Learn Creative Writing

Creative Forms of Writing: English Part 1

Hello Friends, I am Mohit Badoni, a Military Veteran and an Author. Today I will talk about the various creative forms of writing and tell you which form I like the most. Do tell me in comments section which form you like the most.

In English language most of the words are derived from Latin. Literature also has its roots from the Latin litaritura — meaning writing formed with letters. Even when some forms are sung and enacted upon, it is the creative writing that makes a literature. Creative writing is considered as one of the highest forms of mental activity. Creative writing requires clarity and sincerity; clarity in terms of what you want to say and sincerity in your approach to say a particular thing.

Writing is characterized by its Theme — the central idea, its Content — the subject and the sequence of events, and its Form — the way in which the content is expressed. When we elaborate on the various forms of literature, we can categorize it as:

(a) Prose Fiction

(b) Poetry

© Drama

(d) Non-Fiction

1. Prose Fiction

A prose fiction follows only the rules of grammar, it is the most organic style that comprise of commonly spoken words and speech. Even though prose fiction has taken various forms, there has been five broad categories. Reflective, Social Mirroring, Romance, Political and Storytelling. There are three genres of prose fiction.

(a) Short Story: the length of short story is limited to 4–5 thousand words. There aren’t many changes in the setting, the story revolves around one or two incidents or characters.

(b) Novella: It is an expanded version of a short story and go up to twenty-five thousand words. There is more scope for elaboration of setting and inclusion of a larger number of developed characters and a distinction of plot.

© Novel: It is a full-length work of fiction and the length is virtually limitless. It has a luxury of multiple characters and many plots running parallel.

2. Poetry

Poetry comes from the Greek word — poiesis which means making. Poetry has a diverse meaning, to some poetry is outpouring of emotions and feelings, to some it is the metrical structured verses using poetic devices while others feel it is the tune of traditional folklores. The evolution of poetry is as old as the language may be, it is older than the four Vedas of India, however earliest surviving English poetry is ‘hymn’ which dates back to as early as the 7th century.

The main highlight of any poem is its ability to reflect on an impression of a place, idea or even a person. Many of us have a notion that prose is poetry. Poetry is written in lines and stanzas; it is different from prose by its set of verses. ‘Prose describes whereas Poetry implies.’ Sentences and paragraphs make a prose whereas lines make a poetry. Breaking the set rules of rhymes and verses the modern poetry emphasis on precision and relatedness. The way in which a poetry is conveyed is closely connected with its content and form. On the surface, poetry may appear simple, but subsequently reading will enable the readers to probe deeper and understand the hidden theme.

There are 15 types of poetic forms as follows. For now, we will look only at the forms, in my later posts we will elaborate on all poetic forms with examples.

(a) Blank verse: it is written in precise meter i.e., iambic pentameter.

(b) Rhymed: The words rhyme with one another

© Free Verse: It lacks a consistent rhyme scheme or musical form.

(d) Epics: it is a lengthy narrative of poetry.

(e) Narrative poetry: It also tells a story, but it is shorter than epic.

(f) Haiku: it is a three-line poetic form of Japanese poem. It has 5:7:5 syllables respectively.

(g) Pastoral poetry: it describes natural world, rural life and landscapes

(h) Sonnet: It is a 14-line poem on love theme in rhyme.

(i) Elegies: it reflects on death or loss, traditionally mourning, loss and reflection.

(j) Ode: It is also a tribute to its subject; however, the subject may not be dead.

(k) Limerick: It is a 5-line poem in AABBA rhyme scheme.

(l) Lyric: It broadly concerns with feelings and emotion.

(m) Ballad: it follows a pattern of rhymed quatrains

(n) Soliloquy: A monologue in which character speaks to himself.

(o) Villanelle: A nineteen-line poem consisting of five tercets and a quatrain.

3. Drama

Drama is considered as the most composite form of literature since it brings together all other forms of literature. We all are aware that structurally a drama has dialogues, scenes, and acts meaning it is enacted on stage. The plot typically has action, climax and conclusion. Perhaps one of the most difficult activities of creative writing is crafting dialogues.

The most significant difference between a drama and a work of prose fiction is that a drama has been written to be performed, the performance aspect is the key. Most drama contains the initial situation, conflict complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. There are numerous categories, however broadly the main categories are as under:

(a) Tragedy: It is a presentation where a feeling of pity is aroused in the audience. The theme deals with profound universal problems, where the protagonist has a higher status than an ordinary man who suffers. The climax teaches the audience a lesson so that they come enlightened and with a sense of realization.

(b) Comedy: It is usually imbibed with a comic spirit which gives a living experience of positive energy devoid of pain and intense emotions. It could be a sarcasm, light hearted humor, or a ludicrous to bantering wordplay.

© Melodrama: Though melodrama has tragic proportions to some extent, the action is initiated by forces other than the protagonist. There are no manifestations of either guilt or responsibility. In melodrama the good and the bad are clearly defined and presented, there is also the element of moral judgment.

(d) Tragicomedy: this form comes closest to life as there are living experiences presented in it. In this form tragedy and comedy is fused into each other.

4. Non-Fiction

This form is also known as essay whose evolution has been complex. With the growth of newspapers, pamphlets and new age journalism, this form became separated from other forms of literature. Essay or non-fiction form is more apt for reflection, since it is more scholarly form. The traditional essay has a rigid form — an introduction, body and conclusion. But modern essayists are innovative and experimental giving a new form of essay known as Fusion.

Which Form I like the Most?

Although all forms of literature have their own importance, I rate poetry a little more than the others. The first reason is that the poetry is the most ancient art which projects human emotions in words. PB Shelly defines poetry as the expression of imagination which also renders rhythmical language and is an intellectual medium. This is not true for any other medium. Poets are mirrors of influence which has been proved again and again in history. Poetry gives a powerful insight into fantasy world, cultures and even science. They are the epitomes of religious texts. Rhythm and rhyme make it more memorable, the reason why we sing alphabets A, B, C…to children so that they remember it.

To justify my statement, I would like to give example of one of my favourite poems ‘If’ composed by Rudyard Kipling, this poem defines the true meaning of existence. The opening lines teaches us what is equipoise and how one should be unmoved with all blames pointing at us. Kipling wants us to dream but also emphasis on the importance of work — the philosophy of Karma. The poem reminds me the sermon of Lord Krishna in Bhagwat Gita when he tells to treat triumph and disaster both as imposters. It teaches us never say die attitude and most importantly the truth of life, the theory of detachment. –

‘If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you

If all men count with you, but none too much

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds worth of distance run

Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it

And which is more — you’ll be a man my son!’