Writing is often done in isolation, away from community. This, in itself, can make creative writing a very alienating experience for artists.

The organizers of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop know this and that’s one reason they have established a prestigious virtual workshop for African writers living in the continent. Eligible writers are invited to apply to the inaugural edition of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop. Selected writers will be notified via email.  There are no entry fees. Also, Attendance is free.  The workshop will be held virtually from the 6th through the 11th of January 2025.

Submission Guidelines For Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop

• Prose entries (fiction and creative nonfiction) should not exceed 1000 words.

• Poetry: A maximum of 5 pages.
  

• Manuscript format: Font 12 (Times New Roman or Arial), Margin: 1, Left-aligned, Double spaced. Poetry can be single spaced.

• Blind submissions are preferred. Be sure to omit all identifying information. This means:
  

No name/pen name or email address should appear on your submission document. Only the story title and wordcount should accompany the first page of your manuscript.

• Applications are accepted from 15th October – 15th November 2024 or until the submission cap of 100 is reached.

• Save your entry story/poem and cover letter (which should include the title/genre of your entry and a short bio) either as a PDF or Word document and submit through this form: https://tinyurl.com/3yaecnsy 

• The file name of your submission must be the manuscript name only. E.g., THE HONEST POLITICIAN.

• Please submit only unpublished work.

• Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but no multiple submissions. Only one submission per entrant.  
  

Eligibility Criteria

Only writers with three or fewer publications are eligible to apply (self-publication is excluded). Entrants must be African and currently resident in Africa.

Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop Instructors 

The Workshop

Classes will take place on Google Meets from 5PM – 7PM UTC and will be taught by the following writers:

• TerryAnn Adams 
• Peter Njeri
• Chido Muchemwa 
• Ifeanyichukwu Eze 
• Resoketwe M. Manenzhe

Deadline For Submissions

Application window will be open from the 15th October – 15th November 2024 or until the submissions cap of 100 is reached.

What Will Writers Gain From Attending The Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2025?

• Writers will learn how to write more eloquently.
• Participants will have a chance to have their stories critiqued constructively by other writers.
• There is an endless list of benefits. However, time and space will not allow us to enumerate them all.

How to increase your chances of getting accepted:

1. Don’t panic.
2. Choose your story idea wisely. If you can, avoid old and tired storylines.
3. Make sure your story has a narrative arc, an interesting theme. Ensure that it is rendered from an irresistible point of view.
4. Write what you know. Readers can tell when you’re being pretentious. Or better still, write what scares the hell out of you. What you don’t know can’t scare you.
5. Read a few classic short stories. I’ll recommend John Updike’s ‘Pygmalion’ and Alice Walker’s The Flowers.
6. You can find a few more fantastic short stories HERE, HERE and HERE.
7. Poets may benefit from reading the writing tips in this article based on a poetry masterclass and this guide.
8. If you’re a poet, here’s how to edit poetry.
9. Don’t be in a hurry. Do your best to find the best story ideas that will make your application stand out.

Ready to learn how to write like the great literary artists you admire, don’t hesitate. Apply to the  Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2025. Got inquiries? Forward them to idembeka@gmail.com

The post Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2025 / How To Apply appeared first on Creative Writing News.

BMP to PDF converters are software tools or online services that allow you to convert images in BMP (Bitmap) format into PDF (Portable Document Format) files.

BMP to PDF converters can be useful for creating a document from scanned images, archiving bitmap graphics, or preparing a presentation with multiple BMP images in a single, easily shareable PDF file.

Bitmap portable format to PDFs serves as an indispensable tool for students and teachers, seamlessly transforming visual content into portable, universally accessible formats, fostering efficient sharing, collaboration, and the presentation of educational materials.

Read: How To Make Money From Writing.

It is a common task for researchers and learners to change the images from bitmap to portable document format. 

If you are an expert seeking to sort out the images into single, dissociable documents or a daily user and have the inclination to design a digital album, you will need a BMP to PDF converter for proficient work. 

Here, we will consider at 5 bitmaps to pdf converters which are specifically built for Windows. 

We will explore their attributes, easily operated, performance, and quality-to-price ratio. If you are looking for a fully featured instrument, a convenient converter, then a BMP to PDF converter is an efficient tool to make your way smoother.

Itspdf.com

For the management of PDF documents, an online instrument which is called itspdf.com is used to convert BMP to PDF documents. It is a fully featured tool that easily converts the document from BMP to PDF.

Simplified Conversion: 

At learner’s platforms, there are many computer students who need such an incredible converter to convert the files fast. Although it is not fully featured like desktop software, and is an easy BMP to PDF converter styled for Windows users.

Cloud-Based Conversion: 

Because of its web-based nature, it is available for any device with a connection to the internet and provides high convenience.

Fine Management: 

The platform involves fundamental file management functions that enable its users to combine, divide, and reduce portable document formats.

Pros:

• It is available on any window with an internet connection.
• No need to install the software, it helps to maintain the window machine neatly.

Adobe Acrobat DC

In the domain of PDF solutions, Adobe Acrobat is widely accepted. Adobe Acrobat DC is the new version of Adobe’s portable document software, giving the high-powered and flexible BMP to PDF conversion tool. They made it in such a way that it is easy to operate and makes the process for all types of use more genuine.

Batch Conversion: 

It is a timesaving tool, which is used to turn BMP into PDF.

Customization: 

You can easily customize PDF documents by adding headers, footers, watermarks, and even codes to enhance reliability.

OCR Support: 

Adobe Acrobat is a software that has optical character recognition in which you can scan the BMP images with text change in the searchable PDFs.

Pros

• Industry-standard PDF formation and modification
• Systematic update and client service
• Strong security characteristics for document

PDFelement:

PDF element is the most famous PDF editing tool that provides complete properties for PDF formation, correction, and transformation. It involves accessible BMP to PDF formation instruments appropriate for all types of users.

Drag-and-Drop Interface: 

BMP to PDF conversion becomes easier by Drag and Drop Interface.

Batch Conversion: 

You can change several BMP files simultaneously, which enhances your efficiency.

Pros:
Due to low cost, users can easily avail of it

• No need for technical knowledge
• Strong changing properties like text and image manipulation

Nitro Pro

Nitropro is a more powerful PDF changer that also involves BMP to PDF changing properties. They made it for all types of users who are in search of advanced PDF tools.

PDF Editing: 

The software provides a variety of PDF editing options that help to manage the document at once.

Sign-in Option:

Within the application, you can sign your PDF document electronically.

Pros:

• Advanced PDF editing and creation features.
• Enhanced security options, including password protection and encryption.

Convertio

You can convert BMP into PDF by using the simplest and easiest online conversion system. It is the best option for the customer who favors the ease of online gadgets.

User Friendly: 

The BMP to PDF converter provides a simple and innate user alliance, which constructs availability to users.

Wide Format support: 

It supports a wide range of image formats and makes it flexible for different conversion requirements. 

Pros:

• Availability from any aperture tool with an internet connection.

• Accessibility from any Windows device with an internet connection.
• No software installation is required.

Finally, on Top 5 BMP to PDF Converters for Windows

There are offline software and online services that offer BMP to PDF conversion capabilities. Many of them are simple to use and do not require any special technical skills. Some of them may offer additional features, like the ability to merge multiple BMP images into a single PDF, add annotations, and more.

The post Top 5 BMP to PDF Converters for Windows: Streamlining Educational Resources for Students appeared first on Creative Writing News.

A fraction calculator is a tool or a device that helps you perform calculations involving fractions.

A fraction calculator is useful for students, teachers, and professionals who need to work with fractions in mathematics, science, engineering, and other fields.

Homework and assignments often bring us face-to-face with fractions, and that’s where the Fractions Calculator becomes a true ally.

While it may seem contradictory to join the world of problems with a structured domain of mathematics, fractions play an important role in the artistic process.

At the end of this blog post, you will understand how an online calculator is used to deal with fractional problems. So let us move a little bit to explore more to look at the functions of this handy tool. 

Fraction Calculator:

The fraction calculator discovers the gap between the integers and the infinity. This calculator is not merely a tool for computation but also helps you to understand the fundamental building blocks of mathematics.

So whether you’re a student grappling with homework assignments or a professional seeking to refine your skills, calculator-online.net is your trusted companion on the journey to fraction mastery.

Fractions are the terms that are utilized to show the quotients and this is divided into two terms:

• Numerator 
• Denominator 

In simple wording we discover the fractions by dividing the numerators by the denominators and at the end of this process we get the numeric value that is not a whole number referred to as the fraction.

In complex fractions, the numerator is always less than the denominators. If you are a learner or a mentor and want to assign math work then you also need accuracy to determine the home tasks. Then the online calculator comes into play. 

In order to reduce the fractional terms to their simplest form insert the values into the designated fields of a calculator.

This will allow you to find the fraction addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and conversion. There are the types of fractional expressions that are as follows:

• Proper fraction:
• Improper fraction:
• Mixed Fraction

Utilize a Fraction Calculator For Homework and Assignments:

This calculator is designed in a simple way that enables you to get fast calculations. It requires some values to function properly, which are given as follows. So, to explore these points, let us move a little bit further.

• First, choose how much values you want to evaluate
• Put the values in the fractional form and set their symbol

Results Summary:

• Decimal Representations: you can get the results for both decimal and simplified fractions. 
• Mixed Numbers: you can receive final answers in the form of mixed numbers.
• Improper Fractions: Simplify the improper fractions into the simple form of fractions. So you can easily convert mixed numbers or simplified fractions. 
• Common Denominator: For operations involving different denominators, the calculator can find a common denominator and calculate the result.

The Conversion Of Fraction Into Decimals:

The conversion of fractions into decimals can be made simple by taking into service the fractions calculator and if you come for manual calculations then you can get this by dividing the numerators by the denominators. This figures out division, multiplications, subtraction, and addition within a fraction of a second. So take a look at the processes below:

• Simple Fractions to Decimals:

To convert fractions like 3/5 or 8/9 into decimals we have to do division. We have to divide the numerator by the denominator, and the quotient represents the decimal.

• Recurring Decimals into Infinite:

In some cases, fractions such as 1/3 or 5/6, give the solution in recurring decimals with patterns that repeat limitlessly. These decimals seem like 0.333… or 0.8333…

• Combining Whole and Decimal Parts into Mixed:

Here we convert the mixed numbers like 4 ⅖. It is first converted by transforming the mixed numbers into the improper type of fraction. So after that, we can apply the division method.  

Finally, on Fraction Calculator

Fraction calculators typically allow you to input fractions in their numerical form (numerator and denominator) and then perform the desired mathematical operations on these fractions. They can also display results in fractional or decimal form, depending on your preference.

A fraction calculator can simplify working with fractions and help reduce the potential for errors that can occur when doing these calculations manually.

The post Fraction Calculator for Homework and Assignments appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Serious poets want to be better writers of poetry. Also, they want to learn how to edit poetry.

Many poets understand that editing is as important as the actual writing. It’s your opportunity to examine and refine your work into a better and more developed piece worthy of awards. It makes sense to learn how to edit poetry. Who knows where your reputation as a poetry editor might take you?

Editing can seem daunting, and it’s also quite exciting. So take some time to experiment and find the techniques and processes that best work for you and your poetry.  Yes, you’ll have to learn to edit your poems first.

Here’s a guide on how to edit poetry. This guide includes poetry editing strategies guaranteed to help you become a great poetry editor. One strategy is to use poem editing tools like AI PoemGenerator to help you create and edit poems in a blink of an eye.

Take a Break From The Poem. 

Writing poetry can be difficult and consuming. After completing your poem, take a break from the creative process. Let your brain relax. Reapproach your poem with a fresh mind. You want to be able to read the line with fresh eyes.

This technique works when you’re editing your own poem and when you’re editing another writer’s poetry.

You’ll do a better job of assessing and editing the poem more objectively if you implement this technique.

Save the First Draft Of The Poem.

One of the reasons editing can feel intimidating is because of the idea that you’re “killing your darlings.”

Keep your unedited first draft, so the poetry editing process doesn’t feel like you’re cutting and discarding your own precious lines of poetry.

If your poem is typed, it can be helpful to print it out. Your unedited draft will remain on your computer, and editing is often easier when you physically highlight and make notes on the poem.

This way, instead of killing your darlings, you’re still letting them hang around, and the unused ones can be used in other poems.

In addition, your edits will be reversible, and you can compare your unedited and edited versions for even more improvements. All the best poetry editors use this strategy. It’s a good tactic for anyone who’s still learning how to edit poetry.

Read your Poem Like a Reader Would.

Read your poem in its entirety. Don’t make edits or think about adjustments. Let yourself enjoy the words and experience your poem like a reader would. After a complete read, note down your immediate thoughts and impressions. 

• Do any words or lines feel strange? 
• Which parts could use reinforcement? 
• Do some areas seem choppy or cramped? 

Think about the reader’s perspective. 

• Is the writing clear or confusing? 
• Is the theme or message of your poem coming across?

It can also be helpful to read your poem aloud so you can pick up on how it sounds. 

• How is the rhythm and flow? Is your writing eloquent enough?

Reading through your poem and breaking down what exactly needs to be fixed will result in more productive and efficient editing. Now you’re prepared to make your first level of edits.

Enhance the Style

After making the first round of adjustments, begin focusing on style edits. The style of a poem is all the choices that are made to create the poem’s meaning. Coleridge’s The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner is a good example of a well edited poem.

This can range from literary devices to punctuation to rhythm to mood. Examine your style elements and how they contribute to the poem; they should enhance your writing and complement the themes and meaning of your poem.

That being said, you should also make sure that your poem isn’t crowded with style elements. Poetry is a form that operates by the “less is more” policy, so sometimes it can be helpful to remove excess.

• Does your style complement your poem?
• What elements could be enhanced to contribute to a more developed piece?
• What elements could be taken out to clear unnecessary crowding and confusion?

Assess the Language Of The Poem.

Carefully study your word choice. Every word should be contributing to the theme, structure, and rhythm of your poem. Also examine your diction and what it is implying. 

• Does the diction match your theme and style? 
• Are there ways to maximize the effect?
• What is one way to revise for word choice?
• Is this poem good enough for oral reading?

This is a good time to take out your thesaurus and experiment with word choice. Also, poetry usually isn’t as word-heavy as other forms of writing. Keep that in mind while editing; it’s better to remove unnecessary adjectives and adverbs. Additionally, make sure you are beginning and ending with powerful lines for a stronger poem and greater impact.

Reorder and Restructure

Once you’ve done all your writing-based edits, give your poem another read. Assess the order and structure of your poem. Experiment with different stanza and line orders to find which sounds and flows the best. This will help you to learn how to edit poetry.

Poetry also involves an aesthetic element; try altering your lines to make your poem look better on the page. If your poem is typed up, a helpful tip is to change the font.

Your brain gets accustomed to observing the same text; changing the font will let you assess it with fresh eyes and assess the structure better. As a bonus, grammar and spelling errors are easier to detect with a font change.

• Can your stanzas be reordered to flow better and make a better poem?
• Could your lines be rearranged within the individual stanzas to emphasize meaning?
• Could your lines be shortened, lengthened, or combined to create a better structure?

Ask Others for Feedback

After you’ve made all your edits, it can be helpful to ask others for their suggestions. Share your poems with trusted friends, family, or other writers and ask them for feedback.

A good practice is to ask others what they think the poem is about. You may get some interesting poetry analyses that can indicate whether your poem is being understood the way you want it to or not.

Keep in mind that you get to decide what to do with the feedback you receive. If you found it insightful you could use it to do another level of edits. You could also choose not to act upon the feedback; it’s your poem, edit it as you see fit. 

You can also seek feedback on the behalf of the writer whose poem you’re editing. The feedback you’ll get will help you do a better job of editing the poem. With time, you’ll figure out everything you need to learn about how to edit poetry.

Rewrite Your Poetry.

Every poet has heard this saying, ‘the first draft is always trash.’

While editing a poem, be prepared to revise some lines. Writing experts advice poets to edit until your poem says what you want it to say. Writing experts advice poets to edit until your poem says what you want it to say before getting it published.

Edit the poem until it sings. If you’re still learning how to edit poetry, don’t be in a haste to rewrite ‘imperfect’ sentences. Be careful to avoid editing out the writer’s voice. Strike a balance between maintaining the writer’s voice and improving the lines of the poem.

Read The Poem Out Loud.

After a few rounds of revision, read the poem aloud. This will help you to spot errors you might have missed.

Read the poem to a small audience, and listen to their opinion. Good poems are often good for oral reading.

Also, ask yourself if you’re satisfied with the edited poem. If you aren’t, revise the part that require some improvement.

Congratulations on completing your poem, if you feel satisfied with the completed poem!

If you aren’t happy with the finished work, no worries! You can always return to the editing process and write as many drafts as you need.

Use A Grammar And Spell Checker Like Every Good Poem Editor.

Every poet who’s still figuring out how to write a poem must use a grammar checker or a spell checker. This will go a long way to help you to correct small grammatical and spelling errors.

Wrap Up On How To Edit Poetry.

Poetry editing isn’t a small feat. It requires a lot of writing and reading, as well as a ot of practicing. You have to learn to take a break from the poem with the aim of backing back to the poem with fresh eyes. Other strategies include:

• rewriting the poem
• Getting feedback from seasoned poetry critics or writers
• Restructure your poem
• Read the poem aloud to yourself and them to a small group of cohorts.
• Using a grammar checker
• Take a break from the poem.
• Using a thesaurus or a dictionary. 

It’s standard practice for every editor to use a dictionary or a thesaurus. This ensures that only the apt and concise words make it into the final draft.

While figuring out how to edit a poem, strive to choose the best words in the poem you’re editing. Many editor poets often wonder, “what is one way to revise for word choice?” My answer: revise awkward-sounding lines and use a thesaurus or a dictionary.

Did you ever have to actively learn how to revise a poem? What lessons have you learned from your experience? Please share your story in the comments section below. There are thousands of poets who want to learn how to edit a poem.

You can find more poetry writing tips in this article.

The post How To Edit Poetry: A Guide On How To Become One Of The Best Poem Editors In The World. appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Society for Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN) is proud to announce its Virtual Creative Writing Workshop for young female writers.  

The aim of the SBMEN Creative Writing Workshop For Women  is to:

• enhance the skills and talent of female writers;
• explore the literary works of inspiring female writers
• and provide a platform for female writers to creatively express themselves.

No enrollment fee or application fee is required is required.

Eligibility Guidelines and Target Audience for the SBMEN Creative Writing Workshop For Women

They are interested in enrolling 20 female writers who are willing to hone their craft.

You can apply:

• If you’re female.
• If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30 years,
• If you write fiction, non-fiction, and cover culture journalism and new media.
• If you’ll be available to participate in the literary workshop.
• There are no geographical restrictions.

Everything You Need To Know About The SBMEN Women’s Creative Writing Workshop.

The workshop will hold over four days from Monday 23 November to 26 November 2020.

It will consist of several sessions with the facilitators online. The workshop will be delivered through:

• discussions,
• writing exercises,
• and guided readings.

The last session will be the guest session with an accomplished writer or publisher from Africa.

Submission Guidelines for the SBMEN Writing Workshop 

To qualify to join the workshop:

• Submit an unpublished 1000-word flash fiction or nonfiction piece for consideration.
• Submission deadline is Saturday 7 November 2020.
• Successful applicants will be notified by Wednesday 11 November 2020

Submission Guidelines For The SBMEN Women’s Creative Writing Workshop:

• Please send the following materials in a MS WORD document to womenwriting@sbmen.org.ng.
•  Ensure that the subject head is: Workshop Writing Submission:
• Your writing sample should be an unpublished work in fiction and nonfiction, but not children’s fiction. 
• Include at the top of the Word document your name, contact address, email and phone number.
• Manuscript Formatting Guidelines: Times New Roman size 12 font, black, 2.0 spacing.
• Include a biography of not more than 100 words.
• Include a 200-word personal statement on why you want to participate in this workshop.

Facilitators for the SBMEN Women’s Creative Writing Workshop.

• Dzekashu Macviban, writer and publisher of the award-winning magazine, Bakwa and Bakwa Books from Cameroon.
• Zukiswa Wanner, award winning novelist, journalist and editor from South Africa
• Enajite Efemuaye, writer and managing editor of Farafina books from Lagos.

Awards for Writers Who Participate In This Creative Writing Workshop:

Participants will be awarded:

• a “Certificate of Attendance” after the writing workshop.
• Also, next year, they will receive a free published “SBMEN Writer’s Handbook” a culmination of the workshop courses that will contain lessons and exercises to help with their continuous education to improve their writing.

This workshop is supported by Ford Foundation.

To increase your chances of getting into this highly selective workshop,

• read some interesting short stories online. We reviewed some by Howard Maximus, Simbiat Haroun , Nneka Lesley Arimah , Helon Habila and Others.
• Learn how to write a short story that publishers can’t reject.
• Get inspired by the amazing stories in these recommended podcasts for storytellers.
• Write eloquently.
• Give it your best.

The post SBMEN’s 2020 Creative Writing Workshop For Women Is Supported By Ford Foundation / How To Apply appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Are you a writer who wants to upskill? Completing a course and getting a writing certification can bring you one step closer to landing the writing job of your dreams. 

Choosing the right writing course can be very daunting for both early career and established writers. In this article, Haley shares tips on how writers can upskill using edtech tools and platforms. She also shares the best ed tech tools for writers and writing certifications that can open up visitas of opportunities..

Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Upskilling And Getting  Writing Certifications

Technology plays a big role in how we interact with others and the society around us. As it continues to advance, it’s important that we use technology to our advantage, especially when it comes to upskilling . 

Educational technology, in particular, can make a tremendous difference when it comes to building better writing students and employees. This way of learning creative writing reframes how we approach career advancement and prepare ourselves for the future.

As a writer, you can use Edtech to your benefit by completing online writing certifications. With any position in the writing industry, part of our job is constantly learning. 

Not only will certifications develop your writing skills, but they can also distinguish you from other candidates when applying for positions. Down below we cover how Edtech can boost your career, and how writing certifications can be of benefit to you.

What is Edtech?

Edtech is software material designed to develop the skills of individuals in a particular field of interest. Most of us were introduced to Edtech in the classroom at a young age but may have never noticed it.

For instance, playing with computer games as a child is a perfect example of educational technology at play. Reading on your phone, tablet or PC? That’s edtech too.

A Writing Course Is Worth The Time and Effort: Here’s Why.

An Edtech-AcquireD Writing Certification Improves Your Resume:

Nowadays, most people use Edtech to build out their resumes and further deepen their knowledge of a subject matter. If you’re looking to acquire more writing certificates, then perhaps you need to sign up on some edtech platforms.

Writing Courses Provide Opportunities For You To Upskill.

With Edtech tools, writers can conveniently learn new skills and hone their craft. Take a writing course if you want to excel as a writer. 

Improves your chances of getting writing jobs and creative writing scholarships and grants.

A growing body of evidence suggests that human resource managers prefer to hire writers who have writing certifications. In fact, grad school admissions committee members are likely to admit students who have attended writing workshops and writing courses. So if you want the gatekeepers to take you seriously, complete some writing courses. Get some writing certifications.

How Edtech Can Advance Your Writing Career 

Provides A Great Opportunity To Beef Up Your Resume.

If you’ve been laid off due to the pandemic or are just an upcoming writer with little experience, you may be looking for ways to flesh out your resume.

Helps You Maximize Your Time As A Writer.

Now more than ever we are limited in the ways we can connect with others and learn new skills. As a result, more writers are using their free time to complete writing certifications. 

Gives You A Chance To Make A Good Impression On Employers.

These certifications work great for filling in the empty spaces in your resume. As mentioned, going the extra step with Edtech will distinguish you from other candidates when applying for jobs.

This happens because:

• employers will see that you are taking the extra time out of your busy schedule to advance your career as a writer.
• It’s a reflection of self-discipline.
• It shows dedication  to your writing craft.

The Best Writing Courses On Edtech Platforms.

There are many different options you can choose from when looking for writing classes or writing certifications.

Are you confused about where to begin? Don’t worry. We are here to help. You can start from any of the following are five paths.

Microlearning 

Microlearning is a great option for those with busy schedules ahead of them. This style of Edtech focuses on smaller sized lessons to learn different kinds of skills. The lessons you engage in are typically interactive and enjoyable.

Many microlearning platforms come in mobile applications, making the course easily accessible to you. This way, you can simply pick up another lesson when you find yourself waiting around or with nothing to do. 

For example, Duolingo is an application that uses microlearning to teach people different languages. This platform may be of interest to you if you are considering writing in a different language or to a different audience.

Massive Open Online Courses (Or MooCs)

Completing massive open online courses is one of the best ways to achieve a writing certification. These courses are designed by both universities and Fortune 500 corporations.

Some examples of companies that offer these kinds of courses include Google and Linkedin. They are also usually offered to the public for free, which is great if you are looking to stay under a budget. 

The University of Iowa’s International Writing Program has some free MOOCs you might want to explore.

While these courses are administered by external organizations, there is no added pressure to complete the course under a specific time frame. They are designed for you to work through them at your own pace and own schedule.

Also, there are hundreds of different course options to choose from. You can either further develop your skills in one area, or branch out into other aspects of writing.

Here are some massive open online course platforms for you to dig deeper in:

• Coursera 
• Udemy  
• Khan Academy  
• Canvas Network 

Multidirectional Training

Multidirectional training is a more popular route for once you are already working in the writing industry. When you join a company or team, the training you receive is often only pertinent to what you are responsible for in your position.

You may be excelling in your current field, but lacking in other areas of writing unknown to you. For instance, a play writer’s work may not provide training or knowledge on how to write blog posts. These are two completely different areas of writing.

With Edtech, individuals can bridge this gap between what they do know and what they want to know on their own time. This can help with moving up in the workplace, or also facilitate an easier transition between two different areas of writing. Some workplaces are also becoming more aware of the benefits of multidirectional training, and are beginning to offer it to employees.

Blended Learning

Blended learning is a combination of in-person learning with extra online supplementation. This is a great option for those who learn better in more than one learning environment.

Due to the recent pandemic, many schools have already started adopting blended learning into their framework. Classrooms were transitioned to operate primarily online, with the option of some being in person if needed.

This style of learning can be adopted in the workplace as well. You may be able to write for your company from home, but need to go into the office every once in a while for meetings and training.

Companies are also becoming much more favorable to this because it saves them a lot of money.

Having an office space can get quite expensive, so having your team operate remotely can save a lot of rent costs.

Career Development

When it comes to using Edtech to advance your writing career, you are the one in control of your learning. You can take these courses at your own pace and from the comfort of your own home.

In the workplace or the classroom, everything is structured with a designated deadline. Learning is less personalized and more structured to the group as a whole.

Learning with Edtech can also help prioritize your goals more efficiently. What’s great about this form of learning is that you can pick skills that you want to work on and develop yourself.

This can help you and your writing stand out from the rest of your colleagues. 

Expand Your Horizons

You can use online writing certifications to expand your knowledge into different industries as well. For example, writing poetry is very different from writing short stories.

There are different techniques and styles associated with both types of writing. Take some time to think about different genres of writing you have been interested in over the years.

It’s never too late to learn something new. You may even be surprised that it can help you with your writing as a whole. 

Some writers also use Edtech to help them become much more knowledgeable on topics they write about. Writing can be extremely difficult if you aren’t too familiar with the topic at hand.

It may even decrease your credibility with your audience when they are reading your piece. If you are writing about how people make decisions, consider picking up an online writing course dealing with psychology or human behavior.

This will help flesh out your writing at a much faster pace than if you weren’t to take the course.

You may even find yourself interested in applying for a specific brand that is very focused on one area. Take the fashion industry for instance.

You can be an amazing writer, but not know very much about clothes or upcoming fashion trends. This will most likely make you appear as not the best candidate for this particular position.

Before applying or going into the interview, take a free online course on fashion. This way, you have material you can pull out in front of your potential employer to show your background in the industry. 

How is Edtech Growing?

Edtech is continuously growing and developing at a rapid pace. The way we approach learning and career advancement also change as a result.

The Edtech industry is increasing in revenue as more organizations adopt it into their teaching techniques. Likewise, higher amounts of people are predicted to be using Edtech in the coming years. As the industry increases in popularity, many people won’t want to be left behind.

The rise in educational technology has led to the adoption of gamification techniques when learning. Gamification style courses are structured with rewards as you progress throughout the writing course.

This can keep you motivated at times where you don’t want to continue. In some instances, hitting specific benchmarks has been known to lead to higher productivity rates when learning.

Distanced learning has also become the new norm for many of us in school and at work. This abrupt need for change has caused the world to learn how to adapt very quickly.

As a result, more technology has been developed to fit the needs of our new way of learning. While distanced learning may be a battle for some, it can be very beneficial to other students.

Not everyone is fully capable of coming into the classroom or workplace for their own personal reasons. Distanced learning and Edtech have shown us that education can be available from anywhere and anytime. 

5 Best Edtech Platforms Every Writer Should Take Seriously.

It can be of your benefit to keep up with how the Edtech industry is growing. This can help you find more opportunities to benefit you in your writing.

The following are a few Edtech blogs you can subscribe to if of any interest to you:

• Edtech Center
• Skillshare
• Edtech Digest
• NovoEd
• eLearning Industry    

Wrap Up On Upskilling and Getting Writing Certifications With Edtech Tools.

Educational technology is reframing the way we look at learning. More opportunities are right at our fingertips to help us advance throughout our careers. As a writer, you can benefit extremely from completing online writing certifications. 

• This can work to flesh out your resume,
• develop your writing skills,
• and give you an extra edge against the competition.
• it can also help you in writing about certain topics you may know very little about.

Employers have wholeheartedly adopted technology in their teaching efforts because :

• it’s much more cost-effective and efficient.
• Employees can facilitate learning at their own pace and schedule. 

People are busy and often struggle with fitting more into their schedules. This is why many employers are transitioning their in-person orientation meetings into online module courses. 

The post Upskilling With Edtech Tools: All You Need To Know About  Writing Certifications appeared first on Creative Writing News.

What is a story arc? Does it mean the same thing as narrative arc or plot arc? These are questions many budding and professional writers often ask. And they are very important questions too. Storytelling arcs help to make great stories memorable and outstanding.

In this article, Charles Opara will give apt narrative arc definitions. Then, he’ll dissect a sample story that has a clear story arc. What’s more, he’ll explain the difference between a character arc and a narrative arc. You’ll also get bonus tips on how to create the arc of a story in a narrative 

Ready to learn about arcs in stories? Read on.

The Story Arc Also Known As The Narrative Arc.

When many writers get a story idea, the last thing they think about is the narrative arc. But the story arc is one out of many techniques that keeps the reader hooked.

Before we learn how to create a story arc, let’s define a narrative arc.

What is a narrative arc?

The story arc or narrative arc or dramatic arc is the path a story follows. It gives a story a definite form, one with a clear beginning, middle, and end. 

The concept of narrative arc as we know it today was created by Gustav Freytag, a German novelist and playwright who closely analyzed ancient Greek writing, along with William Shakespeare’s five-act plays.

As the term suggests, when plotted on paper, a typical narrative arc forms the shape of a hill or pyramid.

Creative writing experts suggest that a typical story arc has five elements..  Understanding these elements will help you know what to focus on when trying to create a narrative arc in your story.

Here they are, arranged in the order in which they appear:

The Five Elements of a Story Arc

Exposition.

This is the reader’s introduction to the story. The exposition offers background information to prime the audience for the rest of the story, including introducing the main character(s) (the “who”), setting (the “where”), and circumstances or time period (the “when”).

Rising Action.

This is when conflict begins to ramp up. The rising action usually begins with what’s called an “inciting incident”—the triggering event that puts the main events of the story in motion. This is when the audience starts to see what your story is really about.

This element forces you to answer questions like, what visual representation describes the structural elements of your plot?

Climax.

This is the highest point of tension in your storyline, and often the point at which all the different subplots and characters converge. Typically, the climax requires the main character to face the truth or make an important choice.

Falling Action.

This is what happens as a result of the protagonist’s decision. During the falling action, the conflict gives way to resolution. Loose ends are tied up, and tension begins to dissipate.

Resolution.

Also known as a denouement, this is how your story ends. The resolution of a narrative arc isn’t always happy, but it does close the loop and show how the events of the story have changed the characters and the world around them.

How To Create A Narrative Arc (Examples and Tips).

I will demonstrate these 5 elements using excerpts from my horror short story piece: It Happened.

A Demonstration of the Five Elements of a Story Arc using the horror short story piece

‘It Happened’ by Charles Opara

Exposition (Opening)

It is official. My son is missing — if you believe the statement I made back at the station. I am in the backseat of a squad car, on a manhunt for the prime suspect in my son’s abduction, and we have just gone past the orphanage at Aladinma. Chuma, my first child, left home for Church to rehearse for a play his youth group plan to stage on Sunday and has not returned since. Look at the time. It is past nine. The police chief and I have spent the last forty-five minutes visiting some of Chuma’s friends in their homes and interrogating them. They all said the same thing: they last saw him at the rehearsal and do not know where he went after that.

The police chief is constantly on his phone, constantly talking to his boys, asking if they have made any progress. Every negative response he gets threatens to turn me into a nervous wreck.

Help me, Lord, before I lose my mind. I am a poor widow whose mite comes from her earnings as a nurse at a state-run clinic, one of the outstations for the proper reference hospitals in the city. I have no one else but you, Lord, and I thank you for revealing to me who my son’s abductor is. I speak of Ihemee, the destitute on our street. Would I even know his name if it were not for my son, whom he chose to befriend?

Chuma has been acting strange ever since we moved to Ikoku Avenue, almost three months ago. He has a knack for expressing ideas that could not possibly come from a nine-year-old. Like the time he asked me a riddle: “Grass eats dirt, cow eats grass, and man eats cow. What eats man?” I answered ‘nothing’, and he said, “Maggots. Maggots eat man. They turn him into dirt so the grass can eat.”

When Chuma became fascinated with setting traps for house rats — when I noticed he was a little too eager to take out the rubbish, every evening — I asked Uchendu, my second child, to follow him and see where he would take the trash. Uchendu came home to report that he had seen Chuma speaking with Ihemee at the dumpsite.

What? My son? Talking to that mad man? After I specifically warned him to steer clear of him? What sort of mind-control medicine is that homeless herbalist using on him? Ihemee, of all people! How can Chuma want to be friends with that disgusting thing? A tramp who could be carrying skin diseases yet unknown to man? Who might even be a runaway from a mental institution, and potentially dangerous?

Analysis Of The Opening (Exposition).

Notice the background information. I’m referring to the incidents that happened before we joined the story:

• Chuma’s relationship with Ihemee.
• Chuma not returning home after a rehearsal at church.
• The narrator calling the police. 
• The narrator and the police chief making house calls to inquire about the whereabouts of Chuma.
• The narrator going to the police station to give a report.
• The manhunt. The narrator and the police chief boarding a squad car that’s part of a convoy of two police vehicles on a search for the suspect.

We also learn a bit about the narrator.

She’s a nurse.

And two other characters, who are at the heart of the conflict: Chuma and Ihemee.

Rising Action.

The police chief gets off the phone and says to me, “My men have apprehended the suspect.”

“Praise God,” I chant. “Is my son with him? Have they found him?”

”Calm down, Madam. Your son is not with him, but we will find him. I assure you.”

He tells the driver to turn the car around and our convoy of two makes a U-turn. At one point, the other car’s headlight strikes me with a blinding haze of white that catches the tears welling up in my eyes.

If my premonition misses, my son is not in a black cellophane bag and Ihemee is not a ritualist looking for a human head while pretending to be shelter-challenged.

I keep my head turned towards my window, away from the police chief, and watch the dark shapes of trees as they fly by. A quick flash of light from a working streetlight ambushes me with my sad reflection.

Analysis Of The Rising Action.

The inciting incident is the phone call the police chief receives. It informs him that the suspect has been apprehended.

At this point, we start to get a sense of what the story is about.

Climax

At the shoulder of the hill, a putrid smell filled my lungs. But I was like a moth drawn to the strong light on the other side, I could not be denied. I crawled up the slope, taking my time. At the summit, I fell on my chest and slithered up and poked my head over the hill. The first thing that caught my eye was a bright furnace. And then a man. He was naked, stark naked. He looked like the driver of our bus. There was another man by the fire. He was tending to the flames with a long stick. I knew I had seen him somewhere before, on the bus, perhaps. Wasn’t he the one who sat closest to the door?

The first man dragged an equally unclothed body by the ankles—dead from all indications—out of a pile of human remains and laid it flat on its back. The corpse he had pulled out belonged to the woman who had offered me ukwa while we were waiting for the bus to fill up with passengers. The first man—who, in the glaze of firelight, I could now confirm was our driver—lowered himself on top of the woman’s corpse and assumed the missionary position. It was a sickening sight. I could not think of anything more depraved. I could not think at all. He belched. He puked all over her face. His vomitus poured and poured (bucket-loads of it) and as it did, his head lurched forward and he gurgled, “Bleeegh!”

His oral discharge seemed alive, the way it swirled over the woman’s face and then over the rest of her, soiling and unsoiling her body parts. Jesus! It was a swarm—of maggots. The driver coughed out the last ones. And then came… a long worm—no, a leech, the longest I had ever seen in my life. Maggots, leeches (and God knows what other vermin) turned the woman’s face into a hive. The last thing I saw, before slinking away, was of the driver licking the woman’s skull, slurping back the maggots, and exposing her soggy half-eaten face.

Analysis Of The Climax.

In this scene, the narrator faces a shocking truth: the men, she initially thought were rescuers, are scavengers, decay-feeding supernatural creatures.

Falling Action

Where am I?” I ask.

“In hospital,” Chuma says.

“How do you feel?” Ngozi asks, her eyes the pale red of someone who has been crying.

“Excuse me. That’s my job,” the strange face in the room says. She raises her stethoscope and slips it into her ears. “Now, if the rest of you will give me a moment, I will be done here.”

I feel the cold dab of her stethoscope on my chest and jerk back a little. 

“So it was all a dream,” I say. “Thank goodness. But what happened? Why am I here? Doctor, did you give me a hallucinogen? You can tell me. I’m a nurse.”

“Hold still.” She pulls down my lower eyelid and shines her retinoscope in my eye. She does the same with my other eye. “I did not,” she says. “Your bus had an accident and, for all we know, you are the only survivor.”  

No. She can’t be serious. “Noooo,” I scream, alarming the young woman leaning over me. 

Ada, whom Chuma is trying to prevent from clambering up into my bed, stops struggling and gapes at me for a brief moment before she opens her mouth wide and releases a bawl.

“Mummy, what is it?” Uchendu asks.

“She is still in shock,” the woman in white overall says to Uchendu. “Now, I want everyone to leave so that she can get some rest. She will feel much better after she sleeps it off.”

Analysis of the Falling Action.

Here, we see how the protagonist reacts to her realization in the climax. This action, which starts in the ‘Falling Action’ will lead to the resolution.

Resolution

“Confused, I watch the woman lift Ada into her arms, and shepherd my family out of the room. 

Chukwunna, lekwa nu mo, Father, see me-o, I repeat to myself each time I recall the accident, and the driver scavenging that passenger’s face. 

Before the woman can shut the door behind her, an impulse makes me say, “Chuma. I want to speak with Chuma.”

“Of course,” the doctor says and allows my son back into the room. 

Chuma bounds over to me and the woman pulls the door shut. He stands by my bed, waiting. He doesn’t know what to say. And for a while, neither do I.

“That thing Ihemee said to the police, the night Obasi went missing, did you understand it?” I ask, finally.

“Yes, Mummy.”

I blink to clear the tear-clouds from my eyes, my lips shuddering slightly.

“Mummy, what is it? Don’t cry. You’ll be okay. The doctor says you will,” Chuma says, switching to Igbo.

“How does Ihemee know what he knows?”

Chuma hesitates.

I reach out and touch his arm. “You can tell me. I won’t get angry. I promise.” 

“He is one of them. He is like Pastor Ikenna, but he is not bad like him. He doesn’t kill and bury children so he can eat them later. He only eats dead rats and the things he finds in the garbage. Mummy, Ihemee is my friend, and he can be your friend too, if you like.”

 End Of Story.

How Story Arcs Work.

Story arcs in contemporary drama often follow the pattern of bringing a character to a low point, removing the structures the character depends upon, and then forcing the character to find new strength without those structures.

In a story arc, the character undergoes substantial growth or change, which culminates in the denouement in the last third or quarter of a story.

What’s The Difference Between The Narrative Arc and The Plot Of A Story?

Plot refers to the individual events that make up your story. In other words, the plot is what happens.

Narrative arc, on the other hand, refers to the path or sequence of your plot, and how that series of events creates a flow and progression that keeps the reader engaged at each stage in the story.

What Is the Difference Between a Narrative Arc and a Character Arc?

If a narrative arc is the path of the overall story, a character arc is the path a specific character takes during that story.

The story arc is external, and happens to all of the characters, while a character arc is internal, and happens to one person.

A character arc usually involves a character overcoming an obstacle and changing the way they see the world. (Undergoes an internal change, if nothing else.)

When the narrative arc begins its descent down the pyramid into the falling action and resolution, the character arc has its moment to shine.

This is when a character experiences a turning point by:

• asking for help,
• learning a new skill,
• making a critical choice,
• and/or becoming more self-aware.

Typically, only major characters have character arcs, though minor characters can undergo this type of character development as well.

The character arc of the narrator in our sample story

From the story “It Happened”, the narrator’s character arc is her realization that Ihemee is not what she thinks, but something much worse,  something hard to believe.

She now knows that Ihemee is not insane and was speaking the truth when he accused the general overseer of the church she attends of being a cannibal. We don’t know how she’ll respond to this. But it can be inferred that a change has occurred within her, a change in the way she sees the world.

And this change results from her acceptance of the fact that men who feed by digesting their prey extracellularly exist.

Wrap On Narrative Arcs, Story Arcs, Character Arcs and Plot Arcs.

The story arc can be seen as a pyramid that shows the different changes that take place in a story. There are five elements of a narrative arc. And each element plays an important role in defining the clear arc of the story.

The narrative arc is different from a plot. A character arc differs from a narrative arc. With our aforementioned example, you can decipher what the differences are. And hopefully, you can write classic short stories the everyone will love.

Have you ever tried to decipher the narrative arc of your story? What did you learn from the process? 

Got more tips on creating a story arc? Please share in the comments section. We look forward to learning from you.

About the Author:

Charles Opara is a Nigerian-born author who writes suspense, speculative fiction, literary fiction and short stories. He is a programmer with a passion for groundbreaking technologies. His creative mind enjoys the logic involved in writing stories and programs, puzzles and problem-solving, basically. In 2015, his horror short “It Happened” was shortlisted for the Awele Creative Trust Prize and in 2017, another story ‘Baby-girl’ was long-listed for the Quramo National Prize in his country. His stories have appeared in Ambit, Flash Fiction Press, and Zoetic Press. He is about to publish a collection of short stories with Fomite Press called ‘How Hamisu Survived Bad Kidneys and a Bad Son-in-law’.

Twitter handle: Charles Opara@OparaCc

INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS

1. Fake It, Flash Fiction Press http://www.theflashfictionpress.org/2016/06/24/fake-it/
2. Fermenting, Zoetic Press, Non-Binary Review #7 The Woman in White
3. Broken Sleep, Ambit Magazine, Ambit 229 (19th July 2017) ISSN: 0002-6972 http://ambitmagazine.co.uk/issues/229

WRITING CREDITS 

1. ‘It Happened’ shortlisted for Awele Creative Writers’ Prize 2014
2. ‘The Dream’ longlisted for Fiction Desk’s Best Newcomer’s Prize 2015  
3. ‘Fermenting’ nominated for the Best of the Net (Zoetic Press 2016)
4. ‘Baby-girl’ longlisted for the Quramo National Short Story Prize 2017

The post Narrative Arc, Story Arc, Plot Arc and Character Arc (Definitions + Examples + Tips For Creating A Narrative Arc In Your Story) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Book Title: Mmirinzo

Author: Achalugo Chioma Ezekobe

Length: 283

Genre: African Speculative Fiction

Publisher/ Year: Winepress/ 2020

Source: Got a copy from a friend

Reviewed by: Ernest O. Ògúnyẹmí

Mmirinzo by Achalugo begins simply. Olivia will be twenty-eight in a few months. She has bucket lists to tick before her twenty-eight birthday, and her younger sister, Nwanneka’s wedding, is just around the corner.

Things are going well until she starts dropping unconscious anytime she sees moving water, and her very fantastical dreams keep getting intense. The fainting and the dreams become so serious that she realizes she needs answers.

That sets us up for an interesting novel, one that would be difficult to put down. And, yes, Achalugo does not disappoint. Her writing is fast-paced enough. 

However, the strength of this novel lies in how it juxtaposes – like a juggler juggling two oranges, to borrow an analogy from Robert Louis Stevenson – the plain ordinary and the intense magical, without focusing on one at the detriment of the other. Or we might say: To the writer, Mmirinzo isn’t a work of speculative fiction; it is a work of realism. This is because, while this might read to a foreigner (by this I mean, a person not familiar with Igbo metaphysics) as speculative fiction, to a person who is familiar with Igbo worldview and spirituality, this is a realistic work.

Olivia, like the reader, wants answers and she seeks it. Thankfully, she finds answers. However, while finding answers, her relationship with Sir Leo, a colleague, begins to blossom. (Again, the power of Achalugo to balance the ordinary and the magical.) In Olivia’s quest for answers, she has to go back to the village where she must perform some rites and be initiated.

Here is where I must give Achalugo her due as a brilliant, brilliant writer. She unveils the rites of the initiation and the whole process, showing the reader everything it entails in clear prose, so that the reader, like Olivia (who is almost like the reader in every sense), might make their decision about what is being done.

How do I mean?

Turn on your TV and tune in to African Magic Igbo. Almost all the movies you’ll be shown portrays Igbo Spirituality as demonic and show the priests as bloodthirsty and human-flesh-hungry people. However, Achalugo shows us that this is very untrue. That Igbo priests and those who accept the calling of Chukwu, which she writes that each individual chose in the premortal world, are not in anyway bloodthirsty or human-flesh-hungry. 

As Onyeka Nwelue wrote in his blurb, reading Achalugo is like “listening to an old woman tell stories.”

“You are not being forced against your will…, yours is a predestined choice, it is what you chose when you stood between the place Chukwu carves us and the wall to the birth canal of your mother.”

“Yes. Just before we are born, we say what we are going to earth to be or do.”

In Mmirinzo by Achalugo, we meet a whole cast of characters who have accepted their callings and are doing what they promised to do in the premortal world, as well as living their normal, every day life.

There is Amaoge, a young, energetic woman who works in Lagos and follows Odinani; Eloka, a priest who lives with his family and works in Abuja; Aunty Afulenu, Olivia’s guide, who is a teacher and an Mmirinzo; and Nosakhare, who runs a corporate business of rain holders and makers. Will Olivia join the list?

By showing these characters who have their normal lives and who still perform their callings, Achalugo adds another one to the two balls she was juggling: defence. She deftly makes a defence for the Igbo (can I say African?) Spirituality, without pushing it. This, in fact, is where her power lies, and, yes, this makes her a writer to watch carefully. She possesses wisdom. As Onyeka Nwelue wrote in his blurb, reading Achalugo is like “listening to an old woman tell stories.”

“Everything you need is primarily in you, for the rest, you can move around with what you need. I set up a place for my Chi where I stay the most, and even at that, I believe I can commune with my Creator, ancestral and guiding spirits, anywhere and anytime.”

Olivia struggled with comprehension.

“Where is God?” Eloka asked.

“Everywhere,” Olivia answered.

“It is there you have your answers.”

She nodded and asked again, “Why did this mmirinzo thing, come to only me? Will it come to my siblings later?”

“I strongly doubt.”

“But we are siblings.”

“That is not enough, ofu nne na amu, ofu chi adighi eke. You can find siblings from the same mother and father and far in behaviour or destinies from one another.”

There is wisdom in Mmirinzo by Achalugo

One thing I also really liked about this book is how Achalugo portrayed Leonard. We meet a guy who doesn’t take the consent of a drunk lady to be consent, because she is drunk. That was a brilliant portrayal, I must say, for, in a way, it is opening up room for conversation about consent.

This novel made me think of Chigozie Obioma‘s most recent novel, An Orchestra of Minorities.

While there are some minor punctuation errors, Mmirinzo is an important contribution to the African speculative fiction canon, especially those that engage with the Igbo worldview. This novel made me think of Chigozie Obioma‘s most recent novel, An Orchestra of Minorities. While Mmirinzo does not have the range of Chigozie Obioma’s book, it comes close in its case for the relevance of the Igbo worldview. 

Mmirinzo by Achalugo is an important debut.

The post Juggling Three Balls: A Review of Mmirinzo by Achalugo appeared first on Creative Writing News.

It is not unusual to meet writers who desperately want to find creative writing jobs. It only makes sense to earn a living doing what you love, right? Especially since the internet has made it easy for writers to keep their heads above water.

Also, many youngsters what to know what kinds of creative writing jobs they can get with a creative writing degree or certification. And these concerns are perfectly understandable

You can’t blame parents for not wanting to waste hard-earned money on a useless degree or course. Plus students want to know that their creative writing certificate can earn them a fat paycheck.

And that’s what we’ll be discussing in this article. Creative writing jobs and how you can get them. But before we launch into the details, let’s look at the definition of creative writing jobs.

What Are Creative Writing Jobs?

There are a lot of definitions for creative writing. Some are narrow, while others are more inclusive. Many people think of fiction writing when they hear “creative writing.” More specifically, novels, short stories and poems.

Many people erroneously conjure up images of traditional writers whenever writing jobs are mentioned. 

However, fiction writing and creative writing are not the same things. Creative writing is an umbrella term that includes fiction writing. It also includes many other types of writing.

Creative writing can be found outside the literary realm, and so can creative writing jobs. It’s valuable in business, journalism, education, entertainment, and more.

There’s a creative writing job for everyone who enjoys writing. In 2018, 181,000 writers and authors were employed in the USA. Between 2016 and 2026, that job market is expected to grow by 7.6 percent.

A University of Chicago study also found that authors were one of the top 10 occupations in job satisfaction. Writing is incredibly rewarding.

But deciding to pursue a creative writing job is easier than actually landing one. First, you have to determine what writing job you want. What career would be a good fit for you? Once you decide that, you have to secure a job offer.

Free writing courses and certifications can help you to succeed in your endeavor  Writing degrees and courses will enhance and hone your skills. Also, they will give you credibility as a serious writer.

We’ll first take a look at creative writing jobs. Then we’ll explore five writing courses and certifications to sharpen your resume. You’re on your way to your dream creative writing job!

The Ultimate Guide To Getting Well-Paying Creative Writing Jobs.

Important Tips To Consider When Searching For Advanced Level an Entry-level Creative Writing Jobs.

Below are a few things to consider when selecting creative writing jobs.

Creative Writing Is Broad.

Yes, creative writing has a broad definition. But it does capture the spirit of creative writing.

Study.com defines creative writing as “any writing that is original and self-expressive.”

It’s an art form that comes in endless forms. Creative writing doesn’t necessarily mean writing a plot with characters. Some jobs may or may not include plotting or rounded characters. 

Creative Writing Jobs Can Be Found In Every Industry.

Creative writing can be a rich product description that boosts sales (also called content marketing). Or it can be a moving speech. Creative writing could be a cheerful text on a greeting card. Creative writing could be a blog post about creative writing.

Even creative writing in the “narrative story” form can be used outside the traditional writing industry. A well-placed anecdote can enhance endless written pieces. Stories live in textbooks and academic papers.

Know Your Areas of Strengths and Weaknesses.

Different writers have different areas of strength. Writing jobs are easier to execute if they fall within your area of strength. So before you say yes to that writing job, ask yourself the following questions:

• What skill sets or knowledge do you have?
• Have you attended any creative writing workshops?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What niche/topics are you interested in?

Some Jobs Are Best Suited For Writers Who Enjoy Conducting Research.

Consider your ability or inability to conduct fast and effective research. Sometimes you may have to research unfamiliar or difficult topics. Take into account your preferred assignment or the preferred length of the writing project.

Lengths of Writing Projects Vary.

Would you be happier with short-term freelance writer jobs? Or would you prefer lengthy projects often reserved for full-time creative writers?

Creative Writing Jobs Are Abundant In The Entertainment Sector.

News articles and blog posts. Video games and board games. Advertisements and commercials. Stories are a part of daily life.

An inclusive definition of creative writing opens up the possibilities for careers. Which possibility is the right one for you?

What Jobs Can You Get With Your Creative Writing Skills and Certificate?

Believe it or not, there are plenty of opportunities for creative writers to earn a living doing what they love/ Ready to see a list of lucrative creative writing jobs?

Below are some well-paying jobs that require a lot of creative writing.

Novel Writing:

This means writing a long work of fiction. You have read Harry Potter? Yes? Or Half of A Yellow Sun. You could write novels and self-publish them online, where readers can buy the soft copy and read.

Copywriting:

Copywriters write texts for the purpose of marketing or advertising. They write about particular products (or copy) in a way that attracts the attention of a particular audience to the product.

Content writing:

Content writers write articles for particular blogs on particular topics. Most times they are not credited as the writers, but they get paid for the job. However content writing requires a lot of expertise and training. You might want to learn more about content writing before you venture into this field of creative writing.

Editorial work:

One way to make money as a creative writer is to edit. There are a lot of people who have manuscripts that they need someone with professional eyes to take a look at, to help them give it shape and colour. Currently, there are editorial job vacancies at MayDay Magazine, Fractured Lit & Voyage and One Story.

Screenwriting / Playwriting:

Yes. The movies we watch are written by creative writers. You could start writing for the screen or stage. This pays well, if you get a good gig.

Advert Writing:

Advert writers write catchy and clear sentences that help a company or an organization attract a particular audience. You could write one-liners for different companies to help them get more customers.

Songwriting:

While we all can’t be singers, some creative writers write songs for singers. This is not new. Poems by writers like Lord Alfred Tennyson have been set to music.

Biography/memoir writing:

We have all read books that detail the lives of influential people, or that detail a particular, crucial moment of their lives that coincided with a crucial moment in history.

You also could help write the stories of some influential people, or help give an account of their lives during a particular moment. Learn more about how to write an autobiography, a biography or a memoir.

Translating:

The work of the translator is needed now, more than ever, as the world has become more of a global community. Are you bi- or multilingual? Do you possess translating skills?

You could start working as a translator. You could work as a book translator or even help translate subtitles for the screen.

Journalism:

Do you like reporting news and events? Do you have the right training and skills? You could work as a journalist, writing for a particular magazine or blog, or even set up your own blog. Like Kola Tunbosun does with his blog.

Technical writing:

This is the kind of writing that involves breaking down technical information so that it is easily accessible to a particular audience. If you are able to write clearly and you possess technical knowledge, you could write instruction manuals and how-to guides for tech companies.

Literary magazine entrepreneurship:

If you love writing or editing, you could start a literary magazine. This could be a print or an online magazine. Or you could work as an editor, or even a social media manager, for already established literary magazines. Check out this opportunity.

Podcast Creating:

Do you possess knowledge on a particular topic? Are you willing to share? You can create a podcast where you share your ideas. With podcasts, you can record these ideas and upload them for others to download and share.

Ghostwriting:

This basically means being paid to help a person write the book they intend to write, without taking the credit for the work. You could help write an autobiography for an influential person. You get your pay and the book is theirs.

Teaching:

A good deal of writers are teachers of creative writing. You could work as a lecturer at a university, teaching creative writing. Or you could start writing workshops (either online or physically), or master classes, where you teach others how to write.

Public Speaking:

A lot of creative writers are also speakers; and others, while not speakers, write speeches for influential people. This could be for politicians or motivational speakers.

And this is not an exhaustive list. Many of the creative writing jobs above also span multiple industries. One important career option that comes to mind is content marketing.

Content Marketing.

In many cases, a content marketer combines five or more of the aforementioned creative writing skills to succeed in their jobs. This makes it a great fit for a creative writer.

Bottom line: You have the flexibility to pursue different specialties. You have the power to pursue writing niches that most interest you.

How And Where To Find An Entry-level or Expert-Level Creative Writing Job?

Once you’ve determined the creative writing jobs you want to pursue, you have to find a vacancy or an opening.

Below are avenues where you can find well-paid creative writing jobs.

Try Traditional (Not Freelance) Job Sites.

Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Monster and Glassdoor are popular options. These job sites are good for if you want an hourly or salaried job.

Use Your Google Search Engine Effectively.

A Google search can also help with finding expert-level and entry-level creative writing jobs. It will show you a wide range of opportunities, especially those that aren’t being advertised on traditional hiring websites.

Subscribe To Creative Writing Websites.

Another easy way to get creative writing jobs is through creative writing websites. Subscribing to literary blogs can give you n advantage. This way you’ll know where there are vacancies/opportunities for writers.

Creative Writing News, Writer’s Digest, James Marua’s blog and Brittle Paper are examples of literary blogs that advertise jobs for writers.

Join Facebook Groups For Digital Nomads.

Did you know that you could find writing jobs on Facebook? Well, now you know. All you have to do is join the right groups for digital nomads.

You can get writing jobs via the following Facebook groups:

• B2B Bloggers Boost Group (and no, you don’t have to be a blogger to be eligible for membership).
• Digital Nomads Jobs: Remote Job Opportunities.
• Remote Work & Jobs for Digital Nomads–

Seek Membership In The Right Slack Channels.

You’ll be amazed to know that there are hundreds of thousands of creative writing jobs being advertised on Slack, All you have to do is be at the right place at the right time.

Find freelance and full-time writing jobs in the following slack channels:

• Online Genuises.

• #freelance

• #CreativeTribes

Explore Online Hiring Platforms for Freelancers.

If you want more flexible work, consider freelancing. In that case, you’ll be searching for freelance writer jobs or something along those lines.

One advantage of freelancing is its flexibility. You have complete control of your hours, and also you can also be selective about the type of work you want to take. You can even work remotely from home.

All you have to do is sign up on freelance marketplaces and start sending out job proposals. You can start with the following freelance writing sites:

Upwork:

Upwork has three million jobs posted annually. This makes it the largest freelancer marketplace in the world. In its writing jobs section, creative writers are “Some of [the] most in-demand pros.”

Its top skills in the US include copywriters, editors, creative writers, blog writers, content writers, proofreaders, and writers. If you can write, there is a high demand for your expertise.

• Fiverr
• Toptal
• Simply Hired
• PeoplePerHour
• Freelancer.com
• Guru.com

These are just a hand full of platforms where you can get entry-level creative writing jobs online. Although these are the popular options, they aren’t the only options.

Writing Courses That Boost Your Resume And Help You Get Freelance Writer Jobs.

If you’re looking for a creative writing job, you might want to take some courses and certifications. Some of these courses can help make your resume stand out.

It can be daunting to try for a creative writing job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be strong competition for writers and authors.

This is because so many people are attracted to writing jobs. And it may feel like there’s always a better or more experienced writer than you. But don’t be discouraged.

This is where writing courses and certifications come in. They can help you stand out from other applicants. Writing courses and workshops are a great way to learn new writing techniques. They can also refine the skills you already have.

Writing courses don’t have to be incredibly expensive. Many are very accessible; some are even free. You can find countless courses online. This is especially convenient given the COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular sites for online creative writing courses:

• Coursera
• Udemy
• LinkedIn Learning
• Skillshare
• edX

Plus, there’s a writing course for any topic you desire. There are courses with a narrow, specialized focus. Mary Karr’s course on Memoir Writing is specifically designed for memoirists.

Many other creative writing courses are more general and versatile.

You can start by exploring the sites above. Then you can broaden your search or dive deeper. The courses and certifications in this post are just a tiny fraction of the resources available. 

Some courses also come with a certification that adds value to your resume. Certifications showcase your skills and add credibility. They demonstrate your proven abilities.

Here are five writing courses and certifications that can boost your resume.

High-Impact Business Writing

This High-Impact Business Writing course is from Coursera. Coursera offers courses from top universities and leading companies. This one is taught by an instructor from the University of California Irvine.

This course can help you apply your creative writing skills in a business setting. You’ll learn to select specific formats appropriate for your audience.

You’ll also be able to determine the most effective medium for your message. And you’ll master how to avoid common writing mistakes. 

Ultimately, you’ll communicate objectives and ideas clearly. These skills will apply to a wide variety of business-related writing projects.

Learn to write more effective business documents, memos, yearly reports and more.

You can improve your career outcome with this course. 22 percent of students started a new career after completing this specialization. 12 percent got a pay increase or promotion after they’d completed the course.

This Course Helps You Learn To:

• Communicate effectively to any target audience
• Choose the right format and medium using different techniques
• Edit, proofread and analyze business documents efficiently and effectively
• Spot, correct and avoid the most common writing pitfalls
• Create business reports, press releases, presentations, emails and memos.

Cost of course = Audit for free

Cost of certificate = $50

Copywriting Secrets – How to Write Copy That Sells

This is a comprehensive copywriting course. It covers how to write sales copy, calls to action, White Papers, press releases, and more.

It also helps you target a variety of audiences, from B2B to consumers. Anything you need to know to become a copywriter, this course explores.

Many different learners can benefit from this course. You should definitely take this course if you’re:

• An entrepreneur or start-up founder.
• A small (or large) business owner.
• Involved in marketing.
• Someone who wants to become a successful freelance copywriter.

You can ask questions or seek further explanations directly from the course creators. They usually respond within 24 hours.

This is an extremely valuable resource. The lifetime access you get makes it even more valuable. It is an “insightful and actionable course”, with constantly updated content.

This creative writing-related course teaches you to:

• Generate more sales leads using the power of words
• Understand how to leverage features, benefits, and advantages
• Craft professional press releases that get published
• Create persuasive case studies by interviewing customers with confidence
• Structure and write compelling sales copy.

Cost of course and certificate = $16 – $90 (frequently on sale)

Creative Writing Specialization

This course is also available on Coursera. It’s offered by Wesleyan University, one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. The Creative Writing Specialization is comprehensive. It has everything you need to craft a compelling story.

The capstone project is a substantial original story in the genre of your choice. Along the way, you develop skills focused on the four key aspects of writing. They are plot, character, setting/description, and style. You’ll also analyze and constructively evaluate peer writing. Being able to critique and revise is essential to improving.

The University of Iowa through it’s International Writing Program (IWP) often organizes free online creative writing specialization courses. 

The career outcomes from this course are especially promising. 58 percent of students started a new career after completing this specialization. 22 percent got a pay increase or promotion. This could be you.

When you take a creative writing specialization, you learn to:

• Write short stories, narrative essays, and memoirs
• Develop bracing stories, memorable characters and interesting settings
• Refine and critique writing to continuously improve
• Develop your own unique and distinctive writing style 
• Draft, rewrite, and complete a substantial original story

Cost of course = Audit for free

Cost of certificate = $50

Learning to Write for the Web

LinkedIn Learning offers courses from industry experts. This course is only 1 hour and 24 minutes. Yet it’s incredibly valuable for such a low time investment.

Almost 4.57 billion people actively use the web. So it’s important to know how to write for the web to stay relevant.

This course has a Q&A feature. 75 percent of questions are answered by instructors and other learners. 34 percent of questions are answered by the course instructor. So you’ll be supported by a community of learners.

A course in learning to write for the web teaches you to:

• Understand that people read differently on the web, and how to write content that goes viral and stays relevant.
• Identify and include documents that could be used to provide supporting evidence in an article
• Determine the expiration date on seasonal articles
• Assess the reading level that body text should be written at
• Move your target audience to care about your text

Cost of course and certificate = $35

Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer

If you don’t have a specific career in mind, this course is a great option. It’ll help you become a better writer overall. With almost 100,000 students, it’s the most popular writing course on Udemy.

This course helps you achieve a variety of goals. Improve business, sales and marketing writing. Make your resume shine. Craft the best essays in your class. Increase traffic to blogs and other sites.

Writing With Flair Shows You How To:

• Write with simplicity by shedding unnecessary words and complex sentences
• Write with clarity by using precise language and focusing your ideas
• Craft elegant writing that flows smoothly and maintains consistency
• Make your writing more evocative and moving with fresh language and varied sentence structures
• Develop or rediscover a love of writing

Cost of course and certificate = $13 – $95 (frequently on sale)

Wrap Up On How To Get Creative Writing Jobs And Find Free Writing Courses That Help You Get Gigs.

Gone are the days when writers were doomed to a life of eternal poverty. Thanks to the internet, you can make a ton of money from writing.

Creative writing jobs come in a variety of forms. They also span many industries, so the opportunities are endless. If you’ve decided to pursue a creative writing job, consider finding a writing course and certification.

If you’re just launching your creative writing career, consider taking writing courses, and certifications.

Or if you’ve already found a job, courses and certifications can still improve your skills. It makes perfect sense to attend a course or two as often as you can.

These courses improve your talents and employability. And the certifications provide tangible proof of your skills.

The courses and certifications in this article are only a starting point. Sometimes you can only rely on experience to teach you how to make your first $100 as a freelance writer. Or how to earn money from writing and publishing poetry.

And you can find other writing courses and certifications that are more suitable for your career goals.

When most people hear creative writing jobs, they first think of storytelling and poetry/play/novel-writing.

A quick Google search for “creative writing jobs” yields millions of pages. You might’ve expected opportunities like novelist, screenwriter, book editor, and ghostwriter. But there are also less “traditional” writing jobs where creative writing is valuable.

Have you been trying to get creative writing jobs? How successful have you been? Have writing courses helped you in any way? Which writing courses do you recommend? Please share your ideas below in the comments section.

The post Creative Writing Jobs And Free Writing Courses that Can Help You Land Gigs appeared first on Creative Writing News.

In order to learn how to analyze a poem, you have to understand what poetry is. Poetry is a literary form used to express feelings and ideas. Poetry analysis involves examining the independent elements of a poem to understand those feelings and ideas.

There is no one right way to analyze a poem. However, some of the possible ways will be explored in this article.

We’ll break down the main aspects of poetry analysis and poetic elements to help you form and focus your own analyses. This guide can also serve as a poetry analysis worksheet as there are questions to guide you.

Below are the poetic elements, tips, and examples you need to guide you in your quest to analyze any poem.

Understand and Dissect The Theme of The Poem

The theme of a poem is its central topic, subject, or message. Examining the theme of a poem is a great method of analysis; the easiest way to break anything down is by understanding what it’s about. 

To understand how to analyze that poem, start by studying the poem for its main idea. It could be about love, loss, patriotism, nature, etc. 

As an example, let’s look at “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost.

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Learn To Find The Theme Of The Poem

To find the theme of the poem, we have to break it down to find what it is about. Let’s break down Frost’s poem to find the theme.

Frost begins this poem by talking about nature and flowers, and how they don’t last very long. He says the same about dawn; at first, the sky is golden but then it rapidly fades as the sun rises higher. This loss is compared to the fall from Eden, and then Frost concludes with “Nothing gold can stay.”

The recurring message here is that nothing golden and beautiful lasts. We can then develop this idea into the main theme of the poem, which is transience; the most beautiful things tend to have the shortest longevity. After finding the theme, an analysis can be made about how Frost delivers the theme. 

You can also explore the literary devices he uses in order to do so, who the intended audience is, etc.

Poems can also have multiple themes. And a poetry analysis can be built on their relationship with one another. Moreover, you can write or generate a poem that delivers a message or moral which can also be a point of examination.

Poetry analysis questions to ask about the theme:

• What is the theme of the poem?
• Are there multiple themes? How do they relate to each other?
• Is the poem trying to deliver a message or moral?
• What audience is the message for?
• What techniques does the poet use to deliver the themes in the most effective way possible?

Pay Attention To The Context Of The Poem

The context of a poem forms the foundation of its comprehension. A poet’s background can be crucial to your ability to understand their poetry. A poet’s life and experiences can affect the interpretation or provide extra information. Examining such context is another solid method of poetry analysis.

Details about a poet’s life can suggest a specific point of view. For example, some of Grace Nichols poetry, such as “Island Man,” is more meaningful if the reader knows that Nichols is a Guyanese poet who moved to London when she was 27. And a lot of Nichols’s poetry is inspired by her homesickness. 

The culture of the place and time a poem was written in also has an effect on the interpretation. For instance, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel L. Coleridge has strong themes of nature and religion. The reason for this is because it was written during the Industrial Revolution when people were entranced by science and technology. Coleridge wanted to draw their attention back to what they were overlooking. 

The effect of the culture of place is observable in Dareen Tatour’s poem “قوم يا شاب قومهم” (“Resist, My People, Resist Them”) which she wrote as a Palestenian in protest against the Israeli government. Her poem made a defiant statement, and she was arrested for it. 

In some cases, poetry is influenced by the era or movement it was written in, like how Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” was written during the Beat Generation movement.

Researching About The Poet Can Help You To Analyze A Poem

A little extra research about a poet and their life can go a long way in improving your understanding of their poetry.  Take some time to read up on the context.  You’ll be better equipped on how to write a case study analysis of the poem.

Poetry analysis questions to ask about context:

• Do details about the poet’s life suggest a specific point of view?
• Does the culture of that era (I,e. time, and/or place) have any effect on the interpretation of the poem?
• Does the poem belong to a movement? How might this affect its interpretation?

Focusing On Mood and Tone Is A Solid Way To Analyze A Poem

Mood and tone are similar, but the distinction between the two is important. Mood refers to the feeling the audience gets from the writing. 

For instance, a mood shift can be observed in Billy Collin’s poem “Introduction to Poetry.”

I ask them to take a poem

and hold it up to the light

like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem

and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room

and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski

across the surface of a poem

waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do

is tie the poem to a chair with rope

and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose

to find out what it really means.

In the first four stanzas, the mood of this poem is of wonder and exploration. It’s light and invokes the marvel of learning new things.

However, in the later stanzas, the mood becomes darker and sinister. The mood shift and how and why Collins creates it is a strong point of analysis.

Remember, Tone Differs From Mood

Tone, as mentioned earlier, is a little different than mood. Tone refers to the attitude the writer has towards the subject they are writing about. 

For example, the tone of a poem could be satirical, serious, humorous, critical, or appreciative. The tone in “Another Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries” by Hugh MacDiarmid is quite easy to detect.

It is a God-damned lie to say that these

Saved, or knew, anything worth any man’s pride.

They were professional murderers and they took

Their blood money and their impious risks and died.

In spite of all their kind some elements of worth

With difficulty persist here and there on earth.

As previously mentioned, the tone is how the writer feels about the subject of their poem. The subject here is mercenary soldiers. It’s pretty clear that MacDiarmid doesn’t care very much for them.

The tone of the poem is undeniably contemptuous and angry. Taking note of this tone creates an opportunity for analysis on how MacDiarmid conveys the tone and why he feels so strongly about mercenary soldiers.

Poetry analysis questions to ask about mood and tone:

• What is the mood of the poem?
• Does the mood change over the course of the poem? Why did the poet create said change?
• What strategies does the poet use to convey the mood?
• What is the tone of the poem? Does the poet agree, disagree, admire, ridicule, or condemn the subject of the poem? What is the reason?
• How does word choice affect the tone of the poem?
• What strategies does the poet use to convey the tone?

Explore The Literary Devices Used In The Poem

Literary devices are techniques writers use to produce special effects in their writing.  It is especially helpful when you’re still grappling with learning ways to analyze a poem.

As can be sensed from the definition, it’s a pretty broad category. As such, an analysis of a poem based on literary devices can go in many directions. A few of them have been highlighted below.

Repetition is a literary device frequently found in poetry, as can be demonstrated by Merrill Glass’s “But You Didn’t.”

Remember the time you lent me your car and I dented it?

I thought you’d kill me…

But you didn’t.

Remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was

formal, and you came in jeans?

I thought you’d hate me…

But you didn’t.

Remember the times I’d flirt with

other boys just to make you jealous, and

you were?

I thought you’d drop me…

But you didn’t.

There were plenty of things you did to put up with me,

to keep me happy, to love me, and there are

so many things I wanted to tell

you when you returned from

Vietnam…

But you didn’t.

To learn how to analyze repetition in a poem, first, find the repeating phrases. Secondly, assess their function and contribution to the poem. 

The repeating phrases in this poem are “Remember the time” and “But you didn’t.” Their functions are reinforcing the mood of the poem and the building structure.

 The repetition of “Remember the time” produces a nostalgic mood. The repetition of both phrases creates a framework for the poem. 

Therefore, when the mood drastically changes in the last stanza, the continued repetition of “But you didn’t” still keeps the poem within its structure; it doesn’t feel like it came out of nowhere. It is important to consider this when figuring out how to analyze a poem.

Next in literary devices, let’s discuss the imagery and sensory language. Imagery is an author’s use of descriptive language to build visuals. Meanwhile, sensory language is words and phrases that create vividity in writing. This vividness is created by appealing to the senses. 

Both are employed by writers to add depth to their work. The use and effect of these two devices can be observed in this excerpt from “The Young Sun’s Greeting” by Léopold Sédar Senghor.

The young sun’s greeting

On my bed, your letter’s glow

All the sounds that burst from morning

Blackbirds’ brassy calls, jingle of gonoleks

Your smile on the grass, on the radiant dew.

This stanza is rich with sensory language. The description of sunlight on the bed, the sounds of birds in the morning and dew on the grass creates a strong image of a serene morning. 

The resulting effect is a vivid and entrancing poem. This effect can be analyzed in terms of how it’s achieved, the impact it creates, and how it supports the theme of the poem.

There are many other literary devices that are frequently found in poetry including metaphors, personification, flashbacks, symbolism, diction, and more. These can all be analyzed in a similar manner as highlighted above. 

Poetry analysis questions to ask about literary devices:

• What are the most prominent literary devices used in the poem? How can it help you to analyze the poem?
• What function do the devices have in the poem? Do they build the structure? 
• Do literary devices contribute to the mood? Do they support the theme?
• How does the poet’s use of literary devices make for a better and more meaningful poem?

Analyze The Language and Structure

Poetry allows for eccentric language and structure use in a way that no other literary form does. This makes for engaging reads and great points of analysis. 

As an example, here is an excerpt of “Half-caste” by John Agard

Explain yuself

Wha u mean

When yu say half-caste

Yu mean when light an shadow

Mix in de sky

Is a half-caste weather??

Well in dat case

England weather

Nearly always half-caste

In fact some o dem cloud

Half-caste till dem overcast

So spiteful dem dont want de sun pass

Ah rass

Explain yuself

Wha yu mean

When yu say half-caste?

Yu mean tchaikovsky

Sit down at dah piano

An mix a black key

Wid a white key

Is a half-caste symphony?

This is a great piece about the absurdity of racism, but let’s focus on the language. Agard writes in his Caribbean dialect. By doing so, he is legitimizing his way of speech and asserting himself and his mixed race identity. It’s a strong statement and connects well with the message of the poem.

Pay Attention To Creative Use Of Grammar

In terms of grammar and punctuation, what better example is there than Emily Dickinson’s poetry? She’s well known for her odd capitalization and punctuation.

Here’s poem #466 “I dwell in Possibility.”  In this poem, Dickinson writes about the limitless power of poetry and its superiority over prose.

I dwell in Possibility –

A fairer House than Prose –

More numerous of Windows –

Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –

Impregnable of eye –

And for an everlasting Roof

The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –

For Occupation – This –

The spreading wide my narrow Hands

To gather Paradise –

Dickinson’s grammar can seem daunting, but it’s just a matter of breaking it down. Beginning with the capitalization, these are all the words (excluding the words at the beginning of each line) that she capitalizes: 

Possibility, House, Prose, Windows, Doors, Chambers, Cedars, Roof, Gambrels, Sky, Visitors, Occupation, This, Hands, Paradise

The most recurring image produced by these words is of a house, which is the main metaphor of the poem. Dickinson compares poetry to a fair house that has many windows, an endless roof, and other appealing characteristics. 

So, it can already be reasoned that Dickinson’s capitalization is in order to emphasize the main focus of her poetry. This analysis can be furthered by examining the capitalized words that don’t fit in with the rest, such as “Paradise.”

A possible reason that “Paradise” is stressed could be the religious context; Dickinson could’ve been trying to portray just how divine poetry is by giving it a more powerful connotation. 

The other notable grammatical element in Dickinson’s poem is the abundance of em dashes. Almost every line ends in an em dash, and several have em dashes in the middle of them. 

Dickinson’s use of em dashes in the middle of her lines is usually to highlight words of significance. For instance, “for Doors” is enclosed in em dashes in the first stanza. To find out why, let’s consider the rest of the stanza. 

I dwell in Possibility –

A fairer House than Prose –

More numerous of Windows –

Superior – for Doors –

Dickinson is talking about the superiority of the “Possibility” a.k.a poetry house over the prose house. Poetry has more windows and it has doors. 

It’s important to notice that she says “More numerous of Windows,” because this means that the prose house also has windows, poetry just has more. In terms of doors, however, the prose house doesn’t seem to have any. So it’s just a house of windows.

Windows are nice, but you need doors to enter and exit. Therefore, “for Doors” could be stressed because Dickinson wanted to establish that prose isn’t as open as poetry.

Just as important as the use of em dashes,is the absence of them. Dickinson uses so many of her trademark dashes in this poem, so the two places where she doesn’t stand out: “And for an everlasting Roof” and “The spreading wide my narrow Hands.” 

Both of these lines describe something that’s expanding: the eternal roof and hands that are reaching out to paradise. Without the usual em-dashes, these lines visibly expand on the page which enhances their meaning.

Poetry often accommodates unusual structure and language that many poets utilize for emphasis, to make a statement or other similar reasons. All these can act as effective focal points of poetry analysis. 

Poetry analysis questions to ask about language and structure:

• Does the poet make use of language or grammar in an unconventional manner? What effect does this have on the poem?
• Do the language and diction complement the theme and mood of the poem?
• How is the poem structured? How are the lines and stanzas arranged? Why might the poet have made that decision?
• Do the language and structure correspond with the poem’s form? Why or why not?

Identify and Explore The Poetic Form

Identifying and exploring the poetic form is a great way to analyze a poem.

The poetic form determined by the poem’s rhythm and structure. The easiest way to detect the rhythm and structure of a poem is by listening to it.

Poetry is meant to be heard, so read it aloud or listen to a recording of the poem. This will allow for the detection of patterns in rhythm and rhyme schemes. Use that information to identify the poetic form. 

A fourteen-line rhyming poem may be a sonnet. A poem with an AABBA scheme is a limerick. A long narrative poem could be an epic, and a poem that seems to be a tribute may be an ode. Maybe the poem doesn’t seem to follow any form, which would make it free verse. 

While it’s not necessary to know the exact poetic form—you don’t have to memorize all the forms and their distinctions—it can be helpful because certain forms have specific associations. 

For example, sonnets are usually about love. Limericks tend to be humorous, and epics are often adventurous and historical. An understanding of the form of the poem can then open up opportunities for analyses about whether the poem adheres to or challenges its conventions.

Poetry analysis questions to ask about the form of the poem:

• Is the poem traditional or contemporary?
• Does the poem follow a rhyme scheme or rhythm?
• Does the poem follow a specific structure?
• Can the poem be classified under a certain form?
• Does it adhere to or challenge its respective form’s conventions? 
• Does the poem break away from its form or structure at any point? Why might the poet have made the change?

Last Words On How To Analyze A Poem

Analyzing poetry can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply break the poem down to its basic elements. Most of the major poetic elements have been outlined in this guide. Then, choose one or two to examine.

Also, make sure you’re asking the right questions. Create your own analysis worksheet or use the ones in this guide. 

The main idea of poetry analysis is to investigate and evaluate the way the poet makes an impression. Find what jumps out and talk about it in your essay, literary magazine, or audio podcast. Good luck!

Have you tried to analyze a poem? What challenges did you face? And how did you overcome these challenges? What poetic elements do you explore the most in your poetry analysis?

Please share your ideas and experiences in the comments below.

Interested in poetry contests? Check out the The 6th Singapore Poetry Contest 2020/How to Submit ($170)

and

The Origami Poems Project 2020/ How To Submit ($175)

References

Collins, Billy. “Introduction to Poetry.” The Apple that Astonished Paris. University of Arkansas Press, 1996.

Dickinson, Emily. “I dwell in Possibility.” The Poems of Emily Dickinson. Harvard University Press, 1999.

Frost, Robert. “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Collected Poems, Prose, & Plays. Ed. Richard Poirier and Mark Richardson. New York: Library of America, 1995. 

Glass, Merrill. “But You Didn’t.” Family Friend Poems, www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/but-you-didnt-by-merrill-glass.

Macdiarmid, Hugh. “Another Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries.” The Complete Poems of Hugh MacDiarmid. Penguin Books, 1985.

Senghor, Léopold Sédar. “The Young Sun’s Greeting.” Leopold Sédar Senghor: the Collected Poetry. University Press of Virginia, 1998.

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