion, and writing their own poems allows students to grapple with their own often-turbulent inner lives. One student commented on the process, saying, “By writing poems, I’ve learned to be calm and patient, especially when I get mad about something dumb.” Another student showed pride in having her writing published; she reflected, “I feel good because other kids can use it for calming down when they’re angry.”

To ease students into the creative process, sometimes we also write poems together as a class. We brainstorm lines to include, inviting the silly as well as the poignant and creating something that represents our community.

Practicing kindness

Besides offering my students new ways of thinking about themselves, I also invite them to take kind actions toward themselves and others.

In the music video for “Give a Little Love” by Noah and the Whale, one young African American boy—who witnesses bullying at school and neglect in his neighborhood —decides to take positive action and whitewash a wall of graffiti. Throughout the video, people witness others’ random acts of kindness, and then go on to do their own bit.

“My love is my whole being / And I’ve shared what I could,” the lyrics say—a reminder that our actions speak louder than our words and do have an incredible impact. The final refrain in the song—“Well if you are (what you love) / And you do (what you love) /...What you share with the world is what it keeps of you”—urges the students to contribute in a positive way to the classroom, the school campus, and their larger community.

After watching the video, I ask students to reflect upon what kind of community they would like to be part of and what makes them feel safe at school. They write their answers—for example, not being laughed at by their peers and being listened to—on Post-it notes. These notes are used to create classroom rules. This activity sends a message early on that we are co-creating our communal experience together. Students also write their own versions of the lyrics, reflecting on different things you can give and receive—like kindness, peace, love, and ice cream.

Reaping the benefits

To see how creative writing impacts students, I invite them to rate their resilience through a self-compassion survey at the start of the school year and again in the spring. Last year, two-thirds of students surveyed increased in self-compassion; Alejandro grew his self-compassion by 20 percent. The program seems to work at developing their reading and writing skills, as well: At the middle of the school year, 40 percent of my students moved up to the next level of ELD, compared to 20 percent the previous year. 

As a teacher, my goal is to meet students where they’re at and learn about their whole lives. Through creative writing activities, we create a community of compassionate and expressive learners who bear witness to the impact of trauma in each others’ experiences and together build resilience.

As a symbol of community and strength, I had a poster in my classroom of a boat at sea with hundreds of refugees standing shoulder to shoulder looking skyward. It’s a hauntingly beautiful image of our ability to risk it all for a better life, as many of my ELD students do. Recognizing our common humanity and being able to share about our struggles not only leads to some beautiful writing, but also some brave hearts.

About the Author

Laura Bean, M.F.A. , executive director of Mindful Literacy, consults with school communities to implement mindfulness and creative writing programs. She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and presented a mindful writing workshop at Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth Conference in San Diego in 2016.

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Why You Should Study Literature and Creative Writing

Words have power. This might be easy to forget in our day-to-day conversations with family and friends. We might not think much about the words we use and the impact they have on others when we’re just writing matter-of-fact emails or sending pithy texts. 

It is when we sit down to discuss a favorite book – either in a classroom setting or among fellow book enthusiasts – that we realize just how effective a few well-chosen words are. They can set a scene, evoke a distant but familiar emotion, and move us to action. 

This is part of what makes the study of literature and creative writing so essential. It reveals to us how we can take a practical tool we use daily, our written language, and transform it into something that illuminates, teaches, and inspires. 

In this article, we will explore in great detail why the study of literature and creative writing is so valuable:

1. Literature Teaches Us About the Human Condition

Whether you lose yourself in an ancient epic poem or a sweeping contemporary novel, you will likely come to the same conclusion as you get to know the characters: certain human traits span generations. Sure, the world is quite different now than it was in the 8th century when Homer composed The Odyssey. Still, even if we can’t relate to Odysseus and his formidable interactions with gods and mythical beasts, we can understand his voracious appetite for glory, and his headstrong personality. 

More importantly, literature reminds us what can happen if we give in to our more dangerous innate desires. You may recall from past English classes the many conflicts that plague protagonist after protagonist: man versus machine, man versus man, man versus nature, man versus self. No matter the plot or setting, it’s always man that’s left fighting. This is unlikely to change anytime soon, but literature distills these conflicts into moments we can pore over, analyze, and savor. In doing so, we can better understand why we succumb to such conflicts and what we can do to preserve ourselves and the world around us.

2. Literature Teaches Us How to Empathize With Others

To expand upon the first point, literature exposes us to many places we may never see and situations we will likely never experience first-hand. Obviously, we’ll never get to tour the Underworld like Dante and Virgil in Inferno. We’ll never experience the towering lighthouse or the sea that rages beneath it exactly as the Ramsays had in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. 

Even so, we can experience these journeys and moments as human beings, just by reading them for ourselves. We can feel the same horror, shed the same tears, and behold the beauty of the same wonders. We just have to do it from the comfort of a couch or desk.

A 2006 study conducted by psychology professor Keith Oatley at the University of Toronto found that people who read a lot of fiction tend to score better on tests that measure empathy and emotional intelligence. While researchers are still working to better understand the link between empathy and regular reading, we can reasonably conclude that our favorite books stir something within us, something that feels uniquely human.

3. Writing Helps Us Break Down Barriers

Now that we have touched upon why studying literature matters, we should explore why the act of writing itself is so important.

To put it simply, writing allows us to escape our confines to connect with others. Everyday life does not always grant us these freedoms. We must begin every morning ready to go through the motions, share small talk with colleagues, maybe even a tepid handshake or half-smile. In doing so, we may be forced to overlook the world in all its chaos and injustice. 

When it comes to writing, though, the only things that separate us are the words we hold back. Sometimes, withholding certain details makes sense. With creative writing, you decide how to bridge the gap between yourself and the world and what paths you want to lead your readers down. You choose how to break barriers–either with force or with gentleness. What matters is that you break these barriers and invite your readers inside.

When you study writing, you learn how to do these things without isolating people or drawing them further away. Instead, you learn how to beckon them closer.

4. Writing Allows Us to Share New Ideas With a Wide Audience

So, the barriers have come down. You have at last heard your own voice without these walls standing in the way, and you recognize it as something you want to share. How can you share this information in a fair, balanced manner while still engaging your audience?

Another wonderful thing about writing is that you can make unpleasant truths and sobering facts more palpable simply by choosing the right words and organizing them in a way that makes sense for your audience. For example, the creative narrative about sustainable energy that you write for high school students will look quite different from the research essay that you turn in to your Ethics professor. 

Learning how to present important information to many different types of audiences takes practice. Once you master this skill, you will find it valuable not only as a scholar but also as a creative, future employee, and human being who likes to share uncommon knowledge. Studying writing teaches you how to synthesize research, and how to use it to inform and inspire people who might otherwise overlook it entirely. 

Literature and Creative Writing: An Unstoppable Duo

In sum, good writing stands the test of time. In many ways, a classic novel or timeless poem is like some unmovable natural wonder, like an untouched expanse of forest or an echoing canyon: no matter how many people approach it over several years, there is always the chance of seeing in it something new. At the very least, you can experience what so many before you have experienced and appreciate that experience in the context of your own life.

Creative writing is similar, in that you get to make use of the same language that so many before you have shaped, reshaped, broken, and mended. Some words are well-worn and appear in novels and poems again and again. Think: love, soul, darkness, light, shadow, rose, sun, moon, joy, despair. That said, just because so many writers approach these words with reverence does not mean that you cannot find a place for them or words like them. Like literature, it is your own experiences that grant these words color, context, and life. 

Studying both literature and creative writing can help you unearth these experiences.

Creative Writing and Literature at Antioch University

The celebrated poet, and Antioch University Faculty, Victoria Chang envisions a writing world in which collaboration, generosity, and mutual aid are regular features. In both her life as a writer and in her role as chair of Antioch’s MFA in Creative Writing program, Victoria embodies these qualities, which together she calls “literary citizenship.” And she inspires her students to do the same. Discover the conversation in The Seed Field Podcast and explore how building a more inclusive writing community benefits everyone.

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Expand Your Knowledge as a Literary or Dramatic Artist

The low-residency MFA in Creative Writing program at Antioch University is built for working professionals and structured to mirror the lives that professional writers actually live. Focus genres include creative nonfiction, fiction, playwriting, poetry, young people, or writing for the screen.

Earn Your Bachelor’s and Find Influence in Written Language

With programs on-campus and online our flexible courses fit your schedule. Antioch University’s bachelor’s degrees offer a number of concentrations to support your writing career goals: Literature and Creative Writing , Professional & Creative Writing , Applied Arts & Media , Communication and Media .

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The Benefits of Creative Writing

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To some, creative writing is a fun hobby that has little benefit, and can in fact serve as a time sink wherein nothing is accomplished other than words being spewed onto a page. To others, creative writing is a vital way of expressing oneself. It can be difficult to say which group is correct, but there are some definitive benefits to engaging in creative writing.

One of the first benefits is that it helps to develop creative problem solving skills. Creative writing is an exercise in solving problems, either for the characters within the story or for the author themselves. Characters within stories need to be navigated through a series of difficulties, and if the problems take place in the real world, then the solutions must also be real-world solutions. If the problem is a literal dragon that needs slaying, there’s somewhat less need for it to mimic a real-world solution, since that’s not typically a problem that we have. By navigating fictional characters through difficult times in their lives, either emotionally or financially, writers can learn how to handle those problems in the real world as well, without the stress of trying to figure it out when they’re already in the middle of the situation.

Another benefit of creative writing, particularly if the writer is involved in a formal class or writing group, is that it gives the writer experience in both taking and giving constructive criticism. The first time someone hears that there’s something wrong with their writing can be difficult, but over time, it does get easier. Trust me. I’ve had my fair share of critical remarks, and I’d like to think I’ve gotten better about responding to them. I no longer cry and throw things, so that’s a definite bonus. Taking criticism well is a vital skill, especially in the workplace, because employers often have feedback for their employees that might not necessarily be what the employee wants to hear. Giving criticism that is also constructive is another incredibly valuable skill. If someone believes they are just being torn down, they will not listen to a piece of criticism that might genuinely be designed to help. For this reason, it is important to understand that there are ways to provide tips for improvement without ripping someone’s work apart. Working in a workshop or a creative writing class will help improve these skills.

Creative writing helps to build vocabulary. Do you know how many types of swords there are? I don’t either, actually, but I know many of them. Do you know how many ways there are to say mean? Well, there’s mean, of course, but there are also words like malevolent and malicious and cruel, which all help to paint a more accurate picture of whatever it is that the writer is trying to portray. Once the writer knows these words, they aren’t likely to ever be forgotten. At the very least, the next time the writer is trying to describe someone as mean, they might remember that there are two other, more impressive sounding words that start with ‘m’ that might be used to describe said person.

Creative writing helps to improve outlining skills, which are vital for any kind of large project. Without an outline, creative writers might find themselves bogged down in details they didn’t intend to get lost in, or might lose track of vital plot threads that they’ll need to remember for later in this story. This is also true for any kind of large project, whether it be academic or professional. Presentations made without an outline in place can meander and get lost in themselves, making them difficult to understand or follow. For this reason, outlining is a good skill to pursue, and can be learned or improved upon through the use of creative writing.

One of the most subjective benefits to pursuing creative writing is the way that it can benefit the writer’s emotional well-being. I was skeptical about this one for a long time, because I love writing, but found it to be more stressful than anything else when I did indulge in writing. However, I have found that as I’ve adopted a regular writing schedule and have stuck to it, my mood has begun to improve greatly. I have had friends tell me that I’m happier now, and I do genuinely feel it. But I’m definitely willing to acknowledge that the same might not be true for other people

Creative writing is incredibly beneficial to burgeoning writers, and to students of all kinds. It requires effort, yes, but the more effort someone puts into it, the more likely they are to reap the benefits of it.

27 March, 2017 by McDaniel College Writing Center

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Why is Creative Writing important?

Read our evidence review citing new and relevant research supporting the importance of creative writing in school

Why is creative writing important? And what is the research behind it? These are key questions when thinking about establishing creative writing in your class or school. Scottish Book Trust has pulled together this evidence review for you, citing all the relevant research to support creative writing in schools. This review will help you ensure your practice is research-informed and grounded in evidence.

The review explores evidence into the benefits of creative writing by splitting the research into four key areas:

• Raising attainment through creativity.
• Boosting confidence and imagination.
• Nurturing and supporting wellbeing.
• Improving skills.

All sources are listed at the end of the review, so you can go and read the original resources for yourself too.

Download the evidence review

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5 Reasons Why It Is More Important Than Ever to Teach Creativity

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On the laundry list of skills and content areas teachers have to cover, creativity doesn’t traditionally get top billing. It’s usually lumped together with other soft skills like communication and collaboration: Great to have, though not as important as reading or long division.

But research is showing that creativity isn’t just great to have. It’s an essential human skill — perhaps even an evolutionary imperative in our technology-driven world.

“The pace of cultural change is accelerating more quickly than ever before,” says Liane Gabora , associate professor of psychology and creative studies at the University of British Columbia. “In some biological systems, when the environment is changing quickly, the mutation rate goes up. Similarly, in times of change we need to bump up creativity levels — to generate the innovative ideas that will keep us afloat.”

From standardized tests to one-size-fits-all curriculum, public education often leaves little room for creativity, says EdNews Daily founder Robyn D. Shulman . This puts many schools out of sync with both global demand and societal needs, leaving students poorly prepared for future success.

What can education leaders do about it? For starters, they can make teaching creativity a priority. Here are five reasons to encourage teachers to bring more creativity into the classroom:

1. Creativity motivates kids to learn.

Decades of research link creativity with the intrinsic motivation to learn. When students are focused on a creative goal, they become more absorbed in their learning and more driven to acquire the skills they need to accomplish it.

As proof, education leader Ryan Imbriale cites his young daughter, who loves making TikTok videos showcasing her gymnastics skills. “She spends countless hours on her mat, working over and over again to try to get her gymnastics moves correct so she can share her TikTok video of her success,” says the executive director of innovative learning for Baltimore County Public Schools.

Students are most motivated to learn when certain factors are present: They’re able to tie their learning to their personal interests, they have a sense of autonomy and control over their task, and they feel competent in the work they’re doing. Creative projects can easily meet all three conditions.

2. Creativity lights up the brain.

Teachers who frequently assign classwork involving creativity are more likely to observe higher-order cognitive skills — problem solving, critical thinking, making connections between subjects — in their students. And when teachers combine creativity with transformative technology use, they see even better outcomes.

Creative work helps students connect new information to their prior knowledge, says Wanda Terral, director of technology for Lakeland School System outside of Memphis. That makes the learning stickier.

“Unless there’s a place to ‘stick’ the knowledge to what they already know, it’s hard for students to make it a part of themselves moving forward,” she says. “It comes down to time. There’s not enough time to give them the flexibility to find out where the learning fits in their life and in their brain.”

3. Creativity spurs emotional development.

The creative process involves a lot of trial and error. Productive struggle — a gentler term for failure — builds resilience, teaching students to push through difficulty to reach success. That’s fertile soil for emotional growth.

“Allowing students to experience the journey, regardless of the end result, is important,” says Terral, a presenter at  ISTE Creative Constructor Lab .

Creativity gives students the freedom to explore and learn new things from each other, Imbriale adds. As they overcome challenges and bring their creative ideas to fruition, “students begin to see that they have limitless boundaries,” he says. “That, in turn, creates confidence. It helps with self-esteem and emotional development.”

4. Creativity can ignite those hard-to-reach students.

Many educators have at least one story about a student who was struggling until the teacher assigned a creative project. When academically disinclined students are permitted to unleash their creativity or explore a topic of personal interest, the transformation can be startling.

“Some students don’t do well on tests or don’t do well grade-wise, but they’re super-creative kids,” Terral says. “It may be that the structure of school is not good for them. But put that canvas in front of them or give them tools so they can sculpt, and their creativity just oozes out of them.”

5. Creativity is an essential job skill of the future.

Actually, it’s an essential job skill right now.

According to an Adobe study , 85% of college-educated professionals say creative thinking is critical for problem solving in their careers. And an analysis of LinkedIn data found that creativity is the second most in-demand job skill (after cloud computing), topping the list of soft skills companies need most. As automation continues to swallow up routine jobs, those who rely on soft skills like creativity will see the most growth.

“We can’t exist without the creative thinker. It’s the idea generation and the opportunity to collaborate with others that moves work,” Imbriale says.

“It’s one thing to be able to sit in front of computer screen and program something. But it’s another to have the conversations and engage in learning about what somebody wants out of a program to be written in order to be able to deliver on that. That all comes from a creative mindset.”

Nicole Krueger is a freelance writer and journalist with a passion for finding out what makes learners tick.

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Table of Contents

What is creative writing and its purpose?

Creative writing is not only a tool to help students unleash their creativity and feel more comfortable writing about and about everyday life, but it has also been shown to improve language learning.

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Creative writing assignments allow students to discover their personality, express themselves artistically, use their imagination, and discover their writing style.

At the university level, creative writing is encouraged as teachers encourage their students to learn to write stories and expand their vocabulary in a non-academic way in an academic setting; students also devote some of their (free) time to practice and discussing writing with each other.

Students writing creatively are encouraged to participate in extracurricular writing-based activities such as editorial clubs, school literature or magazines, writing contests, writing colonies or conferences, and continuing education courses.

Video – The importance of creative writing

Why is creative writing considered imaginative writing?

In order to encourage your children to write, be creative, use their imagination, and then praise them when they do, you need to build their confidence and clearly express their opinions, thoughts, and feelings.

Whether it’s taking half an hour a few days a week to sit down and pick up a pen, or use an online platform to write and share our stories , we can help our children grow, learn, and write in the way their peers like, not just their teacher.

Creative writing has the potential to have an incredibly positive impact on our children. As classroom opportunities become more and more limited, taking steps to encourage our children to write can help reap many benefits.

Using writing as a way to show your child his creative side helps his ability to concentrate, increases his sense of purpose and purposefulness.

Why is it important for creative writing students?

Writing is one of the most effective ways to improve your brain. I often hear from parents that their children do not like to write. Children often find it difficult to understand and express their feelings, and writing can be an extremely useful tool for self-expression.

Creative writing can help children explore and learn about their feelings, and it can be very helpful in expressing them. Writing gives children a safe place to explore and can be a very useful tool for expressing their feelings.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “creativity is fun for the intellect,” and writing is a great way to help your child express themselves. Statistics show that reading helps develop your writing skills , but writing helps develop your cognitive growth, organizational skills, and the ability to influence others through persuasion.

Unlike the academic equivalent of a written course that teaches students to create works according to language rules, creative writing is considered to focus on students’ self-expression. They believe that creative writing can hon e students’ ability to express themselves clearly, and creative writing involves careful study of literary terms and mechanisms in order to apply them to the writer’s work to promote improvement.

What is so great about creative writing?

Creative writing can also use their imagination to develop creative thinking, propose alternatives, and expand their thinking process and problem-solving ability.

It develops imagination and creativity and improves the child’s ability to find alternatives. When a child begins to write their own ideas, completing a story develops a number of important lifelong skills . Art writing will encourage and inspire children to use their creative mind and practice using their imagination.

As classroom writing becomes more and more limited, it is important to ensure that our children do not miss these valuable benefits by taking active measures to encourage children to write creatively outside the classroom. Not all creative writing courses are the same.

How does creative writing help you?

We adhere to our vision of helping 8-year-old children learn to write engaging and consistent short stories, including creative transformations, character wishes, obstacles, climax, dialogue and resolution plan.

For children and teenagers, novels are as important as any other type of writing because they learn to write. I found that one of the best ways to communicate with students while developing their reading and writing skills is creative writing.

Students benefit by participating in English Language Development (ELD) courses , observe their thoughts, sit with their emotions, and empathize with themselves and others by writing and sharing their own difficulties. Students should feel comfortable in the writing environment because they have the opportunity to express their ideas without making judgments or disappointments.

What you learn about creative writing?

When you are writing creatively, you are doing an exercise that will allow you to truly develop your voice and opinions without any additional restrictions. Creative writing is not just about improving grammar , spelling and vocabulary; it will allow you to develop your unique voice and share your infinite vision, expressing your views on the world inside and outside your mind.

Once you feel comfortable and master the mechanics of writing professionally and creatively , you can bend and break the rules as needed: use your voice and do what you write convincing without sounding like an amateur, boring or not. authentic.

It involves thinking about different ways to make the story memorable, which means that you also need to think about the voice of your characters and how that voice should sound. If all the characters in the text express the same thing, it will seem boring or monotonous.

What creative writing means?

A good creative writer is someone who can evoke emotion and create conflict in a story. Creative writing can also be used in plays or films because it helps the writer get into the heads of the characters and get a feel for what they feel, which he can then convey from reader to reader who may have a similar experience because the writer was able to successfully express your thoughts on paper.

It can also be a way of creative expression, as being creative can be a way that helps give meaning to our lives. Many people find writing helps to release their innermost feelings that they would otherwise have to contain inside.

People who regularly write creatively express themselves without even realizing it most of the time. But seasoned creative teachers have always known that good writing requires clear communication.

Creative writing exercises also benefit writers who are often overlooked and underestimated, especially in a world that is moving towards normative standardized testing and data-driven work. A study found that, among other things, expressive writing (that is, creative writing) brings more benefits to mental, emotional, and physical health.

A study on the emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing found that only 15-20 minutes of writing a day is enough to affect the overall stress level of participants. This is especially true for students who are in a stressful environment or even just under stress. benefit. Due to standardized testing pressure.

Important Features of Creative Writing

If you’re considering starting a creative writing project, you’ve probably wondered how to get started. But what is creative writing and how hard is it to master? Let’s take a look at some of the most important features of creative writing . We’ll also examine how to choose a topic and outline your story.

How do I start creative writing?

Regardless of genre, you need to understand your target audience before beginning. All great stories start with a target audience.

By understanding your audience, you can tailor your writing to them and connect with them on a personal level. Try plotting out your story in advance and you will naturally begin writing with the target audience in mind. Here are some creative writing tips to help you get started:

If you want to pursue a degree in creative writing , you may want to look into an online program or pursue a master’s degree. There are countless degrees and programs available in the field of creative writing, which range in length from four to 10 years. T

aking the time to learn the craft will allow you to practice writing while you study . During the process of learning, write out your whole story. Break it down into scenes and chapters, sketch your characters, and describe their traits.

Is it hard to learn creative writing?

One question many people ask is: “Is it hard to learn creative writing?” The answer to this question depends entirely on your own preferences. Some people are natural writers, while others prefer to experiment with different forms of writing.

Either way, creativity can be learned , and creative writing is something that should be encouraged for everyone. In order to learn creative writing , you should begin by reading widely and reading examples of different forms of literature.

While learning to write fiction and poetry , creative writing courses also teach you how to analyze the structure of a story. While writing a short story, an essay, or a novel requires an imaginative approach, a creative writing class will help you develop your analytical and critical faculties.

You’ll discover how to make your story unique by developing characters, constructing scenes, and creating a world from the characters’ perspective.

How can I improve my creative writing skills?

If you’re not confident enough to write a full-length novel , you can try retelling classic stories. Although it can be challenging to create a completely new plot and characters, there are many ways to improve your skills.

For instance, you can retell Cinderella from the perspective of the ugly stepsisters, which could be an interesting twist on the original story. For inspiration, write a weekly or monthly book review to get ideas for your own stories.

Another way to improve your creative writing skills is to practice different ways to create strong visuals. By practicing strong visuals, you’ll be able to create books that grab the reader’s attention and keep them interested. Try writing using the senses, which teaches you to use your imagination to create vivid scenes .

If you have difficulty writing dialogue, you can also try writing a scene entirely with dialogue. Creating a scene entirely with dialogue can help move the story forward. This technique will help you learn to show, not tell in creative writing.

Different perspectives of creative thoughts from creative minds

They say negative people transmit negative emotions , but in the world of creative writing it’s one of the vital literary devices used to evoke empathy with the hero of the story. The purpose of creative writing is to make the reader identify with the main characters and understand their thought processes : it’s an important part of the creative process.

One of the benefits of creative writing at any level is that it improves the communication skills of the writer and the reader, by adding everyone’s life experiences . Creative writing exercises help to hone these skills and further develop basic writing skills, such as the syntax of sentence structure and writing profiles for character development.

Although fiction writing is a creative outlet , communicating well in the written form in a concise manner on a regular basis depends on using your own voice and personal life as reflective tools: human experience is a well of material in all areas of life.

From any point of view , new ideas are the life-blood of problem solving , which is what the author does on a day to day basis .

One of the best things about constructive criticism in a supportive environment is extremely helpful for all authors, and even young people writing their first fiction in the form of essays. Any creative type of writing in the school years is a form of artistic writing and is an enriching personal experience.

There’s nothing quite so satisfying as experiencing the joy of using the correct use of language in your own original work . Even the technical writer can use an element of creativity in their work, employing different angles for looking at the real world.

Any good creative writing class will have an element of factual writing in the form of journalism and is an excellent opportunity to explore technical forms of literature.

Resources relating to the importance of creative writing:

Why learn creative writing – writers.com, the importance of creative writing in the youth, why you are wrong if you think creative writing is a ‘frivolous , why is creative writing so important.

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9 Benefits of Creative Writing to Help Your Children

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There they go again! Your children run through the house, mimicking characters right out of the latest Disney movie. You sense some special energy is attached to their activity, but you don’t know how to turn it into gold.

Lucky for you, we’ve got the answer… writing!

This article will demonstrate how the benefits of creative writing will change your children’s lives, enhance their thought processes and improve their school grades. The countless ways creative writing will help your kids are simply amazing if you just invest the time in learning how to tap into it.

Table of Contents

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a free-form style of writing based on the author's imagination, thoughts, and feelings. The style may be prose, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, songs, essays, or several others. Creative writing is original and expressive of the author’s self.

While there are many types of creative writing options for adults, there are a few that children, especially, can excel in as they learn and grow. The depth and complexity should correlate to the child’s age, ability, and preference.

Types of Creative Writing for Children

• Picture stories

How to Develop Good Creative Writing Habits

Routine and practice.

To develop and grow any good habit , you must plan a routine, work it into a regular schedule, and practice daily. Your children also need to learn this skill. It will carry over into all aspects of their lives as they learn and grow. When they mature, routines, schedules, and practicing will structure their personal lives and professional careers, making them the envy of all.

Reading and writing go together like two peas in a pod or like Mickey and Minnie or Shakespeare and Marlowe. You get the idea. Reading books serves as an example of how stories flow and communicate, but they also help develop good creative writing skills. The more a child reads, the better their writing will become, and their reading and comprehension will improve.

You probably didn’t expect nutrition to come into play with creative writing, but alas, it has. Healthy food helps a child’s brain function at the top of its game. Without it, a child will feel sluggish and unmotivated. Make sure your child has the healthy fuel they need to perform like a rock star.

Other ideas

Additional ideas to spark your child’s creative writing engine:

• Present a picture and ask your child to create a story to go with it.
• Begin a short story and ask your child to develop the characters and finish the story.
• Read a story to your child and ask them to create alternative endings.
• Give your child a list of words and phrases and ask them to write a story using them.
• Ask your child to write words or phrases on separate index cards, shuffle them, and then ask your child to make up a story in the order the cards come up.

Every child is a creative writer. They may only know how to write in their heads, but they have the gift. This list of nine benefits of creative writing to help your children will demonstrate how the benefits develop and improve your children's lives. The objective is to help you understand how to help your children make the most of this wonderful asset and grow it into something lifelong and marvelous.

1. Language Development and Linguistic Competence

Creative writing strengthens language arts skills and improves children’s grades in all areas of coursework. It helps them understand and develop good grammar habits, sentence structure, vocabulary, and dialogue.

Linguistically, children learn to communicate and comprehend language, dialects, and idioms. They may not even realize what they are doing, but the result of learning complex communication tools will be evident in their writing, reading, speaking, and interactions. These tools will help children not only in their school performance but also in their creative development.

2. Enhancement of Imagination and Creativity

Children have excellent imaginations and creativity, but they often don’t know how to harness it and develop it to get the most from it. Creative writing provides the vehicle and the fuel to let their creativity and imagination soar. It will also help your children learn language, organization, structure, form, and voice to help them in all areas of their lives.

Our childlike addiction to imagination wanes into the past as we grow older. The harsh day-to-day realities of our lives dominate our thinking, and our vision diminishes. With creative writing, it won’t fade. In fact, it becomes honed and perfected like a skilled blacksmith shoes a horse. If your children learn early how to make creative writing part of their lives, it will never leave them, even as they gallop off into the sunset.

3. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Development

Creative writing enhances a child’s emotional intelligence and empathy development through practice and experimentation in writing. Not only will a child channel their thoughts and emotions into their writing, but they will also connect emotionally and empathically with their characters. This skill will be an enormous help to a child throughout their school years, personal life, college, and future career challenges.

4. Self-Confidence Builder

One of the primary benefits of creative writing for children is boosting self-confidence. Every time they practice, they improve. As they improve, they develop positive self-confidence. If they continue to practice creative writing throughout their school years, their writing skills will be spectacular by the time they prepare for college.

Creative writing provides a safe, supportive environment for a child to express their thoughts and feelings. As the child experiments with writing, they will eventually discover their voice and tone. The exuberant reward for this discovery is a strong and positive self-confidence.

5. Problem-Solving and Research Skills Development

Although creative writing is the self-expression of thoughts and ideas, it requires a narrative and structure. You need to know what you are talking about, which means you will need to do some problem-solving and research to make your creative writing authoritative and meaningful.

For children, this is one of the best ways to hone these skills. These children will be incredible thought leaders. As they develop creative writing routines and habits, they will excel in all areas of their life where they need to do problem-solving and research.

When a child writes creatively, their imagination sparks neurons in their brain to figure out narratives, plots, subplots, solutions, and character backgrounds and development, identity, and motives. Tackling these problems boosts brain activity, development, and growth . Story analysis and research skills will follow as the child yearns to learn more about making their stories better.

6. Therapeutic and Healing Benefits

Creative writing serves as a therapeutic treatment for those battling diseases, difficult emotions, or mental health issues. Scientific studies show that creative writing also helps physical healing through an increased antibody response in the body.

Creative writing helps children effectively and therapeutically process difficult emotions, stress, trauma, fear, and anxiety. A survey by the National Literacy Trust in the UK found that children who engage in literacy are “three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing” than those who don’t, by a margin of 39.4% to 11.8%.

As far as physical health, creative writing is associated with an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts , which are vital to immune system functions. This means that creative writing aids in chronic pain management, reduction in mood swings that produce an imbalance in brain chemical release, and hormonal processes. Yes. Creative writing indeed provides healing benefits for the physical body.

7. Self-Expression Builder

Self-expression is the foundational element of creative writing and helps children funnel their feelings, emotions, thoughts, ideas, and opinions into a written form that validates their identity. Self-expression is vital for good mental health and development. It teaches children how to release their thoughts in a positive, creative way that matters.

Creative writing allows a child to express themselves without judgment. This provides for the exploration and discovery of their unique identity, which is key to self-confidence and success.

8. Communication Builder

Because creative writing teaches children how to organize thoughts and structure them for presentation in writing, it also improves their overall communication skills. While they may not be writing it down in their heads, they remember the habits they learned from creative writing. It will even help them be better persuasive communicators because of their creative writing skills.

Being adults, we all understand that communication is the foundation of any relationship, personal, social, or work-related. When communication is cloudy or confusing, our relationships suffer. When our communication is clear, we thrive. Effective communication is one of the benefits of creative writing that your children will reap from learning how to do it well.

9. Interpersonal Connection Builder

One of the least considered benefits of creative writing for children is that it enhances their peer relationships. Creative writing serves as an interpersonal connection builder because it opens endless avenues for increasing social interaction, discussion, exchange of ideas, cultural learning, empathy, and trust.

As a child advances in creative writing, language skills, vocabulary, and communication skills, their interpersonal relationships vastly improve. Everyone loves a clear communicator and one who can persuade others on various topics. It’s kind of like how kids choose the best ballplayer to be on their team. They want the best. To be the best, you need practice and resources.

Resources for Creative Writing for Children

• Creative writing workshops for children
• Home entertainment projects
• Gifting projects
• Self-publishing
• Kids’ book clubs
• Vocabulary-building games
• Kids’ writing competitions

The benefits of creative writing to help your children far outweigh any burden or investment you need to make to see it through. Children who learn to write creatively and practice often rise to the top of their class in all areas. Children who suffer from trauma, illness, or mental health complexes have not only stopped the progression of their problems but also have reversed adverse effects.

The lifelong good habits your children develop from creative writing will follow them for the remainder of their lives. Creative writing is one of the best gifts you will ever give them. You never know how far your child might rise with their creative writing skills.

Final Thoughts on Benefits of Creative Writing to Help Your Children

With words, humankind has started wars and signed peace treaties. We have issued manifestos, signed pardons, written laws, and authored works that have changed the world, for worse and for good.

Your child may just be the one who brings peace to the planet and comforts the brokenhearted. Teaching children creative writing skills is the secret to opening doors of opportunity for the entire world.

Please visit our site at Develop Good Habits . Also, check out 13 Growth Mindset Videos for Kids to Watch on YouTube . Your children hold the keys to the future for us all.

Rain Story is an author and screenwriter. She is an alumna of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Kentucky. She earned two B.A.s and four years of graduate studies in literature, languages, and creative writing before personal tragedies pulled her away from her graduate work. She is also a Donaghey Scholar and fellow of the William G. Cooper, Jr. Honors Program in English.

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Why should You Encourage Your Child to Work on Creative Writing Skills for Career Growth?

• On April 21, 2022
• In Career Guidance , Parents Must Read

Let me start with a little anecdote.

I remember traveling across the length and breadth of India as a child. This traveling spree continued till my Masters Degree. It however reduced drastically after I got a job. My parents were avid travelers and alongside these travels, they made sure I documented them. This was a small effort on their part to instill the habit of writing in me. It was a mechanical task initially. However, with time, it magically turned into a habit. Today, as I flip through those pages, I ride a time machine that takes me back to those places, those times. They bring me back a slice of my childhood.

Now, the question is, why this anecdote? The answer is – to introduce the habit of writing since childhood. Creativity can neither be induced nor taught. What you can teach is to think out of the box – to perceive a situation from ten different angles. For instance, you can interpret a cloud as a lump of cotton or the moon as a silver plate. These are sure to reflect in writing.

Table of Contents

What is Creative Writing

Wikipedia defines creative writing as ‘’ any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or with various traditions of poetry and poetics ‘’.

Creative writing is not based on any kind of factual information or event. It brings out a vivid picture of the writer’s mind and creates a collage of images and emotions in the readers’ minds. This form of writing is known to be the creative outlet for people and their unique way of self-expression. It is how they view the world around them, that reflects in their writing.

Read the Interview with Prof. Saikat Majumdar, Professor of English & Creative Writing at Ashoka University .

What’s the purpose of creative writing

Creative writing comes with an array of benefits. For students, this plays a very important role in their emotional and cognitive development. If you are a student and have a knack for creative writing, you will be able to relate to the following advantages:

• The learning process enhances once you start flexing your creative muscles. It is a fun way of learning to express yourself. you can compare creative writing to problem-solving. The starting point is an issue or a question and you need to bring a solution for that – in your own way.
• Creative writing benefits all subjects. It is not just about learning how to write. You need to understand, analyze and have a sense of logic towards what others are bringing to the plate. This process improves your reading skills because you are introduced to new words, phrases, complex situations and interesting plots through creative stories. Creative writing also helps to sharpen math skills.

Other sub-skills include:

• You become adept at multitasking. You stand a chance to score higher than your batchmates. All of these are the magical results of creative writing. Once you start writing creatively, you will notice yet another change in yourself. Your communication skills will enhance and you will be able to communicate your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Students who wish to pursue their higher education abroad, require excellent verbal communication skills. You can always bank on creative writing for developing this part.
• When you wish to write something, you are indirectly forced to read. The more you read, the better you write. Creative writing, thus, helps to increase your comprehension skills – your grammar and vocabulary. Aren’t these the basic things you learned in your primary school? Moreover, creative writing also exposes you to various types of words, sentence structures, and formats. It is more than just reading a story.

Psychological Advantages:

• Creative writing is known to be a natural antidepressant. Creativity is a form of play with no specific rules. It is thus known to increase serotonin levels that are linked to anxiety and depression. You’ll find that you are able to concentrate better in class.
• This form of writing helps you build a certain level of confidence. It will give you an opportunity to explore diverse projects, ideas, and situations, without the fear of being judged. Students easily fall prey to a lack of self-confidence.
• Creative writing has the power to instill this confidence and make them better human beings. Apart from this, you develop emotional skills through creative writing. You learn to empathize with characters and situations and seek different solutions to one problem.
• Self-discovery happens through creative writing. You also learn how to improve your writing skills in English .

Why Learn Creative Writing

Creative writing is considered one of the most misunderstood disciplines. Different people have different perceptions of creative writing. The reality however is that the best in you comes out only when you remain engaged with the real world, real people, real situations, and real issues. Creative writing applies not only in academics but in every facet of life.

A few advantages can be enumerated here:

• Learning how to write creatively improves self-expression. Suppose you find a certain word in a poem or a story interesting, you activate that part of your brain which is used when you speak. You automatically evolve into a good communicator through writing.
• Every career requires some kind of written stuff. Although you might not be writing emails/invitations in the form of poetry, it does require a certain jargon to communicate with that specific reader-base you are targeting. Learning creative writing allows you to practice the grammar and style necessary for either your career-related work or any other kind of literary work.

Think first. Write later. It is fun

• Lets get this clear. You cannot write without thinking. Hence, strong writing is always backed by strong thinking. Without language, our thoughts wouldn’t have any form. If you are to think of abstract ideas like friendship, justice, compassion and revenge, then language is the key. Learning creative writing help you choose the right words, channel your thoughts in a certain direction and reproduce your thoughts in a manner that is unique in your own way.
• Have you ever thought about why children love reading comics? For the simple reason – a writing style that is funny. Hence, what do we derive from this? That creative writing is fun. If you are learning to write a poem, a fiction, or even for the silver screen, keep in mind to put in some fun elements. That way, not only will it make your job easy, it will also keep readers/viewers engaged. Just imagine the works by William Hanna, Joseph Barbera or Fred Quimby. They have made Tom and Jerry famous with their incredible script!

Career Benefits

Your ability to write professionally is considered one of the most in-demand skills when it comes to employment and career development across departments. Creative writing helps bring out certain characteristics of the writer in his / her career realm:

• A clear thought process
• The ability to make multi-level communication easy
• Way of understanding and interpreting situations/problems
• The capacity to build cooperation among people and eliminate unwanted information

A few benefits of creative writing in the professional sector :

• Improvement in ideation and observation: you’ll see that when you keenly observe your surroundings, you find themes and plots for your content. This in turn helps you deal with writers’ block and come up with intriguing ideas for writing. Many a times, a life story, a personal experience or / and real life experiences help churn out ideas for a writeup.
• Brushing up of research skills: when you start writing a piece (news report, feature, short story, character sketch, or an advertisement script), the first and foremost thing you need to do is research. Research will help you fetch more details, dig out interesting details related to the piece and make your content creative and authentic. Moreover, you will be able to collect and analyze data, structure and organize your writeup.

Better communication. Better career options

• Polishing of communication skills: creativity doesn’t come overnight. It is a constant learning process that entails reading, listening, understanding and interpreting. When you invest considerable time in these four, you gradually polish your communication skills in the process. The key is to keep your write-up short and brief. That way you’ll be able to communicate better with your target audience. Simply put, readers just do not like never-ending sentences with complex words.
• Better career options: once you develop a knack for creative writing, you will be open to diverse career options. It need not be just a writer. You can explore careers like web content creator, content writer/editor, proofreader, copywriter, journalist, social media manager, or even a teacher. You can work with renowned schools, media houses, publishing houses, MNCs and NGOs.

Read Importance of Storytelling for Tech Jobs and Career Growth .

Creative writing in higher studies

Learning how to write well and write effectively is essential for all careers. Creative writing is not just limited to humanities background anymore. People hailing from other scientific, technology, culinary, and business professions also require creative writing in order to promote products, ideas, and technologies.

Students are thus encouraged to invest considerable time in tapping their creative mind box. While pursuing higher studies, you can always start your own blog, or join a creative writing course or a club (in school). Creative writing is an intrinsic part of higher education.

No matter what profession you pursue, you are required to communicate. How effectively you put across your thoughts, makes a huge impression on your peers and/or the senior management. Suppose you are to write a speech for a certain dignitary, or you have to submit a school project. How will you move ahead?

You have to pool in creative, interesting content, alongside facts and data. You can do this only when you are in complete control over your thoughts and vocabulary.

It is advised to write a paragraph or two daily. Start small. Increase the content with every passing week. Sooner or later you are sure to reap benefits.

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Sreeparna Dutta

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Why We Need to Teach Creative Writing Every Day in the Language Arts Classroom

• February 18, 2020
• Posted by: The Teachers Academy
• Category: All Blog Postings Online Courses

Grammar, citations, essay writing, and modes of persuasion are all essential writing and communication skills required by the state that students must learn and master before proceeding to higher education. However, these are not the only critical writing skills to teach and learn in the Language Arts classroom. While informational and persuasive essays are vital to education, and facts and figures from reputable sources should be used to support assertions and theories, learning how to write creatively can improve students’ writing across the board and give them new outlets to explore! 

At the Teachers Academy, we understand the importance of creative writing and teaching it in the classroom. We provide a plethora of online professional development courses for teachers in Philadelphia , and the Writer’s Workshop course we offer is dedicated to empowering educators to teach creative writing every day! Here are a few benefits of daily creative writing exercises for students:

Benefits of Teaching Creative Writing

• Boosts Self-Expression & Imagination

Creative writing is a form of expression that lives almost exclusively “outside the box,” and that is precisely where we want our students to think, right? Creative writing allows young writers to explore made-up worlds and experiment with new writing skills. It can also give them healthy outlets to navigate their emotions, learn more about the world and themselves, and share these explorations with their peers, friends, and families.

• Improves Communication Skills & Empathy

Creative writing is an underappreciated form of communication, but it encourages students to imagine new characters, personalities, and points of view, and explore various emotions and motivations. As a result, the burgeoning creative writers will learn how to empathize, accept the existence of new perspectives, and develop their ability to communicate with others. 

• Builds Confidence 

One of the most challenging hurdles of writing for most children (and adults) is finding a unique voice. By engaging in daily creative writing exercises, students can develop their own voices and views without worrying about citing a quote professionally or losing points for a sentence fragment. When writers find their voices, they become more confident and comfortable expressing their opinions and passions and more likely to assert themselves when necessary. 

• Molds Better Writers

Writing is still writing, creative or otherwise. By practicing creative writing every day, students learn to clarify their thoughts, add to their lexicons, and use (or ignore) strict grammar rules to make their writing flow. Creative writing helps young writers create compelling content by avoiding repetitive and dull syntax, inauthenticity, and amateurish assertions. 

Explore Creative Writing With the Writer’s Workshop

At the Teachers Academy, we provide PD courses for teachers who need Act 48 credits in the Philadelphia area , and our Writer’s Workshop course is ideal for teachers to earn those credits while also integrating creative writing into their curricula. 

For more information on our excellent professional development opportunities, explore our Course Catalog. If you want to enroll in the Writer’s Workshop, feel free to create an account at no cost to you, and purchase the course today! 

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Five reasons to study Creative Writing

A creative writing degree has many real-life applications and gives you a variety of careers to choose from. discover five of the best reasons to study this degree and how it can improve your future..

1. Storytelling is important

Understanding what makes a story work and how to get people to engage with it is a valuable skill. It helps people to see the world in a different way through persuasive, intelligent and emotionally aware arguments and stories. People care about stories, and they like the people who know how to tell them.

2. It’s truly creative

Creative Writing is a unique challenge, demanding you to make things from nothing as no other subject does. Though you’ll be channelling the skills you’ve been taught into a specific project, you’ll be making something entirely new; characters, creatures and entire living, breathing worlds.

3. Work with published authors

Like English and History students get to work with published, fully-fledged academics, Creative Writing students work with actual authors. For a writer, the chance to work with someone more experienced who’s used to the difficult creative process is rare and valuable.

• READ MORE 
• What graduates do and earn
• Creative Writing subject guide
• Search undergraduate courses
• Creative Writing subject table

4. Flexibility

The brilliant thing about Creative Writing is that it blends so well with other subjects. For example, taking it alongside an English course will expose you to a rich literary heritage that could influence your own style. Combining with media or film studies will allow you to explore the long-running screenwriting legacy. Creative Writing, as a subject, is invariably informed by other areas of study. You can pair it with pretty much anything.

5. Transferable skills

Pursuing Creative Writing at university will make you a master of language. You’ll be writing all the time; it’ll be your job. That’s great, because the world always needs writers, and not just for writing stories. In most sectors written work is involved, as people are needed to accurately convey information and make it engaging as they do so.

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Why Students Should Write in All Subjects

Writing improves learning by consolidating information in long-term memory, researchers explain. Plus, five engaging writing activities to use in all subjects.

For Kyle Pahigian, a 10th-grade math teacher at University Park Campus School in Massachusetts, a lesson on congruent triangles doesn’t start with calculators and protractors. Instead, she hands her students a treasure map and asks them to write detailed directions—using landmarks as a guide—to the buried treasure.

“I won’t tell the kids right away, ‘Today we’re going to learn about triangle congruence theorems,’” said Pahigian. “I want them to instead view it as them experimenting with something and doing something that they feel like they’re really good at.” Students often feel intimidated by math, and transforming the activity into a writing exercise eases some of the anxiety of introducing difficult concepts, she said.

In Pahigian’s math class, writing is regularly used as a learning strategy, one that gives her a window into her students’ thinking. “I like to do low-stakes writing when we’re coming up with definitions,” said Pahigian. Instead of telling her students what a polygon is, for example, she’ll show them a set of polygons and a set of non-polygons, and ask them, “What do you notice? What differences do you see?” Students spend a few minutes writing down their answers, and then join groups to compare responses.

“It’s really interesting and fun for me to read what they’ve written, because I can see all the questions. I can see the process,” said Pahigian.

A recent study sheds light on why writing is such a beneficial activity—not just in subjects typically associated with writing, like history and English, but across all subjects. Professor Steve Graham and his colleagues at Arizona State University’s Teachers College analyzed 56 studies looking at the benefits of writing in science, social studies, and math and found that writing “reliably enhanced learning” across all grade levels. While teachers commonly ask students to write about a topic in order to assess how well they understand the material, the process of writing also improves a student’s ability to recall information, make connections between different concepts, and synthesize information in new ways. In effect, writing isn’t just a tool to assess learning, it also promotes it.

Strengthening Memories

Why is writing effective? “Writing about content material facilitates learning by consolidating information in long-term memory,” explain Graham and his colleagues, describing a process known as the retrieval effect . As previous research has shown , information is quickly forgotten if it’s not reinforced, and writing helps to strengthen a student’s memories of the material they’re learning.

It’s the same cognitive mechanism that explains why practice tests are effective : In a 2014 study, students who took low-stakes practice tests in science and history classes scored 16 percentage points higher on their final exams than students who simply studied the material. “Practicing retrieval of recently studied information enhances the likelihood of the learner retrieving that information in the future,” the researchers of the 2014 study said.

Writing about a topic also encourages students to process information at a deeper level. Answering multiple-choice or short-answer questions may help with factual recall, but putting thoughts on paper encourages students to evaluate different ideas, weighing the importance of each one and considering the order they should be presented in, Graham and his colleagues write. By doing so, students may make new connections between ideas, ones they may not have made when initially learning the information.

A Metacognitive Tool

Students often believe that they understand a topic, but if they’re asked to write it down—and explain it—gaps in their understanding may be revealed. One of the most effective writing strategies that Graham and his colleagues found was metacognitive prompting, in which students are asked not only to recall information but also to apply what they’ve learned to different contexts by thinking about multiple sides of a position or making predictions based on what they currently know. For example, instead of simply reading about ecosystems in a textbook, students can write about their own impact by examining how much trash their household produces or the environmental impact of producing the food they eat.

5 Writing Strategies to Use in Any Subject

Here are a variety of ideas teachers have shared with Edutopia in recent years on incorporating writing into a variety of subjects.

“I wonder” journals: At Crellin Elementary School in Oakland, Maryland, teachers encouraged students to ask “I wonder” questions to push their learning beyond the classroom. After visiting a local barn and garden, for example, Dave Miller realized his fifth-grade students had more questions about animals and plants than he had time to answer, so he had them write down anything they were confused or curious about, which helped him plan future lessons and experiments.

“If they don’t wonder, ‘How would we ever survive on the moon?’ then that’s never going to be explored,” said Dana McCauley, Crellin’s principal. “But that doesn’t mean they should stop wondering, because wonderings lead to thinking outside the box, which makes them critical thinkers. As they try to figure it out, and reflect on what they’re doing, that’s where it all ties together for them. That’s where all that learning occurs—where all the connections start being made.”

Travel journals: Every student at Normal Park Museum Magnet, a K–8 school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, created a travel journal to chart their learning. These journals included not only charts, drawings, and graphic organizers, but also writing and reflection pieces that capture students’ learning about a topic.

When fifth-grade teacher Denver Huffstutler began a unit on earth science, he asked his students to imagine they were explorers looking for a new world that could sustain life. In their travel journal, they kept track of everything they were learning, from the impact of man-made disasters to their designs and calculations for a manned rocket that could reach distant planets.

Low-stakes writing: Writing can be daunting, so teachers at University Park Campus School used daily low-stakes writing activities to foster student voice, self-confidence, and critical thinking skills—a school-wide strategy used in every subject.

“The most important thing about it for me is that it’s not censored, and it’s not too highly structured,” said seventh-grade science teacher James Kobialka. “It’s about them getting their own ideas down, and then being able to interact with those ideas, change them, and revise them if they’re not correct.”

For example, when Kobialka’s students were learning about the conservation of mass, he didn’t start by defining it—he showed them a picture and asked, “What do you notice about the atoms on both sides? How can you explain that?” Students wrote down their observations, and the entire class came up with a definition. “From there,” he said, “once that consensus is formed, I’ll ask somebody to write it on the board, and we’ll talk about the key concepts.”

Student-created magazines: In Alessandra King’s algebra class, students created a magazine with dozens of articles about real world applications of math. For each article, they selected a primary source—an article from Scientific American , for example—read it closely, and then wrote a summary. Students wrote about a range of topics, from gerrymandering to fractals in Jackson Pollock’s paintings to invisibility cloaks.

“Effective writing clarifies and organizes a student’s thoughts, and the slow pace of writing is conducive to student learning because it allows them to reason carefully to make sure they’re correct before they state their thoughts,” King wrote. “Studies have shown that writing is valuable specifically for the math classroom—for example, it seems that a student’s ability to explain concepts in writing is related to the ability to comprehend and apply them.”

Creative writing: Former teachers Ed Kang and Amy Schwartzbach-Kang incorporated storytelling and creative writing into their after-school program’s science lessons. For example, they asked students to imagine a creature that could survive in a local habitat —the Chicago River, in their case. What color would it be? What features would help it to survive and defend itself? How would it hunt its prey? Students then wrote a story about their creature that combined science concepts with creative storytelling.

“There’s brain science to support using stories to help kids engage with content and create personal meaning,” explained Kang, who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience. “Listening to facts mainly stimulates the two language-processing areas of the brain. However, when we listen to a story, additional parts of the brain are also activated—regions involved with our senses and motor movements help listeners actually ‘feel’ the descriptions.”

Home » Blog » Children's Literature » The Benefits of Creative Writing: How Grade Levels Improve

The Benefits of Creative Writing: How Grade Levels Improve

• Updated on 06 Oct 2021
• Children's Literature
• Mautushi Paul
• 4 mins read

Topic Index

Introduction, what is creative writing.

• How does creative writing improve grade levels?
• Does creative writing pave career opportunities?
• Final thoughts

Creative writing has been shown to help improve grades in many different subjects. This is because such writing helps improve thinking skills, and it also helps students learn more about themselves as writers. If you are looking for ways to boost your child’s grade level, then one of the best things that you can do is encourage them to write creatively. In this article, we will discuss how creative writing improves grades and some tips on how you can get your child started with their own creativity!

Creative writing is when a person writes about anything that they want, and it does not have to be based on any sort of factual event. Other types of writing often leave the reader with facts and information, however creative writing includes emotions to build a vivid vision in the reader’s mind.  Creative writing is often seen as a creative outlet for people to express themselves, and it can be used in many different ways.

Creative writing has been shown to improve grades, as well as make students more confident in their own abilities!

How Does Creative Writing Improve Grade Levels?

Now that we know creative writing is a fun way to express one’s thoughts, it certainly has benefits for your child. Creative writing improves a child’s academics and here are the 10 reasons how!

The Learning Process Enhances

Creative writing can be a fun way to express oneself as well as learn.  It’s not just about using creative words, but also improving how the brain works in learning new things. The process of doing creative work is much like problem-solving: you have a starting point that sets up an issue or question,  then you must think of a solution that satisfies the problem or answer.

It Helps Kids in All Subjects

Writing is not just about learning how to write, it’s also understanding and analyzing what other people are writing. Creative writing improves reading skills because your child will have a better understanding of new words as they read through creative stories with interesting plots.

Creative writing also helps with math skills. It’s been found that many kids think of numbers in terms of stories and people, so the creative process can help them build their understanding of math concepts more easily.

Creativity Improves School Retention Rates

Creative work is a form of play, which has been proven to increase serotonin levels linked to depression and anxiety.

It also helps to improve your child’s study habits, because they are more likely to pay attention in class when they’re already thinking about their creative projects at home.

Creative Writing Build Confidence in Studying

This type of writing helps kids feel more confident in their own abilities. It gives them the opportunity to explore different worlds and ideas without fear of being judged, which is something that can be difficult when it comes to schoolwork. The creative process teaches children how they can express themselves creatively through words. Thus, it makes them study and learn more to express themselves creatively.

Creative Writing Increase Multitasking

It can help your child learn how to multitask. One study found that creative writers were better at switching between tasks than their classmates who didn’t write creatively, and they also scored higher on tests of working memory.

Communication Skills Increases

Creative writing also teaches students how to communicate their ideas in a clear and concise manner. This is important for any educational setting, but it’s especially true for the higher grades, where verbal communication skills are more heavily relied upon. Your child will communicate well and be good with other students. This will make them learn from their fellow students as well as teach them. Hence, the improvement in grades will be for all the students around.

Social Skills  and Memory Skills Increases

Publishing creative work can teach children about collaboration. It can prepare them for working on group projects later in life or even starting their own businesses. It strengthens memory skills and increases intelligence. Students will be more focused in class because they’re thinking about what happens next to the characters that they have created.

Comprehension Skill Rises

Reading forces students to improve reading comprehension skills as well as grammar and vocabulary knowledge. One of the most important things your child can learn in school is how to read.

Exposure To Language

It provides an opportunity for students to experiment with different types of words, formats, and sentence structures. It broadens their understanding of the world by exposing them to more than just reading a story about what they did that day or describing who they are as a person.

Children Learn to Empathize

Writing helps students empathize with a story’s protagonist and understand their feelings, motivations, and reactions better. When they’re forced to create characters that have thoughts and feelings of their own, children can more easily get inside the heads of other people—even if it is only for a short period of time. This habit will also be applied in their day-to-day life. Thus, their good personalities will make them realize how important it is to study well and to help another child as well.

Does Creative Writing Pave Career Opportunities?

It can also help children develop skills that will be essential in the future. Creative writers are often able to think critically and creatively, two qualities that employers crave in employees.  By teaching kids to think creatively, you are laying the foundation for them to be successful later in life.

Final Thoughts

Kids really enjoy it! Creative writing also teaches children how to be more imaginative and explore their thoughts through art. It can also provide a good way for people who don’t know each other well to bond. School grades can be a burden and to evade such thoughts, writing comes in super handy. This is why children score better in academics because their stress can be laid off by their escape- creative writing! By finding their way of writing, kids can turn it into a superpower, allowing them to be more creative while having fun and doing something they enjoy. So keep motivating your little ones.

Keep writing!

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No matter which specialization you choose, you will receive a quality education that can help equip you with a unique set of skills and help you prepare for a rewarding career where you can put your writing skills to use.

Study principles and practices in creative writing. Learn to craft different works such as poems, memoirs, and novellas. Develop skills in editing for publishing; print and digital publishing; writing for cultural engagement, theater, and film; and researching for writing. Partner with us here at Liberty University to build your portfolio and broaden your writing abilities.

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There are many benefits to choosing one of Liberty’s online undergraduate creative writing degrees. We offer flexible learning options, allowing you to complete your coursework on your schedule. Our online programs also provide you with access to experienced faculty and valuable resources, including our Online Writing Center.

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In Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing online degree program, you can learn the fundamentals of creative writing, including fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, novellas, poetry, and screenwriting. The program emphasizes the importance of strong writing skills and provides opportunities for you to develop your craft through workshops and peer review.

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Five reasons kids still need to learn handwriting

by Lucinda McKnight and Maria Nicholas, The Conversation

Handwriting is still part of the curriculum

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Provided by The Conversation

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