CREATIVE WRITING BLOG

3 min read

Start Thinking About Your Writing Strengths

Writing Team: Jun 14, 2024 4:50:29 PM

It's time to flip the script on how writers approach their craft. For far too long, the writing community has been stuck in a rut of self-doubt,...

4 min read

4 Poetry Prompts To Get You Writing

Writing Team: Jun 14, 2024 4:47:37 PM

Alright, folks! Are you ready to get those creative juices flowing and write some poetry that'll knock your readers' socks off? Well, buckle up...

5 min read

Tips for Beating Creative Resistance

Writing Team: May 31, 2024 3:52:15 PM

It's time to talk about the elephant in the room, the one thing holding you back from unleashing your inner creative genius: resistance.

4 min read

Beta Reading: How It Helps and Why You Need It

Writing Team: May 31, 2024 3:50:10 PM

You've come to the right place if you're itching to dive into the exciting world of beta reading and help shape the next generation of bestsellers....

2 min read

Top Tips to Write an Op-Ed

Writing Team: May 18, 2024 10:02:31 AM

Alright, folks, listen up! If you've got something important to say and want to make a splash in the opinion pages, it's time to learn how to write a...

5 min read

Writers and Vision Boards: Visualize Success

Writing Team: May 18, 2024 10:00:30 AM

Attention all you writers, dreamers, and goal-chasers out there! Listen up because we're about to dive into the wonderful world of vision boards and...

4 min read

Don’t Sleep on Writing Bedtime Stories

Writing Team: May 4, 2024 1:23:49 PM

If you're itching to learn how to write a bedtime story that'll knock the socks off your readers and send them drifting off to dreamland with a smile...

2 min read

To Friend or Not to Friend: Frenemies Throughout History

Writing Team: May 4, 2024 1:19:14 PM

Hold onto your hats, folks, because we're about to dive headfirst into the dynamic world of frenemies! These enigmatic relationships, which straddle...

3 min read

Top Ten Self-Care Techniques for Writers

Writing Team: Apr 19, 2024 4:29:31 PM

Hey there, fellow word wranglers and story slingers! Are you ready to dive into the world of writerly self-care?

2 min read

5 Tips for Writing Fast(er)

Writing Team: Apr 19, 2024 4:16:18 PM

Are you ready to kick your writing into high gear? Well, get ready because we’re about to drop some knowledge that'll have your fingers flying across...

2 min read

Laughter and Magic: Top Tips to Write Humorous Urban Fantasy

Writing Team: Apr 6, 2024 3:30:39 AM

Urban fantasy seamlessly blends the mundane and the extraordinary in the ever-evolving tapestry of speculative fiction. It invites readers to embark...

4 min read

Unlock the Gateway to Success: First Pages in Query Submissions

Writing Team: Apr 6, 2024 3:25:33 AM

In the highly competitive realm of publishing, the first pages of a manuscript wield immense power – they can either open doors to literary success...

4 min read

A Guide to Editing Anthologies

Writing Team: Mar 22, 2024 8:02:47 PM

In literary curation, the role of an editor often emerges unexpectedly, as if destiny itself bestows this mantle upon one's shoulders. Such was the...

3 min read

Learn from Mistakes: Overlooking Banned Books in Writing

Writing Team: Mar 22, 2024 8:00:01 PM

Making mistakes is an integral part of the writing journey. Each misstep presents an opportunity to learn and grow. A lot of writers make one crucial...

3 min read

Explore the Rich Tapestry of Poetry: A Dive into Poetic Forms

Writing Team: Mar 9, 2024 12:00:55 AM

Poetry, as an expressive art form, embraces a vast array of structures and styles. Delving into the world of poetic forms reveals a fascinating...

3 min read

Unwanted Exits and Narrative Shifts: Crafting Compelling Fiction

Writing Team: Mar 8, 2024 11:54:58 PM

In fiction writing, the art of keeping readers engaged is a delicate dance. Unwanted exits and narrative shifts are pivotal in shaping the reader's...

2 min read

Creative Writing Process: Prewriting, Writing, and Rewriting

Writing Team: Feb 2, 2024 8:58:56 PM

As writers, we aspire to reach the “perfect” final draft for whichever project we have in mind. We want to produce works of art that take readers...

1 min read

Touch the Grass: A Screenwriter's Unexpected Muse

Writing Team: Nov 7, 2023 5:40:34 PM

It's common to jest at the admonishment "touch grass," usually a jibe at those seemingly too digitalized.

4 min read

A Guide to Grammar for the Gen Z Squad

Writing Team: Nov 7, 2023 5:34:46 PM

Gen Z, also known as those who came into the world from 1997 to 2012 (stretching to 2015 because, as we'll dive into with their linguistic quirks,...

1 min read

The Argument for Personal Eulogies and What Yours Should Include

Writing Team: Nov 7, 2023 5:28:13 PM

In a world where the certainties are death and taxes, the tradition has been to leave the final words about us to others. Typically, these eulogies...

3 min read

How to Read as a Writer

Writing Team: Nov 6, 2023 2:23:12 PM

So, you've crafted your story, but it feels like something is amiss. The pacing in the middle might be off, or perhaps the climax isn't as impactful...

3 min read

Brands Gen Z Love: Content Creator & Marketer Insights

Lindsey Blackmore: Oct 30, 2023 3:01:55 PM

Social scientists are always studying how different generations interact with society. It’s valuable to consider how certain age groups impact...

3 min read

Dystopian Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination

Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 3:51:54 PM

Dystopian literature enjoyed a surge in popularity a few years ago with series like The Hunger Games. Though the genre witnessed a decline, it's...

5 min read

Discovering Thriller Story Ideas

Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 3:46:21 PM

Thrillers are the masterclass in suspense, tension, and surprises, captivating readers with every page turn. If you aim to craft the next...

3 min read

Bizarro Fiction 101: Beyond the Weird for Weird's Sake

Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 3:26:55 PM

Bizarro Fiction, a relatively new genre often likened to the cult section in your video store, has been a niche of literary experimentation.

2 min read

Assonance: Definition and Creative Writing Techniques

Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 3:19:30 PM

If you aspire to craft better prose, immerse yourself in poetry.

4 min read

Examples of Verbal Irony

Writing Team: Oct 26, 2023 3:13:31 PM

Verbal irony, often mistaken, is an element that likely permeates your speech without your conscious awareness.

2 min read

Character Awareness: Revelation in Storytelling

Writing Team: Oct 20, 2023 6:59:53 PM

In storytelling, the contrast between a character's understanding and that of others, including the audience, is a potent narrative device. This...

3 min read

8 Innovative Ways to Incorporate the Dinkus in Your Literary Works

Writing Team: Oct 7, 2023 10:24:40 PM

Dinkus. What a word, right? While it may sound close to an insult levied by a particular character on Strangers Things, we're talking about a term...

3 min read

Craft Angst: Embrace the Challenge

Writing Team: Sep 29, 2023 10:00:00 PM

There's an undeniable allure to mastering the art of writing about angst. It's a popular theme, especially among young to middle-aged readers, and it...

3 min read

Navigate the Enigmatic Realm of Slipstream Fiction

Writing Team: Sep 24, 2023 12:00:31 AM

Ah, slipstream fiction. Much like speculative fiction, it lives in that nebulous territory between literary fiction, science fiction, and fantasy....

2 min read

Commentary on "How hip-hop uses Afrofuturism to take listeners on journeys of empowerment"

Writing Team: Sep 11, 2023 12:12:04 PM

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, it's only natural to ponder the genre's future. However, for many hip-hop artists, the future has always...

2 min read

Kick-off Events

Writing Team: Sep 11, 2023 12:06:00 PM

In writing fiction, or even performance art, it's essential to understand the role of a kick-off event – that opening scene that sets the stage for...

1 min read

Save the Cat! Plot Beats

Writing Team: Sep 11, 2023 11:59:04 AM

Okay, so when it comes to storytelling, we've got this thing called a "story beat," and it turns out there are two different flavors to it, each...

4 min read

Every Song Has a Color

Writing Team: Sep 7, 2023 4:47:18 PM

Every song has a color – and an emotion – attached to it. Researchers have explored the world of music-to-color associations for years. We know that...

2 min read

Unearthly Chronicles: Writing 'The Diary of a Sentient Houseplant

Writing Team: Sep 7, 2023 8:23:33 AM

Creative writing has always been a realm of endless possibilities, and sometimes, the most captivating stories sprout from the most unexpected seeds...

2 min read

Unlocking the Power of Taxonomy

Writing Team: Sep 6, 2023 2:39:52 PM

Nope. Not stuffed animals. We're talking about taxonomy.

2 min read

Cryptic Crossword Clues and Creative Writing

Writing Team: Sep 1, 2023 4:54:10 PM

Cryptic crosswords are the enigmatic gems of the puzzling world, where words become intricate puzzles waiting to be unraveled. But have you ever...

2 min read

Write Like a Robot: Exploring the Art of AI-Generated Poetry

Writing Team: Sep 1, 2023 4:52:11 PM

In a world increasingly dominated by technology, it's not surprising that artificial intelligence (AI) has found its way into the realm of creative...

2 min read

Whispers of the Unusual: Channeling the Weird into Words

Writing Team: Aug 29, 2023 6:08:45 PM

In a world filled with mundane musings and ordinary narratives, there exists a realm of creativity that thrives on the strange, the bizarre, and the...

4 min read

Navigating the Wilderness of Writer's Block: Tips and Techniques

Amy Williams: Aug 28, 2023 9:11:57 AM

Time passes slowly as you find yourself staring at a blank screen. It takes everything within to not bang your head against the keyboard and scream....

2 min read

Surreal Serendipities: Finding the Extraordinary in Everyday Coincidences

Writing Team: Aug 25, 2023 11:40:15 AM

Let's pause and explore the enchanting world of serendipity, where chance encounters and seemingly trivial coincidences lead to extraordinary...

3 min read

Conversations with the Minotaur and Other Enigmatic Beings

Writing Team: Aug 25, 2023 11:36:20 AM

Deep within the recesses of myth and legend lies a realm where reality and imagination intertwine. In "Whispers of the Labyrinth: Conversations with...

3 min read

Adventures in a World Where Gravity is Optional

Writing Team: Aug 25, 2023 11:31:02 AM

In a world where imagination knows no bounds, the concept of altering the very fabric of nature's laws becomes a playground for creativity.

2 min read

Inkscapes of the Mind: Painting Dreams and Memories with Words

Writing Team: Aug 25, 2023 11:26:19 AM

Human imagination is a powerful tool that allows us to conjure up vivid images, emotions, and sensations. Just as an artist wields a brush to paint...

3 min read

Plotting vs. Pantsing: Finding Your Writing Process

Angela Wyatt: Aug 18, 2023 3:08:49 PM

Every writer has their own process when crafting a story. Some writers meticulously prepare outlines, mapping out each point they want to hit, while...

3 min read

Writing Humor: The Art of Making Readers Laugh

Mark Bowden: Aug 18, 2023 3:00:21 PM

“I’ve got 99 problems, I feel bad for ya son…I’ve 99 problems but my humor ain't one!” As I write those words, all that I can think about is how...

5 min read

Lessons for Writers from Iconic Sitcoms

Writing Team: Aug 18, 2023 1:24:34 PM

You know why you love sitcoms? Writers. Writers make sitcoms worth watching (and the world go round, but that's obviously our biased opinion).

2 min read

Exploring the Quirky Universe of Nathan Pyle's Strange Planet

Writing Team: Aug 18, 2023 1:00:38 PM

Nathan Pyle's "Strange Planet" series of books and comics has taken the world by storm, offering a fresh and innovative perspective on the mundane...

4 min read

Discovering Your Writing Style: Embracing Your Unique Voice

Mark Bowden: Aug 16, 2023 9:50:09 AM

It is amazing how your mind works – a prompt comes up and instantly we are transported to a specific place and time. For me, when this subject of...

2 min read

Did You Have Imaginary Friends?

Writing Team: Aug 15, 2023 3:52:20 PM

Imagination is a wondrous force that has the ability to create entire worlds and characters from the depths of our minds. It's a tool we often...

5 min read

A Literary Exploration of Urban Legends

Writing Team: Aug 15, 2023 3:46:51 PM

Urban legends, those chilling tales whispered in hushed tones around campfires and shared in late-night conversations, have a peculiar way of...

3 min read

Alien Advice Column

Writing Team: Aug 15, 2023 3:14:36 PM

Welcome to an Extraterrestrial Expedition of Imagination!

2 min read

Metaphor Mania: Crafting Short Stories Based on Everyday Idioms

Writing Team: Aug 15, 2023 2:24:47 PM

Metaphors are the spices of language, enriching our communication by infusing it with vivid imagery and underlying meanings.

3 min read

The Diction Dictionary: Crafting Neologisms

Writing Team: Aug 15, 2023 2:19:03 PM

Language is a remarkable tool for expressing emotions, yet there are moments when words fall short, failing to capture the nuances of complex...

4 min read

Writing Creative Non-fiction from the Heart

Meagan Voulo: Aug 11, 2023 12:14:26 PM

At Hire a Writer, we have “Two Things Tuesday.” Every Tuesday, Joy comes up with a prompt that requires all of us to answer two things. I look...

4 min read

Surrealist Storytelling: A Journey Beyond Reality

Writing Team: Aug 9, 2023 3:59:02 PM

Behold, fellow adventurers of the eccentric! Let us embark on a kaleidoscopic escapade into the mesmerizing labyrinth of surrealist storytelling—a...

2 min read

Exploring Atypical Writing Styles

Writing Team: Aug 9, 2023 3:50:21 PM

Writing is a canvas for artistic expression, and just as there are countless ways to paint a picture, there are a myriad of writing styles that...

4 min read

Absurd Writing Prompts: Embrace the Ridiculous

Writing Team: Aug 2, 2023 4:40:46 PM

As professional writers, we often find ourselves seeking inspiration and unique ideas to spark our creativity.

2 min read

A Journey Through the Different Types of Poetry: Styles and Famous Poets

Writing Team: Jul 31, 2023 3:55:09 PM

Poetry is a diverse and expressive art form that has captivated audiences for centuries. From classical sonnets to contemporary free verse, poets...

2 min read

Exploring Flash Fiction: Crafting Powerful Stories in a Limited Word Count

Writing Team: Jul 31, 2023 3:27:00 PM

Flash fiction is a unique and dynamic form of storytelling that challenges writers to craft compelling narratives in a concise and limited word...

2 min read

Incorporating Symbolism: Adding Deeper Layers to Your Narrative

Writing Team: Jul 31, 2023 3:17:54 PM

Symbolism is the art of imbuing objects, characters, or events with deeper meanings beyond their literal representations.

2 min read

The Power of Emotion in Content Marketing

Angela Wyatt: May 24, 2023 3:55:52 PM

Humans connect through our emotions–we share our excitement, our happiness, our heartbreak and nostalgia. This is how we bond with our family and...

4 min read

Avoid Bias in Your Writing

Amy Williams: May 8, 2023 3:34:49 PM

We’ve all got opinions. Some good, some bad, and some we should probably keep to ourselves. Sometimes, our opinions slip out even when we don’t mean...

2 min read

Why I Use Humor In Writing

Mark Bowden: Apr 11, 2023 6:16:02 PM

Pick a pun, any pun. If it is witty and leveraged correctly, humor can be a fantastic tool in copywriting. Humor can help you stand out in an...

3 min read

Writing Techniques to Connect With Teenagers

Mark Bowden: Apr 11, 2023 6:00:37 PM

One of the many challenges that writers face is writing to a variety of different audiences and demographics. What appeals to a group of boomers...

3 min read

A Music Producer's Perspective on Writing

Sanders Reese: Apr 11, 2023 5:59:24 PM

Music and writing share many similarities.

2 min read

Tender Hysteria: The Healing Power of Angry Art

Taylor Zantingh: Apr 11, 2023 5:02:27 PM

I am not an angry person. But I love making angry art.

3 min read

Infusing Pop Culture References In Your Copywriting

Mark Bowden: Apr 11, 2023 5:01:12 PM

Who doesn’t love a good pop culture reference? The idea of a single statement transporting you to a specific time and place, generating an emotional...

4 min read

The Power of Creative Constraints

Joy Youell: Apr 11, 2023 4:34:18 PM

Walls and walls of tennis shoes.

2 min read

Metaphors: Turn Your Copywriting Up To 11

Mark Bowden: Apr 11, 2023 4:00:13 PM

The use of metaphors came up during a conversation earlier this month, and the topic sparks debate among the copywriting community. There are those...

3 min read

Writing Copy People Care About

Amy Williams: Apr 11, 2023 3:56:50 PM

Think about the last time you did the research for a potential purchase. Let’s say you needed a new washing machine or vacuum cleaner and were...

3 min read

Writing Through a Different Lens

Meagan Voulo: Apr 11, 2023 1:29:27 PM

My first copywriting job out of college was an utter disaster. I was hired because I had several neuroscience journal articles published in grad...

2 min read

Life Beyond the Shitty First Draft: A Review of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Kaitlin Last: Apr 11, 2023 1:27:40 PM

"Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to...

3 min read

Forever a Fantasy Reader

Meagan Voulo: Apr 11, 2023 9:02:07 AM

As a child, I was shy. That’s probably an understatement - I was more of a hermit. My mom couldn’t drop me off at a friend’s birthday party without...

3 min read

When Writing is Hard: A Review of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Amy Williams: Apr 11, 2023 8:46:29 AM

When I was 19 years old, I was standing in the foyer of my grandmother’s house when my dad called me over. He patted the seat next to him on the...

3 min read

Scrape the Cookie (When to Ditch Your Draft and Start Over)

Joy Youell: Apr 11, 2023 8:45:19 AM

My favorite show in the whole wide world is the Great British Bake Off. Because I geek out over Bake Off, following the bakers is like 90% of my...

2 min read

Taking a Step Back

Meagan Voulo: Apr 11, 2023 8:06:16 AM

Just like athletes need to train physically, copywriters train mentally. Being someone who enjoys both physical and mental workouts, I discovered a...

2 min read

How to Create a Copy Wireframe

Joy Youell: Apr 11, 2023 7:56:14 AM

Copy wireframes are one of my most frequently used tools as a professional copywriter. If you are writing websites, they are crazy valuable. They...

3 min read

4 Ways Media Literacy Can Make You a Better Human

Taylor Zantingh: Apr 11, 2023 7:02:04 AM

The mere mention of literary criticism—or “lit crit” as my high school English teacher insisted on calling it—is enough to shift the average person...

3 min read

7 Books About Creative Writing Every Aspiring Writer Should Read

Taylor Zantingh: Apr 10, 2023 10:54:20 AM

They say the best writers are readers, and while there are endless learning opportunities to be gleaned from reading novels and poems, there’s no...

3 min read

What Can You Do as a Creative Writer?

Meagan Voulo: Apr 10, 2023 10:37:31 AM

Usually, when people hear about creative writers, they think of poets and novelists, but there are actually a lot of careers for those who excel in...

4 min read

Writing Exercises for Creativity

Meagan Voulo: Apr 10, 2023 9:31:48 AM

Writers have to be creative on demand. To succeed in this inherently creative profession, it’s important to practice!

4 min read

Finding Clarity in Copy: 4 Lessons I Learned from Creative Writing

Rae Fitzgerald: Apr 9, 2023 9:52:25 AM

I was a precocious talker, speaking early and often. My incessant ramblings weren’t about anything in particular. Mostly, I just described what I...

3 min read

How to Write for Funny Brands

Joy Youell: Apr 8, 2023 6:53:27 PM

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How to Write for Legacy Brands

Joy Youell: Apr 8, 2023 6:51:13 PM

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How to Write for Natural Brands

Joy Youell: Apr 8, 2023 6:48:53 PM

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How to Write for Technology Brands

Joy Youell: Apr 8, 2023 6:47:07 PM

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How to Write for Everyday Brands

Joy Youell: Apr 8, 2023 6:44:37 PM

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How to Write for Luxury Brands

Joy Youell: Apr 8, 2023 11:04:57 AM

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Tips for Using Metaphors in Copy

Rae Fitzgerald: Apr 8, 2023 10:40:38 AM

Copy and poetry don’t have a lot in common. In fact, they might be more disparate in purpose than any other two types of writing. While copy...

3 min read

5 Fiction Genres to Inspire Your Copywriting

Adele McKenna: Apr 8, 2023 10:18:44 AM

If you’re in the business of selling a product or service to an audience, you already know stellar communication is key. From the “about” page on...

3 min read

4 Poetic Devices That Can Improve Marketing Copy

Rae Fitzgerald: Apr 8, 2023 9:54:14 AM

Trying to freshen up your marketing copy? You may want to borrow a few things from poetry. OK, if you’re a professional copywriter, now’s your chance...

3 min read

Language Alive: The Magic of Sensory Writing

Adele McKenna: Apr 8, 2023 9:40:38 AM

Sensory writing sparks a reaction, adding bursts of flavor to copy that might otherwise lull readers into a slumber. Sensory language engages the...

4 min read

Toward the Ineffable: How Musical Analysis Enhances Creative Writing

Rae Fitzgerald: Apr 8, 2023 9:33:41 AM

Certain concepts and sentiments elude linguistic capture. That’s why we have words like “ineffable,”’ “indescribable” and “inexpressible” — to...

4 min read

Writing with Emotion: How to Convey Passion Without Melodrama

Rae Fitzgerald: Apr 8, 2023 9:04:34 AM

As writers, our primary charge is to elucidate whatever the topic demands, whether story, concept, process or application. However, clarity is not...