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HOT Slot|Master the art of creative writing
Career overview Creative writing covers all areas of non-journalistic and technical writing. It is a broad term that covers the following genres
Career overview
Creative writing covers all areas of non-journalistic and technical writing. It is a broad term that covers the following genres:
Fiction including mystery, romance, science fiction screenplay, scriptwriting, poetry, playwriting, children’s books, TV serial, humour writing, lyrics, memoir-writing, travel, features, book reviews, interviews, film or art criticism and business communication.
Creative writing is the basis of all literature. Contrary to all that spiel about ‘born’ writers, it can convincingly be said that writing is a craft that can be learnt.
Once you have grasped the fundamentals of plot, structure, character, voice, dialogue, and description, you will be on surer footing.
Courses in creative writing help to improve your writing process, learn how to develop plot and character, appreciate a variety of writing styles, expand your vocabulary and improve your expression.
Requirements for success include a good imagination, a keen sense of observation, a natural ability to string words together in the best possible way to convey the central idea, a clear understanding of the demands of editors of publications and publishing houses or producers of programs for the electronic media.
Fascination for language, a longing to write poetry, plays, novels, stories or non-fiction, good communication skills and meticulousness in editing and presentation go a long way.
Curiosity about the development of culture in all of its social implications is also vital.
Job opportunities
Apart from pursuing a career as a writer, creative writing students may work in publishing, journalism, advertising and marketing, film television, radio, arts management, new media, the music industry, business and teaching.
There is infinite scope especially for those who feel that writing is the very breath of life. For people with a flair for writing, the scope gets widened on its own.
In the publishing industry, editors commission successful writers to contribute to their publications.
Newspapers and magazines are always looking out for stringers with the right skills. Publishers float proposals for books, once they realise that the writer can produce excellent manuscripts. The electronic media provides opportunities that were unheard of a decade back.
Many talented writers earn their bread as teachers, work at ad agencies, take to skilled professions or become civil servants.
The ‘Sanskriti Foundation’ recognises young creative persons below the age of 35. The ‘Sahitya Akademi’ and the ‘State Sahitya Academies’ honour creative writers every year. The NCERT recognises those who make positive contribution to the field of children’s literature.
Institutions
Universities like IGNOU and educational institutions like the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan run regular courses in creative writing. Often publishing houses run courses in writing.
You could choose from any of the courses through distance learning from: Creative writing in English/ Hindi at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (www.ignou.ac.in), writing for radio at Karnataka State Open University, Mysore, creative writing in English at Rajarshi Tandon Open University, UP
