Creative writing is the art of expressing thoughts, emotions and stories through words, offering a rich outlet for your imagination.
A beginner's guide to: Creative writing
writing, storytelling, prose, literary expression, written creativity
Get started with our creative writing practice instructions in our free mobile app
- • Identify focus areas for growth
- • Discover activities for improvement
- • Track and reflect on progress
- • Adjust your wellness routine
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Find a space where you feel comfortable and can write without distraction.
Decide how much time you can spend on this session.
Determine what writing exercise or prompt you are going to use.
Sharpen your pencil and get writing!
Once you are set up, head to our Practice Guides and get started.
Need a hand getting started? Our app is packed with beginner-friendly Practice Instructions for every activity—and way more where that came from. Hit the button up top and get moving.
What is creative writing?
Creative writing is a powerful way to tap into your imagination, express emotions and explore different perspectives. From poetry to short stories and freewriting, this practice opens up endless possibilities for self-expression. Whether you’re diving into it to relax, release stress or let your creative energy flow, you’ll find that writing offers a personal and rewarding experience.
You might feel a sense of catharsis or excitement during the process, and a deep sense of accomplishment afterward. The beauty of creative writing is that it doesn’t require any special skills – just the willingness to explore your thoughts and put them on paper.
Ready to begin your creative journey? Grab a pen or a laptop, open your mind and see where the words take you!
What creative writing looks like
Why creative writing is good for you
Writing clarifies emotions and builds self-belief. Regular practice sparks creativity, improves coping with challenges and enhances sense of meaning.
Boosts creative thinking
Focus area: Creativity (Impact rating: High)
Strengthens self-worth
Focus area: Identity & worth (Impact rating: High)
Clarifies emotions
Focus area: Emotional awareness (Impact rating: High)
Supports coping skills
Focus area: Resilience (Impact rating: Medium)
Reduces stress and depression
Focus area: Lightheartedness (Impact rating: Medium)
People who love creative writing
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Person
Stephen King
Person
Ronda Rousey
Sports
Dead Poets Society
Movie
Real people's experiences
Starting creative writing? Read this first
You're probably eager to get into creative mode, but there are a few important things to keep in mind first. If you enjoy writing, there is no reason it can’t become a staple in your life. To begin on the right foot, take a moment to read through these helpful tips.
Common styles
There's more than one way to approach creative writing. Take a look at the following styles and see which ones appeal to you.
Freewriting
Poetry
Short stories
Prompt-based writing
What you might experience
🤯
"This looked more fun when I didn’t actually have to do it."
😅
"Why do I keep getting distracted?"
😐
"This is getting a little easier."
😲
"Ok, I wrote that!"
🙂
"It’s great to see the page filled up!"
Try creative writing today
- • Identify focus areas for growth
- • Discover activities for improvement
- • Track and reflect on progress
- • Adjust your wellness routine
What you need to know about creative writing
Wondering whether you should start on your own, in a class or 1:1 with a teacher? Explore the table below and discover everything you need to know to get your practice started, right now.
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Recommendation for first-timer
Availability
Average cost per session
Special equipment required
Potential for socialisation & community
Safety & skill building
Space or privacy required
Ease of scheduling
Setup time
Active practice time
Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
William Shakespeare is credited with inventing over 1,700 words in the English language, many of which are still used.
"You can make anything by writing.” - C.S. Lewis
The first novel is believed to be "The Tale of Genji," by Japanese noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu, around the 11th century
Many famous authors, including Edith Wharton and William Wordsworth, wrote their novels while lying down.
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3 facts
Popular memes
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10 memes
Academic research we rate
Experiences of creative writing as a serious leisure occupation: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Rampley, H., Reynolds, F., & Cordingley, K. (2019). Experiences of creative writing as a serious leisure occupation: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Occupational Science, 26(4), 511–523. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2019.1623066
Writing to Keep on Living: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Creative Writing Therapy for the Management of Depression and Suicidal Ideation.
Porras-Segovia, A., Escobedo-Aedo, P. J., Carrillo de Albornoz, C. M., Guerrero-Jiménez, M., Lis, L., Molina-Madueño, R., Gutiérrez-Rojas, L., & Alacreu-Crespo, A. (2024). Writing to Keep on Living: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Creative Writing Therapy for the Management of Depression and Suicidal Ideation. Current Psychiatry Reports, 26(7), 359–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-024-01511-6
Healing the wounds of organizational injustice: examining the benefits of expressive writing.
Barclay, L. J., & Skarlicki, D. P. (2009). Healing the wounds of organizational injustice: Examining the benefits of expressive writing. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(2), 511–523. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013451
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6 research pieces
Introduction guides from around the web
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1 introductions
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