Writing a creative essay requires being descriptive and imaginative and writing in a narrative voice. If you have no experience in writing this kind of essay, there are a few strategies that can help you get started. First consider your topic, your audience, the correct tone and what you want the essay to accomplish.
A good creative essay often starts with a topic that captures your interests. Sometimes it is not possible to choose your own topic. In an academic setting, for example, a teacher might assign the topic. If you are not interested in the topic that was chosen, draw on your creativity to help make it more interesting.
Considering your topic can help create the right tone. Writing about natural disasters might require a tone that is foreboding. The vocabulary you choose and the setting you use can help set the right tone. Also make sure the tone of your creative essay is appropriate for your intended readers.
Being descriptive is one way to make a creative essay come to life. Describe things in a way that paints a picture in the reader’s mind. It also is important to choose your descriptions wisely and sparingly. Make sure what you are describing illustrates themes important to your essay.
A creative essay is often written in narrative style, which is similar to novel writing or creative non-fiction. A narrative style of writing tells a story and has a plot, characters and descriptions. You can write it from your perspective or that of a real or fictional character that either is or is not a part of the story.
Some creative essays are written in what is called stream of consciousness. This style of writing requires a lot of imagination. It is similar to what you might hear if you could listen to the thoughts of another person. One example would be writing the dialogue that goes through someone’s mind just before a job interview.
While being creative, you should remember to pay attention to proper grammar and spelling. This is especially true if you are writing a creative essay for an academic class. You might be allowed to bend the rules a little if it is important to the essay; just make sure the reader can still understand what you are trying to convey.
Aside from being used in a classroom setting, creative essays are sometimes used as part of college admission procedures or to apply for a scholarship or grant. In these cases, the essay should generally take on a more formal tone. You also should make sure your essay covers all information being requested.
