3 Easy Ways to Add Creativity to Your Writing

This month’s theme is bravery and facing our fears, so what a better way to talk about that than a deep dive discussion of creativity - where everything starts for writers!

What is Creativity? 

Have you ever actually thought about what creativity means? I’ll be honest, I hadn’t really until quite recently because it’s kind of something that seems to naturally happen. 

Does it feel like that for you, too? 

It’s funny because when I was young, I would ask my mom what a word meant and she would send me straight to the dictionary to read for myself. I hated it! But now when I think about abstract concepts like creativity, I appreciate her stance because I love looking up words. 

So that’s what I did. 

According to the dictionary, creativity is, “the ability to use and produce or use original or unusual ideas.” 

Your idea can be unusual - a new twist. A creative take. 

I think what surprised me the most was the word unusual, because as writers, we’re pretty familiar with what an original idea is, right? But unusual is not something we typically think of. I love it, though. Because I’m sorry to say, but the chances of finding a truly original idea are slim. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t have a good or worthy idea that has been used in a different way, though. Your idea can be unusual - a new twist. A creative take. 

Need Creativity

Why Do We Need Creativity?

Over the years it’s become abundantly clear that creativity is not only important, but something we NEED in a non-negotiable way. 

We need creativity for 3 main reasons: 

Expresses Our Imagination

Those of us who live creatively for most of our lives understand the need to express our imagination somehow. Whether through writing, painting, sculpting, composing - whatever it is that fulfills your desire to create. It allows us to get out of our own head and let out our innermost thoughts and dreams, even if (or maybe especially when) they seem nonsensical. 

Makes Life Exciting

Can you imagine life without books and music, or even video games? Someone dreamed up and created all those things! When we express creativity we make our lives exciting. We learn, we create beautiful fun things that never existed before. 

When we express creativity we make our lives exciting.

Creates Positive Change

Everything humans have ever invented has taken creativity to think it up and put into action. The wheel? Lights? Electricity? The internet? All started out as an idea in someone’s mind. And when they came to existence it made our lives easier and better! Innovation and unusual ideas are often the very same ones that create the best changes. 

Use Creativity

What Happens When We’re Creative? 

I think it’s safe to say that every writer has had a creative idea, and probably also a moment they remember when they figured out what they wanted to do with it. Or at least what they thought they wanted to do with it. 

Sometimes writing is an unwieldy beast that takes on a life of its own, so it may not always turn out exactly how we think it will.

Sometimes writing is an unwieldy beast that takes on a life of its own, so it may not always turn out exactly how we think it will. A prime example of how creativity works for writers! 

When writers are in a great creative zone, though, there are several awesome things that happen: 

Write More

We write MORE, and sometimes faster! When we have that unusual idea and we’re so excited because we know it’s creative, we want to dive in and write all the things we can about it. Creativity is an amazing catalyst for writing (we don’t have to mention the secret fear that we will almost immediately forget that brilliant idea.) 

Creativity is an amazing catalyst for writing.

Write with More Confidence

When we feel creative - sometimes we call it being inspired - we tend to write more confidently. We don’t question that dumb thing the villain just said to the hero. We don’t waffle over that one sentence in that one paragraph that seems weird. And you know why? We’re ready to move on the idea now - we don’t have time to worry about the small things. Plus, we can always come back to later. 

Take Risks in Our Writing

Last, but certainly not least, is that because we’re writing more, and confidently, we take risks. We might try a new form, or write an inappropriate innuendo when we never “normally” do that because normal is kind of thrown out the window for this particular creative idea.

Heck, if you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be writing a YA novel I would have laughed. But I had the one spark of an idea that stuck around and here we are! Best risk I’ve taken in my writing, hands down. Wouldn’t have happened without creativity!

3 Ways to Add Creativity to Your Writing

3 Easy Ways to Add Creativity to Your Writing

I say this as lovingly as possible, but sometimes we get into a rut with our writing, even when we do feel creative and inspired. We get to a place where it “makes sense” for our characters to say their catch phrase again, or do their oddball mannerism, even when average humans might react differently. 

Creativity is all about being innovative and unusual, and so sometimes we need to make an effort to spice things up in our writing.

Creativity is all about being innovative and unusual, and so sometimes we need to make an effort to spice things up in our writing - kick start that innovative idea so we remember to write like we started and not how we “think we should.”

Here are 3 easy things you can try if you’re feeling like your writing might need some creativity and pizzazz: 

Add Description 

This idea doesn’t sound innovative at all when it’s listed in a discussion of creativity, but in writing, description is what allows readers to imagine the people and surroundings and paint that picture in their minds. Good description can be epic. 

So to get your creative wheels turning, try describing a specific place within your story world. Whether that’s your main character’s favorite spot, a villain’s lair, or even a firsthand account of what the main character sees when they wake up in the morning - take some time and paint that picture with words. 

Good description can be epic. 

You can also describe an odd facial expression. This is one of my favorites, not just because I enjoy facial expressions, but also because it’s tricky! It really challenges you to think about the way we talk about people’s faces and the way they move. As someone with a very expressional face, an expression definitely does not always feel the same as it looks to someone else! 

You can also describe an event from the point of view of someone who wasn’t there. For example, your main character’s best friend witnessed something crazy on the subway and relays it to your main character. Try to write the subway scene again, but have your main character telling someone else about it. This will challenge you to think about memory and detail in a different way. 

Have a Conversation with Your Main Character

This is probably my favorite of all the activities because I like to chat. It’s incredibly helpful for creativity, though, because really, while I do write the story, it’s the characters’ story not mine. So, when I’m stuck, I have a conversation with them. 

There’s lots of different things you could ask, but I like to ask what they want to do. So, I pose the question and then think about what my main character would say if I met her in real life. Sometimes she’s sassy (because when do I write women characters that aren’t), but more often than not she’s helpful. Thinking about her from this aspect breaks me out of the mindset of what I have to do as the writer and focus more on what she needs to do as a character. 

While I write the story, it’s the characters’ story not mine. So, when I’m stuck, I have a conversation with them. 

You can also ask your main character what they like about their story. Now, if you’re in a Game of Thrones situation where everyone keeps dying this might be harder! But for most of us, you might be surprised what kinds of memories you can think of from your characters’ point of view. Chances are, they will probably like similar things that you enjoyed writing. Or maybe they like the complete opposites! 

On the flip side, you can also ask them what’s boring about their story. This is super helpful if you’re not sold on an idea because if your main character thinks their own story is boring, there’s a possibility that everyone else might also think that, too. Or maybe it’s just the way it was written. Either way, you can use the thoughts of your main character to fine tune how you talk about their world. 

Write a Fun(ny) Scene with Your Main Character

This activity is a fun one because you’re getting to laugh, and you’re doing it on purpose. Write something funny or just really fun with your main character. Take them to an amusement park, or on a road trip. Or an experience so funny they snorted coffee out their nose. 

Write a fun or funny scene even if it’s not part of the plot. Not everything you write will make it into a final draft, and that’s okay! Thinking outside the box will help get your creativity going, even if your character isn’t going to do it during the main action of the story.

Can you really say you’re not feeling creative if you’re imagining the kind of curtains mole-people would have in their house holes? NOPE.

Write something fun or funny with your main character even if it’s utter nonsense. You want her to grow wings and fly like an eagle over her town? Go for it! Dig under the ground and start a community of mole-like people? Have at it.  It doesn’t matter if it’s the craziest thing you ever thought - it might not even be part of the story! But can you really say you’re not feeling creative if you’re imagining the kind of curtains mole-people would have in their house holes? NOPE.

These funny scenes are to help you get going, so they don’t even have to actually happen! If you end up loving it and want to make it part of the book, you can always make it part of a scene where your main character dreams it. Easy peasy, but also super fun. 

Next Steps

Creativity is necessary for all of us! As writers, we’re pretty familiar with the feeling, but even when we’re trying it can be hard sometimes. That’s when you can break out the easy strategies and add some description, talk to your main character, and/or write a fun scene starring them. 

Creativity is necessary for all of us!

The cool thing is, you don’t even have to be stuck or have a work in progress to try these ideas! You can use them at any point to kick start your creativity. 

Now that you have these tools, what do you do with them? 

1. Read your current work in progress Go read what you’ve been working on and see how it feels to you. If you don’t yet have a work in progress, try doing one of the strategies to start a new project!

2. Try one of the 3 ways to get your creativity flowing! Have some fun with your writing and try out the strategies! You’ll have fun, you’ll be writing, and all will be well with your creativity. 

3. Get Help if You Need It If you love the idea of these strategies and want to work on them further with someone else, I can help! Click here to read more about how I work 1:1 with writers like you to brainstorm, plan, and be an accountability partner (who gives funny comments) to help them make the progress on their writing that they’ve been dreaming about.

My challenge to you is to try one of these strategies during your next writing session. 

Have you used one of these activities before? Or have you found something else that jumpstarts creativity? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media, drop a comment below, or email me at rachel@captuingyourconfidence.com! 

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing. 

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