Genre Overview: 

Creative writing isn't quite a genre in itself; instead, it's a broad term encompassing various genres and forms where writers express their imagination and emotions. It includes fiction (like novels and short stories), poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction (such as memoirs and personal essays). The focus in creative writing is often on storytelling, crafting vivid imagery, developing characters, and exploring themes in unique and inventive ways. It encourages experimentation with language, structure, and narrative techniques to evoke emotions and engage readers in imaginative worlds or thought-provoking ideas.

Genre in Action:

Creative writing spans a wide spectrum of literary forms and styles, each offering unique ways for writers to explore their creativity and express their thoughts and emotions. Below are just a few of the biggest genres that are considered creative writing.

Fiction: This includes novels and short stories, where writers create imaginary worlds, characters, and events. Fictional works can range from realistic portrayals of everyday life to fantastical realms filled with magic and adventure. The key is to captivate readers through compelling narratives and believable characters.

Poetry: Poetry uses language in a condensed and heightened form to evoke emotions, express ideas, or create aesthetic experiences. Poets often play with rhythm, sound patterns, and imagery to convey their message in a way that resonates deeply with readers.

Drama: Dramatic works encompass plays and scripts designed for performance. They focus on dialogue, conflict, and character interaction to explore themes and provoke emotional responses in an audience. Drama can range from tragedies to comedies, each using the stage as a canvas for storytelling.

Creative Non-fiction: This genre blends factual information with literary techniques to tell true stories in a compelling and engaging manner. Examples include memoirs, personal essays, travel writing, and narrative journalism. Creative non-fiction often employs storytelling elements to convey real-life experiences and insights.

In all these forms, creative writing encourages writers to experiment with language, structure, and narrative techniques. It values originality, imagination, and the ability to evoke emotions or provoke thought in readers. Whether crafting a fictional universe, crafting a poem, or recounting personal experiences, creative writers aim to engage, entertain, and inspire through their words. 

Remember--Creative writing is a huge writing category. Many classes are taught on creative writing and individual genres within creative writing. Many textbooks have been written on creative writing and individual genres. Each of these genres can be studied and mastered for the rest of your life. This chapter is just a brief overview of the most expansive spaces in writing, but what is beautiful about creative writing is that anyone can do it. Use this as a jumping off point, but realize that once you find your favorite creative writing genre, you have so much more to explore. 

Genre in Practice:

Free Write

1. What is a story, fiction or non-fiction, that your family tells over and over and over? Why is this THE story? What are the features that stay consistent through each re-telling and what are the features that change? 

2. What is a story, fiction or non-fiction, that you have read more than once? What captivates you about this story and why?

3. What is your favorite genre of creative writing and why? Describe the experience of reading or listening to this text. 

4. Take inspiration from the first half of this sentence to write. Spend the full ten minutes of this free-write just writing. Don't put your pen down and write everything that comes to mind. Tell this story: “There it was, finally. Our island. Our very own island. It looked beautiful above the waves of fog, but there was still one question to be answered: why had they sold it to us for only five dollars?”

5. Imagine you find an old, dust-covered journal in the attic of your new home. The first entry is dated exactly 100 years ago today. Start by describing the journal and its condition, then write the first entry you read. What secrets, mysteries, or stories does it reveal?

Mini Activity: Dialogue

Step 1: Create two characters including details such as name, age, background, personality traits, and motivations; think about how these characters might speak based on their backgrounds and personalities.

Step 2: Choose one scenario from the list of scenario prompts where these characters might interact. You can choose a scenario or create their own.

• A tense conversation between two friends after a betrayal.

• A negotiation between a customer and a store owner.

• A first date that takes an unexpected turn.

Step 3: Write a dialogue exchange between your two characters based on the chosen scenario. Focus on making the dialogue sound natural and true to your characters, incorporating subtext and tension where appropriate.

Step 4: Pair up with another student and exchange your dialogues. Read your partner’s dialogue and provide constructive feedback. Focus on authenticity, character voice, and how well the dialogue advances the scene.

Step 5: Take ten minutes to revise your dialogue based on peer feedback paying attention to nuances and making sure the dialogue flows naturally.

Step 6:  Share your revised dialogues with the class. Discuss what works well and why, and how each dialogue reveals character and advances the plot.

Questions to Ask AI

1. What are the conventions of a drama/play? 

2. What are the conventions of poetry?

3. What are the conventions of creative non-fiction? 

4. What are the conventions of a short story? 

5. What are the conventions of a novel? 

6. What are three pre-writing prompts to complete before working on a novel? 

7. What are three pre-writing prompts to complete before working on creative non-fiction? 

8. What are 10 elements that make a good story? 

9. What are 10 features of the best storytelling? 

10. How can I include dialogue in my work?