CREATIVE WRITING - Surface words

Creative Writing Figurative Meaning

- Natural artistic instinct; versatility - Words say one thing, but mean another.
- The process of using symbols to communicate
thoughts and idea into one readable form. Different Types of Figurative Language:
- Expressive literature; subjective (1) Simile
- Putting intangible feelings into tangible form - Comparison of two unlike things using “like” or
through writing “as”
- Should be original and expressive of oneself - Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile,
- Having the power to create an imaginative and hence, a comparison of two unlike things must
original literary production or composition be made.
Example:
Aims of Creative Writing: - The metal twisted like a ribbon.
(1) Expressing one’s self - She is as sweet as candy.
(2) Convey information (2) Metaphor
(3) Persuading others - Two things are compared without using “like” or
(4) Create a literary masterpiece “as”
Example:
Other Forms of Creative Writing: - All the world is a stage.
Expository - She is a rose.
- Gives information (opinion only) - He has a stone heart.
- Explain or expose a topic (news) (3) Personification
Narrative - Giving human traits to objects or ideas.
- Tells a story (novels) Example:
Persuasive - The sunlight danced.
- Convince the readers; gain sympathy from the - Water on the lake shivers.
readers “Content Writing” - The streets are calling me.
Descriptive (4) Hyperbole
- Describes or creates an image to the reader’s - Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect.
mind. Example:
Imagery – literary device used - I will love you forever.
Technical - My house is a million miles from here.
- About documenting processes (manual) - She’d kill me.
Academic (5) Alliteration
- Uses formal language and follows a clear - Repetition of the initial consonant sounds.
structure (to be professional looking) - Normally found in tongue twisters.
- Essays, Thesis, Research Paper Example:
- Slowly, silently, the shining moon.
Types of Creative Writing - Walks the night in her silvery sheen.
- Poetry (6) Onomatopoeia
- Memoirs - The naming of a thing or action by imitation of
- Journals natural sounds.
- Novels Example:
- Epics - The fly buzzed around her head.
- Blog - The hiss of the shake caught my attention.
- Essay (7) Idiom
- Speeches - An expression that cannot be understood from
- Play the meaning of its separate words but must be
- Script learned as a whole.
- Songs Example:
- Letters - It’s raining cats and dogs.
- Advertisements
- Fiction
- Journalism Denotative and Connotative Meaning of a Word
- Reports Denotation
- Biographies - Implies the true dictionary meaning of a word
Figurative Language vs. Literal Language which is the central meaning of the expression.
Literal Meaning - It is what the word expresses i.e concrete or
- Doesn’t contain figurative words specific sense.
- Words say exactly what they mean - Basic conceptual reflection of the word.
Example: - Engages the sense of touch.
House; a place where someone lives - What you can feel.
Cheap/Economical; low priced or inexpensive - Includes textures and the many sensations a
human being experiences when touching
Connotation something.
- Emotional and imaginative association that a
word encompasses or is connected to the word. (5) GUSTATORY IMAGERY
- Can be the positive, negative, or neutral - Engages the sense of taste.
association that words carry with them. - What you can taste.
- What the word suggests i.e personal - Includes flavors
associations which the word produces. - Five basic taste: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and
- Secondary or connected explanation, indicates umami.
what is suggested or implied by the term. - As well as the textures and sensations tied to
- Own abstract ideas and values. the act of eating.

Sensory Imagery in Creative Writing How to Write a Descriptive Composition

Sensory Imagery Descriptive Composition
- A literary device writers employ to engage a - Gives a clear and concise description of
reader’s mind on multiple levels. everything.
- Explores the five human senses: sight, hearing, - Primary Objective: to provide a clear picture of
taste, touch, and smell. the place, people, or thing in the reader’s mind.
- Adds interest and life to your writing; can be - The writers provide enough details to evoke the
used by itself to make your readers imagine senses.
what it is like to experience something.
Guidelines in Writing a Descriptive Composition
Purpose of Sensory Imagery in Writing:
 To permit the reader the pleasure of arriving at 1. STATE WHAT YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE IN
their own judgements and conclusions through YOUR FIRST SENTENCE
perceptual clues. - Create a topic sentence; key idea or theme for
 Describing how something tastes, smells, the essay.
sounds or feels—not just how it looks makes a - Should appear in the introduction and restated
passage or scene come alive. in the conclusion.
 Help readers understand abstract concepts in
literature. 2. ORGANIZE YOUR IDEAS
- Evenly distribute the vital ideas in your essay.
Types of Sensory Imagery: - Sentences should be sequenced according to
clear and logical plan of development.
(1) VISUAL IMAGERY
- Engages the sense of sight. 3. BE SPECIFIC/BE PRECISE
- This is what you can see, and includes visual - Give descriptions as accurately as possible.
descriptions. - Employ the use of literal tools.
- Physical attributes including color, size, shape,
lightness and darkness, shadows and shade. 4. BE THOROUGH
- Include in your description all the necessary
(2) OLFACTORY IMAGERY details.
- Engages the sense of smell. - Help create a clear mental image by using vivid
- Scent – one of the most direct triggers of verbs and precise adjective.
memory and emotion, but can be difficult to
write about 5. BE CONCISE
- Since taste and smell are so closely linked, you’ll - Describe only what is necessary for your
sometimes find the same words. purpose.
- Do not waste words, repeat details or
(3) AUDITORY IMAGERY exaggerate.
- Engages the sense of hearing.
- The way things sound.
- Literary devices such as Onomatopoeia and
Alliteration can help create sounds in writing.

(4) TACTILE IMAGERY