Get Started in Creative Writing

    Meet the author     Only got a minute?     Only got five minutes?     Only got ten minutes? 1   Why write?         Writing is easy         Writing is natural         Creative writing is good for you         Finding time to write         A word about technology         Professional tip from John Siddique 2   Ideas and inspirations         Capturing ideas         Generating your own ideas         Using what only you know         Using magazines and newspapers         Professional tip from David Armstrong 3   The feature article         What is an article?         Choosing a subject         Your first article - a step-by-step guide         Approaching an editor         Photographs         Payment         Professional tip from Anthony Clavane 4   The short story         Some common mistakes         The ingredients         Finding short story ideas         Finding believable characters         A convincing background         A good opening         Shape         A satisfying ending         Where to send your story         Professional tip from Jo Verity 5   Poetry         Finding your own voice         Haiku         Sonnets         Free verse         Writing poetry fro yourself         Reading poetry         Unlikely points of view         Curses         When is a poem finished?         Sending your work out         Professional tip from Jacob Polley 6   Creative non-fiction         What is creative non-fiction?         Finding a subject         Structure         Flexibility         Beginning your research         Organizing your material         Keeping it legal         Writing a proposal         Professional tip from Ian Merchant 7   Travel writing         Stand and stare         Putting personality into the picture         Professional tip from Christopher George 8   Blogging         The magic of blogging         How to stand out from the crowd         Some health warnings         Professional tip from Caroline Smailes 9   Writing for children         The rarest kind of 'best'         What is the real thing?         Deciding on an age group         Losing past loves         Originality         Giving power to the weak         Revel in naughtiness         The problem of problems         Illustrations         Poetry for children         Sharing stories         Professional tip from Lee Weatherly 10   Starting to write a novel         The challenge         First steps         The theme         Viewpoints         Whose story is it?         Structure         Setting         Teach something         Story, story, story         Don't get it right, get it written         Professional tip from Jeremy Sheldon 11   Setting         The importance of place         Examples of a visual style         Professional tip from Monique Roffey 12   Characterization         Creating believable characters         Stereotypes and archetypes         Choosing names         Describing your characters         Possessions         Motive and desire         Professional tip from Mavis Cheek 13   Plotting         The classic plots         Planning         Suspense         Where did I put those keys?         Writer as sadist         Subplots         Endings         Professional tip from Christopher Wakling 14   Dialogue         Life versus art         Exposition         He said, she said         Mastering voices         Context         Layout         Professional tip from Eleanor Moran 15   The difficult business of second drafts         The craft of revision         When not to murder your babies         Working preferences         Points for revision         The art of good style         The enemies of good style         Professional tip from Monique Roffey 16   Writing stage plays         The purpose of theatre         Stage characters         The inciting incident         Status         Conflict         Tension         Dialogue versus action         Structure         How to market your play         Adaptation         Professional tip from Willy Russell 17   Writing radio plays         The BBC         Liberation         The vision thing         Direct address         Including sound         Where to send your radio script         Professional tip from Mark Illis 18   Screenwriting         Why write for television?         Basic formats of television drama         Where to start         The outline         Layout         A calling card script         Writing collaboratively         Writing for film         Star talent         The short film         Professional tip from Jenny Lecoat 19   Agents and publishers         How not to get published         Why do you need an agent?         How do you get an agent?         Publishers         Small presses         Coping with rejection         Self-publishing         Professional tip from Camilla Hornby 20   Moving on         Creative writing classes         The Arvon Foundation         Literary festivals and conferences         Writers' circles         The creative writing MA         Literary consultancies         Mentoring     Taking it further     Bibliography     Index