Creative Writing

Being the month of all things spooky, I thought this would be a good time to talk about ways to use themes as a source of creativity. I try to find a special occasion or holiday to base a lot of my writings on, and to theme my blog posts and stories around. The following are a few ideas that you can use throughout the year to help in coming up with ideas to write about.

January-

Of course, there is the New Year. That one goes without saying. But there are a few other ideas that you can use for this month. For instance, you can use winter as a theme for your writings in this month, or the legends of winter such as Jack Frost and/or the Ice Queen.

February-

We all know that this is the month for lovers thanks to Valentine’s Day, but here in the states we also celebrate President’s Day. A few other ideas can be about flowers, chocolates, how to write a love letter, or even how to tell that special someone how you feel.

March-

Here, you can use all things Irish. Talk about leprechauns and four leaf clovers. You can also talk about the changing of the seasons, the new birth of spring, and of course, the way the winds come and go throughout the month.

April-

Here we have, or usually have, the celebration of Easter. This can be taken in so many different directions. For instance, one can talk about the Resurrection of Christ, or talk about how rabbits and Easter egss have come to be associated with this holiday. Then there are all the trees and plants that are beginning to sprout back to life.

May-

With May, you can discuss topics such as Mother’s Day or tell the world “Why I Love My Mom”. You can use the ever-changing climate as a source of creativity, talk about all the different things you can do with roses, or discuss all the different places you’d like to visit on your summer vacation.

June-

This would be a great time to talk about all the cool things that have to do with getting married. Guest lists, caterers, flower arrangements, and even about who should wear what to the big event. This is also a great time to look at all the famous people getting married and talk about what they wore, who showed up, and maybe even take a few bets on how long it will last.

July-

What better time to talk about Independence. The fact of the matter is that the United States isn’t the only country that celebrates an Independence day during this month. But there are a lot of other topics around Independence, such as moving out on your own, picking yourself up after a bad break-up, or finding out how to go on after a loved one has passed away.

August-

Though there are very few holidays during this month, this is a good time to talk about the infamous “Dog Days of Summer”. Topics could include, “How to keep your cool this summer”, or “Best cooling treats for hot days”. Tell the world you best ideas on staying cool.

September-

The topics that can be covered during this month are things like, the harvest and bringing things in from the garden. There is also the whole Autumnal Equinox thing and how this time of year has influenced cultures over the years. You can talk about the changing of the seasons, the new colors on the trees, and how to prepare for the coming winter.

October-

As I said in the beginning, this is the time of year to talk about all things spooky. Things like ghosts, goblins, vampires, witches, and werewolves. Each one of these could even cover many other topics around them. Why do we celebrate Halloween? Why is the big moon called the Harvest Moon? What do costumes have to do with this time of year?

November-

In the States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. We can talk about the first Thanksgiving dinner, why certain dishes are seen as “traditional”, and even offer recipes for more modern turns on traditional pieces. You can talk about football and your favorite, or least favorite, teams. Or how to throw the perfect football party.

December-

Obviously, here we would discuss Christmas. You can talk about the Nativity itself, or how to throw a great office Christmas party. How about a series for kids on making gifts that mom and dad will love. Or a recipe book for the best holiday treats you’ve enjoyed over the years. When it comes to this month, the possibilities are virtually endless.

And there you have it. Creative ideas for the entire year. No matter what part of the world you live in, there are holidays and special occasions that can be used as a means of coming up with writing ideas.

When it comes to great creative writing, everything comes down to the fine details. The difference between a good story and a great story are all the tidbits of information that your brain takes in that you may not even realize. It’s those little bits of extra information that make your story pop.

For instance, say you’re writing a story about a young woman in a short skirt. You could very well tell your readers “…he couldn’t help but notice her in that mini skirt…”, or you can add a few details that will grab your readers attention, “…he couldn’t help but notice her in that black leather mini skirt…”. It’s not much, but it gives the reader a visual enhancement.

This little trick can be added to any type of writing style. However, you’ve got to be careful not to add too much detail. It is possible to add more to the story than is needed. There is a fine line between adding a few details, and overdoing the details. If you’re scene becomes too overwhelming, you could end up losing your readers.

The best way to decide if you’ve enough or too much detail is by reading your story out loud. If it sounds a bit boring, add some details. If it sounds to cluttered, take a few out. It’s really just that simple. It’s amazing what a few minor details can do for your story.