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How To Do An Essay: Creative Writing



A creative essay is an essay that demonstrates an individual’s creative writing abilities. When you are assigned a creative writing essay then basically you need to creatively write about a topic or idea using the traditional essay structure. A creative essay is a fun way to explore different ideas within a structured writing style. The best way to approach a creative writing essay is by combining narrative writing with formal writing rules. You still need to compose an outline that includes a thesis and supporting details. However, unlike with a traditional essay the contents can be fictional or based on your own experiences. In order to make the creative writing process easier we have included some helpful "getting started" tips for first time creative essay writers.

Getting Started On Your Creative Essay

  1. Start With An Outline
  2. Just like with an academic essay it is a good idea to start with an outline. You can follow the same 5 Point Essay Structure that you would use for an informative paper. Try to include an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. Within your introduction you will want to have a thesis statement that summarizes your essays content. Keep in mind that creative essays are humorous, insightful and sometimes even made up but, in order for it to be considered an essay and not just a short story, it has to follow the essay structure rules.

  3. Brain Storm Ideas
  4. Using the outline that you have laid out begin to brainstorm some different ideas for your creative essay. Consider carefully what type of statement you want to make with your paper. Then, try to think of some supporting evidence points and details to expand on the thesis that you have chosen. You can use excerpts from your own life or even talk about real historical events. Use your imagination to figure out a unique way to express your main points without straying to far from the structure that you have laid out.

  5. Have Some Fun Writing
  6. The nice thing about writing a creative essay is that you are not restricted in any way. Instead of slaving away finding good resource examples or researching a topic in-depth you can write about things in a more intuitive fashion. Creative essays can be funny, humorous, or just plain weird. Writing a creative essay is a great way to exercise your ability to write freely within a structured format. Try to think of it as an opportunity to let loose and experiment with a different type of writing style.