Free Creative Writing Workbook: 20 Simple Exercises To Unleash Your Creativity (creative writing for beginners, creative writing exercises, thinking skills, writing skills, stop writer's block) by Brian Henderson Page A

your personal preferences. The less you have to think or worry about, the more creative you can become.

3 - Spelling and Grammar
    Here's the deal with this, many writers are often offended whenever they are asked to do this-- they are writers after all, and wouldn't be so if their spelling and grammar are n’ t up to par. However, even the best do make mistakes and are also prone to becoming repetitive when it comes to the words they use. Simple grammar mistakes such as interchanging the uses of they're and their or lose and loose are quite common. Make mistakes like that and you can easily be considered an amateur.
    And you wouldn't want that to happen, right?
    Grammar mistakes are just as common as spelling mistakes. However, it can be a bit more flexible. For example, it is totally fine to start your sentences with "and" or "but" if it better suits your writing style. The same goes for the well-know n“ don't end your sentences with a prepositio n ” rule-- this can be broken too. For more modern readers, these might even go unnoticed.
    However, not all rules are made to be broken. A lot of them do make sense and actually make your work much easier to understand. The difference is in knowing that you made a mistake. If you are fully aware that you're making a mistake and doing so to experiment or get creative with your work, then go ahead. However, if you keep making mistakes unknowingly, it might cause your credibility to weaken.
    Another common mistake that people make would be using punctuation wrongly or not using it at all, which then renders their sentences unintelligible. This is one of the easiest mistakes to make and most people don't even realize it. Commas can be very tricky little things, so always use them wisely. The same goes for using apostrophes. In fact, some people have tried to get it banned! Lastly, there's also the common misuse of "me, myself and I". Mistakes like this one could have been easily avoided if they continuously brushed up on it.
    Knowing the rules when it comes to writing is important. Not only for avoiding them, but also for getting creative when it comes to breaking them in order to suit your style better. It would also make your writing a lot more seamless and enjoyable to read.

4 - Flowery prose and unnecessary use of adjectives
    A lot of times, adverbs and adjectives are actually not needed as much. For example:
    1. Anna ate her food quickly.
    2. Anna gulped down her food.
    So which of the two do you think is better? Most people would opt for the 2nd one as it makes use of a strong verb instead of relying upon an adverb. It immediately creates an image in the reader's mind which you can develop even further to get them more immersed in the story you're trying to tell. However, don't get too carried away with this. Avoid long-winded descriptions of simple actions. It would make your work tedious to read and only very few people can really pull this off-- think of the classics. There are always better ways of adding color and life to your writing. Experiment with what works best for your genre and style.
    Do keep in mind that this is not meant to change your overall style and character as a writer. However, it is also a healthy habit to always look at one's work with a critical eye and improve on it. This is something that a lot of authors often do and is also a sign of the ever evolving creative mind.

5 - Never hesitate revising your first draft.
    There's nothing better than the feeling of finishing a full draft. It's a testament go your hard work and it also means that the job is done- for now. Surely, you feel ready to show it off and publish, but pause for a minute and look at your draft again. It is called a first draft for a reason. It is still rough and will certainly need a lot more polishing.
    Here's your next step: Read through it. You may have the best plot, the most interesting characters and scenes, but none of these things would truly shine if your writing remains